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Home My WebLink About2008-06-02 Regular Meeting Parks and Leisure Services Board June 2,2008 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 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 Elder, John Raab and alternates Jeremy Tompkins and Alex Horton. Members absent: none. Staff members present: Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz, Recreation Superintendent Randy Smith, Special Events Supervisor Michael Davenport, City Arborist Troy Cain and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Carol and Art Kveck, Mary Partney with Starbucks Coffee 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 May 5, 2008 regular meeting. Randy Jones made the motion to approve the minutes as presented and was seconded by Everett Hartzler. The vote was unanimous. I. Board Member's Reports Everett Hartzler said J. A. Carr Park is in good shape and the gazebo looks nice. The park was clean, recently mowed and the playground equipment is fine. Also Kiddie Carr Park looked good. Carroll Scott said Midway Park was in great shape and the bedding plants looked good. He noticed some graffiti in the culvert under Main Street. Blessing Branch Park also looked good and was recently mowed and he asked if some more trash cans could be put in the park. John Raab said both McCormick Park and the Preserve at McCormick Park were in good shape. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 June 2,2008 John Elder said Trailwood Park was in excellent condition. Bob Eden Park was also in great shape and the sand volleyball courts are very heavily used at all times of the day and night. Randy Jones said Heritage Park looked fine. At South Euless Park there was lots of trash, a bent bridge railing and a dangling light on the light pole by Splash Island. Jeremy Tompkins said West Park looks great and there has been lots of activity at the playground. Wilshire Park looks great and there are four new ducks in the pond. On the east side of the trail by the pond the dirt has started sliding down and there is also lots of washed out areas on the north end of the trail. Alex Horton mentioned that Reflection Park appeared clean. At the Villages of Bear Creek Park all the restrooms had been cleaned and all trash cans and dog-i-pots had clean liners. The dog park also opened to the public on May 16th and there have been many people and pets using the new park. He said everyone he has spoken with has been very complimentary on the dog park. Chairman Owens said his park is the Parks at Texas Star athletic complex and everything looked great on his visit and as usual there was lots of activity. Chairman Owens mentioned the Special Events for May were: • Euless Can Film Festival — High School Musical 2 at the Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater with about 300 in attendance • Out of School Bash at Midway Recreation Center and Midway pool had about 600 kids and parents in attendance II. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens said the June 2008 Volunteer of the Month is Mary Partney and Starbucks Coffee. This business has been part of our team over the last several years, and is one who has been recognized in the past. However, they recently changed managers and the new incoming manager immediately came aboard and contacted us on the prospect of becoming a part of our team. In a short period of time she has: • Donated coffee to the 2008 Easter Egg Hunt • Donated coffee for the Texas Trash Off • Donated coffee at the Arbor Daze Festival • She and her staff also worked the entire Arbor Daze Festival Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 June 2,2008 Ms. Partney thanked the Board Members for the award and said they are very excited about all our events and they look forward to future events with our department. III. Beautification Award of the Month Chairman Owens said the June 2008 residential Beautification Award of the Month goes to Carol Kveck at 825 N. Ector Drive. He said this yard is landscaped with a beautiful palette of colorful bedding plants and container pots. The lawn is lush, green and well manicured. It really catches your attention as you drive by. One look and you know the owners take pride in their work. Thank you for helping to beautify our city. Chairman Owens presented Carol Kveck with a plaque and she thanked the Board Members for the award. Chairman Owens said the June 2008 business/civic/governmental Beautification Award of the Month goes to Parc Plaza Apartments at 333 E. Denton Drive. He said this is a great business landscape with lots of vibrant color and a well manicured 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. Chairman Owens said since they are not here tonight their award will be delivered to them. IV. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman Carroll Scott reported on the following for April 22"d—May 22": • there were 1,099.50 man hours o 357.0—Horticulture o 166.5—Forestry o 135.0—Storm Damage o 237.0 - Greenhouse o 204.0 - Special Project • there were five (5)trees planted and no tree related purchases • weeded landscape beds throughout city • removed and replanted the stair-step beds at City Hall • storm damage hours were spent removing brush and debris from the April 10th storm • forestry hours spent pruning numerous medians throughout the city, Parks and Community Services and the Facilities Maintenance buildings • special project hours spent working on Arbor Daze Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 June 2,2008 V. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Recreation/ Seniors Report—Randy Smith Recreation Superintendent Randy Smith briefed the Board Members on the following: • Seniors o 19 seniors went to Grapevine Opry o 35 seniors participated in free blood pressure screenings o 238 seniors participated last month in the lunch program at Simmons (which is three days a week—Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays) • Summer Camp o Camp registration filled up in only forty minutes and there is still a waiting list o 125 kids are registered for each week of camp o This is a very successful summer program • Swim Lessons o Over 200 adults and kids have registered • Out of School Bash o As usual this was a great success on the last day of school with about 600 participating in swimming and playing basketball in the recreation center • Pools o We have 20 lifeguards working at the pools this summer b. Volunteers/Rentals Report—Michael Davenport Special Events Supervisor Michael Davenport updated the Board Members on the following: • Volunteers o Jerry Poteet does an excellent job in getting volunteers for our events as well as for our recent Arbor Daze. We have saved over $5,500 by using volunteers from October through May. • Rentals o Ofa Faiva-Siale does a great job with handling facility rentals. These rentals include Ruth Millican Center, gazebos, pavilions and rooms at Midway Recreation Center. There are also six building attendants who are scheduled to work all the rentals. • Special Events o Music in Motion Concert with Dave Rudolff will be Saturday, June 21St at the Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater. This event will include some light aerobics for kids and adults to participate in while at the concert. • Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 June 2,2008 c. Parks Report—Terry Boaz Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz updated the Board Members on the following: • The windmill was recently repaired • They hired four part-time seasonal employees for summer • Staff is currently doing color change-outs in the flower beds • The dog park is getting lots of usage d. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald commented on the following: • Tour— Ray, Randy, Diane Eggers and some Council Members went on a tour Saturday of surrounding senior and aquatics centers. They went to Irving, Carrollton, Lewisville and Farmers Branch to get ideas for future facilities in Euless • Summer Camp — this is a great program and all the staff does a great job with the kids during summer • Volunteers — Jerry is a very dedicated and great employee and works very hard to make sure we get great volunteers for our events • Rentals—Ofa does a great job with all the rentals • Retirement — Johnnie Green's retirement party was last Friday and he is a very dedicated employee who will be greatly missed in our department • Staff Changes — Randy Smith has been promoted to Parks Manager and Michael Davenport has been promoted to Recreation Superintendent. We have a tremendous staff and are looking forward to more changes in the future Chairman Owens congratulated both Michael and Randy. VI. Other New Business Chairman Owens reminded the Board Members that there will be no meeting in July. VII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Billy Owens said they collected 1,016 cans of food and also clothing for the Northeast Food Bank. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 June 2,2008 ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Chairman Attest