Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-10-04 Regular Meeting Parks and Recreation Board October 4 , 1982 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board was called to order at 7: 00 P.M. , October 4 , 1982 , in the ' Council Chambers of the Euless Municipal Building by Chairman Billy Owens. Other members present were Mrs . Carolyn Park, and Messrs. Kerry McCombs, and Jack Hill. Alternates Ron Henson and D. R. Hawthorne attended the meeting. Also present were Recreation Coordinator Julia Wakeley, Parks Coordinator Bob Phillips , and Recording Secretary Ophelia Smith. VISITORS Mayor Pro Tem Willie Mae McCormick, Councilman Ron Sternfels, George McKinney, Betsy Bloxom, Peggy Little, and Douglas Rose. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Mr. Jack Hill . APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting on September 13 , 1982, were approved with the following corrections requested by Alternate D. R. Hawthorne: Page Two, Paragraph Thirteen, Line Four; Page Three, Paragraph One, Line One; Paragraph Four, Line One; and Paragraph Six, Line One, change the name "Tipton" to "Hackett. " I . UPDATE ON GOVERNOR'S COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS PROGRAM Mrs. Carolyn Park, Chairman of the Steering Committee in Euless, reported that the City Council approved adoption of the Resolution to participate with the Governor' s Community Achievement Awards Program. Mrs. Wakeley has mailed our "intent to participate" to Austin. First, there will be a slogan contest. The public will be made aware of this contest through the newspapers, cable T.V. , letters to clubs and organiza- tions, and hoPefully flyers sent out in bank statements . Mrs. Park stated that businessmen will be asked to put information about the Beautification Program on their marquees . The slogans will be mailed to the Euless Parks and Recreation office, and the deadline for mailing these will be Page Two Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, October 4 , 1982 December 1st. Mrs. Park stated the slogans will be judged by a committee. The committee selecting the main slogan will be Billy Owens, Julia Wakeley, Bob Phillips, Willie Mae McCormick, Ron Sternfels, Kerry McCombs, Dal DeWeese, president of the H.E.B. Chamber of Commerce, and Carolyn Park. Awards will be given for the top ten slogans. Mrs. Park announced the first meeting will be November 4th. , at the Simmons Building, in J. A. Carr Park. All Euless clubs and organizations will be asked to send a representa- tive to the meeting. The main purpose of the meeting will be to encourage groups to participate in group projects for the Beautifi- cation Program. Any group participating must submit their plans for approval by the Parks Coordinator and their projects will be done under his supervision. The Parks and Recreation Department is already working on projects . The Parks Department has completed two new planting areas. One area is located on the east side of the P;rblic Safety Building. The Police and Fire Departments will donate time and labor for planting that area. The Senior Citizens Group of Euless will plant the area at Carr Park, which will be known as the Senior Citizen' s flower bed. Mrs. Wakeley has scheduled an activity by the Pi Beta Phi Sorority for October 15th. Sixty girls from the Denton Chapter will have a retreat at Simmons Recreation Center, and in exchange for using the building they will clean up the park. The Flag Football Association is going to donate barrels for trash which will be placed in Bear Creek Park. The Wilshire P.T.A. is going to install a new school sign at Wilshire School . There will be a landscaped area around the new sign. Mrs. Park recommended two proposals in connection with the Beautification Program. 1) Appoint a committee from the Parks and Recreation Board to study the feasibility of procuring and restoring a reired fire truck to be used by the Parks Department as a watering truck. 2) The Parks and Recreation Board write a letter to the City Manager requesting his help with stricter enforcement of mowing vacant lots, especially on the main thoroughfares, removal of old damaged signs, advertising, etc. Chairman Owens and Board members commended Mrs. Park on the very good report. Mr. McCombs made a motion to accept Mrs. Park ' s report on the Beautification Program. Page Three, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, October 4 , 1982 Mr. Hawthorne seconded the motion and the was as follows: Ayes: Mrs. Park, Messrs . McCombs, Hawthorne, Owens, Henson, and Hill. Nays: None. Chairman Owens declared the motion carried. Mayor Pro Tem Willie Mae McCormick presented Mrs. Park with a Resolution from the City Council approving the City' s participation in the Governor ' s Community Achievement Awards Program. Mr. George McKinney, past president of the Beautify Texas Council, stated that group awareness is more signifi- cant for getting points. Groups representing lots of people, and lots of involvement have a higher point count. Awards will be given on number of points. Chairman Owens stated the Beautification Program will have number one priority at future meetings for the duration of the contest. II . APPOINTMENTS TO YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS Chairman Owens appointed Board members to act as liaisons between Parks and Recreation Board and Youth Sports Organizations. Those appointments were: Carolyn Park and D. R. Hawthorne - Softball Bobby Baker and Ron Henson - Flag Football Jack Hill - Little Dribblers Don Calhoun - Bdy' s Baseball Kerry McCombs and Billy Owens - Soccer Mrs. Park made a motion to accept the appointments of Board members as listed to act as liaisons between