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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-09-13 • Regular Meeting Parks and Leisure Services Board September 13,2010 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:03 p.m. on Monday, September 13, 2010, in the Council Chambers of the Euless City Hall building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Carroll Scott, Jeremy Tompkins, John Raab, Randy Jones, Alex Horton and alternate Darrel Knobloch. Members absent: None. Staff members present: Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Parks Manager Randy Smith, Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz, Recreation Superintendent Michael Davenport and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Billy Owens, Charlie Miller, Gerald Brookman, Bill and Linda Taylor, Chris McAllister, Khalil Nanji and members of the Shia Imami Ismali Muslim Community. INVOCATION Randy Jones gave the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the August 2, 2010 regular meeting. Carroll Scott made the motion to approve the minutes as presented and was seconded by Randy Jones. The vote was unanimous. I. Board Member's Reports Carroll Scott passed around some pictures he took of the flooding last week. The pictures showed how damaging the flood waters were at the Preserve at McCormick Park and how quickly the water rose from the creek up into the easement area behind his property. Alex Horton said Kiddie Can and J. A. Can parks had minimal damage, and there was some minor trail erosion but overall their condition was good. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 September 13,2010 John Raab said he walked Bob Eden Park after the flood waters subsided and there was lots of erosion, water standing everywhere and some of the water fountains were not working. This park was also closed down for cleaning and repair work. Randy Jones said the Parks at Texas Star athletic complex was in good shape even though it did not receive as much damage as the other parks. Jeremy Tompkins said the sidewalk needs to be cleaned at Reflection Park. He said he went to the Villages of Bear Creek Park after the flooding and said part of the fencing was down at the dog park, trash cans and port-o-lets had been carried off in the flood waters, there was extensive erosion of the creek and part of the trail, and this park was also closed due to all the flood damage. Jeremy said the Special Event held in August was the Junior Anglers Day at Wilshire Park on Saturday, August 21St and the attendance was a little over 200. The next event, Stars over Euless, is scheduled for Saturday, October 16th at Bob Eden Park. Darrel Knobloch said West Park looked good. At Wilshire Park he noticed the sprinkler system was running during the day on a weekend at the south end of the park. Chairman Owens said the playground chips under the swings had washed away due to the recent flooding at Blessing Branch Park. At Midway Park the chips in the playground area had also been removed due to the recent flooding. He said the fitness center recently reopened and there has been lots of new cardio equipment added as well as other fitness equipment. The construction of the new senior center is really taking shape. Chairman Owens thanked everyone for their reports tonight. II. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens said the September 2010 Volunteer of the Month award goes to Khalil Nanji and the Shia Imami Ismali Muslim Community who have recently joined our Family of Volunteers Program. Recently, for the Back to School event, and under the leadership of Khalil, they had twenty-two (22) volunteers, that not only volunteered for this event, but who took control of key areas of this event. This took a great burden off of staff, knowing that these important areas, were well taken care of, and that the kids of our community, would enjoy themselves and have a lot of fun. These are a great group of kids/volunteers, that have impacted our city, and I know they will do the same in their individual careers. Other events they have worked include: Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 September 13,2010 • R&R- Greet the Soldiers • Arbor Daze • Stars over Euless • Halloween Thing Chairman Owens presented the Shia Imami Ismali Muslim Community with a plaque and thanked them for all their dedication and work with our events. Khalil Nanji thanked the Board Members and Jerry Poteet for the opportunity to help with our events. III. Beautification Award of the Month Chairman Owens said the September 2010 Residential Beautification Award of the Month goes to Bill and Linda Taylor at 1201 Shady Creek. This yard is beautifully landscaped with a variety of pink and white Impatiens and Iris which have been planted around some of the trees in the yard. They have also planted green shrubs along the front of the house as well as adding low green shrubs that wind on both sides of the curving steps from the street to the house. This yard is green and well manicured and shows the owners take great pride in the work that has been done in the yard. Thank you for helping to beautify Euless. Chairman Owens presented Bill and Linda with a plaque and Mr. Taylor thanked the Board Members and everyone else for the award. Chairman Owens said the September 2010 Business/Civic/Governmental Beautification Award of the Month goes to Aerotech Holdings at 1100 S. Pipeline Road. They have planted an assortment of Asian Jasmine, Ponytail Grass, Liriope, and Salvia Gregg, Bur ford Holly, Fringe Flowers and Wax Myrtles throughout the landscape. The property is well maintained and a great attraction to the surrounding businesses as well as to their customers. The property grounds are green, well manicured and are truly an asset to our community. It is efforts like yours that make Euless a great place to work and live. Thank you for contributing to the beautification of our city. Chairman Owens said the plaque would be delivered to their business since they were not able to attend the meeting tonight. IV. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman Carroll Scott reported on the following for August 1st—31St: • there were 474.00 total man hours o 149.00 Horticulture o 146.00 Forestry o 139.00 Greenhouse Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 September 13,2010 o 40.00 Special Projects o 1.00 Training • Trimmed trees at the Dr Pepper StarCenter • Trimmed trees along the fire lanes at Softball World • Removed a dead tree on the Main Street greenbelt • Trimmed trees at West Park • Trimmed Crepe Myrtles on the right-of-ways V. Adopt-A-Park Program—Renewals Chairman Owens said it time to renewal the Adopt-A-Park agreements. The parks being renewed are: J.A. Carr, Kiddie Carr, Midway, Bob Eden, Trailwood, McCormick, South Euless, Villages of Bear Creek and the Villages of Bear Creek—Dog Park. Jeremy Tompkins made the motion to approve the Adopt-A-Park renewal agreements and was seconded by Alex Horton. The vote was unanimous. VI. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Recreation Report—Michael Davenport Recreation Superintendent Michael Davenport commented on the following: • He said the construction of the new senior center is coming along • There is a senior aerobics class being held each Wednesday in the dance room • The Out of School KidsFest held on Saturday, August 28th was a great success. Attendance ran anywhere from 1,000 — 1,200 and we had forty-five (45) volunteers helping with the event. • The Texas Junior Anglers event was held on Saturday, August 21st at Wilshire Park pond and there were 250 in attendance with twenty-two (22) volunteers helping with the event. All the kids had fun fishing and there were many awards for the different categories and age groups. The pond has become very grassy along the bottom and Grass Carp will be added to the pond to help clear out the grass. • Michael also updated the Board Members on the attendance numbers at all the facilities. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 September 13,2010 b. Parks Report—Randy Smith Parks Manager Randy Smith reported on the following: • Randy congratulated Aerotech Holdings on the extensive renovation at their facility during the past year • All the crews have done a good job trying to clean up after the recent flooding last week • Dan will try and get the dog park open this week after part of the fencing was knocked down from the floodwaters • Crews will need to rebuild some of the bridges in the parks • The parks department shop was recently broken into and all the hand tools and other items were stolen and we are in the process of buying new replacements for the shop • Fall change outs will start soon and staff has grown about 3,000 of the plants Jeremy Tompkins thanked the parks crew for working to reopen the dog park later this week. c. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald commented on the following: • He thanked Mr. and Mrs. Taylor for their beautiful landscaped yard and congratulated them on their award • Ray again thanked Public Works for working with our department to install a sidewalk from the park over to the playground at Midway Park • He said some of the recreation membership fees are changing and they will go into effect on October 1St. New membership fees for seniors will go into effect when the new senior center opens. • There was extensive flooding in all the parks last week from the heavy rains. All electrical outlets at the pavilions have been damaged and some currently still have water in them. All the playgrounds have been closed due to playground chips being washed away as well as some of the playground equipment was damaged. We still have lots of work that needs to be done and our parks department is doing an amazing job at cleaning and working to get the parks back in their original condition. Chairman Owens thanked everyone for their great reports. VII. Other New Business There was no new business for discussion. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 September 13,2010 VIII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Christopher McAllister with the Library Board wanted to thank the Park Board and staff for putting in a sidewalk to go from the parking lot to the playground at Midway Park. This makes the playground and park more accessible for all handicap citizens using the playground. Charlie Miller complimented on Jim Ptomey and the great staff at the Parks at Texas Star. He said the staff was very professional and helpful with all the leagues playing at the ball park this past weekend. Billy Owens said on October 1st there will be a Senior Exposition which is being sponsored through Tarrant County. The event will be held at the Euless First Baptist Church and is free to all seniors. Gerald Brookman, who adopted the dog park at the Villages of Bear Creek Park, wanted to mention that he has been working with the Trinity High School GAP program and said the group will be sponsoring a Pet Fair at Trinity High School on Saturday, September 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The group works with the Euless Animal Shelter to find homes for the pets and to also raise money for the shelter. He invited everyone to come out and adopt a pet. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Chairman • est