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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Parks and Recreation Advisory Board - 3/11/2008 MINUTES ORO VALLEY PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD (PRAB) REGULAR SESSION DEVELOPMENT SERVICES BUILDING HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM 11000 N. LA CANADA DRIVE ORO VALLEY, ARIZONA 85737 TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2008 REGULAR SESSION CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Dennis Ottley, Chair Lyra Done, Vice-Chair Bob DeLaney, Board Member Robert Evans, Board Member Margot Hurst, Board Member (Arrived at 6:33 p.m.) Susannah Myerson, Board Member(Arrived at 7:22 p.m.) Greg Roberts, Board Member TOWN COUNCIL: Terry Parish, Council Member STAFF PRESENT: Ainsley Reeder, Parks and Recreation Director Robert Carmona, Assistant Recreation Manager Art Cuaron, Financial Analyst Nancy Ellis, Multimodal Coordinator Stacey Lemos, Finance Director Catherine Vorrasi, Aquatics Manager Ms. Reeder introduced Catherine Vorrasi, Aquatics Manager and Robert Carmona, Assistant Recreation Manager. Ms. Vorrasi and Mr. Carmona discussed their backgrounds. 1. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 12, 2008 STUDY SESSION AND REGULAR SESSION MINUTES MOTION: Member DeLaney MOVED to approve the minutes from the February 12, 2008 study session and regular session minutes as amended. Vice-Chair Done SECONDED the motion. Motion passed 6-0. CALL TO AUDIENCE Chair Ottley opened the Call to Audience Oro Valley resident, Bill Adler, stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission has submitted a work plan which includes a revision of the recreation code. The recreation code requires a subdivision to set aside one acre per every 85 units but the Town no longer has subdivision plats larger than 85 units. He stated that the recreation code should be revised as an overall effort to prepare the Town for negotiations regarding state land. 3/11/08 Minutes, Parks&Recreation Advisory Board The Development Review Board and Town Council has increasingly had projects presented to them for subdivision plats and frequently the developer asks for an in lieu fee. The in lieu fee is in the code and it gives the developer the option to pay the appraised value of the space rather than setting aside recreation space. In lieu fees were created to purchase park land but funds have been too little, so it has been used to enhance the parks. Mr. Adler requested that PRAB pay special attention to this issue and support recreation space. Chair Ottley closed the Call to Audience 2. PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD LIAISON COUNCIL MEMBER REPORT Council Member Parish encouraged the Board to also pay attention to Arroyo Grande and the open space that the Town is working towards designating in that area. If it became part of the town, the open space could fall under the Parks and Recreation Department, so it is something PRAB needs to be aware of in contemplating those impacts. Council Member Parish stated that the Planning and Zoning work plan funding issue may be a challenge and he suggested that this Board follow that issue as well and take a position, if so inclined. He stated that the Town Council appreciates the Board's hard work. 3. UPCOMING MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS • Ainsley Reeder will be out of the office Monday, March 17 through Tuesday, March 18. • Town Council Meeting Study Session on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. regarding the alcohol policy • Next PRAB Meeting is tentatively Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hopi Room • Honeybee Wall Dedication on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. • Town Council Study Session on March 12, 2008 regarding the Arroyo Grande issue. 4. USER FEES STRUCTURE UPDATE—DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION Mr. Cuaron reviewed the policy. The cost recovery pyramid model scales the activity benefit from individual to community. He reviewed the revisions made since the last meeting. Parks and Recreation staff met with Finance and discussed the language in the policy regarding differentiating prices for children and seniors programs. They concluded that those programs should be reflected in the philosophy that is outlined in the pyramid system. If PRAB wishes to pursue the special pricing issue, it may be forwarded to Town Council as a separate recommendation. Mr. Cuaron stated that we are on par with the fee amounts compared to other jurisdictions (Marana, Tucson, and Pima County). The policy currently states that all fees will be reviewed biannually by Parks and Recreation. In a study session with Town Council on March 12th, Finance plans to recommend that fees are reviewed annually to maintain consistency with the financial policies. 