the Parks and Recreation Board and Youth Sports Organizations in the City of Euless. Mr. Hill seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Mrs. Park, Messrs. Hawthorne, McCombs, Hill, Henson, and Owens. Nays: None. Chairman Owens declared the motion carried. III. PARKS COORDINATOR' S REPORT Mr. Phillips stated that as part of the Beautifici- ation Program the Parks Department has four new planting areas ready for landscaping. There are two areas at Little Bear Creek Park, Page Four, Regular Meeting, Yanks & Recreation Board, October 4 , 1982 one at Simmons Center in J. A. Carr Park, and one on the east side of the Public Safety Building. Mr. Phillips stated the Parks Department has moved sand from West Park and filled area north of the parking lot at Little Bear Creek Park which was washed out by flood waters earlier this year. Mr. Phillips stated that two new employees, Cary Stevenson and Frank Williams, have been employed to work for the Parks Department to replace two men who were transferred to the Maintenance Department. Mr. Phillips replied to an inquiry by Chairman Owens that no additional lighting has been planned for the parking lot at Little Bear Creek Park in the near future. Goals for the Parks Department: Mr. Phillips stated that two vandal-proof commodes and one lavatory have been ordered for Little Bear Creek Park. When those have been installed plans are to duplicate the order making all the fixtures in the rest rooms at Little Bear Creek Park vandal proof. Midway Park: Mr. Phillips stated that last year metal seats were installed to one-half of the stadium seats in Midway Park. This year the rest of the stadium seats will be replaced with new metal ones. The largest protect the Parks Department will be undertaking this year is the construction of a building identical to the one at Little Bear Creek Park encompassing rest rooms and a store room which will be located between ballfields No. II and No. III near the swimming pool. All labor for construction will be in-house. Cost of the facility will be approximately $30 , 000 . The Parks Department and the Baseball Association are working on plans to enlarge and remodel the concessions building at Midway Park. The Parks Department will furnish labor, and the Baseball Association will pay for the cost of materials. The build- ing will belong to the City of Euless. The Baseball Association will own the cold drink and candy machines. The store room will be used jointly by the City and the Baseball Association. A new T-Ball field will be constructed south of ballfield No. I . The Parks Department will construct the backstops and dugouts. The Baseball Association will help with the fencing. All fencing in the parks will be repaired or replaced whichever is needed. Civic Center Complex: Mr. Phillips stated that plans have been made to install a new irrigation system on the grounds around the Public Page Five, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, October 4 , 1982 Building. Mr. Phillips stated the Parks Department will over-seed the Bermuda on the south side of the complex with rye grass . Swimming Pools: The Parks Department will paint the inside of all three pools. The adjacent buildings will be painted both inside and outside, and all needed repairs will be made. Ballfields: All ballfields will be overseeded with rye grass. Median Strips: The median strips at the intersection of SH 157 and Airport Freeway will be planted with crape myrtle shrubs. H.E.C. Electric Company will donate the shrubs. The median strips at the intersection of SH 10 and FM 157 will be planted with crape myrtle shrubs that were propagated in the City Greenhouse. Also, some Pampas grass will be used in landscaping this area. The Flag Football Association will work with the Parks Department on this project. Mr. Phillips stated that the Parks Department would like to plant cedar elms in the median strips on Harwood Road from FM 157 to North Main Street. Parks: Mr. Phillips stated that pecan, cedar elm, and red oak trees from West Park and Little Bear Creek will be used to replace dead trees, and the less desirable ones throughout the parks. Mr. Henson made a motion to accept the report of Parks Coordinator, Bob Phillips, and incorporate the goals of the Parks Department as part of the goals for the Parks and Recreation Board for fiscal year 1982-83 . Mr. McCombs seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Mrs. Park, Messrs. Hill, Henson, Owens, McCombs, and Hawthorne. Nays: None. Chairman Owens declared the motion carried. IV. RECREATION COORDINATOR' S REPORT Mrs. Wakeley reported the most exciting thing happening in Recreation at present is the sale of the Senior Citizen' s Cook Book. Our first order consisted of three hundred (300) books, and the entire shipment sold out in less than a week. Page Six, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, October 4 , 1982 The cook book has 250 recipes and sells for $3 . 50. Some of the recipes were handed down from the first twenty-five families settling in Euless, and some are over one hundred years old. The profit from the sale of the cook books will go into a special fund for Senior Citizens. We have duplicated our first order, and are taking orders for the second printing. The Senior Citizens are planning a "Tasting Bee and Fair" the first week in December at the Community Building. The Recreation Department will be hosting the Area Centers Supervisor' s meeting on October 8th. at the Community Building. The program will be on "Kite Making and Other Wind Toys. " The contest for the slogan for the Governor' s Community Achievement Awards Program is under way. Both the Mid- Cities Daily News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram gave coverage on this news item. The Euless Recreation Department will host the National Flag Football tournament again this year which will be held the second week in December. This will be a Class A tournament and will be at Central ballfield. Mrs. Wakeley reported that she and Betsy Bloxom, Community Building Supervisor, will attend the Texas Recreation and Parks Society (T.R.A.P.S . ) Conference in Waco, Texas, October 13 , 14 , and 15. Mrs. Wakeley stated that applications for member- ship in Texas Recreation and Parks Society have been made for new members on the Board and renewed for other members. Goals for the Recreation Department: Mrs. Wakeley stated she would like to respond to the Youth Sports Commission. Mrs. Wakeley stated that she would like to purchase the film for the Youth Coaches Training Clinic, and make it available to each coach working with the youth of Euless. Mrs. Wakeley stated she would like to set up a Youth Sports Commissioners Organization to meet about four times a year. This would serve for better communications, get better usage of the ballfields, and help promote good sportsmanship. Also, it could help cut cost of operations by combining orders for supplies, equipment, insurance, etc. Chairman Owens stated he thinks this is a step in the right direction. Mr. Hawthorne moved to accept the Recreation Report and adopt the goals as part of Parks and Recreation Board' s goals for fiscal year 1982-83. Mrs. Park seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Mrs . Park, Messrs. Owens, McCombs, Henson, Hawthorne, and Hill . Nays : None. Payc even, Regular Meeting , parks & Recreation Board, October 4 , 1982 Chairman Owens declared the motion carried. V. INTRODUCTION AND INDIVIDUAL REPORTS FROM RECREATION SUPERVISORS Athletic Supervisor: Mrs. Wakeley introduced Doug Rose, Athletic Supervisor of the Recreation Department. Mr. Rose gave a brief history of his connection with sports. He stated that he came to work with the Recreation Department from the Parks Department, having been in the Recreation Department for three and one-half years. Mr. Rose stated that he works under both Mrs. Wakeley and Mr. Phillips. He supervises the athletic program and maintains the ballfields. Mr. Rose stated he enjoys working with youth in sports, and with people who work with youth sports. He also sets up schedules for adult sports. Mr. Rose stated a good softball program was under way when he took over the program, and has increased over the years. He stated the Bear Creek ball diamond is a good field with good lighting, and having this field has helped with the program. Mr. Rose stated he has formed a Flag Football League this year, and hopes to expand on the program next year. Mr. Rose stated the Dudley ball, over which there has been so much controversy, has been banned and will not be used in this area in the future. Community Building. Supervisor: Mrs. Wakeley introduced Betsy Bloxom, supervisor of the Community Building. Miss Bloxom stated she has been with the Recreation Department for six years. She is currently attending N.T.S .U. work- ing toward obtaining a degree in Recreation Administration with hopes of adding to the Euless Recreation program. Miss Bloxom stated that she has two part-time people under her supervision. With their help the Community Build- ing is kept open seventy-two (72) hours per week, from 9 : 00 A.M. to 9 : 00 P.M. , Monday through Saturday. Miss Bloxom stated that a varied group of people make their way to the Community Building. There is a lot of public relations which she enjoys. Miss Bloxom stated that she would like to reach more people, and make them aware of our facilities, and the classes offered by the Recreation Department. Miss Bloxom works with the Tennis League, helps with the athletic program, reserves ballfields for practice, works with the Recreation Department on all projects, and makes reserva- tions for outside groups renting the Commumity Building. Miss Bloxom stated she caters to the youth organizations; such as, softball, Page Eight, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, October 4 , 1982 Baseball league, Soccer, Flag Football, Little Dribblers, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. Miss Bloxom stated for her goals she would like to see some racquetball courts built in Euless. Also, Miss Bloxom stated she would like for the Recreation Department to have more special events . She believes this would be good to keep people in Euless, and entice others to come to Euless . Recreation Supervisor: Mrs. Wakeley introduced Peggy Little, Recreation Supervisor. Mrs. Little is a native of Boston, Mass. , is married, and has a son and a daughter. She has worked with the Recreation Department in this position for six months. She has worked as an instructor in Pre-school prior to this time. Mrs. Little stated she is responsible for procuring and scheduling instructors, and for most structured classes, the program, and scheduling of activities. Mrs. Little stated that working with the Senior Citizens is the high-light of her position. Attendance to regular meeting has increased considerably in the past six months, and ther are now approximately fifteen (15) people riding the bus to and from the Center on Thursdays, as opposed to three (3) or four (4) six months ago.A Thanksgiving Dinner has been planned for November 18th. Mrs . Little stated there are seven hundred (700) Senior Citizens in the City of Euless. We have forty (40) active members. Mrs. Little hopes to reach them all , and encourage them to join the group. Mrs. Little stated new activities are being offered in the Recreation program in an effort to utilize the Community Building more fully. Easy leisure, as well as, athletic leisure, is being offered in an effort to reach everyone. Classes are also being offered in home maintenance.,, Mrs. Little stated one of her goals is to keep citizens informed of the Recreation program through the media. Liz Newland has worked very closely with the Recreation Department, and has given us good coverage in the Mid-Cities Daily News. Mrs . Little stated plans are being made to offer a class in learning to become a clown, and eventually work into a clown club. We feel it would be good to have a group such as this in the City of Euless. Mrs. Park stated she feels a class in clowning would be very good. There are many people interested in learning to become clowns. Mrs. Little stated we have an excellent Pre-school program that meets at the Simmons Building, Monday through Thursday in the mornings. We offer classes we hope the mothers will be interested in at the same time to give them a chance to join an exercise class take art lessons, or whatever interests her. After some discussion regarding acquisition of recquetball courts, Chairman Owens recommended Mr. Phillips express our concern to the Head of the new department being formed to look at some prints and see if we can, stimulate some interest in this direction. He recommended we keep the acquisition of racquetball Page Nine, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, October 4, 1982 courts as our number one long range goal. Mr. Hill made a motion to accept the report from the Recreation Department and incorporate the goals set forth into the goals for the Parks and Recreation Board. Mr. Henson seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Mrs. Park, Messrs . McCombs, Henson, Owens , Hawthorne, and Hill. Nays: None. Chairman Owens declared the motion carried. VI. RECOGNITION OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS Chairman Owens recognized Mayor Pro Tem Willie Mae McCormick from Place IV, and Councilman Ron Sternfels from Place V, visiting this evening. Mayor Pro Tem McCormick commented that the City Council is willing to cooperate with the Parks and Recreation Board and take into consideration projects presented by the Board. Mayor Pro Tem McCormick stated that. the City Council passed the new tax rate. Each homeowner will have a 20% reduction if he/she has applied for homestead exemption. If application for ex- emption has been made through the school tax office the reduced rate will be automatic. If application has not been made and is not made before statements go out, one will have to wait until a later date for a rebate. 0 In answer to an inquiry from Mr. McCombs Mayor Pro Tem McCormick stated the committee working on the changes in tax rate does not believe the rate will be much more than it has been before. For some homeowners there will be a slight increase, and for others a decrease. The changes will vary. Mayor Pro Tem McCormick drops by the Simmons Center for a brief visit with the Senior Citizens almost every Thursday. She remarked how happy the Seniors are to have a place to meet and be able to participate in the program. - - Chairman Owens recognized Councilman Ron Sternfels who stated we are beginning to feel the effects of the veto of the tax reform. This will be coming over the next two or three years . The county is just beginning to feel the T.A.D. tax increase . Councilman Sternfels stated he has a damaged ankle from playing softball with the Dudley ball. Councilman• Sternfels commented that if the Recreation Department would submit a revenue projections, and give some ideas how the project could break even, the Council would be glad to look at the possibility of building racquetball courts. 'aye , iYieeuing, Chairman Owens recommended research of building racquetball courts and present to the City Council . Mayor Pro Tem McCormick stated that any project that requires quite a bit of money should be presented to the Council in a form that could be voted on in a Bond Election. Chairman Owens commented that he appreciated the Council members remaining with us throughout the meeting. After some discussion Mrs. Park made a motion that Chairman Owens appoint a committee of two to look into the feasibility of trying to salvage a retired fire truck which is now stored at the Service Center and report to the Board at the next meeting. Mr. Hill seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Mrs. Park, Messrs. McCombs, Owens, Hawthorne, Henson, and Hill. Nays : None. Chairman Owens declared the motion carried. Chairman Owens appointed Bobby Baker and Kerry McCombs to study the feasibility of restoring a retired fire truck for use in the Parks Department for watering plants. Mr. McCombs was appointed Chairman of the committee. Mrs. Park made a motion that a letter in connection with the Beautification Program be drafted to the City Manager requesting the Public Works Department' s cooperation in mowing of vacant lots and removal of outdated, poorly constructed and installed signs, also, poor advertising. Mr. Henson seconded the motion and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Mrs. Park, Messrs. McCombs, Owens, Hawthorne, Henson, and Hill . Nays: None. Chairman Owens declared the motion Carried. Chairman Owens asked Parks and Recreation Board members to call Mrs . Wakeley with requests to be placed on the Parks and Recreation Board Agendas. Also, he asked Board members to keep in mind that the Parks Department will be spot-lighted at the next meeting. VII . ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Parks and Recreation Board at this time the meeting adjourned at 9 : 35 P.M. with a closing prayer by Mayor Pro Tem McCormick. -40,./1/