PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Stafford County Parks & Recreation Commission held its regular monthly meeting Thursday, April 17, 2008 at the Rowser Building. The meeting was called to order at 7 PM by Tom Paton.
SILENT ROLL CALL
Members Present Absent Staff: Guests:
Joe Brito P Chris Hoppe Jim Lawrence
Bobby Crisp A Judy Sokolowski Barry Hill
John Druiett A Camilla Shover
Brad Eads P
Bill Hoyt P
John LeDoux P
Ken Mitchell P
Tom Paton P
Ingulf Rupp P
Randy Walther P
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Randy Walther motioned, and Bill Hoyt seconded, to approve the minutes from the March meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS BY PUBLIC
None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
OLD BUSINESS
· Widewater State Park
Chris Hoppe gave an update on the Widewater State Park master plan. He said there was no funding yet, and when money becomes available, the park will be built in phases.
· Swim Lane Allocation
Chris Hoppe explained that this policy is written in a way to allow it to be used for allocation of other facilities.
· SASA Adopt-a-Field Proposal
The Commission reviewed the proposal and suggested some changes. John LeDoux motioned, and Bill Hoyt seconded, to agree with the concept presented in the SASA Agreement, pending the County Attorney’s review. Motion carried unanimously.
· Subcommittee Reports
Commuter Parking
Joe Brito said the subcommittee did not meet and did not have a report; this topic was deferred to next meeting.
Shiloh Community Services
Bill Hoyt said the subcommittee met and submitted information to Chris Hoppe, who will send it to Dr. Quick.
· Park Facilities Master Plan
The Commission was asked to e-mail their suggestions to Joe Brito. Brad Eads asked for demographics of the county, such as projected growth, etc. Chris Hoppe said the Master Plan will be updated to include the FSPA sites; results are forthcoming. He said he would provide CD copies of the Master Plan for Commission Members who need it.
PRESENTATIONS BY COMMISSIONERS
· Bill Hoyt said he had researched “Friends of the Park” and found that several groups exist. He asked to be given direction of what we want these groups to do (i.e., open gates at Aquia Landing?), as volunteers are willing to help at sites to pick up trash, monitor fields, etc. Bill said a flagpole was donated by Paul Milde for Smith Lake Park; he and Paul will provide the solar lights. Bill said he had obtained pool supplies, maintenance supplies, etc., from Sport and Health and had asked Robert Dreistadt (with the Stafford Baseball League) to provide a list of field maintenance equipment needed, and Bill may be able to obtain via donations. Bill also volunteered to change the locks on lockers obtained from Sport and Health.
· Joe Brito said that the he and Cord Sterling (the Bond Referendum Committee) met and scheduled four meetings over the next six weeks at 6:30 PM: 4/30, 5/5, 5/13, and 5/29. He said they discussed building a trail by Dominion Power’s line. Since Dominion Power will bury their lines, they will need new easements; therefore, Joe suggested including language in the easement about trail safety issues (I-95/Mine Road to Mountain View High School).
· Randy Walther said Lanetta Schools thanked him for the fence repairs she had requested. She also said that she was going to submit her Facility Use Application and asked that the $20 application fee be waived.
· Ken Mitchell said the Planning Commission’s Comprehensive Plan was being reviewed and asked for Department information for the Plan goes to the BOS.
· Brad Eads thanked Chris Hoppe for the parks tour. He mentioned that he coaches soccer at Smith Lake Park, and three players have sprained their ankles on the turf because it’s growing in mounds.
· John LeDoux said he is looking forward to hearing from staff about what items were cut from their budgets.
· Tom Paton said he had received numerous compliments on Pratt Park. He said the playing fields look noticeably better, especially since teams have been using practice fields instead of game fields for practices. He said that staff have been very conscientious and courteous and that the park showed overall improvement. He suggested limiting use and locking the soccer goals; he said staff didn’t seem to know who is supposed to use the fields.
