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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-08-04 Regular Meeting Park and Recreation Board August 4 , 1986 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Board was called to order at 7 : 00 P. M. , Monday, August 4 , 1986 in the Council Chambers of the Euless Municipal Building by Chairman Zahn. Other members present were Mrs. Helen Lightbody and Messrs. Marland Ernest, Richard McNeese, and Leon Hogg, alternate member. Also present were Julia Wakeley, Recreation Director; Bob Phillips , Park Director; and Diretha Crockett, recording secretary. VISITORS Visitors attending the meeting were Alice Ernest, and John and Sharon Bailey. INVOCATION THe invocation was given by Mr. Richard McNeese. APPROVAL OF MINUTES THe minutes of the regular meeting dated July 7 , 1986 , were approved as written. OLD BUSINESS I. KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL REPORT Mrs. Helen Lightbody reported they have a nominating committee doing a lot of work, with a meeting scheduled for August 25 , 1986 . All of the people will be notified at that time, as to the annual projects. Mrs. Helen Lightbody made mention of the Yard of the Month. Mrs . Alice Ernest replied, they had found four beautiful yards for this month, in spite of the terrific heat, and Mr. Bob Phillips had contacted three of the four winners. She further announced plans for judging, Yard of the Month, one more month and perhaps two. Mr. Bob Phillips remarked that when he goes back to pick the signs up from the winners (of the month before) . They compliment and express their approval of the Yard of the Month project, and how it has helped improve everyone else ' s yard, in the neighborhood. II . AREA AND FACILITY REPORTS Regular Meeting, Park and. Recreation Board, August 4 , 1986 , Page 2 Mrs . Helen Lightbody, liaison for West Park, reported that the over- -- all condition of the park was in good shape. She voiced her concern about the water drainage ditch, and what might be done to correct the problem. Mr. Richard McNeese asked Mr. Bob Phillips about the grass at West Park, and if he had gotten the results he was wanting. Mr. Bob Phillips replied, they had put a lot of seed and fertilizer down, broke up the ground, did everything that should have been done, but, did not get the germination they would like to have gotten. Mr. Richard McNeese asked about the plans for soccer to be played on the field at West Park. Mr. Bob Phillips replied that they would start putting the goals up on Friday, and soccer would start playing on the field on Monday. Mr. Richard McNeese reported his area of responsibility are South Euless, Lakewood, Euless Jr. High, and Wilshire. At South Euless , they tore up the asphalt, put sand and a retaining wall in. They did a tremendous job, and there is more activity there, than ever before. He further reported a lot of activity at the pool. Also at the South Euless Elementary School , they are putting in a gym, so access to the park and pool , at times have been limited, with construction, and the road being closed at times. Mr. Richard McNeese went on to report there has been a lot of activity at the tennis courts , and the parks look great. Chairman Zahn reported that J. A. Carr Park is still getting a lot of use in the early mornings , but the heat has kept some of the joggers away late in the day. Chairman Zahn asked Mr. Bob Phillips if the Water Kannon was being used in the parks . Mr. Phillips replied it had been used before the start of the movies in the park (so there would be some green grass for the movie goers) but it didn' t do much good. Chairman Zahn further reported that he didn' t see any activity at Oakwood Terrace , however the park looks good. The trees have taken hold and they will be a benefit when they get bigger. He stated the park reflects the fact that we have had extremely warm weather. Mr . Marland Ernest stated he has recreation center and special events , and he had visited with Julia and Cheryl. They seem to be excited over whats happening in this area, particularily with the new personnel . They will be starting some new classes very soon. Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, August 4 , 1986 , Page 3 He further stated that the reopening of the civic center is scheduled for September. There are some interesting things coming up for special events in the future, and Julia will cover them in her report. III. OBJECTIVE REPORTS Mr. Marland Ernest reported his objective is to evaluate or to determine the utilization of the activities on the various parks and recreation. The telephone survey we did back in the winter, has gotten side- tracked because of a couple of problems. Perhaps next month we will be able to summarize what we found out from it. Even if we didn' t get anymore information out of the survey, it has already been well worth it, by virture of us being involved, getting to talk to people, and the people being contacted. Maybe we can make some recommendations as a result of it. The ones contacted, indicated how much they enjoyed reading the recreation bulletin. Chairman Zahn reported he has the volunteers in the parks area, and he would yield it to Mr. Leon Hogg, and since Mr. Ron Henson was not there, would he please report on the volunteers for recreation, also. Mr. Leon Hogg stated they had not had any activity in the recreation department, that required volunteers. The movies in the park this year are being handled by the recreation staff. The parks volunteers are working in the flower beds in the median, on Highway 10 , but none of their hours have been turned in. Mr. Leon Hogg further stated, due to a death in his family, he had not been able to work on the Adopt A Park project, as planned. Mr. Richard McNeese reported his objective is, promotion of city through increased awareness of it' s parks and recreation facilities. His concern is for new people moving into this area, if we can get them indoctrinated to where the facilities are , even if it' s just one. Discussion centered around different ways of contacting the new- comers and ways that would be helpful for them: 1 . List of new residents from the water department 2 . Blanket letter from the Park and Recreation Board 3 . Package-litter bags "Don ' t Mess With Texas" 4 . BEE buttons 5 . A form to fill out, when they visited one of the parks or facilities Mr. Richard McNeese stated that before the next meeting, he would impose upon Julia, spend some time with her and her expertise, and come back with a more finalized approach. Mrs . Helen Lightbody stated her objective is, joint efforts between Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, August 4 , 1986 , Page 4 the cities in the Mid-Cities area, and she made mention of, Community Goals; A Citizen Survey, sponsored by the H.E.B. 2000 committee, which appeared in the Mayor' s Newsletter. It covered areas we ' re interested in, and other areas also. She further stated it would be interesting to get some input from the response to the survey. NEW BUSINESS IV. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, PARKS AND RECREATION, Mr. George McKinney Mr. George McKinney, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation-Sub Committee of the Capital Improvement Task Force, presented the Board with the purpose of the Task Force. The city needs some parks land, seventy five to one hundred and fifty acres recommended, per capital , we are projecting for fifteen to twenty years from now, and we are going to recommend highly, some facilities put on that land. We are not trying to recommend a package that will pay for itself over a long period of time. They are going to recommend a package the public will use, that the public wants, that the public needs. We are doing research in every phase of this communities business to put together a Bond Issue, that will be justifiable, needed, and necessary. The Task Force would like any input from the Board. This Thursday, August 7 , 1986 , some will be touring some other recreation centers in the area, (Lewisville , and two in Carrollton) . Mr. Ernest Marland asked, if they anticipated picking out locations and if they are looking at where available land is? Mr. McKinney replied, we are looking for some that is for sale. Chairman Zahn asked, if they are looking for the main proposal being that we need land, (the land being the basis , and we can foot the facility) or are they going ahead and recommend a Bond to include monies for a facility to be planned sometime in the future? Mr. McKinney replied, they are going to recommend for the land and the facility. Mr. Richard McNeese asked, how are you going about getting input (or is that relevant) from the everyday people that will be using these facilities, from the public? Mr. McKinney replied, we have a rather comprehensive set of statistics on how many people use what, and where; and what times of the year, what times of the day, by age groups , and that sort of thing. So • Regular Meeting , Park and Recreation Board, August 4 , 1986 , Page 5 that we know where we are, how much room is left in this facility for what, and at what time of the year, what time of the day, and what would it conflict if it was in there. Mrs. Julia Wakeley made mention that Mr. McKinney has a sixteen member committee, and that' s kind of an outreach into the community, a broad section. Mr. McKinney announced anyone who would like to go on the tour, to meet behind the city complex at 6 : 30 P. M. , on Thursday 7 , 1986. V. PARK DIRECTOR' S REPORT Mr. Bob Phillips reported that due to the lack of rain, the Parks Department has begun using the water truck, at least four or five days a week. Where there is no irrigation, they have tried to keep the flowers and trees alive by watering with the water truck. At Midway Park, twenty four of the 2X12 wooden foot rails have been replaced with aluminum ones, because of the durability. If any of the seats have to be replaced, they will be replaced with the aluminum seats. They are not as hot, and they are as' strong as the wooden ones. We need forty eight more foot rails to finish up all our project. Also at Midway Park, Parks Employees have put up a new double back- boards , you can play on both sides of the tennis court. At Lakewood, they are building a backboard for the tennis court. The soccer season will be starting soon and the parks workers have been measuring and marking the lines. At West Park they are putting the goals up, they will come in and diesel the lines (we do have some green grass out there) and then come back and mark it with marble dust. Parks Employees have put up railroad ties around the trees at North Main and Bear Creek to keep fill dirt from around the trees. Then they put in topsoil in the beds and raked it down. Once the construc- tion is completed, the Parks Department will begin to landscape and irrigate this area. They will use a lot of crepe myrtles , (the ones in the nursery) it will all be done inhouse. A lot of limbs and trees have been blowing down in the parks, and they have been trying to clean it up. At South Euless , they have had a complaint about the weeds growing up, down in the bottom, so they have been cleaning up the bottom land. He further stated, this is our first year to have all the houses out there in the summertime. We keep about twenty five foot cleaned out from behind the houses , but he really watches sending the Parks Crew into areas like that, because of the snakes. The Parks Employees have installed 155 tree protectors around several of our 5" and 6" Caliper trees , in order to keep the trees from being hurt by the weedeater and the mowers . Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, August 4 , 1986 , Page 6 The mowing crews in the Parks Department are still operating at 100% capacity. Mr. Marland Ernest made a comment, the crepe myrtles (in the median on Harwood) are beautiful , a big ball of bloom. Mr. Phillips stated that last year about this time, in the growing nursery, the crepe myrtles were about a foot tall, planted in a 5 gallon container, and he went there yesterday, and they were about eight feet tall and blooming. VI . RECREATION DIRECTOR' s REPORT Mrs . Julia Wakeley reported the clock that will set from Mid-Cities Blvd. and Main Street, was part of the Sesquicentennial effort for Main Street for the Sesquicentennial Trail. The clock is fifteen feet tall, the face is four feet wide, and has Euless on top. This will be another vocal point for the City of Euless. Mr. Bob Phillips stated they had set two large pots where the bricks were at, then poured two more areas on Main Street where two more pots will be placed along with the benches. Mrs. Julia Wakeley further stated this is an effort for Euless since Main Street is one of the throughfares, and one of our streets , not a state highway. This is one of the main streets that we decided to try to put a new face on, and make it an on going project. The attendance at the Ruth Millican Center was 1 , 541 and 845 at the Simmons Center, total of 2 , 436 . She went on to say, the new classes that Mr. Marland Ernest mentioned are coming out in the new program, they are, Cooking With Ease, How To Be A Person With Charisma, French Hand Sewing, Handbuilding (clay pottery) , How To Buy A House, Ceramic Jewelry Making, Belly Dancing, Mom And Tots . Special Event coming up, Saturday Matinee Blackbuster Movie, Spook House, Golf Tournament, (in lieu of the10K) . The Lions Club wants to go in with us , as co-sponsors of the 10K, but they would like to have it on Memorial Day, because there are not any major 10K' s scheduled on Memorial Day. So we are negotating with them and this is going to be a good bit of volunteer help. Murder Mystery dinner and party is a craze going around with other recreation areas and other commerical recreation areas and we have had one murder mystery. This is where you come as part of the cast, you are given clues , you could be the murderer , you are a suspect, you have a reason, you have an opportunity, you go through about four rounds , trying to decide who is your murderer. We have rented the antique trains at Fair Park, and the name of the next murder mystery is, The Last Train To Paris . We had six teams in our 1986 Spring Church Play-Off, 1st place, 1st Baptist Blue, 2nd place, 1st Baptist Black, 3rd place,UMCC. The Senior Citizens had their covered dish luncheon for July with twenty eight participating. Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, August 4 , 1986 , Page 7 , On July 18 , 1986 , the City of Euless had their City Employee Ice Cream Social , we estimated between 150-175 enjoyed banana splits, served by Department Heads. July 28th our Mini-Session started,this is our four week session in between some of our seven week sessions , (we have two a year) . We hosted nine teams in the Euless Softball Regionals, with teams from Hurst and Cranbury advancing to the State Championship. Movies in the Park popularity continues, with July 11th-Jack and the Beanstalk-attendance 250 , and July 25th-Melody Time-attendance 275. Fall Softball registration is in full swing, with the season scheduled to start the week of August 18th. Final preparations have been made fot the "Swim For Heart" for the American Heart Association, the event is being staged August 9th, at Midway Pool. Swimming pool attendance continues to soar, July was busy at the pools with the hot and dry month. Over 5 , 100 users visited the three pools in July, and seven pool parties were held. Euless Track Team just arrived back from the Texas Games in San Antonio, Texas . In the State TAAF Track and Field meet, the Euless Tracksters captured: 5 State Championships (including new state record broken in the mile by Brandon Bain) , 4-2nd place, 4-3rd place , 5-4th place, 1-5th place, 7-6st place, 26 total places (30 athletes attended from the Euless Track Club) . One young man won 1st place in shot-put, Toby Harrah, Jr. , and he was so excited, he had to call his dad, and he managed to reach his dad in Milwaukee, his dad has to travel, he plays 2nd base with the Texas Rangers . VII . INPUT FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS None VIII . INPUT FROM VISITORS Chairman Zahn introduced John and Sharon Bailey, and that Mr. Bailey indicated he would like to visit with us. Mr. Bailey voiced his concern, and asked the Boards consideration on: 1 . Swimming pools being opened only from June 1-August 15 . 2 . Weeds south of South Euless School, the children playing in the weeds , (where there ' s weeds , there' s snakes) . 3 . Programs in the City of Euless, in the Parks Department, for men. , Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, August 4 , 1986 , Page 8 , Mrs. Alice Ernest made mention that she is the newly elected chairman for the Beautify Euless Everyday Committee. She wanted to thank the Park and Recreation Board for their support in the BEE Committee, and asked that they would continue to support them as in the past. Officers elected to serve on the Park and Recreation Board for the ensuring term were Mr. George Zahn, chairman; Mrs. Helen Lightbody, vice-chairman; and Mr. Ron Henson, secretary. Mrs. Helen Lightbody asked if everyone had received the letter from , TRAPS concerning matching funds for -parks. Mrs . Julia Wakeley stated she was not working on any grants at this time. Mrs. Helen Lightbody asked if Mrs. Julia Wakeley would like for them to participate in the letter. Mrs. Julia Wakeley replied, she thought we should pursue it. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to conduct, the meeting adjourned at 9 : 10 P.M. , with a closing prayer by Chairman Zahn. Chairman ;. i� Attest