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 February 5th, 2014 1. Call to Order Ms. Chandler called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Members present were Kathy Chandler, Leslie Rye, Steve Selby, and Lawrence Webb. Staff members present were Danny Schlitt, Director of Recreation & Parks, Krissy Loerch, Senior Administrative Assistant, and Council Member Liaison, Nader Baroukh. 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 Ms. Rye moved to approve the minutes from the January 2rd. Mr. Selby seconded the motion. Upon voice vote, the motion passed. 4. Recreation Director’s Report • Summer Camp registration began on February 3rd for City Residents. This year during the first two days of City and Non City registration we collected $160,000 and last year it was $116,000. • Winter/Spring class registration is underway and on the first two days of City and Non- City registration we collected $103,000. Last year during the same time frame we collected $111,000. • Overall revenues are about $53,000 ahead of last year at this point. We are expected to bring in $1.8 million in revenue this fiscal year. • Ashley Green, our new program supervisor, organized a Summer Camp Expo on January 31st. Twenty-six contractors from our various summer camps were in attendance to provide information and meet interested parents. The event was free and we served light refreshments. Approximately 120 people attended the event. • The youth basketball program is mid-way through the season with playoffs scheduled in March. • The department is in the initial stage of starting a youth sports commission utilizing our volunteer coaches. The commission would provide feedback and support for the programs. Meetings would be quarterly leading up to sports seasons. Ms. Chandler suggested structuring the commission with guidelines, goals, rules etc.  • This year we are hosting the district Hershey Track meet which will included 6 or 7 local jurisdictions. This meet is a one day event and gives participants an opportunity to qualify at a state and national level. • The department is starting a new women’s basketball league this spring. Games will take place on Sunday afternoon and evenings. So far there are 65 interested players who will be formed into teams by a draft process this year. • We are starting to get ready for numerous special events. In April we will hold the Easter Egg Hunt and the Memorial Day Parade & Festival in May. A meeting to discuss the Grand Marshall nominations will be scheduled soon. • The Community Center is getting its two hot water heaters replaced. It will require us to shut down early one evening because water will not be available. This summer the original HVAC system will be replaced requiring us to shut down the gymnasium for two weeks. These two projects are covered by the facilities budget and not the recreation and parks budget. In addition, we have a need for painting and additional work at the Cherry Hill Farmhouse. 5. New Business a. Operating Budget • Mr. Schlitt submitted the budget with assistance from the Finance Department. The modest increase of 1.2 % on the operating side will be allocated directly to the cost of rising fees for existing contracts. The contracts include maintenance by Fairfax County of the Larry Graves Field, NVRPA bike trail maintenance, Rec-Trac software, and more. b. School project representative • Mr. O’Hara suggested to the Mayor and City Manager that a Recreation & Parks staff member be involved in a committee to discuss the proposed new high school. The department would like the opportunity to be involved in these early discussions to express the need for the building to be for community use after hours on the evenings and weekends. • Mr. Baroukh responded that the current committee is the City Manager, Superintendent, and members of the School Board as well as Planning Commission. At this point they are discussing a time line to build the school and nothing specific to design or use. • Ms. Rye motioned to support Mr. O’Hara’s actions prior to the meeting to include a Recreation & Parks staff member on the committee discussing a new school. Mr. Selby seconded the motion. Upon voice vote, the motion passed. 6. Old Business a. Open Space Report • One of Mr. Selby’s goals was to emphasize that parks are important for recreation, public health and the watershed. • The advisory board would like an ongoing commitment to maintain 2 million in the open space account. As of now we’ve requested 1.1 million in the FY 15 CIP. 2  • Mr. Baroukh stated that the City Council, Economic Development Council, and Planning Commission are in the process of designing a check list for new developers and it includes voluntary proffers for Recreation & Parks as well as the Library. • Ms. Rye motioned to draft a letter strongly encouraging that Recreation and Parks should be included in the checklist to potential developers. Mr. Selby seconded the motion. Upon voice vote, the motion passed. b. Lynn Place Property • The owner of 500 Lynn Place contacted Mr. Schlitt to let him know that he was placing the house for sale this April or May. This lot is a key property mentioned in the open space report to obtain for greater access to Roberts Park. • If this property is obtained, it would allow for parking at the park enabling the possibility to create a practice space on the land. The Zoning Department estimated 15 parking spaces from an initial plan. • Mr. Schlitt requested that the board consider a public hearing at an upcoming meeting to inform the neighbors as well as public of our intentions. c. Roberts Park Daylighting • The pipe running along the length of the park is broken and needs replacement. • Mr. Widstrom from Public Works previously presented the board with an option to daylight the stream. That steam would be approximately 35 ft. wide and will require displacement of the playground, basketball courts, and pavilion as well as limit our open space in the park. • Mr. Schlitt spoke with the Director of Public Works and Mr. Widstrom to express the desire to not move forward with the daylighting of a stream at the park. d. CIP (projects) Note: See Council Member Liaison Nader Baroukh’s disclosure at end of the minutes. 1. West End Park • We hired the engineers for the project to produce the technical specs. • Our goal is to request bids soon so that a contractor is in place by this April. Construction will begin in the summer of 2014 and plantings will take place in the fall of 2014. • After a contractor is selected, we will organize an informational meeting for the public to give them an opportunity to become reacquainted with the plans. 2. Tennis Court • Mr. Schlitt has received quotes and anticipates signing a contract to replace the court surfaces in our parks. The Master Park Improvement funding would be used for these projects leaving approximately $43,000 in the account. The total cost of these replacements is $141,000. 3  • The Cavalier Trail Park tennis courts are in the worst condition and will not be able to be repaired. The tennis courts and basketball court will have to be replaced with a cost of $118,000. • The basketball courts at Cherry Hill, Lincoln and Madison parks need major repairs but not replacement. • The Cherry Hill tennis courts will be replaced in conjunction with the storm water project and funded by the storm water fund. The Cherry Street tennis courts will be redone after the development of the new preschool near that site. 3. Cherry Hill playground • The playground equipment is the oldest in our parks and we need to consider its replacement as it is falling into disrepair. • There is a requirement to have toddler play equipment as well as youth playground equipment. 4. Trail paving • The trails in our parks are in disrepair and especially at Cavalier Trail Park. • This project is high on our priority list next to the replacement of the Cherry Hill playground equipment. 7. Other Business • New signs are ordered for the Falls Church Community Center (Kenneth R. Burnett Building). • The dedication ceremony with the new signs will take place on Father’s Day weekend when Mr. Burnett is in town. 8. Adjournment Ms. Rye moved to adjourn the meeting; Mr. Selby seconded the motion. Following a unanimous voice vote, Ms. Chandler adjourned the meeting at 8:59 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). Council Member Liaison Nader Baroukh’s disclosure Big Chimney Park While I understand that I am not required to make a disclosure, as a prudential matter, after extensive discussions with the City Attorney, pursuant to VA Code, §§ 2.2-3112 and -3115.H., I would like to disclose as a matter of prudence regarding: 1) Big Chimneys Park improvements 4 2) That (a) I own property at 243 Gundry Dr. and among other things I was a member of the Board of the Winter Hill Community Association; and then my wife is President of the Association. 3) I am a member of groups (including but not limited to homeowners) which may be affected by the project and Big Chimney Park improvements; 4) Based on my review and discussion with the City attorney and given that the project will affect the City as a whole with regard to, among other things, fiscal matters, planning, development, and housing policies, I believe that I can participate in the transactions fairly, objectively, and in the public interest. 5