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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-13-REC-min `pus IWOgN�Y pQ' PTTs c Town of Lexington a - w ; Recreation Committee APRIL 19 FX I IN UV Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 698-4800 Lisah Rhodes,Vice Chair Fax: (781) 861-2747 Lisa O'Brien Ruixi(Ray)Yuan Francesca Pfrommer Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting February 13, 2019 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 7:00pm in the Training Room at the Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, 201 Bedford Street,Lexington. Members Present: Rick DeAngelis,Lisah Rhodes, Lisa O'Brien, Francesca Pfrommer, and Ruixi Yuan Staff Present: Melissa Battite,Director of Recreation and Community Programs,Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, and Christine Dean, Community Center Director Others Present: Meg Buczynski(Architect with Activitas), Tim Clackson(14 Winthrop Road, Lexington), Barry Cunha(30 Eaton Road,Lexington),Bobby Lyng(2 Russell Square, Lexington), Sean O'Connell(Architect with Activitas), and Julie Shapiro (Council on Aging liaison) 1. Turf 101 Session—led by Activitas Meg Buczynski, architect with Activitas,presented an overview to the Committee of the pros and cons for each type of playing surface (hybrid turf and synthetic turf) that is being considered for the Center Track Field. A copy of the presentation slides are attached to the minutes. During the synthetic turf overview,Ms. Buczynski covered such topics as the padding,the different types of fibers(parallel slit film, monofilament, and dual fiber), backings (porous rows versus punched holes), and the different types of infill (silica sand with SBR rubber versus organic infill such as geofill coconut husks,walnut shells, and pine wood). Regarding the fiber type,parallel slit films is the most durable and what is currently installed at Lincoln Park. Dual fiber stands up and hold down the infill more and Ms. Buczynski indicated that this is the fiber type that most municipalities are currently choosing. An synthetic turf field with organic infill has the same playability as other synthetic turf fields while reducing the temperature at the playing surface. Ms. Buezynski provided a list of organic fields that are located in the area. The hybrid turf field would be a SIS Grass system. Information on SIS Grass is included as an attachment to the minutes. With a hybrid turf field, Ms. Buczynski stated that it is a high-end, natural grass field that contains substantially more sand than a natural grass field,which allows the field to drain vertically. While the synthetic fibers are not noticeable,they prevent divots from being creative and provide a more stable playing surface. While the maintenance of hybrid turf field is not terribly different,the frequency would be more aggressive and result in approximately 15%more maintenance as compared to a natural grass field. A hybrid turf field allows for 20-30%more hours of use as compared to a natural grass field, which is reconnnended to have 400 hours of use each year. 2 After the presentation,members of the Committee had the opportunity to ask Ms. Buczynski any questions. Using sand and rubber as infill on synthetic turf fields is typically what is being done and studies have shown that there are no health or environmental concerns with this type of infill. The organic infill is approximately$0.50 more per square foot as compared to sand and rubber and is more common at private schools. For the hybrid turf field,the expected life cycle of the field is 25 years whereas the playing surface of a synthetic turf field needs to be replaced every 10 years. Melissa Battite concluded this portion of the meeting with an overview of the timeline. The bid opening is set for Tuesday, March 12th. The Recreation Committee will make the final decision on the playing surface at its March meeting and the project is tentatively scheduled to begin the first week of June. 2. Meeting Minutes from January 16,2019 Lisah Rhodes moved and Francesca Pfrommer seconded approval of the Recreation Committee Minutes of January 16, 2019. The Recreation Committee voted 5-0 to approve the minutes of January 16, 2019. 3. Citizens and other Boards Julie Shapiro, liaison from the Council on Aging(COA),reported that the COA has been very busy recently. Christine Dean, Community Center Director, added that the two upcoming age friendly community forums will be held on Tuesday,March 12'from 12:30-2:00pm and Monday,March 25`x'from 6:00-7:30pm. Bobby Lyng, Boys Director with Lexington Youth Lacrosse(LYL), expressed the need to have equipment storage containers at the various fields around town. This item will be discussed further at the March Recreation Committee meeting. 4. Liaison Reports—none 5. 