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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-18-REC-min Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 698-4800 Christian Boutwell, Vice Chair Fax: (781) 861-2747 Carl Fantasia Claire Sheth Renen Bassik Weiwei Li Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting December 18, 2024 A virtual meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 8:00pm via Zoom. Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Christian Boutwell, Renen Bassik, Carl Fantasia, Weiwei Li, and Claire Sheth Staff Present: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, Christine Dean, Community Center Director Others Present: Rod Cole (CEC liaison), Suzie Barry (SB liaison), Holly Ganser (Activitas), Ali Lynch, Andrea, Anna O, Barb Kelly, Betsey Weiss, Bob Morse, Carolyn Levi, Chan’s iPhone, Chia Shen, Daniel Asta, David Corcoran, Debi Dulberg, Doreen Karoll and Stephen Quatrano, Eiget Nosdivad, Eran Strod, Eve Kingsley, Hal Miller-Jacobs, Hien Nguyen, JD, Jennifer Logan, Jenny Lu, Kathryn Roy, Larry Vernick, Laura, Laurel Carpenter, Linda Zeger, Pam Connor, Marcy Lidman, Mark Goldberg, Mike, Mary-Katherine McCarey, Myles Kleper, Nancy Goldberg, Ronni and Paul Skerker, P.K. Shiu, Roger Tung, Saie Sabet, Joanne Brodfuehrer and Steve Parus, Suzanne Lau, Terri Swartz Russell, William Tam, Richard Petrasso, Isabella, David Green, Eileen Entin, Menachem Cohen, Lingfei, Lei Zhu, Michael Wang, Kuncheng (KC) Zheng, Lisah Rhodes, Susan Haesaert, Tsipora Cohen, Candance Foresta, Joanne Morreale, Katina Loedas, Jim Leightheiser, Roger Weiss, Hildy Mazur, KAB iPhone, Martha, Chester Liu, KMB, John Brown, Janna Mendonca, Beth Friedman, Alan Long, Beth Friedlander 1. Public Comment P.K. Shiu (1020 Mass Ave.) expressed his gratitude to Melissa, Peter and Charlie for their work on the Pickleball program this past year. 2. Recreation Committee Capital Program a. FY2026 Capital Improvement Projects & Community Preservation Funding Requests Christian Boutwell gave an update on the current proposals with the Community Preservation Committee “CPC” and shared a straw poll vote that the Committee took at the last meeting. They shared an additional alternative option that suggested some support from the Town Manager and the Assistant Town Manager of Finance. Mr. Boutwell explained the breakdown of the FY2026 project proposals, named Original, Boutwell, Krieger, Sandeen and Pressman. As of that morning there was a strong support for the Harrington Project and a delay of the Center Playground project by one year. Additionally, there was a strong message that any additional general fund support or other source of funding beyond the $2 million that was already in the plan is not likely. The goal is for the Committee to decide which of the funding models it would like pursue. 2 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 Renen Bassik asked what $1 million less would get us. Melissa Battite replied that we do not know what the design will look like yet so it is difficult to tell. She added, if all the things come out as different priorities (amenities like benches, bike racks, etc.) it is unclear what we would get for the $1 million. Claire Sheth questioned what would it look like if the plans for the Center Playground remained as is and instead moved the Harrington project to the following year? She reminded the group that their charge is access and safety. Even with the playground in the budget, the Harrington project will need to be reduced. It is choosing safety over field access. Ms. Sheth suggested delaying a year while the Town figures out some of the Affordable Housing Trust needs. Essentially it would mean removing the biggest ticket item out this year and add it next year when there is not a Recreation project for CPA. Mr. Bassik posed maximizing the funds we have available for the things we need. He was inclined to favor the playground given it is overdue for replacement and conceded that there are a bunch of unknowns in either scenario. Ms. Battite stated that the playground is overdue for a replacement already. She added that a 3 rd party company provided an audit in 2020 and replacement has been in the CIP for over 5 years. As the need for repairs continues, it may be necessary to take parts of the structure offline. There are some replacement parts, such as swings, that are kept in inventory, but not others. The timing is also sensitive, the hope is to not have one section of the park experiencing construction at the same time as the High School project. Next year Lincoln Park Playground is up for replacement and we cannot request for both in the same year. CPC is looking for the Recreation Committee’s priorities and choice on the four proposals at hand. Ms. Sheth stated that she is not comfortable delaying the playground project and being asked to compromise safety over access. She would prefer to delay the Harrington project and field access so the community can see the consequences. Christian Boutwell stated that there is currently pretty strong support across all Boards and Financial Committees to move forward with the Harrington project in order to have a field ready for when the LHS fields come offline. He questioned whether that support would be there in another year. He added that design funding was