Parks, Recreation & Trails
Committee
Minutes from Meeting of May 13, 2008
Attendees:
Tom Bierl
Lawrie Bolger
Bill Haaf
Zeke Hubbard
Joe Stumpo
Ricki Stumpo
1. Open Meeting: Hubbard called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
2.
Announcements: Ricki Stumpo
announced that a letter was sent from the Township to Mr. Spano on
Public Works crew has been mowing between the
Brown and Stumpo properties on Cannon Hill, although they were asked last year
not to do so. Some of the mowing is not confined to the actual trail easement.
Small pine trees were planted on part of the easement; since it can’t be mowed
there, some mowing is occurring on private property adjacent to the easement.
Action
Item: Will send letter to
BOS asking them to direct Public Works not to mow the area between the Brown
and Stumpo properties, and to remove the small pine trees so that mowing can
occur in the correct location. Also suggest that the Township formally request
permission of Stumpos and Browns to access the trail for mowing by coming down
between their properties (informal agreement currently in place).
3. Public Comment: None.
4.
Review of Minutes from April 8, 2008
Motion: Bierl moved, Haaf seconded to approve;
approved by all in favor.
5. Park Use Applications and Fee Schedule
Park: BOS has asked the PRT to recommend, by June, a fee structure and
permit application process for use of park facilities.
The Committee developed several recommendations based on the Park
ordinance stating that groups of fifteen or more require a permit.
Reservations:
·
A
reservation for any park facility (soccer/lacrosse field, baseball field,
tennis court, pavilion and barbecues, basketball court) requires a permit, no
matter what size group is expected to attend. The form (Note: still being developed) will be available at the Township
Office and can also be e-mailed, faxed, or mailed to users.
·
Permits
will be issued for three sessions: 8 a.m – Noon, Noon – 4 p.m., and 4 – 8 p.m.
(or sunset if earlier than 8 p.m.)
·
Users must
post permits upon arrival (Note: Boards
will be needed).
·
No one may
reserve the tot lot.
·
Only one
tennis court may be reserved during each session so that one is available for
drop-in use.
·
The
minimum reservation at the pavilion is two tables and one barbecue grill.
Refundable Security Deposit:
·
A refundable
security deposit will be charged when a permit is issued.
·
The size
of the group dictates the amount of the deposit. The fee is $2 for each person
expected to attend, with a minimum deposit of $30.
Impact /Maintenance
Fee
There was discussion of instituting a formal maintenance agreement with
the non-profit organizations who use the fields on a regular basis, such as URA
and KAU. After much discussion, it was proposed that:
·
Anyone
reserving a park facility pays a $5 maintenance fee per session (beginning
after the first session) to offset the cost of maintaining the facilities. (Note: This idea is contingent on
additional research.)
Usage by Non-Profit
Organizations
Non-profit organizations will be charged a refundable deposit and a $5 per
session maintenance fee.
Usage by For-Profit
Organizations
For-profit activities will be charged a refundable deposit, a $5 per
session maintenance fee, and an additional fee of $10 per paid participant
(charge is per season, not per session). Tennis court reservations require a
$10 per session maintenance fee.
Insurance
Requirements
Proof of insurance is required with permit application if the event meets
at least one of the following conditions:
·
For-profit
entity
·
Structured
multiple-use activity
·
More
than 50 participants (Note: What’s
the threshold at which the Township’s insurer requires proof of insurance? Is
it 50?)
Next Steps:
·
PRT
Secretary will circulate to all Committee members via e-mail a draft of the above
recommendations by Thursday, May 15.
·
A permit
application form will be developed and reviewed at the June meeting.
·
Timeline:
June 10: PRT
Meeting: Finalize fee structure, review permit application form
June 18: Forward
recommendations to BOS from PRT
June 23: Obtain
formal BOS approval
5. Sub-Committee Reports
Clean Ways
Subcommittee
Earth Day Community CleanUp held on April 29 with the slogan “Pick It Up,
Pocopson!”
Residents, businesses, scouting groups and neighborhoods participated, filling over 35 bags with litter and clearing our roadsides of illegally-dumped tires and other debris. The following areas were cleared of litter:
-
Pocopson Elementary &
- Red Lion, Corrine & Northbrook Roads
-
S. Wawaset & W. Creek Roads,
-
Rt. 52 at Brandyridge &
An area near the trailhead at Wawaset and Creek Roads is a recurring site
for illegal dumping, especially of tires.
Action
Item: Will request the BOS to
approve having No Dumping signs made (10?) with potential criminal penalties listed
on the signs.
Adopt a Highway:
Forms submitted by Lawrie from several
residents and businesses are still being processed at PennDOT.
Zeke praised Lawrie for her progress so far with the road adoptions and
with the Cleanup Day.
Action
Item: Send letters to all HOAs
saying that we have free supplies here for neighborhood cleanups; Lawrie to
provide a draft for BOS review and signature.
Founders Day
Subcommittee:
·
Hired a
band
·
Working
on kids entertainment, including Chicken Lady storyteller.
·
Walmart
to be solicited for support of children’s activities.
·
Next
meeting on May 28 (4th Wednesday of the month) at 7:30.
·
Publicity:
Last year, had an article in the newsletter and one postcard mailed out in
August. This year, Lawrie will help since she has marketing experience
Stream Team:
·
Two
samplings done in the last month. Scores at both locations were between 7 and
12, which is “acceptable” for water quality.
·
Last
year the Chester County Conservation District (CCCD) gave the Township small
trees to plant along streams. This year, rather than a specific number of
trees, Pocopson will receive an allocation of $2,400 to spend as we wish on
trees
· Bill Haaf has talked to Octorara native plant nursery about setting aside some larger trees and shrubs. This would slightly reduce the number of trees but they would be larger (e.g., instead of putting in 160 small $15 trees, we may purchase 80 larger $30 trees).
·
Township is considering riparian planting on a property
where the stream runs between Pocopson and
Trails:
A concern about GPS accuracy was expressed at the last meeting. The Committee is also very concerned that physical surveys of all trail easements will be cost-prohibitive.
Haaf recommended that we assume that GPS measurements are accurate and then if a survey (paid for by homeowner) proves that our measurements are faulty, we would re-install.
A further suggestion was to use GPS to locate easements and then immediately mark them with rebar and flags or some other highly visible system. This will allow time for public comments to come in while installation is still on the horizon.
7. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.
_____________________________________________________
Ezekiel C. Hubbard, Chair, Parks, Recreation & Trails Committee
______________________________
Peggy Lennon,
Recording Secretary