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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-12-02 Regular Meeting Park and Recreation Board December 2 , 1985 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Board was called to order at 7: 00. P.M. , Monday, December 2 , 1985 in the Council Chambers of the Euless Municipal Building by Chairman George Zahn. Other members present were Mrs. Helen Lightbody and Messrs. Marland Ernest, Ron Henson, and Richard McNeese. Also present were Mr. Leon Hogg, alternate Board member; Julia Wakeley, Recreation Director; Bob Phillips , Park Director; Tom Hart, Assistant City Manager; K. B. Fuller, Personnel Director; Diretha Crockett, substitute recording secretary. VISITORS None INVOCATION The invocation was given by Mr. George W. Zahn. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting dated November 4 , 1985 were approved with the following corrections requested by Mrs. Helen Lightbody: Page One , Paragraph Seven; change from Mrs. Helen Lightbody received to The City of Euless received. Page One, Paragraph Nine; change from "Youths working for The City of Euless" to "Youths working for the Beautification Program of Euless. " Page One, Paragraph Ten; change Highway 10 to Fair Oaks Blvd. Chairman Zahn announced that the Euless City Council approved the appointment of Richard McNeese to fill Ken Balsingers position on the Board, Place Three. He further stated that James Millsap had been appointed by the Euless City Council into the First Alternate position. Chairman Zahn went on to report that Mr. Rod Ashford is still excused until January, at that point we will see what his status is. He also pointed out under a related subject, we requested by letter to the City, to Mayor Samuels , that he advise us on what the guidelines for attendance at our meetings, and under what basis could one be excused from this Board. The paragraph in the mayors letter that Chairman Zahn feels applies to us is , "No documentation of an absentee Policy for any other Boards or Commission other than the Library Board. " Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, December 2 , 1985 , Page 2 There is no policy on attendance, although the Mayor indicated that should we feel the need for such a policy, we could present it to him and he would present it to the Council for action. I . KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL REPORT Chairman Zahn stated the Keep Texas Beautiful report was next on the agenda, and asked if Mrs. Helen Lightbody could give a report, even though they had not met this month,yet. Mrs. Helen Lightbody reported there were a couple of things that have been done, but she has not seen the results of either one. She further reported that she had worked on trying to get the program into our Recreation mailer, (that gets to everyones home) trying to utilize the benefits of participation and save a little cost. Also, Mr. Ron Tipton has sent out around a hundred letters to different groups requesting information, if they are interested, and what participation they would like to do. Mrs . Helen Lightbody stated that was the most activity we have had this month. Chairman Zahn added there was a Keep Texas Beautiful meeting planned within the next week or two, and it will combine the two months of November and December. Mrs. Helen Lightbody further stated that everyone would be notified of the meeting, and she planned to call the Commission members and invite them. II. AREA AND FACILITY REPORTS, BOARD MEMBERS Mr. Ron Henson, liaison for Midway Park, mentioned it has been a little cool and a little damp this last month, and not much activity the time or two he has been there. He went on to report the amount of moisture nature has put out, the park looks gorgeous , and in good shape. Mr. Marland Ernest reported we had the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 26th, with a good turn out, of over three hundred in attendance. Chairman Zahn reported that Carr Park is in good shape, and still being used by walkers and joggers. Also, the extended area of the park , the grass is growing and looks real good. Mr. Bob Phillips stated it was rye grass planted in the extended area of the park. Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, December 2 , 1985 , Page 3 Chairman Zahn went on to report that he has yet to see anyone -- using Kiddie Carr Park, that it is very isolated. At Oakwood Terrace, the children are using the facilities there. Mr.Richard McNeese was invited to take the areas that Mr. Balsinger had, which were Wilshire Elementary School and Park, Euless Junior High, Lakewood Elementary School and Park, and South Euless Park. Mr. Richard McNeese accepted the position. Mrs. Helen Lightbody reported she had been by West Park several times , and no activity. III. OBJECTIVE REPORTS, BOARD MEMBERS Chairman Zahn explained that he had left the objective report on the agenda because, we have some objectives that are idle. Mrs. Helen Lightbody stated that her assignment was to try to coordinate the three cities (Hurst, Bedford, and Euless) in any activity with Parks and Recreation. She expressed concern that it is idle, and unfortunate that it is . Chairman Zahn stated his objective is Parks volunteers and he had nothing to report. Mr. Marland Ernest asked about the color beds along Highway 10 . Mr. Bob Phillips explained he had taken everything out of the beds , he will be putting good soil back in and sterilizing it to make it better for next year. He went on to say that they have a program with the Beautification Committee, they (Beautification Committee) have to vote on it, to see if they want to spend some of their money on some edgings (the landscape timbers) like one bed has been done down there. He added, they will probably vote on it next week. Mr. Bob Phillips further added, it has been approved by the State Highway Department , if we want to put those timbers in there. In addition, we got a landscape architect to lay it all out, we sent it in and got it all approved and its back. Its a similar layout to what we have, but it will be easier to take care of. Then we will have plants put in that will be winter plants. Mr. Marland Ernest stated he has the survey of facilities, but the telephone survey falls into that catagory, which has a place on the agenda , so he will leave it until then. Mr. Ron Henson stated that he has the other half of the volunteers , and he would have to devolve to Mr. Hogg to give any report he might have on this , because Mr. Hogg has been keeping the records Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, December 2 , 1985 , Page 4 and doing most of the work. Mr. Leon Hogg reported that nothing has come up for any volunteers to be involved in, so the report is the same as last month. IV. RECREATION OBJECTIVE Mrs . Julia Wakeley stated that she had some actual surveys from _ other cities , (Carrollton, Denton, and Forney) and a mail out in the back. The surveys were put in a folder for each member to take home and study. She further stated that Mr. Bob Phillips had handed out some information, he wants on the surveys. But reading through the surveys , most of the questions are asked. Some of the questions Mrs . Wakeley wanted to know were geographics, demographics , and phychogranhics , (where are they, ages, family size, etc, house hold income, occupation, education, life style, what kind of people are we dealing with) . Also the potential users, are we going to have something available, or accessible. Mrs. Helen Lightbody asked if the survey was actually carried out in Denton, and if Mrs. Wakeley knew what the results were. Mrs. Julia Wakeley answered that the survey was carried out by Denton, and she could get the results from Denton. Mr. Zahn suggested review this survey, use it as a guideline , pull out of it those questions which would answer our questions from the citizens, put that in a form and channel our needs . Our objective of how we can better serve the citizens of Euless through the Parks and Recreation area. Discussion then centered around the length of the survey. Chairman Zahn suggested they all come together and sit down and work up a survey thats acceptable to all . After some discussion, it was decided to have the work session on December 9 , 1985 , at 7 : 00 p. m. in the Council Chambers of the Euless Municipal Building. Chairman Zahn stated to summarize what we have here on Item 4 of the agenda. We have before us a sample set of surveys , prepared by Julia that we will study for the week, come back in a work session on Monday evening at 7: 00 P . m. , December 9 , 1985 , to share our ideas and put together a survey, to use to accomplish our objective, what I 've entitled the Recreation Objective. NEW BUSINESS V. PARK DIRECTOR' S REPORT, MR. BOB PHILLIPS Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, December 2 , 1985 , Page 5 Mr. Bob Phillips reported that a new slide has been installed on the playground equipment at Midway Park. All the swimming pools have been winterized and the water has been cut off in the rest rooms. He added the park department has replaced the flooring on the Old Iron Bridge at South Euless Park, with a new treated oakwood, that is three inches thick , and eight inches wide. The old floor lasted ten years , we ' re hoping this one will last twenty years . We will go in and treat this yearly with a preservative on the wood. Also, the park crews cleared brush and trimmed trees around the creek that runs through the park