STAFF REPORTS
· Bill Hoyt asked how the contributions for summer camps are managed, since they don’t go directly into the General Fund.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
· Patawomeck Park
Ball fields have been mowed. Pavilion plumbing is being completed. Electrical wiring is nearing completion to be ready to energize. Trails have been paved. Parking lot paving, striping, and wheel stops should be completed the week of April 14. The park should be complete enough to open April 19 but no games are scheduled until softball in early May. Completion of the drinking water well or the play equipment will be the last item completed. Grand Opening Ceremony is scheduled for May 17, time to be determined.
· Smith Lake Park Synthetic Athletic Turf Fields
Fee proposal has been received from the most qualified design consultant and is under review.
· Shiloh
The Parks and Recreation Commission Sub-Committee members of the work group are scheduled to meet on April 14 to vet and clean up the questions to be sent to SCSC for response. SCSC will be requested to respond within two weeks. A special Parks and Recreation Commission meeting has been scheduled for May 5 at 7:00 PM at Rowser Building to make a recommendation that will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on May 6, 2008.
· SASA Adopt-A-Field Proposal
On April 7, 2008 the SASA board approved proceeding with an Adopt-A-Field proposal. This proposal will be discussed at the April 17 Commission meeting. A Commission vote is needed at the April 17th meeting to forward, if approved, to the Board of Supervisors for action on May 6.
· Commuter Parking Sub-Committee
A recommendation on this issue is not ready to be presented to the Commission at the April meeting.
· Park Facilities Master Plan
The Park Facilities Master Plan focuses on existing parks, their current state, what needs to be improved, and development of current park land that is not developed. It does not address future park acreage or facility needs. The draft Master Plan had been reviewed and endorsed by the Commission last year. Since that time the Fredericksburg Stafford Park Authority (FSPA) sites have been managed by the Department but had not been incorporated into the plan. The Master Plan needs to include the FSPA sites as thoroughly as the county park sites. The consultant who prepared the plan is currently reviewing these sites for incorporation into the plan. Copies of the current plan, not including the FSPA sites, will be provided to the new Commissioners at the April 17 Commission meeting. I am expecting a draft of the updated plan that will include the FSPA sites on 4/21. I will get the updated pages of the report to the Commissioners for review and comments. This draft will need a quick review. We will need a final report to the Board of Supervisors for presentation at their May 20, 2008 meeting. We will also be discussing trails at that meeting.
· SASA St. Patrick’s Day Tournament
Wet weather did take a couple of fields out of play for the tournament on March 15 & 16. The tournament was a success. I received a positive comment on Pratt Park, saying that it looked better than it has in several years.
· Stafford Baseball at Smith Lake Park
Staff met again with SBL to review the improvements at the two smaller baseball fields in preparation for the season and the tournament. SBL is encouraged with the condition of the fields and commented that the department is going in the right direction with the fields and our improved communication efforts.
· P&R Commission Park Tour
The parks tour did occur on April 5. Mr. Sterling, Hoyt, Eads, and Baroody and Mrs. Crisp attended.
· Red Fines Award
Although the Red Fines Awards are usually presented just before the April Commission meeting, this year CCC is not available on 4/17 so the awards will be presented on 4/23 at 7:00 PM at the CCC. The chair of the Commission usually presents the awards and all Commissioners are invited to attend. Hope to see you there.
· FY 2009 Budget
A presentation of the revised FY 2009 Budget will be made by the County Administrator to the Board of Supervisors on April 15, 2008. With the new proposed tax rate targeted the Department operating budget had to be reduced by $661,000 from the requested budget for FY 2009. This will reduce our ability to implement the athletic field improvement program. However, a number of pieces of capital equipment are still in the budget. Other impacts include: eliminating the 2009 Family Fun and Film Festival, reducing transportation for summer camps, and reducing by half the frequency of senior lunches.
· Vacant Positions
Recreation Programmer I for Community Recreation (2 positions) – One position has been filled. Remaining position is frozen.
Assistant Director – Position is frozen.
Park Maintenance District Supervisor (1 position) - Position is frozen.
Park Maintenance Worker I (2 positions) – Positions have been filled.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:57 PM.
CJH:jls
