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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-10-08 Regular Meeting Park and Recreation Board October 8, 1979 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Board was called to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Euless City Hall by Chairman Don Calhoun. Other members present were Mrs. Zella Stierwalt, Messrs . Billy Owens and Jay Heilman. (Absent was Mrs. Sherry Kachel. ) Also present were Parks and Recreation Coordinator Larry Morgan, and Recording Secretary Ophelia Smith. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Chairman Don Calhoun. VISITORS Visitor in attendance was Mrs . Willie Mae McCormick. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting dated September 10, 1979, were approved as written. I. PARKS AND RECREATION COORDINATOR'S REPORT GREENHOUSE Mr. Morgan stated that the greenhouse has been occupied, and is in operation. Members of the Park Board, their families and friends are invited to come by anytime for a tour. BEAR CREEK Mr. Morgan stated the Parks Dept. has done a considerable amount of work in Bear Creek during the past two months. Briers, small trees, vines, and plant growth has been cleared from the area where the softball diamonds will be built. The softball field will be located on the east side of the berm. Mr. Morgan stated the piers will be poured soon for the pavillion which will be located at the top of the berm. (Page Two, Rezular Meeting, Park & Recreation Board, October 8, 1979) Mr. Morgan stated the Parks crew has done a tremendous amount of work on the soccer field in Bear Creek. This soccer field is located on the west side of the berm. The turf shaper we purchased last year has more than paid for itself on the job at Bear Creek alone. However, we used the turf shaper to make two additional soccer fields on the north end of the Park which are in use. Mr. Morgan stated the Parks crew used a water cannon borrowed from Irving to water the soccer fields in Bear Creek Park. Being able to use this machine has saved the City many man hours on this job; otherwise, the watering would have had to be done with quick coupling and a 5/8" hose. Mr. Morgan stated he would like to purchase a water cannon for the City of Euless Parks Dept. next year. Mr. Owens inquired about the cost of a water cannon. Mr. Morgan answered the latest quote was $2,800.00 which he considers a good price. Mr. Morgan stated the Parks Dept. is presently leveling the east end of the Park where the picnic tables will be placed. With another week's work this area should be ready for plant- ing rye grass . Water is accessable in that area, and hopefully we will have grass up before November. Mr. Morgan stated plans are to pour pads for picnic tables next week, both at the east end of the Park, and at the west end around the ball fields . Mr. Morgan reported home owners in the area have remarked they are pleased with the Park, and are glad the City is building a park at that location. GROUNDS MAINTENANCE Mr. Morgan reported grounds maintenance is still going strong. The Parks Dept. is just as busy keeping the grounds • as ever, and ready for the first frost. KIDDIE CARR PARK Mr. Morgan stated the Parks Crew is presently doing a lot of work in Kiddie Carr Park. There are two reasons for this . First, the children compacted the ground this past summer during Day Camp. The ground must be loosened. Also, we need to do some painting, and do some repairs caused by vandalism. The second reason is that on October 20th we are planning a Barn Dance for all City employees and their families at Kiddie Carr. This will be the first all City employee "get together". We are inviting the Parks and Recreation Board members, the Mayor, members of the City Council, and their families . We have been doing a lot of planning, and making preparations for the event. Our program includes dancing to the music of a live band, games , hay ride, horseshoe pitching, and a "gabfest". There will be "door prizes" and light refreshments . We hope all of .you will be there. (Pa,ze Three, Regular Meeting, Park,& Recreation Board,^Octobe-r 8, 1979) Mrs. Stierwalt commented she thought the Barn Dance a good idea, and asked what brought it about. Mr. Morgan replied that he has been wanting to have a "Play Day" for City employees ever since he has been with the Parks Dept. , and a Barn Dance seemed to fill the bill at this time. ATHLETICS Mr. Morgan reported the Athletic Dept. is doing something different this year. We have opened The four fields in Midway Park to outside tournaments . Leagues within the City of Euless are allowed to have tournaments at their expense. The past three week-ends we have had four tournaments and made the sum of $245.00. Funds from this activity are added to the Recreation Special Account. We charge by the number of teams. Usually it takes fields Two, Three, and Four to play a tournament. This is another way of providing recreation, and using the proceeds to build the Recreation Special Account. SOFTBALL Mr. Morgan reported that the softball fields are still being used, as the fall softball program is now in progress. Two fields at Midway Park have been overseeded with seasonal rye. The reason for using seasonal rye is the other fescue, such as chewing red fescue and some of the green grasses, cost from $15. 03 to $18.00 per bag; whereas, we can get seasonal rye for around $9.03 per bag. Seasonal rye looks just as good and has worked real well for us . We overseeded West Park with seasonal rye which helps out on that field, as it is used for soccer play this time of year. The soccer program has grown to two practice days and two game days a week in West Park. The rye has helped our Bermuda grass tremendously on these fields . Mr. Morgan stated that Fall softball season will soon close. This will help with our part-time budget. With softball, soccer, and flag football we have had to add two new fields. Without the two part-time boys the grass probably would have gotten very high in places. BASKETBALL Mr. Morgan reported we are having a very good season in basketball,. We have six teams playing in what we call a "Fun League" . We are anticipating around twenty-five teams in the T.A.A.F. League, which is probably a conservative estimate. Before long we will need another Gym or we will have to work out a suitable solution with the school system for use of the existing Gym. VOLLEYBALL Mr. Morgan stated we are hoping to get started with mixed volleyball. We have painted to Gym, and purchased some new equipment making ready for the season. We really would like to see volleyball get off the ground This year. (Page Four, Regular Meeting, Park 6- Recreation Board, October 13, 1979) RECREATION Mr. Morgan reported the Recreation programs for the Winter session will go out the later part of October. We believe some of the stores and super markets will let us post fliers on their bulletin boards which will enable us to reach more people. New classes begin on November 26. Mr. Bob Moore, writer for the Mid- Cities Daily News, will give some seminars during our Winter session. He has planned one session on hunting for white tailed deer in Texas, and a session on bass fishing. Also, he will have other sessions just as interesting. Mr. Morgan stated we are organizing a Horseshoe Pitching League to be held in Carr Park. We expect a good attendance for that sport. Mr. Morgan reported that Mr. Bob Phillips and other members of his family will be teaching classes on horticulture including in-door and out-door gardening tips . Randy Phillips, a Landscape Architect, will teach landscaping the last half of the session. SENIOR CITIZENS Mr. Morgan reported the Senior Citizen program is going quite well. They are participating in the shopping trips.. Nice groups are coming regularly to Simmons Center, and taking part in planned activities . Mr. Morgan stated the Euless Senior Citizens need a Center just for Senior Citizens . We visited four Centers recently, and saw Euless Senior Citizens in three of them. One of the Centers where we saw Euless Senior Citizens was in Haltom City. Most of our Euless Senior Citizens are quite mobile and could drive to a Center. We have the facility to furnish transportation for those who need it. Mr. Morgan stated we are in the process of trying to obtain a grant for the Senior Citizens . We will have to re- submit a plan that was submitted almost three years ago. A Center for Senior Citizens was omitted from that plan. Our City Planner, Kent Flynn, is working with us on this project. JOGGING TRAIL Mr. Morgan stated our present supplier of wood shavings used on the Jogging Trail has increased his price to $70.00 per load. We scouted around until we found a source for $54.00 for 30 yards. The material is very similar to that formerly used. After some discussion of usage of other materials, consesus of opinion was that wood shavings is the best material available at present to use on the trail. (Pale Five,. Re ular Meeting, Park _r _Rec_rea_ion Board,: October,8, ;1 79) Mr. Morgan stated that plans for installing lights on the Jogging Trail were submitted to the electrician last week. Mr. Owens stated that the Trail has been damaged along by the creek due to erosion. Mr. Morgan stated the Parks crew has moved tie Trail in several feet in places, and plans are being made to line the banks with rock this winter to stop some of the erosion. II. RECREATION SPECIAL FUND REPORT Mr. Morgan stated that funds in the Recreation Special Account come from recreation classes, softball tourna- ments, weight room receipts, and the game machines in the Community Building. We have taken in a little over $500.00 game machine money in a period of about four weeks. The fee for using the weight room is per hour. Receipts from that activity are gradually building up. The balance at present in the Recreation Special Account is $7,450,00, This figure fluctuates as instructors are paid from the Recreation Special Account, so are the Umpires, and other contract labor. Also, trophies are purchased from this fund. The main thing is that the fund is growing. We have plans to purchase more equipment for the weight room which will enhance that part of the program. III. PARK BOARD ATTENDANCE REPORT Chairman Calhoun gave the following report on Park Board attendance: Mr. Billy Owens has served seventeen months, and missed one meeting; three times for lack of quorum. Mr. Jay Heilman has served twelve months, and missed _wise; twice for lack of quorum. Mrs . Zella Stierwalt has served thirty-one months, and missed eight times; four times for lack of quorum. Mrs . Sherry Kachel has served eleven months, and missed one time; and twice for lack of quorum. Chairman Calhoun stated that he has served on the Board for twenty-eight months, and has missed four meetings, and missed four times for lack of a quorum. Chairman Calhoun stated Mr. Wynn Porter's resignation has been accepted by the City Council. We have an opening now for a new Board Member. After some discussion for not meeting due to lack of a quorum Chairman Calhoun moved to have it recorded in the (Page Six, Regular Meeting, Park & Recreation Board, October 8, 1979) minutes of the following meeting who was unable to attend and caused the meeting to be cancelled. Chairman Calhoun announced the motion died for lack of a second. After some discussion members agreed a Board member to fill the post vacated by Mr. Wynn Porter and an alternate member would be helpful in obtaining a quorum. IV. SPECIAL FUND REPORT Mrs . Zella Stierwalt gave a Special Funds report from Bedford. She stated that their program has been in effect about three years . The amount of 50 per month is added to the citizen's water bill. At first, the citizens thought this entitled them to all sorts of favors and demands . But the money is used only for matching grant funds . The money is put aside for matching grants . Bedford has a population of about 22,000, and they believe they have about 70% participation. But the sewerage rate is $6.92, and garbage is $3.75, which looks a bit smaller with 50 added than the Euless rates. The money is used for Park and Recreation, and is not distributed among other departments . Chairman Calhoun stated he thinks this a good source for obtaining money for Parks and Recreation, but if the money is going to be distributed to various departments in the City it will be spread so thin the citizens would not be able to see what the money was being used for, and the participation would drop off tremendously after a short period of time. If the money were used only for Parks and Recreation the fund would be large enough for people to see how it was being used. Most people will donate for recreation. After discussion regarding the Special Fund, Chairman Calhoun authorized Parks & Recreation Coordinator Morgan to meet with the City Secretary and secure official copies of action taken by the City Council, and bring them to the next Park Board regular meeting. V. COMMENTS FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY Mr. Jay Heilman stated he is very glad to see the policy change of allowing tournaments in the City. Having games in the City helps save energy. Citizens do not have to drive to Fort Worth to play ball or watch games played. Three week- ends ago 54 teams played here. Minimum of ten people per team playing means quite a large number of people visiting the City. In that part- icular tournament there were teams from Lafayette, Louisiana; Amarillo, Round Rock, and Abilene, Texas . These people spent the night (Page Sevenn,_Rejular Meeting, Park & Recreation Board, October 8, 1979) in area motels and hotels . Also, they ate in area restaurants . It is very good that the Parks & Recreation Dept. is bringing in people on week-ends to visit our City, and spend money here. As the area develops in the future, they might think of our City if they plan to relocate. Mr. Heilman stated the Parks in Euless are a big drawing card. People starting their careers and families enjoy the recreation our Parks afford. Mr. Owens remarked we should have our Recreation programs included in the Chamber of Commerce packet. Mr. Morgan stated he would provide the Chamber of Commerce with a supply of Recreation programs for each session in the future. Mr. Heilman stated soccer fields One and Two are in excellent condition. Mr. Heilman stated traffic at these soccer fields has too many conflict points. He stated it actually does not overlap, but it does overlap in time spacing. He suggested in the future Traffic Safety be consulted in the planning stage, at least review the plans, and implement a safe traffic pattern when fields are being built. He suggested Traffic Control be given an opportunity for input in the final review regarding parking and traffic pattern. Mr. Heilman stated it would be good to have other associations submit plans for review before approved, and have maintenance agreements drawn up. Mr. Morgan stated Athletic Director, Skip Keller, is a member of the Soccer Association. This is a means of communication between Parks and Recreation Department and the Soccer Associstion. Mr. Morgan replied to an inquiry on maintenance to the soccer fields that the Parks Department has a turf shaper, disc, front blade, and an I-beam. There is no water available. The Parks crew is working with rock and red clay with about seven inches of topsoil, maybe twelve inches in low places . All we are able to do at present is trim down the high spots . The Parks Department does not have the staff to take care of the fields the way the Soccer Association would like them taken care of. Mr. Morgan stated a new parking lot has been built adjacent to these soccer fields, and has taken a lot of pressure off the parking situation. VI. COMMENTS Mr. Owens stated Parks and Recreation takes care of all landscaping, tree trimming, medians, right-of-ways, and around the bridges . He stated that in his opinion some of this work (Pa e Ei ht, Re ular Meet111 , Park. & Recreation Board, October 3, 1979) should be delegated to other departments. Mr. Morgan stated the Parks Dept. was able to build the ball fields at Bear Creek because of the help received from other departments . He stated the Parks Dept. has good cooperation from other departments . Mrs. McCormick stated there is good cooperation between departments in the City. Mr. Morgan stated the reason for Parks Dept. doing all ground maintenance is they have the equipment. VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Chairman