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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-07 Regular Meeting Parks and Leisure Services Board April 7,2008 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, April 7, 2008, in the Council Chambers of the Euless City Hall building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Carroll Scott, John Raab, Randy Jones, John Elder and alternates Jeremy Tompkins and Alex Horton. Members absent: Everett Hartzler. Staff members present: Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Parks Manager Johnnie Green, Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz, Special Events Supervisor Michael Davenport, Recreation Superintendent Randy Smith, Director of Planning and Development Mike Collins and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Billy Owens (AARP), Council Member Leon Hogg, Lisa Nester, Faye Stinneford and members of Cub Scout Pack 546 (Dylan Ratliff, Charmaine Klingler, Johnathon Klingler, Lynn Edwards, Chase Edwards, Charles Laison, Will Mathison, Justin Nottingham and Julie Ratliff.) 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 3, 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 Jeremy Tompkins said West Park looks great and there was a picnic table at Wilshire Park that he had obviously never noticed before. Carroll Scott said Midway Park looks good as well as the recreation center. Blessing Branch Park also looks good. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 April 7,2008 John Raab said there were lots of people using the Preserve at McCormick Park on his recent visit and the park was also in good shape. McCormick Park was also in good shape on his visit. John Elder said both Bob Eden and Trailwood parks were in wonderful condition. The volleyball courts are always being used when he goes by Bob Eden Park. Randy Jones said both South Euless and Heritage parks were in good shape. Alex Horton said Reflection Park appeared clean with empty trash liners. He mentioned the trash cans and dog-i-pots at the Villages of Bear Creek Park all has clean liners in them. He said the dog park was really coming along and should be finished later this month. Everyone is looking forward to using the areas of their dogs. The handicapped port-a-let by the amphitheater has a broken lock which needs to be repaired. Everett Hartzler was absent tonight but he sent his report to Chairman Owens to read. The report said that both J.A. and Kiddy Carr parks were clean. He said the refurbished gazebo at Simmons looks great with all the new flowers and shrubbery. He did notice that some of the trail between the two parks had eroded into the creek. Chairman Owens said his park is the Parks at Texas Star athletic complex and there has been lots of activity now with ball leagues and tournaments. A co-worker who lives in Bedford recently complimented on how nice the Parks at Texas Star is and what a great complex it is. Chairman Owens mentioned the Special Events for April: • The Trash Off was held this past weekend and there were 400 volunteers to help pick up trash. Incredible Pizza treated all the volunteers to pizza after the event. • Arbor Daze will be held at the city hall complex on Saturday, April 26th and Sunday, April 27th II. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens said the April 2008 Volunteer of the Month is Cub Scout Pack 546. They have helped with the following events: • Since 2000 they have volunteered for several of our Texas Trash Off events by picking up trash along Mid-Cities Boulevard • They have manned the Tree Give Away booth at Arbor Daze • They have also participated in several of our Christmas Parade of Lights events • They are participating again this year in the Texas Trash Off and Arbor Daze events Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 April 7,2008 Chairman Owens presented the plaque to Cub Scout Pack 546 for all their dedication to our department. The Cub Scout Pack 546 Leader and Scouts all thanked the Board Members for the award. III. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman Carroll Scott reported on the following for February 22nd—March 28th • There were 447 man hours for planting and 266.5 man hours for the greenhouse • No trees were planted and there were no tree related purchases • City Hall entrance • Ector Drive medians • Main Street medians • Main Street greenbelt • Raider Drive • Westpark Way at Highway 10 • Mack Drive entrance • Holly Drive entrance • Reflection Park • J. A. Carr Park rose garden IV. Parkland Conversion for Portions Throughout City — Mike Collins, Director of Planning and Development Director of Planning and Development Mike Collins came before the Board Members to seek approval to convert the subsurface areas of parks throughout the city for the purpose of offsite gas drilling and extraction. They came before the Board Members in April 2006 to ask to consider a portion of the Texas Star Sports Complex. Today the leasing activity throughout northeast Tarrant County has reached a level where many property owners are being solicited, with bonus per acre and royalty offers reaching new heights. The City of Euless desires to take advantage of this competitive environment and follow the legal steps associated with seeking gas lease bid proposals for city owned properties, including park land. This conversion only proposes the use of the subsurface. The subject park properties and acres include the following: • Midway Park—21.4 • Blessing Branch—7.3 Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 April 7,2008 • Heritage Park—4.5 • South Euless Park—6.5 • J. A. Carr Park- 8.7 • Kiddie Carr Park—4.2 • West Park—20.5 • Wilshire Park—5.5 Mr. Collins further stated that if a recommendation is made tonight from the Board Members then a public hearing would be held at the council meeting on May 15th. Also the city is hosting a Gas Drilling Forum on April 17th so the citizens can be informed as to the process of gas leasing. Mr. Collins said it has been a pleasure working with Ray on this and that Ray is an advocate in working with him and the new developers in the city to promote our trails system. Chairman Owens thanked Mr. Collins and asked the Board Members to make a recommendation tonight. Randy Jones made the motion to concur with staff's recommendation to convert the subsurface of parkland for the purpose of offsite drilling and the extraction of natural gas from portions located generally south of Harwood Road and north of South Pipeline Road on the east side of S.H. 157 and south of Airport Freeway and north of West Pipeline Road on the west side of S.H. 157 and further find that: a. There is no feasible or prudent alternative to extracting natural gas from underneath this park site, and, b. This proposal includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the parkland. John Raab seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. V. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Arbor Daze/Events Report—Michael Davenport Special Events Supervisor Michael Davenport said we had our annual Trash Off on Saturday and we had 400 volunteers helping this year. He said Special Events Coordinator Jerry Poteet does a great job with this event every year and this year Jerry was able to partner with Incredible Pizza to host the event and provide pizza to all the volunteers. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 April 7,2008 Also this is the 20th Anniversary for Arbor Daze and the event is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 27th from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. There will be free parking at the First Baptist Church with free shuttle to and from the event. Some of the May events we have scheduled are: (1) Thursday, May 1st—exhibition game between the Fort Worth Cats and the Grand Prairie AirHogs on Arlington Field at the Parks at Texas Star, and (2) Friday, May 9th—Euless Can Film Festival—High School Musical 2 at the Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater. b. Recreation Report—Randy Smith Recreation Superintendent Randy Smith updated the Board Members on the following: • Seniors — have a new program called "Hats of Love" which consists of a group that knits caps and then gives them to the hospitals. They are knitting about 100 caps a month. Simmons Center also serves about 80 meals a week to seniors. • Aquatics — Midway pool will be painted this week and Wilshire pool is almost complete. They are still in need of lifeguards for the summer. • Recreation—Heidi Taylor has started a new program"Girls on the Run" and this program is to improve the confidence of all girls and at the end of May they will run a 5K race. • Plantings—they hope to get young kids involved in planting flowers. c. Parks Report—Terry Boaz Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz updated the Board Members on some projects: • Gazebo—the gazebo at Simmons is now completed • Dog Park — the dividing fence has been installed and they still need to do some irrigation work, do the over seeding and still need some fire hydrants installed • Color Planting—color flowers have been added to many medians and entrances throughout town • Windmill—the new windmill at Heritage Park has been taken down and sent out for repair Chairman Owens said he really appreciates all the pictures that are included in their packets each month and he said all the new color beds throughout the city are very nice. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 April 7,2008 d. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald commented on the following: • Thanked Jerry Poteet and Michael Davenport on all their hard work with the special events. The Trash Off again was a great success and he was pleased that Incredible Pizza is now a sponsor for the Parks at Texas Star. • He thanked Mike Collins for his presentation tonight and said he has been working with Mike on a Parks and Wildlife Department trail grant for the Creekwood Addition at Mid- Cities and Highway 157. • Just a reminder that the 15' easement behind the homes at Fountain Park is to be maintained by the homeowners and the city will maintain the property and mowing beyond the 15' easement. • The Parks Master Plan will be on the April 22nd council agenda. • Ray also thanked Council Member Leon Hogg and his wife Jan for working the souvenir booth for the last 20 years, as well as for everything he has done for the community and all his time spent volunteering. • The new Arbor Daze souvenir booth coordinator will be Jeremy Tompkins and his family and they will be graciously manning the souvenir booth this year with the help of volunteers. VI. Other New Business Chairman Owens mentioned the Beautification Awards will begin next month and continue to October with two categories—residential yards and business/civic/governmental yards. GIS Manager David Allen gave a short presentation on the United Nations Billion Tree Campaign. He said this is a green belt movement to plant trees and during 2007 over 1.4 billion trees were planted throughout the world. This year at Arbor Daze when trees are given away we will also be giving each person a copy of the Tree Care Guide which will have the website address to register your tree for our city. Ray said he officially received Johnnie Green's notice to retire on May 31St. He thanked Johnnie for all his support, leadership and help during these past few years. Johnnie has over twenty years of experience and knowledge and we know that we will be losing a part of this knowledge and history of our city. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 7 April 7,2008 VII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Council Member Leon Hogg congratulated Jeremy Tompkins for volunteering to take over and manage the souvenir booth at Arbor Daze. He said Arbor Daze has been fun and now is the time for him and Jan to come out and just visit the event. He congratulated David Allen on his presentation tonight on the Billion Tree Campaign and said this is a very good idea and Euless did something like this a few years ago called the 1 + 1 Program which was also very successful. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m. Chairman Attest