Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutREC & PARKS ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES February_2015 / LINKED MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY BOARD February 12, 2015 7:00 PM LINDLEY CENTER - 1102 E. Curtiss St. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Wade, Chair Mandy Patriarche Sandy Dodge David Cook Richard Shanahan Salal Huber-McGee Matthew Parsons, Vice Chair Carson Taylor, Commission Liaison Matt Hausauer Monica Rodriguez Marlo Kapsa Absent: Beth Thorsen Stephanie Gray CITY STAFF PRESENT: Mitch Overton, Parks & Recreation Director Thom White, Parks & Cemetery Superintendent Carolyn Poissant, TOP Design & Development Manager Britney Mortenson, Recording Secretary GUEST PRESENTERS: COPIES OF THE RECORDING ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST – Chairman Wade called the meeting to order at 7:00pm and adjourned at 9:15pm. - Item #1 – Approve January 7, 2015 meeting minutes: Motion: Boardmember Cook motioned to approve the minutes with a small amendment. Boardmember Dodge seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. – Item #2 – Selecting an Official Secretary: Motion: Boardmember Cook motioned to name Britney Mortenson, Administrative Assistant I with the Parks & Recreation Department, to be the official secretary for 2015. Boardmember Roderick seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. – Item #3 – Public Comment Period, limit 3 minutes per speaker: EJ Porth from GVLT working with the Forest service on trail ambassador programs guided trail walk program in the works – Item #4 – East Gallatin Recreation Area Osprey Nest Platform: Eli Kutsch Eli Kutsch with Troop 677 of the Boy Scouts ospreys migrate in late March and early April would plan to have the new platform installed at the East Gallatin Recreation Area before the ospreys return parties interested in helping include biologists, Northwestern Energy, donors, the Rotary, and the Boy Scouts -Northwestern Energy has offered to donate a pole total cost would be under $200, still considering the site Motion: Boardmember Roderick motioned to approve. Vicechairman Parsons seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. - Item #5 - National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Presentation: Sarah Eastin want to collect ecological data of natural resources in a clearing in Tuckerman Park, adjacent to the Sundance Springs subdivision they would collect soil, stream stuffs, do airborne observations, study land use and invasive species study would be for 12 years, they'd build a tower and a fence studying effects of climate change and water quality ecologists did a study that showed this was the first choice site by NEON Boardmember Close: what is the timeline? NEON is looking at a total of 30 years at site then off, it can be relocated, the core site is in Yellowstone, tower would be a 7-8 foot tall MET station, could be open to changes in fence design Commission Liaison Taylor: how would power get to the station? would be trenched to the local power station Public Commentary on this project proposal (all are residents of the Sundance Springs subdivision) Cory Lawrence: has been involved with their long master plan process, this plan is larger than the current parking lot at Tuckerman Park Pam Bittner: no impact on her view, but sees it as an eyesore within open space Brad O'Goskin, Chairman of their HOA: should be able to find a better and more appropriate location Maureen Perimba: concerned about what it will look like Clarence Sanders: will diminish the utility of the open space, consider that it may set a precedent Tiffany Colletta: will affect property values, safety issues, liability, will trees be cut down near the creek? Gloria Lindemeyer: must be a better location they can find Denise Foye: is a trail user, should be a better area for this project Board discussion Boardmember Close: is there a procedure for amending the master plan for this subdivision? -that would happen if this passes, then goes to commission Boardmember Huber-McGee: could NEON pick a different location? Director Overton: fence appears to be too large, would have major impact Boardmember Dodge: master plans are made for a reason Motion: Boardmember Close motioned to approve. None in favor, the motion fails unanimously. – Item #6 – Recreation & Parks Board Goals for 2015, Including By-Laws: Boardmember Close: committees for upcoming park developments to be created should be a standard set of board by-laws Chairman Wade, Director Overton, and Boardmember Huber-McGee with work with Boardmember Close on the by-laws Commission Liaison Taylor: if anyone wants to add goals, bring them up – Item #7 – Review of Agreement between City and Bozeman Sport Park Foundation: Trails, Open Spaces, and Parks Design and Development Manager Carolyn Poissant introduced Melanie Shell from the Sport Park Foundation, developing a memorandum of understanding -there is a lot of confidentiality involved, with them and the City's legal