grounds . On the East side of the Bridge some dirt work is being done in preparation for a sidewalk to be poured later. We will furnish the labor and lay the forms and Raldon Homes will furnish the concrete for the walkway from the Raldon Homes to the Old Iron Bridge. The park crews are turf shaping the soccer field at West Park trying to revitalize the over used turf. The railroad tie retaining wall along Little Bear Creek Trail has been extended about thirty feet in length and ten feet in height, (on the jogging trail) . Mr. Phillips went on to report the Lantana, Copper Plant, and Joseph Coat along Highway 10 and at City Complex has been dug up and put into containers to winter in the city greenhouse. At the City Complex the irrigation inside the Sun Dial area has been replaced with PVC pipe so that the contractors can pour the concrete. The Trinity "T" sign was put on Airport Freeway side of City Hall in recognition of Trinity' s District win. He further stated the Park Crews along with TP&L, put Christmas lights and a star on the "City' s Bald Cypress Christmas Tree. " Mr. Bob Phillips mentioned that Mrs. Carolyn Park would like to take a Red Oak Tree to Sulphur Springs, for the beginning of the Sesquicentennial , and plant it down there and use this as a beautification and make them a sister city. VI . RECREATION DIRECTOR' S REPORT, MRS. JULIA WAKELEY Mrs. Julia Wakeley reported that , the attendance at the Ruth Millican Center was 1 , 609 and was 620 at the Simmons Center, total of 2 , 229 . She added that, on November 21 , 1985, sixty five to seventy people enjoyed the Senior Citizens Thanksgiving Luncheon. Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, December 2 , 1985 , Page 6 Mrs. Julia Wakeley further reported that on November 26 , 1985 , at least three hundred people enjoyed the lighting of the Christmas Tree and the Sesquicentennial kick off. She announced that on December 19 , 1985, the Senior Citizens will have their Christmas Luncheon. The end of season softball tournament that was to be held Saturday, November 2 , 1985 , was cancelled due to lack of entries. Saturday, November 16 , 1985 , the Recreation department held their "Run Euless In The Villages of Bear Creek" , 10k Run video showing at Crystal ' s in Irving. It was a great success with about thirty present. Councilman Glenn Walker and his family were among the guests, for the video showing. Councilman Glenn Walker, Councilwoman Carolyn Park, and Mayor Harold Samuels helped kick off the, "Walk Across Euless - Texas Sesquicentennial Trail" with an article and picture in the Mid- Cities News. We would love to have the Park Board support in this special event. VII . INPUT FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS There being no input from Council Members, Chairman Zahn proceeded to the next agenda item. VIII. INPUT FROM VISITORS Mr. Tom Hart remarked that he is proud of Euless and wants all people, residents and city employees to reflect that pride. He expressed his great appreciation of the work that the Park Board does. Appreciates their spirit of getting involved in the actual activities. He went on to compliment the two staff members , Bob Phillips for bring some things in under budget, great things going on at the greenhouse, and the Parks people themselves. Julia Wakeley, has been doing some programs with excellent involvement with other departments, (police , fire, public works , etc) . He wanted to publicly thank them for what they are doing. Mr. Hart expressed his approval to Mrs . Helen Lightbody on the project she is working on (to coordinate the three cities in any activity with Parks and Recreation) and to offer his help. Mr. Hart stated how excited he is about the survey. He further stated our need for feedback from the public for expenditures , and the best place to spend them. • • Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, December 2 , 1985 , Page 7 The survey, (even though time consuming) will be an excellent source of feedback. Mrs. Helen Lightbody asked if in our plans now, if there are any projection as to what area or areas might be available for a future park. Mr. Tom Hart stated we have the old master plan, and is there any land out there , we haven' t put in our system yet. Mr. Bob Phillips answered, just on Little Bear Creek. Mr. Richard McNeese asked about the facilities for the Soccer players for the future. Discussion then centered around what might be done for the future Soccer facilities. Mr. Hart stated with the Boards permission, let us as staff level do some research and come back to them. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to conduct, the meeting adjourned at 8 : 30 P.M., with a closing prayer by Chairman Zahn. ,r. C airman if i#// Attest