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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-09-13 REGULAR MEETING PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES BOARD SEPTEMBER 13,2004 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, September 13, 2004, in the Council Chambers of the Euless City Hall building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Mike Daniel, Boyce Byers, Glendora Waldrup, Carroll "Scotty" Scott and alternate Dan Clark. Members absent: Stacey Hollinger and alternate Jeff Sawlan. Staff members present: Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Parks Superintendent Terry Boaz, Parks Manager Johnnie Green, Recreation Manager Suzanne Hendrickson and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Alex Horton, Council Member Leon Hogg, Billy Owens, Barney Snitz, Don Martin, Dan and Michele Burger, David Eteaki, Moshin Tejani, Bill Byers, Rich Riddle, Rick Fox, Rhonda Mitchell, Fipe Foliaki, Ana Ahovelo, Amelia Hanli, Ofa Faiva-Siale, Asif Budhwani, Bill and Beth Stone, Joanne Collins and Julie Callahan. INVOCATION Glendora Waldrup gave the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the August 2, 2004 regular meeting. There being none, Mike Daniel made the motion to approve the minutes as presented and was seconded by Carroll Scott. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS I. Board Member's Reports Boyce Byers has Special Events and said the events in August were: (1) Freaky Friday (make-up movie in the park), (2) Bicycle Safety Rodeo held at Bob Eden Park had about 400 people in attendance and (3) the Volunteer Appreciation Banquet which was held at the Midway Recreation Center had about 150 to 175 volunteers in attendance. Boyce thanked Alex Horton for all his help with the Bicycle Rodeo as well as obtaining sponsors for the event. She said some future events are: (1) September 18th—Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater—music series with Max Stallings Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 September 13,2004 at 7:30 p.m., (2) September 25th — Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater — music series with the UTA Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. and (3) October 9th — Community Garage Sale at Midway Recreation Center from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Dan Clark said both J. A. Carr and Kiddy Carr parks were well maintained and the rose garden looked very nice. He noticed a pile of brush which had been thrown in the creek. Glendora Waldrup.said she had no report tonight for McCormick or Villages of Bear Creek parks. But she said she did go by Midway Park and it looks good. Carroll Scott said Trailwood Park was mowed and the playground equipment looked good. He mentioned the lights were on in the park at 9:00 a.m. when he did his inspection. He said Bob Eden Park was clean but there was some trash around the pavilion area and the playground area looked good. He also said he noticed some graffiti under the bridge. Mike Daniel said Heritage Park was extremely clean and recently mowed. South Euless Park had also recently been mowed and he noticed a large pothole in the parking lot. Chairman Owens said his parks are Midway and Blessing Branch. He had no report for Blessing Branch Park. He said Midway Park looks good and the fields are in great shape. Chairman Owens said he drove by Wilshire Park and all the residents in the park were very complimentary on how nice this park is. He also visited the Parks at Texas Star last weekend and the park looks great and the ball fields were well maintained. He said everyone involved with the baseball association is very proud of the Parks at Texas Star. Boyce Byers said she drove by West Park and this is a beautiful park due to the recent improvements. II. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens presented Ms. Ricki Riddle and Rick Fox each with a plaque for the September Volunteer of the Month. He said they have volunteered a total of 78 hours in the last two years. Some of the events they have worked are: (1) 2002 and 2003 Arbor Daze Festival, (2) 2002 Super Series National Baseball Tournament, (3) 2003 and 2004 Arbor Daze Auction, (4) 2003 Halloween Event and (5) 2003 Heritage Park Celebration. Chairman Owens thanked the volunteers for being present tonight and said the volunteers are who help make the events a success. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 September 13, 2004 NEW BUSINESS III. Beautification Award of the Month Chairman Owens presented Ms. Rhonda Mitchell, 906 Fayette Drive with the September Residential Beautification Award plaque. Chairman Owens also presented Julie Callahan with Tall Timbers Apartments, 501 Sycamore Lane with the September Business Beautification Award plaque. IV. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman Mike Daniel mentioned the following for the month of August: (1) planted two Italian Cypress trees at city hall, (2) repotted trees into gallon size pots for Arbor Daze next year, (3) pruned trees obstructing school zone signs and stop signs, (4) removed more storm damaged tree limbs and trees, (5) elevated several trees for the mowing crew, (6) pruned out infested areas on the Pecan tree outside the Mayors office, and also (7) pruned trail trees at Bob Eden and the Villages of Bear Creek parks. V. Recognition of Eagle Scout Projects Chairman Owens presented Mohsin Tejani of Eagle Scout Troop 758 with a plaque for his efforts this summer for cleaning and repainting all the trail markers at the Villages of Bear Creek Park. Chairman Owens also presented Asif Budhwani of Eagle Scout Troup 758 with a plaque for his efforts this summer for his work at Midway Park. He and his friends spread mulch chips around the playground equipment in the park. VI. Adopt-A-Park/Adopt-A-Trail Program Ray McDonald, Director of Parks and Community Services, briefly reviewed the program to the visitors in the audience. He said these groups of volunteers have made a two year commitment to help keep their designated parks clean of litter and trash and they must clean their park at least six times during the year. He said the city will provide the use of vests, trash bags and trash pickers for the volunteers and our parks staff will go by the park and remove all the bags of garbage which will be collected. Ray invited anyone interested in helping with the program to please contact Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 September 13,2004 him for additional information. He said the program commitment is from October 1, 2004 to September 30, 2006. He said he would now introduce each of the groups to the Board Members and would ask that they vote on each of the contracts. • Trailwood Troopers, chaired by Bill Byers, have adopted Trailwood Park. Dan Clark made the motion to approve the Trailwood Troopers for Trailwood Park and was seconded by Glendora Waldrup. The vote was unanimous. • Stone Award Company, chaired by Bill Stone, has adopted Bob Eden Park. Mike Daniel made the motion to approve the Stone Award Company for Bob Eden Park and was seconded by Carroll Scott. The vote was unanimous. • St. Michael's Church, chaired by Ana Leka Ahovelo, has adopted the Villages of Bear Creek Park. Boyce Byers made the motion to approve St. Michael's Church for the Villages of Bear Creek Park and was seconded by Dan Clark. The vote was unanimous. • Euless Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association, chaired by Don Martin, has adopted A.J. Carr (Simmons) Park and will be sharing with A.A.R.P. Euless Chapter 5172. Mike Daniel made the motion to approve the Euless Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association for Simmons Park and was seconded by Glendora Waldrup. The vote was unanimous. • Voice of Tonga, chaired by David Eteaki, has adopted Bob Eden and McCormick parks. Glendora Waldrup made the motion to approve the Voice of Tonga for Bob Eden Park and also McCormick Park and was seconded by Carroll Scott. The vote was unanimous. • A.A.R.P. Euless Chapter 5172, chaired by Billy F. Owens, has also adopted A.J. Carr (Simmons) Park and will be sharing with the Euless Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association. Carroll Scott made the motion to approve A.A.R.P. for Simmons Park and was seconded by Mike Daniel. The vote was unanimous. • Dan and Michele Burger, chaired by Michel Burger, have adopted Kiddy Carr Park. Glendora Waldrup made the motion to approve Dan and Michele Burger for Kiddy Carr Park and was seconded by Dan Clark. The vote was unanimous. Ray and the Board Members thanked the groups for their commitment to make Euless a beautiful and better place to live. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 September 13,2004 VII. Parks and Community Services Reports a. End of Summer Report—Suzanne Hendrickson Recreation Manager Suzanne Hendrickson gave the following updates: • September 18th—the Villages of Bear Creek Park music series presenting Max Stalling with Houston Marchman at 7:30 p.m. • September 25th — the Villages of Bear Creek Park music series presenting the UTA Symphony Orchestra performing"Peter and the Wolf'at 7:30 p.m. • October 9th— Community Garage Sale at Midway Recreation Center from 9:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. • Midway Recreation Center— 331 memberships were sold and there were 1,001 hours and 2,681 miles logged on the cardio equipment. Adult class attendance was 725 and youth class attendance was 925. • Parks at Texas Star—fall soccer and fall baseball both began on September 11th. Some of the maintenance updates are: (1) foul poles were repainted, (2) the astro turf on top of the batting cages will be replaced and (3) the padding around the batting cages will also be replaced. • Simmons Senior Center— the seniors took three trips in August and there have been 799 visitors to the building. She said Diane will start opening the center one Saturday a month and she had 15 seniors that came in on Saturday, September 11th b. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald updated the Board Members on some of the projects: • Parks at Texas Star — Phase III — he said there has been significant progress in the last month. The contractor had a total of 38 rain dates which pushed the project back. The east and west sidewalks have now been poured, grade work is being done on the t-ball fields and the three ball fields as well and compost has been applied. At Veterans Field bleacher pads will be poured in a few days, the back stop will have netting and there will be shade structures on the t-ball fields. Carter Construction hopes to be completed with this project in November. Ray also mentioned that most play would be during the daytime hours and we will look at proposed lighting in any future phases. • Preserve at McCormick Park—he said the appraisal was received back and has now been forwarded to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and we are third in line on their approval list. He hopes to hear something back this week. Once the appraisal is approved Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 September 13,2004 by TPWD then the city attorney will review and prepare the land transaction and then the project will be ready for the bid process. • East Midway Drive Sign —there is a new sign now at Main Street and Midway Drive for Midway Park. The Parks staff worked with the Public Works staff coordinating the construction of the sign as well as the new fencing at this location and upon completion the area will be landscaped as part of the overall landscaping plan for Main Street. • Splash Pad—we only received one bid out of twelve (12)that were picked up. The bid was rejected and we are reevaluating the process again with hopes to bring something back to the City Council in the near future. Upon further review in speaking with one vendor in particular, the timing might work to our advantage with a shorter installation time needed due to the time of the year that the project might be ready. The splash pad will be located at South Euless Park. Ray also said the trail work tie-ins at Bob Eden Park and McCormick Park are now complete. They still need to install some safety rails at McCormick Park and the parks staff will be dressing up the area. All new metal light poles have been installed at J.A. Carr and Heritage parks. The parks staff has also been doing some slope and drainage work around the Library. The sand volley ball courts are being relocated to Bob Eden Park. c. Other Staff Reports There were no other staff reports. VIII. Other New Business Chairman Owens mentioned that some of the Board Members terms will be expiring in December and that they need to turn in their application to City Secretary Susan Crim if they would like to stay on the Park Board. IX. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Council Member Leon Hogg commented on the good job the Park Board is doing and to please turn in your application to continue representing this board. Alex Horton also thanked the Park Board Members for their commitment to the citizens. He mentioned the recent Bicycle Safety Rodeo was a great event and he wanted to thank all the business supporters for their support in this event. Alex also made reference to a recent article in Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 7 September 13,2004 July 2004 which said that 60% of Euless residents are renters and feels we should get more of the apartments involved in our community events. Boyce Byers thanked Alex for all his work and involvement with the Board Members and the Parks and Community Services department events. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Chairman Attest