Description Gallatin County Board of Park Commissioners November 19, 2008
Date 11/19/2008 Location Board of Park Commission
Time Speaker Note
5:27:05 PM Chairman Finnegan Called to Order. Present were Park Commissioners: Patrick Finnegan, Carol Collins, Kelli Stanley, Deb Kane, and Jill Wilkinson. Commissioners Rick Fink and Jack Clarkson were excused. Staff present: Open Lands Coordinator Mike Harris and Recording Secretary Crystal Turner.
5:27:36 PM I. Public Comment There was no public comment on items not on the agenda.
5:27:40 PM Chairman Finnegan II. Approval of Minutes from October 15, 2008.
5:27:45 PM Chairman Finnegan asked if everyone has reviewed the minutes. Kelli Stanley stated her name was misspelled. Crystal Turner will correct that. Carol Collins mentioned a couple typos at 5:15:51, 5:27:01, last page has an extra word in the last line.
5:30:02 PM Carol Collins I'll make a motion to approve the minutes with those changes.
5:30:17 PM Kelli Stanley Second
5:30:26 PM Motion passed unanimously.
5:30:33 PM Chairman Finnegan III. Action Item #1: Public Hearing and Recognition of Hyalite Heights Subdivision Preliminary Park Plan
5:30:57 PM Mike Harris, Open Lands Coordinator This park is south of Bozeman, between S. 3rd and 19th Avenues. It is located close to Nash Park; it is located in an old subdivision. Not much has been done since it was platted. County uses funds to spray for weeds, but other than that no maintenance is done. The last master park plan attempt told the homeowners that if they didn't want their park sold off (this was a subdivision park donated to the County), they should come up with a park plan. Explanation of County Parks that have not been maintained. An individual from the Hyalite Heights subdivision asked for some improvements and came up with this plan. He said this plan is a good start, but does not know what level of willingness to support the financial requirements to install such a plan. He recommends the Board takes a look at this
and continue working with the subdivision owners, but not to make a final decision until later. This park could have use as a soccer field in the future or other recreational area, which could serve more than just the adjacent subdivision. We may see reluctance from the neighbors regarding that.
5:36:24 PM Board questions and discussion with Mike Harris regarding a master plan (if any) for Nash Park. Question regarding the proximity of Nash Park to Hyalite Heights. Discussion regarding a level of service to this area. Questions and discussion regarding roads running north and south and the suggested parking spaces in this park plan. No approval necessary yet. The group just wanted the Board to be aware of it.
5:43:35 PM Chairman Finnegan The Board will accept Mike's advice/recommendation that we will not make any further progress on the plan until we have a master plan or level of service for the Nash/Hyalite Heights area. The board members all nodded in agreement.
5:44:32 PM Chairman Finnegan Action Item #2: Public Hearing and Decision Regarding Changing the Time of the Monthly BOPC Meetings to 5:30 PM
5:44:42 PM Discussion regarding officially moving the BOPC meetings to 5:30. Crystal Turner has a conflict with the Cost Reduction/Energy Conservation Committee that also falls on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 4-5PM. Carol Collins has some hesitation since she's driving from Big Sky. The Board agreed to leave the meetings at 5-ish, or 5:15 until the other committee dissolves or changes its time.
5:47:09 PM Chairman Finnegan IV. Discussion Items: Dinosaur Playground
5:47:14 PM Mike Harris, Open Lands Coordinator Dinosaur park is moving along. All permitting paperwork has been submitted to the City of Bozeman, who is currently reviewing them. Sime Construction worked with FORParks to get the site plan; and they are now working on fundraising and logistics. 9-1-1 Center and Fire Station is also moving along. No conflicts so far. They had to put a [pedestrian] crossing in for the park users because they didn't leave access across the drainage ditch.
5:49:47 PM Land & Water Conservation Grant: We worked with the City, and at one time were concerned with not getting a separate tract from property, but logistically it would have been difficult because we would have to go through a minor subdivision review. Currently working with the Deputy County Attorney we are doing a condo exemption instead and this expedites the process. They gave us a "green light" and we will be working on the plans and contracts for the grant. We hope this will be done by the first of the year.
5:50:47 PM Board questions and discussion regarding structures. Discussion regarding indoor vs. outdoor uses, as well as meeting rooms or food eating areas. Chairman Finnegan asked for clarification that if the Board accepts this grant, would we also be accepting the requirements for the life of the park. Mike said yes, but there is room for changes. The process takes a little longer because they must be submitted to the Montana Secretary of the Interior.
5:53:18 PM Update on Interconnect Plan: Survey committee met last Friday to pull together the questions. Will be doing four survey formats: #1) phone survey to ensure the cold test (not being loaded by user group), #2) will go to middle schools and high schools, #3) will go to all user groups we know of, #4) general web survey for anyone in the public. (Showed software on screen that the web survey will look like.) Hope to have surveys ready by January. Park/Trail inventory is almost complete. Monday he will sign off on inventory, just need to go back through Patrick Young's work to verify if anything was missed. Once complete it will be sent out to some of the user groups we know of (GVLT, planning boards, city groups, etc...) and ask them to take a peak to see if we've missed anything. That way we have good data to work with on
parks and trails. We need to look at what we can realistically provide.
5:56:44 PM Mike Harris, Open Lands Coordinator Update on 9-1-1 Center (covered above during timestamp 5:47:14)
5:56:47 PM Question regarding web survey. Because of its accessibility, how do we take into account that it's filled out by one person only one time. Mike answered that the software system is set up so that every time someone completes the survey it would log the ISP address and disallow that computer to complete the survey again. That may not be very helpful if the survey is used in a library or at a school. It is a valid concern so we aren't "overstuffing the ballot box."
5:59:26 PM Deb Kane asked what the impact fees were for the Regional Park for the connection of water and sewer. Mike answered he believed it was in excess of $20,000. She's a member of the Rotary Club and they applied for a reduction on the East Gallatin project. Discussion regarding the size of connection relating to the impact fee. Deb suggested that Mike check with the Department of Highways to see if they still offer money to put in a "rest area" type of restroom. Mike said that it's been an issue to find federal money. We are required to pave Oak and Ferguson, but the park is not adjacent to a Federal Highway, which would make it eligible for "rest area" money.
6:05:41 PM Chairman Finnegan V. Other
6:05:44 PM Mike Harris, Open Lands Coordinator Out of mutt mitts for the Regional Park. Deb Kane suggested recycling plastic grocery bags. Patrick Finnegan suggested we ask the stores in town to donate bags, or give us the ones returned for recycling. Mike installed a second garbage can to keep up with the trash. Received a complaint about sheep in the park. This will be addressed in the new Master Plan (the general issue of agriculture mowing). Also received a complaint for Nash park regarding motorized use.
6:10:20 PM Chairman Finnegan VI. Set Agenda, Meeting Time and Location
6:10:53 PM Mike Harris, Open Lands Coordinator Something may come up regarding Master Plan but most input could be done by email. Doesn't believe anything needs to be done next month for a December meeting. Next executive committee would be December 4th. Patrick suggested if nothing comes up we'll cancel.
6:12:10 PM Chairman Finnegan I would entertain a motion to adjourn.
6:12:13 PM Carol Collins So moved.
6:12:17 PM Mike Harris reminded the Board that they should have all received Christmas Party invitations in the mail today. RSVPs need to be in by 11/24.
6:12:36 PM Meeting adjourned.
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