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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-06-07 Regular Meeting Parks and Leisure Services Board June 7,2010 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 7, 2010, in the Council Chambers of the Euless City Hall building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Carroll Scott, Randy Jones, Jeremy Tompkins, John Raab, Alex Horton and alternates Johnson Obamehinti and 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: Connor Shipp and Lauri Shipp. INVOCATION Randy Jones gave the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the May 3, 2010 regular meeting. Alex Horton made the motion to approve the minutes as presented and was seconded by Carroll Scott. The vote was unanimous. I. Board Member's Reports Carroll Scott said he walked both the Preserve at McCormick Park and McCormick Park on Memorial Day. At McCormick Park the benches in the gazebo had been rearranged and the fountain would not turn off. At the Preserve at McCormick Park one of the lights in the large pond is out and he also noticed some graffiti. Alex Horton said Kiddie Can Park appeared to be very clean and inviting for park use. At J. A. Can Park he said all the fountains worked, there were lots of pretty flowers around the gazebo and the volleyball court was clean and in good shape. He did say one area that needs attention is around the large cedar with the stone perimeter close to Simmons, it is overgrown with weeds and also needs mulch. Overall both parks looked great. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 June 7,2010 John Raab said Trailwood Park is in good shape. Bob Eden Park had some people picnicking and this park was also in good shape. Along the trail he noticed some trees were hanging over the trail and need to be cut back. Randy Jones said he visited the Parks at Texas Star athletic complex and as usual everything looked good. Jeremy Tompkins said Reflection Park was nice and clean. At the Villages of Bear Creek Park the new rock gabion looks good and the park overall was clean. Jeremy Tompkins said there were no Special Events in May but the Euless Can Film Festival will be held on Friday, June 18th at the Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater. Admission is one (1) canned food item. Johnson Obamehinti said Heritage Park was very clean and well manicured, but he did notice a large broken limb between the park and the adjacent church. He said South Euless Park looked clean and there were lots of people at the swimming pool. Darrel Knobloch said at West Park he noticed two (2) dying trees along the front of the park but overall everything looked nice. At Wilshire Park he noticed lots of debris floating in the pond on the north end and while there, he was able to take a tour of the pool house. Heidi Taylor also gave him a tour of Midway Recreation Center and the remodel really looks good. Chairman Owens said everything looked good at Blessing Branch Park. At Midway Park there have been lots of baseball games as well as lots of activity on the playground. He said Midway Recreation Center has reopened but there is still construction with the fitness center. Chairman Owens thanked everyone for their reports tonight. H. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens said the June 2010 Volunteer of the Month award goes to Connor Shipp the 2009-2010 President of the Trinity High School National Honor Society. Over the last year he has organized his members to participate in the following four(4) special events: • 2009—Halloween event [ 6 volunteers and 24 volunteer hours ] • 2009—Christmas Parade of Lights [ 24 volunteers and 56 volunteer hours] • 2010—Easter Egg Scramble [ 15 volunteers and 45 volunteer hours] • 2010—Arbor Daze Festival [ 17 volunteers and 48 volunteer hours ] ' Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 June 7,2010 Chairman Owens presented Connor with a plaque and thanked him for his service. Connor thanked the Board Members for the award and said he has enjoyed working all the events. III. Beautification Award of the Month Chairman Owens mentioned that each year from May through October we do a residential and business/civic/governmental Yard of the Month award. Chairman Owens said the June 2010 Residential Beautification Award of the Month goes to Stephanie Taylor at 302 Running Bear Court. This yard is beautifully landscaped with a variety of green shrubs, a cedar tree on each side of the front entrance as well as other greenery along the front of the house. The yard is also green and well manicured and it shows that the owner takes great pride in the work that has been done in the yard. Thank you for helping to beautify Euless. Chairman Owens said Ms. Taylor had to work tonight and the award would be delivered to her home. Chairman Owens said the June 2010 Business/Civic/Governmental Beautification Award of the Month goes to Hartland Cat Hospital at 555 W. Glade Road. They have planted an assortment of greenery, the property is well maintained and a great attraction to the surrounding businesses as well as to their customers. The property grounds are green and well manicured and are truly an asset to the 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 they were not able to attend tonight's meeting and the plaque would be delivered to their business. IV. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman Carroll Scott reported on the following for May 1st—31st: • there were 659.00 total man hours o 273.00 Horticulture o 134.00 Forestry o 0 Storm Damage o 131.00 Greenhouse o 121.00 Special Projects o 0 Water Truck o 0 Training Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 June 7, 2010 • There were six(6)trees planted • There was no tree related purchases • Planted two (2) Crepe Myrtles and an Ash tree at the playground at West Park • Trimmed trees at West Park • Planted three (3)trees on Westpark Way • Trimmed Crepe Myrtles and Live Oaks at Midway Recreation Center V. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Recreation Report—Michael Davenport Recreation Superintendent Michael Davenport commented on the following: • He thanked Connor for all his work with our special events • Midway Recreation Center has reopened but there is still some work to be done • 90 spots were filled for Summer Camp and a three-hour training session was held for all the lifeguards and camp counselors • Some of the June field trips — Fort Worth Stockyards, Zoo and a Geo-Caching event at the Villages of Bear Creek Park • Senior Center - 75 taking aerobics, 142 attending AARP meetings, 362 lunches have been served (3 days a week). After the new senior center opens we might extend the lunches to 5 days a week and maybe serve breakfast. We are scheduling open games, Zumba and other activities for the seniors. • Friday, June 18th — Euless Can Film Festival — will be held at the Villages of Bear Creek amphitheater. Admission is 1 can food donation. • Watermelon will be served on July 4th to patrons at all the swimming pools b. Parks Report—Randy Smith Parks Manager Randy Smith reported on the following: • He said the landscaping crew has been working on the front entry at Midway Recreation Center. They have added stone borders along the front and will add the remaining plants tomorrow. Irrigation is also being installed in the beds. • A small bed area has been set aside for the summer camp kids to plant items, grow and they will care for the bed during the summer. • Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 June 7,2010 • Crews will also change out the spring color to drought tolerant summer plants • PACS Partners—will be learning how to do Square Foot Gardening this summer. They will build the squares for the gardens, plant the seeds and irrigate the garden with the use of water from the rain barrels. Chairman Owens asked Randy if we are using the ultraviolet system at the pools. Randy said it is used only at Splash Island. Alex Horton asked Randy if the system will kill Crypto. Randy said yes it does kill the Crypto virus. c. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald commented on the following: • He said there will be a Town Hall meeting on Monday, June 21st at 7:00 p.m. at city hall. Deputy City Manager Loretta Getchell will discuss the city budget. • On Thursday, June 24th at 7:00 p.m. at city hall there will be a Water Forum. Guest speaker Steve Huddleston, senior horticulturist at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden will discuss water conservation. • Midway Recreation Center— we are still waiting on our back-up generator to be delivered in mid-July. It will be used at both the recreation center and the new senior center. So now Midway will be closing at dark each day. • Midway Recreation Center will be closed on Sunday,June 20th for flooring repairs. • Ray mentioned that he presented the departmental budgets to council two week ago. The majority of requests were related to the Midway Family Life Center—specifically the senior center. There was also a request submitted to repair the retaining wall at Trailwood Park. • There has been lots of vandalism and graffiti in the parks and if you see any please give us a call or e-mail our office so we can get it handled and reported to police. • Again the fitness center will open in mid-August and the senior center should open sometime in November. • He also congratulated Terry Boaz on his twenty years with the city. Chairman Owens thanked everyone for their great reports. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 June 7,2010 VI. Other New Business Chairman Owens reminded everyone there will be no July meeting and the next meeting will be August 2"d. Also if you are out in any of the parks and see any vandalism and/or graffiti, to please contact the parks office. VII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors There were no comments from the audience. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m. in7 Chairman Attest