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Home My WebLink About2008-09-08 Regular Meeting Parks and Leisure Services Board September 8,2008 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:04 p.m. on Monday, September 8, 2008, in the Council Chambers of the Euless City Hall building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Carroll Scott, Everett Hartzler, Randy Jones,John Raab and alternates Alex Horton and Jeremy Tompkins. 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, Recreation Supervisor Heidi Taylor, Recreation Program Specialist Blake Cloud, Director of Planning and Development Mike Collins and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Council Member Leon Hogg, Council Member Donna Mickan, David Brown, Barbara and Gus Bellamy, Daniel Yarbrough and Kathy Fleck. 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 4, 2008 regular meeting. Carroll Scott made the motion to approve the minutes as presented and was seconded by John Raab. The vote was unanimous. I. Board Member's Reports Carroll Scott said he last walked Blessing Branch Park on Friday and it was very clean and mowed. Midway Park was in excellent condition and Midway Recreation Center was very busy. John Raab said there were some dead trees along the bike path at the Preserve at McCormick Park and the park was very clean and in good shape. McCormick Park was also in good shape and very clean. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 September 8,2008 Randy Jones said both Heritage Park and South Euless Park were clean and in good shape. Everett Hartzler stated he walked J.A. Carr Park last Saturday and everything looked great in the park as well as the gazebo. He mentioned that the volleyball nets were down. Jeremy Tompkins said West Park looked good and this park was very busy this summer. Wilshire Park also looks great and the new boulders really looked nice. Alex Horton said Reflection Park appeared clean and the new mulch added to the appearance of the park. The Villages of Bear Creek Park also was in good condition. The dog park looked good and had lots of visitors and pets on premises. It appears that the gate closers on the large dog side do not work very well and wondered if they should be tightened. He also thanked the parks staff for the quick clean up of downed tree limbs at Trailwood Park. Chairman Owens said the Parks at Texas Star Athletic Complex looked great as usual. Chairman Owens said the Special Events recently held were: • Junior Angler's Fishing event at Wilshire Park was held on Saturday, August 16th with 250 people in attendance • "The Treasure in You" concert was held at the Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater on Saturday, September 6th and there were 150 people in attendance Chairman Owens mentioned the following upcoming events: • Irving Philharmonic Orchestra Family concert — Saturday, September 27th at 7:30 p.m.—Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater • Stars Over Euless—Saturday, October 4th at 9:30 p.m.—Bob Eden Park • Fruits & Veggies Aren't Scary Fest — Friday, October 31st at 5:30 p.m. — Midway Recreation Center II. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens said the September 2008 Volunteer of the Month is Barbara Bellamy. She has been very valuable to our Senior Coordinator by stepping up to the plate and taking on several different tasks at the Simmons Center: • She has purchased and mailed out birthday cards to seniors—all at her own expense Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 September 8, 2008 • Called and contacted those seniors who have missed attending and making sure they are all right • Informing the seniors of upcoming events • Substitute aerobics instructor • She has also picked up and taken home a Bedford resident who does not drive • She also goes out and picks up lunch for those seniors who do not want to leave the center for lunch Chairman Owens presented her with the September 2008 Volunteer of the Month award. Mrs. Bellamy thanked the Board Members for the award and said when she retired she made it her goal to make life better for somebody else. III. Beautification Award of the Month Chairman Owens said the September 2008 residential Beautification Award of the Month goes to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Fleck at 112 E. Alexander. This yard is beautifully landscaped with a great selection and use of shrubs and bedding plants. The lawn is lush, green and well manicured. One look and you know the owners take pride in their work. Thank you for helping to beautify our city. Mrs. Kathy Fleck thanked the Board Members for the award. Chairman Owens said the September 2008 business/civic/governmental Beautification Award of the Month goes to Collins Park at Bear Creek located at 2001 Highway 360. He said this is a great landscape with lots of color and a well maintained lawn. 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. Mr. Daniel Yarbrough thanked the Board Members and stated it's great to make a difference in the city. IV. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman Carroll Scott reported on the following for July 22nd—August 22nd: • there were 1,162.00 man hours o 512.0—Horticulture o 396.0—Forestry o 0 —Storm Damage o 158.0 - Greenhouse Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 September 8,2008 o 24.00 - Special Project o 72.00- Water Truck (19,150 gallons used) • there were no trees planted and no tree related purchases • horticulture hours were spent doing color change changes, weeding, mulching and planting beds around the sun dial, Building"B", stair step beds and also behind the library • forestry hours were spent pruning trees over sidewalks, J.A. Carr Park, the Preserve at McCormick Park, Wilshire Park and school zones • greenhouse hours were spent watering plants, propagating and general clean up of the greenhouses • we started running our water truck over all of the non-irrigated areas throughout the city • we have also been working on the water reclamation project by installing a 1,500 gallon water tank V. Discussion of Future Parkland Conversion—Mike Collins Director of Planning and Development Mike Collins thanked the parks staff for all their hard work in cleaning up Trailwood Park. Mr. Collins said he came before the Board Members on April 7th to convert the subsurface of park land for the purpose of offsite drilling and the extraction of natural gas from portions of sites south of Harwood Road. Tonight he comes before the Board for parkland that is situated north of Harwood Road which currently entails Bob Eden Park from Industrial Boulevard and east to Main Street. He said Albert Hall is searching titles to all parks, city owned property as well as any dedicated property back to the 1950's along Mid-Cities Boulevard. Mr. Collins said this continuation of parkland discussion will also be heard at the council meeting in October. VI. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Parks Report—Randy Smith Parks Manager Randy Smith reported on various projects relating to park maintenance: • Dan Dearborn, who is in charge of the construction crew, has been working on water fountains, repainting projects at Bob Eden Park and moving the boulders at Bob Eden. • John Ledbetter and the grounds maintenance crew has been busy preparing athletic fields for fall league play for baseball and soccer as well as general grounds maintenance and trash pick-up after the holiday weekend Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 September 8,2008 • The landscape/tree crews have planted 1,200 seeds for fall color (which was all done in- house), taken cuttings of summer plants for next year and also removed downed limbs from recent storms at Trailwood Park b. Recreation Report—Heidi Taylor Recreation Supervisor Heidi Taylor introduced the new Recreation Program Specialist Blake Cloud to the Board Members and he will be introducing lots of new ideas and activities at Midway. Recreation Supervisor Heidi Taylor commented on the following items: Midway Recreation Center • 33,694—visits to Midway Recreation Center • 43,066—attending youth classes • 4,037—attending adult classes • 9,566—visits to the fitness center • 3,068 —users on the track • 920—using the racquetball courts • 3,530—hours on the cardio equipment Summer Camp 2008 • 175—campers • 70% -were returning campers • 45—field trips taken • 15 —counselors • 600—camp hours • 2°d Annual Field Day at the Parks at Texas Star consisted of tug of war, kickball, water balloon fights and a counselor dunking booth Euless PACS Partners • campers were actively involved each week in PACS Partners — working with a different division of the PACS department in order to spur their interest in Parks and Recreation as a future career Fall Highlights • Free Mix it Up aerobics classes on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. • Fitness 101 Orientations—last Wednesday of each month • Reading, Writing and Recreation—after school initiative for 8 to 15 year olds Jeremy Tompkins inquired as to the Summer Lunch Program? Heidi said the program was again a great success and we always have lots of kids attending the free lunch program at Midway. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 September 8,2008 c. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald commented on the following: • He thanked Heidi for a great report tonight and for all they do at Midway Recreation Center for the kids • He also welcomed Blake to the PACS department • The Trails Grant recently submitted to TPWD did not score high enough for approval • However, in the budget proposal we did ask for funds in order to link the two trails together • Family Life Center — this item will be discussed at the next meeting. We will be interviewing architects starting Friday for the expansion of Midway Recreation Center, the Senior Center as well as an indoor and outdoor aquatic area • He also recently met with Elaine Dill (who is retired from TPWD) regarding grant scoring and funding for the proposed new Family Life Center. She plans to consult with us as well and help write up the grant to be submitted for the new center. The grants are based on the highest scores given and the grant process is now very competitive. Outdoor grant monies are awarded up to $500,000 and the indoor grant monies are awarded up to $750,000 with cities matching the grant funds. Chairman Owens congratulated staff on the excellent reports tonight. VII. Other New Business Chairman Owens said there was no new business for discussion. VIII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Council Member Donna Mickan thanked volunteer Barbara Bellamy and beautification recipients Kathy Fleck and Daniel Yarbrough for being here tonight. She also thanked the parks and PACS staff for all they do for the citizens. Council Member Leon Hogg also congratulated the visitors for everything they do for the city. He also mentioned that some of the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) monies can be used for funding the new senior center. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 7 September 8,2008 ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Chairman Attest