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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-03-03 Regular Meeting Parks and Leisure Services Board March 3,2008 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:01 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 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 and alternates Jeremy Tompkins and Alex Horton. Members absent: John Elder and Everett Hartzler. Staff members present: Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Parks Manager Johnnie Green, Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz, Athletic Supervisor John Douthit, Recreation Superintendent Randy Smith and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: David Brown, Shannon Kelley and Michael Blair (both with Trinity High School National Honor Society). INVOCATION John Raab gave the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the February 4, 2008 regular meeting. Jeremy Tompkins made the motion to approve the minutes as presented and was seconded by Carroll Scott. The vote was unanimous. I. Board Member's Reports Alex Horton said both Reflection and the Villages of Bear Creek parks were in good shape. We also wanted to thank and compliment Johnnie Green and Terry Boaz for taking care of adding the new slats on the bridge as well as having new covers put on the lights under the bridge that were recently damaged. Carroll Scott said Blessing Branch Park was very clean on his recent visit. On his visit to Midway Park he said the new arbor on the trail looked nice and said Midway Recreation Center was very busy. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 March 3,2008 Jeremy Tompkins said West Park was in good shape. At Wilshire Park there were lots of people fishing and this park was also in good shape. He also commented on how nice the Arbor Daze banners looked on the poles around city hall. John Raab said he noticed people setting on the new benches in the gazebo at McCormick Park. At the Preserve at McCormick Park there were lots of kids using the slide and playground equipment and also lots of people fishing in the pond. Randy Jones said South Euless Park was clean and looked good and Heritage Park was in great condition. He did mention that the flag pole was not lighted at Heritage Park. Chairman Owens said the Special Events for February were: • R&R Program was held during the week of February 11 th through 17th • Community Garage Sale at Midway Recreation Center was held on February 23`d with all booths being sold out Chairman Owens mentioned some events for March: • Easter Egg Stuffing party—Friday,March 7th from 6:00—8:00 at the Ruth Millican Center • Easter Egg Scramble—Saturday, March 15th from 10:00 to 1:00 at the Parks at Texas Star • Spring Break Camp—week of March 17th—21st from 7:30 to 6:00 at Midway Rec Center • Star Trekkers-Euless Fun Walk — Saturday, March 29th from 8:00 to Noon at Bob Eden Park II. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens said the March 2008 Volunteer of the Month is Trinity High School National Honor Society. They have helped with the following events: • KidFish- 2004 • Arbor Daze—2005 and 2007 • Junior Angler's Fishing Event- 2005 and 2006 • Halloween Festival - 2005 and 2007 • Easter Egg Stuffing Party—2006 • Easter Egg Hunt—2007 They have already committed to volunteer for this year's Easter Egg Stuffing Party, Easter Egg Hunt, Texas Trash Off and also Arbor Daze. Chairman Owens presented the plaque to National Honor Society President Shannon Kelley and Vice President Michael Blair for all their dedication to our department. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 March 3,2008 III. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman Carroll Scott reported on the following for January 22nd - February 22nd: • There were 440 man hours • There were no trees purchased • Trimmed trees along creek at the Villages of Bear Creek park for the new dog park • Planted two Persimmon trees at Reflection Park • Pruned and raised all trees in Reflection Park • Aerated all medians on Harwood Road from Hwy 157 to Hwy 360 • Trimmed trees on Main Street at Ash lane • Attended the North Texas Urban Forestry Council work shop in Grand Prairie • Removed twelve dead Hackberry trees at J.A. Carr Park • Pruned trees over the sidewalk on the east side of the Main Street greenbelt • Began pruning J.A. Carr Park • Worked on the new rose garden at J.A. Carr Park(planting, irrigation and bed preparation) • Received Award of Merit from Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council to the City of Euless in recognition of the creative recycling of the city's natural resources by designing and building benches from dead and downed trees in the park Ray McDonald said our 2007 application for Tree City USA has been approved as well as the Growth Award application. IV. Presentation of the 2007 Parks,Recreation and Open Space Master Plan Ray McDonald mentioned the Master Plan is now ready for the Board Members to make a recommendation tonight. He will then present the Master Plan at the pre-council meeting on March 11th and then it will be put on the council agenda to be heard by them on March 25th. Once it has been approved by the council it will then be sent to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for approval. All Board Members will receive a copy of the approved Master Plan at a later date as well as one being sent to the City Secretary's office for file. V. Approval of the Recommendations Identified and Presented in the 2007 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan Chairman Owens read the recommendation to the Board Members and asked for an approval. Carroll Scott made the motion to accept the recommendation as presented and was seconded by John Raab. The vote was unanimous. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 March 3,2008 Chairman Owens thanked Ray and his staff for all the hard work on the Master Plan and he feels this is the best Master Plan to date. VI. Parks and Community Services Reports Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald said he did not plan a long agenda due to any discussion of the Master Plan. He commented on the following: • He mentioned the commendation letter received for Diane Eggers and how devoted she is to our seniors at the Senior Center. • He thanked John Douthit and Ryan Alexander for all their work on baseball registration and their dedication to all the players that signed up to play ball this season. • General Manager of Softball World Chris Thames was honored by USSSA with the Mel Butram Memorial Award which acknowledges excellence and his work in softball. • The city received the Award of Merit from the Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council for the creative recycling of natural resources by designing and building benches from dead and fallen trees. This shows the talent of our parks department staff and how creative they are. • Ray said he would keep all the Board Members apprised of the Master Plan and he hopes they will show their support and attend the public hearing for the plan at the council meeting on March 25 `. VII. Other New Business Athletic Supervisor John Douthit gave an update on baseball and softball registration numbers. He commented on the following: • Registration ran from January 1st through February 17th at Midway Recreation Center. He thanked Randy and his staff for all the hard work they did during registration. • Opening season starts on March 29`h. • A total of 1,107 players signed up for 87 teams. • "A"registration had about 350 players or 31 teams registered and they will play 10 games. • "AA"had 38 teams registered and they will play 12 games. • "AAA"numbers were up from last year and had 14 teams registered and will play 16 games during the season. • For girls softball we extended the registration another week but still did not get enough for any teams. We have contacted the city of Hurst and they have agreed to sign-up Euless residents to play on their teams. At a later date we hope to do an H-E-B girls softball association. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 March 3,2008 • John also mentioned we do all the registration and paperwork in house with the help of Ryan, Sandi and Randy. • At the end of the season the players will receive awards and also they receive coupons for snow-cones for the season. Ray commended John, Ryan and Randy's staff because they called every player from last year one week before registration ended to remind them to sign up before the deadline. VIII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors There were no council members in attendance tonight. Ray mentioned we hope to have the dog park open in early April. Alex Horton commented on the fact that Randy worked hard on having Midway Recreation Center remodeled and someone came in and cut the back strips on two benches in the center. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Chairman Attest t, Parks&Community Services Master Plan THE CITY OF EULESS RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDING THE PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN, OUT- DOOR RECREATIONAL PRIORITIES AND INDOOR RECREATIONAL PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY OF EULESS, TEXAS, IN 2008. WHEREAS, the duties and responsibilities of the Parks and Leisure Services Board shall be to act as an advisory body to the City Council of the City of Euless, Texas, Tarrant County; and WHEREAS, the Parks and Leisure Services Board has heard the comments of citizens, has been briefed by the staff and the consultants for the purpose of providing information and opinions; and WHEREAS, the Parks and Leisure Services Board has held a public meeting for the purpose of receiving information and comments; and WHEREAS, the Parks and Leisure Services Board has taken into consideration the desires of the citizens of Euless and the in-depth study conducted by the staff and consultants to be appropriate and reasonable. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOMMENDED BY THE PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES BOARD OF THE CITY OF EULESS, TEXAS: Section I. That the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan for the City of Euless, Texas be recom- mended to the City Council of the City of Euless, as enumerated on Exhibit 1, attached hereto and incorporated herein for all intents and purposes. PRESENTED AND APPROVED on this the day of 1 / ,k/ ,U k , by a vote of 6 ayes, D nays and 0 abstentions at a regular meet- ing of the Parks and Leisure Services Board of the City of Euless, Texas. ,e/ Chairman Attest 6