Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting
Thursday, 14 Dec 06 at the COG Forum Room

I.       CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL

Chair Cindy Solic called the meeting to order at 12:15 P.M.

Board members attending (4 of 6): Roy Harpster, Sue Mascolo, Donna Conway, Cindy Solic.

          Borough Council Liaison (nonvoting) Craig R. Humphrey also attended.

Absent: Dr. Kenneth Mawritz, Kathy Matason

Staff members: Director Ronald J. Woodhead, Recreation Supervisor Sports & Fitness Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor Programs & Special Events Beth Lee, Aquatics Supervisor Todd Roth, Recreation Supervisor - Nature Center Molly Hetrick, Parks Supervisor Greg Roth, Senior Center Director Barbara Lindenbaum, Office Manager Diane Ishler.

Guest: James Steff, COG Executive Director

II.      COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none

III & IV.       Approval of the minutes and vouchers was postponed to later in the meeting when Ms. Conway arrived, providing a quorum.

V.       COMMITTEE REPORTS

COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - No report. The next meeting is scheduled for 18 Jan 07.

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - No report.

Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members

- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: No report

- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: No report

- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Ms. Solic reported Patton Township has selected Yost, Strodoski, Mears (YSM) as the consultant to develop a Master Site Plan for the (74-acre) Bernel Road Park tract.

- Ferguson Township: Ms. Mascolo reported that Ferguson Township is updating their Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan (every 5 years).

- Borough of State College: No report

- State College Area School District: No report

VI.     STAFF REPORTS

Winter & Spring Leisure Guide - Mr. Woodhead reported that the Winter/Spring Leisure Guide will be published and inserted in the Centre Daily Times on Sunday, 7 Jan 07.

November Activity Report - There were no additional comments to the report distributed with the Board packet.

Supervisor Highlights:

Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - The fall programs are winding down; youth and adult fitness programs have finished and the adult leagues will soon be finished. Participation in the adult leagues is increasing while participation for youth leagues continues to decrease. Fortunately, the Youth Sports Renewal Plan emphasizes new types of activities such as Start Smart Soccer & Smart Start Golf.

Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor for Programs & Special Events - The Leisure Guide will include new programs such as youth bowling, Hip-Hop classes, and a Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt. Ms. Mascolo asked if the “Car Care for Women” program held in the fall was going to be offered again; Ms. Lee indicated it would be, maybe summer. Ms. Solic asked if a program like that could be offered for teenage girls. Ms. Lee related she would research this suggestion.

Molly Hetrick , Recreational Supervisor - Nature Center - Millbrook Marsh Nature Center has closed for the winter. The season ended with the Historic Harvest Festival with 305 visitors. Now, Ms. Hetrick is getting ready for 2007 as well as focusing on the capital campaign.

Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - Fall swim lessons went well and he is now getting ready for winter/spring sessions. The American Red Cross has revised the requirements to be certified. Our aquatics staff will have to be re-certified, which Mr. Roth will handle.

Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - The Senior Center hosted a Wellness Fair organized by the PSU Kinesiology students with about 20 exhibitors.

Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - The parts to build the Blue Spring Park Ice Rink are on the trailer - ready for the weather to cooperate. The sledding hill at Slab Cabin Park is also ready to go as soon as we have snow. Split rail fencing is being installed to discourage people from driving onto the grass at parks, such as at Tudek Park . The PCC crew has been working on the playground at Blue Spring Park and the playground pits at Spring Creek Park. Mr. Harpster asked about the new Dog Park and the activity. Mr. Greg Roth indicated that the Dog Park is very popular and the people have been cleaning up after the dogs. Ms. Mascolo asked if people were in the Dog Park after dark - since all parks close at dusk. Mr. Greg Roth related that he thought so.

Ms. Solic asked Mr. Hall what new sports he was thinking of starting as programs for CRPR. Mr. Hall indicated he is still looking. A discussion followed about the lack of space (both indoor and outdoor) for any new sport.

Status of Parks Capital Projects - Mr. Woodhead reported on the following:

Master Site Plan for Park Forest Community Swimming Pool Renewal - PA DCNR has approved the PF Master Site Plan with one change (to add on the cover that the study was partially funded by DCNR). The project documents are being finalized so we can hopefully receive the reimbursement of grant funds in February. On Tuesday, Mr. Woodhead met with the COG Finance Committee to discuss the funding strategy for the construction phase of the PF pool renewal project. They will recommend to finance the two pool renewals as one package, then deal with the regional park costs once those estimates are developed.

Construction Grant for Park Forest Community Swimming Pool - We can expect the state to announce the status of the grant application in June 2007.

Parkland Acquisition off Whitehall Road - We are finalizing land survey work and the subdivision request. We expect closing in June 2007.

Master Site Plan for Wm. L. Welch Community Pool Renewal - A draft lease did not arrive from the attorney in time for this meeting, so it will be discussed in January. A proposed Scope of Work for consultants has been submitted to DCNR along with a request to hire the same consultants that were used for the Park Forest Pool Renewal. The land survey for the new tract is almost complete and will also be used as part of the proposed lease.

Master Site Plan for Oak Hall Parklands - A Scope of Work for the MSP is under development and the RFQ for a topographic survey has been mailed to local survey firms.

After the joint meeting with Ad Hoc Regional Parks Committee, a proposed Parks Capital Projects schedule was added to the minutes (which reflected the discussion at the meeting).

