Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting

Thursday, 13 Apr 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): Cindy Solic, Roy Harpster, Kathleen Matason, Donna Conway. The Borough Council Liaison (non-voting) Craig R. Humphrey also attended.

Absent: Dr. Kenneth Mawritz, Sue Mascolo

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

Guests: James Steff, COG Director; Amy Farkas, Harris Township Manager; Bruce Lord, member Harris Township Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

II.       COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none

III.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes for the March meeting were approved on a motion by Ms. Conway and seconded by Ms. Matason. All in favor.

IV.      ACTION ON VOUCHERS

The vouchers from March, distributed with the April agenda packets, were approved on a motion by Mr. Harpster and seconded by Ms. Conway. All in favor.

V.        COMMITTEE REPORTS

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - No report as the March meeting was cancelled.

COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - Mr. Harpster reported that the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee is still working on the Joint Articles of Agreement for Regional Parkland Planning and Development. The attorney was present at the Ad Hoc meeting and suggested a lease agreement be included. Mr. Steff explained the process and agreements that would be used. The draft agreement has been sent to the COG General Forum and then to the municipalities for official comment. The municipal comments are to be returned to the Ad Hoc Parkland Committee by May 9.

Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members

- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Ms. Solic reported that Patton Township is ready send a grant to DCNR for the second phase of Circleville Park. The committee is also very interested in the Park Forest Pool Master Site Plan development.

- Ferguson Township: No report

- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: Mr. Harpster reported that the portion of the parking lot planned for this year at the Stan Yoder Preserve has been completed. On Wednesday, April 19, 2006, Harris Township will have its park visitation to all the parks in Harris Township. A committee member has been assigned to each park.

- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: At the March 20, 2006 meeting, a discussion was held about the proposed transfer of the Spring Creek Canyon from SCI Rockview to Benner Township.

- Borough of State College: No report

-State College Area School District: No report

VII.     STAFF REPORTS

March Agency Report - Nothing to add to the report

Summer Leisure Guide published 2 Apr 06 - The Summer Leisure Guide was published in the Centre Daily Times on 2 Apr 06. In the eight days that followed its publication, the front office processed 901 registrations for just under $50,000, plus all the other questions stimulated by the guide. The Board members felt that the Summer Leisure Guide was very attractive and easy-to-read.

“April Clean-ups” News Release - Mr. Woodhead reported that Park Partner Day, formerly Spring Spruce-Up Day, on Saturday, 15 Apr 06 will be held at 11 municipal parks. Currently there are 20 park partners.

Pennsylvania Conservation Corps Grant - For the fifth consecutive year, CRRA has received a grant valued at $94,000. This grant provides labor and 75% of the cost of materials. Thanks to Greg Roth for his help in making this grant possible; he is the CRPR supervisor for the PCC.

Supervisor Highlights:

Jeff Hall reporting for Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor for Programs & Special Events who is on maternity leave - Ms. Lee is interviewing and hiring staff for the summer; the Easter Egg Hunt will be held 15 Apr 06 at Holmes Foster Park with 7,000 eggs; and spring Gymnastics will be wrapping up soon. She is also advertising all the programs and the job opportunities.

Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - Mr. Hall reported that of the traditional sports, there were 11 participating in tennis, 30 in Field Hockey, 14 teams in girls softball, and 14 teams in adult softball. In the nontraditional sports, there were 27 boys registered for Youth Lacrosse; and 60 youth registered for Start Smart Soccer (with registrations still coming in). Mr. Hall also reported on the availability of sports fields. For this spring, there are 40 sport field areas being used by 6 groups, making sports fields almost entirely booked for spring. Mr. Harpster asked who was using Nittany View fields and do we need a softball field built there. Mr. Hall indicated Centre Soccer was using that field now but the field has been used for other sports (a multipurpose sports field). Mr. Harpster then indicated that depending on what happens to Hess Field in Boalsburg (due the planned auction of that land), there may be 28 to 30 fast pitch teams that will be looking for field space in 2007.

Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - The ballfields are ready for play. The ballfields are in better shape than they have been in a long time. Spring Creek fields look great. The crew has been opening the restrooms in the parks and trying to get the parks ready for Park Partner Day and picnic season. The PCC crew is repointing the stack at Centre Furnace on College Ave. and working on the playground equipment at Holmes Foster Park.

Molly Hetrick, Recreation Supervisor - Nature Center - It will be a very busy spring and summer at the Nature Center with school groups and birthday parties.

Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - The Senior Games brochure is being produced and registrations are being accepted. There is strong sponsorship for the games this year. A flyer advertising the Senior Games was distributed.

Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - The last session of swimming lessons for the spring have begun; the pool summer staff is mostly hired; the pools are being prepared for summer; and the companies have been engaged for the Park Forest Pool Master Site Plan.

