Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission

Bristol Tennessee Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting November 10, 2016 6:00pm Present: Susie Chandler David Akard Karen Combs Sherry Willinger Jason Booher Bennett Cowan Absent: Cade Ownby Robby Johnson Randy Frye Chris Connally Staff: Terry Napier April Norris I. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order by David Akard at 6:02 pm. II. Approval of July 14, 2016 Minutes – David Akard made the motion to approve the minutes. Sherry Willinger seconded the motion. All in favor, motion passes. III. Introduction of New Commissioner- David Akard introduced and welcomed Bennett Cowan to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. IV. Old Business A. Nature Center Addition Progress- The addition is progressing well. The Friends of Steele Creek Park are assisting with the $400,000 needed to complete the interior design. Terry shared the designs that was completed by Ed Hackley. BurWil should be finished by December. The rest of the interior construction will be completed in-house and by contractors. B. Splash Pad / Pavilion - The Splash Pad was open for two months and the gate traffic increased significantly. Another parking lot will be added. They are currently working to repair some settling that has occurred since the initial install. Those repairs should be wrapped up soon. C. ISJ Tennis Complex – Ida Stone Jones Tennis Complex was used for three months of the summer. A Men’s Tournament was held hosting 24 players, a Jr Tennis Tournament was held hosting 90 kids and after school tennis sessions were held in the month of October which brought in 30 plus kids. D. Aquatics Facility Master Plan- The plan should be shared with council at the December Work Session. After that it should be available for Terry to share with the commission. E. Trails & Greenway Plan- The draft is ready for review. It will need some clean-up before going to council in January. V. New Business A. Approval of Nature Center Exhibit Sponsors and Room Naming Rights- Donors and Exhibit Sponsors will be recognized by an engraved colored leaf based on the donation level on a donor tree statue that will be located in the Nature Center.  • Crawl-through Cave Exhibit – Lea and Rush Powers donated $7,000 to the Cave Exhibit. Motion to accept made by Bennett Cowan and Karen Combs seconds the motion. All in favor, motion approved. • Waterfowl Exhibit – Friendship Foundation (Mitch Walters) donated $15,000 which will be paid $5,000 a year for three years for the Waterfowl Exhibit. Motion to accept made by Karen Combs and Susie Chandler seconds the motion. All in favor, motion approved. • Conference/Meeting Room - Massengill DeFriece Foundation in memory of Frank DeFriece & Josephine Wilson donated $50,000 for the room. Bennett Cowan makes a motion to accept and Sherry Willinger seconds the motion. All in favor, motion approved. • Naming Rights Donation Levels (below) - Motion made to approve by Bennett Cowan and David Akard seconds the motion. All in favor, motion passed. 1. Nature Center- $1.5 million to name for up to 15 years 2. Kids Zone- $30,000 3. Gallery B- $30,000 4. Upstairs Exhibit- $150,000 5. Downstairs Exhibit- $70,000 B. Relocation of Peddle Boats – The docking system is being moved next to the Train Depot. It will be a floating dock system with a cost of approximately $24,000. The existing boat building will be given to the Nature Center as a lakeside research lab. Jason Booher made a suggestion to possible offer various types of boats. Terry explained that at one time canoe rentals were offered and it didn’t go very well. An age limit and storage lockers for bikes was suggested as amenities. Terry advised that research was being done on a third party that could potentially operate bikes, boats and a zip line. C. New Park Attendant (Memorial Day – Labor Day +) - A park attendant will be added this upcoming season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The attendant will be responsible for taking with guest and monitoring rentals. Bennett suggest that we post signs throughout the park to list the phone number of the park attendant and park rules. Jason Booher made a motion to ask City Council to require all dogs to be leashed in all Bristol TN City Parks. Bennett Cowan seconds the motion. All in favor, motion passed. D. Rental Fee for New Pavilion Located beside the Splash Pad- Bennett Cowan made a motion to charge the rental fees below and Jason Booher seconds the motion. All are in favor, motion passed. • ½ Day Rental= $65 • Full Day Rental = $100 • No refunds for weather or splash pad being non-operational  E. Bristol Little League Field Requests (2017)) – Terry made the commission aware that Bristol Tennessee Little League had made a request to also use the fields at Friendship Park. F. Avoca Baseball non-payment spring and fall – Terry made the commission aware that Avoca baseball was behind on their fees once again. They have not paid spring or fall fees for the 2016 season. Jason makes a motion to ask council to reconsider the $15 city field user fee, there was no second to this motion. Karen Combs feels like Avoca should have to pay the past due fee prior to being granted field usage for 2017. G. Winter Projects • SCP Trail Maintenance – High Ridge, Cross Ridge South Ridge & Logging Road. Work is being done to widen the trails • Friendship Park-Big league buildings, additional parking area. Crews will be working on refurbishing the Big League building and concessions but the roof will have to be completely replaced. H. Park Commissioner meeting attendance – Terry stressed the importance of attendance at the meetings. Robby Johnson submitted his resignation. Jason Booher made the motion to accept the resignation and Susie Chandler seconds the motion. All in favor, motion passed. I. Youth representation / potential for adding a second one – Terry expressed his interest in adding a second youth representative to the commission. The commission is on board with doing so. VI. Staff Comments: VII. Board Comments: Sherry Willinger advised that she toured the Nature Center and was very impressed. She said that the staff and Friends of Steele Creek Park have done a wonderful job. She said that Terry had done a great job on the design. Susie Chandler said she has used the Splash Pad and she said that it was a little rowdy at times. She also shared pictures of bike lanes and the problems with them. Jason Booher said that he disagrees with not having bike lanes marked but it must be done right. Jason Booher shared that he had attended the Greenways public meetings and the exchange was great. Terry adds that policy has to be built to go along with all of the plans that are being developed and those plans will be contracted to outside companies. VIII. Next Meeting: January 12, 2017 at the Nature Center IX. Adjourned: David Akard made the motion to adjourn the meeting and Susie Chandler seconds the motion. Meeting adjourned at 7:49 pm. ________________________ Terry Napier, Director