Re: Minutes
The Minutes of the September 28th meeting were approved as presented. Kate Savage served as the new chair Board at her first meeting.
Re: Staff Report
Burt Hall shared with the Board the current happenings at Twinbrook Community Recreation Center. The Center continues to get a lot of use and the after school programs are filled.
Re: New Board Member Applicant
Marsha Douma was present to inquire about becoming a member of the Park Board. She also shared with the Board her interest in creating enhanced walking paths to connect adjacent neighborhoods to Town Center and to nearby City parks.
Re: Street Tree Appeal
The Board discussed the impending street tree appeal email submission. To date no followup contact has been received from Mr. Stewart of 811 Woodley Drive to the City.
Re: College Gardens Park Design
Burt Hall shared with the Board the current design plans for the College Gardens Park storm water management project. Kate Savage has recently been attending the update meetings. The City is granting $200,000 to MCPS to increase the size of the school’s new gym and to add bleachers, storage and volleyball equipment. In section on College Gardens Park Design, p. 1., Add after first sentence/first paragraph: A comment was made regarding the City's support for the project at the adjacent College Gardens Elementary School. The gym will be used extensively for community uses.
As the first step in the re-design process for the park, the City surveyed the neighborhood to determine what park features were most desirable. The number one desire was to keep as many existing trees as possible. New playground equipment and a gathering place for neighborhood events were also high on the list. The presentation on September 21 to the community of the park and storm water management pond designs was very well received. The plans will be presented at the December 18th Mayor and Council meeting and then it will become part of the budget process.
Burt Hall stated that when it is necessary or desirable to construct a storm water management facility in a neighborhood park, it is important that the park design and features be looked at as well. It is too disruptive to especially small neighborhood parks to construct large new ponds without also reorganizing the park amenities. Chip Boylan brought up the same type of storm water management issues in Glenora Park. Burt Hall mentioned that this was another sub-watershed with no storm water management system. The residents of the Glenora neighborhood have opposed a storm water management pond for Glenora Park in much the same way College Gardens residents did.
It was moved and seconded to recommend to the Mayor and Council that the plans for College Gardens Park and storm water management pond be approved. The motion passed unanimously.
Re: Greenway Proposal
Burt Hall introduced to the Board the design work of Andy Balderson of Donovan Feola Balderson & Associates for the Rockville Greenway Study. The project is conceived as a way to improve the main pedestrian corridors leading to Town Center from the adjacent neighborhoods and to connect the City parks near Town Center. The idea is to improve the streetscape aesthetics and to add pedestrian amenities such as benches, litter receptacles and safer intersection designs. Public artwork is also part of the concept. The project is not currently in the budget. Burt Hall has been working with Marsha Douma on beginning with a pilot project along the corridor beginning with the Park Rd. underpass and extending to S. Stonestreet Ave. and Baltimore Rd. N. Horners Lane has been identified as another important corridor east of Town Center.
On the west side of Town Center greenways could be built on such streets as Beall Avenue, Middle Lane up to West Middle Lane, Great Falls Road, Maryland Avenue and Monroe Street to Fleet to Richard Montgomery High School. George Sushinsky brought up that brick sidewalks are hard on bikers, wheelchairs and strollers.
A significant challenge for the corridors on the east side of town is the lack of City right-of-way width. Marsha Douma suggested that the City might offer financial incentives to property owners to improve their own walkways and trees along the streets. Bob Taylor stated his support Marsha Douma's idea of offering incentives for residents to enhance their streetscapes.
Park Road underpass – The concept for this underpass, which is the main entrance to East Rockville from Town Center, is to beautify the bridges and underpasses with a public art project, perhaps mosaic tile murals. Unfortunately the City does not own this bridge.
Donovan Feola Balderson & Associates have also made suggestions for more attractive signage, improved street tree plantings and maintenance, and to connect the metro station to the west side of Town center with a wide and attractive pedestrian overpass.
Another way to enhance the area is with attractive trash receptacles similar to what is in Town Center now. With the possibility of a new refuse system, all homeowners would receive new, uniform trash and recycling containers, which will improve the look of neighborhoods on trash pickup days.
Burt Hall brought up the current greenway name for the program and asked if it should be called a “greenway.” Marsha Douma suggested that it be called a “walkway.” Bob Taylor stated that the long-range concept is to have a greenway and he likes the program name of greenway.
