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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-06 Regular Meeting Parks and Leisure Services Board April 6,2009 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:02 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 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 Raab and alternates Alex Horton and Johnson Obamehinti. Members absent: John Elder. Staff members present: Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz, Parks Manager Randy Smith, Recreation Superintendent Michael Davenport and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Zebra Hussain, Alizah Hussain, Council Member Leon Hogg and Billy Owens. INVOCATION Randy Jones gave the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the March 2, 2009 regular meeting. Randy Jones 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 found both McCormick Park and the Preserve at McCormick Park in good shape. The push button on the water fountain was stuck and he also noticed that the tree seats/ benches at the Preserve are eaten up and need to be replaced. Alex Horton said both Bob Eden and Trailwood parks had been greatly used over the weekend and were in overall great condition. He did mention that the door latch on the handicapped port-a-let at Bob Eden Park needed repairing due to facility door not closing. John Raab said both West Park and Wilshire were in good shape. The ball fields at West Park were in good condition and there were lots of people using the park at Wilshire. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 April 6,2009 Randy Jones said both Kiddie Carr and J. A. Carr parks looked good and there were lots of folks out walking on the trail at Simmons. Jeremy Tompkins said his park is the Parks at Texas Star athletic complex and this facility is in great shape as always. The flowers along the entrance to the facility look good. He said he experienced the new batting cages and said they are very nice. He also commented on the two large murals that were painted on the walls by the batting cages and said they really enhance the park. Jeremy Tompkins also reported on the following recent Special Events held in March: • Story Walk was held on Saturday, March 7th at Bob Eden Park with 75 in attendance • Tarrant Area Food Bank was held on Monday, March 16th and there were 25 people that participated • Easter Egg Stuffing party was held on Wednesday, March 18th at the Ruth Millican Center and there were at least 100 people stuffing 5,000 eggs with candy and prizes • Easter Egg Scramble was held on Saturday, March 28th at the Parks at Texas Star athletic complex and there were 400 that attended this event • Texas Trash Off was held this past Saturday, April 4th at Incredible Pizza and there were over 600 volunteers who helped pick up trash throughout the city • Euless Shred Off was also held this past Saturday, April 4th at Midway Recreation Center with 100 cars in line to drop off documents to be shredded. He did say that the documents were all taken back to Chad's Chop Shop for shredding and not shredded on site. He also commented on upcoming events: • Youth Job Fair—Saturday, April 18th—Midway Recreation Center • Arbor Daze—Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th—City Hall complex Johnson Obamehinti said Blessing Branch Park looked good and in order. Chairman Owens said both South Euless and Heritage parks look great. He commented again on what a great addition Heritage Park is to our parks system and all the local history that can be seen when touring this park. Chairman Owens thanked the Board Members for their reports. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 April 6,2009 H. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens said the April 2009 Volunteer of the Month is Zebra and Alizah Hussain. He said they have recently joined our Family of Volunteers Program in 2008 and have already made a positive impact on our programs. They exert excitement and are truly happy to volunteer and have volunteered for the following events: • Treasure in You Concert(2008) • Fruits and Veggies Aren't Scary Fest(2008) • R&R Program to Greet the Troops (2009) • Tarrant Area Food Bank (2009) • Easter Egg Stuffing Party (2009) • Easter Egg Scramble(2009) • Arbor Daze event(2009) Chairman Owens presented Zebra and her daughter Alizah with a plaque for their commitment to our events. Mrs. Zebra Hussain thanked the Board Members for this award and said they really enjoy working with Jerry at all the events. III. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman Carroll Scott reported on the following for March 1 —31, 2009: • there were 524.00 total man hours o 182.00—Horticulture o 42.50—Forestry o 0 —Storm Damage o 246.50 - Greenhouse o 53.00 - Special Projects o 0 - Water Truck o 0 - Training • Removed fallen tree from entrance to McCormick Park • Trimmed around street lights for Engineering department on Wilshire Drive • Began seasonal plantings at City Hall and Police and Courts facilities • Reconstructed 15 metal tables for greenhouses. 4 tables remained at the Parks shop and 11 are in the old greenhouse • Prepared over 1,000 tree "cookies"for Arbor Daze arts and crafts project Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 April 6,2009 • Continue to step up plants and trees in the greenhouses • Constructed shaded live area outside of shop greenhouse to get plants acclimated to being outside of greenhouse IV. Adopt-A-Park Program -Applications Chairman Owens said we received two applications for the Adopt-A-Park Program and both are for the Villages of Bear Creek Park. a. Villages of Bear Creek Park The Navarro-Cruz's Family sent their application in to adopt the Villages of Bear Creek Park. Ms. Cruz was not able to make the meeting tonight due to a prior commitment. Alex Horton made the motion to approve the application from the Navarro-Cruz's Family to adopt the Villages of Bear Creek Park and was seconded by Randy Jones. The vote was unanimous. b. Villages of Bear Creek Park The Euless Democrats sent their application in to also adopt the Villages of Bear Creek Park. Mr. John Schleeter was not in attendance tonight. Jeremy Tompkins made the motion to approve the application from the Euless Democrats to adopt the Villages of Bear Creek Park and was seconded by John Raab. The vote was unanimous. Chairman Owens thanked both groups for their participation in the Adopt-A-Park Program. V. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Arbor Daze Update—Michael Davenport Recreation Superintendent Michael Davenport mentioned the following: • Arbor Daze will run from Saturday, April 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 26th from 2:00 p.m.to 6:00 p.m. • We have partnered with the First Baptist Church for any overflow parking that is needed during the event and there will be shuttles running both days • We will again have the Kid Zone, Forestry Village and inflatable's Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 April 6,2009 • New this year is the Monster Mural that will be set-up next to the Kid Zone. This mural is 6' x 20' and the kids can color on it • We are also partnering with the Historical Preservation Committee for a tent that will be set-up to display the Photo Exhibit • Jerry Poteet is also doing a great job with getting volunteers for Arbor Daze • Jerry also did a great job with the annual Trash Off and had over 600 volunteers helping to clean up trash throughout the community • The Euless Shred Off had a good turnout with over 100 cars but some citizens were concerned because the documents were not shredded on site but were instead going to be taken back the their facility for shredding • Summer Adventure Camp will be held and staff has planned trips to Six Flags, the Fort Worth Stockyards and other exciting places. There will be a different theme each week during summer camp(honesty, integrity and etc.) An inquiry was made if we would be doing the Bike Rodeo again this year? Michael said not this year but maybe next year. b. Parks Report—Randy Smith Parks Manager Randy Smith updated the Board Members on the following: • 1,000 tree cookies were cut from a fallen limb and were coated with polyurethane for the kids arts and crafts project in the Forestry Village • The kids will also decorate small pots and then will be taught how to plant marigold seeds for them to grow their own plant • There will be a display again from the Urban Tree Cross Timbers • Staff will start setting up for Arbor Daze soon • Terry and Dan have been working on the irrigation system. Hopefully at a later date the irrigation system will be put on a GPS system. • Color change has been completed at city hall, police and courts. Still need to do the mediums, Ector, Highway 10 and other locations. • A herb garden will be planted at Simmons for the seniors c. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Ray McDonald mentioned the following: • He thanked Jeremy and his family for volunteering at all the events Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 April 6, 2009 • Staff would like to request that the Board Members help with staffing and volunteering in the parks department concession booth this year. The parks department uses this opportunity to earn money for their annual Christmas party. • Ray thanked the Board Members for all their volunteerism • Ray also thanked Jeremy for taking pictures at all the events and posting them on his website Johnson said he agrees that the Park Board Members should sign-up and volunteer to help out in the concession stand since staff is always out working events and the Park Board Members should be ready to help out in any way that they can. VI. Other New Business Chairman Owens asked if an e-mail could be sent out to the Board Members to volunteer in the parks concession booth with their times listed. VII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Billy Owens mentioned that some people were confused at the Euless Shred Off because they thought their documents would be destroyed on site—not taken back to the facility for shredding. Council Member Leon Hogg said the young man that runs Chad's Chop Shop is very deserving and his parents help out at the facility. He also mentioned that this is the twenty-second year for Arbor Daze. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. (r:2;0.-A Chairman A •st