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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/14/2010 CDC MINUTES THE COLONY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REGULAR SESSION JANUARY 14TH 2010 PRESENT: Don Beckel - President STAFF: Pam Nelson Stephen Sohn - Treasurer Keith Helms John Sanders - Vice President Kathy Neal TeRon Lawrence - Member Lisa Leary - Member COUNCIL LIAISON: Allen Harris, Absent Dan Mahle - Member 1. RECEIVE PRESENTATION, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER CONCEPTS FOR THE STEWART CREEK PARK MASTER PLAN - Jacobs, the consultants preparing the Master Plan presented 3 concepts to the Board. Concept A - This concept is about creating a true park base use to focus on the day-to-day month-to-month use and not about overnight camping. As you enter the park you seethe water recreation area -the boat ramp. The parking will be upgraded; a restroom facility will be added. The park attendant accommodations remain in the same place. Proceeding into the park there is the large community green space to be a multi-use area but will not be heavily programmed. On the south side is a picnic zone which will have group pavilions, individual picnic stations, parking access, and the view of the marina. The peninsula area will focus on civic events; there will be an events building, a lookout tower with apier, a hospitality facility, andparking access. On the west side of the park is the family recreation area which will include a playground/spray ground, picnic area, swimming beach, a primitive camping area and an overlook and parking access. The nature area is also on the west side of the park adjacent to the family area. This area serves as a buffer zone between the trail and residents. In this area people can view the wildlife and enjoy a network of soft trails and a picnic area. Concept B - The gatehouse has been relocated close to the trailhead. The water recreation area - boat ramp remains in the same location and will have upgradedparking and a restroom facility will be added. Along the south side is a picnic zone that will have a group pavilion, individual picnic stations and views of the marina and natural area. The community green area is bigger in this concept and is the location for special events - there will be a stage, restroom facility, parking access, a plaza area at the point, some events can take place closer to the water. The family recreation area is on the west side adjacent to the community green and will have an event facility, playground/spray ground, swimming beach area, a pier, and picnic area, but this area is smaller than it was in Concept A. On the west side adjacent to the family recreation area is the nature area. This area serves the same function as in Concept A. There are premanufactured cabins for overnight stay on the north side of the community green space. Concept C - The water recreation area - boat ramp remains in the same location with the same additions and upgrades in Concept A & B. The park road is in a "wishbone " design. As you pass the boat ramp there is a designated area for RV camping on the south side. Further down the south side is a picnic zone with a pavilion and individual picnic stations and a view of the marina. Adjacent to the picnic zone along the peninsula is the family recreation area with a playground/spray ground, swimming beach, picnic area, fishing pier, and access to parking. On the west side adjacent to the family area and open recreation green area is another area for events that has a dual use hospitality building and a stage. The nature area along the west side offers picnicking, wildlife viewing, a soft trail network, and is a buffer zone between the trail and residents. Donna Cole, 5020 Lakeshore Blvd., The Colony - We need to determine if RV camping should be at the park. She is not a fan of having cabins. She likes elements in all concepts but Concept B seems to be more realistic to her with the exception of the cabins. She is not in favor of a splash ground but likes the playgrounds and doesn't think a sprinkler system should be installed on the lawn area. Regarding RV usage in the park, Pam said that it is limited but there aren't RV sites in the park. The park is a convenient location for R V'ers to park when visiting family in town and sometimes construction workers park RV's in the park when they are working in the area. Wayne Proctor, 5400 Merrell Lane, The Colony - He does not think we should compete with Hidden Cove Park for RV camping. He likes Concept A & B. He thinks the park should be a day use park with the exception of boy scout camping being permitted. He does not like the cabins. Jeff Connelly, 5829 Concord Lane, The Colony - He expressed his thanks and appreciation to everyone who worked on the concepts and attended meetings about the Stewart Creek Park Master Plan. He thinks the park is more of a day use park. He likes Concept B with the exception of the cabins and RV's. He thinks some elements from Concept A could be added to Concept B. He does not think we should compete with Hidden Cove Park for RV's. Tony Johnston, 1415 Susan Lane, Carrollton - He likes Concept B because of the natural experience. He does not like the stage area on Concept B but does like it on Concepts A & C because it is further away from the residents. Joe McCourry, 5769 Bedford Lane, The Colony - He thinks there are elements from all concepts that can be combined into one concept. He