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 Minutes March 1, 2017 1. Call to Order Steve Selby called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Members present were Charley O’Hara, Leslie Rye, Kathy Chandler and Lori Lafave. City Council Liaison Marybeth Connelly, Student Representative Carly Roberson and Planning Commission Representative Lindy Hockenberry were also present. Staff members present were Danny Schlitt, Director of Recreation & Parks, Amy Maltese and Keke Sidik. 2. Receipt of Public Petitions and Board Member Petitions - Lindy Hockenberry: turf field approved in CIP; would like to encourage Board members to lobby and touch base with Council members A. All discussed the helpfulness of providing statistics/figures/numbers showcasing growth to support lobbying efforts and how best to lobby B. Danny: will put together necessary figures with staff 3. Minutes Kathy Chandler motioned to approve the February Minutes. Charley O’Hara seconded the motion. The motion was approved. 4. Recreation Director’s Report Danny Schlitt presented the Director’s Report: - Steve Selby: welcome Lindy Hockenberry - Justin Castillo is now the School Board Representative - School construction—will work with school throughout process - Meeting with government operations went well; put together a calendar in preparation for it; will update with Board meetings and send copy to Board members 5. New Business a) Cherry Hill Park playground design a. Danny Schlitt discussed the project, gave updates on progress; discussed feedback since last public meeting; Master Park plans; presented flyover; took questions/comments from public i. Steve Selby: timeline? should have place on website to post updates/progress; Danny: we’ll set that up; current timeline is to start soon after Labor Day  b. Arborist, Kate Reich, discussed the impact of the project on the trees and how construction will be navigated to be optimal to project and trees both; took questions and comments from public; certain trees are already dying and will be removed regardless i. Kathy Chandler: do you see adding any trees? Kate: yes, certainly will be able to after construction as well c. Joel Timmins, of Markon Solutions, discussed the design element of the project and the site plan; took questions/comments from public d. Public gave comments and questions as follows (responses in parenthesis) i. Can we make swings bigger for special needs/chair? (we have adapted chairs, will look into sizing) ii. Have you considered shade structures over the park? (yes; will focus on natural shade; also need to consider space limitations) iii. Positioning of playground equipment? Clarify exactly where the equipment will go? In relation to parking lot for ease of strollers? (will be accessible from parking lot; demonstrated location via map and flyover) iv. How will it affect younger growing trees nearby in the future? The tupelos nearby? (will get as close to trees as possible without disturbing them; they should not be affected) v. Flat area near volleyball court—valuable open flat space, would not like it to be consumed by playground vi. Have you considered fundraising from the community? (current plan is to use funding allocated by City) vii. Why move from shady area to flat area? Due to the tree roots? (issue of slope and needing to be ADA compliant) viii. Most kids want monkey bars—most people in attendance supported this ix. What will pull families in with kids older than 12 is the flat open space and shade is important for younger kids x. Area near barn is really sloped; concern for loss of open flat area xi. Couple of pine trees recently fell, opening up space—is that not area to consider moving playground to? (Kate: moving to area where pine trees recently fell is not ideal; would be too shocking) xii. Have you considered small gated section/area for smaller kids? Or a way to separate little kids from older? (have looked into split rails and parameters) xiii. Consider tracing footprint with flowers; work towards natural shade xiv. Any need for volunteers? (not at moment; will keep posted if otherwise) xv. Is volleyball court actually used for volleyball? (yes) xvi. With City Hall Project, there will be garage put in back—consider space for additional area there xvii. What happens to existing play structures? (nothing will be done with them—safety considerations) xviii. Suggestion: slide with a tunnel b) Board election of officers a. Kathy Chandler nominated and moved to elect Steve Selby for Chair; Leslie Rye seconded; motion was approved.  b. Leslie nominated and moved to elect Charley O’Hara as Vice-Chair; Lori Lafave seconded; motion was approved. c) Electronic participation a. Board discussed and reviewed Electronic Participation Resolution and Policy (attached). b. Charley motioned to adopt the policy; Kathy seconded; motion passed. 6. Old Business - Marybeth Connelly: smoking legislation did not pass; consider working on a “Polite Campaign” instead - Danny: will work on a social/community conscious program; will discuss further in April meeting. 