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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-09-08 Regular Meeting Parks and Recreation Board September 8, 1980 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board was called to order at 7 :00 Y.M. in the Council Chambers of Euless City Hall by Chairman Don Calhoun. Other members present were Mrs . Sherry Kachel, Mrs. Zella Stierwalt, Mr. Billy Owens, and Mr. Bobby Baker. Also present were Parks Superinten- dent Bob Phillips, Recreation Superintendent Julia Wakeley, and Recording Secretary Ophelia Smith. INVOCATION The invocation was given by. Chairman Don Calhoun. VISITORS Visitors in attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Willie Mae McCormick, Councilman Ron Sternfels, Councilman Robert Pippin, and Councilman Charles Hunt. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting dated August 11, 1980, were approved as written. I. ANNOUNCEMENT Chairman Calhoun announced former Parks and Recreation Director, Larry Morgan, has resigned, and taken a position in the city of Tyler, Texas . Also, City Manager, W. M. Sustaire, has decided against replacing Mr: Morgan at this time due to the • economic situation. Mrs . Julia Wakeley, Recreation Superintendent, will be in charge of recreation, and Mr. Bob Phillips, Parks Superinten- dent, will be over the Parks Department. The Parks and Recreation Board will send a letter .to Mr. Morgan thanking him for the time he has spent working with the Parks and Recreation Board the past few years. (Pape Two, Regular Meeting , Parks & Recreation Board, September 8, 1980) RECREATION SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Recreation Mrs . Wakeley stated that twenty-seven children and adult classes were offered in the recreation fall session with 81% success . There are 350 participants for structured classes. Western Dance, Aerobics, and Bridge are the most popular. We have purchased a Tufflex floor for the weight room. It is 3/4" thick, and maintenance is practically nil. The purchase will be charged to the Recreation Special Account. A co-effort with the Police and Fire Association will result in a sauna for the City employees to be placed upstairs in the Community Building. The Police and Fire Association purchases the steam unit and the Parks & Recreation Department will build the housing. Chairman Calhoun asked if the sauna will be for City employees only. Mrs. Wakeley replied it will not be for the general public. Athletics Mrs. Wakeley stated that we have eighty-one (81) teams making ten (10) leagues in the fall softball schedule which is a record high. We are sanctioned with Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (T.A.A.F. ), and the live-work rule is not in effect for the fall leagues. We are open to interested sponsors in the area, and have good saturation on the ballfields . Soccer which is a two season sport will start September 20th at the Harwood Field. Mrs. Kachel asked if bridge classes were primarily for Senior Citizens. Mrs. Wakeley replied that we have beginner, intermediate, and advanced bridge classes . Also, we have "Open Bridge" the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Also, we have party bridge every other Tuesday evening, and duplicate bridge on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Newcomer's Bridge meets once each month. III. PARK SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT (Pa.e Three, Re•ular Meetin. , Parks & Recreation Board, Sestember 8, 1980) Bear Creek Park Mr. Phillips stated that the mile long Hike and Bike Trail has been completed with the exception of approximate- ly 180' . The Parks crew is still clearing under- . brush, and will continue to do so for some months. The area around the pavilion has been hydromulched, and we should have grass soon. The irrigation system has been completed in Phase I, and is being used presently. Bids have been taken for Phase II irrigation, and for the tennis courts. The ballfield lights were checked out by the City Engineer last week, and they exceed the candlelight power well over what had been anticipated. A weed killer has been used on poisen ivy and undesireable vines in areas we have cleared of underbrush and small trees. We have planted Bermuda grass in areas where we will be able to use the Water Kannon. The Water Kannon has really been beneficial during this drought. Midway Park Mr. Phillips stated that the Parks crew is still repairing irrigation lines damaged whenpipes were laid through the park in the spring. A hydraulic system, such as we have, takes a lot of time to repair. We have lost some trees in Midway Park due to the drought. Some were young trees that were moved from Bear Creek and not strong enough to withstand the long, hot, dry summer. We have scraped the baseball fields of about 1/2" of dust. We tried soil tightener twice, but did not help. We moved approximately three yards of dust from the fields . We have had a lot of activity on the fields this year. We are continuing with regular park meintenance. We have fertilized all the baseball and soccer fields. Mr. Owens called attention to a problem of the sun shining into the pavilion from the east side. He suggested looking into the possibilities of some kind of shade on the east side of the pavilion. Mr. Owens stated that our headquarters at J. A. Carr Park looks pretty raunchy. The grass has burned up. There are dead shrubs, and some of the trees look very bad. (Page Four, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, September 8, 1980) Mr. Owens