The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1999-05-03 e. REGULAR MEETING PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES BOARD May 3, 1999 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, May 3, 1999, in the Council Chambers of the Euless Municipal Building by Chairman Eric Owens. Other Board Members present were: Glendora Waldrup, Boyce Byers, Bruce Ebert, Carl Miller and alternates Thomas Jenkins and Mike Daniel. Members absent were Stacey Hollinger. Staff members present were: Director of Community Services Rick Herold, Parks Superintendent Johnnie Green, Leisure Services Manager Julia Wakeley and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present were: Council Member Leon Hogg and his wife Jan and Billy Owens. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Carl Miller. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Owens asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the April 5, 1999 regular meeting. There being no changes Boyce Byers made the motion to approve the minutes as written and was seconded by Glendora Waldrup. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS I. Board Members' Reports Mr. Daniel stated both Midway and Blessing Branch parks looked good. Mrs. Byers said both McCormick and Villages of Bear Creek parks gooked great. Mr. Jenkins stated both his parks, Bob Eden and Trailwood, looked good. He further stated Bob Eden Park has had lots of activity recently. Mrs. Waldrup stated she has Special Events. The main event during the month of April was Arbor Daze and it was a great success. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 May 3, 1999 Mr. Miller stated his parks are South Euless and Ruth Millican. He said South Euless Elementary is still under construction and he noticed sod had been planted in the park area. Mr. Green said dirt had been used to fill-in the washed out areas in the park. Mr. Miller also stated the school had recently used Ruth Millican Park and said a sign had been knocked down and wanted to bring it to Mr. Green's attention. Mr. Ebert mentioned his parks are J. A. Can(Simmons) and Kiddy Carr. He said he was out of town and not able to check on the two parks but they usually look good. Mr. Ebert mentioned the new trees which had been planted at Sulphur Branch Park and said the park is starting to look good. Mr. Owens stated his parks are Westpark and Wilshire Park. He said Westpark Way now looks great since the construction has been completed and Westpark looks good. He inquired as to the status of Wilshire Park. Mr. Green said Wilshire pool would open as usual and new benches, picnic tables and more improvements would be added before the pool opens for summer. NEW BUSINESS II. Results of Master Plan and Recreation Plans Surveys Director of Community Services Rick Herold gave a brief update on the survey results. He said about 1300 surveys were randomly mailed throughout the city and only 300 were returned. He said the survey results were a good indication as to what the citizens are wanting in the way of park and recreational facilities. III. Half-Penny Progress Reports and Schedule of Projects Director of Community Services Rick Herold handed a list of the recommended Parks and Leisure Services Projects for 98/99. The list included: (1) marquee signs and installation at Midway, Simmons Center and Ruth Millican Center; (2) basketball goal installation at South Euless Park; (3) playground surface improvements [various parks]; (4) bench upgrades [various parks]; (5) table upgrades at Midway, J.A. Can and South Euless parks; (6) trash receptacles throughout the parks; (7) portable rest room enclosures at Midway, Villages of Bear Creek;Bob Eden and Wilshire parks; (8) upgrades as needed throughout parks; (9) disc golf course at Trailwood Park; (10) new playgrounds at Westpark, Wilshire and McCormick parks; (11) South Euless trail system [completed]; (12) adopt-a-spot signs and marketing; (13) marketing Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 May 3, 1999 assistance/beautification; (14) Midway Recreation Center flooring [completed]; (15) special event tables for all functions throughout parks and(16) project contingency fund. IV. Business of the Tree Board Mr. Ebert said there were 12,000 free trees given away during Arbor Daze and also Arborist, Ralph Klein, gave a free tree care clinic demonstration during the event. Mr. Green advised the Board that six trees were planted during March at Sulphur Branch Park and during April the staff planted six Crepe Myrtles. Mr. Herold stated Euless will be the State Arbor Daze site in 2000 during Arbor Daze. He also stated staff put lots of hard work this year into Arbor Daze at the new site. V. Leisure Services Report Julia Wakeley, Leisure Services Manager, passed out the new Star brochure and said the Star- Telegram printed the brochures and they would be mailed out to all households through the Star- Telegram subscription delivery. She also mentioned Heidi Hulin and Johnny Rodriquez were instrumental in helping with The Star brochure. Mrs. Wakeley also mentioned Mr. Weldon Cannon with the Euless Historical Preservation Committee and a noted historian, wrote an article on the Himes House as well as an article which was presented to the Texas State Historical Association on March 4, 1999. Mrs. Wakeley said she and Boyce Byers were with the entertainers during Arbor Daze and she was able to obtain all their signatures on a guitar. VI. Parks Report Johnnie Green, Parks Superintendent, asked the Board if they had any questions regarding the Tree Report. He mentioned he had received a list of hazardous trees throughout the city from Fire Chief Koonz and said his staff had taken care of all the trees. Mr. Herold said Fire Chief Koonz called and thanked Mr. Green and his staff for promptly cutting the hazardous trees. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 May 3, 1999 VII. Community Services Report Rick Herold,Director of Community Services, stated Arbor Daze was again a success. He said he received many comments and as well as complaints to the new location site and layout, with the main problem being the parking situation on Friday night. Mr. Herold said Arbor Daze will be April 28-30, 2000, with the State Arbor Daze function being held on the 28a'. There were less coupons sold this year, concessions did good in their sales. The EAA(Euless Athletic Association) and EGSA(Euless Girls Softball Assocation) mained the parking lots on Saturday and Sunday as well as Golf Professional Duff Cunningham and his cart boys maining a parking lot. He said after all bills have been submitted and paid then he would have an Arbor Daze report for the Board. Mr. Herold did state there were many challenges that everyone must work on this off season. Many of the complaints were based on the new location. He also advised the Board of the recent legistation(Brimmer Bill)which will generate sales tax revenue(1/2 cent) from the proposed car rentals at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Mr. Herold also congratulated Council Member Hogg on his re-election to the City Council. VIII. Other New Business Chairman Owens congratulated Bill and Boyce Byers for being nominated Euless"Volunteers of the Year"for their 50 years of service. Mr. Herold said Bill and Boyce Byers will be recognized at the City Council meeting of May 11th. He also mentioned Marty Wilshire will receive his 25 year service pin at the Council meeting. Chairman Owens mentioned he received a letter from the Historical Preservation Committee asking the Parks and Leisure Services Board and City Council to move the Himes House over to Ruth Millican Park and placed next to the Fuller House. Chairman Owens asked the Board for any recommendations. Carl Miller made a motion to look at the site plan at the Fuller House site for the feasibility of moving the Himes House and was seconded by Glendora Waldrup. The vote was unanimous. IX. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Councilman Hogg said the election went well and he missed the vocal competition due to the election. He said the old Himes House is the original old log cabin 14' x 15' and located inside Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 May 3, 1999 inside the existing house. He further stated City Council has never received a commitment from the owners of the log cabin. Councilman Hogg also mentioned he was at the golf course today and met three doctors from Amsterdam who had heard of the course and there also were seven Japanese gentlemen who play the course weekly. He said on Saturday there were 2100 cars parked during the Arbor Daze festival. Mr. Herold stated April was a record month for the golf course, Raven's Grille and the conference centre. Billy Owens said he spoke with people from all different areas who attended Arbor Daze and said everyone who attended the concerts wanted to be on the front row of the main stage area. Mr. Owens also mentioned the Himes brothers were some of the first people he met when he moved to Euless many years ago. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Owens gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. i' Alliev/r Chairman Attest err