COMMITTEE ON PARKS AND RECREATION
DRAFT MINUTES: OCTOBER 18, 2004
Chairman Astorino called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair: Astorino; Legislators: Alvarado, Pinto; GUESTS: Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation—David DeLucia, Commissioner Joseph Stout; Office of the County Executive—Bill Randolph, Andrew Neuman
I. MINUTES:
Without objection, the minutes of the September 13, 2004 meeting of the Committee on Parks and Recreation were approved.
II. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
Item A17. Local Law—Tibbetts Brook Park, County Executive: Local law authorizing the county to enter into a lease agreement with NYS to lease property adjacent to Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers (referred on June 7, 2004; also referred to Budget and Appropriations)
Item A18. Bond Act—Tibbetts Brook Park, County Executive: Act authorizing the issuance of $7,300,000 in bonds to pay the cost of construction of an athletic field complex adjacent to Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers (referred on June 7, 2004; also referred to Budget and Appropriations)
Regarding the two Tibbetts Brook Park items, Parks Commissioner Joe Stout testified to the committee on the following main points:
The project will consist of one full size athletic field and two youth size fields.
The surface of each field would be an all weather surface field known as field turf, which is known to be extremely durable, safe and suitable for good drainage
The field would be open to all County residents, and also travel teams
The fields would be managed by the City of Yonkers Department of Recreation.
The item was before the committee on July 12, 2004, however was not acted on due to concerns from some members that there was not a sufficient agreement for maintenance and operation from the Yonkers City Council. In response to those concerns, a resolution detailing the maintenance and operation agreement between the City of Yonkers and the county was approved by the Yonkers City Council on October 12, 2004 and was presented to the committee for its review.
On the motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Pinto, the item was approved by a vote of 3-0.
Item A20. IMA and Bond Act—Columbus Park Athletic Field, County Executive: Act authorizing the county to enter into an IMA with the Village of Port Chester regarding and athletic field at Columbus Park and authorizing the issuance of $2,000,000 in bonds for the construction thereof (referred on August 9, 2004; also referred to Budget and Appropriations)
A discussion took place regarding the construction of an all weather athletic field at Columbus Park in Port Chester, including the following main points made by Commissioner Stout:
· The material used will be an all weather field turf
· The field will be serviced by a gravel parking lot
· A small maintenance building will be constructed to house service equipment and for use by local athletic leagues
· The project would be sent to bid as soon as bonding is approved and is anticipated to open in the Spring of 2006
On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the item was approved by a vote of 3-0.
Item A23. Bond Act—Mohansic Golf Course Rehabilitation, County Executive: Act authorizing the issuance of $250,000 in bonds to finance Mohansic Golf Course Rehabilitation (referred on October 12, 2004; also referred to Budget and Appropriations)
Commissioner Stout explained that the item is a bonding request that would fund the rehabilitation of old buildings at Mohansic Golf Course that were originally acquired in 1929. The project is only for rehabilitation of existing buildings and involves no new construction. The project would include some asbestos removal.
On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the item was approved by a vote of 3-0, with Legislator Astorino voting without prejudice.
Item A24. IMA—Cotlandt, County Executive: Act authorizing the county to enter into an IMA with the Town of Cortlandt for the maintenance of parkland for municipal recreation purposes (referred on October 12, 2004; also referred to Budget and Appropriations)
Commissioner Stout explained that the parkland is presently used as a playground by Cortlandt residents, althought there is no playground equipment. The IMA would continue the present operating agreement. There was no discussion on the item.
On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Alvarado, the item was approved by a vote of 3-0.
Item A25. IMA—Mount Pleasant Athletic Field, County Executive: Act authorizing the county to enter into an IMA with the Town of Mount Pleasant whereby the town will maintain an athletic filed to be constructed by the county (referred on October 12, 2004; also referred to Budget and Appropriations)
Item A26. Bond Act—Mount Pleasant Athletic Field, County Executive: Act authorizing the issuance of $1,400,000 to finance the construction of an athletic filed in the Town of Mount Pleasant (referred on October 12, 2004; also referred to Budget and Appropriations)
The committee entertained a discussion, led by Commissioner Stout, regarding the two Mount Pleasant athletic field items. The current site is a scrap wood dump site, often referred to as the “stump dump,” and is located off the Bronx River Parkway near Virginia Road in Mount Pleasant. The project will include removal of the scrap wood and overgrown vegetation, grading the land to accommodate a little league sized baseball field, the construction of a real grass regulation size little league field with parking accommodation for 45 vehicles. The Town of Mount Pleasant will maintain the field once it is constructed. It will be open to use of all county residents, but will primarily be the home of the Kensico Little League.
On the motion of Legislator Astorino, seconded by Legislator Pinto, both items were approved by a vote of 3-0.
Maple Moor Golf Course (not a referral)
The committee entertained a general discussion on the Parks Department’s plan to privatize operations at the Maple Moor Golf Course. Commissioner Stout made the following main points:
Presently there are operational problems that have arisen at Maple Moor regarding cooperation and operating efficiency between Parks Department staff and greens keepers and other staff
Privatizing the operation would look to solve those problems to make the golf course run better.
Should the privatization of operations go through as planned, it would only be a privatization of the operations, not of the golf course itself, i.e. a private company, through an open bid process, would be awarded a contract to run the golf course
Fees would not go up at the course.
There would not be any layoffs, as all existing staff would be reassigned either in the Parks Department or other county government departments.
Maple Moor will lose money in 2004, even if all projections regarding revenue and anticipated rounds are met; this step is an attempt to help correct that trend.
Discussion ended without action.
III. RECEIVE AND FILE:
No items were presented to the committee to be received and filed.
IV. ADJOURN:
On the motion of Legislator Alvarado, seconded by Legislator Pinto and without objection, the committee adjourned.
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