Board approves director pay increase, multiple easements and fundraising requests; vice chair elected

The Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation on Aug. 1 approved a 10% merit-based salary increase for the department director, authorized nonprofit fundraising for the Ted Rhodes golf-course renovation, and approved or moved forward a string of conservation easements, permits and donations.

The board voted to approve the minutes of its July meeting and adopt multiple staff recommendations that were presented during the consent agenda. Commissioner Edward Henley reported the finance committee had “unanimously approved a merit increase” for the director; the board approved a 10% merit increase after a motion and voice vote.

The Tennessee Golf Foundation requested board permission to solicit private donations for a proposed Ted Rhodes golf-course restoration and construction of a community pavilion. The foundation presented an estimated project cost of about $8 million — roughly $5 million for the course and $3 million for a pavilion — and the board voted to allow the foundation to fundraise for the full project.

The board approved several conservation greenway easements and deferred others to the acquisition committee for further review. Staff described the McCrory Lane easement as conserving 8.06 acres along the Harpeth River; the board approved that easement. Multiple other greenway items related to Mill Creek, Richland Creek and Page’s Branch were deferred to acquisition for further action.

Other approved items included two small general donations: a $2,500 donation from Belmont Hillsborough Neighbors and a $4,000 donation to the parks’ environmental education division from Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms. The board also approved a three-month permit for the Nashville Paddle Company to operate kayak and paddleboard activities at Hamilton Creek Recreation Area.

The board deferred consideration of a proposed lease with P and H Properties LLC for Commerce Center Park (211 Commerce Street) to the September meeting at the acquisition committee’s request.

In an internal election the board chose Shane Foster as vice chair. The chair called a roll-call vote; board members cast ballots and the chair announced Foster as the successful candidate. At one point a board member noted the vote was not unanimous; the chair recorded the final margin as 6–1.

Votes recorded on the transcript were voice votes or roll-call votes called at the meeting; where recorded tallies are included above exactly as announced by the chair or by named commissioners during the meeting.

Votes at a glance (motions referenced in the meeting record): - Approval of July minutes — outcome: passed (voice vote). - 07-25-04: Approve open-range salary increase (10% merit increase) for director of parks — outcome: passed (voice vote). Motion reported as unanimously recommended by the finance committee. - 07-25-06: Accept dedicated conservation greenway easement at McCrory Lane (approx. 8.06 acres along Harpeth River) — outcome: passed. - 07-25-12: P and H Properties LLC lease agreement for 211 Commerce Street — outcome: deferred to September (acquisition committee recommendation). - Consent agenda (including date revisions to Riverfront Park market and postponement of an alcohol permit at Fannie Mae Dees Park) — outcome: passed. - 08-25-02: Election of park board vice chair — outcome: Shane Foster elected (chair announced final margin as 6–1). - 08-25-03: Presentation by public commenter Robert Briley (no board action required) — outcome: informational only. - 08-25-04: Belmont Hillsborough Neighbors donation, $2,500 — outcome: passed. - 08-25-05: Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms donation, $4,000 — outcome: passed. - 08-25-06: Three-month permit to Nashville Paddle Company for Hamilton Creek Recreation Area — outcome: passed. - 08-25-07 through 08-25-10 and 08-25-12: Multiple proposed greenway easements for Mill Creek, Richland Creek, Belle Meade Plaza and Page’s Branch — most deferred to acquisition for further review; the McCrory Lane easement (above) was approved. - Tennessee Golf Foundation fundraising request for Ted Rhodes renovation (presentation and motion to permit fundraising) — outcome: passed; chair announced board granted permission to “go raise $8,000,000.”

Notes: All motions, committee recommendations and vote results in this summary reflect the wording and tallies as they appear in the meeting transcript. Where the transcript records “deferred to acquisition,” that means staff and the acquisition committee will prepare the item for the board’s later consideration.