Recreation & Parks Advisory Board

Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks Meeting Wednesday, April 7, 2021, 2021 v 7:00 P.M. DRAFT MINUTES Virtual Meeting: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup- join/19%3ameeting_YzA4YmY0MzgtMTFiZC00ODE4LWJlMDItMGUwODVjZTJlZWZl%40thre ad.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2273ba5b04-4ace-4ae3-a6b2- 65cbc403418b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2296a4bfd6-5c8a-4d69-8aa5-b5916d151828%22%7d 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 Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Meeting (Virtual Meeting) (granicus.com) PLEASE NOTE: This meeting will be conducted using Microsoft Teams. Don't have the Teams app? You can still join a Teams meeting. See the instructions attached to this meeting agenda. Please email ayoungs@fallschurchva.gov if you need assistance with installation. During the meeting, staff will likely not be available to assist with installation.  Call to Order Charley O’Hara called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present were Charley O’Hara, Chair, Leslie Rye, Vice Chair, School Board member Laura Downs, Kim Hicks, City Council Liaison Letty Hardi, Jenna Schroeder, and Liz Weatherly. Student Representatives Thomas Downs and Nate Kusic were also present. Staff members present were Danny Schlitt, Director Recreation & Parks, and Amy Youngs, Deputy Director Recreation & Parks.  Reading of Virtual Meeting Notice  Receipt of Public Petitions and Board Member Petitions No Public Petitions or Board Member Petitions  Minutes for Approval: March 3, 2021 Motion to approve minutes as amended by Kim Hicks, Seconded by Leslie Rye Approved 6-0  New Business  Berman Park Street Crossings 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).   Kerri Oddenino presented on behalf of CPEDS with Che-Wei (Vince) Yi of Toole Design Group’s consulting team  Questions/Comments/Recommendations included: - Recommendation to evaluate Kent & Ellison on-street parking reduction impact on community. Recommendation of a community discussion when further along in the planning process. - City project team recommends Irving Street Option 1 due to appearance and reduced loss of parking. - City project team recommends S. Spring Street Option 2. - Recommendation of a cost-benefit analysis comparison for raised versus at-grade crosswalks at all intersections. - Concern raised over maintaining a cohesive park feel in regard to thermoplastics and/or stamped concrete crosswalks. - Spring Street path is within the Boy Scout conservation easement held by NVCT. Realigning the asphalt trail will require moving the trail within the conservation easement. Will need to ensure this does not violate the conservation easement. - Recommendation to look into traffic patterns to prioritize planning. - End of April deadline for comments on project.  Directors Report  Currently not renting space inside the Community Center. Outdoor rentals continue.  Open Gym continues for City residents by reservation. The Teen Center is also open to City residents by reservation.  Community Building is open for limited use. Sign-in required for contact tracing and health checks are required for program participants.  Easter Bunny Hop and kits for purchase were well received.  Mayor’s Fitness Challenge registration has been a success.  Live Memorial Day ceremony scheduled for 11 am.  4th Scavenger Hunt hosted in relation to Memorial Day  Virtual Fun Run  Parade through the streets with no in-person attendance.  Possibility of additional events/entertainment.  Summer Camp Registration has been strong.  Spring Break Camp and Professional Day Camp went well.  RecConnect program ended March 26.  Pre-school program has be discontinued due to low enrollment.  Pre-school camps will continue with plans to add daytime pre-school classes in the future.  Early release program for Mount Daniel and Thomas Jefferson students started April 7.  Soccer program underway with practices and inter-squad scrimmages.  July 4th event will not be happening this year; alternative activities will be planned.  Old Business  Equity in parks – Link to layered map – Link to funding data.  Recommendation to evaluate annually.  Recommendation to continually use an equity lens in all decision making.  Suggestion to add all sources of funding as well as bike share resources to the layered map.  Suggestion to compare the funding in each section to diversity of area and accessibility and distance to parks.  Suggestion to add an age layer in order to best serve residents with varying generational needs.  Concern raised over lack of ADA accessible equipment in parks.  Recommendation to encourage diversity in recruitment of coaching staff, ensuring language accessibility in programs, equity training for coaches, scholarship options and a statement on diversity and inclusion on the website and in the program brochure.  Question on increasing language diversity among staff during future recruitment.  Recommendation to examine the possibility to collaborate with representatives from school staffed ESOL Committee and/or Health and Wellness Committee on best ways expand access and engage non-English speakers.  Voluntary Concession and funding will be evaluated for further Recreation and Parks improvement projects.  Berman Park is next in line for improvement.  Fee reduction program  Need to address specific barriers to participation in programs.  Assess if funding can be used to assist in individual participants transportation to practices or the purchase of gift cards to purchase sport equipment for participants.  Examine funding from the Education Foundation to cover gaps that City funding cannot be used for.  Examine the possibility of adding and promoting a donation option to the City of Falls Church webpage.  Recommendation to add clarification to existing donation option on the Recreation & Parks registration page, OCOM communicating this information and including it in the monthly newsletter.  Water-poof boxes to be added at tennis courts with tennis and pickle ball equipment to aid in participation.  Fellows Property Master Park Planning Process  Plan to host a meeting or special meeting on site.   Recommendation for Board to schedule a walkthrough in May. Schedule a special meeting on-site in late May/early June for pre-registered community members, Board members and the Arborist.  Recommendation of a site meeting with the Arborist, Green Space Manager or Urban Forestry for input on additional specimen trees.  Big Chimneys Update  Question on picnic table delivery timeline.  Additional seating options to be added in the future after assessing park use.  Shirley St. entrance water retention rocks to be addressed.  Recommendation to include park gateways to virtual art walk developed by Arts and Humanities Council with EDA and student representatives.  Adjournment  Laura Downs motioned to adjourn, Jenna Schroeder Seconded the motion. All approved. Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks Staff liaison: Amy Youngs, 703-248-5137 (TTY711), ayoungs@fallschurchva.gov