Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-16-REC-min `OVS Mop RECEIVED o� 177s �� Town of Lexington 2022 05 May, 11 M Q ry a D Recreation Committee TOWN CLERK 3 z APRIL 19" LEXINGTON MA �FXINGSO� Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 698-4800 Lisah Rhodes,Vice Chair Fax: (781) 861-2747 Christian Boutwell Carl Fantasia Lisa O'Brien Claire Sheth Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting March 16, 2022 A virtual meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 7:00pm through the Zoom platform. Members Present: Lisah Rhodes, Christian Boutwell, Carl Fantasia,Lisa O'Brien, and Claire Sheth Member Absent: Rick DeAngelis Staff Present: Melissa Battite,Director of Recreation and Community Programs,Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation,Mike Cronin,Public Facilities Director,Christine Dean,Community Center Director, Chris Filadoro,DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds,Melinda Spencer,Administrative Manager, and Hayato Tsurumaki, Recreation Supervisor Others Present: Suzie Barry(Select Board liaison), Sandy Beebee (Capital Expenditures Committee liaison), Megan Buczynski(Activitas), Alex Flack(Lexington Farmers' Market Market Manager),Nancy Lattimore (5 Jackson Court, Lexington), Suzanne Lau(18 Phinney Road, Lexington),Kathleen Lenihan (School Committee liaison), Bridger McGaw(89 Meriam Street,Lexington), Richard Petrasso (39 Parker Street), and Leslie Wilcott-Henrie (70 East Street, Lexington) 1. Meeting Minutes—March 3,2022 Lisa O'Brien moved to approve the minutes from the March 3rd meeting,with edits. Christian Boutwell seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 4-0 to approve the March 3 minutes. 2. Recreation Committee Email Correspondence Lisa O'Brien reported that many emails had been received about pickleball, from concerns about noise to the need for more pickleball courts or a dedicated pickleball court in town. Staff from the department and LHS Athletics met onsite at the Center Track to discuss the upcoming track season. Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs,indicated that some issues were identified last spring and it took almost one year to coordinate the meeting with the track coaches. New modified netting has been purchased for the javelin area and will cost approximately $5,400,including installation. This will not be in place before the first home track meet on April 5th. Squeegees may be needed to help address the drainage issues by the discus area. Ms. Battite reported that due to safety concerns, the track will be closed to the public during track practices and staff is in the process of notifying the community about this. Signs with this information will be posted on site. 2 3. Liaison Report The March 2022 Liaison Reports are attached to the meeting minutes. Lisah Rhodes, liaison to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), mentioned that the CPC will need to revote the funding request for the Center Bathrooms/DPW Maintenance Building renovation since the request has decreased from $915,000 to $680,000 and she will have an update at the April meeting. Suzie Barry, Select Board liaison, stated that on Monday, March 14th, the Select Board took positions on the Recreation capital articles that will be voted on at Town Meeting. Here is the overview: • Article I Oe (Center Bathrooms/DPW Maintenance Building renovation)—3 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 wait • Article l Of(Gallagher and Farias Courts reconstruction)—4 in favor, 1 opposed • Articles l Og (Kinneens playground replacement) and 10h(Fiske Field renovations/ADA improvements) —the Select Board supports these articles being on the consent agenda. • Article 101 (Lincoln Park master plan)—5-0,unanimous support • Article 16h(Town Pool water heater replacement)—4 in favor, 1 wait The Select Board also unanimously supports Article 25 being indefinitely postponed. Sandy Beebee, liaison to the Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC),reported that the CEC voted on March 15'and unanimously supports passage of all Recreation articles. 4. Farmers' Market 2022 Request Leslie Wilcott-Henrie,President of the Lexington Farmers' Market,reported that 2021 was a phenomenal season for the Farmers' Market and that she had received positive feedback from both patrons and vendors. A review of the 2021 season and the request for the 2022 season are both attached to the meeting minutes. Ms,Wilcott-Henrie indicated that most of the requests are the same as last year, such as waiving the field use fees,having access to restrooms (and using portable toilets if the Center bathrooms are renovated during the season), and setting up yellow barricades along the Worthen Road and access road sides. The same alcohol policy from last year,which was permitted by the Town of Lexington, Select Board, School Committee, and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources,would remain in effect and mead and hard cider would be sold during the market. Ms. Wilcott-Henrie highlighted two new requests for 2022. The first request was for a bicycle rack to be placed onsite and if approved, the market would work with DPW regarding the location. The second request was to allow a food truck to participate in the market. Members of the Committee did not have any questions and were happy to hear that everything went so well last year. Ms.Battite stated that in addition to the location of the bike rack, the Town can work with the market on the access for the food truck. Ms. Wilcott-Henrie said that the food truck would not be brought deep into the site and she concluded her remarks by thanking the Recreation Committee and DPW for all of their help last year and appreciated the instantaneous assistance whenever it was needed. Christian Boutwell made the following motion: "The Recreation Committee moves to approve the request from the Lexington Fanners'Market, as presented, to use the Worthen Road practice field for the 2022 season provided the market coordinates with DPW, the School Committee, the Select Board, and the Recreation and Community Programs Department on the location of a bike rack,presence of a food truck onsite, and the provision of alcohol for sale during the market." Lisa O'Brien seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 5-0 to approve this motion. 