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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-08-02 REGULAR MEETING PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES BOARD AUGUST 2,2004 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:03 p.m. on Monday, August 2, 2004, in the Council Chambers of the Euless City Hall building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Mike Daniel, Boyce Byers, Carroll "Scotty" Scott, Stacey Hollinger and alternate Dan Clark. Members absent: Glendora Waldrup 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, Special Events Coordinator Michael Davenport and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Alex Horton, Council Member Charlie Miller, Billy Owens, Bobby and Kristy Lindley, Jeff and Jerrie Keller, Jason and Susan Weston, Alisha and Annie Davenport and Janine Wolzen. INVOCATION Mike Daniel gave the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the June 7, 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 Mike Daniel said he was at a party recently at South Euless Park and he noticed people speeding through the park going to the swimming pool and also said there are no lights in this park at night. He said Heritage Park was extremely clean. Carroll Scott said Trailwood Park was very clean and in good shape. There was a lamp out by the picnic area, the walking path was covered with dirt from the recent rain, and the water fountain was Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 August 2,2004 not working correctly. He said at Bob Eden Park the pavilion and restrooms were clean, the soccer fields were being used, the water fountain by the pavilion was also not working and there was some graffiti under the bridge. Mr. Scott mentioned some kiddy swings are needed for the smaller kids to use and he also inquired as to if port-o-lets would be installed at the rear area of the trail. Director of Community Services Ray McDonald said the parks staff will tend to the graffiti under the bridge and they will check on the port-o-let situation but feels that the truck needed to clean the port-o-lets may not be able to get back to that area. Dan Clark said both J. A. Carr and Kiddy Carr parks are well kept and have recently been mowed. Again he noticed trash in the creek and also noticed that someone had put a pile of brush behind the houses by the Simmons Senior Center. He further mentioned that he has been playing racquetball at Midway Recreation Center and the lights are very dim — they need to be replaced with brighter bulbs. Stacey Hollinger recently walked through the Parks at Texas Star athletic complex and said everything is well maintained and clean. He said Veterans Field is progressing and the construction is coming right along. Boyce Byers has Special Events and said the Games of Texas was held a couple of weeks ago and was again a great success with the help of many volunteers. She also mentioned the great success of combined efforts of the city and the HEB/ISD for the free lunch program to the children at Midway Recreation Center during the month of June. Mrs. Byers said there have been many great programs for the kids this summer. Chairman Owens said the fields at Midway Park are in great shape. II. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens presented Janine Wolzen with a plaque for the July Volunteer of the Month and said she has volunteered many hours for the department. Some of the events she has worked are: (1) 2001-2003 Halloween Thing, (2) 2003 & 2004 Arbor Daze Auction, (3) 2004 Easter Egg Hunt, (4) 2002-2003 Arbor Daze Festival. Chairman Owens also presented Jeff and Jerrie Keller with a plaque for the August Volunteer of the Month. He said they have volunteered a total of 94 hours in the last five year. Some of the events they have worked are: (1) 2001 & 2003 Arbor Daze Festival, (2) 2001 & 2002 Super Series National Baseball Tournaments, (3) 2001 Christmas Parade of Lights (4) 2001 New Year's Eve Concert, (5) 2002 Dixie Boys World Series, (6) 2003 Heritage Park Christmas Celebration, and (7) Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 August 2,2004 2004 Movies with the Stars. He said they have also worked several Texas Trash Off events in the past. Chairman Owens thanked the volunteers for being present tonight and said the volunteers are who help make the events a success. NEW BUSINESS III. Beautification Award of the Month Chairman Owens said the July Residential and Business Beautification Award winners are not present tonight to receive their plaques but their plaques would be delivered to them. Chairman Owens presented Jason and Susan Weston, 506 Cecil Lane with the August Residential Beautification Award plaque. Mr. Weston said part of the success of their yard goes to his wife who is always trying new plants and color in the yard. Chairman Owens also presented Mr. Bobby Lindley with B&B Auto Body, 605 West Euless Blvd. with the August Business Beautification Award plaque. IV. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairman Mike Daniel mentioned the following for the month of June: (1) staff dealt with many storm damaged trees, (2) the renovation of the old greenhouse container farm which will be used for growing trees for Arbor Daze, (3) 643 trees were given away at the"May Day for Mother's Day Arbor Daze"plant sale, (4) staff pruned trees at City Hall as well as in the parks and (5) mowed, trimmed and fertilized the Villages of Bear Creek Tree Farm. Tree Board Chairman Daniel also gave the following for the month of July: (1)the staff spent most of the month doing maintenance on the trees, (2) staff also potted plants/trees that will be used for Arbor Daze 2005, (3) we also received the Texas Festivals and Events Association awards for the "Best Environmental Program" (for the Arbor Daze tree give away) as well as the "Best Educational Program" (for the Arbor Daze Forestry Village). He also read a letter which was received from Michael C. Burgess, M.D., a congressional member of the House of Representatives congratulating Euless on the recent designation as a 2004 Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 August 2,2004 V. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Special Events Update—Michael Davenport Special Events Coordinator Michael Davenport gave the following updates: • August 7th—Movies Under the Stars will show"Freaky Friday" at Bob Eden Park • August 21st— Bicycle Rodeo at Bob Eden Park from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Michael said there will be bicycle inspections, free sodas and hotdogs. The fire department will have demonstrations with their safe house and the police department will have also have McGruff present for the kids. He also mentioned he received 50 free bicycle helmets for any of the kids who did not own one and he thanked Alex Horton and Officer James Gordon for all their help in preparing for this event. • August 28th —the Volunteer Banquet will be at Midway Recreation Center at 6:30 p.m. He said the "American Classic"band will be the entertainment that night. • 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. b. Recreation Update—Suzanne Hendrickson Recreation Manager Suzanne Hendrickson gave the following updates: • Midway Recreation Center — had a total of 10,743 visitors, 485 memberships were sold and there were 1,519 hours and 2,681 miles logged on the cardio equipment. Summer camp will end this Friday and we had both a great staff and kids this summer. • Parks at Texas Star—the following were held during June and July: 1. June 18-21 —Super Series All Star State Tournament 2. June 25-28—USSSA AAA State Tournament 3. July 3-5 —Pony District Tournament 4. July 10-15 —Dixie State Tournament 5. July 16-18—Pony Regional Tournament 6. July 23-25 —Games of Texas She said tournament season is now over and all the fields have been aerated and fertilized in preparation for the fall leagues. • Athletics— 1. Summer track had 26 kids that qualified for state 2. Registration is on-going for Men's and Women's Basketball and Flag Football Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 August 2,2004 • Aquatics—total June attendance at all pools was 6,085 and each pool had the following: 1. Midway—2,929 2. South Euless— 1,724 3. Wilshire— 1,432 • Simmons Senior Center — the attendance in June - 717 and July — 900. She said the senior's water aerobics class is still on-going and the trips for September have been booked. She also mentioned there was recently a meeting of the newly formed "Red Hat Society" in Euless. • Arbor Daze - Suzanne also said Arbor Daze won four (4) awards recently from the Texas Festivals and Events Associations annual meeting in Austin. The awards are: 1. Best Environmental Program—for our Tree Give Away 2. Best Volunteer Program 3. Best Educational Program—for our Forestry Exhibit, and 4. Best New Fund Raising Program—for the Arbor Daze Mother's Day Plant Sale and Tree Give Away c. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald updated the Board Members on some of the projects: • East Midway Back Stops — the soccer field now has six new back stops added to the original three bringing the total to nine. He said they hope to have all Euless Athletic Association practice at this location and he plans to get with the Bedford-Euless Soccer Association to possibly move soccer practice from this location to one of the other fields to free up these fields for EAA so they can have the majority of their practices at one location. • Preserve at McCormick Park— he said the original appraisal done by Terry Sandlin was sent to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department but the time period had elapsed (two years). Therefore another appraiser has been hired and the new appraisal value will be received soon and forwarded to the state. • Parks at Texas Star—Phase III—due to all the rain in June the construction company has lost about two months working time. Ray said he will receive a new construction schedule this week and Carter Construction will do their best to get back on schedule. • Adopt-A-Park— Ray said he has received some applications for the new program and he would like to invite the applicants to the next Park Board meeting. Ray also congratulated Suzanne and her staff for all their hard work with the recent Games of Texas and said the event was a great success. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 August 2, 2004 Stacey Hollinger asked Suzanne if the Board Members could receive a copy of the power point presentation in the packets. Suzanne said she does the power point material from the packet material after it has already been delivered but she would make the Board Members a copy and it will be at their places for the meetings starting with the next meeting. Chairman Owens commended the staff for their hard work this summer with all the great summer events which were scheduled. d. Other Staff Reports Parks Manager Johnnie Green said Boy Scout — Troup 578 projects were done this summer at Midway and Villages of Bear Creek parks and to please look over the pictures that are included in their packets. VI. Other New Business Chairman Owens said the next meeting will be on September 13th due to city offices being closed on September 6th for Labor Day. VII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Council Member Charlie Miller commented on how the Park Board is doing a wonderful job and told them to keep up the good work. He mentioned he constantly receives compliments on the Parks at Texas Star facility and what an asset the complex is to the city. He also complimented the parks staff for the great job they do in keeping the fields maintained and in great shape. Chairman Owens mentioned that all the staff in the Parks and Community Services department does a great job for our citizens. Alex Horton thanked the Park Board Members for all their efforts and he also suggested putting a port-o-let at Trailwood Park for the smaller children that go to the park with their parents. Billy Owens said forty gallons of Gatorade was served to the young golfers during the Games of Texas and said everyone had a great time. Boyce Byers inquired as to if the city will ever get a dog park? Ray McDonald said he and Johnnie have been talking about building a future dog park on the north side of Bob Eden Park (where the road to nowhere is currently located). • Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 7 August 2,2004 ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. -"L' = 7 Chairman Attest