FAIRFAX COUNTY ATHLETIC COUNCIL MINUTES M

County of Fairfax, Virginia
To protect and enrich the quality of life for the people, neighborhoods, and diverse communities of Fairfax County
FAIRFAX COUNTY ATHLETIC COUNCIL
MINUTES
November 19, 2014
2014 Council Members
Marcia M. Pape Daniels
Magisterial Representatives:
Secretary
Marcia
M. Pape Daniels
Secretary
Braddock
District
Braddock District
Gregory Beckwith
Dranesville District
GregoryLeff,
Beckwith
Harold
Vice Chairman
Hunter
Mill District
District
Dranesville
Michael L. Rodgers
Lee District
Barbara
R. Lowrey
Harold Leff,
Mason District
Vice Chairman
Jonathan
Willmott
Mount Vernon District
Hunter Mill District
Stephen McLaughlin,
Chairman
Providence District
Michael
Thompson,
Michael L.
Rodgers Jr.
Springfield
Lee District District
David L. Lacey
Sully District
BarbaraArias
R. Lowrey
Elmer
Member-At-Large
Mason District
Clement Chan
Diversity-At-Large
Town Representatives:
Jonathan Willmott
Jeffrey E. Stein
Town
Clifton
Mount of
Vernon
District
Barbara Glakas
Town of Herndon
Stephen
McLaughlin,
Sam
Althoff
Town of Vienna
Chairman
Sports-Specific
Representatives:
Providence District
Jerry Klemm
Baseball Council
Suzy
Willemssen
Michael
Thompson, Jr.
Fast Pitch Softball Council
Springfield
Carl
A. S. District
Coan, III
Adult Softball Council
Gordon Austin
Basketball
Council
David L. Lacey
Mark Meana,
Sully District
Football
Council
Mary Ann Wagner
Lacrosse Council
ElmerBauer
Arias
Lula
Soccer Council
Member-At-Large
Bill Bush
Volleyball Council
Jenni Cantwell
Women’s
Sports
Clement Chan
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Marcia Pape Daniels, Braddock District
Gregory Beckwith, Dranesville District
Harold Leff, Hunter Mill District
James Elder, Hunter Mill District Alternate
Karin Stamper, Lee District Alternate
Barbara Lowrey, Mason District
Jonathan Willmott, Mount Vernon District
Stephen McLaughlin, Providence District
David Lacey, Sully District
Eric Sohn, Diversity-at-Large Alternate
Barbara Glakas, Town of Herndon
Jerry Klemm, Baseball Council
Suzy Willemssen, Fast Pitch Softball Council
Mark Meana, Football Council
Carl Coan, Slow-Pitch Softball Council
Rebecca Frece, Slow-Pitch Softball Council Alternate
Trish Moxie, Soccer Council Alternate
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT:
Todd Johnson., Fairfax County Park Authority
Bill Curran, Fairfax County Public Schools
Sarah Allen, Neighborhood and Community Services
Karen Avvisato, Neighborhood and Community Services
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Lisa Mickey, Lee District
Michael Thompson Jr., Springfield District
Clement Chan, Diversity-At-Large
Elmer Arias, Member-at-Large
Jeffrey E. Stein, Town of Clifton
Sam Althoff, Town of Vienna
Gordon Austin, Basketball Council
Mary Ann Wagner, Lacrosse Council
Lula Bauer, Soccer Council
Bill Bush, Volleyball Council
Jenni Cantwell, Women’s Sports Programs
GUESTS:
Diversity-At-Large
Non-Voting
Members:
Michael Thompson
Park Authority
Todd Johnson
Town Representatives:
Park
Authority
Ilryong Moon
School Board
William Curran
Fairfax County Public Schools
Executive Agency:
Christopher A. Leonard
Director
Neighborhood and Community
Services
Fairfax County Athletic Council
12011 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
703 324-5501
Fairfax County Athletic Council Minutes
November 19, 2014
Page 2
MEETING OPENING
Mr. McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Roll was called
and a quorum was present.
PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL
N/A
CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL
N/A
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
The October 15, 2014 minutes were approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Mr. McLaughlin thanked Athletic Council members and Neighborhood
and Community Services staff for planning and participating in the successful
Champions of Character awards ceremony on November 10.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Policy Committee
Mr. Lacey reported that the County Attorney is still reviewing the Field
Allocation Policy revision.
SPORT SPECIFIC UPDATES
Soccer
Ms. Moxie stated that the Soccer Council Annual Meeting will be held on
February 9, 2015. She asked who will be the NCS representative to the
Soccer Council and Ms. Avvisato responded that it will be Ian Bossert. Ms.
Moxie expressed thanks to the field monitors for helping with lighting issues
and removing squatters, and extended a special shout out to Arthur Harris
with the Park Authority for his help in getting lights turned on at Park fields.
Slow-Pitch Softball
Ms. Frece informed the Council that their next benefit event will be a
bowling tournament.
Baseball
Mr. Klemm stated that they are in the process of trying to come up with a
unified approach from the diamond community for the Needs Assessment.
Softball
Ms. Willemssen concurred with Mr. Klemm’s statement.
Football
Mr. Meana cited national numbers regarding football participation: 2.6
million youth (aged 6 to 14) play tackle football, 2.3 million play flag football,
and 1.1 million play high school football. He also noted that more boys play
Fairfax County Athletic Council Minutes
November 19, 2014
Page 3
high school football than the next two leading high school sports, track and
basketball, combined.
MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM GOVERNING BODIES
Fairfax County Public Schools
Regarding concerns over adverse health effects related to turf fields and
requests for information, Mr. Curran responded that the Fairfax County Public
Schools’ reports on the subject contain industry protected proprietary
material. That information is being removed and he will have a report for the
Council’s December meeting.
Mr. Curran reported that FCPS recently conducted its first parent safety
clinic. It was intentionally focused on football and was attended by
approximately 30 individuals. The program was filmed, with portions to be
made available on the FCPS website. Dick Adams is the coordinator.
Although football was the initial focus, the program will move on to every
sport, with wrestling and basketball this winter and then open to all sports in
the spring. Mr. Meana stated that he would like to see youth sports clubs
married with high school programs. Mr. Curran responded that notices about
the clinic were sent to high school football coaches, who shared it with the
goal of having the information passed on to middle school football parents
through the youth sports clubs. Mr. Curran also noted that elementary and
middle school teachers are not trained in concussion management and those
schools have no athletic trainers.
Finally, Mr. Curran spoke about storm water runoff guidelines that affect
both FCPS and the Park Authority. Anyone fertilizing one acre or more must
have a nutrient management plan and follow EPA guidelines. A Certified
Nutrient Manager must also be on the staff, so sports clubs can no longer
just do field work in-house. The requirement is for 15% compliance by June,
a goal which FCPS and the Park Authority have already met. Friend of the
Field agreements are being reviewed with these guidelines in mind.
Fairfax County Park Authority
Mr. Johnson addressed concerns raised regarding lighting at Franconia
Park, an atypical park that is completely enclosed within a neighborhood. A
public meeting was contentious, with concerns raised regarding increased
traffic, noise, and criminal activity. There was discussion about moving the
lighting curfew from 11 p.m. back to 9 p.m. Supervisor McKay is supportive
of that change. Springfield Youth Club was represented at the meeting, but
Mr. Johnson suggested that groups with an interest in the matter contact the
Supervisor’s office. Ms. Avvisato stated that Hayfield High School is also
considering an earlier curfew. Mr. Lacey commented that such a change
would affect adult use. Ms. Avvisato responded that while youth still need
time on turf fields, the addition of fields have alleviated the problems adult
groups had. Mr. Lacey voiced concern that once an earlier curfew is granted
at one location, it becomes accepted practice, to which Mr. Johnson agreed
that the list of fields excepted from an 11 p.m. cutoff is growing.
Mr. Johnson told the Council that Dave Bowden would be available to
attend a meeting, if necessary, to discuss the use of crumb rubber in turf
fields. Regarding the presentation at the October meeting on Ultimate
Frisbee, Mr. Johnson stated that there is an existing allocation rule
Fairfax County Athletic Council Minutes
November 19, 2014
Page 4
addressing “other competitive sports.” Mr. McLaughlin agreed that the group
should demonstrate the need for rectangular field space and apply for
permitted space. If the process reveals unintended obstacles, then we
should work to resolve them. The turf project at Loisdale has been
completed, and Rolling Valley West Park was started this week.
Neighborhood and Community Services
Ms. Avvisato explained that although Amy Craig’s office had previously
scheduled track use, NCS will now do the scheduling due to conflicts with
scheduling of stadium turf fields. The SYA, Chantilly, and McLean track
clubs will be impacted. The plan is to charge the standard $5.50 per person.
Mark Martino, the current Director of Student Activities at Lake Braddock
Secondary School, has been hired as the new Operations Manager and will
start on January 1. Ms. Avvisato stated that turf fields at Hayfield,
Annandale, South County, and Stuart High Schools will be installed this
summer. South County will have three rectangular fields and a 90’ field, with
the 90’ and one of the rectangular fields on the middle school property.
Stuart will have a combination/overlay field. Thomas Jefferson High School
is still under renovation, so it will go out for bid when the work is completed.
Ms. Allen stated that Mr. Leonard will give an update on the $5.50 fee at the
Council’s December meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
N/A
OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Glakas asked whether the Park Authority has information about test
results on the materials used in their turf fields. Mr. Johnson responded that
it is probably the same as that of FCPS, but said they would work with the
schools to provide a response at the next Council meeting. Ms. Glakas
inquired whether a public statement was available, and Mr. Curran
responded that FCPS had previously made a statement and that the issue is
addressed in the FAQ on their website. Mr. McLaughlin said that the subject
would be discussed at the December meeting. Ms. Glakas asked to have the
information provided ahead of time and Mr. Curran responded that it will be
sent out as soon as it is ready.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully,
Marcia Pape Daniels
Secretary