Parks and Recreation Commission

Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) Thursday, January 9, 2025 Cornelius Town Hall 5:30 – 7 p.m. www.cornelius.org/pr MINUTES 1) Call to Order Chair Kolkhorst called the meeting to order at 5:52 p.m. 2) Determination of Quorum A quorum was reached with nine commissioners in attendance. Commissioners present: Carla Eustache, Trey Fouche, Jill Rotunda, Jon Show, Chair Chris Kolkhorst, Robert Reed, Andrew Heywood, Jana Ritter, Travis Dancy, and Town Commissioners Todd Sansbury and Michael Osborne. Staff present: Director Troy Fitzsimmons, Assistant Director Adam Abernathy, and Executive Assistant Karen Ulmer 3) Public Appearances – Citizen Concerns/Comments Chair Kolkhorst introduced one of the new PRC Commissioner candidates, Steve True. 4) Approval of Minutes (December) a) December 2024 Draft Minutes Commissioner Reed made a motion to approve the minutes from the December 5, 2025, meeting as written. Commissioner Show seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. 5) Presentations a) FY25 Budget Goals Update Due to technical difficulties, Director Fitzsimmons was unable to share his presentation at the meeting, but he spoke to the group about its contents, updating them on the status of projects included in the department’s FY25 budget goals. Many of the projects are completed and others are in progress. The only project in question is the Bailey Road Park track renovation. With an estimated cost of $300,000 we had hoped to split that evenly with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, but we have not had any success getting them to the table. 6) Director’s Report a) December 2024 Director’s Report Due to technical difficulties, Director Fitzsimmons was unable to share his presentation at the meeting, but he highlighted two items from his December report. First, he said that the two new security doors at Town Hall will unlock 15 minutes before any scheduled, after-hours meetings and relock after their scheduled start time. Second, we will be hosting an inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Day event on January 20, 12-1:30 p.m., at Town Hall, in partnership with Torrence Chapel AME Zion Church and the Ausie & Martin Rivens Scholarship Foundation. Those groups have secured donations also allowing us to serve lunch, as supplies last. 7) Parks & Recreation Commissioner Recommendations & Reports a) Items to be placed on record b) Commissioner Reports 1) Commissioner Carla Eustache • Since her last meeting in October, she attended Light Up Cornelius and has continued writing monthly Lakeside Living articles • She participated in the plan reviews for the Legion Park playground.  2) Vice-Chair Trey Fouche • He was on the interview committee for the new PRC Commissioners. The process worked well, and he feels good about the two candidates selected. • Basketball is going well. Athletic Programs Manager Shelby Cruse is doing a good job communicating with the coaches. • If it becomes feasible for the Town to purchase the Alexander Farms property for a park project, working with partners such as Mecklenburg County, he will support that. 3) Commissioner Jill Rotunda • No report • As she is completing a full term on the PRC, Chair Kolkhorst thanked her for her service and presented her with a certificate of appreciation. 4) Commissioner Jon Show • He would also support the Alexander Farms property purchase. • He is taking part in the review and selection of the Bailey Road Park tennis and pickleball programmer process. • He thanked Chair Kolkhorst and Commissioner Rotunda for their service. 5) Chair Chris Kolkhorst • He was on the interview committee for the new PRC Commissioners. The times he has gone through this process, he has seen that we are getting such qualified applications. The caliber of the candidates is fantastic. • As he is completing one partial and two full terms on the PRC, including as Chair the past three years, Director Fitzsimmons presented him with a plaque recognizing his years of service. Chair Kolkhorst said it has been a thrill to work with the PRC and the fantastic Parks & Rec staff. The Town Board will also recognize him at their meeting on February 3. 6) Commissioner Robert Reed • The Deck the House decorating contests was really well done. He took his children around Cornelius one night to see them all. The map was well done. • He is taking part in the review and selection of the Bailey Road Park tennis and pickleball programmer process. They are meeting again next week to interview the finalists. • Lake Norman Little League is registering for their spring season, and he is excited to be coaching again. • He suggested we add Park Bond updates to the agenda as a standing item under Old Business. 