Approved Minutes of the Joint Meeting
with the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee
Thursday, 9 Nov 06 at the COG Forum Room

I.         CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL

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

CRPR/CRRA Board members attending (4 of 6): Roy Harpster, Sue Mascolo, Cindy Solic, Kathy Matason. The Borough Council Liaison (nonvoting) Craig R. Humphrey also attended.
Absent: Dr. Kenneth Mawritz, Donna Conway

Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee members attending: Thomas Daubert, Jeffrey Luck, Dan Klees, Richard Mascolo, Dan Sieminski, and Cliff Warner

Staff present: COG Executive Director James Steff, College Township Manager Adam Brumbaugh, Harris Township Manager Amy Farkas, Patton Township Manager Doug Erickson, CRPR Director Ronald J. Woodhead, Recreation Supervisor Sports & Fitness Jeff Hall, Aquatics Supervisor Todd Roth, Parks Supervisor Greg Roth, Office Manager / Recording Secretary Diane Ishler.

II.       COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none

III.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES

            The minutes of the regularly-scheduled October meeting of the CRRA were approved on a motion by Ms. Mascolo and seconded by Ms. Matason. All in favor.

            The minutes of the October meeting of the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee were approved on a motion by Mr. Warner and second by Mr. Daubert . Mr. Mascolo abstained.

IV.      ACTION ON VOUCHERS

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

V.        COMMITTEE REPORTS

The committee reports were postponed until the December meeting. 

VI.      STAFF REPORTS

Grant Status - The status of the grants remains the same as the October meeting.

October Agency Report - Mr. Woodhead mentioned the activity report included in the packet. He then displayed a framed Certificate of Appreciation that would be presented to Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. for installing two entrance roads into the proposed parking areas at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. This included approximately a $15,000 value of work including drainage, paving, etc. at no cost to the agency.

Supervisor Highlights: The supervisor highlights were postponed until the December meeting.

VII.COMMUNICATIONS - None

VIII.   OLD BUSINESS

Park Forest Pool Renewal - Mr. Woodhead reported that PA DCNR notified him that they hope to have the Master Site Plan reviewed by the end of November. It has already been approved locally. (With DCNR approval, the Authority can then request the grant reimbursement of $22,000.)

Welch Pool Renewal - Mr. Woodhead reported that an RFQ for Land Surveying to obtain boundary information for the expanded lease site has been sent to six local firms. These are due on 16 Nov 06. The staff is requesting authorization to approve the lowest responsible quotation and proceed with the work in advance of retroactive action at the 14 Dec 06 Authority meeting. Ms. Mascolo moved to authorize the staff to accept the lowest responsible quotation to proceed with the work. Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor.

-A 5-page topic outline for the lease from SCASD has been provided to the Solicitor’s office. When it is prepared, the draft lease will be distributed to the Authority Board and the District for review and comment.

-The staff will continue to prepare the Scope of Work to renew Welch Pool based on prior discussions to be submitted to DCNR for their review and reviewed at the December meeting.

XI.      NEW BUSINESS

The purpose of this joint meeting is to review and discuss the Proposed “Parks Capital Schedule” and the Proposed “Schedule for Master Site Plans”. Mr. Woodhead thanked both groups for being willing to join in discussion. The discussion is based on recognizing that the agency’s primary responsibility for operations (programs and maintenance services) and a second priority of work on approved capital projects.

Proposed “Parks Capital Schedule” - Mr. Woodhead referred to the “Schedule for Master Site Plans”(Attachment 4b) that was included in the meeting packet. The first decision for the group is the grant schedule. During the discussion in October, it was proposed that the Welch construction grant and the Oak Hall construction grant could be submitted in the fall of 2007. In reviewing the two projects, it was determined that both were high-dollar projects and the likelihood of both receiving grants was slim. To optimize the grant approval success, Mr. Woodhead indicated that staff was proposing the following Grant Application Schedule (pending the project cost estimates as the Master Site Plans are developed):

(Approved:                 Oak Hall Master Site Plan Grant, Welch Pool Master Site Plan Grant)

(Fall 2006:                 Submitted the PF Pool construction grant)

Fall 2007:                   Welch construction grant and the Whitehall Road Master Site Plan grant

Fall 2008:                   Oak Hall Phase I construction grant.

Fall 2009 or 2010       Whitehall Road construction grant can be submitted.

Mr. Sieminski questioned whether the Oak Hall Master Site Plan grant had been approved since it wasn’t listed on the flip-chart. Mr. Klees indicated the grant was approved, and that the Oak Hall Master Site Plan may be completed long before the construction is scheduled. This would give everyone the extra time to decide on funding, including contacting community groups for funding support.

