Orange County NC Website
Meeting Summary <br /> Date: February 5, 2020 <br /> Place: Environment and Agricultural Center Conference Room <br /> PRESENT: Haywood Rhodes; John Greeson; Tim Braddy; Cecily Kritz; Robert Robinson; Robert <br /> Smith; Tim Tippin, Michael Zelek; Alice Armstrong (Chapel Hill Parks & Greenways Commission <br /> liaison). <br /> ABSENT: Gina Reyman <br /> STAFF: David Stancil <br /> I. Call to Order: Roll was called, introductions made. <br /> ll. Additions or Changes to Agenda, Meeting Summary: no comments on the December <br /> notes. No additions to the agenda. <br /> III. Report of the Chair: Membership/Vacancies: There are now three (3) vacancies: one <br /> for the Hillsborough Town Limits; one for Cedar Grove Township; and one for Chapel Hill <br /> Town Limits. Additionally, Tim Braddy has replied that he can no longer serve, so that <br /> now frees up the Cheeks Township position. There is also an upcoming vacancy in the <br /> Little River Township with Rob Robinson's second term ending in March. Seven <br /> applications were made available for review. Greeson nominated Landstrom for the <br /> Hillsborough Town Limits position. Kritz seconded the motion and all voted in favor. <br /> Robinson nominated Zhao for the Chapel Hill Town Limits position. Zelek seconded the <br /> motion and all voted in favor. Greeson nominated Chinery to fill an At Large position in <br /> place of the long vacant Cedar Grove Township position. Robinson seconded the motion <br /> and all voted in favor. <br /> IV. New Business <br /> a. Meeting Agenda Topics for winter and spring were discussed. Stancil included an <br /> attachment with meeting topics for the next six months. Earth Evening on April 24" <br /> will also feature the revealing of the new art structure in River Park and the new park <br /> entrance and amenities. The topic of the multi-modal trail was brought up. Stancil <br /> said that staff has not received any further direction since the October <br /> Intergovernmental Parks Work Group, but that the Council could put it on for the May <br /> agenda. Greeson added that for March the Recreation Division update could be a <br /> report and staff didn't necessarily need to be at the meeting. He said that the <br /> summer camps could be a topic. <br /> b. Soccer.com Center expansion and a preliminary needs assessment were discussed. <br /> Design funding is now in place to get started for an additional 37 acres east of the <br /> property that was purchased a few years ago. Orange County is ready to send out a <br /> Request for Qualifications to the firms with an interest in developing the design. <br /> Stancil noted that known items are parking, restrooms and more fields, but he would <br /> like the Council's thoughts on the needs for the expansion design. Robinson asked <br /> about synthetic vs green field costs. Stancil said this is a major consideration, and <br /> that Marketing and operations Coordinator Travis Bogle is doing an issue paper on <br /> this. He added that synthetic fields are going in more often in most other facilities <br /> because they can be used year-round, that there are very few new facilities installing <br /> Bermuda fields. Rhodes asked about injuries on one type versus the other. Stancil <br /> says that there are varying reports on injuries and carcinogens on the synthetic turf <br />