The Stafford County Parks & Recreation Commission held its regular monthly meeting Thursday, January 18, 2007, at the Rowser Building. The meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM by Chris Hoppe.

SILENT ROLL CALL

Members Present Absent Staff: Guests:
Jack Cavalier P Chris Hoppe KJ Mushung
Larry Checca P Cindy Huntley
John Druiett P
John LeDoux P
Eric Lindner P
Ken Mitchell P
Tom Paton P
Robert Ray A
Brian Robinson A
Randy Walther P

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Randy Walther motioned, and Ken Mitchell seconded, to approve the minutes from the December meeting. Motion passed unanimously.

PRESENTATIONS BY PUBLIC
None.

OLD BUSINESS
· Master Plan
The Master Plan does not cover Government Island, Crow’s Nest, land acquisition, or the Fredericksburg-Stafford Park Authority sites. The Department would like feedback in the next couple of weeks before the public meeting that is tentatively scheduled for the end of February or the beginning of March. We would like commission representation at the Clough Harbour led presentation. John LeDoux asked for clarification on the “Profile and Labor” graphic. Chris Hoppe said he would obtain the information and share it with the Commission. Larry Checca suggested using radio interviews or voice-overs on cable channel ads to spread information about the Master Plan. Chris Hoppe suggested including it in the county website and newspaper ads.

NEW BUSINESS
None.

PRESENTATIONS BY COMMISSIONERS
· Ken Mitchell shared information about the proposed Stafford Town Station, a mixed-use development that includes affordable housing, and asked for comments from Commission members. (the development would be located off Eskimo Hill Road at Route 1.). This is a rezoning, and the plans are preliminary, which include a 2 ½ mile walking trail, four fields (soccer and baseball) and a 44,000 sq. foot aquatics center. John Druiett expressed a need for bringing parks to the people and that the Hartwood district needs its own pool. Tom Paton said that there would be insufficient park facilities for the large number of new residents in this proposed project. Ken Mitchell said he would take the Commission’s comments to the Planning Commission meeting in February.

· John LeDoux asked staff to research documents generated by the Commission in the last few years regarding cluster guidelines, rezoning, proffers, and provide the approved wording to the Commissioners. He said that a “Towering Concerns” meeting had been set for January 25 to discuss power lines and power line easements in Stafford County, and the Commission needed to begin planning for the new bond.

· Eric Lindner asked if Eagle projects are available in the county. Tom Paton mentioned that Willowmere has trees and shrubs that need work.

· Tom Paton said he had received calls about the power line. Chris Hoppe said staff would attend the Towering Concerns meeting on January 25.

· Randy Walther said that the FSPA update can be a big issue. John LeDoux said 15 years ago, FSPA got a consultant who said that Stafford County should maintain the parks. Jack Cavalier agreed that the parks would remain as parks and be maintained, but nothing had been decided yet.

· Jack Cavalier said all the other bonds outside Stafford County passed, and that we were the only ones with an organized opposition group. He said projects must now go into the CIP. He suggested making parks a priority in the CIP. Chris Hoppe said if a new bond referendum is desired, the decision should be made early, at least 11 months in advance of the ballot.

· John Druiett asked about the possibility of Woodlands’ dome collapsing, especially if a tree falls on it. Chris reassured him that it takes 45 minutes to deflate, but staff needs to look and determine the ownership of the tree in question. John said that school funding is more important than an aquatics center, and he believes that is why the bond failed. He also said that the County needs to do a better job of “presenting the facts” for the next bond referendum.

· Tom Paton said the group that opposed the bond overshadowed the “pro-bond group.” Larry Checca said he thought the transportation bond negatively affected the park bond.

· Larry Checca said December 19 was the Comprehensive Plan presentation, and the final draft will be available to the public about mid-April. Another presentation would be given on Monday, January 22, and Larry will share this information at the next Commission meeting.

· John Druiett asked if the Commissioners could be notified when parks and recreation issues go before the BOS. Chris Hoppe said Commissioners could be e-mailed.

· Tom Paton said that the SRSL name and website had been retired. The new formal name is Stafford Area Soccer Association (SASA). He also said that Stafford Soccer has a new web page at www.staffordsoccer.com

STAFF REPORTS
Randy Walther and Larry Checca asked about the decreased number of teams for basketball.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT
· Patawomeck Park
The second submission of the site plan is tentatively scheduled for January 23. Meetings were held with Department staff and representatives of Burgess & Niple in December to incorporate any changes/omissions to the site plan and technical specifications. With final site plan approval, the tentative plan is to advertise for bids in late February.

· Woodlands Pool Anti-Deflation System
We continue to work with the Planning and Code Enforcement Departments on the submitted design for an anti-deflation pole and wire support system for the fabric dome. Once preliminary permitting approval is received, we will request Purchasing to bid this work as expeditiously as possible.

· Master Plan
Staff received a hard copy of the final draft of the Departmental Master Plan in early January from Clough, Harbour. Copies will be distributed Commission members at the January meeting. Public meetings will be scheduled for February to solicit input on the final draft, and following input from the Commission, an endorsement by the BOS is anticipated in April 2007.

· Aquia Landing
The next meeting, scheduled for January 16, will be with County Attorney staff to discuss issues regarding liability and beach concerns. Once these issues are resolved, a recommendation will be sent to the Commission for review. Any major budgetary impacts would be reflected in the upcoming FY08 budget process and reviewed by the BOS for approval.

· On-Line Registration
Our software consultant will be onsite February 6 & 7 to help us begin the process of preparing for internet registration; our target date to go “live” is May 1.

· Smith Lake & Autumn Ridge Infield Work
Work was completed in December to remove the infield turf on Smith Lake Park # 2 & 3 and Autumn Ridge Park and replace them with a safer, more cost-effective skinned infield. Each of those 60’ baseball fields experienced vast areas of dead or distressed turf due to acidic soil conditions, poor internal drainage of the soil, or inappropriate grading. In mid-February these fields will be examined to determine what settling has occurred, affecting the grade and slope. Final work will be completed in late February, allowing for un-interrupted play in spring 2007.

· Supplemental Signage for Park Sites
Beginning the second week of January, supplemental road signs will be installed to assist citizens in finding various park sites. These signs will be installed for Duff Green, Smith Lake and Willowmere Parks. They will be similar to the directional signage located throughout the County for Aquia Landing and Curtis Park.

· Fredericksburg-Stafford Park Authority
Staff has been compiling information on the feasibility of our Department operating all Fredericksburg-Stafford Park Authority (FSPA) sites located within Stafford County. Discussions among the City of Fredericksburg, Stafford County, and the FSPA Board will be held to determine the future of the park sites. The FSPA recently lost the services of its Consulting Manager and his interim replacement, and it is a concern to both localities how daily operations of the park sites will be supervised.

· The SBL requested field changes to Rowser, Duff #2, Smith Lake #2, and Willowmere #2 to change the 60’ base paths to 70’. This will require extending the area of the infield by +/- 10’ at all the parks except Duff.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.

RGS:clh