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 October 3, 2012 1. Call to Order Ms. Chandler called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. Members present were Kathy Chandler, Lori LaFave, 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 Ms. Chandler asked if there were any petitions from the public or board members. There were none. 3. Minutes Mr. Selby moved to approve the minutes from the September 5th meeting as amended. Ms. Rye seconded the motion. Ms. LaFave abstained from the vote. Upon voice vote, the motion passed. 4. Recreation Director’s Report • Mr. Schlitt met with the Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) regarding the Railroad Avenue property. He was receptive to our idea to use a portion of the land for a practice field. Private owners are currently in the possession of approximately 1.3 acres of land that adjoins a piece of NVRPA property. The private owners are exploring the possibility of selling the land to developers to create 4 or 5 residential lots. However, the costly relocation of a sewage line and zoning restrictions are likely to diminish the number of lots they will be able to form. • The Fall Festival was a success this year as the beautiful weather brought a large crowd. The placement of the stage by the vendors worked well and we will keep it there next year. The total receipts taken on that day amounted to $25,000. Approximately 75% of the total receipts on the day of the event are paid to the restaurants. The overall cash sponsorship of the Fall Festival totaled $14,350. • Farm Day is Saturday, October 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The activities include horse drawn hayrides, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making and entertainment. Admission is free and there is a cost for certain activities. • The Halloween Carnival is Saturday, October 27 from 6 -8 p.m. The activities include carnival games, a moon bounce, a haunted trail, crafts, and a creepy creature show. Admission is $2 per child ages 2 and up. Adults and children 2 and under are free.  • The City is hosting a volunteer appreciation picnic on Saturday, October 13 at 12:30 p.m. for anyone who has volunteered in City activities. The City estimated that over 30,000 hours were volunteered by citizens over the past year. The food will be provided by the NVRPA’s catering company Blue Heron. • The Frady Park Gazebo is ready and is scheduled to be installed this Friday. • The Recreation & Parks Dept. continues to support the club field hockey program by providing practice space. The attendance for this fall sport has risen to include 40 participants. This club is striving to become a JV and Varsity sport at the high school. They are currently playing private schools and any local school that are willing to scrimmage. • A Boy Scout project to install a Frisbee golf course in Cherry Hill Park is being explored. The scout has designed a preliminary course that will utilize the wooded area beyond the volleyball court. That particular area is an underutilized part of the park. 5. New Business a. George Mason Tennis Courts • The courts are currently under construction to fix the drainage as well as interior and exterior damage. The schools have requested that the Recreation & Parks Dept. contribute $25,000 to the project. Our CIP funds are designated under Master Park Improvements. Since this is not part of our parks, the board has to officially approve reallocating the funds. • Ms. LaFave moved that the board supports using $25,000 of CIP funds out of the designated Master Park money to assist with the GMHS tennis court construction project. Ms. Rye seconded the motion. Mr. Rasnake abstained from the vote. Upon voice vote, the motion passed. b. Election of Officers Mr. Schlitt asked if there were any nominations for chairman. Ms. Rye nominated Mr. O’Hara. Ms. Chandler seconded the nomination. Mr. Rasnake abstained from the vote. Upon voice vote, Mr. O’Hara was elected to serve another term as chairman. Mr. Schlitt asked if there were any nominations for vice-chairman. Ms. Rye nominated Ms. Chandler. Mr. Selby seconded the nomination. Mr. Rasnake abstained from the vote. Upon voice vote, Ms. Chandler was elected to serve another term as vice-chairman. 6. Old Business a. Lincoln Park project • Mr. Schlitt spoke with a playground designer to obtain approximate quotes for the new equipment. The estimated cost of the entire project is $180,000 to $200,000. The project includes replacing the damaged equipment with a modern and natural looking structure, bringing the park up to ADA compliance, and addressing the pathways. After the design phase is complete, the park neighbors will be invited to provide feedback. The insurance company still has not provided a final 2  estimate. The City belongs to a U.S. Communities group which would allow us to move through the purchasing process much quicker than usual. b. Lynn Place Property • Mr. Schlitt and Mr. Shields met with the owner to talk about a right of first refusal on the property. They city would create parking on the property for citizens visiting Roberts Park. The owner did not give a direct answer but it was a positive meeting and the idea was well received. Selling the land to the City would provide potential savings for the owner in realtor fees. When the owner is ready to sell, the City will present a fair market offer for the property. c. CIP • In FY 12 we have approximately $160,000 to $170,000 left in the CIP. In FY 13 there is $200,000 remaining. • The final cost of installing the Bermuda grass at Madison Park was approximately $21,000. The annual operating expenses this year totaled $8,600. The operating expenses have the potential to decrease in the future depending on the mowing technique, applied rye, and blanketing of the field. d. West End Park project • The site plan is in the final stages of completion. Mr. Schlitt has requested an updated estimate of the construction cost. We are requesting the remainder of the funds to complete the project in the FY 14 budget. The project could be started as early as July 1, 2013. • Dominion Virginia Power determined that we owe them $6,000 use an easement that we were previously using without a fee. Mr. Schlitt has a meeting scheduled with Dominion Virginia Power and other City representatives to discuss multiple City projects. If Dominion Virginia Power will not budge then he recommends using our CIP funds in order to complete the project. 7. Other Business • The rain garden at Berman Park is almost complete with plantings remaining. The soil surrounding the boardwalk was filled in higher that initially planned due to the board’s concerns regarding the drop off. There are no handrails as of now. Mr. Schlitt recommended that we install under drains beneath the new asphalt walkways that are yet to be constructed. Mr. Schlitt has a meeting scheduled with Urban Forestry and Public Works to review the overall rain garden projects. 8. Adjournment Ms. Rye moved to adjourn the meeting; Ms. LaFave seconded the motion. Following a unanimous voice vote, Ms. Chandler adjourned the meeting at 8:10 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 703-248-5027 (TTY 711). 3