Regular Meeting Agenda
for Thursday, 14 May 09, 12:15 PM
at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center

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 3 min./person)

III.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES

            • from the Special Meeting on 2 Apr 09        (Attachment # 1)        (Action)

            • from the Regular Meeting on 9 Apr 09        (Attachment # 2)        (Action)

IV.      ACTION ON VOUCHERS

            • from Mar.     (Distributed for the April regular meeting)                (Action)

            • from Apr.                                       (Attachment # 3)        (Action)

V.        SPECIAL PRESENTATION                      (Attachment # 4)        (15 minutes)

During the Master Plan Process for the Oak Hall Regional Parklands, the COG Regional Park Planning Committee asked the CRPR Board to hear and consider making a recommendation regarding tennis facilities proposed by the Centre Region Community Tennis Assn. for the Whitehall Road Regional Parklands. The group has developed and distributed the attached proposal / report. In addition, Ms. Carol Oliver will make a brief PowerPoint presentation on behalf of the group. Questions from the Board will also be welcomed. The COG Regional Park Planning Committee is currently reviewing proposals from consulting firms with respect to preparing the Whitehall Road Parkland Master Site Plan. While the Scope of Work for that project does not include any structures for indoor recreation, the Board may wish to schedule action on a recommendation at their 11 Jun 09 meeting.

VI.      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 15 Apr 09 meeting. The College Township Council approved the Spring Creek Educ. Building “Land Development Plan” on 16 Apr 09. It is proposed that Dr. Marboe present an informational update to the Authority at the June meeting.

            • COG Parks Capital Committee: Mr. Woodhead and Mr. Harpster

The committee met on 17 Apr 09 to discuss a funding strategy for the development of the regional parks. That discussion will continue at the May meeting.

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

                        (The CRPR Board and the COG Parks Capital Committee)

- The committee last met on 2 Apr 09 to review the proposed Master Site Plan for the Oak Hall Parklands and to review the proposed phasing and associated cost estimates. A draft report has been circulated and the final version is now being produced. The Director prepared and submitted a state grant application for the Phase 1 construction project prior to the 22 Apr 09 deadline.

- Proposals from 13 consulting firms were opened on 29 Apr 09. A summary was distributed and is also attached. (Attachment # 5)

- The planning committee will meet on Thur 21 May 09, 12:15 PM at the COG Forum Room to finalize a selection schedule. This is the regular monthly meeting of the COG Parks Capital Committee.

VII.     STAFF REPORTS

            • Director’s Reports

                        - Activity Report for April                                         (Attachment # 6)

                        - 2010 Program Plan (the first document related to the 2010 Budget Proposal)

                        - 2009 CCCF Endowment Payment Report               (Attachment # 7)

                        - CRPR Maintenance & Storage Area Report - Status Report: Mr. Woodhead

- State Grant Opportunities from PA Dept. Of Environmental Protection for MMNC.

            • Supervisor Highlights:

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

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

VIII.   COMMUNICATIONS

• Ms. Mascolo will report on the status of the Authority’s $3,000 grant application to Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau to prepare and print an updated brochure for Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. The Bureau has scheduled a news conference for 10 AM on Wed 13 May 09 to announce the grant awards.

• The Governor has announced the 16 sites awarded PA Conservation Corp (PCC) grants for 2009-2010. The Authority was again awarded a grant with a cash value of $103,000, in partnership with the Mount Nittany Conservancy. This will be the 8^th consecutive year of the Authority hosting a PCC crew at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center.

IX.      ACTION ITEMS

A.        Nominating A Portion of Millbrook Marsh Nature Center to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands:      Dr. Rob Brooks, Director, Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center

The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. There are presently 159 Contracting Parties to the Convention, with 1,834 wetland sites totaling 656,373 sq. miles, designated for inclusion in the "Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance." Dr. Rob Brooks has proposed, and the MMNC Advisory Committee has formally approved a recommendation that the Millbrook Marsh, along with additional watershed lands, be nominated for this designation. The Convention is based in Switzerland. Background information was provided at the April meeting. A possible motion could be:

“That the Centre Regional Recreation Authority endorse the nomination of the Millbrook Marsh (50 of the 62 acres leased for the nature center) to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, pending similar endorsements by the landowner (Penn State University) and the conservation easement owner (ClearWater Conservancy).”(Action) 

B.        PARK FOREST POOL CONSTRUCTION: Mr. Woodhead

            1.         Based upon a meeting with contractors scheduled for Wed 13 May 09, staff will present for Authority action a proposed operation / event schedule for the new Park Forest Pool.  (Action)

            2.         Project Budget Update: Incorporating all the proposed and expected Change Orders below, it appears that the project will finish with $2,432.21 under the $3.2 million cost ceiling. The remaining balance may increase pending discussions now underway with the design team.

            3.         The Authority is asked to approve the following Change Orders; the complete documents should be available from Mr. Popovich at the meeting. CO #SP-03 has not been signed by the Director per the Change Order Policy. These costs have been included in the Project Budget Report.    (Attachments as noted)                       (Action)

            4.         The following change orders are in processing and will be officially proposed for action when all the details are finalized. The estimated costs have been included on the budget projection.

C.        WELCH POOL RENEWAL: Mr. Woodhead

            1.         PARKING & BATHHOUSE AGREEMENTS: The two agreements were signed by the Authority officers and delivered c/o Ms. Dupius to SCASD for their signatures.

            2.         MASTER SITE PLAN: With the completion of the agreements, the Authority is asked to fully approve the proposed Master Site Plan for Welch Pool and to authorize staff to:

                        (1) obtain the PA DCNR review of the plan / report, and

                        (2) request grant reimbursement ($33,000 as announced in July 2006).        (Action)

            3.         PLANNING STATUS: Mr. Woodhead will update the Board on the status of the detailed planning for the Welch Pool Renewal.

                                    - Four conceptual renderings are attached. (Attachment # 9)

                                    - Borough approval process (Design Review Board, Planning Commission)

                                    - Proposed relocation of the bike path (Borough Council and SCASD)

                                    - Underground oil tank removal completed successfully.

            4.         PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT: The proposed “Agreement for Proposal for Architectural/Engineering Professional Services” with HP Architects has been provided for consideration and action. Of the total proposed, it is estimated that costs totaling $100,000 have been incurred to date (but not yet invoiced) in order to maintain the current construction schedule. The proposed amounts are:

                                    Total Professional Services Fee                     $442,275.00

                                    Reimbursable Expense Allowance of             $143,450.00

The total amount of $585,725 represents 10.8% of the $5.4 million project and is within the approved budget of the selected “Option 3" from the Master Site Plan Report. The following motion is proposed:

                        “That the Authority approve the professional services agreement with HP Architects in a total amount not to exceed $578,725, subject to final revisions by Solicitor Williams and the approval of PA DCNR.” (Attachment # 10) (Action) 

X.        ADJOURNMENT                                                                                        (Action)

Future Meeting Schedules

•          Next COG Regional Park Planning Committee

                        at the regular meeting with COG Parks Capital Committee Meeting:   
                        Th, 21 May 09, 12:15 PM COG Building, Forum Room

•          Next CRPR Board Meeting:

                        Th, 11 Jun 09, 12:15 PM, at Park Forest Pool Pavilion, Patton Twp.
                        (The meeting site is subject to change pending the pool construction schedule.)