Parks & Recreation Advisory Board

MINUTES
ORO VALLEY PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR SESSION
ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
11000 N. LA CANADA DRIVE
ORO VALLEY, ARIZONA 85737

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

PRESENT:

Lyra Done, Chair
Bob DeLaney, Vice-Chair
Karen Chatterton, Member
Susannah Myerson, Member
Greg Roberts, Member
John Scheuring, Member

EXCUSED:

Ali Boelts, Member

ALSO PRESENT: Ainsley Legner, Parks and Recreation Director
Matt Michels, Senior Planner

MOTION: A motion was made by Vice-Chair DeLaney and seconded by Member Myerson to approve the minutes from the March 16, 2010 meeting as presented.

MOTION carried, 6-0.

~ Town Council Budget Study Session on April 24, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers
~ Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Fair on April 24, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the James D. Kriegh Park.
~ Deadline for submittal of agenda items and materials for May 18, 2010 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting is May 5, 2010.
~ Next Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting will be on May 18, 2010.

Senior Planner Matt Michels and Parks and Recreation Director Ainsley Legner assured the board that review of this item and providing feedback is within the purview of this board. Mr. Michels expressed gratitude for the board’s feedback.

Discussion followed regarding:
~ Research and stake holder assistance is essential.
~ The project is in the information gathering and comparison stage.
~ The appropriate section of the General Plan was distributed for the board to review.
~ The General Plan lays out a framework for a hierarchy of parks, recreation, open space and trails. It is divided among Town provisioning facilities and the private sector.
~ The scope of work is subdivision private park facilities.
~ Town funding is limited in terms of acquisition of additional parks space.
~ There are certain areas without adequate proximity to parks. We can not change the exaction standards (1 acre of recreational area per 85 units) because of Private Property Protection Act of 2007 (Prop 207) but we can offer incentives and develop standards.
~ The Town has authority over applicant approval and may make requests.
~ The Town is 85% built-out and in the future we will plan for smaller subdivisions, so the key focus will by Arroyo Grande.
~ A draft should be prepared for the board’s review by June and Mr. Michels will attend the June meeting and request feedback.
~ Chair Done requested that Miller Ranch be reviewed to see if the Town should have been a part of the development process.
~ Mr. Michels has reviewed the 300-page draft of Marana’s Recreation Code and met with Acting Director Paul Popelka on the subject. Member Scheuring requested that Mr. Michels meet with Marana Parks and Recreation Director Tom Ellis.
~ Chair Done pointed out that Marana has an impact fee for parks so they have more money to put into their parks and they have less expensive land.
~ Private Property Protection Act states that any legislating action by a governing body that leads to a reduction in property value (or by reducing the number of units), would be a Prop 207 claim. Unless it is repealed from state law, this will remain in place.

Call to Audience:
Robert Evans, Oro Valley resident, discussed the need for new development standards because the present code is outdated. The Town should develop something contemporary which is not in competition with the other local jurisdictions.

Bill Adler, Oro Valley resident, commented on the following:
~ There is an area in Arroyo Grande which will need to be rezoned and the Town has the latitude to impose new legislative restrictions regarding recreational needs. The same principal goes for the Kai property.
~ Recreational open space in a recreational subdivision enhances value.
~ Review section 8.3.7 in the code to help develop a review process where larger recreational facilities are available to be shared by multiple subdivisions.
~ The present code includes an in-lieu fee which allows developers to pay money instead of setting aside space but the amount donated is not enough to purchase park space.

The board discussed the following:
~ If a developer agrees to donate more space and signs a waver, they can not file a claim.
~ The intent of the in-lieu fee was to help the Town acquire land but in reality, the amounts are too low because the code was passed in 1994.
~ The qualitative value of the space should be reviewed.
~ Park space increases home values but it may be legally based on lot yield.
~ Chair Done asked about holding a brown bag study session in June.

Council Members Latas and Spoerl requested that this item go on a future Town Council agenda. It will be discussed at the May 12, 2010 study session. The following are options for spending the $250,000 at Naranja Town Site:
~ A waterless permanent toilet.
~ Existing trails.
~ Vegetating the hillside to screen houses.
~ Bringing water into the property from Monterra Hills for plant drip or other uses.
~ Small non-programmed patch of grass.
~ Frisbee golf.
~ Community gardens or historic gardens.

Council Member Spoerl would like to do something now so that the land is more usable and accessible.

The board discussed additional ideas:
~ Water is a good idea because it can be used in the future.
~ A BMX or skateboard/bicycle paved area would be good. The money should go to something big instead of small amenities.
~ Ms. Legner will review the costs for the BMX and skateboard areas.
~ Brandi Fenton Park has a popular splash pad.
~ The more popular the park gets, the easier it would be to obtain funding.

Ms. Legner distributed a staff estimate of park usage. Staff knows exactly how many field, ramada and court users and professional guesses were made for the unknowns.

Member Scheuring reported that the project is complete and the signs are installed. Staff has the names of the volunteers who will be thanked by the Mayor.

Chair Done reported on the following:
~ Parks and Recreation and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will be unveiling the signs on May 17, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. at James D. Kriegh Park.
~ Communications and Parks staff will arrange the event.
~We will publicly thank the people who helped and the signs will be introduced.
~ This event will build awareness of the quality of Oro Valley parks, highlight collaboration, highlight what can be done in a tough economy and give credit to the volunteers.
~ Chair Done thanked Member Scheuring for his dedication.

Member Scheuring discussed the correlation between advertising in the Northwest Exploorer, AZ Daily Star and Town calendar and participation numbers. The numbers were much lower when advertising was not include. The Vista did not seem to be helpful. He recommended that advertisements be included in the Northwest Exploorer, AZ Daily Star and Town calendar each time there are walks, if possible.

Further discussion followed regarding:
~ The walks will begin again in Novemeber.
~ Notifying the Tucson Audubon was suggested.
~ Chair Done will try to get the information in her subdivision newsletter and she encouraged the members post this information wherever possible.
~ Last year, all advertising money was swept away from all departments. Economic Development paid for the four-tab spread which included the walks.

This is the first time event in the Town. It will be on April 24, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Parks and Recreation will have a booth and Member Chatterton will attend to speak with residents about dog issues. The board was encouraged to attend.

It was suggested that Parks Manager James Gardner represent the Nature and Bird Walks at the Fair.

Member Chatterton stated that she spoke with Lieutenant Schaeffer regarding the off-leash dog issue. The Police Department has experienced issues with private pocket parks and people using them as off-leash dog parks. The Police determined that offenders can be charged with trespassing if their dog is off-leash. Member Chatterton is documenting the instances and looking for a trend. If a trend is established, an officer will stop by the site during the peak times.

The Finance and Bond Committee will meet on April 26, 2010. The 3/4 year budget comparisons will be reviewed. Chair Done commended the committee and staff for successfully balancing the budget without cutting staff.

~ The Town Council decided at their study session on April 14, 2010 to begin dog licensing in the Town.
~ Ms. Legner reviewed the budget at the Town Council meeting on March 31, 2010.

The commission plans to present phase 1 to the Town Council and they are beginning phase 2.

Ms. Legner reviewed the Development Review Committee report created by Multimodal Planner Nancy Ellis. The following two items related to Parks and Recreation at the meeting last month:
~ Ms. Ellis and Mr. Michels are working to secure a non-motorized multi-use trail through Miller Ranch because it is on the trails master plan.
~ Ms. Ellis is working with Planning and Zoning to secure a passive recreation area at an independent living retirement area.

Ms. Legner reported on the following:
~ She thanked all who attended or listened to the March 31, 2010 study session.
~ There will be a Town Council study session on April 24, 2010. Ms. Legner will present a proposed consolidation of the Library Department and cultural resources under the Parks and Recreation Department. There is also a proposed consolidation of Planning and Zoning, Building Safety and Public Works.
~ She distributed a letter from a young man interested in skate parks.
~ The folllowing is the protocol for advertising in the water utility bills:
     - A 1/3 page flyer may be inserted in the bills which go out twice each month.
     - There is a one cent fee for each item placed in the bills and there are
       approximately 18,400 customers each month.
     - It would be $184.00 to add it into each water bill, but the Parks and
       Recreation Department lost the advertising budget line item last year.

The next Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting will be on May 18, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hopi conference room.

MOTION: A motion was made by Vice-Chair DeLaney and seconded by Member Scheuring to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 p.m.

MOTION carried, 6-0.

Prepared by:

Danielle Tanner
Senior Office Specialist