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 February 6, 2019 1. Call to Order Charley O’Hara called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present were Bill Brew, Justin Castillo, Kathy Chandler, Letty Hardi, Kim Hicks, Charley O’Hara, and Leslie Rye. Student Representative Sonya Lu was also present. Staff members present were Danny Schlitt, Director of Recreation & Parks, Amy Youngs, Deputy Director and Amy Howell, Sr. Administrative Assistant. 2. Receipt of Public Petitions and Board Member Petitions – No Petitions 3. Minutes Bill Brew motioned to approve the January Minutes. Kathy Chandler seconded the motion. The motion was approved. Charley abstained. 4. Recreation Director’s Report Danny Schlitt presented the Director’s Report:  Registration for soccer and camps is underway  Promoting Neighborhood Float challenge to engage the community – suggestions to engage GMHS alumni and restaurants  Department will be developing and implementing a customer service plan – Charley offered to help and Kim offered to review the document  Prior to the March 6 meeting, there will be a presentation of the West Falls Church Economic Development project. Comments will be due one week later – board may hold a special meeting to prepare comments if needed. 5. New Business BudgetsFY2020  Operating Budget: With the exception of regular salaries, guidance for operating budgets was to remain flat. To balance a budget that included rising contracted costs and professional service fees, the submitted operating budget included cuts to staffing and programming.  Capital Improvements Budget: The Deputy City manager first presented the CIP to the planning commission last night. The proposed budget includes: o Master Park Improvements: The $600,000 previously scheduled for pathways for FY20 is still included but spread out over 4 years. It also includes out year funding additional master park projects to include the lights at Community Center Tennis courts and play equipment. It also recommends grant funding for out years. o Fellows Park land: $600,000 o Synthetic Turf Field Replacement: $450,000 in FY23 (GMHS) and $450,000 in out years for Larry Graves. o Lighting for Practice Field: $200,000 - shared project with FCCPS to put lights on new practice field o Open Space: $1,000,000 – currently unfunded The CIP is adopted with the operating budget in April.  The Board is required to prepare an open space report annually. Danny will send the full report to new board members. 6. Old Business - Park project updates  Big Chimneys Park – Went to the planning Commission Monday night. Once approved, construction documents are next, then get a cost from Centennial. If the cost is acceptable, we’ll go into contract for construction. Kim Callahan has left the City. Project management has been transferred to Al Astorga.  Howard E Herman – Centennial started on the berm/erosion issues – should be about 6 weeks away from street frontage – will need to discuss ribbon cutting soon.  Larry Graves Turf – postponed to summer due to bad soils – 2-5 months for construction  Downtown Plaza – Letty reported from EDA meeting last night, EDA wants to help get established – recognizes resources needed for programming and maintenance. For naming the park, community input process to involve managed by a small committee from City Council, the EDA and Advisory Board of Recreation & Parks. Community will be able to submit suggestions and the committee will take the suggestions to City Council. Park should open in April/May. Charley and Bob Young met a few weeks ago to discuss programming abilities at the park. Hoping to have EDA fund a part time person to manage the programming.  No smoking project – Sonya sent letter to the editor and is speaking at the City Council meeting on February 11.  Monthly school project update - Next big work session is Feb 19 and design documents will be turned in March 1. Continuing Sunday Town halls.  MOU is being worked on – have a staff meeting tomorrow to go through it with staff. We will then meet with FCCPS. 7. Adjournment Leslie Rye motioned to adjourn the meeting and Bill Brew seconded the motion. Under unanimous vote, meeting adjourned at 8:30PM. 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).