July 28, 2005
Rockville Municipal Swim Center
| Members Present: | |
Chip Boylan | Helen Heneghan | George Sushinksy |
Kate Savage | Terry Baker | Larry Eason |
Bob Taylor |
| Members Absent: | |
Eric Heckman | | Ben Solomon |
| Staff Present: | |
Burt Hall | | Mark Eldridge |
| Citizens Present: | |
| None | |
Re: Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the June 23, 2005 meeting were approved as presented.
Re: Staff Report
Mark Eldridge presented an update on operations and projects at the Municipal Swim Center. Mark stated that, with the hot summer weather, the Swim Center has been very well used. Recreational swims and all other programs have been setting records for attendance and registrations. Mark said that the staff is beginning the design process for the new fitness center and meeting room, which his staff is very excited about. He explained the new “water cannon” cooling system for the outdoor fitness pool that was built by staff member Phil Ashworth and is functioning very well. The pool was being set up for the largest swim meet of the year – the Montgomery County All-Stars. Mark mentioned the success of several RMSC swimmers, such as Michael Raab who competed this week at the World Swimming Championships. The RMSC summer swim team won the A-division championship this year.
Helen Heneghan expressed kudos to the RMSC staff for the arthritis program. Mark thanked her and said that this program has helped many people improve their ambulatory abilities, often dramatically. Terry Baker asked Mark how much water is lost in the fitness pool due to evaporation. Mark said the pool is filled by an automatic system that does not record how much water is added to the pool.
Re: Thomas Farm Community Center Design
Burt displayed drawings produced by the architects/engineers of the latest schematic site and building designs of the Thomas Farm Community Center. There are two schemes under study. Scheme A locates the building in the clearing where one of the former Thomas Farm homes stood. The building in this scheme contains all of the required elements, gymnasium, two multi-purpose rooms, game room, fitness center, locker rooms, offices, kitchenette and storage. It is a tight fit for the building in this space and the building design is “boxy.” Scheme B locates the building on the eastern edge of the park/school site, which provides more room and the opportunity to locate the parking directly adjacent to the building. Burt mentioned that he likes the Scheme B building design because it is less linear and more architecturally interesting.
Burt further explained that the staff and architects are studying two options for the entrance road, one from Rt. 28 and the other from Fallsgrove Blvd. Neither entrance road choice is particularly good. It is unlikely that the State will allow a new median break on Rt. 28, which would mean a right-in/right-out entrance, an undesirable choice. The entrance from Fallsgrove Blvd. requires the construction of a long entrance road across the park/school site, which will be expensive and involve a lot of paving in the park.
Board members commented that they liked Scheme A location more, as the Scheme B location took up too much of the active park site.
Re: Chittum Tree Appeal
Chip introduced this tree appeal and inquired as to what Mr. Chittum is asking the City to change, as he does not state any proposal in his appeal letter. Burt answered that Mr. Chittum has told staff that he does not want a Zelcova tree planted in front of his home, as he does not believe it is an attractive tree and it will not match the street tree in his side yard – his house faces Lemay and is located on the corner of Lemay and Ridgway. The street tree on Ridgway is Red Maple. Mr. Chittum would prefer to have a Red Maple planted on the Lemay side. He has asked the staff to consider moving the tree to be planted on LeMay up to the corner so that it will “appear” to be on Ridgway. Staff has rejected that idea, as the tree would block sightlines for cars, and in general no street trees are planted right at the corner of two streets. Mr. Chittum plans to send a letter stating his proposal(s). Staff will forward this to the Board prior to the September meeting.
Re: Additional Community Vegetable Gardens
The Board discussed the written proposal from Carl Henn on the progress of his committee to promote additional community vegetable gardens in various locations around the City. The committee is recommending starting with one additional site at the King Farm Farmstead, located where the proposed parking lot is to be built. This site is flat, surrounded by a berm that would hide the gardens from the adjacent neighbors, and there is water available, either from a fire hydrant or the nearby well.
Chip inquired as to whether the City is comfortable bring people onto the site given the state of the existing buildings. Burt answered that this would be a consideration. Burt stated that there might be some opposition from nearby neighbors, due to the increased traffic and the look of a community garden. It will be important to gain the support of the King Farm citizens association and to give the neighbors a chance to comment. Terry asked whether there is a need for additional gardens. Burt said that the Woottons Mill Park and Senior Center plots are sold out this year, but the concept was to provide more plots in locations convenient to additional City neighborhoods.
Chip stated that he believes the King Farm site is a good one as the site is convenient to many homeowners who do not have room in their yards for a garden. Bob Taylor said that this would be like adding a pocket park, which works. Terry said that he agrees with the strategy to add one of these at a time. Helen moved that the board support the proposal by the Rockville Community Garden Committee to construct a new community garden at the King Farm Farmstead. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Re: Buses at Farmers Market
Terry had inquired at the June meeting as to whether the Jury Lot which houses the Saturday Farmers Market is being used regularly as a bus pickup site for City trips, as there was a bus trip originating their on a Saturday morning in June. Burt researched this and informed the Board that this was not a City trip and the staff has not been able to determine who the sponsor of that trip was. This has not been a problem since that one Saturday.
Re: Reappointments
The Clerk’s Office inquired as to whether Terry, Larry, Helen and Bob would like to be reappointed for a new term. All four Board members expressed that they would like to be reappointed. Burt will let the Clerk’s office know.
Terry asked whether there were any applications for the Youth Member position. Burt said no. Chips suggested that staff contact the local high school guidance offices. Burt will have Michelle do this.
Re: Subcommittee Reports
Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee – The I-270 bridge project is still not out to bid. The Millennium Trail Southern Connection was awarded; construction should start soon. George inquired whether there would be a way to get over the Veirs Mill Rd./Norbeck Rd. intersection. Burt replied that this intersection is being considered for grade separation by the State, but that for now bicyclists will need to rely on the pedestrian signal for safe crossings.
Dog Park – The Dog Park will be built as part of the first phase of construction of Mattie Stepanek Park. Burt explained that staff is working with the construction contractor that will grade the park to add on a significant amount of additional park construction.
Environmental Issues - None
Fallsgrove – Already discussed.
Glenview Mansion – Larry stated that there would be an update of the Civic Center Long-Range Plan at the September meeting.
King Farm – Already done. Chip inquired whether the King Farm Park basketball courts were still an issue. Burt replied that the City continues to receive complaints from a small number of residents.
Lincoln Park Community Center - None.
RedGate – Helen stated that the improvements in the tees and other course elements have made the course much more friendly to golfers.
Swim Center – Already discussed in Staff Report. Terry handed out the latest Advisory Committee newsletter. The Board discussed the proposal to construct a sidewalk to serve pedestrians along the indoor pool driveway. The consensus was that it is not of high value given the few people who walk to the Swim Center.
TCRC - Center is very busy this summer.
Town Center Park – No report.
Youth Sports – Bob inquired whether the Rockville Express baseball team is working with Camps. Burt stated that he did not believe they were.
Re: Monthly Divisional Reports
Included as FYI.
Re: Old Business
None.
Re: New Business
Terry inquired as to why the location of the September meeting was moved to Glenview. Burt was not sure. Larry stated that he believed it was because of a planned presentation of the Civic Center Long-Range plan.
