Re: Minutes

The minutes were approved with one minor modification regarding the discussion on the Swim Center. 

George Sushinky inquired about the difference between the Enterprise Fund and the General Fund and why the Swim Center was previously in the Enterprise Fund and no longer is. Burt Hall reviewed with the Board the Swim Center’s previous history in the General Fund, explaining that the Swim Center was unable, over many years, to cover the additional costs that go along with an enterprise fund, including General Fund administrative overhead and all capital costs.

Katie Grant of 6 Eton Overlook was present to appeal the planting of one of three street trees on the right-of-way in front her home.  Two of the three trees have already been planted, and the third tree will be located in a section where the children from the neighborhood currently play at the basketball hoop.  She explained that the third tree would also block her view of the area of the court where children play.  Rob Orndorff, City Horticulturist, was present to share with the Board that 6 Eton Overlook has two driveway aprons and suggested that one option would be to move the basketball hoop to the unused driveway apron.  Ms. Grant responded that the hoop will not stand up there due to the slope. 

Rob Orndorff stated that the Master Street Tree Plan on the City’s website currently lists Galaxy dogwoods for Eton Overlook street trees, but the neighborhood had the street tree specie changed to Kousa dogwoods.  Katie Grant asked if there were originally trees planted there and Rob Orndorff stated that yes prior to her residency there were trees in all three of these locations.  Burt Hall asked if she had another location in mind to plant the tree that would work.  After discussion, the Board recommended that the third tree be planted, and that Rob Orndorff work with Ms. Grant on an agreement for an alternative location.  Ms. Grant agreed to meet with Mr. Orndorff and work this out.

Re: Staff Report

Burt Hall reported on the current job vacancies and recent new hires within the Recreation and Parks Department.

Re: King Farm Park as Local Historic District

Robin Ziek, City Planner II, and Kahn Hitchcock, HDC representative, were present to share with the Board the recent nomination of 16100 Frederick Road - King Farm Farmstead Park as a local historic district.  She stated that the process for historic district re-zoning and the dates of future meetings and planning processes has recently been revised.  Since 2002 the HDC procedures and guidelines have been following updated Historic Preservation policies approved by the Mayor and Council, which include rules of procedure, revision of HDC chairperson rules to permit multi-year terms, website availability of all HDC materials, training for HDC Commissioners, standardized format of staff reports, use of a consent agenda at meetings, and worksessions with Mayor and Council to provide closer teamwork with Mayor and Council and the HDC.

Some benefits of the HDC are that is assures preservation, public knowledge, and that grant  funding may be available for designated buildings and sites.

Chip Boylan inquired about the position of the King Farm Citizens Association on this historic designation.  Mr. Hitchcock, who mentioned that he is a King Farm resident, explained that, originally there were two civic associations and it was difficult to have them both working on similar items.  Now, there is only one organization with many of the same people from both, serving on one group.  Ms. Ziek stated that the King Farm Assembly, as it is now known, voted to support the historic designation of the Farmstead. 

Chip Boylan mentioned that he and Helen Heneghan served on the King Farm Farmstead Task Force during 2001 and 2002.  He recounted that the Task Force worked cooperatively for eighteen months, formulated recommendations for uses of the various buildings and demolition of others.  At the very end of the process, the HDC representatives stated that any decisions on demolition of buildings were under the control of the HDC, since the buildings were more than fifty years old, and that it was unlikely the HDC would follow the Task Force’s recommendations.  Chip Boylan stated that it was very disappointing to have representatives of three boards plus King Farm citizens take the time to work on these recommendations and have them not treated seriously by the HDC. 

Bob Taylor asked if the HDC would consider selling the Main House.  Discussion followed as to what it is going to cost to keep it, and what are the benefits of keeping it.  Robin Ziek stated that the decision to keep or sell the Main House does not fall under the HDC’s jurisdiction.  Chip Boylan stated that the Task Force concluded it was too expensive and disruptive to alter the Main House to convert it for public use. Burt Hall stated that the staff still supports the recommendation to sell the house, and added that it would be beneficial for the Main House to be designated historic before it is sold, as this would help to ensure that the house and grounds are not altered in ways that would be unacceptable to the City and community. 

Burt explained that various work is ongoing at the Farmstead and that the staff is following the recommendations of the Task Force.  Staff is working with the HDC on all decisions as they have jurisdiction due to the fact that the buildings are all more than fifty years of age.

Susanne Fisher, who represented Peerless Rockville on the Task Force, shared with the Board her experience on the importance and value of historic designation, and her perspectives on ownership and internal use of the Farmstead buildings.  She stated that the HDC does not have a say in how buildings are used.  Burt Hall responded that that the HDC could significantly affect the use of the buildings, by restricting the provision of parking on the site.

Helen Heneghan asked when King Farm was originally sold if there were any discussions as to not selling all of the property as a whole.  Chip Boylan stated that in the March 14 letter he is not certain that he saw a recommendation in the memo.  Robin Ziek responded that he was correct; it is more of a memo and not a formal recommendation but will eventually be turned into a staff report with a formal recommendation.

Terry Baker asked how the Task Force was formed.  Chip Boylan stated that the Mayor and Council appointed the group.

