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Recreation and Park Advisory Board
March 26, 2010
| Members Present: | ||
| Terry Baker Chip Boylan Wendy Braund | Larry Eason Kate Savage George Sushinsky | Bob Taylor Raynell Cooper |
| Members Absent: | ||
| Marsha Douma, Councilmember Mark Pierzchala | ||
| Staff Present: |
| Chris Henry, Michelle Bean Mark Kibiloski and Elissa Totin |
| Citizens Present: |
| Jim Farrelly, Anne Goodman |
Re: Minutes
The February minutes will be changed to reflect the following: During snow incidents, it is suggested that cul-de-sacs have one lane plowed after residential streets had been plowed with one lane cleared. This is instead of the current schedule in which cul-de-sacs are not plowed until residential streets are plowed curb to curb.
Re: Citizens' Forum
Jim Farrelly and Anne Goodman volunteers representing the Community Wildlife Habitat were present to share with the Board a certification program for wildlife habitats through the National Wildlife Federation. They are a volunteer group attempting to get Rockville certified as a community wildlife habitat. In addition they would like to educate and encourage citizens to make their backyard gardens a wildlife habitat. Native plants are important to quality habitat and water management issues. Encourage residents to use them and/or replace them with native species. They would like it to be the first community in Maryland to be Habitat Certified. Bowie and Takoma Park are also working towards becoming certified. There are currently 45 registered communities on the East Coast that include property types such as homes, apartments, condos, places of worship, and parks and activity centers. They would also like to approach the local businesses to become certified.
The group attended the Mayor and Council’s citizen’s forum and requested that each member become certified. They also asked city facilities to get certified. To date only the Nature Center is certified. Facilities that meet the requirements won’t have to do anything but fill out the paper work to get certified. Certification has a $20 application fee as well as a $30 for the sign.
It was suggested that the Senior Center and Thomas Farm Community Center have close to all the minimum requirements to be certified. The Mayor recommended the Pump House and Mark Pierzchala recommended College Gardens Park as additional model habitats.
To be certified the following habitat criteria includes:
According to the volunteers the Senior Center currently meets the minimum requirements and would only need to apply and pay the application fee.
Bob Taylor inquired if the Senior Centers impending renovations would have any effect on current habitat.
Chip Boylan inquired about individual resident applications. Jim Farrelly stated that the City would need 500 points (or 200 homes) to apply to receive certification. Points are also given when reports are listed in area media. They have been advertised in Rockville Reports and already have received points for the article. It was also stated that a sign does not have to be purchased.
It was asked if the fee was renewable? No it is a one-time fee.
Chris Henry inquired if their website kept track of the accumulated points for Rockville. Jim Farrelly stated that Rockville’s total point area is considered to be 20850- 20855 areas so everyone within this zip code would have points contributed toward Rockville’s certification.
Chip Boylan suggested that the City could at no cost advertise to residents for this program at Hometown Holidays and the Farmers Market events.
Re: Staff Report
The Rockville Civic Center brochure was included in their packets as an FYI.
A copy of the Town Center Garage usage report was also included as an FYI. Gold’s Gym is currently renting 72 monthly spaces in the Town Center Garages.
The Planning Commission met last night and included the Post Office renovation and the Senior Center expansion projects. Both were approved.
The Mayor and Council budget worksession meeting with Recreation and Parks staff will be held on April 19th starting at 7 p.m. in City Hall. All members are welcome to attend.
In addition, the Mayor and Council approved the PROS Plan earlier this month.
Re: Meeting Schedule for 2010
Included as an FYI.
Re: Term Letters
Included as FYI.
Chip Boylan stated that he was disappointed that the Mayor and Council did not pay more attention to the application process. In addition, after all the meetings and suggestions there was no new process. The Mayor and Council suggested that they revise the process because they have had people serving on various boards for many years and they wanted to make sure that they would continue to make a difference for the community and then nothing was done.
Bob Taylor and Terry Baker stated that when they first became Board members the Mayor interviewed them.
Re: White Tailed Deer Task Force
Mark Kibiloski was present to share with the Board the applicants that have expressed interest in serving on the White Tailed Deer Task Force.
Kate Savage stated that according to Claire Funkhouser applicants who do not reside within the City limits could participate in the task force. The deadline for applications was March 19th. The City received five applications. The Board does have the option to extend the deadline and to re-advertise. There needs to be a total of six community members.
Kate Savage suggested that they review the applicants that have received to date.
After review of the applicants there was a motion to accept the following applications: Raiford, Hagen, Chervenak and von Hendy. Staff will re-advertise with a deadline of end of April to allow for at least two additional candidates apply. Staff will report back to the Board at the next meeting.
Re: Subcommittee Reports
Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee – None.
Environmental Issues – None.
Fallsgrove - None.
Glenview Mansion – Next meeting April 13th.
King Farm - None.
Lincoln Park Community Center - None.
Recreation and Parks Foundation - None.
RedGate – An RFI was sent out regarding the golf course and six respondents have been received. The responses will be given to the advisory committee for a reply.
Swim & Fitness Center – None.
TCRC - None.
Re: Monthly Divisional Reports
Included as FYI.
Re: Old Business/New Business
Remove PROS Plan from subcommittee list.
Larry Eason inquired about the main stage entertainment for Hometown Holidays. Chris Henry stated that the Saturday entertainment is going to be Tab Benoit, Papa Grows Funk and Bruce Daigrepont all from New Orleans and Sunday night’s entertainment is to be determined. Hometown Holidays is Memorial Day weekend May 29-31, 2010.
Chip Boylan inquired about the Appeals Board decision on the construction of the Victory Housing development on the corner of Fleet Street/Maryland Ave and Fleet Street/Monroe Street. The Mayor and Council decided not to have the legal department get involved in the court case against the Board of Appeals’ decision. Citizens initiated a court case to overturn the Board of Appeals’ decision to approve the Victory Housing development.
The City’s attorney will not be representing the Board of Appeals in court. Chip Boylan inquired who would be representing them now? As Chris Henry understands it the legal team representing the applicant (Victory Housing) will represent the Appeals Board’s decision. Larry Eason stated that according to the Gazette one member has resigned from the Appeals Board.
Some decisions by the Historic District Commission, Planning Commission and the Board of Appeals are legally binding.
Chip Boylan inquired if the Appeals Board was representing the City to begin with? Chris Henry responded that the City appoints them. In addition, Chip Boylan asked if they could be removed by the City Council? Chris Henry responded yes.
Bob Taylor asked what are the negatives for citizens to participate. George Sushinsky stated that they are looking for our endorsement. Chip Boylan asked if the City staff could look into this endeavor and make sure it is not a cost prohibitive venture. In addition he inquired if the City could look into preexisting natural sites.
Elissa Totin stated that we should look at facilities that already may qualify without having to do anything to fulfill the requirements.
Chris Henry suggested that the Parks and Facilities division be given the information and application. They will investigate if there are any down sides to becoming certified and, if not, they will take a look at some facilities/parks that might currently qualify for certification.
The Board motioned to endorse the Wildlife Habitat program for individuals and businesses in our community to encourage our City to promote the program through existing avenues including publications and events.
Re: Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 25th at Gude Drive Parks and Facilities.