Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting

Thursday, 12 Jul 07 at the Tudek Memorial Park Pavilion

I.         CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL

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

Board members attending (6 of 6): Cindy Solic, Roy Harpster, Sue Mascolo, Donna Conway, Kathleen Matason, Dr. Ken Mawritz. Borough Council Liaison (nonvoting) Craig R. Humphrey also attended.

Staff members: 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 with advance notice: Recreation Supervisor - Nature Center Molly Hetrick

Guests: CRPR interns Arinze Nwadiogbu and David Orlan.

II.       COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none

III.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the June meeting were approved on a motion by Ms. Mascolo and seconded by Ms. Conway. All in favor.

IV.      ACTION ON VOUCHERS

The vouchers for June were approved on a motion by Ms. Conway and seconded by Ms. Matason. All in favor.

V.        COMMITTEE REPORTS

COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - No meeting in June. The next meeting will be on 19 Jul 07.

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - The committee held a planning meeting with HP Architects on 20 Jun 07. The next meeting will be on 18 Jul 07.

Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members

- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: College Township had their park tour including Spring Creek Estates and some encroachment issues there. Letters were issued by the Township for the encroachments.

- Borough of State College: Ms. Conway indicated that new lights will be installed in Central Parklet.

- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: Mr. Harpster reported that the Liberty Hill development will construct their planned park for service in 2008-2009.

- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Two concept plans for Bernel Road Park were presented by the consultants and one was selected. Ms. Solic stated that there is something for everyone. She praised YSM Consulting for their good work on the Master Site Plan.

- Ferguson Township: Ms. Mascolo reported that the barn in the Park Crest Farm section of Tudek Park has been improved to house horses.

- State College Area School District: No report.

VI.      STAFF REPORTS

June 2007 Activity Report - Mr. Woodhead emphasized the increase in revenue. Overall, the agency is $70,000 ahead of revenue for last year at this same time.

Update Indoor Facilities - The staff just learned this morning that Baseball Heaven (a commercial operation) is interested in the property at the corner of Rt 45 and US 322 in Harris Township. They will be proposing an indoor facility but they must first request a re-zoning. Also, the indoor facility being planned by Sam Malizia for his property located along West College Avenue in Ferguson Township is a 70 ft high building that would hold 3 soccer fields/indoor football. It is located where the RV’s are parked. It has been presented to Ferguson Township for a variance. There has been no progress on the proposed YMCA facility.

Pool Operational Updates - Mr. Todd Roth updated the Board members on operational issues at the pools: 1) The pool heater at Welch Pool was non-functioning and the plumbers confirmed that it was beyond repair. The plumbers did fix it so it could function at a 1/3 capacity until a new heater could be obtained. The new heater has arrived and will be installed soon by the plumbers.

2) The surge tank at Park Forest used for filter backwashing has rusted out and no longer holds the overflow water. A new plastic surge tank has been ordered to use until pool construction next year.

3) Tomorrow (13 Jul 07) Welch Pool will be closed so that the American Leak Detection company can locate a number of leaks in the pool shell and perimeter pipes. The pool will remain closed then reopen when they are done that day. As the company finds leaks, they will fix them unless it is a really large leak or is in the pipes outside the shell. The pool does not have to be emptied for them to complete the job. Their daily rate is $1,560. We must prevent a leak from forming a sink hole under the pool shell (which could cause a collapse like what happened to the Science Park Recreation Association pool).

Summer Staff Roster - distributed for Board information.

2008 Budget Process - The COG Budget process has begun with the completion of the 2008 Program Plan. The COG Finance Committee has reviewed the Parks and Recreation portion and sent it to COG General Forum with no changes. The next step is to develop the monetary details of the budget.

Supervisor Highlights:

Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - Summer classes are going very well. There are 180 registered for tennis, more than previous years, and adult softball is doing well. The Start Smart programs are wrapping up. We are sending in a grant to obtain lacrosse equipment and we will know by the end of the summer if the grant from US Lacrosse has been approved.

Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor - Last week was good for pools. There have been 100 more pool passes sold than at the end of June last year. Pool rentals have also been good but the special events have been getting the rain; although they have still been popular. Hawaiian Night is at Welch tonight (12 Jul 07).

Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor - Programs & Special Events - Week #4 of camp will finish tomorrow (13 Jul 07). Most weeks of Park Forest are full and registration has been great. The 43 rd annual Peanut Carnival will be held Thursday at the South Building. Touch-A-Truck was great with over 300 participants and the Kids on Wheels parade, held 30 Jun 07, also went well. She is now starting the 2007 Fall Leisure Guide. CRPR is selling tickets to the Spikes game for 26 Aug 07. We will have table there where we can hand out Leisure Guides and the proceeds will benefit scholarships. Ms. Solic asked if the camps were repeat business or did they see a lot of new people. Ms. Lee indicated that there is a lot of repeat business especially at the Park Forest location; there are more new people at the South Building.

