Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-06-02 REGULAR MEETING PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES BOARD June 2, 1997 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Leisure Services Board was called to order at 7:03 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 1997, in the Council Chambers of the Euless Municipal Building by Chairman Richard McNeese. Other Board Members present were: Eric Owens, Jerry Robinson, Stacey Hollinger, Bruce Ebert, Glendora Waldrup, alternates Carl Miller and Boyce Byers. Staff members present were: Community Services Director Rick Herold, Parks and Leisure Services Manager Julia Wakeley and Administrative Secretary Linda Lux. Visitors present were: Council Members Charlie Miller and Leon Hogg. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Stacey Hollinger. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman McNeese asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the May 5, 1997 regular meeting. There being no changes Eric Owens made the motion to approve the minutes as written and was seconded by Jerry Robinson. The vote was unanimous. AWARDS PRESENTATION There were no awards presented this month. OLD BUSINESS I. Board Members Reports Mrs. Waldrup stated J.A. Carr Park looks good and all the flower beds looked nice. She stated the rose garden could use more care and suggested that maybe the senior citizens might want to help care for them. She further stated she is concerned still with the pipe sticking up out of the ground and feels this is a hazard. She also stated Kiddie Carr Park was okay. Mr. Ebert stated Midway has had lots of usage, the swimming pool was very busy. He mentioned the swimming pool could use some paint, the building looks faded, an old weathered sign as well Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 2 June 2, 1997 as the playground swings. Mr. Ebert stated Blessing Branch Park could use some mowing and saw some high stakes which were marking the sewer and felt that the children could possible get hurt. He also inquired as to the piece of property along S. Pipeline (by Morrisdale Estates) and suggested it might be adopted as a pocket park. Mr. Ebert also mentioned weeds and grass is growing between the cracks on the tennis courts at Midway park. Mr. Herold stated the property could be landscaped in order to make it more attractive. Mr. Owens stated both Westpark and Wilshire parks looked good and there was lots of activity at Wilshire swimming pool. He mentioned the dirt is washing away at Westpark and inquired as to the progress of the widening of Westpark Way. Councilman Charlie Miller stated the hill will be leveled and the entrance to the park will be moved more to the south in order to line up with Marlene Drive. He mentioned the easements should be moved around October in order to prepare for the widening of Westpark Way. Mr. Robinson said he would let staff report on the progress of the Athletic Complex. Mr. Hollinger stated both South Euless and Ruth Millican were in good shape. He said there had been recent painting at South Euless and also new furniture had been installed. Mr. Miller stated there needs to be more signage to McCormick Park. He took his class on a field trip to Villages of Bear Creek and stated this park has very high usage. He said the water fountain was not working and there needs to be more trash cans placed around the park areas in the locations of the highest usage. Mrs. Byers stated Bob Eden park still has holes in the parking lot and Trailwood park looks very good. Mr. McNeese said he would let Mr. Herold and Mrs. Wakeley inform the Board of any special events taking place. NEW BUSINESS I. Parks Report Rick Herold, Director of Community Services, advised the Board of the new signage program which should be implemented in August or September. He also mentioned there is much in-house Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 3 June 2, 1997 work to be done at the Athletic Complex and the clubhouse(such as trees being planted, painting, grass and exercise area). Mr. Herold mentioned the upcoming grant application for Phase II of the Athletic Complex is due the end of July and the City will have two years to get started on the project once the grant has been approved. Mr. Herold stated the golf course since opening on May 22nd has been booked solid with tee times and the staff has been working extremely hard. He also mentioned he will be one of the keynote speakers at the State Convention Urban Forestry meeting which will be held in Fort Worth on June 12th. He is also still working on the 1/2 cent projects. The city hopes to have the golf course club house open in mid-July. Mr. Miller inquired as to when the tennis courts would be repaired? Mr. Herold said the tennis courts at Midway and Wilshire should be going to bid sometime in July. Mrs. Waldrup asked how many additional people would be hired for park maintenance? Mr. Herold said they will be hiring at least three (3) more people for maintenance work and additional funding for the needed staff has been put in the budget. Presently the parks crew is working seven(7) days a week in order to keep the sports/athletic areas clean from the accumulation of trash. The city now contracts out to a single individual for the mowing of medians along Harwood Road and Highway 10. Mr. Owens felt Softball World is not getting enough maintenance attention and the condition of the outfields are in very poor shape. Mr. Herold said they have sufficient manpower and felt the fields are in good shape for as much as they are used during league season. Mr. Hollinger asked if the restaurant would be a full service restaurant and when it would be opening. Mr. Herold said the restaurant would be full service for family dining with the name being"The Ravens Grille"which they hope to open in July. He also briefed the Board on the Texas Star Golf Course injunction which was brought about by a Dallas business owner due to the similarities of the names. A settlement was made and the Texas Star Golf Shop will market golf clubs and other goods for the Dallas business owner. Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 4 June 2, 1997 Mr. Herold advised the Board that the Historical Preservation Committee is recommending another house for donation to the City. The home belonged to Bill Deacon(the old turkey farm on the west side of town)which was built in 1919 and his relatives would like for the house to stay intact (the owners would pay to have the house moved). There may possibly be a second house (a log cabin)which the Historical Preservation Committee may recommend at a later date. Mr. Robinson made the motion and was seconded by Mrs. Waldrup requesting a preliminary feasibility study be made by the Historical Preservation Committee. The vote was unanimous. II. Leisure Services Report Julia Wakeley, Parks and Leisure Services Manager, distributed a new activity listing of all the recreation classes for summer which shows the enrollment number for each class. She also commended Heidi Hulin and Tim O'Connell on all the work they have done with the starting of the summer recreation classes. III. Business of the Tree Board Chairman McNeese stated that to date 53,079 trees have been planted. He also mentioned the large pecan tree which had previously been hit by lightening at 200 S. Ector Drive (Pecan Tree Park at the H-E-B Collision Center) is decaying and will have to be removed. Everything possible has been done to the tree to try and save it but with the extensive decay the tree has become extremely hazardous and therefore must be removed. IV. Other New Business Chairman McNeese stated there was not any new business for discussion. V. Input from City Council Members and Visitors Councilman Leon Hogg said he has been at the golf course changing spikes for the last six days and the golfers have been keeping the staff very busy. He stated the staff and workers are receiving positive comments on the golf course and citizens as well as non-citizens have been very complimentary on the professionalism of the staff Parks and Leisure Services Board Page 5 June 2, 1997 Councilman Charlie Miller mentioned how the City has progressed from having no recreational facilities in the past to the many facilities which we now have. He stated that all the projects in the City are very important and it takes everyone being involved in order to see them implemented. ADJOURNMENT Chairman McNeese gave the benediction. There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. r /9,14r :c9Z2reAer, — airma Attest