VIII.   COMMUNICATIONS

Annual Disbursement from Centre Co. Community Foundation - A multi-year summary of the three endowments held by Centre County Community Foundation for CRPR/CRRA was distributed with the Board member packets. The newest endowment is the Manning Endowment for the State College Area Municipal Band.

Request from Tom Tudek Memorial Park Trust - Mr. Mark Kunkle, Ferguson Township Manager, requested that CRPR mowing crews also be responsible for mowing around the rental house at Park Crest Farm (next to Tudek Park). Previously, an Exchange of Services Agreement was approved between the CRRA and the Trust. This turf is usually mowed by the tenant, but a house renovation is underway, so there is no tenant. Parks Mtn. equipment is being housed in some of the buildings on the property and CRPR is mowing the rest of the area as part of that storage agreement. Ms. Matason moved that the Parks mowing crew be responsible for mowing around the house in the Park Crest section of Tudek while Ferguson Township is renovating the rental house, but for no longer than the 2006 growing season. Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor.

IX.      OLD BUSINESS

Park Forest Pool Master Site Plan

            - The consultant agreements have been officially approved by PA DCNR.

- The land survey has been completed by Nittany Engineering Inc. A copy of the survey was posted for review.

            - Mr. Todd Roth reviewed the Master Site Plan Process/Schedule that was included in the Board member packet. A copy of the schedule is made a part of these minutes. Mr. Roth also indicated that a Public Meeting will be held 25 Apr 06 where Counsilman-Hunsaker will have a short presentation. Letters have been sent to previous pass holders, hand delivered to the neighbors, and advertisements have been placed in the newspaper. Mr. Steff indicated they would also be presenting at the General Forum Meeting in April and then information concerning the status of the Park Forest Pool Master Site Plan would be presented every month.

X.        NEW BUSINESS

Grant Application to Central PA Convention & Visitor’s Bureau - Mr. Woodhead asked that the Board members approve Resolution #1-2006, officially authorizing a grant application of $7,500 in support of the Capital Campaign for Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. The resolution was approved on a motion by Ms. Matason and seconded by Ms. Conway. All in favor.

Harris Township Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee - Mr. Bruce Lord communicated that the Parks & Recreation Committee from Harris Township was discussing park needs and thought a resident survey (needs assessment) would be in order. As the discussion continued, they thought that a regional needs assessment survey might benefit the entire region. As each municipality moves forward planning park areas in their communities, they would be able to decide the attributes based on the needs assessment. He explained the process and the fact that this assessment is not just for today but for the future. Mr. Lord indicated there is state funding, requiring matching funds, for this type of survey. Ms. Solic asked if he had approached the other municipalities because Patton Township has already completed two surveys? If other townships have completed surveys, maybe the information could be gathered from these surveys. She indicated she was not sure exactly what was being asked of the Board. Mr. Lord replied that each municipality should do a survey but this would look at things from a regional stand point. Ms. Farkas indicated that the survey should be done regionally since residents taking a survey for their township would only look at their parks and not parks throughout the regional system. She also indicated that the surveys would include programing as well as facilities. Mr. Steff asked how it would be done. Mr. Lord related it would be done with randomly select addresses, stratified regionally by household. There are firms that will provide addresses.

Mr. Woodhead indicated that this request would constitute a major change in the operation of Centre Region Parks & Recreation. CRPR’s role has been to focus on maintenance and programming at the municipal parks and the municipalities have been responsible for capital improvements and development. However, now that we are looking at regional parks, Oak Hall and Whitehall Road, decisions will have to be made about their development, during the Master Site Plan process. Mr. Woodhead related he is not sure when CRPR should get involved in a regional assessment survey.

Mr. Steff related he didn’t know if this could be dovetailed with what is happening now for regional parks. There will be 150 acres for active recreation area to develop. Where did the suggestions come from that were provided for the development of these parks? Mr. Woodhead related that in 2002, the Ad Hoc Committee put together a list of regional needs that added up to 150 acres. The elected officials will determine what is to be developed. Ms. Solic indicated it sounded as though this should go to COG rather than to CRPR.

Mr. Steff noted that there is no money budgeted for this survey in 2006 but maybe look at budgeting this for 2007' that budget process will start in June.

Mr. Harpster suggested that this suggestion be bounced off the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee. Mr. Steff said we could do that. Ms. Solic would like to have feedback from other municipalities as to what everyone is doing or would like to do. Mr. Woodhead related that the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee is also dealing with grant applications and how the COG can fairly endorse grant applications. Mr. Steff explained that the process for new ideas in the COG is to present to the Executive Committee who makes the assignments. The Board members agreed that this should be referred to the Executive Committee.

On a separate issue, Ms. Solic asked if the tennis courts for Homestead Park, that were turned down by Ferguson Township Supervisors, could come up for a vote again? The answer was not known by those present.

XI.      ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Ms. Matason 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 May 06, 12:15 PM at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Barn

Meeting minutes prepared by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager