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Home My WebLink About11/04/1999 CDC MINUTES THE COLONY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SPECIAL SESSION COUNCIL CHAMBERS NOVEMBER 4, 1999 Present: President Susan King Treasurer Vicki Briggs Member Sue Walden Member John Sanders Member Richard Boyer Absent: Member Bunker Hill Staff: Gene Ramsey, Cindi Lane Guests: Dwayne Brinkley, Brinkley Sargent Architects Dennis Sims, Dunkin Sims, Stoffels, Inc. Item #1.0. Call to Order: The special session was called to order by President Susan King at 6:10 p.m. and President King led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Item 1.1. Staff Reports: There were no staff reports given. ("The Executive Summary" of the Turco Survey, as compiled by Raymond Turco, is attached.) Item 1.2 Board President's comments: There were no comments made by President King. Item 1.3. Citizen Input: There was no citizen input. Item #2.1. Discussion and appropriate action regarding Brinkley Sargent Architects: Dwayne Brinkley and Dennis Sims gave a presentation of several priority options and prices of projects. The cost estimates include testing services, building construction cost, site construction cost, parking and landscaping, furniture, fixtures, equipment, architect/engineer fees, indirect costs such as printing and deliveries, and contingency (10%). Items not included in the estimates are land acquisition cost, off-site utility extension costs, special studies and code violations of existing facilities. Mr. Brinkley discussed a project list that consisted of the following: A. Recreation Center $5,400,000 B. Indoor Aquatic Component $3 - 4,000,000 C. Outdoor Aquatic Component $2 - 3,000,000 D. Aquatic Option for Existing Center 1. Renovate and Expand Existing Center $3,165,000 2. Build New Indoor and Outdoor Pools $6,900,000 3. Repair and Renovate Existing Outdoor Pool $2,000,000 E. Civic Center/Auditorium $7 - 9,000,000 F. Library (65,000SF) $11 - 12,000,000 Mr. Brinkley presented a list of projected 2010 area requirements for a recreation center and square feet required for each item. The total square feet came to 34,964. (Attached is a document entitled "Recreation Center" which shows a breakdown of types and sizes of rooms). Mr. Sims discussed recommendations for park improvements. He presented a document "Recommendations for General Park Improvements" (attached) pointing out recommendations for each individual park. Also attached is a document entitled "General Cost Estimates for Recreation Facilities" which shows a breakdown of in-line skating, tennis courts, hike and bike trails, baseball, soccer, football and softball fields, playgrounds, outdoor restrooms and concrete parking spaces. Mr. Brinkley pointed out that the board should consider the decision of not spending too many funds on individual lighting of existing soccer and football fields in lieu of appropriating the funds for the newly acquired land for the playing fields to allow them more amenities and to use the existing fields more for practice. Mr. Brinkley pointed out that the first decision for the board is to develop priorities. He suggested that the 4B Board, Library Board and the Parks and Recreation Board meet to discuss the following: -how to combine these elements -conceptual master plan on the property that is being developed - look at the overall budget -give more breakdown of costs of park improvements He suggested that the boards look at how much money the city has to spend and what items to move forward with. Item 2.2. Concerns of the board: The board discussed when to meet with Mr. Brinkley and Mr. Sims. It was decided to meet on November 18th at 6:00 p.m. as a joint work session with the Library Board and the Parks and Recreation Board and follow up with the regular board meeting of the 4B Board. The Colony CDC Minutes, 11 /4/99 Page 2 There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p. m. by President King. Cindi Lane Susan King Executive Secretary President The Colony CDC Minutes, 11/4/99 Page 3 General Cost Estimates for Recreation Facilities The Colony, Texas November 4,1999 In-Line Skating Facility 150,000.OC *Tennis Courts (2) 75,000.OC Concrete Hike & Bike Trails 165,000.OC 10' wide (1 Mile) *Little League Baseball Fields 150,000.OC *High School Baseball OO,OOO.OC *Adult Softball Field 190,000.0C *Football Fields 175,000.OC *Regulation Soccer Fields 190,000.0C Picnic Pavilion 55,000.OC 40' diameter Playgrounds, large 60,000.00 Restroom / Concession 200,000.00 Concrete Parking Spaces 62,500.OC 1,250.00 each, 50 minimum per field Does not include access roads or utilities or major earthwork. *Lighted facilities Professional design fees 10% The Colony CDC Minutes, 11/4/99 Page 4 SURVEY REPORT ADDENDUM LIKELIHOOD OF SUPPORTING BOND ELECTION After asking respondents to describe the importance, or lack thereof, of constructing recreation facility-types, as well as selecting the most important item to construct, the line of questioning shifted to financing. Interviewers asked, If funds raised from sales tax were insufficient to finance the range of facilities, how likely or unlikely would you be to support a bond election to provide additional funding?" Opinions were collected using a four-point, very likely to very unlikely scale, along with a no opinion response for those not wishing to participate, or lacking information with which to voice an opinion. More than two-thirds of the community sample said they would either likely (51%) or very likely (18%) support a bond election. Less than one-quarter claimed to be unlikely (14%) or very unlikely (10%), with an additional 8% choosing the no opinion category. Therefore, the ratio of likelihood to unlikelihood was nearly three to one. Very likely responses varied 8% citywide, from a high of 23% in the north central to 15% in the east. Overall support was consistent throughout the city, as just one subsector exceeded the mean score of 69% (70% in the north central quadrant), compared to two others that matched the mean (69% in the north and south central) and one that was lower (67% in the east). Women were more likely to support the bond election than men (74%-63%). Previous city voters were more often very likely to support the bonds than non-voters (23%-14%), although non-voters were more likely to support the bond election (74%-68%). Of people very likely to support the bonds (18% of sample), 61 % acknowledged voting in the 1998 election. By comparison, just 42% of likely supporters, 51% of unlikely supporters and 61% of very unlikely supporters said they had voted. This would imply that those with more intense opinions about this issue voted in the previous election, with soft unlikely voters more incline to vote than soft likely voters. Seventy-three percent of individuals dissatisfied with parks and recreation expressed an overall likelihood of supporting a bond election. That was a similar percentage to the 70% of very satisfied and 68% of satisfied respondents who said they would likely support a bond election. Also, 79% of the residents who said they would support a recreation center would likely support a bond election. That compared to just 30% who said they opposed the recreation center. The parental group most likely to support a bond election had teenage children (74%). Findings among the other groups ranged from 69% (parents of young children) to 65% (non-parents). Renters were also more likely to vote The Colony CDC Minutes, 11/4/99 Page 5 for the bond election than homeowners (82%-67%), although homeowners comprised 86% of those very likely and 89% likely to vote for a bond election. Although the variance was not significant, likelihood to support the bond election was stronger the newer the resident - 73% of under 3 years to 70% of 3-7 to 67% of over 7 year city inhabitants. The same trend was evident based on the age of the respondent. The people most supportive were under the age of 35 (75%), with likely ratings declining for people 36-55 (71 and over 55 (50%) years of age. Unlikely ratings varied from 36% of senior participants to 19% of young individuals. The Colony CDC Minutes, 11/4/99 Page 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of The Colony retained a team of professional consultants, led by Brinkley, Sargent Architects, to develop a parks and recreation needs assessment program. The objective of the study was to determine recreation needs in the community and how to get the maximum use of a 1/2 cent sales tax approved by voters in January 1998 to fund the improvements. Additionally, the firm was asked to study the possibility of constructing a community recreation center, as well as a new library. A component of this project was to conduct a scientific survey of residents, to assess their needs as well as to allow for maximum citizen input in development of the program. Raymond Turco & Associates, a public opinion research firm and member of the consultant team, was charged with the task of conducting the survey. The survey was designed to examine residents' participation in recreational activities, as well as to assess recreational needs in the community. The following key findings were discovered: Seventy percent of The Colony residents indicated they were satisfied (61 or very satisfied (9%) with the quality of parks and recreation in their community. Visitation to recreational facilities is high, as during the past year, over one-half of residents sampled visited a city park or park facility (78%), the city library (73%), Stewart Creek Park (57%) and the aquatic park's outdoor pool (52%). Residents were most satisfied with the number of parks (74%), quality of lake parks (69%) and lake recreation opportunities (63%). Comparatively, the items that did not achieve a majority satisfaction rating were the number of adult athletic facilities (36%, with 31 % no opinion), quality of athletic facilities (45%, with 24% no opinion) and number of youth athletic facilities (47%, with 20% no opinion). Four park statements received good or excellent ratings of more than 60% parks conveniently located for people in all areas and location of recreation center (both 69%), number of parks in the city (63%) and overall safety of city parks (61 An additional 6 items achieved majority positive ratings, although less than 60%. Two items exceeded 50% negative findings (fair or poor), those being size of recreation center (51 and variety of recreational facilities within parks (50%). Support for expanding the city aquatic park is very high, as four of five either supported (45%) or strongly supported (35%) this initiative. The Colony CDC Minutes, 11/4/99 Page 7 At least seven of ten residents rated hike and bike trails along the shoreline (88%), a community recreation center (83%), an aquatic center and hike and bike trails along the greenway (both 77%), a skate park (75%)? additional playgrounds (71 and natural habitat/nature areas (70%) as important or very important to be built in The Colony. Asked to identify the facility-type most important for The Colony to construct, three items from the list were selected by 10% or more of the sample -an aquatic center (16%), community recreation center (14%) and hike and bike trails along the shoreline (13%). Also, more than two-thirds of the community sample said they would likely (51 or very likely (18%) support a bond election to provide additional funding if sales tax funds were insufficient to finance the range of facilities being considered. Support for a community/recreation center is significant, as more than three of every four people sampled either supported (46%) or strongly supported (32%) the construction. The amenities that respondents were most interested in including in a community recreation center, if one was built, included cardiovascular and weight equipment room (86%), locker rooms (81%), basketball courts (79%), and aerobics/dance rooms, racquetball courts and arts and crafts room (each 76%). And on land adjoining the potential center, residents placed the most interest in hike and bike trails (80%), outdoor basketball courts and athletic fields (both 72%) and outdoor pools and water playgrounds (70%). People in The Colony were very supportive of expanding library services. Respondents were most supportive of expanded programs provided for children (92%), programs provided for teenagers (91 and services to homebound youth and adults and outreach services to senior centers (90%). If library programs were expanded, adults would be likely to participate in instructional classes (55%) and film festivals and author visits/book signings (both 51%). The top three children's programming activities in which people would choose to participate were plays or performances (40%), after-school programs (36%) and evening programs (34%), while for expanded teen programming, 26% would participate in plays or performances, 25% in teen friends of the library, 24% in reading incentive club, 22% in author visits/book signings and 21 % in discussions geared towards types of books. Asked to express support or opposition for library facility options, the ratio of support to opposition for one large centralized library was 4.4:1 (80%-18%), compared to .8:1 (44%-53%) for the medium-sized library and branch libraries. The Colony CDC Minutes, 11/4/99 Page 8 City of The Colony Recre tic Cent Requirements Data Sheet Current Projected 2010 Area Requirements Item Description 1999 1999 Space Unit Staff No. Total Staff Area Code Area Spaces Area Dry Side Recreation Lobby-Waiting 700 1 700 Toilets (singles) 54 2 108 Control/Checkout Desk 120 1 1 120 Storage Room 120 1 120 Office 130 1 1 130 Staff Desks 60 2 2 120 Work/Copy 54 1 54 Break(6)/lockers(12) 225 1 225 Conference Room (12) 220 1 220 Baby-sitting/Toddler Play 600 1 600 Office 80 1 80 Storage Room 56 1 56 Toilet (child size) 40 1 40 Toilets/Lockers 1200 1 1200 Family Changing 80 1 80 Gameroom 1500 1 1500 Vending 300 1 300 Teen Lounge/Activity Office 320 1 320 Basketball Courts (1/2) 9000 1 9000 Seating 159 2 318 Storage 250 1 250 Walking/Running Track 3300 1 3300 Stretching Area 200 1 200 Aerobics Room/Dance (24) 1400 1 1400 Storage room 80 1 80 Cardiovascular/Fitness 3000 1 3000 Classroom (Arts & Crafts) 575 1 575 Storage room 96 1 96 Meeting Room (100) 15 100 1500 Divider Storage 25 1 25 Storage Alcove 96 1 96 Kitchenette 60 1 60 Computer Room 350 1 350 Net Subtotal 4 26,2 25% Gross Circulation (NET/75)-25 8,7 Total Gross Sq. Footage 34,9 Peak Users to be Accommodated The Colony CDC Minutes, 11/4/99 Page 9 Recommendations for General Park Improvements The Colony, Texas November 4, 1999 Park Park Paved Irrigation Playground Concession / Trail Classification Parking Restroom Little League C ✓ ✓ Park Bridges Park C ✓ Tennis Slay Baker N ✓ Bill Allen C ~r Memorial Turner Soccer C ✓ ✓ ✓ B.B. Owens C ✓ ✓ N. Colony C ✓ ✓ ✓ Dave Cowaus N ✓ Park Wilcox N E. Lake C ✓ ✓ a/ Highlands Carr / Chapman N ✓ W. Lake N ✓ Highlands Friendship N Scout Park N ✓ ✓ Lions Club N ✓ ✓ Carney C If Perryman N ✓ ✓ Historical N N = Neighborhood C = Community The Colony CDC Minutes, 11/4/99 Page 10