Recreation & Parks Advisory Board

ADVISORY BOARD OF RECREATION AND PARKS MEETING MINUTES Virtual Meeting - https://meet.lync.com/fallschurch-fallschurchva/amaltese/GTT2FQ3R Wednesday, September 2, 2020  7:00 P.M. NOTICE: This virtual meeting of the Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks was held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. All participating members of the Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks were present at this meeting through electronic means. All members of the public may view this video of this meeting on the City’s website at https://fallschurch-va.granicus.com/player/clip/1276?view_id=2&redirect=true 1. Call to Order Charley O’Hara called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Members present were Charley O’Hara, Leslie Rye, Kim Hicks, City Council Liaison Letty Hardi, and School Board member Laura Downs. Student Representatives Emma Roncoroni and Nate Kusic were also present. Staff members present were Danny Schlitt, Director Recreation & Parks and Amy Youngs, Deputy Director Recreation & Parks. 2. Receipt of Public Petitions and Board Member Petitions  Eleven emails were received and summarized. Ten emails in reference to preserving the Fellows Property, and one email in reference to the Fellows property survey.  Bruce Byers – public comment regarding the survey being biased toward active recreation and requesting information on future public engagement and timeline on project.  Cherri Harris – interested in timeline for decision making and preserving trees  One additional email came in before 7:30 requesting to keep Fellows Property natural setting 3. Recreation Directors Report  Two new student representatives, Nate Kusic and Thomas Downs. Emma Roncoroni will continue as well.  Park amenities are open with covid signage. Shelter rentals and Commercial Activity Permits are being processed.  Summary of building operations and fall programming. The Community Center is open only for programming. Fall classes and our e-Learning program, REC CONNECT will begin soon. Several staff still working remotely.  The department has processed nearly $500,000 in refunds since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.  We have canceled Falls Church Festival and Halloween Carnival. We are running sunset cinemas and preregistration is required. We are looking at alternatives for Halloween Carnival. We are planning to offer another scavenger hunt.  Summer camps ran smoothly for the 8 weeks of Summer Fun and July and August contracted camps.  Summer classes were held virtually and outdoors. 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.   Fall preschool was canceled but we are running a virtual learning center. Care funding is supplementing the cost of the program and FCCPS is providing bussing for some participants.  Fall soccer has been modified. They will scrimmage against themselves versus playing other teams.  No adult sports at this time.  Farmers Market protocols from March are in place. Some onsite purchases are now permitted.  Senior programming is in the works for the fall.  Department newsletter will be released monthly this fall.  Continue looking forward to what we can offer safely. 4. New Business West Falls Church Economic Development Presentation Carly Aubrey, Community Planning and Economic Development, Amy Friedlander, EYA; Robin Bettarel and Andrea Dudney from Hoffman and Associates, and Landscape Architect Gabriella Canamar Clark from Land Design Comments/Questions: Laura Downs – question about Phase II office building and parking Leslie Rye – concerns about parking in phase II, future overflow parking Council Member Letty Hardy – has intersection design been approved? *Use of school ball fields needs to be clarified and Recreation and Parks should be involved in conversations detailing community access to the fields. Charley O’Hara - Addition of swings and climbing structures is a small step towards active recreation. Response: Amenity courtyards are still a work in progress and will include appropriate amenities. Apartment buildings will have a pool. Focus on ageless play. Board requested inclusion of a tot lot. Dog relief stations are small. Requests a dog run be added. EYA believes dog relief areas are sufficient. Hoffman and Associates notes that a dog run is planned for the Lamada site and small run may be included in the apartment building. Guest – Cherri Harris asked about pedestrian sidewalk on Leesburg Pike side of the development and suggested additional planting along busy roads. Carly will compile notes to include to City Council. This topic was discussed again at the end of the meeting. Leslie Rye moved to combine tonight’s comments with the April 3, 2019 comments for submission. Kim Hicks seconded the motion. All members voted yes. Danny Schlitt will have Charley approve the final comments prior to submission. 5. Motion to adjust agenda order All members voted yes. 6. Old Business A) Park project updates 1. Big Chimneys – Some concrete has been poured. We had about a ten-week delay due to a utility issue and Mother Nature. We expect some amenities to be installed in the next three weeks. The historic interpretation sign which will go on the back of the gateway sign was shared with the board.  School Board Member Laura Downs – question about parking. It is intended to be a walk-to park. City Council Member Letty Hardi – question about traffic calming. The road will be narrowed but most of the traffic calming will come from a future public works project. Charley O’Hara – question about completion. Landscaping is still expected to be completed this fall. Our goal is November. 2. Fellows Property – CIP design funding is available. FY21 funding will not be bonded for another few months. The next step is community meetings for input before we can create a master park plan. The board decided to hold a virtual public input meeting in November. B) School project update 1. On time and on budget. Still planning to move in over winter break. C) No smoking campaign – Danny will coordinate with all student representatives. They will also look towards advocating for state legislation. D) Gun ordinance – As of July 1, Richmond legislation permitted local jurisdictions to ban open carry of guns. The new ordinance will go into effect in November in the City of Falls Church and includes special events and farmers markets, parks and the Community Center. The City is working on signage. 7. Election of Officers Leslie Rye nominated Charley O’Hara for Chair. Kim Hicks seconded the nomination. All members voted yes. Charley O’Hara abstained. Kim Hicks nominated Leslie Rye as Vice Chair. Laura Downs seconded the nomination. All members voted yes. Leslie Rye abstained. 8. Adjournment Kim Hicks moved to Adjourn, Laura Downs, 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 703-248-5027 (TTY711).