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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-08 REGULAR MEETING PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES BOARD SEPTEMBER 8, 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, September 8, 2003, in the Council Chambers of the Euless Municipal Building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present: Boyce Byers, Mike Daniel, Carl Miller, Stacey Hollinger and alternates Carroll "Scotty" Scott and Dan Clark. Board Members Glendora Waldrup and Jeff Sawlan were absent. Staff members present: Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Recreation Manager Suzanne Hendrickson, Parks Superintendent Johnnie Green, Community Services Finance Manager Gary Yakesch and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present: Lisa and Vicky Pierce and Lori Danielson(Mission Pointe Apartments). INVOCATION Stacey Hollinger gave the invocation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the August 4, 2003 regular meeting. There being none, Stacey Hollinger made the motion to approve the minutes as presented and was seconded by Boyce Byers. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS I. Board Member's Reports Mr. Clark said McCormick Park had recently been mowed and there were a few children in the park. He said he noticed the following items: electrical cable loose in the gazebo, missing street sign, some broken light globes and some vandalism. When he visited Villages of Bear Creek Park he mentioned that in the pavilion some braces under the picnic table were very loose and a barbecue grill had been turned on its side. He said there was lots of soccer activity as well as lots of people enjoying the park. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 September 8, 2003 Mr. Miller said the only Special Event held during August was the "Wizard of Oz" at the Villages of Bear Creek Park, which was well attended. He also mentioned the tennis court net was put back up and there was a dead tree at South Euless Park. Mr. Scott said that Bob Eden Park is still under construction but said the soccer field looked good. He also said he noticed some light poles with broken light bulbs and some with no globes and the playground area also looked nice. Trailwood Park also looked good. Mr. Hollinger said he had no report this evening. He said he was recently in Central Park in New York City and he would like to incorporate some of those ideas and add to our park system especially at Bob Eden Park. Mrs. Byers said the trees had been toilet papered at Blessing Branch Park. At Midway Park the drinking fountain was shooting high in the air when you try to get a drink and said the ball fields looked good. She also went into the Rec Center and said the facility was nice and clean. Mr. Daniel said he had no report this evening. Chairman Owens said Heritage Park looked good, there were some split and broken fence rails and he also noticed some loose bricks on the walkway. He said the kids played ball this past weekend at The Parks at Texas Star and the fields were in great condition and there were also lots of people throughout the complex. II. Volunteer of the Month Chairman Owens introduced Lisa Pierce as the September Volunteer of the Month and presented her with a plaque. He said she has given many hours to the city volunteering for the Arbor Daze 2003 Auction, Easter Egg Hunt, Arbor Daze 2003, Games of Texas and the Wizard of Oz outdoor play. She also plans to volunteer for the Halloween Thing, Christmas Parade, Heritage Park Christmas and the Children's New Year's Eve Concert. Ms. Pierce thanked everyone for the award and said she has met many nice people while volunteering at these events and said she has even gotten her mother involved in volunteering as well. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 September 8, 2003 III. Beautification Award of the Month Chairman Owens said the September Residential Beautification Award goes to Mary and Tim Comley of 426 Ash Lane. He said they were not able to make the meeting but their award would be delivered to them this week. Chairman Owens said the September Business/Civic/Governmental Beautification Award is being presented to the Trailwood Garden Club. This award would also be delivered to the President of the Garden Club since they also were not in attendance tonight. NEW BUSINESS IV. Adopt-A-Median Program Ms. Lori Danielson, Regional Marketing Director for Mission Pointe Apartments at 917 Del Paso Drive said the apartments were requesting approval to adopt the median adjacent to their property. She said they propose to landscape the median with seasonal bedding plants, add stonework around the area and take over the care and maintenance of the median. They would like the city to put in an irrigation meter (for which they will pay) and then they would be able to irrigate the median, but if for some reason this cannot be done then they would Zeriscape instead. Chairman Owens asked for a motion for the request. Carl Miller made the motion to approve the Adopt-A-Median request with the stipulation that Mission Pointe Apartment coordinate and work with Johnnie Green and his staff. Carroll Scott seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. V. Business of the Tree Board Tree Board Chairperson Boyce Byers said the Parks staff plans to plant Chitalpa trees along the driveway entrance to the Parks Department facility and greenhouse. She also said new tree growing trays had been bought which are deeper and wider and will accommodate more growing room for starting seedling trees for Arbor Daze 2004. Johnnie Green commented that the Chitalpa tree blooms all summer and is very drought tolerant and will be an attractive addition to the long and winding road to their office. He also mentioned that 10,000 free trees were given away at Arbor Daze this year and with the purchase of new growing trays we should be able to give away at least 11,000 free trees next year. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 September 8, 2003 VI. Parks and Community Services Reports a. Games of Texas Update—Gary Yakesch Community Services Finance Manager Gary Yakesch said the 2003 Games of Texas was a great success. He said when preparing the initial budget the committee was not sure what expenses or costs would be incurred but now the committee will know what to expect during the 2004 Games of Texas. Gary said the sponsorships this year were not what the committee expected but hopefully they will be increased next year. He said the event was very popular and should do even better next year and that we should not incur as many expenses next year. Total revenues were $300,073 and total expenses were $216,929 for the 2003 Games of Texas. This resulted in net income of $83,144, which was approximately $10,000 higher than budgeted projections. b. Upcoming Special Events— Suzanne Hendrickson Recreation Manager Suzanne Hendrickson reminded the Board Members of the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner this Saturday night, September 13th at the Villages of Bear Creek Park Amphitheater from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. There will be entertainment and a catered dinner for all attending. She also mentioned the following upcoming events: • September 20th — Garage Sale at Midway Recreation Center — 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (71 booths) • September 20th—Heart Walk at the Parks at Texas Star—8:00 a.m. • September 27th — Kites Over Euless at the Parks at Texas Star - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with professional kite demonstrations. • October 31st—Halloween Thing at Midway Recreation Center—6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. • December 6th—Christmas Parade of Lights—6:30 p.m. • December 13th—Heritage Park Christmas—4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. • December 31St—Children's New Year's Eve Concert at Midway Recreation Center— 1:00 p.m. c. Community Services Report—Ray McDonald Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald said the proposed Parks at Texas Star— Phase III Master Plan will be presented to City Council tomorrow at Pre-Council. If City Council approves the item they will authorize the City Manager to seek bids for the Phase III construction. The Phase III Master Plan will include a "Veteran's Field" with a statute monument that will be a memorial for all Euless veterans and hopefully we can sell bricks for a new personalized brick entryway into the new facility. The facility will also have sunken dugouts, raised bleachers, chain link fencing, and a covered shade structure and would be used by the twelve and under teams. The new phase will also have two T-Ball / Coach Pitch fields (one at 150' and the Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 September 8, 2003 second at 143' / 150'). There will be two new concrete walkways with one situated between the T- Ball fields and Veteran's Field and the second walkway will be situated on the eastside of Veteran's Field and the new soccer fields. The walkway on the eastside will be done with a stamped concrete method to look like bricks since this side will be used for emergency vehicle access. Ray said the soccer field on the eastside will be a championship size field or it can be used as three small fields for play. We will also be using chain link fences due to the on-going maintenance issues with the wooden fencing. Ray also commended Johnnie Green and his staff for all their hard work on the preparation of ball fields and said the fields are now looking incredible. The TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) trailer is now situated at Bob Eden Park and work on the trail project is expected to start soon and hopefully the project will be completed in mid-December. We plan to have a ribbon cutting re-grand opening sometime after completion. Also money has been approved for the loop trail which will consist of a 10' trail that will surround the open play area and then connect with the trail project. New parking lot lights have been installed as well. Ray also mentioned that City Council has approved the budget and some of the items for Parks and Community Services include: • Irrigation projects (Trailwood, Westpark and McCormick parks) • Splash pad at South Euless Park • Web-Trac (on-line registration for classes, rentals and etc.) • Concession amenity package for the Parks at Texas Star(air-conditioning, point-of-sale register and concession equipment) • Parking lot improvements (Carr Park, South Euless Park and Villages of Bear Creek Park) • Softball World(lighting, irrigation and building maintenance issues) • Tree Farm(entire tree farm will be replanted with new trees) d. Other Staff Reports Parks Superintendent Johnnie Green updated the Board Members on the Eagle Scout project at Kiddie Carr Park. He said there is now a bridge over the creek, the basketball court is completed and said a small BMX dirt track was also added at the site. This project was done through the community support of the Eagle Scouts and this will now be a great addition to this park. He said he has also been contacted regarding another Eagle Scout project at the Villages of Bear Creek Park. This group wants to go through the park and clean all the signage markers, trim back brush along the paths and would eventually like to do continue throughout the entire city parks system. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 6 September 8, 2003 VII. Other New Business Mrs. Byers said she would like the Board Members to show their support at the City Council meeting tomorrow night for the Parks at Texas Star Phase III Master Plan. VIII. Input from City Council Members and Visitors There was no input from the audience. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. Being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Chairman Attest