Centre Region Parks & Recreation Board / Centre Regional Recreation Authority
Approved Minutes of Regular Meeting

Thursday, 13 Mar 08 at the COG Building Forum Room

I.       CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL

Vice-Chair Roy Harpster called the meeting to order at 12:15 P.M.

Board members attending (5 of 6):

          Roy Harpster, Donna Conway, Dr. Donna Ricketts, Kathy Matason, Chris Hurley.

Absent: Board Chair Sue Mascolo - with prior notification

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

Guests: Robin Bang, CRPR Intern

II.      COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC - none

III.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The amended minutes of the February meeting were approved on a motion by Ms. Conway and seconded by Ms. Matason. Item # 2 under the Pool Renewal Funding Strategy was revised to make it clearer. Also, there was some discussion as to whether Mr. Steff attended. All in favor.

IV.     ACTION ON VOUCHERS

The vouchers for February were approved on a motion by Ms. Conway and seconded by Mr. Hurley. All in favor.

V.       COMMITTEE REPORTS

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee - Ms. Matason reported that the committee held a retreat on Wed. 20 Feb 08 with four of the Authority members attending, and that it was great! Ms. Hetrick agreed.

COG Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee - (Action items are later in the meeting.)

Municipal Boards & Committees: Issues & Updates by Board Members

- College Twp. Parks & Recreation Committee: Ms. Matason reported she had nothing as far as Parks & Recreation. As a matter of interest, College Township Planning Commission and the College Township Council met with Spring, Walker and Benner Township Officials about the future development plan for the Shiloh Road area - and each had a different idea as to what should happen there.

- Borough of State College: Ms. Conway related that the Auditors called her as part of the 2007 audit of Centre Regional Recreation Authority.

- Harris Twp. Park & Recreation Committee: No report

- Patton Twp. Rec. Advisory Committee: Mr. Hurley reported that they discussed the phasing of the Bernel Road Park Master Site Plan. They are meeting with the State College Area School Board to talk about an access easement for the lower end of the Circleville Park lands. Also, they are going to work with a Penn State Landscape Contracting Class and have them do two projects; they have worked with Patton Township before and did a great job.

- Ferguson Township: No report

- State College Area School District: No report

VI.     STAFF REPORTS

February 2008 Activity Report - No other comments to supplement the written report provided.

Active.Net update & the Summer Leisure Guide - Ms. Bang reported for Ms. Lee who is on vacation. She reported that the Summer Leisure Guide would be published Sun. 6 Apr. 08. Mr. Woodhead reported that the agency revenue is currently ahead of last year by approximately $16,000. Hopefully, when Internet registration begins, agency revenue will continue to increase over last year.

Award of $10,000 PA DEP Growing Greener Grant - Mr. Woodhead reported that Mr. Robert Crum, Director of Centre Region Planning, informed him that the $10,000 PA DEP Growing Greener Grant via the Authority to the Central Regional Planning Commission for Stream Protect Education had been approved by PA DEP.

Other pending grants or award applications - Mr. Woodhead will keep the Board updated on the status of these grants or award applications.

          - State Capital Grant for the Nature Center (still seeking release)

          - PA Conservation Corp Grant Application (to extend for the 7^th consecutive year) - still waiting

- PA Fish & Boat Commission to assist in funding a new “Flyfishing for Bass” Youth Camp at the Nature Center - still waiting.

- PA Center for Local Government Excellence (for the municipal and community cooperation related to the Nature Center) - still waiting.

- PA DCNR to prepare a Master Site Plan for the Whitehall Road Parklands - Originally this grant was thought to be declined, but Mr. Woodhead has since learned that it is still being considered, so we’re “still waiting.”.

Supervisor Highlights:

Jeff Hall for Todd Roth Aquatics Supervisor - Mr. Hall reported that the second session of swimming lessons was going well and that Todd is focusing on the summer programs; getting the pools ready to open, hiring staff and working on the pool renewals. There was some question about whether the High School Natatorium would be available for lessons this summer. In the meantime Todd is scheduling lessons this summer for the Natatorium. Ms. Ricketts indicated that she had requested the High School pool renovations be done in August if possible so the pool could be used during the summer. She is going to inquire with the Physical Plant Director if the pool will be available for the summer. Mr. Harpster asked if Todd was still working to find out the residency of pool pass holders. Mr. Woodhead indicated that was a question for later in the year, after we have the 2008 pass purchasers in the new Active.Net database.

Jeff Hall, Recreation Supervisor - Sports and Fitness - Mr. Hall reported he was working on the spring programs including Piliates, Field Hockey, wrestling and Girl’s Softball. Girl’s Softball registration is not going well, especially grades 6-8. The other softball ages are expected to run. In addition, he is working on the summer programs. He is now focusing on sportfield permits; there are 26 different requests from 11 organizations for the 29 fields available for reservation.

Molly Hetrick Recreation Supervisor for the Nature Center - Ms. Hetrick is focusing on programs for spring school groups through the Connections grant and other groups. She reported that the Nature Center Summer Camps were full and a 2^nd week of Canoe Camp will now be offered. Although she cannot offer another Wetlands Camp due to staffing, she is increasing the enrollment for the current camp to allow more children to participate. Also, she has applied for a grant to allow another a 2^nd week of the Flyfishing Camp for Youth.

