Recreation & Parks Advisory Board

MINUTES REGULAR MEETING OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF RECREATION AND PARKS FALLS CHURCH COMMUNITY CENTER, KENNETH R. BURNETT BUILDING, 223 LITTLE FALLS STREET, FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA 22046 March 4, 2020. 7:00 P.M. 1. Call To Order Charley O’Hara called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present were Charley O’Hara, Leslie Rye, Kathy Chandler, School Board Representative Laura Downs, City Council Liaison Letty Hardi, and Planning Commission representative, Melissa Teates. Student Representative Emma Roncoroni was also present. Danny Schlitt, Director Recreation & Parks and Amy Youngs, Deputy Director, Recreation & Parks was present. 2. Receipt of Public Petitions and Board Member Petitions - None 3. Minutes for Approval: February 5, 2020. Motion to approve the minutes by Leslie Rye, seconded by Melissa Teates. All approved. 4. Recreation Directors Report  Summer camp registrations effected by WebTrac going down temporarily.  New Program Supervisor, Ryan Amato started this week.  No major changes to departmental operating budget. The Planning Commission has approved the CIP. 5. New Business A. Washington Gas project at West End Park  Relocate two aboveground Washington Gas regulators from the George Mason High School Campus to West End Park.  Board would like to minimize the easement as much as possible.  Washington Gas is doing this project on behalf of the developer of the West End Commercial Project. It will be the developer, not Washington Gas,that will replace shrubbery and restore the park.  Regulators are so far into the park because Washington Gas require 55’ before the first regulator, 25’ between the two and 20’ after the second regulator.  Construction will take 4-6 months - would like to start beginning of May.  Advisory Board wants to know: o What is the minimum they can get by with o A plan for the replanting shrubbery and restoring the park o Written agreement from developer with amount of money they will commit to restoring it and assurances that the archway will be returned to its original condition – needs to come from the developer. Sign is not within the easement and must come down for vehicles to get in. o Plan for staging. o Holistic pedestrian zone considering nearby Metro closures and other construction projects.  Sue Long will follow up on questions and share plans once she has them. 6. Old Business A. Big Chimneys – working on determining the status of a Dominion Power Line that runs through the park. Issue has been elevated to the Assistant City Manager. Purchase orders are open and contracts have been signed. B. Fellows Property – A letter notifying neighbors about the house demolition has been mailed. Asbestos was found in the house. Asbestos removal is beginning tomorrow and should be completed by Friday. We hope to have our first community meeting in April. The community should be notified of the interim plan/library parking. Danny will forward the neighbor letter to the Advisory Board. C. School Project Updates- on time and on budget. Will have more details at the next meeting. The City will not hold the annual fireworks event this year. A historic family-friendly scavenger hunt is planned for July 4th. D. No Smoking Campaign – Emma Roncoroni and Danny Schlitt will continue to see where better signage is needed. A new law permits no smoking in outdoor music venues. We may be able to list Cherry Hill as a music venue and ban smoking. E. Wayfinding/Branding – Board is in favor of an oval shape, using our new logo and recommends waiting until citywide wayfinding plans – consider using same color scheme. 7. Closed Session pursuant to Virginia Code §2.2-3711. (A) 10. Discussion or consideration of honorary degrees or special awards; [Recommendation for 2020 Grand Marshal]  Melissa Teates motioned that the board go into closed session, Leslie Rye seconded; a unanimous voice vote motion passed.  At conclusion of closed session, Charley O’Hara stated: “I certify that we only talked about what we said we were going to talk about when we went into closed session.” A unanimous voice vote motion passed. 8. Adjournment - Leslie Rye motioned to adjourn, Kathy Chandler Seconded the motion, All approved The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call (703)248-5077.