Meeting Agenda for Thursday, 9 Oct 08, 12:15 PM
(Revised 8 Oct 08)
at the Centre Region COG Building, Forum Room

I.       CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL:
            • Ms. Sue Mascolo, Chair              Ferguson Twp.    • Mr. Roy Harpster, Vice-Chair       Harris Twp.
            • Ms. Kathy Matason, Sec.            College Twp.       • Ms. Donna Conway, Treas.         State College Borough
            • Donna M. Ricketts, D.Ed.            SCASD               • Mr. Chris Hurley                        Patton Twp.

II.      COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC for any item not on the agenda (up to 5 min./person)

III.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES from the Sept. meeting         (Attachment # 1)     (Action)

IV.     ACTION ON VOUCHERS from Sept.                           (Attachment # 2)     (Action)

V.       COMMITTEE REPORTS
  • Member & Municipal Committee Updates:
                College Twp.                      Ferguson Twp.                    Patton Twp.
                State College Borough         Harris Twp.                        SCASD

           • Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee: Ms. Matason & Ms. Hetrick
                    The committee met on 17 Sep 08 at the nature center.

          • COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee: Mr. Harpster and Ms. Ishler
                         The committee met on 18 Sep 08 at the COG Building.

          • Regional Park Planning Committee:

The committee did not meet in August or Sept. 20% of the 2,433 park planning questionnaires were returned by the deadline, although surveys are still arriving . The consultants are tabulating the results. The web-based survey is in the process of launching and promotion. A sample of the paper survey is attached. (Attachment # 3)

VI.     STAFF REPORTS

          • Activity Report for September: Mr. Woodhead              (Attachment # 4)

          • Summer 2008 Program Report: Mr. Todd Roth             (Attachment # 5)

          • 2009 Budget Process: Mr. Woodhead

The 2009 proposals for the 8 agency funds were presented to the COG Finance Committee and reviewed in detail at their 30 Sep 08 hearing. Our thanks to Ms. Mascolo for attending. The status of the proposals will be reviewed at this meeting.

          • PNC / United Way “Day of Caring 2008" (on Th 2 Oct 08): Mr. Greg Roth

Overall, 9 parks with 129 volunteers were scheduled. CRPR provided lunches, tools, materials and site supervision...
1. Nittany Orchard Park           12 from Skills of Central PA      Park Partner - c/o Karry Carr
2. Graysdale Park                    6 from PSU Financial Officers    c/o Mary Masterson
3. Fasick Park                         3 from Citizen's Bank               c/o Carol Strouse
4. Suburban Park                    12 from SCASD RIT Program   c/o Gail Franklin
5. Thompson Woods Preserve   8 from SCASD Delta Program   c/o Nick Gildow
6. MMNC                                38 from SCASD MNMS 8th Grade Red Team c/o Darla Hart
7. Tudek Park                         20 from SCASD                      c/o Keith Thompson
8. Walnut Springs Park            10 from SCASD                       “
9. Orchard Park                       20 from SCASD                       “

          • Supervisor Highlights:
                    Mr. Greg Roth          Ms. Beth Lee            Ms. Barbara Lindenbaum
                    Mr. Jeff Hall             Mr. Todd Roth          Ms. Molly Hetrick

VII.    COMMUNICATIONS

• The $159,000 state grant reimbursement for the 30 May 08 closing on the Whitehall Road parklands (75 acres) was received in mid-Sept. Overall, the following costs were involved:
$159,000      DCNR Grant
  90,506     Local Cost c/o Ferguson Township (paid over 2006-2008)

$249,506  Total Project Cost (includes the purchase price of $230,775 @ $3,077/ acre from Penn State Univ. and related acquisition costs). The land was appraised at $15,000 per acre in 2005.

VIII.  ACTION ITEMS

A. PARK FOREST POOL CONSTRUCTION UPDATES: Mr. Woodhead

          1.       During August and September the Director prepared a Pool Renewal Cash Flow Plan in order to plan the necessary loan draws and the annual municipal contributions. Our thanks to Ms. Kim Wyatt, Patton Township Finance Director and to Mr. Chris Gibbons, Concord Public Finance, for their assistance. This document will be updated as the two projects proceed. (Attachment # 6)

           2.       The change orders and purchase order authorized by the Authority at the September meeting have been executed.

           3.       A donation of $500 was received from the B.P.O. Elks Lodge #1600 on 19 Sep 08 for the Park Forest Pool Renewal. To date, all donations now total $5,745.

