Parks and Recreation Commission

Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) Thursday, June 5, 2025 Cornelius Town Hall 5:30 – 7 p.m. www.cornelius.org/pr MINUTES 1) Call to Order Vice-Chair Eustache called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. 2) Determination of Quorum A quorum was reached with seven commissioners in attendance. • Commissioners present: Vice-Chair Carla Eustache, Jeff Jones, Jon Show, Robert Reed, Andrew Heywood, Jana Ritter, Andrew Heywood, Travis Dancy, and Town Commissioner Michael Osborne • Commissioners absent: Chair Trey Fouche and Steve True • Staff present: Director Troy Fitzsimmons, Assistant Director Adam Abernathy, Athletic Programs Manager Shelby Cruse, outgoing Executive Assistant Karen Ulmer, and incoming Executive Assistant Mary Curcione 3) Public Appearances – Citizen Concerns/Comments a) Karen Ulmer Retirement Director Fitzsimmon said Ms. Ulmer will be retiring at the end of June after 22 years of service. Vice-Chair Eustache read a letter from Chair Fouche, and several of the commissioners added their thanks and best wishes. b) Mary Curcione Introduction Director Fitzsimmons introduced Ms. Curcione, who will be replacing Ms. Ulmer as the new Executive Assistant. They will be able to train together for several weeks. 4) Approval of Minutes a) May 2025 Draft Minutes Commissioner Heywood made a motion to approve the minutes from the May 1, 2025, meeting as presented. Commissioner Show seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. 5) Presentations a) Athletic Programs Update – Shelby Cruse Athletic Programs Manager Cruse shared a presentation covering the department’s athletic programs, participation numbers, and goals, as well as participation numbers from our athletic partner programs. 6) Director’s Report a) May 2025 Director’s Report Director Fitzsimmons shared a presentation highlighting items from his May 2025 Director's Report. The presentation also updated the PRC on which of the department’s FY26 budget goals and capital projects were funded by the Town Board at their meeting on June 2. 7) Parks & Recreation Commissioner Recommendations & Reports a) Items to be placed on record b) Commissioner Reports 1) Vice-Chair Carla Eustache • She attended the Family Campout and brought three other families. Her company also sponsored a family to attend. The actual camping portion was rained out, but they still had fun doing all of the other activities. • She attended the Legion Park playground opening and had positive remarks regarding the quality and location of the new playground.  2) Chair Trey Fouche – Absent 3) Commissioner Jeff Jones • He attended the Cornelius Cardboard Boat Regatta. It was great and the turnout was much higher than he thought it would be. There was good media coverage, also. Kudos to Recreation Programs Assistant Emily Halden for her efforts. • He attended the Police Department’s Annual Safe Summer Launch Day on Saturday, May 17, at Blythe Landing. • He attended the first North Meck Farmers Market and enjoyed it. • He has connected Recreation Centers Program Manager John Anderson with the Police Department to get a police presence at some upcoming parks and rec activities. 4) Commissioner Jon Show • The North Meck Farmers Market is awesome and has very much exceeded his expectations. • The new playground at Legion Park is the best playground in town. This project was built using ARPA funding; it impresses him how we keep finding ways to fund things outside of our general budget. 5) Commissioner Steve True – Absent 6) Commissioner Robert Reed • Kudos to the department for all the events done in May and those coming in June. He attended the Cornelius Jazz Fest, which was well attended with everyone having a good time. He has heard great feedback from friends about our flag football program and attended one of his son’s friend’s basketball games through our league. He just wrapped up the spring season of Lake Norman Little League, where his son played and he coached, and his son is registered for one of our summer camps. It is important that we continue to market all that we are doing. • He reported sprinkler head issues at Bailey Road Park causing some holes in the ground. 7) Commissioner Andrew Heywood • He attended the Cornelius Jazz Fest, an amazing event that just seems to get better every year. • He is so proud that we are offering the North Meck Farmers Market in downtown Cornelius. • He took his daughter to the new Legion Park playground, and it is another crown jewel. 8) Commissioner Jana Ritter • She attended and participated in the Cornelius Cardboard Regatta. It was a lot of fun, and the trophies were very cute. Her daughter’s boat sank but won the People’s Choice Award. • Lake Norman Tennis Association (LNTA) held a coaches’ training event at Bailey Road Park, which Modern Strike also attended, and they recruited some coaches. LNTA is working with Bailey Middle School to add tennis as a club sport. LNTA has already found a grant to run the program, which would start in the spring of 2026, hoping to use the Bailey Road Park courts. She has been helping LNTA with their TryTennis program but cannot continue, so she will shift to working with them in a marketing capacity. 9) Commissioner Travis Dancy • His son just wrapped up another Lake Norman Little League season with another great experience. • The 18U State Tennis Championship Tournament is returning next weekend with 92 teams and over 1,000 players expected. c) Town Commissioner Report – Commissioner Todd Sansbury – Absent 8) Old Business a) Parks & Recreation Code of Ordinances Update Director Fitzsimmons said we have not updated our ordinances in over ten years. Assistant Director Abernathy shared a presentation, with most of the same information as last month, highlighting the proposed changes. Town Commissioner Osborne added that the Town Board is also looking into growing complaints regarding motorized and electric vehicles on sidewalks. Commissioner Show made a motion to authorize the Director to finalize and recommend updated park ordinances to the Town Board for adoption. Commissioner Dancy seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. b) Parks & Recreation Commission Goals & Committees • Strategic Planning & Long-Range Finance: Vice-Chair Eustache said this committee will be meeting on July 14 to talk about the park improvements and maintenance budget, CIP, and potential park bond projects. • Public Awareness: Commissioner Ritter said her June article for Lakeside Living featured Karen Ulmer and also listed summer events. For July, she will be using the CPRD infographic to inspire and the article.  c) 2024 Park Bonds Director Fitzsimmons said he will start discussing prioritization of projects at the Strategic Planning meeting on July 14. He is hoping to start working on projects’ soft costs, so they will be ready to go for a possible first bond sale in 2027. 9) New Business a) Proposed FY26 Facility Rental Fees Director Fitzsimmons shared a presentation showing the proposed fees for the coming fiscal year. He distributed the printed spreadsheet showing the fees being charged by comparable and nearby municipalities, our current fees, and the proposed fees. Commissioner Reed made a motion to recommend the proposed FY26 Facility Use Fees to the Town Board for approval. Commissioner Show seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. b) July 2025 PRC Meeting Commissioner Show made a motion to cancel the July 2025 meeting. Commissioner Heywood seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. 10) Adjournment 7:28p Next PRC Meeting – Thursday, July 10, 2025 CANCELED Future PRC Meetings – Thursdays, August 7, September 4, and October 2, 2025 Next Town Board Meetings – Mondays, June 16, and July 7 and 21, 2025