Summary

Meeting: Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Meeting
Location: Oak Ridge Recreation Center Social Room

Key Points:

• Resolution for Aquatic Facility Consultant:
  • Review: Jake Greear reviewed the resolution passed in the previous month, recommending funding for an aquatic facility consultant in the FY2023 Capital Improvements Program budget.
• Public Input Session:
  • Discussion: The Board discussed the need to hold a public input session before issuing a survey on the pool project. This session aims to inform the public about potential costs and design options.
  • Clarification: It was emphasized that the meeting is about renovating and improving the pool, not closing it.
  • Next Steps: Details for the public input session will be discussed further in the January Board meeting and finalized in February.

Full Text

The December 9, 2021 meeting of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board was convened at 7:03 pm in the Oak Ridge Recreation Center Social Room.

Roll Call

• Present: Jake Greear, Kelly Mccampbell, Chris Melhorn, Dan Robbins, Michele Thornton
• Absent: Mark Cantrell, David Kitzmiller, Melissa McMahan, Brad Spears

Approval of the November 11, 2021 Meeting Minutes

Motion to approve: Dan Robbins; second: Kelly Mccampbell. The November 11, 2021 meeting minutes were approved unanimously.

Appearance and Citizen Comments

• Doug Colclasure reported that the proposed airport project at the Heritage Center Business Park will necessitate the abandonment of a portion of the Energy Solutions rail line. He requested that the Board develop a resolution to repurpose a section of the rail line as a greenway between the Powerhouse Greenway and the P-1 Pond Greenway. He believes this section of the rail line will be outside of the airport footprint. DOE approval would be required, as the City has no ownership of the property.
• Doug also provided a photographic overview of recent outdoor events.

Updates and Observations (Non Action Items):

• None

Unfinished Business

• Jon Hetrick will email the proposed Bylaws and Rules & Procedures to the Board for review.

New Business

• None

Board Work Plan

Oak Ridge Swimming Pool:

• Jake Greear provided a review of the resolution passed by the Board last month recommending funding for an aquatic facility consultant contract in the FY2023 Capital Improvements Program budget.
• The Board discussed holding a public input session on the project prior to issuing a survey. This would provide an opportunity to present project information to the public so that they are better informed on potential costs, design options, etc. prior to taking the survey. Chris Melhorn expressed the need to clearly define that the meeting is about a renovation and improvement project; closing the pool is not being considered as an option. The Board then discussed potential scheduling of the meeting and information to present. Details will be discussed further at the January Board meeting and finalized in February.

Rec & Parks CIP Review and Prioritization:

• Jake Greear is working with David Kitzmiller to finalize the Board ranking of projects.

North Boundary Greenway:

• Jake Greear asked Doug Colclasure if he was aware of any updates on the proposed power line along the North Boundary Greenway to the Horizon Center. Doug did not have any updates, but requested that the Board make a strong recommendation to the City Manager to pursue options for supplying power to the Horizon Center that do not impact the greenway. Michelle Thornton offered to draft a resolution to be presented to the Board next month for their consideration.

Greenway System:

• Rails to Trails Project
  • The project is waiting on TOOT approvals before additional work can be completed.
• Greenway Master Plan Support
  • No report.
• Roadside Safety Evaluations and Advocacy
  • No report.

Blueways Initiative

• No report.

Parks & Recreation Stewardship, Maintenance and Trail Development:

• The 2021 Recreation & Parks Achievement Awards were presented at the Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony on December 2nd. The event was very successful, with pleasant weather and a large turnout of the public. The support for the event from Y12 Federal Credit Union was greatly appreciated.

Secondary Objectives:

• Community Events
  • The Chamber of Commerce will hold a Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 11th. The Recreation & Parks Department will have a float in the parade.
• Development Opportunities for Disc Golf & Soccer on Tuskegee Dr.
  • No report

Director’s Report:

• The Recreation & Parks Department is working with the Legacy Parks Foundation to develop a Branding and Wayfinding System. The project is funded through a grant from UT Battelle. The goal is to create a distinctive, uniform sign system for all department facilities that will provide better information to the public.

Future Agenda Items:

• Horizon Center power resolution.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:21 PM.