stated that he would like to see a special effort taken to make our own headquarters look comparable to the City Hall area. Our building looks like a "past the creek situation" or something "across the tracks" . A lot of people jog in the park, and we have a lot of people use the building. The furniture is old makeshift. City Hall has beautiful new furniture which makes our own furniture look pretty raunchy. All the money we make is going to the Civic Center Complex. Very little is going to J. A. Carr Park headquarters . Before we start spending money for private saunas, we need to get some furniture for our own staff. We might look at the park area just a little closer. Mr. Phillips replied he would like to get a 2 1/2" water line installed through the park to enable us to irrigate the park with the Water Kannon. At present the nearest hydrant is located on Mills Drive which we have been using to water the west side of the park. We have only two 1/2" outlets near the building which enables us to water shrubbery around the sign and building. Mr. Owens suggested a sprinkler system for J. A. Carr Park. Mr. Phillips replied that a bid for an irrigation system submitted earlier was very costly making it prohibitive at this time. Mr. Owens asked about approach to east side of Bear Creek Park. Mr. Phillips replied only walk-in at this time. Chairman Calhoun asked about barbed- wire fence on the south side of Bear Creek Park. If the fence is ex- tended will there be an entrance gate? Mr. Phillips replied that when the park is finished there will be a concrete opening to the street. Chairman Calhoun suggested placing a sign on the south side of the park directing those who want to walk into the park. • IV. FINANCIAL REVIEW Mr. Owens inquired since the summer program is complete, did the swimming pools break even or go "in the hole" . Mrs . Wakeley replied the swimming program ended $20,00 minus or "in the red" . Mr. Owens asked Mrs. Wakeley (Page Five, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, September 8, 1980) to bring a breakdown of recreation financial report to the next regular meeting. Mr. Owens stated he would like to see where the money is allocated, if it is budgeted correctly. Mrs. McCormick stated there has been a deficit in swimming pool operations each year she has served on the City Council. Mr. Pippin stated if a Board member should see a portion of the budget he/she feels should be re-appropria- tioned, it is within the Charter as a Parks & Recreation Board Committee to do so. Mr. Pippin stated the reason for recommendation of increasing the rates for services is not to just increase the rates, but enable us to keep some of these services going. And I encourage all of your close scrutiny of Parks & Recreation to see where we can improve our services. Chairman Calhoun asked, since the Parks & Recreation budget will be worked up by Mrs. Wakeley and Mr. Phillips and given to the City Manager who passes it to the City Council, and the Council approves or deletes items, when are members of the Parks and Recreation Board supposed to be able to make recommendations. Mr. Pippin answered the Parks & Recreation Board members should be allowed to see the budget any time. Mrs. McCormick stated the Parks & Recreation members should have the privilege of recommending one thing over another or stating they think a thing more important than another, but will need to have an estimate of cost. Mr. Pippin gave each person present a copy of recreation fees, a listing of sports and recreation activities offered, and information gathered at the Texas Municipal League Seminar in Houston, Texas, October 1979, on raising revenues without raising taxes. Mr. Pippin asked the Parks & Recreation Board members to look over the fees listed, and research the fees from some of the surrounding cities to see how we compare. Do this research and what things you would suggest be set up in light of raising revenues • without raising taxes . We are looking to the Parks & Recreation Board and these other hopeful revenue generators to enable us to maintain these services rather than have them cut out. The Council is looking to all the Boards and Committees to help be inventive in using the funds we have access to, and to help get services from people so the City can provide the level services desired by our citizens . Mr. Pippin stated the 1980-81 Budget has been balanced and was balanced by prospectively cutting certain services . The Council feels we will have to make sacrifices by cutting • (Page Six, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, September 8, 1980) services or come up with savings to off-set the sacrifices . $8,000 was cut from the Library budget. $33, 167 was cut from Traffic Safety. $25,000 was cut from the budget for building maintenance. $8,000 was cut from Parks and Recreation budget that we were anticipating on using for rental equip- „_. ment. We cut $11,000 for pool operations. That will mean closing one swimming pool. Mr. Owens stated there is not a thing the Parks & Recreation Board can do about the deficit this year, but draw the budget back in line. Mr. Pippin stated the purpose of the Parks & Recreation Board is to make recommendations to the City Council what you see as top priority on Parks & Recreation, and how we can best manage this whole operation. The Council is looking to the Parks & Recreation Board for prioritization of funds available. V. COMMENTS Mr. Baker asked Mr. Phillips if we have an anticipated opening date for Little Bear Creek Park. Mr. Phillips