Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-01 Regular Meeting Parks and Leisure Services Board October 1,2007 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:03 p.m. on Monday, October 1, 2007, in the Council Chambers of the Euless City Hall building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Carroll Scott, Randy Jones, John Raab and alternates John Elder, Sonja Adams and Everett Hartzler. Members absent: Stacey Hollinger and Boyce Byers. Staff members present: Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Parks Manager Johnnie Green, Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz, Recreation Superintendent Randy Smith, Athletic Supervisor John Douthit and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Billy Owens, Alex Horton, David Brown, Dusty Lela, Barbara Scoggins, Council Member Charlie Miller and Mayor Pro Tern Leon Hogg. INVOCATION John Raab gave the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the September 10, 2007 regular meeting. Randy Jones 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 the work on the gabion wall looks good at McCormick Park. The light is out in the fountain at the Preserve at McCormick Park. Ray said the company has been contacted that handles the lights and they are scheduled to come out but did not give a date. John Raab said the trails looked good and they were in good shape at Kiddie Carr Park. He mentioned that J.A. Carr Park was very busy with lots of people using the trail and said the playground was in good shape. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 October 1,2007 John Elder said both South Euless and Heritage parks were in good shape. Randy Jones said Wilshire and West parks both looked good and staff does a great job with the parks. Sonja Adams said that Trailwood Park is in excellent condition and looked great. Bob Eden Park had lots of people out using everything in the park and it was also in good shape. Everett Hartzler said the Villages of Bear Creek Park looked in good shape but he was concerned with the trail close to Hwy. 360 and said it had partially washed out due to the rains. Chairman Owens said Midway Park looked good as well as the new benches that were placed along the new trail in the park. Ray McDonald also updated the Board Members on the vandalism in the parks where someone is stealing copper wires from the lights. The Parks at Texas Star athletic complex was recently hit and when the new wires were installed the parks crew put thicker plates on to cover the copper connections. He mentioned that last year the light poles were insured with TML (Texas Municipal League) our insurance carrier at all the PACS facilities. Ray McDonald mentioned the recent Bicycle Rodeo was held and it was well attended. There were about 300 in attendance and the bicycles were registered and inspected. He thanked the Police and Fire departments for all their helps as well as a big thank you for Mike Davenport, Jerry Poteet and Alex Horton for all their work with this event. H. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens presented a plaque to Dusty Lela as the October 2007 Volunteer of the Month and said Dusty has worked the following events: • 2006 Halloween Thing • 2006 Holidaze KidZone • 2007 Valentine's Dance • 2007 St. Patrick's Day Concert • 2007 Texas Trash Off • 2007 Arbor Daze Festival • In addition he is committed to working the Stars over Euless in October and the Holidaze KidZone in December Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 October 1,2007 Dusty thanked the Board Members for the plaque and said Euless does a lot for its citizens and it is always nice to give back to the community. III. Beautification Award of the Month Chairman Owens mentioned that each year from May through October we do a residential and business/civic/governmental Yard of the Month award. Chairman Owens said the October 2007 residential Beautification Award of the Month goes to Barbara Scoggins at 601 S. Mills Drive. This yard is beautifully landscaped with a great selection and use of shrubs and bedding plants. The yard is well manicured, lush and green. One look and you know the owner takes pride in their work. Ms. Scoggins thanked the Board Members for the award. Chairman Owens said the October 2007 business/civic/governmental Beautification Award goes to Oak Park Apartment Homes at 1350 N. Main Street. This property is a great apartment landscape with lots of color and is a well maintained lawn. It is efforts like yours that make our city a great place to work and live. Chairman Owens said their award would be delivered to them since they were not present tonight. IV. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman John Raab reported on the following for August 22nd to September 22": • Trimmed shrubs and a Pecan tree at city hall • Removed two (2) dead trees at West Park • Trimmed trees along the trail and around the playground at Trailwood Park • Trimmed trees along the trail at the Preserve at McCormick Park • Trimmed trees and crepe myrtles in the Raider Drive medians • Removed dead trees at the Parks at Texas Star complex • Trimmed around the gazebo at McCormick Park • Removed a dead Pine tree in the Highway 10 median • Removed a fallen Willow tree in Blessing Branch Park • Cleared the creek bank behind Verna's Cafe Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 October 1,2007 V. EGSA(Euless Girls Softball Association)Update—Danny Renteria Danny Renteria was not present to give an update to the Board Members. VI. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Midway Recreation Center Project Updates—Randy Smith Recreation Superintendent Randy Smith gave the following report: Midway Recreation Center • Memberships sold—255 • Current memberships—3,995 • Class hours - 252 Facility Reservations • Total reservations— 161 Midway Recreation Center Update • Tile wall has been completed • Painting of the exterior building has also been completed • The windows have now been replaced and really look good Midway Recreation Center—2008 Projects • Floor replacement — hallway, game area, weight room and front office — with Mondo flooring • FRP wall board in the classroom hallway • Recoat gym and racquetball courts (after all other projects have been completed) • Replacement of the roof and air conditioning units • Repair racquetball court walls • Replace all parking lot as well as walkway lighting—with new light poles for better lighting Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 October 1,2007 b. Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan—Status Update—Ray McDonald Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald distributed a revised draft copy of the Master Plan for the Board Members to read through and let him know of any corrections, changes and/or additions or concerns they have with the document. He said the Master Plan is about 90% complete but we still need to incorporate a couple of maps into the document before it is final and he still hopes to have the completed Master Plan to the Board Members before the end of the year. Ray also distributed a letter he received from our Athletic Supervisor John Douthit that was given to him at a recent meeting. This letter was generated from Judy Mizell, Athletic Director with the HEB ISD Athletic Department. She stated that in 2004, the Mid-Cities Youth Activities Council (MCYAC) adopted their current by-laws and said they would consider proposals for membership from organizations who meet the following criteria: that students must attend HEB schools or live in the HEB city limits in order to participate in youth sponsored activities which are requesting the use of practice fields in the area. She said with recreational areas at a premium, it is vital to our district that the by-laws be applied uniformly to every organization that is a member of MCYAC. They cannot support the continued use of school district facilities if the rules are not applied to all of the organizations. Ray said that we have many students who participate in sports that do go to our schools but they actually reside in other outlying communities. Ray updated the Board Members on the following: • Midway Park trail project and said staff is very proud of the project and how nice the park looked with the trail and new bridges which were installed today over the creek. • He said Johnnie Green, Terry Boaz and Nursery Specialist Kenneth Benware have been working very hard to implement a new and unique program to utilize both our greenhouses for growing up to 70% of our own plants, shrubs and etc. He said by growing our own plants in-house that we can save the city money by having a city run greenhouse since we already have an in-ground tree farm. Ray said staff is very excited about this new program. Sonja Adams suggested that once the greenhouses get going and if the city has any surplus plants that they might consider selling to neighborhood associations for their neighborhood entrances. Everett Hartzler commented on how nice the gabion wall looks and how much work goes into the wall project. Ray also mentioned that Cary Stevens in the parks department will receive his 25-year service pin at the council meeting next week. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 October 1,2007 VII. Other New Business Randy Smith reminded the Board Members that Stars over Euless will be on Friday, October 19th at Bob Eden Park from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and the Halloween Thing will be on Wednesday, October 31st at Midway Recreation Center from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. VIII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Council Member Charlie Miller congratulated both Barbara Scoggins and Dusty Lela for their awards tonight. He also said that this Board is very special and likes what this Board does for the community and the impact it has on our citizens. The landscaping on Main Street is an outstanding project and thanked everyone for their part in the project. He also emphasized the importance of the Master Plan to our city and the impact it will have on future revitalization in the city. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Chairman Attest`