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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-05-04 Regular Meeting Parks and Leisure Services Board May 4,2009 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2009, in the Council Chambers of the Euless City Hall building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Carroll Scott, Jeremy Tompkins, Randy Jones, John Elder and alternates Alex Horton and Johnson Obamehinti. Members absent: John Raab. Staff members present: Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz, Parks Manager Randy Smith, Recreation Superintendent Michael Davenport, Recreation Supervisor Heidi Taylor, Program Coordinator Blake Cloud, Summer Camp Leader Robbie Rodgers and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Billy Owens (AARP), Council Member Leon Hogg, Darrel Knobloch, David Brown, Cathy Rodgers, Brayden Tompkins and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lee. INVOCATION John Elder gave the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the April 6, 2009 regular meeting. Carroll Scott made the motion to approve the minutes as presented and was seconded by John Elder. The vote was unanimous. I. Board Member's Reports Carroll Scott said he found both McCormick Park and the Preserve at McCormick Park in good condition. He said he noticed an ant colony at McCormick Park by the playground area. John Elder said both Reflection Park and the Villages of Bear Creek Park looked good and both were clean. The dog park also was very clean. Alex Horton said both Bob Eden and Trailwood parks overall looked good and clean. He said some of the water fountains were not working at Bob Eden Park. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 May 4,2009 Randy Jones said both Kiddie Carr and J. A. Can parks were in good shape. There were some fallen trees at Simmons that he noticed from the storm this past weekend. Johnson Obamehinti said Blessing Branch Park and Midway Park were both in good condition. Chairman Owens said John Raab is out of town on business and he e-mailed his report for him to read at the meeting. The report said, "West Park was clean and in good shape after the storm on Sunday and the ball fields were in good shape and clean as well. At Wilshire Park some of the dirt had washed away from the retaining wall behind the dealership and from the retaining wall in the housing development. Also the brick fence wall next to the dealership was cracked and is leaning out toward the park side." Chairman Owens said both South Euless and Heritage parks looked good. At Heritage Park he noticed lots of walkers out in the park. Jeremy Tompkins said his park is the Parks at Texas Star athletic complex and this facility is awesome, always clean and the landscape is great. He said the lights are burned out on the scoreboard and need to be replaced. Jeremy Tompkins also reported on the following recent Special Event held in April: • Arbor Daze — Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th— City Hall complex — as always the event was a great success. He mentioned some upcoming events: • North Texas SNAP Fun Run/Walk—Saturday, May 16th—8:30 a.m.—Bob Eden Park • Out of School Kid Fest — Wednesday, June 3`d — Noon — 3:00 p.m. — Midway Recreation Center • Pools Open—Wednesday,June 3`d—for the summer. Jeremy also showed some of the pictures that he has taken at our special events and his website [eulessparks.blogspot.com] that he has started which also shows events. Chairman Owens thanked the Board Members for their reports tonight. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 May 4,2009 II. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens said the May 2009 Volunteer of the Month is The Euless Incredible Pizza Company. He said they have hosted the annual Texas Trash Off event at their facility for the last two years. They were truly great to work with and proved from the beginning that they were excited and that they wanted to be a vital part of our city. Chairman Owens said since they were not present tonight the plaque would be delivered to them. 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 May 2009 residential Beautification Award of the Month goes to Henry Lee at 700 Cold Bay. This yard is beautifully landscaped and the owners have planted a variety of colorful rose bushes, Irises and green shrubs in the front flower bed. They also enhanced the yard by adding pavestone along the front bed and around the trees. The lawn is green and well manicured and catches your attention when driving by. One look and you know the owners take pride in the work that they have done in the yard. Thank you for helping to beautify Euless. Mr. Lee thanked the Board Members. Chairman Owens said the May 2009 business/civic/governmental Beautification Award of the Month goes to Miller Sierra Contractors at 1760 S. Pipeline Road. This newly constructed business has added a variety of small shrubs and colorful plants along the front of the facility. The front yard is well manicured and green due to the St. Augustine grass that was planted. It is efforts like yours that make our city a great place to work and live. Thank you for contributing to the beautification of our city. Chairman Owens said they are not here tonight and the award will be delivered to them. IV. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman Carroll Scott reported on the following for April 1 —30, 2009: • There were 550.50 total man hours o Horticulture 299.50 o Forestry 41.00 o Storm Damage 0 Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 May 4,2009 o Greenhouse 115.00 o Special Projects 95.00 • Cleaned up and raised trees on Cresthaven and Highland • Trimmed red tips at West Park • Removed debris from high winds at Wilshire, Trailwood, Parks at Texas Star and Main Street greenbelt • Completed color change on Main Street, City Hall, Westpark Way, and the new bed at Highway 10 and Pipeline • Visited North Euless, South Euless, Midway Park, Lakewood, and Oakwood Terrace elementary for the Poe-Tree contest and to give 4th graders trees. Gave away 403 trees. • Assisted with the set-up of Arbor Daze and the giving away of trees and arts and crafts for the kids in the Forestry Village V. Adopt-A-Park Program -Applications Chairman Owens said we received another application for the Adopt-A-Park Program to adopt Gateway Boulevard between Centurion and Mid-Cities Boulevard. a. Gateway Boulevard Darrel Knobloch sent his application in to adopt the Gateway Boulevard. Mr. Knobloch wants to adopt Gateway Boulevard since he lives in the Mansions by the Vineyard complex and walks along this street. While walking he has noticed that trash accumulates along this area as well as in the median and decided he wants to clean this area during his walks. Alex Horton made the motion to approve the application from Darrel Knobloch to adopt Gateway Boulevard and was seconded by Carroll Scott. The vote was unanimous. Chairman Owens thanked Mr. Knobloch for his participation in the Adopt-A-Park Program. VI. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Arbor Daze and Out of School Kid Fest Update—Michael Davenport Recreation Superintendent Michael Davenport gave an update on the following: Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 May 4,2009 Arbor Daze • Arbor Daze went well and was a great success • Gave away lots of trees during the event • Randy and Terry did a great job with the Forestry Village • Heidi and Blake also did a great job with the Kids Zone • He thanked Jeremy and his family for again working the souvenir booth • He also thanked the Park Board for volunteering to work in the parks concession booth Out of School Kid Fest • Will be held on Wednesday, June 3rd from Noon — 3:00 p.m. at the Midway Recreation Center • Midway Recreation Center is partnering with the United Way • There will be entertainment, healthy cooking ideas for kids, SPCA and the Fort Worth Zoo will also be there • There will also be interactive games to keep the kids active and playing during the event b. Aquatics Report and Summer Camp Program—Heidi Taylor Recreation Supervisor Heidi Taylor gave the following Aquatics Report: Pools Update • Midway pool is scheduled to get a new pump within the next couple of weeks and is scheduled to open before the Out of School Kid Fest event • Wilshire pool is filled and ready for use • Lifeguarding classes started this weekend with 14 participants • South Euless pool will be filled up within the week • All pools will open for the summer on Saturday, June 6th New Aquatics Programs • Little Splash Story Time will be held on Fridays in June at Midway pool. There will be a 30-minute story time at noon and swimming is scheduled from 12:30 p.m. — 1:00 p.m. This program is free for families with small children • Adopt-A-Pool Program — Local businesses will sponsor a pool and any donations received will go towards giveaways at the pool, such as: Coke Float Fridays and Tattoo Tuesdays Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 May 4,2009 Summer Camp Program: Summer Camp Leader Robbie Rodgers said summer camp registration started on Saturday, May 2"d and the camp was filled up within twenty minutes with Euless residents. We have many activities planned such as: swimming, games, and field trips to Six Flags,NRH2O and Fort Worth Stock Yards. All classes for the summer camp are limited each year and the ages are six (6) to eleven(11) years old. The Teen Life Program will be held again this year and it is for kids older than eleven(11). We are also incorporating a new fitness program every morning of camp. Also each week will have a new theme to the fitness program such as: leadership,courage and honesty. Program Coordinator Blake Cloud stated there would be several new programs in summer camp such as: Just 4 Flips Gymnastic class, Turbo Kick and other exciting programs. Also we will have many weeklong camps including a Trinity High Troy-Ann Dance camp, Art camp, and many sports camps. Heidi and Blake said that Robbie is celebrating his fifth year with the city and both congratulated him for his excellent work at the Midway Recreation Center. c. Parks Report—Randy Smith Parks Manager Randy Smith updated the Board Members on the following: • Arbor Daze—he said the staff started working on the event about three weeks ago • Everything was cleaned up within 2 to 3 days after the event and as always the event was a success • Poe-Tree Contest —the fourth graders did an excellent job on the poems this year and they were delighted to receive their trees. Staff gave out 403 to the fourth graders this year. There were also 2,800 trees given away at Arbor Daze. • John Ledbetter and the ball field crew spent lots of time getting ball fields ready for play at the Parks at Texas Star as well as Softball World • Dan Dearborn and his crew recently removed three trees on Signet and Randy said stumps would be ground as soon as weather permits • Randy also thanked the Park Board for all their help at the parks concession stand during Arbor Daze d. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Ray McDonald mentioned the following: Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 7 May 4,2009 • He thanked all the staff for the great job they did with Arbor Daze • Dolores Tijerina in the parks department will be retiring after 34 years with the city on Thursday, May 28th at Noon. Punch and cake will be served. • Steve Wiltshire also in the parks department will be retiring after 27 years with the city on Friday, May 29th at Noon. Punch and cake will also be served and he invited the Board Members to come to both retirements if possible. • Ray also thanked the Board Members for all their help at Arbor Daze and a thank you to all our volunteers which help make our events a success • The Poe-Tree Contest was again held this year with the fourth graders participating from Lakewood, Midway Park, North Euless, Oakwood Terrace and South Euless elementary schools. The winner this year was from Miss McIntyre's fourth grade class at Midway Park Elementary. • Ray and Mayor Saleh also attended a conference recently which suggested ways to get the kids out of the house and get them to play and be more active and to get their parents to be more involved in the activity as well. • We have recently experienced some vandalism in the parks and this has become very costly. The City of Arlington has started a "Crime Stoppers" program in their parks and seems to be very successful. Ray and Police Chief Brown are going to try to do this same type of program in our parks to see if this will curb the vandalism. Chairman Owens thanked everyone for the reports tonight. VII. Other New Business Chairman Owens congratulated Robbie on his five years service with the city. He also read an article that was published in Yakama, Washington, on Diane Eggers son, Kyle, and a dedication that was being done in his honor. VIII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Council Member Leon Hogg mentioned there is a tree on Huitt that parks needs to look at. Billy Owens said everything is good. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 8 May 4,2009 ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. ccr./.;r:) 2 airman A est,