May 27, 2004
RedGate Golf Course
Minutes
Present: Terry Baker, Chip Boylan, Larry Eason, Eric Heckman, Helen Heneghan, Melissa Moore, Kate Savage, Ben Solomon, Bob Taylor
Citizens Present: None
Staff Present: Burt Hall, Michelle Bean, Susan Nolde, and Kieron Mooney
Re: Approval of Minutes
The minutes were approved as presented.
Burt Hall thanked the Board for attending and participating at the Mayor and Council Worksession in which the results of the Cost Recovery study were presented.
Re: Citizens Forum
None
Re: RedGate Golf Course
Kieron Mooney was present to brief the Board on the current happenings at the golf course. The financial picture for the course is improving as rounds played and other business is running about 27% ahead of last year’s pace. RedGate is continuing to market the course in a variety of ways, including cable TV ads, as well as aggressively promoting with coupons and discounts.
Chip Boylan asked what percentage of play at RedGate is by City residents. Kieron stated that it is approximately 35%.
Re: Closed Meeting to Review Applications for Board Vacancy
Included as an FYI as requested by the Board from their last meeting.
Re: Boards and Commissions Application
Included as FYI. Response to issue raised at their last meeting.
Re: Forest Preserve Maintenance Policies
Susan Nolde, City Forester was present to discuss City Forestry Division policies for removals of dead and/or hazardous trees in the City’s Forest Preserves. Recently the Forestry crew was working on a “leaner” tree in Anderson Park and identified approximately 20 additional trees located in nearby Upper Watts Branch Park that were either dead, near dead or judged as hazardous. They immediately took the action to remove these dead and hazardous trees. Susan stated that if there were a hazardous tree that is in question in any of our parks or within striking distance of a path or other target, it is the City’s policy to take them down, to prevent injury to person or property.
Three citizens who live in nearby neighborhoods protested the removal of these dead or hazardous trees, and complained to the department and Mayor and Council. It is their belief that no tree should be cut down in a City Forest Preserve. The citizens were also upset that a bobcat machine was brought into the area to assist with the removals. Susan stated that the bobcat was necessary to remove a large, dead, leaning tree that was too hazardous to climb. The machine was used to pull the tree down.
Susan emphasized that the City is both legally and morally liable for removing dead and hazardous trees on City property, once a tree has been identified as hazardous; i.e. liable to fall and a “target” is present. Susan provided the Board with an extensive packet of information from other jurisdictions, federal, state and local, indicating that the City’s policies are consistent with these other jurisdictions.
Kate Savage stated that it makes fiscal sense to fix a problem and do it all at one time versus waiting for a tree to fall down and possibly cause an accident. Terry Baker asked if a tree that was dead happens to fall on someone, is the City liable? Susan Nolde explained that it depends on where the tree is located, whether or not the tree had been previously identified as hazardous, whether the City has a regular program for inspecting and identifying hazardous trees, as well as other factors. Susan noted that this particular Forest Preserve has approximately 5000 persons visiting per year.
Helen Heneghan suggested that we create a task force and ask the group to review all of the Forest Preserve maintenance guidelines, policies and procedures and ask them to make suggestions based on the current material. The citizens who protested the removals feel that the City is not interpreting its own policies correctly. These citizens are declaring that in a designated Forest Preserve no tree should ever be taken down.
Terry Baker stated that the City hires professional staff who make sound decisions based on our current policies and procedures and he feels strongly that the Board should back our employees with their decisions as long as they are made based on sound reasoning and best practices within each discipline.
Re: Swim Center Potential Impacts of new residents at King Farm and Fallsgrove
Terry Baker stated that at the last Swim Center Advisory Committee meeting the issue of the impending increased population due to the new residents of Fallsgrove and King Farm was brought up. What is the city doing in anticipation and how can they calculate who and/or how many persons are going to go through the facility?
Bob Taylor asked if the Swim Center is currently overused. Terry Baker stated that there are times when the pool is somewhat crowded, but it is not generally operating over capacity. There are alternatives such as adding a bubble over the outdoor pool to be used during the winter months, which would relieve all overcrowding problems. Terry is suggesting that the Board look at this issue for not only the pool but for all City facilities. Burt stated that this study would be a very worthwhile long-range planning exercise. Some of the tools that we have to relieve pressure on over-capacity programs and facilities are to increase non-resident fees and/or keep the resident-only registration period open longer.
Re: Potomac Woods Park SWM
Included as FYI.
Re: Rockville Town Center Groundbreaking - June 15
Included as FYI.
Re: K.A.T. Program
Burt briefed the Board on the current mold issue at Lakewood Elementary where the K.A.T. program is being held. Bob Taylor asked if we are going to be able to move the program into the school and keep it there next year. Burt stated that we have moved the program to inside the school and we will continue to run the program and will work with the principal to make room for the program for next year. Helen Heneghan stated that she did not agree with refunding the money to the parents in the program.
Re: Subcommittee Reports
Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee – The month of May is National Bike Month.
Environmental Issues - None
Fallsgrove & King Farm – At the final budget worksession, it was suggested by the Mayor and Council that the City consider selling the main house at the King Farm Farmstead, and to use the money to fund the 4th floor of the cultural center in Town Center. The 28-acre King Farm Park meeting with the residents and the presentation of the plan for the new park was well attended and well received. Staff will proceed with the design as planned.
Glenview Mansion - None.
Lincoln Park Community Center - None.
RedGate - None.
Swim Center - The Macabbi Games will be taking place on August 9-12 in the mornings at the Swim Center. The Swim Center Advisory was asked their opinion on the current age limit (6 years) for use of the whirlpool. It was suggested that the age limited be moved up to 14 years of age. Admission fees go up $.50 after Memorial Day. The issue of canceling or postponing the construction of the new fitness center, in order to fund other priorities within the City’s CIP budget was discussed. Terry indicated he would be contacting the Mayor and Council to represent the position of Swim Center patrons. A decision to cancel or postpone the fitness center would be quite unpopular.
TCRC – None.
Town Center Park - Already done.
Youth Sports - None.
Re: Old Business/New Business
Staff will come back to the Park Board with the FY04 actuals for expenses and revenues, and look at the FY06 budget later this year to continue the use of the Cost Recovery policies.
Chip Boylan attended the new JPG development meeting on behalf of the Park Board.
Chip Boylan, Kate Savage and Larry Eason will volunteer to judge parade participants and select a Park Board winner at Monday’s Memorial Day parade.
Helen Heneghan inquired if the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board could be listed as a sponsor for Hometown Holidays.
Re: Monthly Reports
Included as FYI.
Re: Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June at 6 p.m. This meeting will be a parks tour.