2 3/11/08 Minutes, Parks&Recreation Advisory Board Member Hurst discussed the following issues with the policy: • There is an inconsistency in page 2 as it relates to page one pyramid. Under highly individual benefits, it is identified with a potential of greater than 100% cost recovery which is not shown anywhere else. Ms. Lemos stated that when a fee is charged, it is not the intent to profit so this may need a wording change to reflect a 100% cost recovery. • The mostly individual benefits section indicates that it may be priced to recover full costs, but on page 1 it shows a 50-75% cost recovery, matching the pyramid. Mr. Cuaron stated that each program should be assessed on its own merit as it fits into the definitions. • Member Hurst expressed concern over the program categories. Mr. Cuaron stated that the categories are a sample and are in no way indicative of the final version. Once the philosophical policy is adopted, staff and this Board will determine how the programs are categorized. Council Member Parish stated that the Board will need to look at the criteria used to determine what category fits where in the pyramid. That criteria needs to be consistent. It may be important to allow full cost recovery for every program if that opportunity exists. The policy can be modified if Naranja Town Site is approved and the fees may vary depending on facility. The CDO Riverfront Park fees are set due to the IGA with Pima County. Ms. Reeder stated that at the Boards request, language may be added to the policy indicating that if programs were sponsored, full cost recovery from the participant would be acceptable. The Board discussed sponsorships and how the funds collected could help offset event fees. This is not currently an issue in Parks and Recreation. PRAB may create a sub-committee of Board members to assist staff in determining the fees. MOTION: Member Hurst MOVED to offer support to the philosophy and definitions given on the first three pages of the Proposed Revenue and Fee Structure as amended. Member DeLaney SECONDED the motion. Motion passed, 6-0. 5. BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN REPORT BIANNUAL UPDATE -- DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION Nancy Ellis, Multimodal Coordinator, gave an overview of the report. This report will go to Town Council for review. Due to the increased activity on this report, this report may be done annually in the future. The first Bike/Ped Plan was adopted in 1999 and updated in 2001. It has been revised every other year. Ms. Ellis discussed the following points: • There have been many completed projects. • They have been submitting grant applications for the CDO Linear Park. • Interagency coordination efforts have been made, such as a regional update to the Bicycle Plan and applying for platinum status. • Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Bicycle/Pedestrian Working Group approves funding for various projects in the area. Oro Valley has three projects on the RTA list 3 3/11/08 Minutes,Parks&Recreation Advisory Board which have not been submitted for funding yet. They are working with Public Works to bring those projects forward next year. The projects are: o Lambert Lane for bike shoulders o Calle Concordia between La Canada and Buena Vista for bike shoulders o The third project has not been ranked because it was a lower priority. The Bicycle Advisory Committee ranks all projects and 58 projects in the area were ranked and 70 were not. • The CDO Linear Park construction began on March 10, 2008 from La Canada to First Avenue. It was funded through Pima County bond funds, ADOT Transportation Enhancement Grant funding, and Town funds. 6. TRAILS PLAN BIANNUAL UPDATE—DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION Ms. Ellis stated that the first Oro Valley Trails report was done in 2002. Since that time, it has been done biannually but it may become an annual report. It is a slow process because trails are obtained through the development review process. Ms. Ellis explained the following highlights of her work with the trails from last year: • Public outreach • Continuing the Adopt-A-Trail Program • National Trails Day event Ms. Ellis discussed her goals for next year: • Continuing the review process • Obtaining trails through easements with developers • Eastern Pima County Master Trails Plan update, originally created in 1996 • Increase in trail signage Ms. Ellis reviewed all of the trails that have been transferred to the Town. Three years ago, most of the Vistoso Trails were transferred to the Town. The Town worked with Vistoso Partners and obtained the easements for those trails and is responsible for the trails. The Town has a trailhead given to it by Vistoso Partners and the Town does not have access to it, so work is being done on obtaining access. 7. CONSIDER SELLING OR SERVING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON TOWN PARK PROPERTIES—DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION Chair Ottley reviewed the letter he wrote to the Town Council regarding information PRAB collected on this issue. There will be a Town Council study session on March 26th to discuss this issue. He requested that PRAB members attend if possible. 