2019 Proposed Fee Schedule Melissa Battite presented the proposed fee schedule for 2019. There were some errors in the fee schedule that was presented at the January Recreation Committee meeting, so the correct one was presented in its place. A copy of the updated fee schedule and memo are attached to the minutes. Rick DeAngelis moved and Ruixi Yuan seconded approval of the proposed 2019 fee schedule as presented. The Recreation Committee voted 5-0 to approve. 6. 5-Year Capital Project Updates Melissa Battite provided an update on current and upcoming capital improvement projects. There will be a citizen's article at Town Meeting that calls for a reduction in the CPA surcharge from 3% to 1%. Marilyn Fenollosa, chairperson of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC),requested that the Recreation Committee vote whether or not it is in favor of this article. A spreadsheet outlining all of the Recreation capital improvement projects that were funded by the CPC from 2007-2019 was distributed and is included as an attachment to the minutes. Lisah Rhodes noted that if this article passed,the CPC would only be able to pay off the debt for the projects that been completed previously. Members expressed their disapproval of the article and stated that it would severely limit and reduce the Recreation capital improvement projects that could be completed in the future. After a brief discussion, Francesca Pfrommer made the following motion: The Recreation Committee votes to oppose the citizen's article that would reduce the CPA surcharge from 3%to 1%. Lisah Rhodes seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 5-0 in opposition of the citizen's article. 39 MARRETT ROAD,LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02421 3 Peter Coleman,Assistant Director of Recreation,provided an update on the Old Reservoir bathhouse project. Staff have met with members of the Engineering and Conservation Department to review the plans and the request for construction funding will be presented at Town Meeting this spring. With the Old Reservoir being located in close proximity to the Bridge School,the question about when the project will take place has come up recently. With the upcoming season having already been advertised and to ensure the safety of all patrons and staff,members of the Committee agreed that it would make the most sense to defer the project by a year,pending approval at Town Meeting. After a brief discussion, Rick DeAngelis made the following motion: If approved at Town Meeting, the Recreation Committee moves to defer the Old Reservoir project to Summer 2020 due to safety reasons and to provide advanced not fcation to patrons. Ruixi Yuan seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 5-0 to approve. Melissa Battite provided an update on the Inter Municipal Agreement(IMA)with Minuteman High School. Ms. Battite reported that the Minuteman School Committee wants to pursue the full build. As a result, Minuteman has sent out a Request for Information(RFI)to look for additional partners. The RFI closes on Friday,February 15th. If other partners come forward, that would impact the Town's access and priority of use at the complex and could result in Minuteman pursuing a Request for Proposal(RFP). If this occurs, this may result in the project not being presented at Town Meeting this spring. The last item that was discussed is the recreation community needs assessment. The Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) has indicated that it is uncomfortable with calling out the Community Center directly with this project, so that will be factored into the presentation of the article. Christine Dean explained that the Recreation Management Department at the University of New Hampshire has successfully completed community needs assessments recently,most notably one in Burlington, and she has a phone call scheduled with UNH on February 15t''. 7. Recreation, Community Programs, and Parks Reports Melissa Battite, Peter Coleman, and Christine Dean provided the Committee with their monthly update. The February 2019 Recreation and Community Programs Report and a copy of the Summer 2019 Youth Programs Brochure are included attachments to the minutes. No Parks Report was given. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Thursday,March 28" at 7:00pm in the Hudson Room of the Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue. The February 13`h, 2019 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 8:56pm. Respectfully submitted, Peter Coleman Assistant Director of Recreation The following documents/exhibits distributed at the meeting are attached: • Infilled Synthetic Turf System Overview Presentation by Activitas • SIS Grass Information • 2019 Proposed Fee Schedule and Memo • Recreation CPA Projects spreadsheet • February 2019 Recreation & Community Programs Report • Summer 2019 Youth Programs Brochure 39 MARRETT ROAD,LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02421