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Approved
Summary of Meeting
Wednesday,
17 May 06 at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center (Rescheduled
from Thursday, 11 May 06)
A quorum was not
present, so no actions were taken by the Board/Authority
I. CALL
TO ORDER and ROLL CALL
Chair Cindy Solic called the meeting to order
at 12:15 P.M.
Board
members attending (3 of 6): Cindy Solic, Roy Harpster, Kathleen
Matason. The Borough Council Liaison (non-voting) Craig R. Humphrey
also attended.
Absent: Dr. Kenneth Mawritz, Sue Mascolo, Donna
Conway
Staff
members present: Director Ronald J. Woodhead, Recreation Supervisor
Sports & Fitness Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor Programs & Special
Events Beth Lee, Aquatics Supervisor Todd Roth, Senior Center
Director Barbara Lindenbaum, Office Manager Diane Ishler.
Absent: Recreation Supervisor -Nature Center
Molly Hetrick, Parks Supervisor Greg Roth
II. COMMENTS
FROM THE PUBLIC - none
III. APPROVAL
OF MINUTES
Without
a quorum, the minutes for the April meeting were tabled until
the next meeting.
IV. ACTION
ON VOUCHERS
Without
at quorum, the vouchers from April, distributed with the agenda
packets, were tabled until the next meeting.
V. COMMITTEE
REPORTS
Millbrook
Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - Ms. Matason reported
that at the last meeting of the Advisory Committee, they decided
to change the name of the proposed “Four Seasons Education
Center” to “Spring Creek Education Center at the
Millbrook Marsh Nature Center.” Mr. Woodhead related
that so far, $460,000 has been raised/pledged for the capital
campaign out of $1.25 million. One of the reasons for the building
name change was to make it more regional. The campaign committee
is in the process of asking Centre County to contribute $250,000
to the project.
COG
Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - Mr. Harpster reported
the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee reviewed the proposed lease
agreement and Articles of Agreement for Regional Park Planning
and Development and are still talking about the method of funding.
The committee meets tomorrow, 18 May 06, when they will receive
the feedback from the municipalities concerning the articles
of agreement. Mr. Woodhead related that some of the comments
from the municipalities indicated maybe the COG Formula should
be used so the funding issue could be resolved at that meeting.
The attorneys have been asked to come to the meeting to answer
some questions about the lease document. Also, Mr. Woodhead
indicated that the committee was discussing a process to endorse
grants - and that process may involve CRPR Board recommendations.
A draft policy will be developed by staff after DCNR announces
their new grant processes at their June workshops. DCNR prefers
regional grant applications.
Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates
by Board Members
- College
Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: Ms. Matason reported
the committee reviewed their five year plan that addresses
park needs over the next five years. Mr. Kent Baker presented
a draft of Chapter 139 Park Ordinance for review, and it will
be on the council agenda on Thursday night, 18 May 06.
- Harris
Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: Mr. Harpster reported
the committee visited the parks with CRPR staff and inventoried
the equipment that was out of date.
- Patton
Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Ms. Solic reported the Patton
Township park tour has been postponed until 27 June 06. The
design bid for Ambleside Park, a neighborhood park, was granted
to HRG Engineers. Also, the results of the survey regarding
Circleville Park were discussed. Approximately 6,000 surveys
were sent out with a return of 1,300. The responses to the
Circleville survey were divided into different user groups;
most did not want hunting. The decision for Circleville will
not be finalized by the Board of Supervisors until August.
- Ferguson
Township: No report
- Borough of State
College: No report
-State College
Area School District: No report
VII. STAFF
REPORTS
April
Agency Report - Mr. Woodhead added to the April report
by relating that we have less registrations but have taken
in more money so far in 2006. He thanked everyone, especially
the office staff, for the great work they are doing. The CRPR
website hosted an average of 500 visitors a day in April and
has averaged 540 per day so far in May.
Park
Partner Workday Report - Mr. Woodhead reviewed the report
that had previously been distributed to the Board members.
April 15 was a very good day for the parks.
Tudek “Dog
Park” (Off-Leash Area) Update: Mr. Woodhead reported
that Mr. Kunkle, Ferguson Township Manager, met with he and
Mr. Greg Roth to go over the plans for the “Dog Park”
planned for Park Crest Farm area. CRPR will not be responsible
for maintaining this “park”
until it is owned by Ferguson Township and officially becomes
part of the Tudek Park. Currently, the lands are owned by the
Tudek Memorial Trust.
Supervisor
Highlights:
Jeff
Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - Spring
programs are wrapping up. There was a significant increase
in adult programs with youth numbers about the same. The newer
youth programs, lacrosse, wrestling, and smart soccer were
very popular. When asked about girls softball, Mr. Hall indicated
that the young girls had more teams, but some of the older
girls had less; total was about the same. One reason for a
decrease in older girls might be that the high school team
did not cut anyone this year. There are 42 teams in the Centre
Region Fast Pitch league but our program and theirs has coexisted
for several years.
