City Council

AGENDA Spencer Parks and Recreation DATE Advisory Board October 1, 2025 Regular Meeting 10:30 a.m. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. Regular meetings focus on action items, departmental reports, and other business. This meeting is open to the public and is held in the Hilda B. Palmer Board Room at Town Hall, located at 460 South Salisbury Avenue. Please find meeting agendas, minutes, and other information at spencernc.gov/town-government-and- services/appointed-boards-and-commissions/parks-recreation-advisory-board. 1. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Bob Pendergrass 2. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – September 3, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes 4. INFORMATIONAL UPDATE – Outdoor Economy Conference; Chair Bob Pendergrass and Town Clerk Anna K. Ward 5. OTHER BUSINESS • Town Park Update – Special Projects Planner Joe Morris • Race to the River Update – Vice Chair Dionne Dixon 6. OLD BUSINESS • Fishing Policy Update – Special Projects Planner Joe Morris • Other items of discussion 7. DETERMINE NEXT MEETING DATE 8. ADJOURNMENT  MINUTES Spencer Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Regular Meeting September 3, 2025 The Town of Spencer Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met in regular session to conduct a regular meeting in the Hilda B. Palmer Board Room at the Spencer Town Hall on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 10:34 a.m. Present were: Chair Bob Pendergrass Vice Chair Dionne Dixon Secretary Vivian Koontz Member Jim Gobbel Member Jack Moore Member Phip Sparger Also present were: Town Clerk Anna Kanode Ward, and Special Projects Planner Joe Morris, and Planning & Zoning Administrator Steve Blount. Chair Pendergrass called the meeting to order. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS Action Member Gobbel moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Member Sparger seconded the motion, which carried by a vote of 5 – 0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – August 6, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes Action Vice Chair Dixon moved to approve the approve the minutes of the August 6, 2025 meeting. Member Gobbel seconded the motion, which carried by a vote of 5 – 0. INFORMATIONAL UPDATE – Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Grant Special Projects Planner Morris reported the Town received a PARTF Grant to fund a restroom facility at future Spencer Woods recreation center. The project will be bid early next year. A Spencer police officer is temporarily residing on site on a month-to-month basis with Board of Aldermen approval, allowing for utilities to be maintained until construction begins. Secretary Koontz entered the boardroom at 10:39 a.m. INFORMATIONAL UPDATE – Proposed Entertainment District and Bike Lanes Extension Planning & Zoning Administrator Blount gave a presentation regarding the proposed entertainment district and bike lane extension and answered questions from the Board. Concepts he addressed included expanded outdoor dining, alleyway use, and design standards. The Board discussed zoning, historic preservation, water/sewer extension policies, and the need for a professional designer/master plan. Members emphasized visual renderings and community support as critical for grant applications. Mr. Blount also presented on extending bike lanes on Salisbury Avenue (US Hwy 29) to the Yadkin River and adding lanes on Whitehead/Jefferson as part of future NCDOT resurfacing projects. He reviewed benefits (safety, connectivity, health, economic development) and noted around $10,000 in Town funds will be needed for design work. Members discussed safety, particularly protected lanes near schools, and the role of bike/pedestrian infrastructure in attracting new residents. OTHER BUSINESS • Spencer Town Park: o Dedication ceremony scheduled for October 7, 2025 in conjunction with National Night Out. o The August 30 Street Dance was the first non-municipal event held at the park. • Race to the River: o Event scheduled for October 18, 2025, part of Rowan Creek Week. o Activities include festival, food trucks, vendors, the 5k, Fun Run, a bike rodeo, and live performance by Liam Pendergrass. o Food Lion will donate water/fruit; other local businesses approached for food donations. o Volunteers and large yard games still being sought. • Library Maintenance: o AC unit replacement required; staff seeking funding. o Gutters cleaned by contractor with bucket truck due to staff equipment limits. • Proposed Fishing Policy – Spencer Woods: o Chair Pendergrass noted frequent fishing despite posted restrictions. o Discussion included past conservation easement prohibitions, liability, and management challenges. o Options: permits, limited hours, dock-only access. o Members raised concerns about covenant restrictions, staffing capacity, and trash/maintenance issues. o Consensus of the board to table the item for future discussion. • Upcoming Events: o Trunk or Treat scheduled for October 31, 2025. ADJOURNMENT Member Gobbel moved to adjourn the meeting. Vice Chair Dixon seconded the motion, which carried by a vote of 6 – 0. The meeting stood adjourned at 12:08p.m. Approved by: Attest: Bob Pendergrass, Chair Anna Kanode Ward, Town Clerk