Board of Supervisors Robert “Bob” Thomas, Jr., Chairman Laura A. Sellers, Vice Chairman Meg Bohmke Jack R. Cavalier Wendy E. Maurer Paul V. Milde, III Gary F. Snellings C. Douglas Barnes Interim County Administrator Infrastructure Committee AGENDA November 1, 2016 @ 1:30 p.m. ABC Conference Room, Second Floor Committee Members: Paul Milde, III, Chairman; Laura Sellers; Jack Cavalier Agenda Item Introduction Welcome 1. Exit 140 & Courthouse Road Widening Project Update (VDOT) 2. Chatham Bridge Reconstruction (VDOT) 3. Embrey Mill Park Rectangular Fields 4. Potomac Heritage Trail Memorandum of Understanding 5. Stormwater Damage Repair 6. Widewater CDA Refunds Groundwater a. Consider requesting legislature to allow Stafford to require well completion prior to 7. receiving a building permit b. Consider authorizing staff to issue a Request for Proposals for the preparation of a groundwater management plan for the Piedmont Aquifer 8. Next Meeting – TBD Adjourn 1300 Courthouse Road, P. O. Box 339, Stafford, VA 22555‐0339 Phone: (540) 658.8600 Fax: (540) 658.7643 www.staffordcountyva.gov EMBREY MILL RECTANGULAR FIELDS Background The citizens of Stafford County approved the Parks Bond referendum in 2009 which included a rectangular field complex to provide a location where multiple games can be played simultaneously, much like the Chichester Park facility provides for baseball and softball The Board selected the location at Embry Mill for what would be an eleven field complex, comprised of six full sized rectangular fields, with the remainder consisting of smaller fields suitable for youth play The Board later decided to upgrade the first four full-sized fields to artificial turf to improve the quality of the fields, increase the intensity of field usage, and enhance our ability to attract regional tournaments in various sports The Board subsequently authorized construction of two more full-sized fields and then approved upgrading these fields to artificial turf to allow Stafford to compete for much larger tournaments Staff recognizes the Board’s desire to attract these events to Stafford and is providing this information on our efforts to date Embrey Mill Park – First Phase The four full-sized artificial turf fields were opened for play in time for the St. Patrick’s Day soccer tournament last March The two natural grass U-8 fields were opened for play this fall after the Bermuda grass had sufficient time to develop The St. Patrick’s Day tournament attracted 170 teams, and the University of Mary Washington, College of Business, estimated the event generated over $322,000 in pre-tax dollars to Stafford businesses, and an estimated $34,000 in revenue to the county in field fees and tax revenue. The facility has hosted five additional tournament events, involving the sports of field hockey, football, and soccer This past Columbus Day weekend, Elite Tournaments hosted a 169 team Washington Area Girls Soccer tournament Using the estimated values per team developed in the UMW study for the October tournament, we estimate an economic impact of $365,000 pre-tax dollars for our Stafford businesses, and an estimated $42,000 in direct impact to the county for field fees and tax revenue. The increased business impact of the October tournament over the March tournament is due to higher Embrey Mill field usage, and an increase in hotel bookings due to a greater percentage of out-of-area teams Embrey Mill Park is scheduled for an additional six medium to large tournaments in the next 12 months, hosting anywhere from 50 teams to 200 teams per tournament. Staff estimates these events will provide an economic impact ranging from $112,500 to $450,000 per tournament with an expected total impact of approximately $1.5 million. In addition to attracting tournament play, Embrey Mill Park has hosted 245 recreational soccer games, 87 travel soccer games, along with 66 practices a week. Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) programs at Embrey Mill Park include flag football, lacrosse, tackle football and cheerleading. These PRCF programs held over 180 games made up of 59 teams and 823 participants. The flag football league is a new recreational opportunity enabled by the additional field capacity and has 460 participants registered in its first offering. Staff also notes that these new fields have allowed our department to eliminate many make- up games, improving the sports experience for Stafford residents. PRCF has also expanded our partnership with County schools to host sports events which would otherwise have been rained out Embrey Mill Park – Phase 2 Work on the next two artificial turf fields continues with progress on four separate contracts The retaining wall and backfill operations are completed, with installation of the storm drainage scheduled for completion in November Field lighting installation is underway Construction of the parking and restroom building has started Preparation work for installation of the artificial turf fields is complete and installation will commence shortly Installation of the artificial turf, netting, field lighting, safety fence, and restroom is scheduled for completion by the end of December Parking lot, topsoil, and temporary seeding is scheduled for completion by the end of January 2017 Sodding of all common space areas completed by end of June 2017, allowing use of the fields next summer Staff is already promoting the two new synthetic turf fields to tournament organizers, which will enable Stafford to attract a larger range of events, and generate even more revenue for Stafford County Department of Economic Development Efforts The Department of Economic Development has partnered with PRCF and the state to identify potential tournament organizers, and educate them to the Embrey Mill Park opportunity Staff partnered with the Sports Virginia Division of the Virginia Tourism Corporation to market the state and the region in a variety of locations. Staff attended a conference heavily attended by sport promoters which provided the opportunity to meet with tournament holders to discuss our venues (Embrey Mill and Chichester Parks). As a result, staff received and reviewed over 60 contacts and requests for tournaments. The County is a member of National Association of Sports Commissions. This organization provides leads for organizations hoping to hold tournaments and events. They also hold a conference which we will attend to further expand our sports contacts The County will be in the 2017 Sports Planning Guide with a two page exposure We are being mentored by other localities more experienced in attracting large events The coordination with Economic Development is in the initial stages, but have already brought us two tournaments, with bookings for several more next year. We expect this success to grow further as we get out information on our facilities and expand Embrey Mill Our staff is also coordinating with Eastern Sports Management, operator of the Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center, to draw upon their tournament base for future tournaments in Stafford in multiple sports POTOMAC NATIONAL HERITAGE SCENIC TRAIL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Virginia agencies and certain Federal agencies adopted the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (attached), establishing the development of the Potomac National Heritage Scenic Trail (PNHST) as a common goal, and pledged cooperation towards its development. The proposed trail extends from the District of Columbia through Stafford to King George, Fredericksburg and beyond. Segments of the PNHST – specifically the Belmont to Ferry Farm Trail - within Stafford have been recognized as a Board priority and have been completed or under design. The National Park Service, the federal agency with oversight of the PNHST, working with regional planning agencies, has drafted the attached Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize support for the trail among localities participating in the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC). Maps of the PNHST in this region are included with the draft MOU These maps provide details of the network of trails within Stafford including the existing and proposed sections of the Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail, and alternative routes going to points of interest, including Patawomeck Park, Widewater State Park, Aquia Landing, and Government Island in Stafford. The MOU establishes a formal agreement for coordinating the development of planned PHNST segments, conserving trail-related resources, and promoting trail- related experiences. The MOU only asks “cooperators”, i.e. localities, to be responsible for the maintenance of the PNHST routes within their jurisdiction and does not bind the localities to fund new trail segments. The MOU recommends localities work toward adoption of their own Bike/Pedestrian Trail Plans to include in the PHNST and include within a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Staff supports this regional initiative to expand trail opportunities for the GWRC area by endorsement through signature of this MOU. Providing there is support for this MOU, staff would bring the matter to the full Board for consideration at the November 22nd meeting. Memorandum of Understanding among the Stafford County Board of Supervisors; the King George County Board of Supervisors; the City of Fredericksburg City Manager; the City of Fredericksburg Mayor; the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail the George Washington Regional Commission; the Northern Neck Tourism Commission; and, within the National Park Service, U.S.