          4.       Per the Authority’s Change Order Policy, the Board is asked to endorse the Director’s prior approval of Change Order #P-01 to increase the Plumbing Contract by $2,880.26. This increase converts the 7 water closets (toilets) from floor-mount to wall-mount models. The new contract sum with the change order is $196,780.26.    (Attachment # 7) (Action)

           5.       Currently, the following items appear “on the horizon” as the project moves ahead. The specifics are being prepared.

                    - A deduct to omit the water chiller unit from the drinking fountains.

- Finalize the credit due for the lead-based paint removal and disposal. That credit is expected to be approximately $33,000.

                    - Add a 10' wide vehicle gate to the 8' perimeter fence at the rear of the complex to permit maintenance access to the woods and the stormwater corridor.

                    - Add a microphone jack to the Pool Entrance / Office.

- Install the bathhouse entrance hall ceiling lower than specified, and increase the height of the two iron gates (one for each changing room).

- Finalize a proposal from the Swimming Pool Contractor to revise the pool gutter design and the specified pool surfacing. No change in the contract price was proposed. The firm of Counsilman Hunsaker is evaluating the proposal, including at other pool installations.

B. WELCH POOL RENEWAL: Mr. Woodhead

 As distributed by mail earlier, the Director completed a “Background and Topic Summary” for the Welch Pool Renewal discussions with SCASD (for shared parking/access and access to the bathhouse). In order to move forward, the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee reviewed the document at their 18 Sep 07 meeting and then directed Mr. Steff to forward it to Solicitor Williams to prepare the necessary legal documents. A copy of the cover letter from Mr. Steff to Solicitor Williams is attached.(Attachment # 8)

The summary was shared with Mr. Poprik, SCASD Physical Plan Director, prior - and he has since agreed to instead review the draft from the Solicitor, when provided. On a related subject, PA DCNR is expected to announce their 2008 grant awards during October - that will hopefully include the $400,000 requested for Welch Pool (Construction).

          Comments from the Authority are still welcomed and will be relayed to Solicitor Williams.  A vote to endorse the document (with any desired revisions or amendments) is requested.   (Action)

In addition and in view of the timeline, it is proposed by staff that the Authority authorize our consultants to resume work on the Master Site Plan project. (Action)

C. PA. CONSERVATION CORP GRANT APPLICATION: Mr. Woodhead 

For the past 7 years, the Authority has won annual grants to host a PA. Conservation Corp crew. Staff recommends that the Authority authorize Resolution #4-2008 as part of the (competitive) grant application process for FY 2009-2010. The grant applications are due by 9 Jan 09. The estimated value of the annual grant is $100,000. It is proposed that the Authority again partner with the Mount Nittany Conservancy for this project.                                   (Attachment # 9)     (Action)

D. MILLBROOK MARSH NATURE CENTER - ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES:   Mr. Woodhead and Ms. Matason

At the request of the MMNC Advisory Committee and the Authority, HP Architects has submitted a professional services proposal to the Authority to provide architectural services for the design and construction of the Spring Creek Education Building. While that committee may officially meet on 15 Oct 08, they have been asked to individually submit their questions or support for Authority consideration. The results of that inquiry will be relayed to the Authority at this time.  CAMPAIGN SUMMARY:

          The Campaign Goal:         $2,500,000 = $1.25M locally + $1.25M State Capital Grant

Current Status: PLEDGES & PAYMENTS to MMNC Building Fund since Oct. 2003:

Payments received to date: $414,500 (per pledge schedule). The “target project” cost proposed by the architect is $1,024,355, which is $26,426 greater than the available funds. However, additional donations may be expected once potential donors see the construction underway.

          A commitment to the following expenses is proposed (as revised):

                    Professional Services (not to exceed)        $134,200.
                    Reimbursable Expenses Allowance              $ 39,100.
                    Total Authorization Requested:                 $173,300.

The Authority is asked to review and approve the Agreement, subject to:
- the official endorsement by the MMNC Advisory Comm. on Wed. 15 Oct 08, and
- the endorsement of the COG Finance Committee (and/or the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee, as specified by COG).
(Attachment # 10) (Action)

IX.     DISCUSSION / INFORMATION ITEMS

A. POOL FEE SCHEDULES

Prior to 1 Jan 09, the Authority will consider the 2009 Fee Policy. So that staff can prepare that policy, the Authority is asked to discuss options related to the pool fee schedules for 2009 and 2010. In view of the $7.9 million invested by residents in the two pool renewals, the challenge is to provide reduced fees for those that have contributed to those improvements while trying to keep the fee schedule simple for all customers and for staff.                     (Attachment # 11)

X.       ADJOURNMENT                                                                                          (Action)

NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Th 13 Nov 08, 12:15 PM at the COG Building, Forum Room