5. Athletic Lighting Hours—Hayato Tsurumaki Hayato Tsurumaki, Recreation Supervisor,provided an overview of the request to extend the lights at the Center Track Field and a copy of the memo is attached to the meeting minutes. In recent months, the field permit working group,which consists of members from staff, Christian 39 MARRETT ROAD,LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02421 3 Boutwell, LPS Athletics, and the user groups,have met to discuss ways to mitigate the loss of field use for community organizations,which are typically permitted field time beginning at 5:30pm. Mr. Tsurumaki informed the Committee that during these conversations, a plan to build in a 15-minute buffer between groups has been finalized. Staff have identified ten(10) dates during the Spring 2022 season when community organizations will be impacted due to LPS athletic events and the request is to extend the field and light use at the Center Track Field from 10:30pm to 11:00pm on these dates. It was determined that if approved, a letter would be sent to the abutters to notify them of this change and that while dates may change during the season due to weather cancellations, the total number of nights when the lights would remain on until 11:00pm would not exceed ten. Christian Boutwell stated that the user groups are working collaboratively to recognize the need for LHS Athletics to use the Center Track&Field and they have been very flexible asking for some relief on these dates. After a brief conversation,Lisa O'Brien made the following motion: "The Recreation Committee moves to approve the request for extended light time at the Center Track Field from 10:30pm to 11:00pm on ten (10)specified dates this spring(April 5, April 26, April 2, May 3, May 5, May 10, May 12, May 16, May 23, and May 26), with the flexibility for rain make-up dates as long as the total does not exceed ten dates." Claire Sheth seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 5-0 to approve this motion. 6. Center Recreation—FY23 Hard Court Reconstruction Request Megan Buczynski, athletic field designer and consultant with Activitas, gave a presentation on the proposed Gallagher/Farias Courts reconstruction project and a copy of the presentation slides are attached to the meeting minutes. Ms. Buczynski began by providing the Committee with an update on the schematic design phase. Prior to this meeting, a working group meeting was held on Friday,January 21st and there have been two public meetings to date: Wednesday, February 9'and Wednesday, March 2nd. Pending approval at Town Meeting, design would continue throughout the fall, the project would be bid out during the winter, and then the construction schedule,which is tentatively scheduled for 2023 (exact timeframe—TBD),would be finalized. Ms. Buczynski reported that the courts are failing. The expected life for asphalt is approximately 15 years and these courts were installed back in 2000. While cracks have been patched in recent years, the courts are due for a complete replacement. If the courts are not reconstructed, then they will likely need to be taken offline due to safety concerns,which would be detrimental to the entire community. There has been a series of renovations at the Center Recreation Complex over the past ten years and this reconstruction would be the latest improvement at the complex. Ms. Buczynski reviewed the project scope, limits, and a few different proposed layouts that factored in the locations as well as the site amenities and elements. Many proponents attended the first two public meetings and a significant amount of feedback has been received to date regarding the multi-use pickleball and tennis courts,tennis backboards, the footpath at the rear of courts, and site amenities. While the Recreation and Community Programs Department provides equitable opportunities for residents to play tennis and pickleball,it should be noted that Gallagher is the only lighted courts in town. The neighborhood finds the pickleball noise to be much louder than tennis and pickleball proponents have expressed their desire for dedicated pickleball courts. Regarding the tennis backboards, the desire is to crease noise with use of new technology and/or repositioning the boards. For site amenities, there is a desire for more shade, additional storage, and additional benches. The 2020 Community Needs Assessment clearly identifies the priority of tennis and pickleball needs in Lexington as 14% of households ranked tennis and pickleball courts within their top four(4) most important facilities, as compared to 6%nationwide. Noise has come up a lot so far during the conversation and the exemption under Town's Noise Control Bylaw (Chapter 80-5)was referenced. It was also noted that the Department has a pickleball pilot program this year where Clarke 93 is reservable for pickleball only. 39 MARRETT ROAD,LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02421 4 After Ms. Buczynski's presentation, members of the Committee discussed the project. Claire Sheth stated that it will be important to anticipate questions that may be asked during Annual Town Meeting and determine with is optional vs. a necessity to maximize what is available. The goal is to make the back area more usable and including that area as part of the ACROSS Lexington project will be thought about going forward. Christian Boutwell said that this project will address a fundamental need in town and it should look to enhance the experience while also addressing the long-standing concerns about sound. The public in attendance then had an opportunity to make comments. Bridger McGaw,resident of 89 Meriam Street, stated that the compelling tennis/pickleball data from the 2020 Community Needs Assessment should be included in the presentation to Annual Town Meeting. Richard Petrasso,resident of 39 Parker Street, expressed his concerns about the white pines needing to be removed as well as the noise that picklebal makes. While there is an exemption under the Town's Noise Control Bylaw, Mr. Petrasso cautioned the Committee to be user and community friendly. In addition to taking sound measurements, Mr.Petrasso also warned about which practice boards are purchased as not all boards are sound-compliant. 