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Centre Region Parks & Recreation Board / Centre Regional Recreation Authority
Approved Minutes of the Special Meeting
Monday, 24 Sep 07, COG Building, Forum Room
I. CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL
Chair Cindy Solic called the meeting to order at 3:00 P.M.
Board members attending (5 of 5): Cindy Solic, Sue Mascolo, Donna Conway, Kathleen Matason, Roy
Harpster. Borough Council Liaison (nonvoting) Craig R. Humphrey also attended.
Staff members: Director Ronald J. Woodhead, Aquatics Supervisor Todd Roth, Office Manager Diane
Ishler.
Members of the Pool Renewal Advisory Committee: Sue Rogacs, Karen Foard, Eric Topp, Anne
Lawrence
Guests: Scot Hunsaker, Counsilman-Hunsaker Associates; Alan Popovich, HP Popovich; Mike Joseph,
Centre Daily Times
II. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none
III. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT
Sue Younkin, the State College Area School District representative to the Millbrook Marsh Nature
Center Advisory Committee, has retired from the District. The Advisory Committee recommended
that Mary Jayne (M. J.) Coon-Kitt be appointed to continue the unexpired term of Ms. Younkin
(expires 31 Dec 08). Ms. Mascolo moved to appoint Mary Jayne Coon-Kitt. Mr. Harpster seconded.
All in favor.
IV. PARK FOREST POOL RENEWAL
Based upon the approved Master Site Plan, Mr. Hunsaker and Mr. Popovich presented 3 final layout
options for Park Forest Pool and asked for guidance on selecting one. After discussion, Mr. Harpster
moved to recommend “Layout C” with comments concerning reduced utility runs and reduced
retaining walls. It will be important to be sure that the location of the tot area is not in too much
shade. Ms. Mascolo seconded. All in favor.
V. WELCH POOL RENEWAL - MASTER SITE PLAN:
Mr. Todd Roth reviewed the history of the pools and provided some background information. Mr.
Hunsaker than presented 5 possible concept options for Welch Pool. For each one, he presented
projected income and expense numbers and estimated population growth. He emphasized that these
were not design or layout drawings, but concepts. The five options were:
#1 with an estimated cost of $4,130,000 is a replacement with same program that will meet current
codes,
#2 with an estimated cost of $4,600,000 is a small, neighborhood approach.
#3 with an estimated cost of $5,412,000 with a larger, community approach.
#4 with an estimated cost of $7,240,000 with a combined leisure and lap pool.
#5 with an estimated cost of $8,413,000 with a 50-meter competition pool-otherwise the same as
#3.
After the presentation, questions were asked:
-Ms. Foard asked if the only difference between option #3 and #4 is the fact that the leisure pool and
the lap pool are combined? Mr. Hunsaker indicated the water surface is larger in #4 than in
#3.
-Mr. Topp - Is there a difference in depth of the pool #3 and #4? Mr. Hunsaker - Right now these are
a concept plans so the water depth could be decided.
Mr. Topp - Is there enough for Option #5 as a need or is it a want? Mr. Hunsaker - The 50-meter
pool is probably not a need in this area at this time.
Mr. Topp - Will the entire presentation be on the website? Mr. Roth -Yes, the entire presentation will
be on the website.
-Mr. Humphrey asked if there is room on the site for the features that were shown? Mr. Hunsaker
replied that these are not designs but concepts, however, they confirmed that all the items will
fit on the leased site (based on the parking moving to the school district site).
-Mr. Topp asked if the growth that is being projected is representative of the growth that’s been in
the past that shows the growth is in the older population? The projections show a large
population growth over 40 years of age.
-Ms. Mascolo asked what caused the large rise in the prices? When the presentations were made for
Park Forest, it was thought that Welch would be approximately in the $4,000,000 range. Mr.
Hunsaker compared the square foot costs and the sites were then comparable.
-Mr. Woodhead asked what they have seen in construction costs over the past two years? Mr.
Hunsaker indicated that the construction costs skyrocketed but are now going down and they
are budgeting 5% increase each year in their projections.
-Ms. Foard indicated that in previous discussions concerning the Park Forest Pool they were told that
they could not have an 8-lane pool, but now in the Welch Pool concepts an 8-lane pool is
proposed. She is concerned that Park Forest Pool would seem like the poor neighbor. Mr.
Hunsaker indicated that in his conversations, the Park Forest pool was to be a neighborhood
pool and Welch was to be the regional swimming pool. Based on the funds approved for Park
Forest, that plan will get the most programing for the dollars. Discussion followed.
-Ms. Rogacs thought the people at the July community meeting did not want all the amenities but
rather a small neighborhood pool. She thought these options look more like a water park. Mr.
Hunsaker indicated that none of the amenities shown were water park amenities - the photos
all show municipal pools. He indicated that it is possible to build a new facility and have few
people using it.
-Ms. Mascolo indicated that this community is going to grow and people are going to come to the
pool.
-Ms. Rogacs indicated that attendance depends on the weather. Mr. Hunsaker indicated that children
today have all types of entertainment that is exciting and look for excitement where they
swim.
-Mr. Topp noted that it would be nice to have something phasing in for different swimming abilities.
That is something to go to the next level.
-Ms. Mascolo related that she brings her grandchildren and they would like some interesting
amenities.
-Ms. Rogacs related you want children to swim, not just run through fountain sprays.
-Ms. Conway indicated the hope that we have good representation at the public meeting so we can
get a lot of feedback.
-Ms. Lawrence said that her brother is in 8th grade and he wants exciting things to do at the pool.
-Mr. Humphreys indicated Option # 3 will bring in more participants than Option #4 should be
brought up at the meeting tonight.
-Ms. Foard asked what the dollar amount would be to make you gasp?
-Ms. Mascolo indicated that she was surprised at how high the costs were. She thought that the costs
would be $4,000,000 but now she knows that the community needs more around the option
(#3) costing $5,412,000.
-It would be interesting to know which amenities appeal to each age group and how much they cost.
-Ms. Conway thought it would be good to have the cost per square foot for Park Forest to what it will
be for Welch. This information will be added to the slides.
-Mr. Topp where do we go from here? Mr. Hunsaker indicated that the municipalities came back with
a dollar figure for the project for Park Forest and he thinks that will be what happens for
Welch.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Mr. Harpster and second
by Ms. Conway. All in favor.
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for
Thursday, 11 Oct 07 at 12:15 PM, COG Building, Forum Room
These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 11 Oct 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
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