A quorum now being present; the minutes and vouchers were presented for approval.

III.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

          The minutes of the joint meeting with the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee in November were approved as amended on a motion by Mr. Harpster and seconded by Ms. Mascolo. All in favor. The amendment corrected the incorrect absence of Donna Conway’s name from the attendees; she did attend that meeting.

IV.     ACTION ON VOUCHERS

          The vouchers for November (included in the meeting packet) were approved on a motion by Ms. Mascolo and seconded by Ms. Conway. All in favor.

VII.      COMMUNICATIONS - None

VIII.  OLD BUSINESS

Welch Pool Surveying Project - Ms. Mascolo moved to officially approve the previously issued purchase order to have the lowest bidder, Sweetland Engineering, perform the necessary survey of the Welch pool site for $3,950. Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor.

Welch Pool Land Lease - The draft of the lease between CRRA and SCASD has not been received. The Authority will review the draft lease at the January meeting.

XI.     NEW BUSINESS

Follow-up from the Joint Meeting with the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - Mr. Woodhead related that the COG General Forum authorized the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee to make recommendations on capital projects relating to the regional parks and pools, as time and resources permit, and in consultation with the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Board. They also charged the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee to develop a recommendation on long-term operations of the Ad Hoc Committee for “Parks Capital Projects” and to define their complimentary relationship with the CRPR Board/Authority. Mr. Woodhead suggested that the Board members begin to consider points for those discussions. Ms. Conway asked why the Ad Hoc Committee put so much emphasis on the CRPR Board providing the programming. A discussion followed.

2007 Fee Policy - Mr. Woodhead related that the fee for SCASD use of the parks would remain the same in the fee policy; however, a discussion with the school district concerning the total relationship should be held. Fees that have increased include:

          - Season Passes have increased $2 and after 5 PM admission charge has increased by 50¢.

- A group hosting fee for Millbrook Marsh Nature Center is proposed for those groups who want to use the facilities but do their own instructing. Ms. Mascolo asked what the dollar effect would be for teachers to do their own instructing instead of paying for a program led by the Nature Center staff? A discussion followed concerning possible changes in the way the School District uses Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. Ms. Hetrick indicated that she had discussed training the teacher for a fee. Ms. Solic suggested that a fee be assessed for a person to be on site when a group wants to provide their own program. It is increasingly difficult to obtain space in the school district facilities, so groups look for space wherever possible. At some point, CRPR may not be able to utilize school facilities.

- There are no fee increases for the Senior Center.

- A Large Group Event Fee of $40 is proposed for 2007. This fee would supplement the pavilion fees and would only be for large group events.

- Two new areas, the Tudek Dog Park and the Tudek Garden Plots, have their own advisory groups. Tudek Dog Park would fall under the Large Group Policy (if the advisory group wanted to hold a fund-raiser, etc.). A fee increase of $5 per plot is proposed for the Tudek Gardens Plots. There has been some objection to the $5 increase per plot; however, CRPR will be providing more support and maintenance than in previous years.

Mr. Harpster moved that the 2007 Fee Policy be approved with the understanding that the Millbrook Marsh Advisory Committee would revisit the Nature Center fees in early-2007, especially the fees concerning an on-site person. Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor.

MMNC Easement for Puddintown Road Bikeway - Mr. Woodhead explained the bikeway easement across Millbrook Marsh Nature Center for Puddintown Road Bikeway by College Township. He recommended that the Board members approve the easement. Ms. Mascolo moved that the bikeway easement by College Township be approved contingent upon ClearWater Conservancy’s approval (since they have a Conservation Easement). Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor. (The proposal was later approved by the ClearWater Conservancy Board).

Appointments to the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - Mr. Woodhead asked that the Authority members consider 10 appointments to the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee.

          The re-appointments are:

                    CRRA                                 Kathy Matason

                    ClearWater Conservancy       Jennifer Shuey

                    SCASD                               Sue Younkin

                    PSU Coop. Wetlands Center   Robert Brooks, Ph.D.

                    CC Historical Society            Jackie Melander

                    BE Archeological Society       Mary Alice Graetzer

                    At-Large                            Holly Fritchman

                    At-Large                            Diane Kerly

                    At-Large                            Rick Marboe, Ph.D.

          The new appointment is:

                    PSU                                   Steve Maruszewski

These two-year terms will expire on 31 Dec 08. Mr. Harpster moved that these appointments be approved. Ms. Mascolo seconded. All in favor.

Authority Resolution #5-2006, PA Conservation Corps - This resolution authorizes a grant application be submitted to continue the PA Conservation Corps grant for July 2007-June 2008. Ms. Mascolo moved to approve the submission of a grant application for PA Conservation Corps. for July 2007 - June 2008. Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor.

Mr. Harpster questioned the Harris Township Boy Scout Project of putting recycling containers at Blue Spring and Nittany View Parks. Who would be responsible for collecting those containers in summer and winter? Greg Roth is working with that Eagle Scout candidate, and the recycling company will pick up the recycling materials.

X.       ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Ms. Mascolo moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 1:10 P.M.

 THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for
Thursday, 11 Jan 07 at 12:15 PM, COG Forum Room.

These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 11 Jan 07;
they will now be distributed to Municipal Managers, SCASD, and posted on the CRPR website.

Meeting summary prepared by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager