HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-09-20-Meeting AgendaCommission Meeting Agenda
Commission Chamber
9/20/2016
2:00 PM
INVOCATION:Reverend Gary Kerr, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Keysville.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Five (5) minute time limit per delegation
DELEGATIONS
A.Mr. James Germany regarding safety concerns and traffic issues
pertaining to the limited egress and ingress of Elderberry Subdivision.
Attachments
CONSENT AGENDA
(Items 1-8)
PLANNING
1. FINAL PLAT – MANCHESTER, SECTION 7 – S-853 – A request
for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve a petition by Southern Partners Inc., on behalf of COEL
Development Co., requesting final plat approval for Manchester
Subdivision, Section 7. This single-family residential subdivision is
located on Ken Miles and Weldon Adams Drives and contains 27 lots.
DISTRICT 4
Attachments
2. Z-16-28 - A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning
Commission to approve with the conditions stated below a petition by
James S. Murray (Attorney), on behalf of Richard Smith, to change the
zoning from R-1B (One-Family Residential) to B-2 (General
Business) for .24 acres known as 3121 Mike Padgett Highway. Tax Map
123-1-012-00-0. . DISTRICT 6 1. The use of the site is limited to
support parking, equipment storage, and a training facility in support of
the business located at 3119 Mike Padgett Highway or those uses
Attachments
permitted in the P-1 (Professional) Zone. 2. A site plan showing
required parking, ingress/egress, side and rear fencing with landscape
buffering must be submitted and approved before any commercial use of
the property may begin. 3. A landscape feature of four feet in
circumference shall be planted around any free-standing sign erected in
the front yard in addition to the two (2) required street-yard trees.
3. Z-16-33 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning
Commission to approve with the conditions stated below a petition by
William C. Carn, on behalf of Circle K Stores, Inc. requesting a change
of zoning from Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-2
(General Business) affecting property containing .81 acres and is known
as 3479 Wrightsboro Road (aka 3477 Wrightsboro Road) Tax Map
041-0-029-00-0 DISTRICT 3 1. There can be no parking of vehicles
in the public right-of-way. 2. The petitioner will work with the
Planning and Development Department to submit a landscape
improvement plan for approval. 3. If improvements disturb more than
50% of the acreage, the site plan must comply with all other ordinances
and regulations in effect at the time of plan submission and construction.
Attachments
4. Z-16-34 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning
Commission to approve with the conditions stated below a petition by
Steve Moody requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture)
and Zone HI (Heavy Industry) to Zone HI affecting property
containing approximately 2.9 acres and known as 2722 Mike Padgett
Highway and part of 1778 Lumpkin Road. Tax Map 111-0-002-00-0 and
part of 111-0-002-07-0DISTRICT 1 The use of the site is limited to the
existing businesses on 2722 Mike Padgett Highway and 1778 Lumpkin
Road and all uses permitted in the LI zone, subject to no outdoor
production or manufacturing, due to the close proximity to floodplain
and wetlands.The approved plat combining 2722 Mike Padgett Highway
and the two-acre portion of 1778 Lumpkin Road must be recorded with
the Clerk of Superior Court prior to site plan submittal. 3. The project
site plan must comply with all development related ordinances and
regulations in effect at the time of site plan review. 4. Any
modification to the existing curb cuts and any traffic-related
improvements must be approved by the Traffic Engineering Department
and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). 5. Water and
sewer must be extended to the proposed building from the existing water
and sewer lines within Mike Padgett Highway at the petitioner’s
expense.
Attachments
PUBLIC SERVICES
5.Motion to approve the adoption of the Recreation and Parks Master
Plan. (Approved by Public Services Committee September 13, 2016)
Attachments
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
6.Motion to approve the elimination of the Mayor's signature block from
the document "Policy for the Drafting of Ordinances and Code
Amendments" and leave the Clerk's attestment in place. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee September 13, 2016)
Attachments
7.Motion to approve using the process that all official documents
approved by the Commission that was used by former City Attorneys
Wall & Shepard regarding documents being returned to the Clerk of
Commission's Office for the city's official and permanent file.
(Approved by Administrative Services Committee September 13,
2016)
Attachments
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
8.Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the
Commission held September 6, 2016 and Special Called Meeting
September 13, 2016.
Attachments
****END CONSENT AGENDA****
AUGUSTA COMMISSION
9/20/2016
AUGUSTA COMMISSION
REGULAR AGENDA
9/20/2016
(Items 9-10)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
9.Motion to approve referring to the full Commission with no
recommendation the matter of the reinstatement of compensation to the
ex-officio Commission member who serves on the Planning
Attachments
Upcoming Meetings
www.augustaga.gov
Commission and receive information regarding which boards have
provided such compensation in the past. (Approved by Administrative
Services Committee September 13, 2016)
LEGAL MEETING
A. Pending and Potential Litigation.
B. Real Estate.
C. Personnel.
10.Motion to approve execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of
compliance with Georgia's Open Meeting Act.