7. Center Recreation Bathrooms A copy of the 90% construction drawings and cost estimate are attached to the meeting minutes. Melissa Battite informed the Committee that the request for the Center Bathrooms/DPW Maintenance Building renovation has been reduced from $915,000 to $680,000 since external storage is not included in this phase of the project. An updated speech and presentation slides have been submitted to be displayed on the Town Meeting website. Members of the Committee agreed that it is the right call to focus on the building alone for now. Since the Center Recreation Complex is the real crown jewel of active recreation in Lexington,it needs a modern facility. Sandy Beebee asked what led to the reduction. Mike Cronin,Public Facilities Director, answered by stating that this year's construction costs came in significantly lower than last year's estimate. Bridger McGaw questioned what the safety issues are,besides the location of the girls' restroom and lighting, that were mentioned in the CPC report. Ms. Battite replied by saying that currently, there is not safe access in to and out of that facility for people of all abilities and identities. Over the past few years, safety has broadened to include items around equity. Mr. McGaw believed that this project should receive the green light to proceed upon completion of the Lexington High School feasibility study. Ms. Battite and Mr. Cronin countered by saying that the plan is for the project to go out to bid this summer with construction starting in the fall and the project being completed by Spring 2023. The lack of public restrooms is a Town-wide concern and this project would be supporting several Town initiatives. 8. Center Recreation/LHS Working Group Lisah Rhodes informed the Committee that the next meeting of the Center Recreation/LHS Working Group will be held on Tuesday, March 29'at 4:OOpm. Christian Boutwell drafted a memo on behalf of the Recreation Committee regarding the priority of the non-consent agenda articles. Members of the Committee commended Mr.Boutwell for his efforts. A copy of the memo is attached to the meeting minutes, along with the flyer for the TMMA Open House on Sunday, March 20th. Claire Sheth made the following motion: "The Recreation Committee moves to approve the updated Recreation Committee Capital Projects memo, drafted by Christian Boutwell, to be disseminated to various stakeholders in support of Article IOe, Article]Of, andArticle IN." Lisa O'Brien seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 5-0 to approve this motion. Melissa Battite said that this memo could be displayed on the Capital Projects webpage and the Recreation Committee webpage. Mr. Boutwell thought it would be beneficial to send to the various user groups so they could blast it out to their users to get the word out. Ms. Sheth said 39 MARRETT ROAD,LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02421 5 she was willing to draft an email to be sent out and the memo will be included with the information that is on hand at the TMMA Open House on March 20th 9. Recreation & Community Programs Report The March Recreation &Community Programs Report is attached to the meeting minutes. Melissa Battite referenced the meeting that was held on Tuesday, March 15'with abutters concerning the pine trees at the Center Recreation Complex. Christian Boutwell asked how the Committee will inform people about the upcoming requests at Annual Town Meeting. Lisah Rhodes said that the Recreation Committee info night on Thursday, March 24'has been posted on the TMMA website and it was noted that LexMedia will be recording this session. Lisa O'Brien asked if the Committee could resume in-person meetings and Suzie Barry indicated that it could, depending on the comfort of the Committee members. The meeting concluded with Lisah Rhodes announcing that she will be stepping down from the Recreation Committee effective July 1, 2022 as she has been asked to join the CEC. This means that two (2)new members will be needed. Ms. Barry declared this would be bittersweet as it would represent a loss for the Committee while Ms. Rhodes will be a strong Recreation on the CEC going forward. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Wednesday,April 20" at 7:00pm. The March 16`" 2022 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 9:38pm. Respectfully submitted, Peter Coleman Assistant Director of Recreation The following documents distributed at the meeting are attached: • March 2022 Liaison Reports • Lexington Farmers' Market Review of 2021 • Lexington Farmers' Market Request for the 2022 Season • Memo regarding the Request for Extended Lights at the Center Track Field • Gallagher Tennis and Farias Basketball Courts Presentation Slides from Activitas • Center Restrooms Renovation Project 90%Construction Drawings and Cost Estimate • Recreation Committee Memo on the Recreation Capital Articles that will be presented at the 2022 Annual Town Meeting • TMMA Open House Flyer • March 2022 Recreation & Community Programs Report 39 MARRETT ROAD,LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02421