Re: Citizens' Forum
None.
Re: Staff Report
The Board welcomed Wendy Braund, one of the new members of the Recreation and Park Advisory Board.
Burt Hall shared with Wendy Braund that we would like to meet with her to review the Board and Commissions policies and procedures as well as review the past 12 months of minutes from the Board at City Hall within the next few weeks.
Larry Eason inquired about the use of the Pump House. Burt Hall stated that in previous years it was used a semi-small Senior Center for a small group of local seniors. Currently the Maryvale’s Finest uses the facility for practices for their activities and performances. Originally the Pump House was an old neighborhood pumping station.
Burt Hall shared with the Board the history of the Recreation Fund. Within the past two years the fund was enhanced to accommodate adult low-income participants and the subsidy amount was raised for each participant. In the past year the Recreation Fund has been depleted. The fund has currently been switched back to a lower subsidy as well as increasing the participation fee by $5. The program staff will also be adding $1.00 to each program fee, which will be transferred into the Recreation fund.
Most fundraising for the Recreation Fund comes from the 5K/10K race, Halloween funfest, other races, etc. The City also has an add-up feature on each registration form for families to voluntarily donate towards the fund.
Marsha Douma inquired if the utility bills have an added up feature. Burt Hall stated that the utility bill does and the money is donated toward the REAP program.
City staff has met with the City of Gaithersburg and Montgomery County staff to compare the qualifications for subsidy assistance.
This item will be added to next month’s agenda with additional information regarding Recreation Fund assistance.
Re: Recreation and Parks Foundation Board
Chris Henry, Steve Edwards, Kevin Bradley, Charlie Carroccio, and Pat Smith were present to share with the Board their current status of the foundation. Incorporation papers were filed on February 6, 2008 with the State of Maryland. The Foundation Board stated that their goals and objectives of the foundation would be Facility Improvement and Endowment; Program Improvement and Endowment; Park Development; Staff Training and Improvement; Park Opportunity Fund and Opportunities to participate in the Foundation.
They are currently working on Board recruitment, processing grants and website construction.
Initially the R&P Advisory Board stated that they would like to have a member from their group serve on the Foundation Board.
The Foundation Board is interested in how the Recreation and Park Advisory Board would like to receive information and participate with the Board.
Pat Smith stated that the Foundation Board is looking for contact names and numbers for the foundation to make contact with and have these names listed on the foundation. They are open for any and all ideas. The foundation meets the first Tuesday of every month at City Hall. The Foundation Board will send their contact names and email addresses to all of the Park Board members.
Steve Edwards added that the Foundation Board is not only looking for input from the Park Board, but from the Pros Plan and Mayor and Council as well so that they are able to utilize and determine how the foundation funds will be used.
Chip Boylan asked if this Board was similar to the Rockville Senior Inc. Foundation Board. Burt Hall stated that the Senior Fund is similar but is mostly used for contributions to the Senior Center from fundraising.
Larry Eason inquired if you needed to be a Rockville resident to participate on the Board. Kevin Bradley, a non-resident, stated no, but the mission or funds would only go to a Rockville resident or business.
Burt Hall asked if the Board was coming up with a list of items that the foundation would support. Chris Henry stated that the Board does have a list and one of the top items would be the Recreation Fund. There are also several grants that City staff are working on that they previously could not obtain because the City did not have a 501(3)c status.
Steve Edwards added that the foundation is going to rely heavily on the Park Board for prioritization of what needs to be supported.
Larry Eason inquired if there were terms (board member terms?) on the foundation. Pat Smith replied that there are terms and they are staggered in time.
Steve Edwards stated that the Park Board member would be very much involved in the fundraising and would be out on the streets helping to raise funds for the foundation. Chip Boylan volunteered to participate on behalf of the Board. The Board will recommend to the Mayor and Council to nominate Chip Boylan to the Foundation Board.
Chris Henry stated that the best date for the Foundation and Park Board members to meet with the Mayor and Council would be July.
Burt Hall suggested that we update the Mayor and Council with a briefing memo.
Re: Draft City Response to County Park Tax
The Board reviewed the draft City memo regarding the county park tax. Chip Boylan suggested that we state the number of facilities we have from the Pros Plan. The percentage of parkland in the City compared to the parkland in the county should be higher than the county and by adding this info would show that we utilize our land more than them. Compare the budgets. It was also suggested that headings be added to the memo because it is too long and that reciprocity be maintained between both organizations (both have to pay).
Marsha Douma asked if all three organizations were working together. Burt Hall stated that the City is writing the memo they would sign on.
The Board motioned that the spirit of the memo was in line with where the Board would like to see it go.
The City is also putting on the table to offer 100 non-resident memberships to the public to the ?.
Re: Rooftop Terrace – Management Agreement
Included as FYI.
Re: PROS Plan – Best Practices
Marsha Douma inquired if this was similar information that they received prior. Burt Hall stated that this update on the Pros Plan Best Practices and was a comparison with other program and service areas in a dozen other regions in the United States of where we would like to improve. Bob Taylor added that he particularly liked the Lessons Learned section.
Re: Earth Day
Included as FYI.
Bob Taylor inquired about the Boards’ adopted stream clean up area and when the Board would be participating in the clean up. Chip Boylan added that the Board should go out and clean up, take pictures and challenge the other Boards and Commissions to participate as well.
Bob Taylor inquired about a mutually agreed upon date to participate. The Board suggested the date of June 7th at 10 a.m.
Re: Rockville Citizens Mayoral Transition Advisory Group Report
Included as FYI.
Originally Howard County had artificial turfs fields that were locked to the public use. They have since reconsidered because they felt the fields could not be hurt so they have recently been reopened to the public for constant use. Bob Taylor inquired if the fields were “green”. Burt Hall stated that they are now pervious surface. They don’t use any fertilizer or any chemicals on the fields. They are environmentally permeable.
This will be added to agenda again next month.
Re: Subcommittee Reports
Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee – None.
Environmental Issues – None.
Fallsgrove – Moving along.
Dog Park – 1 year Anniversary party. The City also gave updated shots to both dogs and cats. It was well attended.
Glenview Mansion – The work that has recently been done in the dining room is magnificent.
King Farm – None.
LPCC – None.
RedGate – The golf course is in great shape. George Sushinsky mentioned that the City might get a lot of complaints regarding the newly renovated hole number 11. Burt Hall stated that the City is thinking of altering this hole to a Par 3.
Swim Center – Marsha Douma stated that painting the women’s locker room white did not in any way make the bleak institution any better.
TCRC – None.
Town Center Park – None.
Youth Sports – None.
501(c) 3 – None.
PROS Plan – Already done.
Re: Monthly Divisional Reports
Included as FYI.
George Sushinsky inquired about the surface at the Mattie Stepanek Park.
Pump House and Rockcrest could use some additional mulch on their playgrounds. He also suggested that the City invest in purchasing a “?” to measure ?
Re: Old Business/New Business
Marsha Douma inquired if there was any reason why we don’t have the Nature Center as a subcommittee. Chip Boylan responded that there is no reason. Marsha Douma volunteered to participate on this subcommittee.
Marsha Douma added that she would like to see a planetarium created at the Nature Center. She also suggested selling a grocery type shopping bags that can be consolidated into a very small bag the size of your wrist. It could be used for fund raising to support the planetarium.
Re: Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at RedGate Golf Course.