Chip Boylan stated he is opposed to the Mayor and Council turning over control of this or any City facility to another entity.   He explained that improving the Farmstead buildings is going to be complex and expensive and, in his opinion, the Mayor and Council need to have full control over all decisions.  The City elected officials should not have another entity telling them how and what to do with the City’s property.  Robin Ziek stated that the Task Force agreed to have the buildings used essentially like a Wolf Trap facility.  Chip Boylan responded that Glenview Mansion has not been designated and the process of making decisions for this building works very well under the Glenview Mansion subcommittee, which is composed of board representatives from Recreation and Parks, HDC, the Cultural Arts Commission and the Docents.  Robin Ziek stated that she would consider the decision process for the Farmstead to be a partnership.  Terry Baker added that it does not sound like a good partnership when the HDC looks at the recommendations of the majority of the Task Force and states that it will not honor them.

Robin Ziek told the Board that the Planning Commission Public Hearing date is scheduled for May 10th.  June 19th is the Mayor and Council Public Hearing.  This is a zoning change that will need to go through the Planning Commission and then onto the Mayor and Council.

Helen Heneghan made a motion to oppose placing of entire King Farm Farmstead Park into an Historic District.  Terry Baker asked if the Board could just support the Task Force recommendations.

The Board amended the above motion to recommend to the Mayor and Council that the King Farm Main House and appropriate part of land be placed in a local historic district and the balance of the property remain unchanged.  This recommendation is in accordance with the King Farm Farmstead Task Force.  The motion passed unanimously.

The Board commented that the city staff member from the Community Planning and Development Services Department who presented the proposal to designate the Farmstead as historic was unprofessional in her discussion with the board.

Re:  Beavers in Upper Watts Branch Park

Board members were asked to personally visit the site in Upper Watts Branch Park where the beavers have set up their home, prior to the Board meeting.  Chip Boylan and Terry Baker stated that they were both amazed at the amount of work that the beavers have done in Upper Watts Branch Park.

Burt Hall explained that there are currently three choices in dealing with the beavers.  They could be trapped but then they must be euthanized as beavers cannot be relocated by State law.  A second option is to disturb the dams daily which will eventually cause the beavers to move out.  The third option is to just leave them alone.  Burt Hall explained that he does not support the option to disturb the dam and make the beavers move as they will likely move a short distance within the stream valley and begin cutting down a whole new group of trees. 

Larry Eason asked if we knew how many there are.  Burt Hall stated that there are four.

Burt Hall asked if there is a point at which the Board feels that the damage to the forest is so extreme that the City must act to stop it?

Chip Boylan stated that we came up with a plan for a coyote policy and we should follow a similar policy with beavers.  Burt Hall stated that the City has a standing beaver policy based on tolerance and coexistence.  The policy does state that if beaver activity is affecting private property or affecting City infrastructure such as sewer lines, the recommendation is to trap and euthanize them.  If these conditions do not exist, however, the policy has no provision for disturbing beavers.  George Sushinky stated that the stream valley problem seems to be more of a problem for us than the beavers.  Rob Orndorff stated that the beaver activity is part of a natural forest cycle; however in an urban forest we need to determine what are our management objectives. 

Bob Taylor recommended that we leave the beavers alone for the time being and continue to monitor their activity.  The Board unanimously supported this recommendation.

 Re:  Coyote Policies and Public Education process

Burt Hall reported that there was an excellent article in the Washington Post regarding coyotes.  The City is putting together a public education pamphlet that will be sent to all residents in the Rockville Reports. The other piece is a tool that Vancouver, Canada is currently using to educate elementary school students on coexisting with coyotes.  Young children are considered most vulnerable among humans to coyote attacks.  The Board stated their support for any educational information that residents can utilize. 

Re:  Thomas Farm Community Center Design Update

Included as an FYI.

Re:  Recreation and Parks Foundation Update

Included as an FYI.

Re:  Community Services

Included as an FYI.

Re:   Budget Public Hearings

Included as an FYI.

Re:  Proposed New Dog Park Location

Residents surrounding Dogwood Park have requested that the City consider a new dog park at Dogwood.  The proposed location is below the lower ballfield, between the center field fence and the stream.  Several groups of citizens have been using this location informally and suggested it to the staff.  Staff is looking into it, along with the R-Dog group.  The Board stated their support for consideration of this project.

Re:  Millennium Trail Ribbon Cutting and I-270 Bridge Groundbreaking

Terry Baker asked if it would be appropriate to have some sort of reorganization for Betsy Thompson for her tremendous work over ten years on guiding the implementation of the Bikeway Master Plan.  Chip Boylan stated his agreement.  It was agreed that the Board should present a plaque to Betsy at the May 6 Millennium Trail dedication.

Re:  Speed Bump on Monroe Street

Included as FYI.

Re: Subcommittee Reports

Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee - None

Dog Park – None.

Environmental Issues – None.

Fallsgrove – None.

Glenview Mansion - None.

King Farm - Already done.

Lincoln Park Community Center - None

RedGate - Last Monday the RedGate Advisory Subcommittee made a presentation at the  Mayor and Council Budget Public Hearing.  Joe Jordan, chair of the RedGate committee, went before the Mayor and Council.  George Sushinky's shared with the Board his interpretation of the worksession with the Mayor and Council and RedGate's financial situation.

Swim Center – Terry Baker reported that the Swim Center Advisory Subcommittee met last week.  They discussed that there is not enough money to do both the meeting room and fitness room projects, due to inflation.  One way this will be addressed is to construct the project in a single phase instead of two phases.  Burt Hall stated that there may be some additional FY08  POS funds for this project. 

TCRC – None.

Town Center Park – None.

Youth Sports – None.

Re:  Monthly Divisional Reports

Included as FYI.

Re: Old Business/New Business

Re:  Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:46 p.m.  The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 25 at RedGate beginning at 7 p.m.