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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10-01 Agenda NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS & GARDENS 896 Airlie Road · Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 798-7620 · (910) 798-7621 FAX · www.nhcgov.com PARKS ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA OCTOBER 1, 2024 8:30 A.M. Airlie Cottage 896 Airlie Road 1. Call to Order Ryan Bisplinghoff, Chair 2. Approval of Minutes Ryan Bisplinghoff 3. Voice of the Customer Tanya G./Jim Chisum 4. Top of Mind Topics All 5. Director/Staff Q&A Tara/Andy 6. Adjournment NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS ADVISORY BOARD PAGE 2 REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 6, 2024 ASSEMBLY The Parks Advisory Board held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at the Airlie Cottage. Present: Caleb Rash, Mary Ellen Lavoie, Carol Hunter, Josie Barnhart, Ryan Bisplinghoff Excused: Gayle Tabor, Jordan Nason Guest: Chris Vargo, Winter Park Optimist Club Staff: Andy Johnson, Latashia Smith, Tara Duckworth, and Tanya Gurganious WELCOME AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES The meeting was called to order by Ryan Bisplinghoff. Ryan asked if everyone had a chance to review the minutes and if there were any changes. Caleb and Josie noticed that their last names were spelled incorrectly. The following motion was presented: MOTION: Ryan Bisplinghoff MOVED; SECONDED by Caleb Rash, that the minutes of the June meeting be approved with the noted changes. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Ryan welcomed guest Chris Vargo, a representative of Winter Park Optimist Club (WPO) which was established in 1954 at Long Leaf Park. Winter Park children range in age from 4 years old, who play t- ball, to 12 years old. There is also girls softball. Each year between summer and fall, 800 to 1000 local youth are signed up to play. Since 1954, Winter Park Optimist has served more than 70,000 children. Registration fees are $100 per child. The Christmas tree sales help keep Winter Park self-sustaining for the most part with help from New Hanover County. WPO sells $60,000 worth of Christmas trees each year and nets around $30,000. In 2010, WPO started the Strike Out Childhood Cancer tournament. Over the years, they have raised an estimated $180,000 that helps local families battling childhood cancer. Checks are written to help with medical care and any other needs they might have. One hundred percent of the proceeds are given to the local families. This year, WPO helped to remodel a cottage at the Boys and Girls Home of North Carolina in Lake Waccamaw. Some of the cottages had been damaged since 2018 from Hurricane Florence. Each year around Christmas, WPO gives $100 gift cards to some of the children at the Boys and Girls Home. They are taken shopping along with a chaperone. There was some discussion about private corporations being sponsors of the athletic fields for better upgrades at no cost to the taxpayers. The Pop Warner Football organization has been looking to upgrade the scoreboard at Ogden Park. County Legal has a policy in place that allows for private donations and acknowledgment for improvements. 1. Top of Mind Topics. None NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS ADVISORY BOARD PAGE 3 REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 6, 2024 2. Staff Updates. Tara for Northern Regional Park and Smith Creek Park. They are all designed and waiting on state stormwater permits. Making some headway on Market Street Middle Sound trails. Received the encroachment agreement to sign for DOT. It is a slow process. Ryan Bisplinghoff wanted to circle back on the corporate sponsorship process. Tara explained that Andy would have the athletic organization come up with a proposal. Tara and Andy would then meet with the assistant county managers to go over the proposal. If ld have to be approved by the commissioners. The board discussed the next meeting date and decided to skip the September meeting since it was the day after Labor Day and some board members would be away on vacation. The next board meeting would take place on October 1, 2024. There was discussion on the next Voice of the Customer. It was ultimately decided that that staff member Tanya Gurganious would discuss the kayak process and an overview of kayaking around the county. Biking and trails were also discussed. Jim Chisum would handle the trails part of the discussion. Caleb also requested a flow chart of how the department works. Next Meeting. The next board meeting will take place at the Airlie Cottage on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the following motion was presented: Carol Hunter MOVED; Caleb Rash SECONDED; that the meeting be adjourned. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting adjourned at 9:46 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Latashia N. Smith Ώ Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Parks Advisory Board meeting.