Recreation & Parks Advisory Board

Regular Meeting of the Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks Held at the Falls Church Community Center, Kenneth R. Burnett Building 223 Little Falls Street, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 DRAFT Minutes January 6, 2016 1. Call to Order Mr. Selby called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Members present were Kathy Chandler, Lori Lafave, Charley O’Hara, Rob Meeks, Leslie Rye and Steve Selby. Staff members present were Danny Schlitt, Director of Recreation & Parks, Cindy Mester, Assistant City Manager, Amy Maltese. 2. Receipt of Public Petitions and Board Member Petitions Mr. Selby asked if there were any petitions. There were none. 3. Minutes Leslie Rye motioned to approve the December 2 meeting minutes. Charley O’Hara seconded the motion. Upon unanimous voice vote, the motion passed. 4. Recreation Director’s Report a) Kenny Burrowes started late December. He comes to us from the Reston Community Center, operated by Fairfax County. b) The Cherry Hill Rec Specialist position has also been filled. Corey Jannicelli begins January 19. This is now a full time position. c) The Senior Administrative Assistant Position has not yet been filled. d) Holiday Craft Show was most successful in last 4 or 5 years. Weather has been a big factor in the success of this event. This was Chris Madison’s first big event. e) Basketball is underway. This is Jimmy Ruby’s first year. We have 74 teams this year. Kids seem to be back to focusing on one sport. f) We’ll have a fast move into spring with the upcoming budget season. g) Steve and Danny had a nice meeting with Big Chimney community representatives last week. 5. New Business Cindy Mester/CIP timeline: - January 19 – CIP goes to Planning Commission. - February 1 – Officially presented to planning commission - Then public meetings - Will do another survey - Planning commission scheduled to adopt CIP on 2/22  - City Manager encompasses Planning Commission recommendations in overall budget presentation to Council. - Community Engagement very important – will update the website. 1. Will include 3 videos from last year, new video on Library project and new video on parks. - Funding constraints – need to balance needs with revenue projections. - No “PayGo” project are being funded currently - Still funding approved debt financed projects - City has revenue growth projections at 3% - Operating budgets are remaining flat. - If there is additional revenue, it has not been determined if it will go to the CIP or unmet needs. - The CIP as submitted has us going 3 years with no Master Park Improvement money. - The EDA has approved a grant for $550,000 for mini park. This includes the cost of a project manager as a term position. 6. Old Business CIP Projects within Rec & Parks: - Steve and Danny met with neighborhood representatives of Big Chimeys. They are meeting again with Paul Stoddard this week. - If we stick to a 1 million dollar project at Big Chimneys, we may be able to get the park completed without having to go through the 5-year CIP funding cycle. - HarrisTeater has $100,000 for a transportation study. - Cherry Hill is getting done with HEH 2017 unused funds and Master Park Plan existing funds. Everything will be compliant – as much as we can will be accessible. Most equipment will be torn out. Swing set is fairly new and will likely be re- installed. - Charley feels Rec and Parks is being punished for mistakes made by others at Jesse Thackrey/Frady Park. Does not feel we should need to use HEH unused funds or MPP at Cherry Hill to fix a problem others made at Frady Park. Rob says his was caught by the Planning Commission but dismissed. - The schools have agreed to not lock the gate which would allow someone to access the playground. - Charley would have preferred any funding go to Roberts or Berman Park instead. - Cindy – message received - Charley – the Rec and Parks Department needs more operating funds for parks, especially with Mini Park being built. - Big Chimneys is exciting and community is very well organized. - Historic Site at Tinner Hill Anniversary is next week - Reasons board voted yes on Mini Park – likes that it would not affect our CIP funding, centrally located Open Space: - 1.1million dollars available. Would like to connect Big Chimney’s to Cavalier. We also need more field space. Danny would like to improve fields at Larry Graves. - The more the City develops, the more interest there is in open space. Four Mile Run Restoration Project - Report just published by VA Tech. Primary goal is to connect Cavalier to the W&OD. - We need to dust off the old plans and see what can be done with paper streets. Parks for People Plan: - Charley would like to revisit this at the next meeting and see where we are with short and long-term goals. - Widen open space committee. - Steve recommended we get another intern to help with this. 7. Adjournment Lori LaFave motioned to adjourn the meeting; Kathy Chandler seconded the motion. Under unanimous voice vote, Mr. Selby adjourned the meeting. 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).