8. STEAM PUMP RANCH MASTER PLANNING PROCESS—DISCUSSION Member Hurst shared the comments from the last Board meeting with the Task Force. The Task Force approved Phase I which would keep the Phase I map as it is with the exception of moving the water well in the panhandle to Phase II. No decision was made on the equestrian issue. There is a concrete pad behind the bunkhouse which has a view of Pusch Ridge and may make a good activity area so that was added to the map. 4 3/11/08 Minutes,Parks&Recreation Advisory Board Chair Ottley opened the floor for public comment. Oro Valley resident, Bill Adler, suggested that PRAB discuss an opening date for the Steam Pump Ranch Park and take into consideration if it is better to wait until the money is available to fully restore all of the buildings on the site. Mr. Adler indicated that it is this Board's responsibility to assess whether it should be open as a park facility before or during the restoration of the buildings. He requested that this issue be added to a future agenda. Chair Ottley closed the floor for public comment. Member Hurst stated that the Preservation Model includes restoration to the outsides of the buildings only, and the park could open in that state. The Non-Profit Model gave the Oro Valley Historical Society responsibility to raise funds for the site and they declined. The Commercial Model allows some adaptive reuse and development. Most commercial parts are in Phase II. The Task Force discussed the remaining $300K from this current bond for rehabbing and restoring the buildings. That money would not cover reconstruction of the Steam Pump. There is a lot of infrastructure that needs to be done as well as rehabbing the buildings to their period. The Task Force hopes for $5M on the upcoming Pima County bond. Safety is a main concern. The public could be allowed on the site during the restoration which could become a part of the learning process. The Board discussed the costs and revenues associated with the park. Member Hurst stated that regardless of which model is followed; there is little difference in the net cost because if it costs more to operate you will also be able to gain more revenue. The Board discussed how long it could take for the park to open. Ms. Reeder stated that the Pima County Bond program is a 10-year program. The County has not confirmed if they want to go to bond in 2008 or 2009. The issue is that the state is looking at the legislation which would limit counties from going out to bond elections only on even years. 9. STATUS REPORT ON THE NARANJA TOWN SITE DEVELOPMENT— DISCUSSION The public education work with the consultant was delayed until the Town Council had decided on the bond question. The Council has now decided that the question will be the outdoor recreation elements only and now the public education work has reconvened. Vice-Chair Done recommended sharing potential organizations with Mary Davis so that the consultant may inform those organizations on the bond question. 10. FRIENDS OF THE PARKS—DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION Chair Ottley proposed to remove this item from the upcoming agendas. 11. REVIEW OF BOARD MEMBER TENURE DATES—DISCUSSION Margot Hurst and Bob Evans are serving their final term with the Board which will expire on June 30, 2008. They are not eligible for reappointment. 5 3/11/08 Minutes,Parks&Recreation Advisory Board Bob DeLaney's and Lyra Done's terms expire on June 30, 2008 and they are eligible for reappointment. To continue to serve on the Board, they are required to send an email to Ms. Reeder requesting reappointment for another 2 years. Greg Roberts' term expires on June 30, 2009 but it was mistakenly entered in a communication to Town Council for June 30, 2008. Ms. Reeder will make that correction. 12. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Member Roberts stated that he visited Steam Pump Ranch. Vice-Chair Done stated that the CIPTAC went very smoothly due to the reorganization. 13. PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR'S REPORT Ms. Reeder stated that the Management Study for Parks and Recreation has been postponed until the Naranja Town Site vote is complete because the information from a Management Study would be more valuable once the Town knows if Naranja Town Site will be constructed. Ms. Reeder received a letter from a resident whose wife was hit by a bicycle at CDO Riverfront Park. She will distribute copies of this letter and photographs to the Board. Ms. Reeder requested that the radio controlled flyers issue be added to the next agenda. Legal staff and Parks and Recreation staff have worked on an option if this activity is allowed in the Parks. The Board will be asked to make a recommendation or no recommendation to Town Council on this item. The issue will then be forwarded to Planning and Zoning, and following their recommendation, it will go to a study session to the Town Council this summer. 14. PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR REPORT No report. 15. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS (The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board may bring forth general topics for future meeting agendas. The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board may not discuss, deliberate or take any action on the topics presented pursuant to ARS 38-431.02H). • Remote control model airplanes • Recreation code • Trail clean up date • Assigning a sub-committee to work on program placement for the fee structure policy • A possible study session on the educational program for Naranja Town Site 16. SCHEDULING NEXT PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING The next PRAB regular session is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Development Services Building, Hopi Conference room. 17. ADJOURNMENT 6 3/11/08 Minutes, Parks&Recreation Advisory Board MOTION: Vice-Chair Done MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:18 p.m. Member DeLaney SECONDED the motion. Motion passed, 7-0. Prepared by: -7,37,Amt LL_L, :7("7:&_,LcLL_LL,&____ Danielle Tanner Senior Office Specialist 7