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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-06-01 Gki REGULAR MEETING PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES BOARD June 1, 1998 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:07 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 1998, in the Council Chambers of the Euless Municipal Building by Chairman Richard McNeese. Other Board Members present were: Jerry Robinson, Bruce Ebert, Eric Owens, Stacey Hollinger and alternates Carl Miller and Boyce Byers. Members absent were Glendora Waldrup. 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, Mike Daniel (Euless Athletic Association) Derrell Pitcock and Kurt Rebello (Bedford-Euless Soccer Association), Irene Rosecrans, Brian Klein (Hoover/Klein Group),Ned Burleson(Wilshire Neighborhood Association). INVOCATION The invocation was given by Jerry Robinson. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman McNeese asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the May 4, 1998 regular meeting. There being no changes Bruce Ebert made the motion to approve the minutes as written and was seconded by Jerry Robinson. The vote was unanimous. NEW BUSINESS V. Other New Business Chairman McNeese advised the audience the Board would hear the Wilshire Park item first and then proceed with the regularly scheduled agenda. A. Wilshire Park- Proposed Changes Director of Community Services Rick Herold introduced City Engineer Paul Kruckemeyer and Brian Klein with The Hoover/Klein Group to the Board and audience. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 June 1, 1998 Mr. Klein stated that Mr. Al Patel, owner and developer of the project is building a Grubbs Infinite car dealership and also a three-story office building on the property. The owner is planning to build a retention pond due to the creek running through the property and needs an additional three acres of which would encroach into the city's Wilshire Park area for the project. The developer would also add an 8-foot concrete trail (with ADA standards) around the entire facility with lighting, a fishing pier, picnic stations and an aerator to keep the pond clean. The developer would maintain the pond and surrounding facility for the first two years and then the city would take over the maintenance after that time. Mr. Ned Burleson, President of the Wilshire Neighborhood Association, and other Wilshire residents in the audience were concerned with the trees and some park land being removed from the city park. He said the association would be in favor of the amenities to the park but was somewhat concerned with the retention pond. He stated if the pond is not properly constructed and aerated then it would not support the fish and local wildlife habitat and also inquired as to who would be responsible for making sure the aerator continues to work properly. After much discussion with the Board, Mr. Burleson and other association members felt this would be a good project for both the city and the developer. Mr. Kruckemeyer stated the pond would have to meet the Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments standards in order to maintain fish, ducks and other wildlife. The depth of the pond would be between four to eight feet deep with a gradual slope. The developer will have to meet city standards as well as state standards in the building process. Mr. Klein further said the pond would be a stationary pond with a spillway which will receive only storm water run-off. Access into the park facility will remain the same from Kynette Drive and the developer will have a private drive into the office facility from the Airport Freeway access road on the north side. The developer will work with the City Engineer's office regarding the tree mitigation on the project site. There will also be some additional parking areas for the users of the park. Mr. Herold stated the Parks Department is requesting the following amenities from the developer: (1) The project meet the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department standards for the aeration system and fish and other wildlife for the pond retention;. (2) Concrete trail meeting ADA standards with lighting; (3) Tree mitigation; (4) Irrigation to establish grass areas; (5) Picnic stations; (6) A water fountain be installed for the users of the park; and, (7) Rest room facilities. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 June 1, 1998 Chairman McNeese asked the Board if there were any additions to the above list. Bruce Ebert made the motion to approve the list of amenities and refer to City Council for approval and was seconded by Eric Owens. The vote was unanimous OLD BUSINESS I. Board Members' Reports Mrs. Byers mentioned South Euless Park looked good but noticed a pile of wood and some playground equipment laying around. Mr. Miller mentioned to the Board that South Euless Elementary is being renovated and that is probably the reason for all the debris. Mr. Hollinger stated everything looks fine at The Parks at Texas Star Athletic Complex. He also stated a concerned citizen recently told him the driving range was closed when the man went out to use the facility. Mr. Miller mentioned the circuits would trip when using to many appliances in the concession stand recently during a ball game. Mr. Herold stated the City is still working with the developer of the facility regarding the problem with the rest rooms and hopes to be resolved in the near future. Mr. Robinson mentioned both Bob Eden and Trailwood parks looked good. He did notice some ant mounds around the playground equipment at Bob Eden Park which needs to be attended to. Mr. Owens stated he had no report this evening. Chairman McNeese stated he had no report this evening. He did mention the necessity for getting the rest rooms at the Athletic Complex fixed and working properly. Mr. Ebert was not aware of any special events this past month. NEW BUSINESS I. Community Services Report Rick Herold, Director of Community Services, said the parks master plan will be brought before the Board in the near future and will be needing the support of our local citizens. He mentioned he will be traveling to Austin on June 3rd to do a presentation for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The City of Amarillo was taken on a tour of the Athletic Complex on May 27th and Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 June 1, 1998 were very impressed with our facility. He also mentioned he went out to the Athletic Complex the other day and watched the kids play baseball which were coached by Carl Miller for all the kids who could not afford to play on league teams. Mr. Herold also stated Janina Jewell has transferred from the Finance Department to our department as the new Community Services Financial Manager. She will be working with different departments in the Community Service areas. II. Leisure Services Report Julia Wakeley, Parks and Leisure Services Manager, said the swimming pools opened on Saturday, May 23rd. The Fuller House dedication is scheduled for Saturday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m.. The summer recreation classes are now under way and she'll have a report to the Board next month. The Simmons Center will be closed for a short time for renovation. The City will be hosting the Collegiate Players Tournament August 17-20. Mrs. Wakeley also mentioned the Park Board work session and stated the University of North Texas would gladly come to Euless to conduct instead of meeting in Denton as previously planned. Mr. Miller thanked Rick Herold, Julia Wakeley and Johnnie Green for the use of the Parks at Texas Star ball fields for the children's Texas Rangers League which he helped conduct. III. Parks Report Johnnie Green, Parks Superintendent, mentioned the Parks Department is still involved in on-going projects around the city. They have been doing work at Can Park as well as doing the landscaping at the Fuller House. Baseball teams are now in play offs and summer tournaments will be starting shortly. The Pony teams are scheduled for play in July. IV. Business of the Tree Board Jerry Robinson, Chairman of the Tree Board, stated that to date 63,534 trees have been planted in the 1 + 1 =2 program. He also stated Horticulturist Jimmy Beck recently attended the Texas Forest Service Conference in Waco, Texas, Mr. Herold advised the Board regarding the Tree Ordinance which City Planner Carol Griffith has been working on. The Planning Department has been understaffed for the last sixty days but she hopefully will have the draft ordinance ready at the July meeting. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 June 1, 1998 V. Other New Business B. BESA(Bedford/Euless Soccer Association) Derrell Pitcock (President ) and Kurt Rebello (Vice President)with the Bedford/Euless Soccer Association were present to discuss soccer field needs for the Parks at Texas Star Athletic Complex -Phase II. The association is requesting two full size international regulation fields with stadium seating and lighted fields and one smaller soccer field.. The fall registration increased from 1,400 to 1,600 children this past spring. The association is very excited at the proposed new fields and stadium seating which is being planned. Mr. Pitcock stated at the present time soccer fields are a premium and the new fields would be used eleven months out of the year and they would have kids on the fields at least four nights a week. BESA indicated that their preference would be to have stadium seating on the planned new soccer fields. VI. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Councilman Hogg stated he had no reports this evening. Mike Daniel with the Euless Athletic Association mentioned the upcoming tournaments scheduled for July 2nd, the Invitational Tournament June 15th and the Pony Tournament the end of July. ADJOURNMENT Chairman McNeese gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.•hairm iilt)C2C4-t43-P-