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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PRAB - 03-18-2010MEETING MINUTES CITY OF MILTON PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Thursday, March 18th, 2010 11:30 a.m. Executive Conference Room CALL TO QR—DER Meeting was called to order by Chair Mark Reed at 11:36 a.m. ROLL CALL Roll call was taken by Mark Reed. MEMBERS PRESENT Mark Reed Jack Flowers Lauren Jackson Sabrina Moore Sandy Sheley Scott Stachowski (via conference call) OTHERS PRESENT Cyndee Bonacci, Milton. Parks and Recreation Director Gina Schwendel, Milton Grows Green/Earth Day Festival Chair Quorum announced by Mark Reed APPROVAL OF PAST MINUTES Motion to approve minutes of the February 181h meeting was made and seconded. The vote was unanimous and motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT None NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS a) Cyndee Bonacci introduced Gina Schwendel, representing Milton Grows Green, to give an update on the City's first Earth Fest. Gina stated that the green event would be held on April 17 at Birmingham Park from ii a.m. until 2 p.m. The event will include vendors in the categories of aero -waste food, solar energy, green products, sustainability, outdoor recreation, and recycling. The event will focus on environmental education for children. She said that the budget for the event was a consideration on the types of offerings they could include this year. They want to get input from the Advisory Board regarding appropriate promotion of the park and what uses should be encouraged that day. Cyndee suggested advertising that the park is located behind Fire Station 41. Gina stated that Jason Wright would be helping with the promotion. Sandy Sheley advised not to encourage citizens to bring bikes. Lauren Jackson also stated that some areas should not be included in the nature walks due to limited accessibility. Cyndee agreed to identify a nature walk path and have directional signage for the event. Cyndee said she would be at the event answering general questions about parks and recreation and if anyone wanted to volunteer an hour of time during the event to let her know. b) Mark Reed asked Cyndee to provide an update on the Needs Assessment Survey. Each member of the Board communicated that they had not received the survey yet. Cyndee explained that there was a glitch at the mail house and half of the surveys went out on Monday and half went out on Tuesday. Cyndee stated that citizens should be receiving them over the next two days. Cyndee also asked the members to remind their friends and neighbors about the survey. Mark asked if we would be sending out reminders. Cyndee added that Jason Wright would be sending out regular reminders until the return date of April 12. c) Mark asked about the status of the Trail Plan. Cyndee thanked the members for responding to her email request for input regarding the proposed transition to parks and recreation. She provided a staff report to the Mayor and Council. The discussion will take place at a specially called work session on Monday, March 22. They are welcome to attend. Lauren commented that the input Cyndee received should be one small component of the final decision made and that ultimately the big picture should be what matters. Sandy provided some updates since she also serves on the Bike and Pedestrian Path Committee. The consensus of the members was in support of transitioning the Trail Plan to parks and recreation and all were willing to help as needed going forward. Cyndee stated there were several options to consider. d) Lauren asked why the discussion of the Pattern Book had returned to the agenda. Cyndee stated that it was mentioned briefly at the last meeting and at some point we needed to establish specific designs for things like benches, trash cans, etc. The patterns included are options, but we need to narrow down the selection. She mentioned that HYA plans to add a few memorial benches at Bell Memorial Park in the near future and that wood may not be the best option. Lauren recommended Scott and Cyndee talk with the family and make a preliminary selection, then run it by the Board for final okay. All members agreed that due to the unique nature of memorial benches that they may differ slightly from standards for other park benches. Sandy asked if the Pattern Book was online. Cyndee said she didn't think so, but she could email copies. She also offered to print hard copies. Cyndee asked the members to let her know if they needed a hard copy. COMMITTEE REPORTS a) Finance — No report b) Partnerships -- Lauren mentioned that Cyndee had an update under Staff Reports. c) Communications — Lauren suggested that we work with the Milton Business Alliance to connect recreation businesses to other businesses in Milton. Cyndee stated that she had recently received a contact for someone there. Sabrina asked that Cyndee provide her with the person's name and contact information after the meeting and she would follow up. CITY STAFF REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a) Cyndee gave a series of brief updates to the Board. She stated that planning for Memorial Day on May 31 is going well. Our keynote speaker will be Brigadier General Maria Britt, Commanding General of the Georgia Nation Guard and the first 2 commissioned female general in Georgia. She also mentioned she was working to get a second vocalist. Lauren suggested a school choir. Mark thought that was a good idea as well since parents will attend to hear their children. Cyndee said the theme for the Middle School essay contest would be "Remember to Remember". Lauren suggested that next year we expand the essay contest to the private schools and possible home- schooled students. Cyndee stated that the Milton Roundup Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 24 at 6 p.m. in the Executive Conference Room. Any member of the Board is welcome to attend and get involved. The new topographic survey has been completed for Bell Memorial Park. Three key areas will be addressed for drainage improvements. Some of this work may take place during baseball season, but most likely it will occur during the summer or after the fall season. The 7th District of the Georgia Recreation and Park Association approved recommending Milton Parks and Recreation as a new member agency with GRPA at the meeting held on March to in Blairsville. This recommendation will be presented at the GRPA Board meeting on March 30 in Hall County. Cyndee does not foresee any problems going forward. Cyndee is waiting for a returned call from Joseph Clements who is the Executive Director of Facility Services with Board of Education. She wants to meet with him to discuss the various facilities at each of the schools that may be available for the City to use for programs. She is hoping to have IGAs in place by this fall. Cyndee invited members of the Board to attend the meeting and Lauren and Mark expressed interest. Promotional materials for the 16th Annual North Fulton Golden Games are now available. She reiterated that anyone over the age of 60 may participate in a variety of events and contests. The Games will be meld during the month of May in several locations throughout North Fulton. Lauren suggested the City forward the information to each HDA. Cyndee said she would follow up with Jason Wright about that. Cyndee will attend the Park Pride Parks and Greenspace Conference at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on March 22. This will be her first time attending. If it goes well, she may recommend that members of the Board attend in the future. OTHER BUSINESS Lauren asked about the status of Providence Park. Cyndee stated as far as she knew we are still on track to gain possession of the park this fall or at least by the end of the year. She also said that after a request of the City, Fulton County did secure the building and do some clean-up and general maintenance on the property. Lauren also mentioned that she had met with the Athletic Director at Milton High School and he communicated that he was interested in our progress regarding the IGAs with the schools. 3 NEXT REGULAR MEETING DATE Thursday, April Wh, 11:30 a.m. LOCATION OF MEETING The location of the meetings will be the Executive Conference Room at City Hall. ADJ 14MENT Motion and Vote: A motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Lauren Jackson and seconded by Sandy Sheley. The vote was unanimous and motion carried. The City of Milton Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting adjourned at 1:33 p.m. DATE APPROVED: Mark Reed, Chair Milton Parks & Recreation Advisory Board 4