City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board               

December 12, 2006

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chair, Bill Penny, Tom Bracciano, Kelly Barth, and Bruce Muzzy

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Sharon Spratt

STAFF PRESENT:

Fred DeVictor, Mark Hecker, Ernie Shaw and Roger Steinbrock

 

GUESTS:

Chuck Soules, Director, Public Works and Sheila Stogsdill, Interim Director, Planning Department

 

 

 

 

          The meeting was brought to order by Chair Bill Penny.  Minutes of the November 14th meeting were approved on a motion by Barth, 2nd by Bracciano.

 

          DeVictor handed out a summary of the survey for the PLAY committee work to date and indicated details for a random survey were progressing, which should go out in early January.

 

          Hecker reported on a possible future neighborhood park in northwest Lawrence in the Oregon Trail sub-division.  A map showed this 4.74 acre site.  It is being proposed as a benefit district, which DeVictor indicated was very unique.  This process had never been used to accept and develop a park in this manner before in Lawrence.  Staff would work with the land owner, John McGrew and his engineers, Landplan Engineering to finalize detail.  No city money would be used for its acquisition or development but LPRD would maintain the park upon its development.  The Board discussed this new concept and on a motion by Bracciano, 2nd by Barth, voted to support this 4.74 park in the Oregon Trail Addition via benefit district funding and to maintain it upon its completion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

          Chuck Soules was introduced to talk about plans for future sidewalk development and maintenance.  Chair Penny asked about sidewalk and trail coordination at the last meeting.  Soules showed a power point presentation.  A memo from September 18, 2006 was passed around, which explains an inventory that was completed during the summer on sidewalk conditions.  Sidewalks need to be addressed however it is a multi-million dollar costs to correct all the problems.  It was discussed by the City Commission during the budget process for 2007 and $250,000 was allocated to begin addressing this concern.  The board summarized that connecting sidewalks to parks and neighborhoods is important to the community for pedestrian transportation.

 

          DeVictor introduced Sheila Stogsdill, Interim Planning Director, who discussed the new park standards.  DeVictor reported the City Commission would initially discuss impact fees at tonight’s City Commission meeting.  City staff is interested in what direction the Commission wants to go and how to engage stakeholders in this important issue.

 

          Stogsdill said it was important for planning staff to review parks in the new Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, which is part of the Horizon 2020 Plan.  A trails system, bike plans, stream way corridors will all be important in this review process to help meet the ¼ mile standard for parks in sub-divisions.  After much discussion the Board thanked Sheila for sharing her thoughts about this important matter.

 

          Hecker reported on park capital improvements projects including Clinton Park renovations and the greenbelt park trails and playground.  The Sesquicentennial Point Plaza project will need to be re-bid because of no bids were received and RFP’s for the Burroughs Creek Trail were being reviewed.

 

          Steinbrock reported the winter-spring activity guide came out December 3rd and online enrollment was 63.22% for the first two weeks of enrollment.  There were around 120,000 hits on our website in 2006.

 

          Shaw reported on good revenue through November and total revenue is expected to be 105% of budget projection for the year.  He explained a new “Breakfast with Santa” program had about 130 enrolled this first year.

 

          The Board was invited to the December 15th department holiday lunch where annual Tom Wilkerson Teamwork awards would be given out.

 

          Meeting adjourned at 1:15 P.M.  Next meeting, January 9th, 2007.