Recreation & Parks Advisory Board

Regular Meeting of the Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks Held at the Falls Church Community Center 223 Little Falls Street, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 Minutes May 2, 2012 1. Call to Order Mr. O’Hara called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Members present were Charley O’Hara, Kathy Chandler, Greg Rasnake, Leslie Rye, and Steve Selby. Staff members present were Danny Schlitt, Director of Recreation & Parks, and Krissy Loerch, Senior Administrative Assistant. 2. Receipt of Public Petitions and Board Member Petitions Mr. O’Hara asked if there were any petitions from the public or board members. There were none. 3. Minutes Ms. Chandler moved to approve the minutes from the April 11th meeting. Mr. Rasnake seconded the motion. Upon voice vote, the motion passed unanimously. 4. Recreation Director’s Report • Registration for summer camps is steady. As of this day last year we received 2,455 registrations and this year we’ve received 2,700 registrations. We are also $60,000 ahead in revenue for summer camps from last year at this time. • The Summer Fun camp will have a new director this year. Our long-time director, Andre Jackson, was had other obligations preventing him from making a full summer commitment. We have the full ten staff for Summer Fun identified and in the hiring process. The two lifeguards from last year are returning. • The agreement we have with Park Towers Condominium for Summer Fun to use their pool is working well. It is a nicer pool than the one we used before and the kids can walk to it. This is also beneficial because we do not have to pay for transportation. This year we are assisting in paying for the installation of an ADA compliant unit to the pool at Park Towers. • The Adult Co-Ed Volleyball league has grown from four teams last year to six teams this year. • The food vendor spaces at Memorial Day are full. The crepe vendor at the Farmers Market will be a food vendor this year. We still have a few regular vendor spaces available. Ms. Paxton is still accepting parade and civic booth applications. Only the top six Bolivian dance groups were invited back to the parade this year. • This year’s MC for the parade is John Rodock. He has experience announcing at George Mason University basketball games. The former long-time MC, Gary Reals, was not able to commit this year.  • New to the parade this year will be the GMHS Pep Band. They have committed to playing music while sitting on a float in the parade. 5. New Business a. Rain Garden Update • The original schedule projected the completion at the first week of June. Mr. Schlitt expects the parks to be finished as early as May 11th. Backing filling is already occurring at Lincoln Park. During certain periods of construction, Lincoln Park was completely closed instead of allowing a detour through the park. • Mr. O’Hara inquired about plans for dedication or a grand opening of the rain gardens. He suggested we plan an opening ceremony at one park to celebrate. 6. Old Business a. CIP • The two pathways leading up to the boardwalk in Berman Park rain garden are designed as asphalt. Mr. Schlitt received a quote from the current contractors to replace the current pathways the rain garden plan doesn’t address. To replace those asphalt pathways it is approximately $12,000 or less. The Finance Department confirmed that we can use CIP money for this project. • Mr. Schlitt is working with the Director of Public Works to mitigate the standing water situation at Lincoln Park that was not adequately addressed in the original rain garden plans. The existing dirt around the tree roots will be replaced with a new soil mixture and absorbent plants. This additional work will cost approximately $5,000 or less. If this expense does not fall under the CIP then Mr. Schlitt will use the additional operating money we received to cover the cost. • Mr. Schlitt is close to signing a contract with a new vendor for the reconstruction and maintenance at the Madison Park fields. The current contractor was given an opportunity to bid on the maintenance but does not have the capability to maintain the new fields. • Upon installation the new Bermuda grass field will look unhealthy for a few months. Also, the grass will be dormant for a period of time (the first freeze through the end of June) each year and turns a brown color. There is a process to make the field appear a healthy green color that can be completed each year. This process of over seeding it with rye costs a few thousand dollars. Mr. Schlitt believes that for the first year it would be worth it to complete this process and evaluate it following year. • The fields at Madison can be used while dormant and the grass will sustain greater usage than the current blue grass. In the hottest months we will have to mow it twice a week instead of the once a week we currently perform. Bermuda grass grows quickly and tends to take over other areas. • After the construction is completed at TJ field, Mr. Schlitt anticipates installing Bermuda grass at the soccer fields there. 2  b. Operating Budget • The department received the additional $24,000 in the budget to purchase a new passenger van. However, the van will cost closer to $30,000. Mr. Schlitt plans to use the $2,400 savings initially allotted for van rentals to assist with the cost. • City Council approved the additional $35,000 for parks maintenance in our operating budget. • Mr. O’Hara expressed his gratitude to former Council Member Lawrence Webb for being an essential influence in ascertaining the additional operating funds for the parks. Mr. Webb was also vital in the resolution to rename the Hamlet Reese tract to the Howard Herman Stream Valley Park. Mr. Schlitt stated that Mr. Webb is a strong advocate for the Recreation & Parks Department and his presence on the board as the Council Member will be missed. b. Bike pedestrian plan for board and commission review • The bike pedestrian plan project was withdrawn since the last time the board met and therefore the board will not officially comment. • Mr. Rasnake stated that the day after the plan was withdrawn a child waiting at a bus stop was struck by a car. The child struck was a sibling of someone who rode the bus. The child survived but was taken to the hospital. 7. Other Business • Mr. O’Hara spoke with a citizen who indicated that a property on Spring Street that backed up to Roberts park may become available. It was described as a stone house third in from Poplar Dr. The property could provide access to Roberts Park. • Mr. Schlitt will follow up with the owners of the property on Lynn Place. • Fourth of July is approaching and we need a few board members to staff the donation boxes. We are using the same contractor from last year to shoot the fireworks show. 8. Adjournment Ms. Rye moved to adjourn the meeting; Ms. Chandler seconded the motion. Following a unanimous voice vote, Mr. O’Hara adjourned the meeting at 7:42 p.m. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5077 (TTY 711). 3