Beth
Lee for Molly Hetrick, Recreation Supervisor - Nature Center
- The Romantic Moonlight Walk had five couples participate
despite the weather. Ms. Hetrick will have a table at
the Big Spring Festival in Bellefonte this weekend (20-21 May
06) promoting Millbrook Marsh and the available programs.
Ms. Hetrick also has a new intern that started and is doing
very well.
Beth
Lee, Recreation Supervisor for Programs & Special Events -
Ms. Lee is working part-time
coming back from maternity
leave. She is interviewing and hiring summer staff and has had
a lot of young men apply for summer day camp positions. Ms. June
Brown is back for her 51st summer. Ms. Lee is also promoting
programs and advertising for more staff.
Barbara
Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - A new oil painting
(water based) class was startedand everyone is having a great
time. Registration for Senior Games is about the same;
the numbers are down a little but there is no golf this year.
Todd
Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - Spring swimming lessons are
finished and trying to get the pools ready for the summer.
Photo day is this weekend, 20 May 06, and pools will be opening
Memorial Day weekend. Mr. Todd Roth indicated he is also trying
to obtain donations from businesses for the family fun nights.
Ronald
Woodhead for Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - The parks crew
is gearing up for summer: a new 16 foot wide cut tractor was
purchased for sports fields, and they are preparing for pavilion
reservations and special events. The PCC finished work on the
Centre Furnace stack as part of the PCC grant.
VIII. COMMUNICATIONS
Request
for Commercial Caterer Vehicle Access to Reserved Picnic Pavilions
- Mr. Woodhead reviewed the letter that was sent by a caterer
requesting vehicle access to picnic pavilions. Mr. Woodhead
said the staff is trying to identify what picnics have caterers
and refer the groups to a specific park that is close to a
loading/unloading parking area. He related that the parks are
just getting too busy for motorized vehicles to have access
on paths to the pavilions and asked the Board members to think
about what rules we might change for 2007. Ms Solic stated
there should not be special rules for caterers and that she
has seen the damage done when vehicles have been driven in
the parks. She continued to say that the caterers and others
will have to find an alternate way to get their food to the
pavilions and that pylons might be the answer. Both Mr. Harpster
and Ms. Matason agreed. Mr. Woodhead related that he had sent
a memo to the municipal managers concerning this request. Mr.
Tom Fountaine, State College Borough Manager, answered the
memo supporting the restriction on vehicle access, and also
suggesting we should steer groups having a caterer to sites
that are more accessible.
IX. OLD
BUSINESS
Park
Forest Pool Master Site Plan - Mr. Todd Roth reviewed the
summary from the Public meeting that he had distributed to
the Board members. Counsilman and Hunsacker did a very nice
presentation at the meeting and the General Forum meeting.
It appears that the conceptual designs will be three concepts;
one to fix and bring up to code; one starting from scratch
but not increasing the size; one to redo everything making
it bigger and adding more options. Ms. Solic indicated it is
extremely important that everyone who sees these designs knows
that these are just suggestions and not the final designs.
Mr. Todd Roth related that when we receive the designs, they
will be posted at the pools and several other places so people
can keep informed.
The project calendar
was included with the Board member packets and was reviewed.
The hope is that the designs will be available several weeks
before the General Forum meeting in June. Ms. Solic asked if
it would be possible to get copies for the Patton Township Park
Tour since they are including the Park Forest Pool in the tour.
Mr. Woodhead and Mr. Roth assured her that copies would be available.
Pending
Grant Applications - Mr. Woodhead related that we are still
waiting to hear about the grant awards for: Parkland Acquisition
off Whitehall Road for $159,200; Master Site Plan for William
Welch Community Swimming Pool Renewal for $33,000; and Master
Site Plan for Oak Hall Parklands for $38,000
X. NEW
BUSINESS
Changing
Two Meeting Locations and Add One Meeting - Mr. Woodhead
asked that the Board members approve a change in the meeting
schedule to reflect two changes in location and an additional
meeting. June 6 meeting and August 10 would be moved to the
COG General Forum Room and Monday, August 28, 2006, would be
added. A discussion followed. The members present supported
the new schedule.
Maintenance
Agreement with PSU for the Stream Vein Structures that they
will construct in Slab Cabin Run - Mr. Woodhead explained
that the stream vein structures are like dams that are to guide
the water into the marsh when it gets to a certain level. Action
was tabled until the next meeting due to lack of a quorum.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
There
being no further business meeting adjourned.. Meeting adjourned
at 1:10 P.M.
THE
NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for Tuesday,
6 June 06, 12:15 PM relocated
from Orchard Park to the COG Building Forum Room
Meeting summary prepared
by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager
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