replied that we are waiting for the Hwy. Department to finish the bridge at the entrance to the park from Hwy. 157. He feels it would be a safety hazzard to open the park before the bridge is finished. Chairman Calhoun asked Mr. Phillips to check with the Hwy. Dept. to see if they have a target date for completion of the bridge. If the date is a long time in the future, check to see if they can build a gravel access to use until entrance is finished. Mr. Owens inquired about the progress of the gun safety seminar. Mrs . Wakeley replied the group was going to the shooting range in Grand Prairie on September 9th for certification. Mr. Pippin stated that Euless has • been at the forefront in Parks and Recreation for many years and would like to remain in this position, but the Council needs the help of all Boards and Committees. Mrs . Kachel commented that lack of communication between Council, Board, and Staff has been a problem in the past. Mr. Owens endorsed this comment. • (Page Seven, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, September 8, 1980) �^ Mr. Pippin suggested a periodic work- shop to rectify the situation. Mr. Calhoun agreed that a workshop once a year would be appropriate. Mr. Calhoun. also stated that the Parks & Recreation Board needs a system of communication with the Council. Mr. Pippin stated that he can see the situation that has existed in the past, and can see how it can be improved. Also, he feels the other Council members are dedicated to improving the situation. He remarked that if the Parks & Recreation Board members are to make recommendations, they need to know what the Council is looking to them for. Mr. Pippin stated that the Council would like to work with the Parks & Recreation Board in whatever way would best serve the citizens of this community. Mr. Pippin stated that the Council is looking for people to help regain monies cut from the present budget so we can provide services in spite of our present balanced budget with these cut services. Mrs. McCormick stated that years ago citizens voted to have neighborhood pools rather than one large olympic style pool. Neighborhood pools are more expensive. With three pools, as we have, we tripple our cost of operation. Mrs. Kachel asked if Euless has a volunteer program. Mr. Pippin replied that we do not have a volunteer program, and that we need all inputs we can get, and help in coordinating a program. Mr. Calhoun asked about the extra charge of $1.00 to citizen's water bills which has been under discussion for some months. • Mr. Pippin replied that it was in- • cluded with the current billing. Chairman Calhoun requested Mrs . —. Wakeley to bring a breakdown of recreation income and expenditures to the next Board meeting, and a workshop would be set at that time. Mr. Pippin stated quite a few people are coming into City Hall with plats and developments who are wanting to donate park property. The Parks & Recreation Board should know where the property is located, and make recommendations concerning property. Property that is to be donated needs to be channeled through the Parks and Recreation Board for review to see if it complies with our Master (Page Ei.ht, Re•ular Meetin. , Parks & Recreation Board, September 8, 1980) -- Plan, or if it does not comply with Master Plan, in your opinion would this be an asset to the Parks. Property donated for Parks & Recreation purposes needs to be reviewed by the Parks & Recreation Board. VI. SUMMARIZATION Councilman Charles Hunt commented that the Parks & Recreation Board can be as docile, or objective and outgoing as it wants to be. You want your efforts to be utilized or else you would not be coming regularly to the Parks & Recreation Board meeting. If I were on the Parks & Recreation Board, I would say to you the bottleneck is communication with the City Manager, but as a Council- man, I will have to say we must work through the City Manager, because he holds the key. If you folks need a particular type of briefing at your Parks & Recreation Board meeting, you will have to set some kind of agenda, and ask for some specific things brought to you by some member of the Staff, in order to be briefed and to be informed about what is going on, because the Council cannot pick up on things to be brought forward that has to come through some member of the Staff. In the past the Parks & Recreation Board had the Parks & Recreation Director, and Frank Lindsey was an expert at bringing information to the Parks & Recreation Board. The Parks & Recreation Board must ask for the things you really want, and they have to be brought to you from a source that is knowledgeable. And Bob Phillips or Julia Wakeley either one will be good at gathering information at the Board's request. You can get any information you want. It can be brought to the Board simply because you have requested it, and its your right to know about it. If you folks want to have imput, you need to know what is going on. Like we said before that is the problem with non-communication between the Parks and Recreation Board and the City Council. The communication line is always going to be there, it is just a matter of keeping on asking the same questions. Chairman Calhoun stated that in the future the Parks & Recreation Board would request information from the Staff through Mrs. Wakeley and Mr. Phillips The Parks & Recreation Board members appreciate the Council members attending the Parks & Recreation Board meeting. • VII. ADJOURNMENT _ There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:20 P.M. airman