It was moved and seconded to recommend to the staff and Mayor and Council that the greenway enhancement project be approved and that a pilot project for the East Rockville side from the Park Rd. underpass, along S. Stonestreet Ave. and Baltimore Road receive funding in the upcoming CIP.
Re: Cost Recovery Update
The Board reviewed the first half of the updated Cost Recovery sheets projections from each department division. The sheets show actual cost recovery over the past two fiscal years, projected cost recovery for FY 07 and for the next five years through FY 12. Kate Savage asked board members to review the sheets one by one and to comment.
Marsha Douma suggested that we reduce the Farmers Market registration fee for the first year back in to Town Center to appease the apprehension for the new location.
Community Services - Kate Savage inquired about how the new 501(c) 3 will affect the new division. Burt Hall stated that it would open up a lot more opportunities to apply for grants.
The Board expressed consensus support for the staff’s recommendations.
Re: Background Checks on Minors
Included as a follow up question from Kate Savage as an FYI. Chip Boylan inquired about the LIT's for summer camp programs. Burt Hall stated that they are treated as a program registrant.
Re: Washington Post Article
Included as FYI.
Re: POS article
Included as FYI.
Re: Subcommittee Reports
Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee - None.
Dog Park – The construction is just about done and trees are being planted. The fence will be going in within the next few days. Chip Boylan inquired if we were going to have a grand opening for the dog park - Burt Hall stated not until next year, maybe April so that the grass in the park has time to get established.
Environmental Issues - The coyote issue has been fairly quiet. Burt Hall hopes that this is in response to the Co-Existing with Coyotes information that all citizens received. Lately, the majority of reports on sightings are coming from Potomac Woods residents.
Fallsgrove - Getting ready to send out survey to the neighborhood regarding the park amenities. The staff will then begin the park design process.
Glenview Mansion - Next meeting will be held in December.
King Farm – The grand opening for the Dog Park and Mattie Stepanek Park will take place in the spring.
Lincoln Park Community Center - None.
RedGate - RedGate finished its first quarter ahead of last year by 5%. Total rounds were down slightly and total revenues were up.
Swim Center – Terry Baker reported that the Swim Center Advisory Committee meeting was held a couple of weeks ago. They discussed the Fitness Center/Meeting Room project and the fact that the costs have risen significantly. Mark Eldridge is optimistic that there may be money available to cover the shortfalls from the increased costs. The design does not include providing full access from the Fitness/Meeting rooms to the outdoor fitness pool. There will be stairway down to the pool area from the fitness center but there will not be any handicap access. If the proposed bubble project goes forward, it will be necessary to provide full ADA access from the indoor pool building to the fitness pool as part of that project. An elevator will most likely be added. The usage at the pool has been pretty stable for the past couple of years and they think it is because the schedule is maxed out. The committee hopes that adding a bubble over the outdoor fitness pool would increase pool usage from other area swim teams and pool groups as well as increase classes and lap swimmers. The operating costs for the bubble each year would be approximately $429,000. There might be some neighborhood resistance regarding the installation of the bubble, which is over 60 feet tall (6 stories tall). Bob Taylor stated that he would like to see a picture of the structure. Renovations and improvements to the indoor women’s locker room will be completed next August.
TCRC - Already done.
Town Center Park - Almost done. Library grand opening event scheduled for Saturday, November 11th.
Youth Sports – Eric Heckman reported that the RFL has over 1000 participants this year - 12% increase over last year. Parking at Dogwood Park has been going somewhat more smoothly. They will not be playing the Superbowls or Consolation games at Dogwood. They will be taking place at Rockville High School (Dec. 2nd for the Superbowl) and the Consolation games will be played Friday night at Wootton High School sometime before December 1st. The Pony division, which was up in the air with a low participation number is now one of their most successful divisions in the RFL league.
Re: Monthly Divisional Reports
Included as FYI
Re: Old Business
Terry Baker thanked Burt Hall for cleaning out the areas adjacent to the bike path along Falls Road. Burt Hall also reminded the Board that anyone may call or email him at any time if they see something that may needs to be addressed.
Re: New Business
The Board voted to recommend to the Mayor and Council that Marsha Douma be appointed as a member of the Recreation and Park Advisory Board.
Re: Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 7th at the Glenview Mansion beginning at 7 p.m.
