October 28, 2004
Pump House
Minutes
Members Present: Chip Boylan, Terry Baker, Larry Eason, Bob Taylor, Kate Savage, Ben Solomon, Eric Heckman,
Members Absent: Helen Heneghan, Melissa Moore
Staff Present: Burt Hall, Michelle Bean
Re: Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the July and September 2004 meeting were approved as presented.
Re: Citizens Forum
None
Re: Staff Report
Burt Hall briefed the Board on the Pump House and its use. He explained that East Rockville utilizes it for their neighborhood meetings and it also serves as the overflow facility for the Senior Center.
Re: Swim Center Fitness Room
The Swim Center Advisory Committee met on October 13 to discuss how to keep the funding for the Swim Center fitness center in the budget. The Mayor and Council are considering canceling or postponing the funding for the fitness center and funding construction of the meeting room only, in order to fund other Capital Improvements Program priorities. During January and February members of the committee plan to contact members of the Mayor and Council, and the new City Manager to lobby for keeping the fitness center funding in the budget. Members plan to attend budget work sessions and other opportunities to follow the decision-making process. The committee is planning to send out letters to all Swim Center patrons and encourage them to contact the Mayor and Council to express support for the future fitness center facility. The cost of the total project is approximately $1.3M, based on the budget two years ago.
Bob Taylor inquired about the cost savings if the fitness center is cancelled. Terry Baker replied that the meeting room alone would cost approximately $700K and the remainder would be for the fitness center. The meeting room is intended for use by the neighborhood associations, rentals and community use. The meeting room will also be used by staff for scuba diving instruction, as well as other classroom type programs that the Center runs. The meeting room would have a higher cost recovery rate than the fitness room.
Chip Boylan inquired about the other fitness centers located within the City. Burt Hall stated that fitness centers currently exist at the Sr. Center, TCRC and LPCC.
Chip Boylan asked if the Board could request a worksession with the Mayor and Council to discuss the above item as well the Cost Recovery for Recreation and Parks, RFL move, and the future growth of facility use as the City’s population grows.
Re: King Farm 28-Acre Park - Possible Re-design
Burt Hall shared with the Board the proposed modifications to the park design based on the need to realign Pleasant Road. Pleasant Road is under re-design as WSSC is not allowing any amount of additional fill to be placed over the water mains coming out of the adjacent water tower. The developer is proposing to move Pleasant Rd. father west, creating a 2.5-acre park area east of the road. This area could accommodate the dog park. The City would like to keep the center of the park as is, and move the side areas (which include the dog park parking, tennis courts, basketball courts and the “Bankshot” area as needed).
This change will cost between $30-40,000 in re-design fees. The King Farm developer has agreed to pay for this additional re-design cost. Construction money for this project is appropriated in this year’s budget. It was suggested by the Board that the City does not need to bring the changes back to the neighborhood because nothing is being added and the re-arranging of the tennis courts, basketball courts and parking lots do not pose a problem. Burt Hall suggested that we send the intended changes, via the King Farm listserve, and advertise them in the King Farm newspaper/chronicle.
Burt Hall shared with the Board the recent comments from the King Farm listserve regarding the King Farm Park basketball courts and the persons using them. Eric Heckman stated that there is always going to be an issue with the lighted basketball courts. Burt Hall stated that he has visited the basketball courts himself several times in the past few months with the Chief of Police. Officer Brian Paul lives in King Farm and also stops by frequently. After several visits neither Burt nor the Chief have been able to witness the type of unacceptable behavior described by residents. Chip Boylan stated that before the residents of King Farm moved in the City took a poll and the residents requested that the lighted courts be installed. Burt Hall stated that the City has been working with the Civic Association on this issue and has made a few changes such as turning off the basketball court lights an hour earlier, installing a sign, and even posting a staff person at the courts to help try to alleviate the problem.
Chip Boylan suggested that we poll the citizens again on the King Farm listserve to see who actually wants to remove the courts. Eric Heckman stated that he thinks that we should not do anything right now.
Re: I-270 Bike/Pedestrian Bridge - Re-design
Burt Hall shared with the Board the I-270 Bike/Pedestrian Bridge project. All of the bids for the project came in well over the cost estimated budget. Modifications to the design are under consideration to reduce the project costs, including taking out the bridge over the ramps on the east side, reducing the parapet height, placing the W. Montgomery Ave. path on the north side, and removing all of the artwork including the arch.
Re: Science Center Charrette
Burt Hall shared with the Board the upcoming Science Center Charrette meeting agenda, which will take place on Saturday, October 30.
Re: Cost Recovery - FY04-05
Burt Hall shared with the Board the most recent cost recovery for FY04-05, which included the adopted budget as well as the actual results from FY04.
Re: Subcommittee Reports
Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee - Already done.
Environmental Issues - None.
Fallsgrove & King Farm - Already done.
Glenview Mansion - The second long term planning meeting will take place within the next few weeks.
Lincoln Park Community Center - None.
RedGate - None.
Swim Center - Already done.
TCRC - None.
Town Center Park - None.
Youth Sports - The RFL Homecoming was a success. The Mayor and several Councilmembers were present to kick off the ceremony. Jim Binsted is stepping down from the RBBA board after many successful years.
Re: Monthly Divisional Reports
Included as FYI
Re: Old Business/New Business
None.
Re: Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 2nd at 7 p.m. at the Glenview Mansion.