already approved so this does not include the $2 million from the general fund. That ask will go to Town Meeting and the estimated total project cost is $4.18 million. Mr. Boutwell stated that traditionally the projects haven’t been so big and reminded the group that with Harrington they will have a chance to decide what design to move forward. That will be the opportunity to decide if it is a staged project or to move forward with a certain degree of completion. Mr. DeAngelis said he was inclined to support the Krieger proposal in order to take the maximum we can get now and apply it to the 3 projects across the board. Mr. Bassik questioned where the rest of the funding for Center Playground would come from. Mr. Boutwell stated that Mr. Pressman believes that additional funds would be available from other sources for the playground, however the Town has expressed that will not happen. He added that Pressman and Sandeen both supports fully funding the Affordable Housing Trust “AHT.” Ms. Battite recognized that the community needs the fields. She explained that the High School project timeline is the reason why the Harrington project was moved forward rather than following the normal process. If the Committee puts aside timelines and wants and needs, there is 3 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 still the responsibility to maintain the existing assets. If the Committee sways from its charge and sets this precedence it may compromise future reliance on professional studies and plans. She added that it is still unknown what the community wants for the design at Harrington and it does not meet the FY26 budget. After further discussion, the Recreation Committee agrees to propose modifying the Krieger proposal with the understanding that the priority is to fully fund the Center Playground, and Lincoln the following year, reducing the Harrington project by $300K to fully fund the Affordable Housing Trust. Mr. Boutwell made a motion to revise the CPC appropriation request by a reduction of $300K and the Committee will in turn support the Krieger Proposal. Mr. DeAngelis seconded the motion and it passed unanimously 6 – 0. b. FY2025 Hard Court Reconstruction – Valley Peter Coleman stated that the Valley Court Reconstruction project will require a waiver from the Mass Bylaw. Conservation Director, Karen Mullins, is in support of going to the Conservation Commission as it would still meet the Mass stormwater standards. Mr. Coleman added that there are two new cost estimates available – one to increase the width of the driveway and one to increase the parking capacity from 5 to 7 spaces. Staff is still in the process of reviewing those with the design team at Activitas. Initial estimates come in over budget for post tension concrete but if the Recreation Committee decides to have asphalt as the first add alternate, the project would come in within budget with those two options. At this point Mr. Coleman opened up the presentation for discussion. Ms. Sheth thanked the Lexington Pickleball Club and Battle Green Tennis League for mobilizing. She asked if there was a strong desire to expand to 6 courts at that location. Mr. Bassik asked if there was a concern that high ground water can compromise the playing surface. Ms. Ganser from Activitas replied that the courts are 3 to 4 feet higher than groundwater surface. Mr. Bassik pointed out that the courts are in a highly accessible bike location and wondered if the original plan was to have bike racks to which Mr. Coleman responded that staff would look to use the remaining funding for site amenities such as bike racks. Ms. Sheth made the following motion and Mr. Bassik seconded: The Recreation Committee approves the finalization of the construction documents for the Valley Courts reconstruction project as presented, with the modification that the asphalt deduct be moved to alternate #1 and prioritizing additional parking being alternate #2, so the project can go out to bid with additional add alternates to be included at the discretion of the Recreation and Community Programs Department and DPW staff. The motion passed unanimously 4 – 0. 3. Recreation Committee Email Correspondence 4. November 2024 Meeting Minutes Weiwei Li moved and Renen Bassik seconded approval of the November 2024 minutes. The motion passed unanimously 4 – 0. 5. Recreation and Community Programs Report (attached) 4 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 6. Liaison Report Weiwei Li provided a Lincoln Park Sub-Committee update. Rod Cole expressed his appreciation for the conversations around the CPC and will share with the Capital Expenditures Committee. 7. 2024 Tennis & Pickleball Report The Report is attached. Ms. Sheth suggested reviewing the information in the slides then plan to take a vote at the January meeting. Weiwei Li made a motion to adjourn and Renen Bassik seconded. The December 18th, 2024 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 9:28pm. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 15th at 7:00pm. Respectfully submitted, Christine Dean Community Center Director The following documents distributed at the meeting are attached:  2024 Tennis and Pickleball Overview  BOH memo on Field Updates 12.2024  Dec 2024 RC email correspondence  December 2024 Rec Report  LBAC Letter to Recreation Dept Nov 23 2024