HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Recreation and Parks Committee - 09/19/2016
APPROVED MINUTES
South Burlington Recrea on and Parks Commi ee
September 19, 2016
Present: Jennifer Kochman, Mike Simoneau, Glenn Sproul, George Donovan, Liz Robitaille, Mary Olmsted, Paul
Steinman and Rebecca Poque e.
Regrets: Naa Aku Shika Addo.
Also present: Recrea on and Parks Department Director Maggie Leugers and guests Evan Langfeldt and
Andrew Gill.
1. The mee ng was called to order at 5:03 PM by Chair Jennifer Kochman. There were no changes or
addi ons to the agenda and no comments from the public not related to the agenda. The minutes for
the August 15 mee ng were approved as distributed.
2. Evan Langfeldt and Andrew Gill gave a brief presenta on on the O’Brien Farms Master Site Plan. It is to
include 8 to 9 acres of open space, 3 acres of which will be a more formal park, all of which will be
conveyed to the City on comple on of the development if the City desires. It is to include about 2 miles
of prepared walking/recrea on trails. A mo on from Glenn sta ng “We offer our general support for
the Master Site Plan, including the open spaces and park” was seconded and was unanimously
approved.
3. Bylaws: Jennifer led us through a discussion of several sugges ons for change which Commi ee
members had made. The Execu ve Commi ee (consis ng of the three officers and Maggie) will meet
to clean up the wording and bring a complete dra of the Bylaws back to the full Commi ee, probably
at the October mee ng, preparatory to our resubmi ng them to City Council.
4. City Center TIF vote for Market Street and Dumont Park projects: Where there is resistance in the
community it probably comes from anxiety about people’s taxes going up to support projects in City
Center. Mike moved “That the commi ee endorse and support passage of the upcoming November 8
Bond Vote”; the mo on was seconded and passed unanimously. Jennifer will dra a statement on
behalf of the Commi ee; it will point out that the Dumont Park project will be 95% supported by TIF
money.
5. Jennifer and Mike are to meet on Sept. 22 with Director of Planning and Zoning Paul Conner and
Maggie Leugers, to discuss how the Land Development Regula ons (LDRs) might be strengthened to
support the inclusion of appropriate open space and/or parks in new residen al developments.
6. Maggie would like to formulate a City Ordinance regarding smoking in city parks, and will bring a
proposal to the Commi ee soon.
7. Mike reported that the Wheeler Conserva on Easement Task Force has solid agreement on the
Wheeler Nature Park and is moving toward agreement on the terms affec ng the Homestead por on of
the property.
8. Rebecca and Glenn reported that the Parks Improvements Task Force is nearing comple on of its work
to priori ze projects proposed for Red Rocks Park, Wheeler Nature Park, the Wheeler Homestead and
the former Underwood property. It has substan al agreement on Priority 1 projects that will bring
substan al and visible improvements in all these areas.
9. Liaison reports were given on:
Bike and Ped --- Rebecca
City Council --- Mike
SB Land Trust --- no report, but Paul will take this on
Library Board --- Mary (nothing to report)
School Board --- Liz (no consensus yet on School Consolida on Plan)
WVPD --- George (nothing to report, but Maggie and Glenn noted that WVPD is likely to begin next year
to work for the City overseeing the management of some of our City Parks, notably Red Rocks and
Wheeler Nature)
10. Founda on update: Maggie has found two people interested in being members of a Parks and
Recrea on Founda on so far.
11. Director’s Report: Maggie presented highlights from her wri en report. Bikes ‘n Bites has been a huge
success, and generates revenue for the Department (15% of vendors’ gross); it will probably be
expanded next year. She is hoping to get funding to have a Master Plan for Recrea on and Parks
created this fiscal year, to guide the Department over the coming decade.
12. The mee ng was adjourned at 7:10 PM.
Respec ully submi ed, Glenn Sproul, ac ng secretary.