CITY OF LEWES
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
Regular Meeting Minutes
September 17, 2012
The regular meeting of the Lewes Parks Recreation Commission was held on Monday, September 17, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. in Lewes City Hall in accordance with proper notification with the following present: Chairperson Elaine Pease, Brenda Brady, Jon Woodyard, Preston Lee, Don Long, Louis Papp, Jack Schulze, Christine Besche, Dennis Davison, Ex-Officio City Councilman Fred Beaufait and Recording Secretary Jackie Doherty. City Councilwoman Bonnie Osler was also present.
- Call to Order and Opening Comments--Ms. Pease
Ms. Pease began by welcoming new member Dennis Davison who will be taking Thom Nobile's place for George H.P. Smith Park. As of the Mayor and City Council meeting last Monday, there is not yet a replacement for Brenda Brady. The last Lewes Steps Out will be Thursday, September 20 at 6:00 P.M. with the annual bonfire. The City has hired a new detective, James Locklear, from Georgetown. Once trained and certified, he will perform "Home Security Checks". Anyone interested can contact the police department at 645-6264.
Ms. Pease stated she has been asked by Mayor Ford to support "Family Fun Day" to be held at Cape Henlopen State Park on Tuesday, September 25 from 3 to 6 P.M. Mike Tyler will be present representing Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety. Mr. Richard Julian (coordinator at the park) received commitments from MERR, Hawk Watch, Saltwater Fly Anglers of Delaware, Delaware Fish and Wildlife and 'Take a Kid Fishing'. Mr. Julian has been in communication with Quest Kayaks regarding a paddling demo. If anyone is interested in working with Ms. Pease please let her know.
Mr. Lee stated the Board of Public Works meeting on September 26th is changed from the usual time of 7:00 P.M. to 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon. Ms. Pease will check this with Alice Erickson.
- Presentation and consideration of the August 20, 2012 Regular Meeting Minutes
ACTION:Mr. Lee made a motion to approve the August 20, 2012 regular meeting minutes as corrected; Mr. Papp seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
- Old Business
a. Strategic Plan--"Mission and Vision" discussion--Mr. Woodyard
Mr. Woodyard provided a copy of a mission statement and vision statement, which were a combination of samples from PRCs from West Virginia and Washington. Mr. Woodyard requested everyone to provide comments on the statements.
Discussion included the removal of 'beaches' from the mission statement since this is the responsibility of the City's Streets Department; the hiring of lifeguards is the responsibility of the police department; recreational activities on the beaches being the responsibility of PRC since weddings and bonfires, for example, are under the purview of PRC; PRC being responsible for the landscaping at the beaches; all the bathrooms and water fountains in the parks are the responsibility of the City. Mr. Woodyard requested everyone send comments to him on the draft including a S.W.O.T. analysis plan (strengths, weakness, opportunity, threats) to be discussed at the next subcommittee meetingand regular PRC meeting in October.
- New Business
- Discussion of the Commission's role in planning the land leased by the State for recreational use by the City of Lewes
Mr. Woodyard stated discussion at the workshop meeting held by Mayor and City Council included the lease agreement between the State and City dated March 27, 2006. Mr. Woodyard read Paragraph 5 (a) stating, according to the wording, that the park would be for recreation with no commercial buildings except for those associated with recreation for the City.
Discussion tonight included: What type of buildings could be built on the property, one idea was a community center; the role of PRC in the planning of the research park; approximately 30 acres of the 69.23 have been designated by Mayor and City Council to be developed; reference to the land be addressed as University of Delaware Research Park; make a recommendation to Mayor and City Council that PRC be the City's agency that coordinates meetings and workshops; have PRC guide and direct proposals to Council.
ACTION:Mr. Woodyard made a motion to recommend proposing to Mayor and City Council that PRC have a coordination role in the planning and discussion on the use and development of the University Research Park; Mr. Papp seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
b. Presentation and consideration of sign design for Canalfront Park
Mr. Lee stated Friends of Canalfront Park would like to have a sign based on the George H.P. Smith Park sign. A photo of the design from Rogers Signs was presented for review. This would be placed to the left of the entrance road with two sides connected in a 'V' design; PRC would be removed and replaced with the Lewes flag; colors will be green and gold; approval was granted in March 2012; no lights on the sign but the street lights would add to it; Friends will be paying for the sign at a cost of about $5,700.
Ms. Pease read the Ad Hoc Committee description for signs in the City into the record.
Discussion included: The use of the Canalfront Park logo on the sign and Mayor Ford's statement that there be no use of a logo--only the Lewes shield and flag; use of the 'V' shaped sign or a perpendicular design; placement in front of the Net House or at the ramp at Overlook Pier; question of the donor trees' view being blocked; use of a different logo for each park; have each sign be in scale with the size of the park.
Decisions made after discussion include: The sign will be placed perpendicular; Lewes flag added at the bottom; PRC will be removed; "An Historic Waterfront Park" will remain; rounded at the bottom to have room for the Lewes flag; colors will be green and gold. Mr. Lee will discuss the design changes with Friends.