Mr. Woodhead asked the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee members what their thoughts were on the schedule for Master Site Plans. Mr. Klees replied that he was interested in what the comments were from the CRPR/Authority members. Mr. Woodhead related that DCNR prefers maximum input on a project and they would be happy with the combined efforts of these two groups. Ms. Solic stated a subcommittee made up of representatives from the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee and the CRPR/Authority, could conduct the consultant interviews, then get input from both committees for the design firm selection. The design firm would then make recommendations to the combined group.

Mr. Sieminski asked about the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee’s authority to act in the selection of firms. Mr. Steff stated that there is no authority for the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee beyond the regional park acquisition, planning and development lease agreements. Mr. Steff indicated that it would be best to have the General Forum approve the role of the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee in these regional park projects.

A discussion followed about what the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee’s role could be and what should be done to change their current role. Some of the discussion centered around whether to recommend that the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee become a standing committee or just be granted additional authority to work with the CRPR/Authority Board for these regional projects. Mr. Steff reminded everyone that to add a standing committee to the Articles of Agreement would require an Ordinance revision and would require extra time. The CRPR/CRRA Board would continue to deal with the operations of the parks and the “new” committee would deal with large capital projects. Mr. Daubert indicated that no one wants to take over for the CRPR/Authority Board, but work in conjunction with them. Mr. Steff suggested the motion could be the General Forum authorize the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee to make recommendations regarding parks and pool capital projects as time and resources permit and in cooperation with the Parks & Recreation Board. Mr. Mascolo moved that the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee request that the General Forum authorize the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee to work with the CRPR/Authority for these large capital projects. Mr. Warner seconded and the motion was approved. The wording of the motion will be emailed to the members of the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee for approval.

(POST MEETING NOTE: The following motion was then proposed to the COG General Forum for their November meeting: “That the General Forum authorize 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.” The General Forum approved the motion and added action that a recommendation to permit the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee to become a standing committee be proposed to the COG Executive Committee by June 2007.)

Mr. Mascolo suggested that three members of the CRPR/Authority Board and two members of the Ad Hoc committee participate in the consultant interviews. Mr. Woodhead asked that the schedule for the Oak Hall Master Site Plan be adjusted so that the staff could concentrate on the Welch Pool Master Site Plan. Mr. Klees asked that the topographic survey for Oak Hall be completed before the RFP is prepared for Oak Hall Master Site Plan. Mr. Woodhead related that it may be done before the end of the year. Although the two parkland projects (Whitehall Road and Oak Hall) will be completed at different times, it is important that the plans for the parks compliment each other rather than compete with each other. The Whitehall Road project will be added to the schedule in 2009 and 2010.

Mr. Woodhead indicated that based on the Schedule for Master Site Plans and this discussion, the staff will update the schedule to include the Oak Hall Master Site Plan project.

(A revised “Proposed Schedule” is attached to these minutes for future discussion and action).

Mr. Mascolo asked if the same design firm used for Park Forest Pool would be used for the Welch Pool. Mr. Woodhead stated that the Authority wishes to use the same design firm but we must to wait until the DCNR approves the Park Forest Master Site Plan (it is currently being reviewed by DCNR) - then he will relay that request to DCNR.

Review 2007 Agency Work Projects - Mr. Woodhead asked if there were any comments/suggestions for the draft of the 2007 Agency Work Projects as they are listed in the attachment sent with the agenda packet. Mr. Klees asked what effect the State College Area School District situation, with their building plans and the public discussion would have on Welch Pool Project. Ms. Mascolo replied that at the last CRPR/CRRA Board meeting, Dr. Mawritz assured us that the Welch Pool area was still okay. Mr. Woodhead related that much will depend on expanded lease that is being prepared. Mr. Klees also suggested that a discussion might be held with the school district in connection with the parks development since the plans for the school district currently show a loss of field space. The 2007 Agency Work Projects will be included in the agenda for the CRPR Board meeting in December.

X.        ADJOURNMENT    There being no further business, Ms. Mascolo moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 1:30 P.M.

ATTACHED:            Proposed Parks Capital Schedule (Revised) - for future discussion

 THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING of the
Centre Region Parks & Recreation Board/ Centre Regional Recreation Authority
has been scheduled for Thursday, 14 Dec 06 at 12:15 PM, COG Forum Room.

  THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING of the COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee
has been scheduled for Thursday, 18 Jan 07 at 12:15PM, COG Forum Room.
(The December meeting was cancelled)

 Since this was a joint meeting, members of the COG Ad Hoc Committee were also be asked to review these minutes prior to the 14 Dec 06 consideration by the CRPR Board.

The minutes were approved (as revised) by the CRPR Board on 14 Dec 06; they will now be distributed to the COG Ad Hoc Committee, Municipal Managers, SCASD, and posted on the CRPR website.  Meeting summary prepared by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager