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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-10-06 REGULAR MEETING PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES BOARD OCTOBER 6,2003 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:04 p.m. on Monday, October 6, 2003, in the Council Chambers of the Euless Municipal Building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Boyce Byers, Mike Daniel, Glendora Waldrup, Stacey Hollinger and alternates Carroll "Scotty" Scott and Dan Clark. Board Members Carl Miller and Jeff Sawlan were absent. Staff members present: Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Recreation Manager Suzanne Hendrickson, Parks Superintendent Johnnie Green and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Debi and Andy Chesney, Nancy Johnson, Barney Snitz, Ester and Jack Weiss and Billy Owens. INVOCATION Boyce Byers gave the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the September 8, 2003 regular meeting. There being none, Boyce Byers made the motion to approve the minutes as presented and was seconded by Stacey Hollinger. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS I. Board Member's Reports Mr. Scott said he recently walked Trailwood Park and he noticed piles of brush at the back of the park but the park was in good shape. He said Bob Eden Park is still closed and under construction and he noticed a satellite dish on the pavilion, the port-o-lets were dirty and the bottom had fallen out of the grille. Ray McDonald said the object on the pavilion is a remote control lighting system which can be controlled through the Rec-Trac rental program and the sensor is currently being tested and will possibly be used at all the rental facilities in our parks system. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 October 6, 2003 Mrs. Byers said both Blessing Branch and Midway parks looked wonderful. Mr. Hollinger said both Westpark and Wilshire parks looked good and had recently been manicured. He noticed at Westpark there was a tree east of the ball field that needs trimming. Mrs. Waldrup said Heritage Park looked good but there was a broken sprinkler head to the rear left side of the Fuller House. At South Euless Park there was trash in the creek bed and one tree looked unhealthy. The pool had been drained, the park had recently been mowed and the old Iron Bridge was nice and shiny. Mr. Clark recently walked McCormick Park and noticed a broken light fixture and said the park looked very nice. There had been recent vandalism to the playground equipment at the Villages of Bear Creek Park. He also said the barrier had fallen down by the eroded pathway, the port-o-lets were marginal and the rest of the park looked good. Mr. Clark suggested a snake crossing sign with pictures of good and bad snakes for citizens using the trail. Mr. Daniel recently visited J. A. Carr Park and said the park was clean and there were only a few patrons in the park. He said Kiddy Carr Park was clean and vacant of park users. Mr. Sawlan was out of town and Chairman Owens read the report that was sent in. Mr. Sawlan reported that The Parks at Texas Star Athletic Complex was in tip-top shape as usual and applauded everyone involved in keeping the complex maintained. Chairman Owens said there were three Special Events during September. The Garage Sale on Saturday, September 20th at Midway Rec Center had lots of booths and people in attendance. The Heart Walk was the same day at the Parks at Texas Star with a couple of hundred participating in the walk. On Saturday, September 27th the first Kites over Euless was held which had between 300 to 400 people in attendance. Chairman Owens said the staff does a great job of putting together all the events throughout the year. Ray McDonald said the Kites over Euless was a great success and will probably become an annual event. II. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens said Beverly Moore is the October Volunteer of the Month but she was not able to attend the meeting but said she would be presented with her plaque at the November meeting. He said Beverly is a senior citizen and has given many hours to the city. She has volunteered for Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 October 6, 2003 the 2003 Texas Trash Off, bagging trees for the free tree give away at Arbor Daze (she has helped the last three years), selling coupons in the main stage area at Arbor Daze 2003 and also setting out the 911 flags at the City Hall Complex. Beverly also helps Diane Eggers with many senior projects at the Simmons Center. III. Beautification Award of the Month Chairman Owens said the October Residential Beautification Award goes to Nancy and Bob Johnson of 1809 Tyler Drive. He presented the Johnson's with a framed letter of recognition for being the October Residential Award. Chairman Owens said the October Business/Civic/Governmental Beautification Award is being presented to Debi and Andy Chesney of B&B Wrecker Service. He presented them with a framed letter of recognition for being selected as the October Business Award. Debi and Andy thanked the Board and said they are very honored to receive this award. NEW BUSINESS IV. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairperson Boyce Byers said the report had been included in the packet and any questions should be directed to Johnnie Green. Mrs. Waldrup said she was glad to see that Magnolia trees are being planted at our parks and facilities. Johnnie said the staff would be planting trees throughout the year. Some trees were planted at the Dr Pepper StarCenter, Midway Recreation Center, Parks at Texas Star, along the drive to the Parks Department facility and in medians throughout town. Chairman Owens inquired as to the trees on Main Streets construction site. Johnnie said they are trying to save as many trees as possible during the construction process. V. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Recreation Report— Suzanne Hendrickson Recreation Manager Suzanne Hendrickson said there were four events last month. The events were: Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 October 6, 2003 • September 13th — Volunteer Banquet was held at the Villages of Bear Creek Amphitheater and everyone had a great time. • September 20th — Community Garage Sale at Midway Recreation Center. Was a huge event with 71 booths and lots of people. Will probably need to find another location for the spring garage sale. • September 20th — Heart Walk held at the Parks at Texas Star was a good event with lots of walkers. • September 27th — Kites over Euless held at the Parks at Texas Star had lots of participants and many people from out of town. Great event—from three years old to seniors all flying kites. Suzanne also reminded the Board of the Halloween Thing on Friday, October 31st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. outside the Midway Recreation Center. She mentioned there would be a ground breaking event on Saturday, November 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for the new "Veteran's Field" at the Parks at Texas Star Athletic Complex. She has also been working on the upcoming spring issue of the Euless Today and said there will be some new and exciting classes for spring. b. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald mentioned the events in September were all a great success. The Heart Walk had about 400 participants, people were everywhere during the Community Garage Sale and there was also a huge tournament in progress at Softball World on Saturday, September 20th. He passed out the Summer Youth Program binder from Randy Marsh with the HEB/ISD. Ray said this is the fourteenth year that kids have been working in the parks department learning job skills and helping in the greenhouse. He said the parks department has been working at Bob Eden Park installing the ADA drinking fountain, ramp to the restrooms and a new barbecue grille. Work in this park should be completed in December or early January. Ray mentioned Johnnie received the plans for the Del Paso median project and signage and would be working closely with the apartments on this project. He said he has also received the drawings and specifications for the Parks at Texas Star — Phase III (65% complete) and said the project should be going to the bid process before the end of this year and hopefully construction could start in January sometime. On October 17th at 11:00 a.m. at the Parks at Texas Star Athletic Complex we will have the first inductee into the Walk of Fame for Rick Herold. All members were invited to attend and stay for the employee hamburger bash. Suzanne Hendrickson also attended the TAAF conference recently and received the Presidential Award for all her work in gymnastics. The Board Members also received a copy of the 50th Anniversary videotape that was done by the Trinity High School Fine Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 October 6, 2003 Arts Program students. They also received two appreciation coasters that were given out to all the volunteers at the recent Volunteer Awards Banquet in September. Ray also distributed a handout to the Board Members titled "The Excellent City Park System" that was published by The Trust for Public Land that contained some good information regarding parks. c. Other Staff Reports There were no other staff reports. VI. Other New Business Mr. Scott said he read an article recently where Flower Mound is putting markers in their parks and in their trail systems for emergencies. Ray said that he and Johnnie also saw the article and they have also discussed doing this in our parks as well. VII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Mr. Jack Weiss said he and his family moved to Euless ten years ago mainly because the Villages of Bear Creek had such a wonderful trail for running but he is now very concerned with the erosion problems along the trails. He does triathlons and uses the trail but it is now becoming narrower due to being washed away. He inquired as to if there are plans to control the erosion in the park? He also stated the new trails in Bob Eden Park will be concrete and said concrete trails are not good on the body for runners and the elderly. He further inquired if signage(possibly a"Caution" sign) could be installed by the crosswalk on Bear Creek Parkway for all the joggers and runners. Chairman Owens told Mr. Weiss the erosion problem has been an issue with the Board Members for many years but they are not sure what the solution is. He said many departments would need to be included in helping with the solution as well as funding to help remedy the problem. Chairman Owens said he appreciates their concerns and they should also attend a City Council meeting and address their concerns with the Council as well. Ray McDonald said that he would communicate Mr. Weiss' concerns regarding the caution sign to Ron Young, Director of Public Works and suggested that Mr. Weiss also e-mail his concerns to Mr. Young as well and assured him that it will be discussed at the next Traffic Safety Committee Meeting. • Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 October 6, 2003 Stacey Hollinger suggested that if the trails at Bob Eden Park were to be constructed of concrete that maybe an additional two feet could be added on the side and made into a jogging trail that would be cushioned for joggers and runners. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. Being no further business to conduct,the meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m. Chairman Attest