7) Commissioner Andrew Heywood • He also thanked Chair Kolkhorst and Commissioner Rotunda, especially Chair Kolkhorst for filling former Chair Scott Higgins’s shoes. 8) Commissioner Jana Ritter • One of the PRC candidates is Jeff Jones, who is a neighbor of hers. She said he has been an active participant, such as completing the Year of the Trail passport and attending Town Coffee Chats, so he has learned his way in and is excited to be joining the PRC. • She missed having the Cornelius Library storytelling at the Halloween Treat Trail and their craft table at Light Up Cornelius. • Kudos to staff, especially Recreation Superintendent Josh Handelsman for their work on the Bailey Road Park Tennis and Pickleball Operators RFP. She has been involved in the ranking and selection process. • Everyone she knows in the tennis community is excited about the new tennis courts coming to Bailey Road Park. • She saw that the North Carolina USTA just awarded Outstanding Parks & Recreation Department to New Hanover, and suggested we take a look into what they are doing there. 9) Commissioner Travis Dancy • It would be ideal to see the Bailey Road Park tennis courts open in time for the North Carolina 18U State Tournament scheduled for June 11-14 in the Lake Norman area. Director Fitzsimmons said that will be cutting it close. c) Town Commissioner Report • Commissioner Todd Sansbury o Purchase of Alexander Farms is an interesting concept but very complicated.  o Atrium has submitted a request to cut down the trees between the hospital and I-77. They are not required to obtain our permission since these are in a right-of-way, but we can express an opinion. They will likely go ahead and cut down the trees anyway. o Dave Yochum reached out to him to ask about the Town having a Tree Commission. Commissioner Fouche noted that Davidson has one, including an on-staff arborist, but the commission does not have any real teeth. Director Fitzsimmons said Mayor Washam has mentioned the possibility of a Sustainability Commission, which would include Tree Commission tasks, be more broad, and seems like a better idea. • Commissioner Michael Osborne o The best policy approach is what we have already done, which is adopting the Comprehensive Parks and Greenways Master Plan. o He invited the Commissioners to take part in the Cornelius Downtown Master Plan planning meetings. o He thanked Chair Kolkhorst and Commissioner Rotunda for their service. The PRC is definitely making an impact on the Town. o There is a large piece of land across from Smithville Park, in front of the Victoria Bay neighborhood, fronted by a hedge. There may be enough land there to put in a small park. Director Fitzsimmons said that area is part of a Duke right-of-way, so there may be some limitations to its use. 8) Old Business a) PRC Chair Nomination Commissioner Heywood nominated Trey Fouche to serve as the PRC Chair concurrent with his term, beginning February 2025 and ending in January 2026. Commissioner Dancy seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. This nomination will be shared with the Town Board at their meeting on February 3, 2025, for confirmation. b) PRC Vice-Chair Nomination Commissioner Show nominated Carla Eustache to serve as the PRC Vice-Chair for the next year, February 2025 through January 2026. Commissioner Heywood seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. c) Parks & Recreation Commission Goals & Committees • Commissioner Fouche said he and Director Fitzsimmons will meet to review the committees and goals for the coming year. He will email the commissioners to ask for their preferences, hoping to wrap that up within the next week. • Strategic Planning & Long-Range Planning: Director Fitzsimmons said this committee will be meeting soon to discuss Park Bond project priorities and possible advances on “soft costs”. 9) New Business a) PRC New Commissioner Nominations Commissioner Fouche made a motion to recommend Jeff Jones and Steve True to the Town Board for appointments to Seats 3 and 5. Chair Kolkhorst seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. These appointments will be on the agenda for the Town Board’s meeting on February 3. 10) Adjournment Chair Kolkhorst adjourned the meeting at 6:51 p.m. Next PRC Meeting – Thursday, February 6, 2025 Future PRC Meetings – Thursdays, March 6, April 4, and May 5, 2025 Next Town Board Meetings – Tuesday, January 21, and Monday, February 3, 2025