Meeting Agenda for Thursday, 12 Feb 09, 12:15 PM
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.

          As a result of the Board elections in January, an updated Board Roster is attached. (Attachment # 1)

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

III.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES from the Dec. meeting          (Attachment # 2)     (Action)

IV.     ACTION ON VOUCHERS from Dec. & Jan.    (Attachments # 3 & 4)   (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. Hetrick & Ms. Matason

The committee met on 14 Jan 09. A brief update on the planning work by a subcommittee related to the Spring Creek Education Building will also be provided to the Authority.

          • COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee: Mr. Woodhead and Mr. Harpster

Their regular meeting on 15 Jan 09 was also a Joint Meeting with the Authority on Welch Pool. Based upon that meeting, a Joint Committee meeting was held on 20 Jan 09 with the School Board representatives where the Principles of Agreement were finalized. (More info will be discussed later in this agenda.)

          • Regional Park Planning Committee: Mr. Woodhead and Mr. Harpster

                    (The CRPR Board and the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee)

The committee met on 26 Jan 09 to hear a presentation by the consultants of a draft Master Site Plan for the Oak Hall parklands as well as a configuration layout for facilities at the Whitehall Road parklands. As a result, a community meeting will be held on Tuesday 10 Feb 09 at the College Township Municipal Building, 7:30 PM, to obtain public input. 

VI.     STAFF REPORTS

          • Director’s Reports

                    Activity Report for January                       (Attachment # 5)

                    Community Garden Plot Update 2008 / 2009

                    2008 Program Report                              (Attachment # 6)

                    2008 Agency Highlights                           (Attachment # 7)

                    2008 Ending / 2009 Starting Fund Balances         (Attachment # 8)

                    2009 Park Project Schedule c/o Greg Roth (Attachment # 9)

          • Supervisor Highlights:

                    Mr. Greg Roth          Ms. Beth Lee            Ms. Barbara Lindenbaum

                    Mr. Jeff Hall             Mr. Todd Roth          Ms. Molly Hetrick

VII.    COMMUNICATIONS                     None

VIII.  ACTION ITEMS

A.       2009 POOL OPERATIONS POLICY: Mr. Woodhead

Due to a staff oversight, the Authority is asked to revisit the 2009 Pool Operation Policies related to the minimum height of water sliders at Welch Pool:

          Approved in Jan.:                                at least 42" tall and able to swim

             Proposed (and previously used):             at least 48" tall and able to swim         (Action)

By comparison, the new slides at Park Forest will require at least 42" for the run-out slide and 48" for the drop slide.

B.       AWARD BIDS FOR PORTABLE TOILET RENTAL & SERVICES: Mr. Woodhead

Following newspaper advertisements and mailings to vendors, the Authority is asked to consider action on awarding the contracts to provide portable toilets and services in specified parks for the next 12-months. There are two contracts, each serving specified park areas. An optional “2^nd Year Contract Amount” was also solicited. In prior years, vendors were selected based upon the lowest quotation. Due to the costs involved, it became necessary to seek sealed bids - and those sealed bids were opened in public on Tuesday, 10 Feb 09, 3:00 PM. A summary of those bids, along with a staff recommendation, will be distributed for action.

C.        EXCHANGE OF SERVICES AGREEMENT - Park Crest Farm: Mr. Woodhead

In 2003 the Authority entered into a 5-year “Exchange of Services Agreement” with the Tom Tudek Memorial Park Trust to provide indoor storage for parks maintenance equipment in exchange for CRPR mowing services there. A new 5-year agreement has been prepared and is proposed for Authority action. Staff recommends approval.           (Attachment # 10)      (Action)

D.        PARK FOREST POOL CONSTRUCTION: Mr. Woodhead

1. The following Change Orders are proposed for endorsement, previously executed by the Director: (Action)

2.         The following change orders are “on the horizon” and will be proposed as the details are developed. Some of the previously-noted Change Orders will not be necessary.

3.         Mr. Woodhead will distribute and discuss a status report on the Park Forest Pool Renewal Budget. At present, the project remains both “on schedule” and “on budget.”

D.        WELCH POOL RENEWAL: Mr. Woodhead

            1.         Authority / School Agreements:

The Director and Mr. Steff met with Attorney Betsy Dupuis on 29 Jan 09 after she agreed to prepare the necessary agreements on our behalf - based upon the 10 Principles of Agreement. This was done to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest since both Solicitors work for the same law firm. Once the draft agreements are ready, the intent is to provide the draft to the CRRA, COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee and SCASD for consideration and action. While the Master Site Plan has been conditionally approved, it cannot be formally adopted until these agreements are executed by both parties. It is hoped this final process will proceed smoothly. A Special Meeting will be requested, if necessary.

            2.         Planning for Construction:

Meetings have been underway regarding the detailed planning for the Welch Pool Renewal project. It is expected that the architect, once a service agreement is presented and approved, will ask to meet with the Authority for additional input on some design questions.

IX.      DISCUSSION / INFORMATION ITEMS

            1.         The presentation of the 2009 Work Plan has been postponed until the March meeting.

X.        ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                    (Action)

Meeting Calendar: 

            1.         Oak Hall Parkland - Draft Master Site Plan               Community Meeting

                        Tuesday, 10 Feb 09, 7:30 PM at the College Twp. Building.

            2.         COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee                   Regular Monthly Meeting

                        Thursday, 19 Feb 09, 12:15 PM at the COG Building Forum Room

NOTE: Depending on the status of the Welch Pool Agreements, it may be necessary to request a Special Meeting of the Authority at this time so that both groups may review the documents and share comments with Attorney Dupuis.