Summary

• Jon Hetrick provided an update on recent incidents at Oak Ridge Swimming Pool, including a successful rescue operation.
• The City Council’s first reading of the budget allocated $125,000 for hiring an engineering firm to design a new pool. Approval awaited at the upcoming second reading.
• Final survey results pending; information to be shared once received.

Full Text

The June 9, 2022 meeting of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board was convened at 7:04 pm in the Oak Ridge Recreation Center Social Room with Vice Chairman Mark Cantrell presiding.

Roll Call

• Present:
  • Mark Cantrell, Alissa Jones, Kelly Mccampbell, Melissa McMahan, Dan Robbins, Michelle Thornton
• Absent:
  • Jake Greear, Chris Melhorn, Brad Spears
• Also Present:
  • Jon Hetrick, Recreation & Parks Director, staff liaison

Approval of the May 12, 2022 Meeting Minutes

• Questions regarding gravel road reference on 6A and 6B properties. This was clarified.
• Motion to approve made by Michelle Thornton; the May 12, 2022 meeting minutes were approved with no changes.

Board Work Plan

• Oak Ridge Swimming Pool:
  • Jon Hetrick provided an update regarding a rescue at the pool recently that had made the news. Five year old was non responsive, CPR had to be performed. City followed up with the family and the child is doing fine. Pool staff and all involved handled things extremely well.
  • First reading of the budget was this past Monday at city council; allocation of $125,000 to hire engineering firm for design of new pool. Still has to be approved on second reading this coming Monday.
  • Survey final results are not in yet; soon as those are received, information will be shared with the board.
• North Boundary Greenway:
  • Current status is looking to maintain connectivity through undeveloped parcels. No big changes at this time.
• Greenway System:
  • Rails to Trails Project
    • Jon Hetrick shared that we’ve submitted a request to extend the grant with TOOT. No response as of yet.
    • Engineering firm working through updated costs and scheduling estimates.
    • Hoping after extension granted will get notice to proceed for Right of Way acquisition.
  • Estimation of 40 months to complete that progress.
  • Greenway Master Plan Support
    • No new updates.
  • Roadside Safety Evaluations and Advocacy
    • No new updates.
• Blueways Initiative
  • No new updates.
• Parks & Recreation Stewardship, Maintenance and Trail Development:
  • Doug Colclasure spoke; working with nurseries and developers and community contractors that are bringing equipment in and out of town and leaving debris. He said the group mentioned that the city could potentially benefit from a Natural Resource Manager position or role through the Recreation and Parks division.
  • Potentially discuss at the next meeting to see if this is something we’d be interested in pursuing.
  • Budgetary is one piece, but also knowing that hiring a manager would require that a team be established to perform for the city; would need to be looked at from a comprehensive standpoint.
  • Eagle Scout candidate that would like to do a new trail in Haw Ridge; section of Red Hill part of the power line area in there. Candidate is working with CVTA to find a way to bypass that section of trail; he’s flagged this area, Jon’s going to go out and take a look at what’s been flagged.
  • TCWP awarded a $4k grant to put some directional signs on the North Ridge trail.
  • Unauthorized trails already in place; some areas are getting worse, concerns about new trials going in while rogue trails are actively being built. Not only on the ED6 but also into the SORCE. We’ve talked with CVTA, Greenways OR regarding the issue. Currently no signs that are out there to advise users about not going off trail. They are being used but we are not aware of anyone actively building them.
  • Wanted to raise the concern; unsure of the actions to take.
  • Also seeing bikes on trails clearly marked no biking allowed.
  • Overall concern about increasing the trail density.

Secondary Objectives:

• Community Events
  • Jon Hetrick provided a list of all events currently on the Rec & Parks Department calendar, including City events and events by outside organizations.
• Conference Center Update
  • Met with the architect Monday; design development going on right now. Currently working to identify any issues within the building that need to be addressed. Will be taking out the main restrooms, and redoing them completely; this means in the short term, would not have any accessible restrooms so we would need a temporary solution during construction.
  • Hopefully bid out by end of year.
• No updates on disc golf course or soccer complex.

Unfinished Business

• None to report.

New Business

• None.

Appearance and Citizen Comments

• Doug Colclasure discussed sighting of a bear recently in Oak Ridge.
• Citizen questions regarding 3000 acres being given by DOE for possible development.
  • East SORCE under DOE ownership, managed by TWRA.
  • DOE is planning to transfer ownership of East SORCE and other parcels, totaling approximately 3000 acres, to TWRA.

Updates and Observations (Non Action Items):

• Local dog bag dispensers were empty; Dan refilled.
• Annual bird walk, Birding by Sounds and Sight, Monday at 830 across river from bridge; offered board members if they wanted to come.

Director’s Report:

• First reading of budget Monday night; second reading next Monday.
  • Most concerns were focused on employee concerns regarding pay.
  • Budget has allocations for some larger capital projects such as resurfacing the indoor pool and resurfacing tennis courts so we’re hopeful the funding remains intact.

Future Agenda Items:

• None.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 PM.