Barbara Lindenbaum, Senior Center Director - During the Senior Center year, June 06 - June 07, there were 31,292 participants in Senior Center programs and 3,982 meals provided. The Senior Games ended with 220 participants; bowling and walking being the most popular.

Beth Lee for Molly Hetrick , Recreational Supervisor - Nature Center - Ms. Hetrick is all ready for Fly Fishing Camp that is full. A second Canoe Camp has been established and Wetland Camp scheduled for August 13 is full.

Ronald Woodhead for Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - Mr. G. Roth is in Alaska. Everyone is really busy and next weekend the Annual Keystone Lacrosse Games will be held at Spring Creek Park and Fogleman Fields. There will be 16-20 teams (involving 1,000 players and parents)..

VII.COMMUNICATIONS

Ms. Solic asked what was happening to publicizing the information about the grant money that staff secured for the Agency? The grant information and how many people are participating in the programs should be publicized to let people know what is happening. Mr. Woodhead thought people might think we were blowing our own horn. Ms. Conway ask if she could contact a reporter to do a story about our successes, which was supported by the Board members.

VIII.   OLD BUSINESS

Welch Pool Renewal - Master Site Plan Schedule - In June, the Authority approved service contracts with HP Architects and Counsilman-Hunsaker Associates to develop the Welch Pool Master Site Plan and DCNR has also approved it. A Master Site Plan/Process Schedule was included with the Board member packets. Mr. Woodhead explained that the same formula would be used that was used for Park Forest Pool Master Site Plan. The consultants will meet with the General Forum on Mon, 23 Jul 07. The first Public meeting with the consultants is scheduled for Tue. 24 Jul 07. There is a swim meet between Park Forest and Welch on that night so a meeting with the consultants will also be held on 24 Jul 07 at 3:00 PM. Members of the Board who are on the Aquatics Advisory Committee are asked to attend the public meeting. Mr. Harpster asked if someone could attend in his place since he would not be able to attend. Ms. Conway volunteered. If you cannot attend in the evening, please attend the afternoon meeting.

Park Forest Renewal - The proposal from the consultants for architectural and engineering service for the construction project has been forwarded to PA DCNR on 16 Jun 07. No further action can be taken until PA DCNR approves the proposal. This proposal estimate costs of $266,000, below the original listed in the Master Site Plan, will be presented to the Authority in August

2006 Audit Report - The 2006 CRRA Audit Report was distributed at the June meeting. The staff is asking for a vote of acceptance. Ms. Mascolo moved to accept the Audit Report and Mr. Harpster seconded. All in favor. Ms. Conway asked a question about the revenue category titles, so staff will check with the Auditors for their response.

IX.      NEW BUSINESS

SportsLog Software Replacement: “The Active Network” - Mr. Woodhead explained that although we have been planning to convert to e-Trak for Internet registration for 3-4 years, it does not appear that e-Trak will fit our needs. Money was not budgeted to purchase a software package so the staff has been looking at alternatives. One demo viewed by the staff was The Active Network. This company has many customers and Mr. Woodhead has talked to some of them. The customers were very happy with Active. A packet of information about Active was sent to the Board members in their packets. For this system to work, $3,000 must be generated per year (from customer service fees); if our customers do not generate sufficient business, this fee must be paid annually. For every registration and every reservation over the Internet, Active collects a small percentage. Mr. Woodhead recommended that the Board members approve acceptance of this service. We would start from scratch and pay for what we use. While it is very easy to use; there is a cost for training staff on a per hour basis. Mr. Woodhead explained that if the system doesn’t work for the Agency, it can be cancelled. Ms. Solic asked about the scheduling of fields. Mr. Woodhead indicated we didn’t have to pay extra for this reservation feature. A Service Fee comparison was distributed to the Board members. Mr. Woodhead also explained that the transition wouldn’t take place until the end of the year. At the beginning of the year the staff will use the system with the public use beginning in April for summer registrations. Dr. Mawritz moved “that the staff be authorized to subscribe per The Active Network proposal and to schedule and implement a transition from SportsLog to the “The Active Network” service by Centre Region Parks & Recreation”. Ms. Mascolo seconded. All in favor.

Regional Maintenance Requests for 2008 - Patton Township submitted park maintenance requests for two park areas for 2008: the expanded facilities at Circleville Park, 23 acres total and (new) Ambleside Park, 7.14 acres at 161 Ambleside Court. Park plans were available for review at the meeting. The staff recommended approval using the following motion: “That CRPR be authorized to provide park and program services as requested by Patton Township to the expanded Circleville Park and to the new Ambleside Park in 2008 pending:

            •          completion of the current construction projects

            •          official acceptance of the facilities by agency staff

            •          that the facilities are open for public uses, and

            •          COG approval of the appropriate budget to provide those services in 2008.”

Mr. Harpster moved to approve the motion as recommended by staff. Ms. Matason seconded. All in favor.

X.        ADJOURNMENT

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

 THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for
Thursday, 9 Aug 07 at 12:15 PM, COG Forum Room

These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 9 Aug 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