7. Motion to go into a Closed Session pursuant to Virginia Session pursuant to Virginia Code §2.2-3711. (A) 10. Discussion or consideration of honorary degrees or special awards; [Recommendation for 2017 Grand Marshal] - Kathy Chandler motioned, Charley O’Hara seconded; motion passed. - Charley: I certify that we only talked about what we said we were going to talk about when we went into closed session. All said yes. 8. Adjournment Charley O’Hara motioned to adjourn the meeting and Kathy Chandler seconded the motion. Under unanimous vote, meeting adjourned at 8:45PM. 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).  RESOLUTION OF THE FALLS CHURCH RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY BOARD TO ADOPT AN ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION POLICY Whereas, the members of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board of the City of Falls Church, Virginia serve in that capacity on a volunteer basis at the same time they hold other jobs and have other obligations; and Whereas, Virginia Code section 2.2-3708.1 permits members of public bodies to participate in the meetings of those bodies from remote locations, that are not open to the public, through electronic means on a limited basis; and Whereas the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board finds that it is important for all members of Recreation and Parks Advisory Board to participate in Recreation and Parks Advisory Board meetings to the maximum extent possible, to represent the citizens of the City. Now, therefore, the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board of the City of Falls Church, Virginia adopts the attached policy on participation in meetings through electronic means. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the foregoing was adopted by the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board of the City of Falls Church, Virginia on March 1, 2017. ___Steve Selby________________________ Chair  FALLS CHURCH RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY BOARD POLICY ON PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS It is the policy of the Falls Church Recreation and Parks Advisory Board to permit participation in its meetings by all Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Members through electronic means, to the extent permitted by the Virginia Code, section 2.2-3708.1. Therefore, the following rules apply to members’ participation in meetings through electronic means: I. A member of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board may participate electronically from a remote location in a Recreation and Parks Advisory Board meeting if he or she is unable to attend that meeting due to an emergency or personal matter, provided that: A. A quorum of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board is physically assembled at the primary or central meeting location; and B. The Recreation and Parks Advisory Board votes to approve such participation as meeting the standards of this policy; and C. Arrangements have been made for the voice of the remote participant to be heard by all persons at the primary or central meeting location; and D. No member participates by electronic means from a remote location more than two (2) times in any calendar year, or 25% of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board’s meetings, whichever is fewer; and E. On or before the day of the meeting, the member of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board has notified the Chair that he or she is unable to attend the meeting due to an emergency or personal matter and identifies, with specificity, the nature of the emergency or personal matter (If it is the Chair who wishes to participate by electronic means, he or she shall notify the Vice-Chair); and F. The minutes of the meeting record the specific nature of the emergency or personal matter and the remote location from which the member participates. II. A member of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board may participate in a Recreation and Parks Advisory Board meeting or work session through electronic means if he or she is unable to attend that meeting due to a temporary or permanent disability or other medical condition that prevents the member’s physical attendance, provided that: A. A quorum of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board is physically assembled at the primary or central meeting location; and B. In each case the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board votes to approve such participation as meeting the standards of this policy; and  C. Arrangements have been made for the voice of the remote participant to be heard by all persons at the primary or central meeting location; and D. The minutes of the meeting reflect the fact that the member of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board is unable to attend due to a temporary or permanent disability or other medical condition that prevents the member’s physical presence, and also reflect the remote location from which the member participates. This policy shall be strictly and uniformly applied, without exception, to the entire membership and without regard to the identity of the member requesting remote participation, or to the matters that will be considered or voted on at the meeting. In the event the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board disapproves a member’s electronic participation, the reasons therefore shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.