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Invocation
Department:
Department:
Caption:Reverend Gary Kerr, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Keysville.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Cover Memo
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
James Germany
Department:
Department:
Caption:Mr. James Germany regarding safety concerns and traffic issues
pertaining to the limited egress and ingress of Elderberry
Subdivision.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Cover Memo
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Final Plat Manchester Section 7
Department:Planning Commission
Department:Planning Commission
Caption: FINAL PLAT – MANCHESTER, SECTION 7 – S-853 – A
request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning
Commission to approve a petition by Southern Partners Inc., on
behalf of COEL Development Co., requesting final plat approval
for Manchester Subdivision, Section 7. This single-family
residential subdivision is located on Ken Miles and Weldon
Adams Drives and contains 27 lots. DISTRICT 4
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Clerk of Commission
Cover Memo
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Z-16-28
Department:Planning Commission
Department:Planning Commission
Caption: Z-16-28 - A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia
Planning Commission to approve with the conditions stated
below a petition by James S. Murray (Attorney), on behalf of
Richard Smith, to change the zoning from R-1B (One-Family
Residential) to B-2 (General Business) for .24 acres known as
3121 Mike Padgett Highway. Tax Map 123-1-012-00-0. .
DISTRICT 6 1. The use of the site is limited to support
parking, equipment storage, and a training facility in support of
the business located at 3119 Mike Padgett Highway or those uses
permitted in the P-1 (Professional) Zone. 2. A site plan
showing required parking, ingress/egress, side and rear fencing
with landscape buffering must be submitted and approved before
any commercial use of the property may begin. 3. A landscape
feature of four feet in circumference shall be planted around any
free-standing sign erected in the front yard in addition to the two
(2) required street-yard trees.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
Cover Memo
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Clerk of Commission
Cover Memo
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Z-16-33
Department:Planning Commission
Department:Planning Commission
Caption: Z-16-33 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia
Planning Commission to approve with the conditions stated
below a petition by William C. Carn, on behalf of Circle K Stores,
Inc. requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-1
(Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-2 (General Business)
affecting property containing .81 acres and is known as 3479
Wrightsboro Road (aka 3477 Wrightsboro Road) Tax Map 041-
0-029-00-0 DISTRICT 3 1. There can be no parking of
vehicles in the public right-of-way. 2. The petitioner will work
with the Planning and Development Department to submit a
landscape improvement plan for approval. 3. If improvements
disturb more than 50% of the acreage, the site plan must comply
with all other ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of
plan submission and construction.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:Cover Memo
Clerk of Commission
Cover Memo
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Z-16-34
Department:Planning Commission
Department:Planning Commission
Caption: Z-16-34 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia
Planning Commission to approve with the conditions stated
below a petition by Steve Moody requesting a change of zoning
from Zone A (Agriculture) and Zone HI (Heavy Industry) to
Zone HI affecting property containing approximately 2.9 acres
and known as 2722 Mike Padgett Highway and part of 1778
Lumpkin Road. Tax Map 111-0-002-00-0 and part of 111-0-002-
07-0DISTRICT 1 The use of the site is limited to the existing
businesses on 2722 Mike Padgett Highway and 1778 Lumpkin
Road and all uses permitted in the LI zone, subject to no outdoor
production or manufacturing, due to the close proximity to
floodplain and wetlands.The approved plat combining 2722 Mike
Padgett Highway and the two-acre portion of 1778 Lumpkin Road
must be recorded with the Clerk of Superior Court prior to site
plan submittal. 3. The project site plan must comply with all
development related ordinances and regulations in effect at the
time of site plan review. 4. Any modification to the existing
curb cuts and any traffic-related improvements must be approved
by the Traffic Engineering Department and Georgia Department
of Transportation (GDOT). 5. Water and sewer must be
extended to the proposed building from the existing water and
sewer lines within Mike Padgett Highway at the petitioner’s
expense.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Cover Memo
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Clerk of Commission
Cover Memo
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Recreation and Parks Master Plan Final Adoption
Department:Recreation and Parks
Department:Recreation and Parks
Caption:Motion to approve the adoption of the Recreation and Parks
Master Plan. (Approved by Public Services Committee
September 13, 2016)
Background:In early 2015, the City of Augusta engaged Cranston Engineering
to develop a Masterplan for the Recreation, Parks and Facilities
Department. Over the past eighteen months, Cranston
Engineering, working with Pros Consulting, Wood and Partners
Inc., ADP Urban Planning Management, and ETC Institute has
crafted the final document. On May 4, 2016 Cranston
Engineering along with Recreation and Parks staff presented an
overall summary of the Masterplan’s findings. Since that time,
the public has been encouraged to provide comments regarding
the Master Plan via a website dedicated to the Master Plan,
www.planugustaparks.com/technical-reports.html. Following the
comment period, the Masterplan was finalized and an Executive
Summary of the Masterplan was developed by Cranston
Engineering and is attached as part of this submittal.
Analysis:The Masterplan will be used as a guiding document for park
renovations, future new construction and development for the
Recreation and Parks Department. The plan also provides
recommended operational guidelines for the agency in several
areas including programming, staffing and marketing.
Financial Impact:If all recommendations for construction and improvements to
parks within the Masterplan were adopted and eventually
constructed the cost of development is estimated at seventy-five
million dollars
Alternatives:Adoption of the Master Plan.
Cover Memo
Recommendation:The Recreation and Parks Department recommends the adoption
of the Master Plan.
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
No future cost should be associated with the cost of developing
the Masterplan itself. There would be a recommended update to
the plan in five years to evaluate progress and provide
modification to the goals and objectives of the plan.
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Cover Memo
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 1
CHAPTER ONE - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Augusta Recreation and Parks Department (“Department”) operates public park and recreation
facilities and programs, and maintains city-owned facilities throughout Augusta. Recently recognized
as the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association District I Agency of the Year, it has a range of
inter-related elements: park land, recreation and community facilities, recreation programs, and
administrative/planning/development services.
The Department maintains over 60 park sites and 1,500 acres of parkland that feature a wide variety
of quality facilities with family oriented leisure activities for all ages and population groups.
In early 2015, the City of Augusta engaged Cranston Engineering Group, P.C. to develop a master
plan for the Recreation and Parks Department. Over an eighteen month period, Cranston
Engineering Group, P.C., working with the multidisciplinary team of PROS Consulting, Wood +
Partners, APD Urban Planning & Management, and ETC Leisure Vision, developed this master
plan which will be used as a guiding document for park renovations, future new construction, and
development for the Recreation and Parks Department. The plan also provides recommended
operational guidelines for the agency in several areas, including programming, staffing, and
marketing.
The following core themes for the master plan were developed during the Visioning Session
conducted with the Department and served as a guide for the planning team throughout the process.
Core Themes:
• Community health / wellness
• Protecting the investment we have made in our park system (preserve, protect and enhance
our facilities and properties)
• Financial sustainability
• Building community and relationships (creating community through people, parks and programs)
• Youth engagement and senior mentoring
• Organizational readiness
1.2 OUTCOMES
The 10-year master plan is committed to regularly review resources and direction and to make sure
that the local parks system continues to be a viable and effective community resource for all
Augustans. This plan is expected to be the foundation for future funding requests and re-alignment
of resources as needed.
Over the course of the planning effort, Augusta residents have had an opportunity to participate in
the development of a community-based recreation and parks master plan that will provide guidance
and policy direction for the Department. There is a strong need for a master plan to determine the
future of our leisure services and park system, and to ensure that these community assets are used
wisely and efficiently.
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 2
PlanAugustaParks.com Website
1.3 RECOMMENDED VISION
The planning team and Department staff recognizes that the City is working on its Vision Statement and the
Department’s vision statement will be tied into that.
“To make Augusta a nationally recognized leader in Parks and Recreation experiences”
1.4 RECOMMENDED MISSION
“To offer exceptional customer service through a culture of continuous improvement, innovation,
and sustainability”
1.5 GOALS & STRATEGIES
The following are the goals and strategies determined at the outset that shaped the planning process
undertaken for this 10 year Master Plan:
• Engage the local community leadership and stakeholder groups in meaningful public input opportunities in order to identify the vision and needs of the Master Plan.
• Research and analyze current parks and lands conditions in Augusta, Georgia, including a review of complementary sites and services in both the public and private sectors.
• Identify reliable opportunities to enhance and leverage the financial resources of Augusta in providing park and recreation facilities and services.
• Identify the opportunities to position the City as a leader in both financial and environmental sustainability in the provision of public services and facilities.
• Coordinate the development of recommendations from multiple areas of research and analysis, community input and priorities, industry best practices, level of service standards, and sustainability principles.
• Preserve and enhance the value of being a resident, business owner, and/or visitor to Augusta, Georgia.
1.6 PUBLIC OUTREACH / FORUMS / WORKSHOPS
The planning process has included extensive public input and participation in formulating this
comprehensive master plan. The consulting team conducted multiple meetings, eight (8) subject
matter focus groups, three (3) forums with the public at large, and multiple interviews with key
leaders and stakeholders. This interaction played an important part in establishing priorities for the
future improvement and direction of the Department.
In addition, the planning process included a specially designed crowd-sourcing website to maximize
advocacy and community engagement and
to provide a means for conveying
consistent project updates to the citizenry
(www.planaugustaparks.com). The site
included the consulting team, key
Department staff, the planning process,
schedule, meeting dates and times, and
opportunities for feedback gathering,
including social media integration. The
detailed input from the community input
process is provided in Chapter 2.
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 3
STATISTICALLY VALID NEEDS ANALYSIS SURVEY 1.6.1
1.6.1.1 OVERVIEW AND METHODOLOGY
ETC Institute conducted a Community Needs Analysis Survey for the City of Augusta during the
summer of 2015 to help establish priorities for the future improvement of parks, recreation facilities,
and programs within the community. The survey was mailed to a random sample of 4,000
households.
A total of 606 households completed the survey. The results for the sample of 606 households have
a 95% level of confidence with a precision rate of at least +/- 4%. This implies that if the survey
process were repeated, there is a high degree of confidence (95%) that the results obtained will be in
a margin of error of +/- 4% of the results obtained currently. That ensures the statistical validity of
the process and distinguishes it from other subjective community input media.
1.6.1.2 MAJOR FINDINGS
Given below is the summary of key findings from the survey results which are detailed in charts
provided later in Section 2.3.
PARKS AND FACILITIES
Facility Types Households Have Used
55% Augusta River Walk
51% Walking, hiking & biking trails
36% Large regional parks
35% Indoor community centers
29% Indoor fitness centers
Quality of Parks and Recreation Facilities
55% “Good”
33% “Fair”
10% “Excellent”
3% “Poor”
Usage of Major Facilities
74% Augusta River Walk / Augusta
Common
64% Lake Olmstead Park / Julian Smith Casino
47% Diamond Lakes Regional Park
Most Important Major Facilities
48% Augusta River Walk / Augusta
Common
34% Lake Olmstead Park / Julian Smith Casino
34% Diamond Lakes Regional Park
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 4
Facilities Households Have a Need For
72% Walking, hiking and biking trails
63% Small neighborhood parks
63% Picnic areas and shelters
60% Large community parks
PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
Program Participation
36% Have participated in a program by Department over past 12 months
64% Have not participated in a program
by Department over past 12 months
Quality of City Programs Participated In, for Those That Have Participated
58% “Good” overall quality rating
22% “Excellent” overall quality rating
19% “Fair” overall quality rating
1% “Poor” overall quality rating
Organizational Usage for Programs and Activities over Past 12 Months
43% Churches
40% Augusta Recreation and Parks Department
32% YMCA
28% Georgia State Parks
Programs Households Have a Need For
55% Adult fitness and wellness programs
41% Senior adult programs
39% Water fitness programs
38% Special events
35% Nature events
Most Participated in Programs
16% Adult fitness and wellness programs
14% Special events
12% Senior adult programs
9% Youth sports programs
Most Important Facilities
43% Walking, hiking and biking trails
26% Small neighborhood parks
20% Large community parks
18% Boating and fishing areas
Ways Households Learn about Program and Activities
60% Friends and neighbors
49% Newspaper articles
38% Radio
Most Important Programs
31% Adult fitness and wellness programs
24% Senior adult programs
15% Water fitness programs
15% Special events
Overall Satisfaction with Value Received from Augusta Recreation and Parks Dept.
34% Somewhat satisfied
34% Neutral
12% Very satisfied
12% Somewhat dissatisfied
9% Very dissatisfied
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 5
DEPARTMENT FUNDING AND DIRECTION
Program Funding (Majority by Taxes)*
71% Special populations
56% Low income residents
41% Youth sports programs
* Respondent households indicating that these programs should be funded by either 100% taxes/ 0% fees or 75% taxes / 25% fees
Program Funding (Majority by Fees)*
51% Adult sports programs
50% Adult classes
42% Special events and festivals
* Respondent households indicating that these programs should be funded by either 100% fees/ 0% taxes or 75% fees / 25% taxes
Community Agreement about Augusta Recreation and Parks Department*
88% Makes Augusta a more desirable place to live
86% Improves physical health and fitness
83% Improves mental health and reduces stress
76% Helps attract new residents and
businesses
* Represents the number of respondent households that indicated “strongly agree” or “agree” to these statements.
Deterrents from Using Recreation and Parks Facilities and Programs More Often
35% Not knowing what is being offered
33% Security is insufficient
32% Facilities are not well maintained
27% Too busy
Allocation of Funds for Department
(out of a hypothetical $100)
$24 Maintain and improve existing parks
$17 Maintain and develop walking and biking trails
$16 Expand Augusta River Walk
$11 Maintain and develop indoor
community centers and facilities
$9 Develop new or expand existing
parks to regional parks
Most Important Benefit of the Department
to the Community
45% Makes Augusta a more desirable
place to live
43% Helps reduce crime
37% Improves physical health and fitness
23% Helps attract new residents and
businesses
Additional Tax Revenue Willingness to Pay
30% Would pay nothing in additional tax
revenue to improve and build
facilities
29% Would pay $3 - $4 per month …
22% Would pay $5- $6 per month …
12% Would pay $9+ per month …
8% Would pay $7-8 per month …
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 6
1.7 COMMUNITY PROFILE
DEMOGRAPHIC AND TRENDS ANALYSIS 1.7.1
The Demographic Analysis provides an understanding of the population within the City of Augusta,
Georgia. This analysis is reflective of the total population, and its key characteristics such as age
segments, income levels, race, and ethnicity.
It is important to note that future projections are all based on historical patterns and unforeseen
circumstances during or after the time of the projections could have a significant bearing on the
validity of the final projections.
DEMOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW 1.7.2
The total population of the target area had a minimal increase from 195,844 in 2010 to 198,287 in
2014. The current estimated population is projected to reach 200,945 in 2019, and total 206,650 by
2029.
According to the U.S. Census reports, the total number of households in the service area has
increased from 75,208 in 2010 to 76,257 in 2014. The total number of households is expected to
grow to 78,221 by 2019 and reach 81,614 by 2029.
The city’s median household
income ($36,315) and per
capita income ($19,899) are
both well below state and
national averages.
Based on the 2010 Census, the
population of the Augusta is
younger (33.2 years) than the
median age of the U.S. (37.2
years). Projections show that
the target area will undergo a
slight aging trend, with the
55+ group growing to
represent over 31% of the total population by 2029.
The population is skewed towards a majority Black Alone (54.73 %) and White Alone (39.10%),
with no other race segment accounting for more than 4%. Future projections through 2029 expect
the Black Alone to increase to 57.27%, while the White Alone slowly decreases to 34.26%.
Detailed information on Demographics and Trends is provided in Chapter 3.
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 7
1.8 RECREATION AND PARKS ANALYSIS / ASSESSMENT
PARKS & FACILITIES INVENTORY & ASSESSMENT 1.8.1
Site Inventory and Assessment
In late spring of 2015, the site assessment team conducted a facility inventory and assessment,
visiting all Augusta parks and facilities over a two day time period. The assessment included parks
and recreation facilities under the purview of the Recreation Department and included in a park
inventory list provided by the City of Augusta. Detailed building evaluations including interiors were
not within the scope of the assessment. During these visits conducted with Staff, sites were
inventoried, photographed, and categorized as good, fair or poor and as high use, moderate use or low use.
Collectively, the team visited twelve (12) mini parks, eighteen (18) neighborhood parks, nine (9)
community parks, three (3) regional parks, fifteen (15) special purpose facilities and three (3) natural
resource/ linear park/greenways comprising 1,076.95 acres owned or operated by the Department.
Of those facilities, twenty-six (26) were rated as good; twenty-five (25) were rated as fair and nine (9)
were rated as poor. Overall, parks and facilities appeared to be maintained and in acceptable
condition for public use. However, many parks and facilities appear to suffer from deferred
maintenance. In addition, many parks/facilities warrant improved aesthetic treatment including the
introduction of shade, improved signage, supplemental landscaping and new/improved irrigation.
Real Estate Utilization Assessment
The scope of the master plan has included a real estate utilization assessment, intended to identify
possible park facility expansion sites and opportunities for accommodating additional service or
functions, along with potential consolidations and repurposing. Expansion sites were considered
based on proximity to service needs, size, capacity to accommodate the needed facilities, adjacency
to existing parks, and availability for potential acquisition at strategic locations.
For complete details and findings of both the Site Inventory and Assessment, and the Real Estate
Utilization Assessment, see Section 4.1.
RECREATION PROGRAM ASSESSMENT 1.8.2
As part of the planning process, the consulting team performed an assessment of the programs and
services offered by the Department. The assessment offers an in-depth perspective of program and
service offerings and helps identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities regarding programming
for residents in parks and recreation facilities. The program assessment also assists in identifying
what are considered core programs, program gaps within the community, key system-wide program
issues, and areas for improvement and in determining future programs and services for residents.
The Consulting Team based these program findings and comments from a review of information
provided by the City including program descriptions, participation statistics, financial data, website
content, focus groups, stakeholder interviews, and discussions with staff. The assessment identified
key issues and presents recommendations for these issues, summarized in Chapter 4.
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 8
EXISTING CORE PROGRAM AREAS 1.8.3
The core program areas for the Department are listed in the Sections below.
1.8.3.1 AFTER SCHOOL
After School Program (Loud Crowd) is for school children 4-12 years of age. Loud Crowd provides a
safe and supervised setting for kids after school, with an emphasis on enhancing health and wellness.
• Goal - To help enhance a child's social and educational skills, while improving overall health
and wellness.
1.8.3.2 SUMMER DAY CAMP
Summer Day Camps are provided for children ages 4-12 during the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
with morning and afternoon programs to supplement and provide assistance to parents. Day Camp
can help fill the gap between the summer school break by helping children learn new skills, make
friends, exercise, and have an adventure.
• Goal - To help enhance a child's social and physical skills while providing them with a fun
and safe atmosphere to grow.
1.8.3.3 YOUTH ATHLETICS
Youth Athletics provides recreational leagues for youth to participate in a recreational setting to
enhance exercising skills, basic understanding of fundamentals and competitiveness, as well as
enhancing social skills. Youth athletic programs benefit kids by giving them the ability to gain
exercise and develop skills in a safe environment, while also learning about competition.
• Goal - To provide the best possible athletic leagues and settings for the citizens we serve, in
terms of participation levels, customer satisfaction, and attainment of targeted goals; while
continuing to reach as many youths as possible in the community for the benefits of
exercise, skill development, competition, and enhancement of social skills.
1.8.3.4 ADULT ATHLETICS
Adult Athletics provides recreational leagues for adults to participate in a recreational setting to
enhance exercising skills and competitiveness, as well as enhancing social skills. Adult athletic
programs benefit adults by giving them the ability to gain exercise in a safe environment while also
engaging in competition.
• Goal - To provide the best possible athletic leagues and settings for the citizens we serve, in
terms of participation levels, customer satisfaction, and attainment of targeted goals; while
continuing to reach as many adults as possible in the community for the benefits of exercise,
competition, and enhancing social skills.
1.8.3.5 SENIOR SERVICES
Senior Services (senior centers and nutrition sites) were established to provide nutritional services to
senior adults (typically 55+ years of age) in our service area of Augusta/Richmond County. The
mission of the program is to provide hot nutritionally balanced meals to eligible senior participants
on a daily basis; five days a week (as long as they meet the state qualifications for the program).
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 9
• Goal - To maintain and/or exceed the state mandated number of attendees (21 individuals)
for each program site. All of this, while also offering programming that attracts senior adults
to our senior centers and provides them with programs and activities that offer health,
recreation, nutrition, and wellness benefits.
1.8.3.6 AQUATICS
Aquatics has a wide range of programs, all of which exists to service an array of different purposes
such as learning how to swim, getting in shape, or swimming at a competitive level.
• Goal – To make the Aquatic Center home to a wide range of aquatic programs as well as
local, state, regional, and national competitions.
1.8.3.7 SPECIAL EVENTS
Special Events provide a clean, safe, and friendly environment for all ages; while bringing the
community together to enjoy the many benefits of parks and recreation.
• Goal – To improve the quality of life, provide a place to go for fun/entertainment, and get
citizens engaged in their community.
1.8.3.8 NEWMAN TENNIS
Newman Tennis offers all ages of the public a clean and safe place to play tennis on a recreational,
league, and tournament level.
• Goal – To help grow tennis players from beginners to intermediate players by offering
instructional programs, leagues, and other social tennis opportunities.
1.8.3.9 RENTAL FACILITIES
Rental Facilities help provide safe and economically affordable venues for citizens to hold events.
• Goal – To provide a source of revenue for the general fund, while providing facilities and
recreational settings that contribute to overall community pride and sense of place.
1.8.3.10 INSTRUCTIONAL
Instructional Programs provide physical activities that promote health and well-being in a safe
environment.
• Goal – To provide the best possible instructional programs for the community that we serve
for the benefits of exercise and social skills.
PARK CLASSIFICATIONS & LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARDS 1.8.4
Upon completion of park/facility inventory and analysis site visits, a customized series of park
categories were developed that are unique to Augusta. These categories were developed based on
observations of existing parks and the types of uses that could be commonly found within them.
1.8.4.1 PARK CATEGORY GUIDELINES
This park category system includes six park types, which are Mini Park, Neighborhood Park,
Community Park, Regional Park, Linear Park/Greenway and Special Purpose Facility or Park.
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 10
Additional information by park types including their optimum size, potential locations and type
of facilities most commonly found within them can be found in Section 4.3. This park category
system should be considered a guideline for future park development.
LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARDS 1.8.5
Level of Service Standards are guidelines that define geographic service areas based on population
that support investment decisions related to parks, facilities and amenities. Level of Service
Standards can and will change over time as the program lifecycles change and demographics of a
community change.
Park facility standards were analyzed using a combination of resources. These resources included:
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) guidelines, recreation activity participation rates
reported by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) 2014 Study of Sports, Fitness,
community and stakeholder input, findings from the prioritized needs assessment report and general
observations. This information allowed standards to be customized to the Augusta Recreation and
Parks system.
Based on the levels of service and recommended guidelines herein, the following are the facility /
amenity types that are underserved:
● Neighborhood Parks ● Community Parks
● Off leash Dog Parks ● Skate Parks
● Trails (Miles Paved)
See Section 4.3 for the level of sevice matrix with future needs for the system.
GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS THROUGH MAPPING 1.8.6
Service area maps (equity maps) and standards assist staff and key leadership in assessing where
services are offered, how equitable the service distribution and delivery is throughout the City and
how effective the service is as it compares to the demographic densities.
In addition, looking at guidelines with reference to population enables the Department to assess
gaps in services, where there are gaps or overlaps with respect to a specific facility or amenity. This
allows the Department to make appropriate capital improvement/development decisions based
upon need for a system as a whole and the consequences that may have on a specific geographic
area. Service area maps were developed for each of the following major assets:
● Ball Fields ● Basketball Courts
● Community Parks ● Off Leash Dog Parks
● Mini Parks ● Multipurpose Fields
● Neighborhood Parks ● Outdoor Pools
● Playgrounds ● Recreation / Aquatic Centers
● Regional Parks ● Shelters
● Tennis Courts ● Trails
To view all the Equity Maps developed, see Section 4.4.
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Chapter One - Executive Summary - 11
PRIORITIZATION OF DEMANDS & NEEDS 1.8.7
The purpose of the Facility and Program Priority Rankings is to provide a prioritized list of facility/
amenity needs and recreation program needs for the community served by the City of Augusta
Recreation and Parks Department.
This rankings model evaluated both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data includes the
statistically valid Community Survey, which asked residents to list unmet needs and rank their
importance. Qualitative data includes resident feedback obtained in community input and
demographics and trends.
As seen below, Walking, hiking and biking trails, Small Neighborhood parks, Indoor
running/walking track, Indoor swimming pools/leisure pool and Outdoor swimming pools/water parks are the top five highest facility/amenity priorities; while Adult fitness and wellness programs,
Senior adult programs, Water fitness programs, Fishing programs and Special events are the top five highest program priorities. For the complete lists, see Section 4.5.
1.9 OPERATIONAL & FINANCIAL PLAN
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE ASSESSMENT 1.9.1
This assessment was based on the Baldrige Criteria for
Performance Excellence using the Sterling Model titled
“Are We Making Progress?”. Organizations have utilized
this tool for over 25 years to help accomplish their mission,
improve results, and enhance competitiveness. The method
employs a questionnaire which is conveniently organized
into seven Criteria Categories to evaluate employee
sentiment Department-wide.
The seven Criteria Categories reviewed include:
● Leadership ● Strategic Planning
● Customer and Market Focus ● Measurement, Analysis & Knowledge Management
● Workforce Focus ● Process Management
● Cultural Results
Evaluating the organizational culture allows for better understanding of how well an organization
functions. By understanding the culture of the organization, it is easier to build, maintain, and/or
implement change within the organization. A strong knowledge of employees’ needs and concerns
will aid in the professional development of individual staff and improve the overall resiliency and
agility of the organization. The results for each category above are provided in Section 5.1.
Overall
Ranking
Walking, hiking & biking trails 1
Small neighborhood parks 2
Indoor running/walking track 3
Indoor swimming pools/leisure pool 4
Outdoor swimming pools/water parks 5
Facility/Amenity Priorities Overall
Ranking
Adult fitness & wellness programs 1
Senior adult programs 2
Water fitness programs 3
Fishing programs 4
Special events 5
Program Priorities
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 12
FUNDING AND REVENUE STRATEGIES 1.9.2
Park and Recreation systems across the United States today have learned to develop a clear
understanding of how to manage revenue options to support parks and recreation services in a
municipality based system on the limited availability of tax dollars. Park and Recreation systems no
longer rely on taxes as their sole revenue option but have developed new sources of revenue options
to help support capital and operational needs.
A growing number of municipalities have developed policies on pricing of services, cost recovery
rates and partnership agreements for programs and facilities provided to the community. They also
have developed strong partnerships that are fair and equitable in the delivery of services based on
whom receives the service, for what purpose, for what benefit and for what costs. In addition,
agencies have learned to use parks and recreation facilities, amenities, programs and events to create
economic development as it applies to keeping property values high around parks and along trails
through increased maintenance, adding sports facilities and events to drive tournaments into the
region that create hotel room nights and increase expenditures in restaurants and retail areas. They
have learned to recognize that people will drive into their community for good recreation facilities
such as sports complexes, pools, and for special events, if presented correctly and well managed.
For a detailed listing of Financial Principles and Funding and Revenue Strategies, please see Chapter 5.
1.10 SYSTEM-WIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on team site visits, a set of common, system-wide observations/recommendations have been
included. These recommendations can be applied to each park/facility, in varying degrees and are
based on team assessment at the time of the site visit. Recommendations include budgeting for
regular maintenance and park improvements, an accessibility audit, improved place-making,
enhanced landscaping and irrigation, comprehensive sign upgrades and improved park linkages.
Most of the recommendations provided herein involve improvements to already existing facilities.
This is a particularly important opportunity for Augusta not only to better the existing quality of life
features for the current citizens, but also to enhance the City’s recruiting of prospective businesses
and citizens related to the Fort Gordon Cyber Command expansion currently underway.
MAINTENANCE & PARK IMPROVEMENTS 1.10.1
Park appearance and ongoing maintenance play an important role in the public’s perception of a
park system. These items were highlighted as areas of concern by citizens in public forums, in the
community survey and in key leadership and focus group interviews. This assessment was also
reinforced by the evaluation team’s observations during site visits and staff input throughout.
Supporting these observations, when given the opportunity to allocate $100 to various spending
categories in the public opinion survey, $24 (the largest amount indicated) was allocated to maintain
and improve existing parks.
ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT 1.10.2
Perform a comprehensive accessibility audit for all outdoor and indoor parks and facilities. The audit
should focus on all aspects of the built environment, providing recommendations and estimated
costs for improving access for those with disabilities.
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 13
IMPROVED PLACE-MAKING 1.10.3
Address aesthetics with emphasis on the creation of a safe and memorable park experience. This
should include organization of outdoor spaces through improved walks and gathering spaces;
introduction of additional shade; improved lighting and reinforcement of design elements that are
unique to individual parks or neighborhoods. Overall, there should be a uniform quality of site work
and site structures (i.e. shelters, restrooms, etc.) that is commensurate with the expected quality of all
Augusta public spaces and buildings.
ENHANCED LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION 1.10.4
Augusta parks should reflect a similar quality of design as found throughout the City. Known as “the Garden City of the South”, Augusta’s nickname was chosen because of the city’s many large private gardens. Accordingly, attention should be paid to strengthening the aesthetics of parks and facilities through enhanced landscaping and irrigation.
COMPREHENSIVE SIGN UPGRADES 1.10.5
Improve Augusta’s park, facility and program recognition through consistent signage and branding.
Utilize consistent materials and sign design themes including the Department’s logo at all parks,
buildings and facilities. Continue this theming in park rules signs, wayfinding and other signage.
IMPROVE PARK LINKAGES 1.10.6
Cooperate with other local and regional organizations to improve trail network linkages to heavily
used parks and facilities. Utilize existing (and planned) greenways/trails, roadways with separate
trails and trails which share the roadway (bike lanes or “shareways”), filling voids to provide
continuous paths of travel. Initial efforts should focus on the priority areas highlighted in the Priority
Trails Master Plan. See Appendix D for detailed maps and additional information.
SITE SPECIFIC MASTER PLANS 1.10.7
The master plans of some of the individual parks should be reviewed in further detail, in the light of
the overall recommendations of this plan. New and/or updated site-specific master plans should be
developed for targeted sites, where applicable.
Together, the Augusta River Walk/Augusta Common complex comprise the most important
facilities for Augusta households, both those who would be willing to pay additional taxes to
improve the system and those who would not. Lake Olmstead Park/Julian Smith Casino and
Diamond Lakes Regional Park follows closely behind and round out the top three facilities in the
City. Each of these complexes would benefit from an updating of their site specific master plans, as
would several other targeted parks in the system.
It is recommended that updated master plans be accomplished for several parks, beginning with
Augusta Common and Augusta River Walk. For additional details and a complete listing of the
recommended site specific master plans, see Section 6.1.
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 14
NEW OR ADDITIONAL PARKS 1.10.8
While the master plan has concentrated primarily on upgrading and taking care of the existing park
properties, there are salient opportunities to add facilities to the Recreation and Parks system as
listed below. For additional details on these opportunities, see Section 6.3.
● New Flowing Wells / Rae’s Creek Park
● Springfield Village Park
● Neighborhood Parks
1.11 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
This capital improvement plan reflects community needs identified in the staff, stakeholder, and
elected commission meetings, the public input process, household survey, demographics, prioritized
facility and program needs analysis, and physical analysis. The capital improvements plan focuses on
two specific types of capital costs: renovation or improvements to existing parks and facilities; and
new parks and recreation facilities needed to satisfy recommended Levels of Service. A summary of
the total capital costs is shown below in Table 1.1.
Total Capital Costs
Existing Parks/Facilities Improvements $58.7M
Level of Service Improvements $16.3M
Total $75.0M
In addition to providing information associated with the budgetary capital costs, this plan also
provides priorities based on the statistically valid community survey results and from consultant
evaluation using demographics and trend data, community focus groups, and public meetings. This
information is presented along with recommendations for current and future capital funds
allocations.
For detailed breakdown of the Capital Improvement Plan, please see Chapter 7.
CAPITAL FUNDING PRIORITIZATIONS 1.11.1
• SPLOST VII: An initial prioritization / interim capital funding strategy was developed in
conjunction with the Department in July of 2015. This strategy was used for establishing the
basis for the Recreation and Parks Department portion of the Quality of Life category of the
SPLOST VII sales tax program. SPLOST VII will provide capital funding for the
Department over the period of 2016-2020. The approved list by category is shown in
Section 7.3.
Other Sources: The prioritization of other sources of future capital should be similar to that used
for SPLOST VII. These priorities have been categorized and summarized in Table 1.3.
Table 1.1
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 15
Category % of Total
Improvements to Existing Parks & Facilities
- Maintain/Improve What You Have
- Site Specific Master Plans
- ADA Assessments and Improvements
62.5%
Hiking/Biking Trails
- Connectivity Improvements
- Greenway Additions
25%
System Expansions
- River Walk/Augusta Common Expansion
- Outdoor Amenity Additions
- New Neighborhood and Community Parks
12.5%
100%
1.12 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
The implementation plan is meant to be a guideline for the key areas of operations:
1. Land and Facilities
2. Recreation Programs
3. Marketing and Communications
4. Financial and Operations
Key strategies for each of those areas are summarized below while specific tactics to help achieve
those strategies over time can be found in Chapter 8. These have all been developed in conjunction
with the Department staff and must be undertaken on an on-going, short-term and mid to long-
term basis to ensure accountabilty and adherence to the plan’s goals and outcomes.
LAND AND FACILITIES 1.12.1
• Develop financial strategy for capital improvement plan
• Upgrade what you have – Focus on efficiently maintaining and upgrading existing parks, facilities and amenities
• Enhance connectivity and ADA accessibility in the system
• Create a visually appealing parks system that encourages use and limits the perception of poor quality or unsafe spaces in Augusta
• Update park offerings to eliminate overlaps and increase levels of service in underserved
areas
• Expand facilities based on new trends and multi-purpose uses
RECREATION PROGRAMS 1.12.2
• Update program offerings to reflect community need and new trends
• Continue to increase variety and diversity of program offerings
• Enhance the quality of the recreation program experience
Table 1.3 – Prioritization of Other Sources of Future Capital
City of Augusta, Georgia - Recreation and Parks Master Plan
Chapter One - Executive Summary - 16
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS 1.12.3
• Develop a Department-wide Marketing and Branding Plan
• Increase outreach and promotions to users and non-users
• Build a stand-alone user friendly website and app
• Utilize new age technology to market revenue generating offerings (facilities, rentals and programs)
• Increase resource allocation and seek staff / community support for increased marketing
FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONS 1.12.4
• Attain national accreditation / GRPA recognition
• Create a culture focused on staff development
• Create a functional organizational structure to ensure successful implementation
• Develop new and dedicated funding and revenue strategies
• Develop a financial sustainability plan
• Develop a dedicated volunteer program
PLAN UPDATES 1.12.5
• Update plan in five years (2021)
1.13 CONCLUSION
The Augusta Recreation and Parks Master Plan is a community-values based document that serves
as a roadmap for the Department’s future. It is reflective of the demographics of Augusta-Richmond
County, local and national trends, and the vision and unmet needs of the community.
This plan is meant to be a dynamic document that can and will change over time based on
community values, market conditions and financial realities. In addition, as the Department strives
to become a nationally accredited agency through the Council for Accreditation of Park and
Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), this document will help fulfill a number of nationally required
guidelines.
By focusing on providing exceptional customer service and building a culture of innovation and
continuous improvement, the Department will fulfill its vision of being a nationally recognized
leader in parks and recreation experiences and serve the Augusta community in a financially
sustainable way.
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Commission Policy for Drafting of Ordinances and Code Amendments
Department:Clerk of Commission
Department:Clerk of Commission
Caption:Motion to approve the elimination of the Mayor's signature block
from the document "Policy for the Drafting of Ordinances and
Code Amendments" and leave the Clerk's attestment in place.
(Approved by Administrative Services Committee September
13, 2016)
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Cover Memo
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Custody of Official Records
Department:Clerk of Commission
Department:Clerk of Commission
Caption:Motion to approve using the process that all official documents
approved by the Commission that was used by former City
Attorneys Wall & Shepard regarding documents being returned to
the Clerk of Commission's Office for the city's official and
permanent file. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee September 13, 2016)
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Cover Memo
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Minutes
Department:
Department:
Caption:Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the
Commission held September 6, 2016 and Special Called
Meeting September 13, 2016.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Cover Memo
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Compensation Boards Authorities
Department:
Department:
Caption:Motion to approve referring to the full Commission with no
recommendation the matter of the reinstatement of compensation
to the ex-officio Commission member who serves on the Planning
Commission and receive information regarding which boards
have provided such compensation in the past. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee September 13, 2016)
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Cover Memo
Commission Meeting Agenda
9/20/2016 2:00 PM
Affidavit
Department:
Department:
Caption:Motion to approve execution by the Mayor of the affidavit of
compliance with Georgia's Open Meeting Act.
Background:
Analysis:
Financial Impact:
Alternatives:
Recommendation:
Funds are Available
in the Following
Accounts:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Cover Memo