HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-04 REGULAR MEETING
PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES BOARD
OCTOBER 4,2004
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on
Monday, October 4, 2004, in the Council Chambers of the Euless City Hall building by Chairman
Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Stacey Hollinger, Boyce Byers, Glendora Waldrup,
Carroll "Scotty" Scott and alternates Dan Clark and Jeff Sawlan. Members absent: Mike Daniel.
Staff members present: Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz, Parks Manager Johnnie Green,
Recreation Manager Suzanne Hendrickson and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux.
Visitors present: Alex Horton, Barney Snitz, Diane Eggers, Fred Foote, Sunny Sizemore, Bill and
Lou Coleman, and Richard and Charlsey McNeese.
INVOCATION
Stacey Hollinger gave the invocation.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the
September 13, 2004 regular meeting. There being none, Boyce Byers made the motion to approve
the minutes as presented and was seconded by Glendora Waldrup. The vote was unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS
I. Board Member's Reports
Dan Clark said both J. A. Carr and Kiddy Can parks were well maintained and looked very nice.
Carroll Scott said both Trailwood and Bob Eden parks were mowed and clean.
Glendora Waldrup said the Villages of Bear Creek Park was green and looks good and she noticed
numerous soccer benches on the field. She had no report for McCormick Park.
Stacey Hollinger said he recently inspected the Parks at Texas Star and as always the facility is well
maintained and clean. He said it was nice seeing the construction and progress being made on
Phase III.
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October 4,2004
Boyce Byers has Special Events and said the events in September were: (1) Saturday, September
18 - Max Stalling with Houston Marchman concert at the Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater—
about 150 people were in attendance, and (2) Saturday, September 25th — UTA Symphony
Orchestra performed Peter and the Wolf at the Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater — about 250
people were in attendance.
Jeff Sawlan said both West Park and Wilshire Park were very clean. He said the recent remodel
and improvements at West Park make this an attractive park. He said he did notice some graffiti in
the port-o-lets at Wilshire Park.
Chairman Owens said Midway Park is always well kept and the fields look good. He also
commented on how nice Midway Recreation Center was.
II. Volunteer of the Month
Chairman Owens presented Barney Snitz with a plaque for the October Volunteer of the Month.
Some of the events he has worked are: (1) 2001, 2002 and 2003 Halloween events, (2) 2001 Julia
Wakeley Scholarship Golf Tournament, (3) 2002 Arbor Daze Festival and (4) the 2004 Bicycle
Safety Rodeo. In addition Barney was scheduled to work the 2004 Arbor Daze Festival before it
was canceled due to the rain.
Chairman Owens thanked Barney for his tireless efforts to help make our events a success.
NEW BUSINESS
III. Beautification Award of the Month
Chairman Owens presented Richard and Charlsey McNeese, 302 Whitener with the October
Residential Beautification Award plaque. Mr. McNeese said he and his wife enjoy working in their
yard. Mr. McNeese thanked the Board Members for all the work they do and also for the
tremendous work that is done in our beautiful parks.
Chairman Owens also presented Sunny Sizemore, who was representing Wilshire Elementary
School, 420 Wilshire Drive with the October Business/Civic/Governmental Beautification Award
plaque and said Sunny is a tireless worker for the school district and we appreciate everything
Sunny has done for the school. Sunny thanked Johnnie Green and his staff for their help in past
years.
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October 4,2004
IV. Business of the Tree Board
Chairman Owens mentioned the following for the month of October: (1) purchased 19 trees for the
Parks at Texas Star—Phase III, (2)purchased 3 Foster Holly trees for the Library and planted them
on the north side of the building, (3) purchased 16 Crepe Myrtles for planting at South Euless Park
and also at West Park as part of the landscape project, (4) we have a good crop of Live Oak acorns
at Midway Park and these will be beneficial for Arbor Daze and other tree related programs
throughout the year, (5)Ralph Klein attended the Texas Forest Service Tree Conference September
15th-17th, (6) the potting of trees for Arbor Daze continues and there should be some nice sized
trees for Arbor Daze 2005 and (7) pruned trees obstructing traffic signal and yield signs as well as
the routine watering of trees at both tree farms.
V. Presentation of the"Inspiration Award"
Chairman Owens presented Fred Foote with the "Inspiration Award" plaque for his dedication to
walking three miles a day, six days a week at J.A. Carr Park. Mr. Foote is 88 years young and has
been walking daily since 1990. Chairman Owens said he is an inspiration to all the Board
Members and the community.
Mr. Foote thanked the Board Members for the award and said he used to walk seven days a week
until he had a stroke and then had to cut back to six days. He said he is at the park by 4:50 a.m.
daily and he also logs his miles each day.
VI. Parks and Community Services Reports
a. Recreation Update—Suzanne Hendrickson
Recreation Manager Suzanne Hendrickson gave the following updates:
• October 9th - Community Garage Sale - from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Midway Recreation
Center
• October 9th— 10th-USSSA"AAA"Baseball Tournament at the Parks at Texas Star
• October 9th—Senior Dance—from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Simmons Senior Center
• October 30th — Halloween Carnival — from 10:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. at Midway Recreation
Center
• Midway Recreation Center—there were 254 memberships sold, 3,485 visits to the fitness
center, and 1,011 hours logged on the cardio equipment. Adult class registration was 214
and youth class registration was 147.
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• Parks at Texas Star— fall leagues are ongoing. The fall tournaments are: (1) October 9th-
10th for the USSSA "AAA" Baseball tournament and (2) November 6th-7th for the USSSA
fall State Baseball tournament. Once fall ball is finished then the facility will close down
for maintenance and reopen in February 2005.
• Simmons Senior Center—the seniors took five trips during September and there have been
1,194 visitors to the facility.
b. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald
Parks Manager Johnnie Green updated the Board Members on some of the projects since Ray
McDonald was out of town:
• Parks at Texas Star— Phase III — he said the shade structures have been started on the t-
ball / coach pitch fields. The steel posts have been installed for the Veterans Field stadium
and the bleacher areas are also now in. The walks on both sides of the stadium have been
poured and there has been irrigation work on the site as well. Johnnie said one of the walks
will be ADA accessible and the other side will have steps going up into the stadium. The
soccer fields have been graded and irrigation has been installed and is almost ready to sod.
Also the pavestone should be installed soon.
• East Midway Drive Sign—the fencing has been installed and we will be obtaining bids for
the electrical lighting for the sign.
• West Park Trail Work — new picnic tables, pads and grills have been installed and the
grass now looks good.
• City Hall—Building"B"—the flower beds have been redone.
• Library — at the north end of the facility there are some drainage issues and the area has
been re-graded, more sod added as well as some new shrubs.
Johnnie also mentioned the staff has been working on the McCormick trail (east side of the
apartments) where TxDOT has tied in and his staff has removed the railroad ties and tree rings have
been installed and all the broken concrete has now been repaired. The sharp turn area has now
been smoothed out and once the hand rails are painted then they will be installed along this area.
Boyce Byers said she appreciates everything the Parks staff has done. She wanted to inquire if
lights would be added to the playing fields for the Parks at Texas Star-Phase III? Johnnie said due
to budgetary reasons we are not able to include the lighting in this phase but said we can at a later
date with the necessary approved funding.
Chairman Owens mentioned this has been a pressing issue in the past and he and the sports
associations feel a great need for lighting the games as well as any other events which could be held
at the Parks at Texas Star. He said he hopes we can get lights for the fields at a future date.
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October 4,2004
c. Other Staff Reports
There were no other staff reports.
VII. Other New Business
Glendora Waldrup thanked Suzanne Hendrickson for giving a presentation to her garden club on
the Preserve at McCormick Park. She said everyone thanked Suzanne for giving up her time to
come and speak.
Suzanne Hendrickson mentioned that all the athletic associations will be present for the next
meeting scheduled for November 1st
VIII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors
Alex Horton thanked Johnnie Green and Terry Boaz for all the work they did on the trails at
McCormick Park and also for the connection of the trails.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting
was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
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Chairman Attest