PARKS AND TRAILS COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, October 12, 2004 7:00 p.m.
Public Safety Building
3925 W Cedar Hills Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah
Present: Shelly Pitts, Chair
Members: Dave Told, Jon Woozley
Melissa Willie, City Council
Jennifer Howe, Community Services Director
Others:
1. This meeting of the Parks and Trails Committee of the City of Cedar Hills, having been posted throughout the City and the press notified, was called to order by Shelly Pitts at 7:19 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes from the September 14, 2004 meeting.
MOTION: Shelly Pitts - To approve the minutes of September 14, 2004, as written. Seconded by Jon Woozley.
Aye - Dave Told
Jon Woozley
Shelly Pitts Motion passes.
3. Review/Recommendation on a Skateboard Park
Jon Woozley took time since the last meeting to gather information from the community and report to the Parks and Trails Committee about their feelings toward a skate park. He feels the general consensus of the community is to work on things in the general plan that are a higher priority to the citizens’ than a skateboard park. They are also still concerned about the liability of the park and supervision, vandalism and the park drawing juvenile delinquents from other cities. The Committee agrees that the next step is to put a skate park in the general plan for the future, but focus on higher priority items for now, such as the Harvey Park parcel. Jon finished his report on skate parks with information that the Tony Hawk Foundation is willing to donate $8,000, but the majority of the project, Jon feels, the City would have to fund. Shelly Pitts brought up Geneva Rock and in the future looking into a contract with them to get a great deal on concrete because although a modular system is the best financial solution, they get destroyed from heavy use. The Committee is then updated on the progress the City has made in obtaining the Harvey Land by Councilwoman Willie. The Committee would like to continue to be updated about the Harvey legal dispute.
4. Yard of the Month
The season has come to an end for the “Yard of the Month” award. Unfortunately, only a single sign was returned out of the five the Committee began within March. Jennifer Howe will research the price of new signs and the possibility of a higher, more resilient material. The Committee has several gift certificates to Highland Farms that were not awarded throughout the summer. The Committee members decided to email Jennifer with names and addresses of yards they may have chosen if they had more time/votes. Jennifer will send the certificate with a letter telling the resident their yard didn’t go unnoticed and we thank them for beautifying the City. A suggestion was made that in addition to choosing a yard from the Committee member’s assigned area, but also take note of homes that should receive weed abatement letters. The Committee would like to see more enforcement of weed abatement ordinances. They also have concern that residents’ aren’t following their CC&R’s or Homeowner’s Association agreements and taking way too long to complete their yards, as well as, not following ordinances related to fence setbacks and height limitations.
5. Responsibilities and goals of the Parks and Trails Committee
The Parks and Trails Committee will be making a list of Eagle Scout projects with the help and direction of the City staff. This list will be available to Eagle Scouts and it will include time lines for the plans and deadlines for their completion. The Committee’s main objective is to re-evaluate and make changes to the existing park plans and direct the Council in the area of park development. Recently, Cedar Hills was granted $7,000 (50/50) matching for a small pocket park development. The Committee needs to consider the highest priority of pocket parks, as well, to determine the best use of these funds. The Committee decided that they’d enjoy adding a section in the monthly newsletter called “Parks and Trails Tip of the Month,” where they would share a suggestion or better way of doing things with the community.
6. Grants
Committee members gave Jenny Howe information and she will prepare a summary for the November meeting.
7. Committee Assignments and Reports
A. Council Meetings Report - The Council requested that the Parks and Trails Committee present at their next meeting the updated plans for City parks. Discussion of the confusion behind the state of the Harvey parcel continued, but the park plan discussion was decided to be continued at the next meeting.
B. Planning Commission Meeting Report
C. Staff Report - Jennifer told the Committee about the gentleman from Great West Parks and Playground who approached her with a grant opportunity, but a deadline that was before the next meeting of the Committee. Jennifer decided that it was in the best interest of the City to apply for the grant, without prior approval of the Committee. Jennifer is assured that the grant is very flexible and may be able to even change locations if a pocket park plan is made and the proposed Cedar Run Circle site is not top priority.
D. Committee Reports
E. Assignments and Miscellaneous
Dave Told and Jennifer Howe will represent Cedar Hills at the Community Trails Meeting on October 14, 2004, and report back to the Committee at their next regularly scheduled meeting. Jennifer is assigned to research property ownership, (What property does the city own? What is private land?), find the proper ratio of park space to population and continue researching grant opportunities and inform the Committee of important deadlines.
8. Review/Discuss Miscellaneous Concerns
The Committee decided that they need the guidance and teamwork of the Public Works staff when projects become available or are completed.
9. Adjourn
This meeting was adjourned at 8:49 p.m. on a motion by Jon Woozley, seconded by Dave Told and unanimously approved.
/s/ Kim E. Holindrake
Approved by Committee: Kim E. Holindrake, City Recorder
November 9, 2004