Ms. Pease stated she is working on adding the capital improvements requests to the 2013 budget.
Mr. Becker stated since Zwaanendael Park is shared State and City land, the State may share in the cost of that sign.
c. New plantings in Canalfront Park
Mr. Lee stated some of the Coreopsis planted in the beds near the playground and in the rain garden behind the Net House need to be replaced and iris and black-eyed Susan added also. Sposato will be doing this work. The bank area will have roses added in addition to other bedding materials. Some of the grasses in that area were removed and some cut to 1 inch to improve the view.
- Commission Reports
George H.P. Smith Park
Mr. Schulze reported there are branches at the Consortium, near the willow tree at Beebe and the nursing home and along the path at the pond those needs to be cleaned up. Ms. Pease said she would check to see if this work would be done by the Streets Department. At the playground near the Consortium, there are 3 or 4 large screws in the fence that need to be repaired.
Recreation
Mr. Woodyard reported he has prepared a draft of the report to be sent to Delaware Division of the Arts including photos and surveys from the Summer Concert Series due September 30th.
Trees
Ms. Brady reported the tree in Zwaanendael Park that was donated by the DiSabatino family is diseased and needs to be removed. Ms. Brady will speak to Sposato in reference to replacing the tree with a Norway spruce or Douglas fir. There is a tree list for Tim Cisco for trimming and removal. This will include three willows and a Norway maple in George H.P. Smith Park to be removed.
Mr. Woodyard said there is a maple tree in Stango Park near the stage that needs to be trimmed.
Mr.Schulze said there are 3 pin oaks at Blockhouse Pond, which have been check by the forester, and need to be removed. Ms. Brady stated 2 trees need to be replaced for every one that is removed. If there is any additional work for the Cisco list, to be started in October, contact Ms. Brady or Ms. Pease.
Zwaanendael Park
Mr. Papp reported pruning has continued of the hydrangeas for next year's bloom. The contract was signed to establish a new fescue lawn with Wright's Landscaping. Work will begin to eradicate the wire grasses next week with planting of new fescue grasses expected about mid-October. Summer annuals will be removed in October and Fall/Winter pansies planted in their place. The Douglas Fir Christmas tree that was planted has become diseased and will need to be replaced. A new evergreen will be planted in late October in time for our annual Christmas tree lighting.
Ms. Pease stated Shore Electric installed all new wiring along the brick path for safety reasons. These lines may have been cut during the irrigation installation.
Stango Park
Ms. Besche reported the Children's Teaching Garden was approved by Mayor and City Council at their meeting last night; a radio announcement was made on WMDT on this evening's news; there was also a News Journal article this week and an expected write-up in the Cape Gazette; a meeting has been set up for this Thursday, September 20th to discuss placement of the fence.
Ms. Besche reported she met with Randy Whibley of Garden Creations to discuss the renovation of the Magnolia bed area and the need to remove 2 of the 4 existing overgrown Crepe Myrtles that are growing too close together. We also discussed pruning the overgrown junipers and removing the large euonymus from the bed. He will be giving me a quote for the work discussed and we will proceed from there.
Canalfront Park
Mr. Lee reported the trees along the sidewalk near the parking lot have trimmed. The American, State and Lewes flags are being replaced. The City Streets Department have regarded the stone in the parking lot. Mr. Lee stated he attended the board meeting for the Friends of Canalfront Park on September 12th. There are plans to erect a Christmas tree on the Overlook Pier and invite previous park event sponsors and others to place ornaments on it. They are also beginning to plan for events for next year. They will continue with the various events held this year and may add a pig roast the weekend after Labor Day. Christmas trees throughout the park in December are also planned. Plans also include 1 or 2 picnic tables with umbrellas for the overlook deck. There is approximately $17,000 in their account. Drawings will be submitted for approval of a bulletin board by the Eagle Scouts. Mr. Lee has been asked to speak to the rotary Club regarding "The Challenges and Opportunities at the Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission" on October 1st.
1812 Park
Mr. Lee reported he is obtaining estimates for the upper bed next to the residence, which the resident has agreed to donate $1,000 toward the improvements and the aged junipers that were removed. The first estimate was $3,500. Irrigation problems need to be addressed for the bed on the lower level that is not reached. About half of the spring plantings have been lost. Sposato will check about an extension for the system to be installed.
Mary Vessels Park
Mr. Long reported everything was good in the park.
Mr. Woodyard stated the cost for repairs on the tennis courts is $8,950 and will be postponed until next year.
Ms. Pease thanked Brenda Brady for her 5 years of service as co-chair of Lewes in Bloom, 6 years on the PRC, 10 years with the Garden Tours and Tulip Festival and the difference she has made to the City of Lewes.
ACTION:Mr. Woodyard made a motion to adjourn; Mr. Papp seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Jackie Doherty, Recording Secretary
Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission
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