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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-02-06 Regular Meeting Parks and Recreation Board February 6, 1984 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board was called to order at 7: 00 P.M. , February 6 , 1984 , in the Council Chamber of the Euless Municipal Building by Chairman Billy Owens. Other members present were Messrs. Marland Ernest, Bobby Baker, D. R. Hawthorne, Kerry McCombs, and Mrs. Helen Lightbody. Mrs. Brenda Ashford, and Mr. Ron Henson, alternate Board members, attended the meeting. Also present was Ophelia Smith, recording secretary. VISITORS Visitors present were Mayor Pro Tem Willie Mae McCormick, Mr. Leon Hogg, Mr. Kevin Smith, and Dr. Bill Spanko. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Mr. Marland Ernest. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting dated January 9 , 1984, were approved as written. I . SUB-COMMITEE' S PROJECTS REPORTS Mr. McCombs, Civic Center and Recreation staff liaison, reported that his Sub-Committee had met, but have nothing to bring forward at this time. Mrs. Lightbody stated that she is responsible for reporting on Wilshire Park, West Park, and is liaison with the Mid-Cities Soccer Association. Mrs. Lightbody stated that west of West Park a develop- ment of approximately 350 duplex type units is under construction. Mrs. Lightbody stated that the section north of West Park has been zoned MS. According to Bedford' s zoning this allows for twenty-six (26) units per acre. Mrs. Lightbody inquired if the City of Euless should look into some type of screening to prevent vandalism, and the area being overrun, since this is an entirely open area. Also, should it be delt with by the Staff. Page Two, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, February 6 , 1984 Chairman Owens responded that we have an input between our joint City Administrators on developments within those perimeters that effect the two cities. Mr. Baker suggested that representatives of the City of Euless contact officials of the City of Bedford and recommend some type of buffer between the two cities to prevent building next to the property line. Mrs . Lightbody made the motion that the Parks and Recreation Staff pursue the possibility of some type of screening to the north and west of West Park for the preservation of the park, and the protection of the citizens of Euless and their neighbors. Mrs. Ashford seconded the motion and the vote was: Ayes: Mmes. Ashford, Lightbody, Messrs. McCombs, Baker, Hawthorne, Henson., and Ernest Nays: None Chairman Owens declared the motion carried. Mrs. Lightbody stated that she had attended her first meeting with the Soccer Association, and was amazed at the amount of interest in the sport. Mr. Baker, Simmons Center, park director and park staff liaison, reported that he has not received any complaints , and everything seems to have been taken care of. Mrs. Ashford, median strips and Girl ' s Softball liaison, reported that the Parks Department has replaced trees in the median strips that succumbed to last summer' s hot weather. The strips are well maintained. Mrs. Ashford stated that she is planning to attend the Euless Girl ' s Softball Association Board meeting on February 20th. to get acquainted with the organization and learn more about its activities. Mr. Hawthorne, Midway Park, Flag Football, and Little Dribblers liaison, stated that the concessions building at Midway Park has been completed except for a few minor details. Mr. Hawthorne stated he goes through the park about once a week, and everything always looks good. This park gets a lot of activity. Mr. Hawthorne stated that he has been endeavoring to meet with the Little Dribblers, but has been unable to do so this season. He hopes to meet with them in the near future. Mr. Henson, tennis courts, and softball slow pitch liaison, stated that all the tennis court nets seem to be in good repair. The light bulbs have been purchased to replace bulbs that have burned out. They will be replaced with in-house labor. Page Three, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, February 6 , 1984 Mr. Ernest, Lakewood Park, and Little Bear Creek liaison, stated that he drives through Little Bear Creek Park, and by Lakewood Park on an average of once a week. The lights are off in the day time and on at night. Everything is just immaculate. Mr. Ernest stated concern over the area where the creek has been filled in and sodded becoming a trail for motor bikes. Mr. Kevin Smith, horticulturist with the Parks Department, replied that he believes the wear is from bicycles rather than motor bikes. Mr. Ernest stated that being a delegate to Boy' s Baseball he would like a list of officers , a copy of the by-laws , and the name of the person to contact in that organization. Chairman Owens requested that the Staff send each Board member working with a sports organization a list of officers, a copy of by-laws, and schedule of events for their respective organizations . Mr. Ernest made the motion that the Recreation Director provide committee chairmen with a list of officers, a schedule of their meetings, and a copy of their by-laws for their respective committee projects as they are received. Mr. Henson seconded the motion and the vote was: Ayes: Mmes. Lightbody, Ashworth, Messrs. Baker, McCombs, Hawthorne, Henson, and Ernest Nays: None Chairman Owens declared the motion carried. Chairman Owens reminded the Staff to have a copy of by-laws on file in the Recreation office of each sports organization that uses Euless ball fields before the playing season begins . Chairman Owens, School Board liaison, reported that he had met twice with members of the School Board regarding upkeep of of playgrounds and playground equipment on school property. Chairman Owens stated that in reviewing old minutes he discovered that the upkeep of playgrounds is a joint effort between the City and schools. The City is responsible for maintenance of equipment and the schools are to see that the land is properly cared for. Chairman Owens stated there is some erosion on the grounds which the Parks Department may be called upon to help correct. The equipment has been repaired and repainted where needed, and everything is fine in that department. Chairman Owens remarked that some of the equipment is old and we might look to the possibility of enlarging some of it. Also, most of the equipment is old, and we could modernize it which would help the schools and the outlook of the City. Page Four, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, February 6 , 1984 II. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS FOR SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS Mrs. Lightbody stated that she and Mr. Hawthorne of the, Planning for Projected Population Growth Committee, were working on projection for the next five to ten years, as far as, Parks and Recreation are concerned. Mr. Hawthorne stated that he and Mrs. Lightbody had met and set out some items they plan to research. He stated they are working toward a paper or document to bring before the Board in hopes the Board will recommend to the City Council some future planning for Parks and Recreation, primarily looking at what we have to-day, and the population we have to-day. Then taking the new land development that calls for so many thousand people eventually, and try to project what we think the City should do to accomodate those people with park and recreational facilities. Mr. Hawthorne remarked they are on-going. Chairman Owens stated this will be a standing committee, and will be placed on the agenda each Board meeting. Mr. Ernest reported that he and Mr. McCombs are working as a committee on a Work Session regarding fees charged by the City -- of Euless for services in the Parks and Recreation Department. Mr. Ernest stated Monday, February 27, 1984 , has been set for the first meeting at the Simmons Building. Mr. Henson reported that the, Softball Tournament Study Committee, recommends the Euless Parks and Recreation Department have a pilot tournament to find out if it would be a good revenue producing project. Mr. Henson stated the committee also recommends the revenue from this project be used toward repair of the lights at Central ball field. After some discussion, Mr. Henson made the motion that the Board give Doug Rose the authority to make arrangements for a City sponsored softball tournament, and recommended that the profits be used for the rewiring of the Central ball field. Mr. Baker seconded the motion and the vote was: Ayes: Mmes. Lightbody, Ashford, Messrs . Baker, McCombs, Ernest, Henson, and Hawthorne Nays: None Chairman Owens declared the motion carried. Page Five, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, February 6 , 1984 RECREATION DIRECTOR'S REPORT Chairman Owens reported that Mrs. Wakeley has a number of projects in the planning stage which she will give a full report on at the next regular meeting. (Recreation Director Julia Wakeley was absent from the meeting due to illness . ) IV. PARKS DIRECTOR' S REPORT Mr. Kevin Smith reported that sixty-two trees have been transplanted in McCormick Bear Creek Park from the Pulte Homes site. Red oak, pecan, and cedar elm trees have been planted in the median strips, and Midway Park. The trees that sucumbed to last summer' s weather conditions have been replaced. Dirt has been moved to Bear Creek McCormick Park to raise the area above the flood plane for the construction of a gazebo, playground, and jogging trail. A walkway, six feet wide, has been built around the new concessions building at Midway Park. Also, a wheelchair ramp was built to accomodate the handicapped. The concessions building at Midway Park has been completed except for a few minor details. The picnic tables in the parks have been repaired and painted, and all trash cans have been freshly painted. This is the fourth year we have celebrated Arbor Day by giving a pecan seedling to each fourth grade student in the Euless elementary schools. We gave three hundred-eighty (380) seedlings this year. The Public Safety Building has been sprayed for pests. Trash along Hwy. 10, Hwy. 157 , and all the medians is continually being picked up. (Parks Director Bob Phillips was attending a Turf Grass Conderence. ) V. RECOGNITION OF VOLUNTEER SPORTS CHAIRMEN Mr. Leon Hogg, Euless Girl' s Softball Association, stated their registration will start March 15 . Other dates for registering Page Six, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, February 6 , 1984 will be on March 24, 30, and 31 . Mr. Hogg stated that Boy' s Baseball Association usually registers at the same time as Girl ' s Softball. Mr. Hogg stated that the Girl ' s Softball Association would have their "draw night" soon after the first of April. This practice is a method of equalizing the teams by age. The Association has four leagues with the girls divided into three age groups . Mr. Hogg stated that practice would begin April 9 . League play starts May 1st. The games are played at West Park. In the past the girls played two nights each week. Last year they added a third night, and if the number to register increases this year , as it did last year, arrangements will need to be made for more field time. July 21st and 22nd. the Euless Girl ' s Softball Association jointly with the Euless City Staff will hold the State Championship Tournament for the senior age girls, ages 15 to 19 . Euless Girl ' s Softball has had super reports at the State Conventions on tournaments held in the City of Euless . Chairman Owens commented that through the efforts of Mr. Hogg and his officers that the City has some new score boards , bleachers, and a lot of extra work at West Park. Mr. Hogg and the Euless Girl ' s Softball Association have taken West, Park as their project, and have been instrumental in many of the improvements that have taken place there. Mr. Hawthorne gave the report for Mr. Darrell McBrayer of the Adult Soccer Association. Mr. Hawthorne remarked that the Soccer Community does appreciate what Girl ' s Softball has done to improve West Park. The Adult Soccer Association will have eight teams this season. There will be five men' s teams, and three women' s teams. They will play a ten week' s schedule which begins February 26, and ends on Sunday May 6 which is eleven weeks. This includes Easter week when they do not play. VI. RECOGNITION OF COUNCILPERSONS Mrs. McCormick remarked that she feels the Community should be thankful we made it through the bitterly cold weather we had recently without the difficulties our neighbor city, Fort Worth, had. Even though there were some problems, we were able to handle them. The streets were probably cracked by the freeze, and will need repairs. Mrs. McCormick stated the Council will have a work session on March 3rd. at which time they will discuss what will take place, as far as, priorities are concerned. Page Seven, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, February 6 , 1984 Mrs. McCormick commented that everyone should drive out North Main Street to see the many new homes under construction in that area. VII . RECOGNITION OF VISITORS Chairman Owens introduced Dr. Bill Spanko who was a visitor at the meeting. Dr. Spanko meets regularly with the Senior Citizens at J. A. Carr Park Simmons Center. COMMENTS ON A COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY Chairman Owens reviewed a communication from the City Attorney on Senate Bill 1044 recently adopted by the 68th Legislature which became effective on January 1 , 1984 , and advised the Park and Recreation Board members to read the communication, and take appropriate action. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Parks and Recreation Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8 : 35 P.M. , with a closing prayer by Mrs. Helen Ligthbody. Chair ian n Secretary i /