Robin Bang for Beth Lee, Recreation Supervisor - Programs & Special Events - Ms. Bang reported Ms. Lee is working on the Summer Leisure Guide scheduled to be published 6 Apr 08. Her spring programs: Tumble Tots, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Gymnastics are full. The Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt for Teens is Thursday 20 Mar 08 and the regular Easter Egg Hunt with 7,000 eggs will be held at Orchard Park on Saturday 22 Mar 08. She is planning the field trips for summer camp and has attended volunteer fairs and a Youth Fair.

Barbara Lindenbaum Senior Center Director - Ms. Lindenbaum reported that the 20th Annual Senior Games will be held beginning 2 Jun 08 with eight events. Enrollment will start soon.

Greg Roth, Park Supervisor - Winter sports are winding down, so they are starting to do turf work, and are doing PCC projects since the new PCC Crewleader resigned and the crew is working at Curtin Village until a new Crewleader is hired by PCC. There was a flood at Spring Creek Park that caused approximately $4,000 worth damage in washouts (sand, playground mulch, etc.)

CIBCC - Mr. Woodhead reported that the CIBCC award was presented to ClearWater Conservancy but it was still an honor for the Authority to be a finalist for their “Quality of Life” Award.

VII.COMMUNICATIONS

-Letter from State Rep. Scott Conklin regarding the nature center - Mr. Woodhead gave thanks to Sue Mascolo for arranging the meeting with State Rep. Scott Conklin and with Senator Corman to discuss their participation in having the State Capital Budget funds for Millbrook Marsh Nature Center released.

- Letter from Mr. Don Hamer regarding his involvement with the Fundraising Subcommittee and his pledge to the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Capital Campaign - Mr. Woodhead shared the contents of the letter with the Board/Authority members.

VIII.  ACTION AND INFORMATION ITEMS

Pool Renewal Funding Strategy - Mr. Woodhead reported that the COG General Forum and the five participating municipalities approved the funding package. The COG Finance Committee will send their recommendation to the Authority at the 10 Apr 08 meeting for official action.

Park Forest Pool Renewal Construction - The plans to be submitted for bids for the construction were submitted to PA DCNR for approval. The Authority was asked for permission to submit the Park Forest Pool plans to Centre Region Code Agency for their required review, subject to PA DCNR comments, and to proceed to advertise for bids in April, subject to design comments received from Centre Region Code and PA DCNR. Mr. Hurley moved to grant permission for the Agency to present pool construction plans to Centre Region Code Agency and to advertise in April for bids subject to comments by PA DCNR Ms. Ricketts seconded. All in favor.

The shared Parking Agreement for Park Forest was presented to SCASD on 25 Feb 08. The proposal will be discussed at the Joint Meeting between the School District and the Authority/staff.

Welch Pool Renewal - Master Site Plan - The general issues as listed in this meeting agenda were presented to Mr. Poprik of the State College Area School District on 25 Feb. 08 after which the School Board indicated their desire for a joint work session with both the Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee and the Authority. This meeting has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, 1 Apr. 08 from 7:30 - 9 PM in the COG Forum Room. Mr. Woodhead related that he would review information about the cooperation between the two entities and history of the pools and SCASD. He would then lead them through a discussion about the Welch Pool Renewal.

Regional Park Updates - Mr. Woodhead

Whitehall Road Parkland Acquisition - Everything is ready for the PSU Trustees Meeting in late-March. They will be asked to approve the sale of the Whitehall Road tracts.

Whitehall Road Parkland Grant Application - The grant submitted to prepare a Master Site Plan for the Whitehall Road Parkland is still under consideration. It is not known when the selected applicants will be announced by the Governor.

Oak Hall Parklands - Master Site Plan - All Authority members are invited to participate in the interviews for the firms selected from the RFPs submitted. The Ad Hoc Regional Park Committee will also be participating. The interviews will be held at the Boalsburg Fire Hall on Thursday, 20 Mar. 08. Ms. Ricketts and Ms. Conway will be able to attend.

2008 Work Plan / Goals - Mr. Woodhead asked the Board/Authority members to review the 2008 Work Plan / Goals and make comments, changes and then approve. Ms. Conway asked why the CRPR logo was part of the plan and what it meant. The logo is to be used for camps and leagues to identify who we are. One goal was inadvertently repeated, so Mr. Woodhead will remove the duplicate. Mr. Hurley moved to accept the 2008 Work Plan / Goals for CRPR as revised. Ms. Conway seconded. All in favor. 

X.       ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business and upon a consensus the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 pm.

 THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING has been scheduled for
Thursday, 10 Apr. 08 at 12:15 PM, COG Building, Forum Room

 These minutes were approved at the Board meeting on 10 Apr 08. They will now be distributed to Municipal Managers, SCASD and posted on the CRPR website.

Meeting summary prepared by Diane Ishler, CRPR Office Manager