The Stafford County Parks & Recreation Commission held its regular monthly meeting Thursday, January 17, 2008, at the Rowser Building. The meeting was called to order at 7:08 PM by Tom Paton.

SILENT ROLL CALL

Members                   Present   Absent                             Staff:                          Guests:
Joe Brito                                      A
Bobby Crisp                   P                                             Chris Hoppe              Harry Crisp
John Druiett                   P                                              Judy Sokolowski        Jon Fouch
Brad Eads                      P                                              Camilla Shover         Jonathan Fouch
John LeDoux                  P                                              Tim Baroody
Ken Mitchell                   P
Tom Paton                     P
Ingolf Rupp                    P
Randy Walther                P

ORGANIZE COMMISSION: ELECTION OF OFFICERS
1. Tom Paton was unanimously approved to serve as Chairman.
2. Randy Walther was unanimously approved to serve as Vice-Chairman.
3. The Commission’s Bylaws were unanimously approved without change.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
No changes were made to the November minutes; the December meeting was canceled, and members who were present at the November meeting are no longer on the Commission.

PRESENTATIONS BY PUBLIC
None.

NEW BUSINESS
None.

OLD BUSINESS
· Athletic Field Taskforce
Chris Hoppe distributed a report. John LeDoux summarized the Taskforce’s purpose and offered to answer questions. He said the report was not the Commission’s report, but it was the Taskforce’s report.

Staff was asked to provide more information about synthetic turf; John LeDoux said he had the information. It was mentioned that organizations would like to run concessions and keep the money so they could spend it on fields; these actions would require BOS approval. The Commission was asked to direct all questions to staff; the Commission is to view a DVD on synthetic turf at the next meeting.

Chris Hoppe reviewed the games/field summary and said both documents would go to the BOS in the next few months.

· Swim Lanes at Woodlands Pool Subcommittee Report
The Commission reviewed the swim lane allocation charts provided in their packets. Staff will write a policy on this subject, and the Commission will review and make recommendations.

· County-wide Master Plan for Parks & Recreation
No updates available.

PRESENTATIONS BY COMMISSIONERS
· Tom Paton said he had served as the SRSL Commissioner for five years, had been the SASA Treasurer for over 15 years, and has been on the Commission for eight years.
· John LeDoux said there was a movement by the School Board to take of or part of Courthouse Community Center; John said he did not support it.
· Bobby Crisp is a new representative for the George Washington District and a Stafford native. She is a former Science teacher and a naturalist at Caledon. She said she is anxious to learn.
· John Druiett thanked John LeDoux for chairing the Athletic Field Taskforce. He complimented Victoria Tom and Suzanne Smith on their spreadsheets for field usage. He also suggested that certificates of appreciation be sent to past Commission members.
· Ken Mitchell introduced himself as the Planning Commission representative.
· Ingolf Rupp is the new representative for the Griffis-Widewater District, moved to the U.S. from Germany in 1991, and enjoys doing things for kids.
· Brad Eads has lived in Stafford since 1999 and has two grown children who are interested in continuing to participate in parks and recreation activities.
· Randy Walther said he had been on the Commission since 2006, previously served on the FSPA Board, is interested in land acquisition for passive recreation.

STAFF REPORTS
· Bobby asked for a tour of parks and facilities and asked for staff statistics. Chris Hoppe said he would invite division managers to the next meeting so they could introduce themselves to the Commission and explain what they do.
· John LeDoux asked for a history of the number of people and the number of acres maintained by P&R staff
· Staff was asked to provide park maps of facilities in the next packet

DIRECTOR'S REPORT
· Patawomeck Park
Sod has been placed on the athletic fields by the contract required November 21 date and is being watered as needed. Ball field light poles will be erected by December 6, 2007. Irrigation well has been dug and the pump has been ordered. The domestic drinking water well is being dug. Concrete work on bleacher pads and pavilion area will begin in December, weather permitting.

· Fredericksburg-Stafford Park Authority (FSPA)
We compiled a list of work done to date at the FSPA sites and a prioritized list with costs of projects and equipment that will be required to raise the level of services at these park sites. This list includes athletic field improvements, playground equipment, and general infrastructure repair and will be shared with the FSPA Board at their December 19 meeting. The November meeting was cancelled.

· Curtis Park Asphalt Trail
The contractor has completed all work and payment of the final invoice is being processed.

· Aquia Landing Park
A public meeting will be held on December 17, 2007, 6:00 PM at the Rowser Building to get public feedback on the proposed extended use of Aquia Landing Park. The park is currently open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The proposal is to open the park year-round.

· Widewater State Park
The first public meeting on the master plan will be held on December 13 at Widewater Elementary School at 6:30 PM.

· Illegal Immigration Task Force
Public input sessions will be held on December 12 and 19 beginning at 4:00 PM and again in January on dates TBD in the Board Chambers of the County Administration Center. Organizations and groups the department works with have been invited to attend these meetings but I don’t know which meeting any of the groups are invited to attend.

· Discovery Days 2008
Discovery Days event will be held again in 2008 on August 15-17 and will highlight cultural sites in the south end of the county. Ground Zero for activities will be Pratt Park. Busses will be in constant circulation from there to Belmont in the west and Ferry Farm in the east with other stops along the way.

· Chris said he would provide Stafford district maps on 11"x17" paper for each member.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 PM.

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