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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Recreation and Parks Committee - 05/16/2016 South Burlington Recreaon & Parks Commiee May 16, 2016 Present: Glenn Sproul, Jennifer Kochman, Maggie Leugers, Rebecca Poquee, Mike Simoneau, Mary Olmstead, Edie Robenstein (by phone) Regrets: Liz Robitaille, George Donovan, Naa Addo Changes to the Agenda: No changes or addions to the agenda; no public present Approval of April 18, 2016 Minutes: Unanimously approved. Director’s Report: Maggie reported the Junior Rec Camp is now licensed by the State of Vermont for school age children. NRPA has selected our Junior Rec program as part of an evaluaon subgroup. Every year the NRPA conducts a detailed evaluaon of the grant programs. They will determine if behavior change has occurred and get feedback on the program itself. We will be asked to help facilitate the surveys and special event exit surveys at our site for staff and children. The school district will provide the lunches. NRPA will pay a site visit in August. The tennis courts will be open June 20; unfortunately the school tennis teams will not be able to use the courts. VYCC has signed a contract and will be in Red Rocks for four weeks and Wheeler Park for four weeks. Jennifer noted she has heard there are loose dogs at Red Rocks Park. Animal Control is making an effort to educate the public about the leash law. They have been in both parks several mes a week and will inform, educate, warn and cket in that order. The Recreaon Department’s annual report is on the website. Presentaon by Ilona Blanchard on the CIP and a City Center Update: Ilona reported that the Council will be considering the following items in the future; TIF Policy, bonded debt for projects, public facilies impact fee, library contract, transportaon demand management, the arena, market street right-of-way, and Market Street public art. The Council will consider when to bring any items to the community for a vote. City Center funding will come from TIF district financing, the City Center reserve fund (built into property tax), impact fees, and grants. The bulk of projects that will be generally TIF District and grant funded are: Market Street, Garden Street, City Center Park, Ped/Bike bridge over I89, structured parking, stormwater, and wetland migraon. It is important to note that the City has flexibility and can match City Center infrastructure build-out to available funding. It is also important to note the City’s share of public facilies is built into the current property tax rate. The City owns or has access to Market Street, Garden Street, Williston Road, and the Dumont parcel for City Center Park. Most TIF land is owned by 35 separate property owners. All capital improvement projects are due by August. Ilona stated there are a lot of moving parts for the arena and city schools. City has a lot of pieces; however, we do not have to build every piece. The city tax has been saving up for the library, city hall and recreaon. Money has been put into this account so taxes will not have to be increased. The kick-off for the South Burlington City Center Collaborave will be held on June 4. Report on Planning Commission: Jennifer reported that she and Mike aended the Planning Commission meeng on April 26. On arriving, she noted that the Planning Commission wanted the enre Recreaon Commiee to be present, which was unknown to the commiee. Jennifer spoke to the Planning Commission on the need to create LDR’s to address the goals of the Open Space Report Need & Gap Analysis. She also reported that it has been the pracce for developers to present plans to R&LA to insure inclusion of open space in residenal developments. At this me, the LDR’s do not cover this and so our recommendaons are not binding. The City’s scenic views were discussed and all recognized giving priority to the need to address protecon of scenic views. During Green Up Day, Bey Milizia posted a map of the City so people could mark their favorite scenic views. The City Council has recently suggested creang a Public Lands Commiee and reducing the roles of current commiees. We have advocated keeping the commiees as they are and creang a task force to address specific projects. Jennifer felt it might be a good idea to establish a steering commiee for public lands that would meet four mes a year to avoid duplicaon of effort and plan collaboraon. Jennifer reported to the Planning Commission that our greatest needs are to create enough playing fields and tennis courts, program space for seniors and pre-school populaons, indoor recreaon, an outdoor swimming pool, and administrave offices. The Planning Commission recommended that we discuss priories for open space, parks, and outdoor recreaon. The Planning Commission said to let them know our needs and how they can help fix the problem. Report on Exploraon of Mindfulness Iniaves: Mike reported he aended a meeng last week to begin a dialogue with UVM regarding programs we might develop centered on exercise and cognive funcons. This might be a way to reach a sizeable poron of the community. Exercise can have a tremendous effect on a person’s health. Maggie said she is thinking about what the department could offer. Park Enhancements: Glenn reported that Maggie will be the facilitator for the task force comprised of recreaon & parks, bike & ped, and natural resources representaves. Glenn is on the task force and Rebecca has agreed to be the second representave for recreaon & parks. Liaison Reports: Bike & Ped – Rebecca reported the Bike & Ped Commiee has been talking about the meeng with the Planning Commission City Council – Mike felt that City Council acons have already been covered in today’s meeng Natural Resources – no report SB Land Trust – no report Library Board – no report School Board – no report WVPD – no report Next meeng is on June 20. The meeng adjourned at 6:40 pm Submied by Edie Robenstein, Clerk