staff would be bringing a master plan to the board, then the DRC process foundation set to contribute $900,000 to the project -50% due June 30, 2015, then June 30, 2016 start with the master plan, then Phase 1 bidding starts, City has funds for the infrastructure Boardmember Cook: a resident would like an equal access playground. Manager Poissant has met with her and her ideas are being worked into the master plan Boardmember Close: is there a formal stakeholders group? Manager Poissant: no, but could involve the Sport Park Foundation, GVLT, Run Dog Run Boardmember Huber-McGee: board should be a stakeholder, progress should come to us in stages -Director Overton: this has come to the board already with every stage so far what happens if things go wrong? Who is the successor of the foundation, the City? Where would the funds end up? -Foundation member Melanie: would go to another non-profit with similar goals Motion: Boardmember Dodge motioned to approve. Boardmember Cook seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. – Item #8 – Subdivision Review: Sandy Dodge PROJECT: College & 23rd Apartments PLANNER:  Heather Davis FROM: Subdivision Review Committee DATE OF REVIEW: 1/9/2015 OVERVIEW: This is phase 2 of a one-acre apartment project on West College. Because the original plan has expired we are looking at it as a stand-alone project. The applicant is requesting cash-in-lieu. COMMENTS:    The actual dedication requirement is unknown at this time because if the site of this phase were smaller than ¾ acre, which it appears to be, the density cap would apply. The applicant will provide the lot size so this determination can be made. The appraisal for cash-in-lieu purposes has been provided at $30,000/acre. This amount is in line with recent appraisals we have seen. The nearest park to this site is Bozeman Ponds, about 1 mile away. An existing paved bike/ped trail along College Street provides access. That the area is underserved by parks is a negative for cash-in-lieu consideration That it is an infill project, completion of a previously approved project, has access to a year round trail, and has a very small dedication requirement are positives. Reconfiguring this project to accommodate a ¼ acre park (e.g. underground parking?) would drive the price beyond the reach of the college community, its targeted demographic. RECOMMENDATION:  We see no reasonable alternative to cash-in-lieu and recommend that that this request be approved. We would like to see the landscaping be primarily grass so that at least dog relief is possible. FISCAL EFFECTS:   Estimating the phase acreage to be between ½ and ¾ acre the cash-in-lieu requirement would range between $5400 and $8100. – Item #9 – GVLT Request for Letters of Support: Gary Vodenhal 2 grants are being requested #1: $45,000 being asked for from the Montana State University Ministers, an RTP grant -trail connector at Rouse Ave, North Wallace Ave, and Oak Street -improvements at Snowfill -new toilets, parking, gate -new bridge crossing at Burke Park -GVLT would raise the rest of the funds needed #2: $150,000 from TOP fund would like two letters of support written by the board, Chairman Wade offers to write them – Item #10 – TOP Projects Update: Sandy Dodge Villas Subdivision Plan would be along entry to East Gallatin Recreation Area 53 townhomes, wanted to be annexed into the City if built, that idea crumbled new storage unit idea outside East Gallatin would have 180 units, entrance into the park would be through the units Villas Subdivision Plan would be along entry to East Gallatin Recreation Area group has approached TOP committee to use TOP funds to buy land, they have $400,000 in donations, land is priced at $625,000, asking for $225,000 from TOP funds there is already a pending contract on the land – Item #11 – Parks & Cemetery Superintendent Report: Thom White crews catching up on early spring tasks sod damage from plowing new park signs prepping summer equipment consolidating remaining park improvement grant funds roughly $75,000 left advertising for applications parks division now responsible for 2 new parks Meadow Creek subdivision has 10 acres of formal park land mowing, trash, plowing, dog stations, etc. – Item #12 – Parks & Recreation Director Report: Mitch Overton went to Helena for their legislative sessions 1. asking to sell land from the state to local entities -city has maintained the East Gallatin Recreation Area for 24 years but it is technically a state park 2. Cash-in-Lieu bill -law amendment requested: include minimum development requirements in determining costs -currently the value is based on undeveloped, un-subdividable land – Item #13 – City Commissioner Perspective: Carson Taylor – Item #14 – Adjournment Adjourned at 9:15pm. ______________________________ Bob Wade, Chairperson ATTEST: _____________________________________ Britney Mortenson, Recording Secretary PREPARED BY: _____________________________________ Britne y Mortenson, Recording Secretary Approved on __________________________.