Services Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Services Committee convened on September 11, 2007, at 11:00 AM with Mr. Ellinger presiding as the meeting's presiding officer. The committee addressed two primary agenda items during the session, focusing on traffic safety improvements and recreational facility updates.

The committee took action on the Brynell/Northside Multi-Way Stop proposal, which received approval, while also receiving an informational presentation regarding the Par 3 Golf Course. Throughout the meeting, the committee conducted three formal votes and heard from two members of the public who provided comments on the matters under consideration. The session demonstrated the committee's ongoing commitment to addressing both infrastructure safety concerns and community recreational needs.

Attendance

All committee members were present for the September 11, 2007 meeting.

Present: • Ellinger • Myers • James • Blues • DeCamp • Beard • Crosbie • McChord • Blevins • Lane

Absent: None

Late: None

The committee achieved full attendance with all ten members participating in the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The Committee took three unanimous votes during the September 11, 2007 meeting, with all 10 members present voting in favor of each motion.

Multi-Way Stop Request 1:00 CM McChord motioned to request a multi-way stop at Brynell Dr and Northside Dr, seconded by CM Blevins. The motion passed unanimously with 10 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor were Ellinger, Myers, James, Blues, DeCamp, Beard, Crosbie, McChord, Blevins, and Lane.

School Board Agreement Investigation 2:00 CM Beard motioned to have the administration and school board present to the Council what happened to the $750K agreement, with CM Myers providing the second. The motion passed unanimously with all 10 members voting in favor: Ellinger, Myers, James, Blues, DeCamp, Beard, Crosbie, McChord, Blevins, and Lane.

Par 3 Golf Course Subcommittee 2:30 CM DeCamp motioned to appoint a Par 3 Golf Course subcommittee, seconded by CM Beard. This motion also passed unanimously with 10 ayes and 0 nays. The members voting in favor were Ellinger, Myers, James, Blues, DeCamp, Beard, Crosbie, McChord, Blevins, and Lane.

All three motions demonstrated complete consensus among the Committee members, with no opposition or abstentions recorded for any of the votes.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the Committee during the public comment period, both focusing on traffic safety concerns at the intersection of Brynell and Northside.

Amy Harney 1:30 spoke first, expressing concerns about traffic safety at the Brynell and Northside intersection. Harney reported frequent minor accidents and near misses occurring at this location and emphasized the need for the installation of a stop sign to improve safety conditions.

Michelle Riddle 1:35 followed with additional comments on the same intersection. Riddle specifically highlighted the danger posed to children who cross at Brynell and Northside, reinforcing the previous speaker's position by voicing her support for installing a stop sign at the location.

Both speakers focused exclusively on the same traffic safety issue, presenting a unified community concern about the intersection's current safety conditions and the need for traffic control measures.

Contested Items

The Committee meeting on September 11, 2007, featured significant community opposition regarding one major issue.

Meadowbrook Golf Course Sale

The primary contested item involved the potential sale of Meadowbrook Golf Course by the school board, which generated substantial community concern. Residents opposed the sale due to the golf course's dual function as both a recreational facility and a critical storm water retention area for the surrounding neighborhood.

Community members expressed concerns about losing this important green space that serves multiple purposes beyond recreation. The golf course's role in managing storm water runoff was highlighted as a key environmental consideration that would be lost if the property were sold and potentially developed.

The nature of the opposition centered on the community's desire to preserve the golf course for its recreational value and its essential function in the area's storm water management system. Residents viewed the facility as serving important public purposes that would be difficult to replace if the school board proceeded with the sale.

The meeting did not indicate a final resolution to this contentious issue, suggesting that further discussion and community input would be needed before any decision on the golf course's future could be made.

Brynell/Northside Multi-Way Stop

1:00

The committee reviewed a proposal to install a multi-way stop at the intersection of Brynell Drive and Northside Drive. The discussion centered on traffic studies and community feedback regarding safety concerns at this location.

Brad Frazier presented information on the intersection's traffic patterns and accident history. The analysis included data on vehicle volumes, pedestrian activity, and documented safety incidents that supported the need for additional traffic control measures.

CM Stinnett and CM McChord participated in the discussion, examining the technical requirements and community support for the proposed multi-way stop installation. The committee considered factors such as traffic flow impacts, enforcement considerations, and the intersection's geometric characteristics.

Community input played a significant role in the evaluation process, with residents expressing concerns about safety conditions at the Brynell Drive and Northside Drive intersection. The committee weighed these public safety concerns against the traffic engineering analysis to determine the appropriateness of the proposed traffic control device.

Following the presentation and discussion of the traffic studies and community feedback, the committee approved the installation of the multi-way stop at Brynell Drive and Northside Drive. This decision reflected the committee's determination that the intersection met the necessary criteria for this type of traffic control measure and would address the safety concerns raised by area residents.

Par 3 Golf Course

2:00

The committee discussed the future of Meadowbrook Golf Course and potential alternatives for maintaining a par 3 golf facility in the community. The discussion centered around the school board's consideration of selling the property and exploring options to preserve golf access for residents.

Key speakers included Jerry Hancock, Dr. Stevens, CM Blevins, CM Beard, and CM Moloney, who participated in examining various scenarios for the golf course's future operations and ownership structure.

The committee reviewed the current status of Meadowbrook Golf Course and discussed potential impacts if the school board proceeds with a sale. Participants explored alternatives that could maintain a par 3 golf course for community use, considering both operational and financial aspects of different arrangements.

Various concerns were raised regarding the transition process, community access, and the long-term viability of maintaining golf facilities under different ownership or management structures. The discussion included consideration of how to preserve recreational opportunities for residents while addressing the school board's needs.

The agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The committee gathered information and perspectives to better understand the situation and potential pathways forward for maintaining golf facilities in the community. The discussion provided a foundation for future deliberations on this matter as developments with the school board's decision-making process continue.