Summary

Staff liaison Jon Hetrick briefly discussed the informal survey conducted among pool users over the summer. A more formal, scientific survey is being developed. Lauren Gray, Communications Specialist for the City, discussed how the new survey will be developed and distributed in collaboration with a professional survey service. The new survey is intended to provide more scientifically developed information to guide the Board’s recommendation for the pool project.

Full Text

Minutes of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Meeting

July 29, 2021 Regular Meeting
The July 29, 2021 meeting of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board was convened at 7:05 pm in the Oak
Ridge Recreation Center Social Room.

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

Approval of the June 10, 2021 Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve: Brad Spears; second: Mark Cantrell. The June 10, 2021 meeting minutes were approved
unanimously.

Appearance and Citizen Comments
• Elane Streets was present, representing the League of Women Voters.

Updates and Observations (Non Action Items):
• Dan Robbins reported that past Park Board member Ray Garrett had succeeded in acquiring the final easement
needed for the East Fork Riparian Trail.

New Business
• Park Board Work Plan – Jake Greear distributed a draft work plan based on the June 24th work session. The draft
was then reviewed item by item. The Board members and city staff also discussed the Boards role in advising the
City Manager and City Council. Following a discussion finalizing the language in the work plan, Brad Spears made
a motion to approve, seconded by Michelle Thornton. The motion passed unanimously and the work plan was
adopted.

Unfinished Business
• City Position & Policy on E-Bikes – The Board reviewed the draft policy recommendation distributed by Brad
Spears at the June Park Board meeting. Jake Greear read the recommendation for the record, as follows:
“The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Advisory board formally recommends to the City Recreation & Parks
Director that the City of Oak Ridge consider incorporating guidance/ policy that allows/ limits E-Bike use to
Class I and Class II E-Bikes on all paved city greenways and to only those off road trail systems that are
designated as multi-use trail systems within the city limits (e.g. Haw Ridge).”
Jake Greear then made a motion to adopt the recommendation as written, seconded by Brad Spears. Board
members present voted unanimously to approve the recommendation.

Board Work Plan
Oak Ridge Swimming Pool:
• Staff liaison Jon Hetrick briefly discussed the informal survey conducted among pool users over the summer. A
more formal, scientific survey is being developed. Lauren Gray, Communications Specialist for the City, discussed
how the new survey will be developed and distributed in collaboration with a professional survey service. The
new survey is intended to provide more scientifically developed information to guide the Board’s
recommendation for the pool project.

Rec & Parks CIP Review and Prioritization:
• No report.

North Boundary Greenway:
• No report.

Greenway System:
• Rails to Trails Project
◦ Michelle suggested the Board consider scheduling a presentation on a rails-to trails project planned
from Oneida TN to Frozen Head State Park. The Board members did not choose to pursue that
opportunity at the present time.
◦ Jon Hetrick reported that the design and engineering firm for the project, AMT, would provide a project
update to City Council at the August 17, 2021 Work Session. City staff are planning to follow up with a
public input session in early September.

• Greenway Master Plan Support
◦ No report.

• Roadside Safety Evaluations and Advocacy
◦ No report.

Blueways Initiative
• No report.

City Position & Policy on E-Bikes:
• See “Unfinished Business”

Parks & Recreation Stewardship, Maintenance and Trail Development:
• No report.

Secondary Objectives:
• Community Events
◦ No Report
• Development Opportunities for Disc Golf & Soccer on Tuskegee Dr.
◦ No report.

Director’s Report:
• Summer camp and the outdoor pool season are wrapping up. They have been successful overall, despite staffing
challenges.
• The City Manager and City Clerk have been developing uniform bylaws and rules & procedures for all City Boards
and Commissions. The template for these updates was adopted by the City Council at the July 12, 2021 City
Council meeting. The City Clerk plans to meet with all Boards and Commissions over the next couple of months
to discuss how the changes will be applied specifically to each. Adoption of specific bylaws, rules and procedures
for all Boards and Commissions is planned by the end of the 2021 calendar year.

Future Agenda Items:
• A presentation by City Clerk Beth Hickman on updated bylaws, rules & procedures for the Recreation & Parks
Advisory Board.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 PM.