likes the tower and lookout spots very much. He does not think we should have cabins and does not think we are competing with Hidden Cove Park if we put 5-6 RV spots in the park. Greg Vick, 8653 Madison, North Richland Hills -As you enter the park there is an open barren area, is there a problem with residents if we put trees there? The consultant replied that this area is s nice buffer between the residents and the park and if we put trees there we risk blocking the view of the lake and we lose parking. Rita Webster, 5417 Sutton Place, The Colony - She thinks there should be more than one restroom in the park and there should be one central area for trash. The consultants thanked everyone for their input. They will apply ideas they heard tonight into another plan and apply costs and present it to the board at their next meeting. 2. CITIZEN'S INPUT - Lisa gave information about the North Texas Soup-N-Bowl event on January 30'h being held at the Cascades Event Center in the Fairfield Inn Hotel. The cost is $20 per adult and $6 for children. The money raised will go to the Storehouse Food Pantry. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 10TH 2009- Motion to approve - Sanders; second - Mahle; motion passes with all ayes. 4. ELECTION OF OFFICERS - 2010 Officers - Don Beckel - President Secretary - Dan Mahle TeRon Lawrence - Vice President Treasurer - John Sanders 5. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE CITY'S MATCH OF FUNDING REQUIRED IF CHOSEN TO RECEIVE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE PARK LOOP TRAIL AND FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSED PROJECT - Keith submitted the funding application to TXDOT for $3.9 million. This would complete the Park Loop Trail that goes through the Legends. With this grant, the city pays the cost up front and is reimbursed 80% which is paid monthly to the city. City Council has approved a resolution for this but they want the CDC Board to absorb 20% of the cost and pay the operation and maintenance costs. If we do get the grant, this would be included in a bond issuance. We will be notified in June if we get the grant. Motion to approve - Sanders; second - Sohn; motion passes with all ayes. 6. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF FUNDING FIELD USE CHANGES AT FIVE STAR - The Girl's Youth Softball Association has asked us to transition the red field into a softball field; currently they share the red field with Little League and there is one field dedicated for softball. Participation in girls softball has steadily increased and with the transition of the red field into a softball field they will be able to host tournaments. The Little League Association is agreeable to the transition of the redfield but in return has requested we transition one of their big (300 ) fields into a smaller field at the same time. There are 2 300' fields being used by Little League, but one is very underutilized. There are funds in the Five Star account to pay for this project; the fields would be transitioned at the end of Spring and members of the associations have volunteered to help with the project. Motion to approve funding not to exceed the existing bid - Sanders, second - Sohn; motion passes with all ayes. 7. DISUCSS FINANCIAL RECAP AND FUTURE FINANCING OF TRAIL PROJECTS - There is still a $30, 000 expenditure to be made for landscaping, irrigation and amenity improvements on the Park Loop Trail. The city is going to include $1.7 million in the next bond issuance to finalize the funding for the trails in their next bond issuance. The debt service amount the board would be responsible for is $130, 000 per year. A funding agreement with the city to repay the debt and absorb maintenance costs will be prepared for approval when the bonds are sold in March. 8. DISCUSSION OF THE CDC MASTER PLAN AND PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR 2010 - 2013- There is $150, 000 in the 09-10 CDC budget for capital improvements, but we could possibly spend $350, 000 with the addition of the Stewart Creek Park improvements and the Arts Master Plan, but the Arts Master Plan could become the responsibility of the CAB Board. The board was asked to review the list ofprojects andprovide direction to staff on the projects they want to see funded. A suggestion was made to add $50, 000 to the Kids Colony project and everyone was in agreement with that. 9. RECEIVE UPDATE FROM STAFF AND DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - This is the first time in many months that there has been a significant drop in the sales tax. The board was urged to be very careful in regards to their spending. BIG BELLY GRAPHICS - The Big Belly trashlrecycling receptacles have been installed and are being used at Five Star. Keith is getting samples of graphics to be put on the receptacles. The board suggests using a recycle theme or to use athletic elements related to Five Star. STEWART CREEK PARK FEE STRUCTURE - City Council authorized an increase in the day pass fee - there will be a non-resident fee of $15. 00 and a resident fee of $8.00. The current sign at the park will be updated and moved so people can see it before they get to the gatehouse. DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE - The dance is on Feb. 13`" and will be held in the Cascades Event Center in the Fairfield Inn. Tickets are on sale now. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Kathy Neal, ecording Secretary on Beckel, President