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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-09-10 Regular Meeting Park and Recreation Board September 10, 1979 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Board was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Euless City Hall by Chairman Don Calhoun. Other members present were Ms. Sherry Kachel, and Messrs. Billy Owens and Jay Heilman. (Absent was Ms. Zella Stierwalt. ) Also present were Recreation Senior Activity Supervisor Julia Wakeley, Parks and Recreation General Foreman Bob Phillips, and Recording Secretary Ophelia Smith. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Chairman Don Calhoun. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the last regular meeting dated July 9, 1979, were approved as written. I. PARK AND RECREATION FUND REPORT Mrs. Wakeley reported that revenue from Day Camp was $1,101.00. Photo supplies and Cook Out food amounted to $700.00, leaving a net balance of $401.00. Revenue for this activity comes from the sign-ups. Special Account year to date debits $28,108.91, and year to date credits $23,094.00, leaving an overall balance of $5,046.56. The weight machines and related apparatus for the Community Building which cost $2,950.00 plus shipping $350.00 were purchased with monies from this fund. The 1979 revenue from Swimming Pools was $18,270.33. II. CONSIDERATION OF RECREATION FEES Mrs. Wakeley stated that the Park and Recreation Dept. recommends raising the Day Camp fee from $3.00 per participant per encampment to $15.00. This amounts to a cost of 25 an hour. Hurst received $12.00 this past summer per encampment, and Bedford (Pa•e Two, Resular Meetin• , Park & Recreation Board, Se•tember 10, 1979) received $20.00 per encampment. We feel if we take the middle of the road we will still come out ahead. We recommend increasing the gate admission at the swimming pools from 60 to 75 per person, and the season passes from $10.00 to $15.00, not to exceed $60.00 per family. At present season passes are not to exceed $50.00 per family. After some discussion Mr. Owens moved to accept suggested increase in Recreation fees except $60.00 maximum per family for swimming pass which should remain $50.00 per family. Jay Heilman seconded the motion and the vote is as follows : Ayes : Don Calhoun, Sherry Kachel, Billy Owens, and Jay Heilman Nays: None Chairman Calhoun declared the motion carried. III. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD PARTICIPATION IN "TRAPS" Mrs. Wakeley stated a member of Texas Recreation and Parks Society ("TRAPS") had planned to come to the meeting, but was unable to make it. We have one brochure to pass around for you to view. The membership dues are $100.00 per year, and we would be allowed one membership. The organization meets annually. Mr. Calhoun stated that "TRAPS" publishes a magazine which would be beneficial for ideas in working with Senior Citizens. Also, a representative at meetings would be very beneficial to our program. "TRAPS" does quite a bit of lobbying in Austin. This would be beneficial to us, as we are not allowed to lobby. Ms. Kachel stated that she understands that "TRAPS" meets once a year for continuity of purpose. Mr. Owens made the motion to ask the City to make us full-fledged members of "Texas Recreation and Parks Society" at the expense of the City. Ms. Kachel seconded the motion and the vote is as follows : Ayes : Don Calhoun, Sherry Kachel, Jay Heilman, and Billy Owens Nays : None Chairman Calhoun declared the motion carried. (Page Three, Regular Meeting Park Recreation Board, Septe2ber 10, 1979) IV. SENIOR CITIZEN PROGRAM Mrs. Wakeley reported that we are going into our Fall program with the Senior Citizens. Once a month they have a party celebrating birthdays of all those who have a birthday in that month. A monthly shopping trip will be planned. And once a month lunch at a local cafeteria. Tomorrow evening they are having a "Barn Dance" in the pavillion at Kiddie Carr Park with a "live band". Mr. Owens asked if programs would be distributed to the Senior Citizens, as a majority of them live in apartments or Homes, since the programs are mailed to home owners. Mrs. Wakeley stated that we have over a thousand programs to pass out to people who live in apartments and Homes, in order to try and reach the Senior Citizens and families who live in apartments. Mrs. Wakeley stated that 12% of the population is considered the norm. She stated that she does not believe we have that many living in Euless. Only about 4% of our population are Senior Citizens. We have an active group, but we are not seeing all of them. Mr. Owens stated that he thinks we should make every effort to contact Senior Citizens, since so many of them do not drive, and are dependent on others to take them places. Also, many of them do not see well enough to read and entertain them- selves in that manner. They are virtuality locked-in. Mrs . Wakeley stated that over sixty is considered Senior Citizen now. Mrs. Kachel suggested passing out programs to the churches. Mr. Owens offered to mention this to the Recreation Chairman at his church and see if something could be worked out that way to reach Senior Citizens. Consensus of opinion was that all groups working for Senior Citizens should be working together, and even though the programs might over-lap, in that way we would have a better chance of contacting all of the people in that age group. V. REPORT OF RECREATION GENERAL FOREMAN Mr. Phillips passed an album to each Park Board member showing work on the greenhouse from the beginning to the present stage. He stated that the greenhouse would be complete in two weeks. The greenhouse was built with all in-house labor except for (Page Four, _Rezular Meeting, _Park & Recreation Board, September 10, 1979) the over-head wiring of electricity. The crew built a stand and placed it in the bucket of the tractor to use in reaching high places. Also, they connect a hydraulic chain-saw to the power system on the tractor for use in construction work. Mr. Phillips stated that the green- house is 961 long by 301 wide. The laver area at the back is complete and presently contains over 14,000 container plants . Mr. Phillips stated that the Parks crew has been minor trimming trees in South Euless Park, Wilshire Park, and Midway Park. Minor tree trimming is trimming them about six or seven feet high so people will not be running into them when they are using the parks. Mr. Phillips stated that a sign has been placed on the Jogging Trail advising people that animals must be on a leash when in the Jogging Trail area. Mr. Phillips stated that a sign has been placed at Lakewood Tennis Court advising people that it is Euless Parks and Recreation Tennis Court. Mr. Phillips stated that the soccer fields at Bear Creek have been turned over to the Parks and Recreation Dept. The crew has used the turf-shaper going over the fields in three different directions. The Parks crew used a water cannon which they borrowed from Irving to seed the fields. They were seeded seven days ago, and tiny blades of grass have already begun to show. Also, they used the cannon to water the soccer field at Midway East. There is no water at the other soccer fields, therefore, we have to depend on nature for water in those areas. The fields look good, and are ready for the coming season. The first game was played at West Park last Sunday. Mr. Phillips stated that West Park soccer field is looking good. The crew over-seeded it recently with rye grass. The Bermuda grass is in the best condition we have ever had to turn over to soccer. Mr. Phillips reported that the Trailwood Garden Club gave us two gallons of bluebonnet seeds they had treated, scrubbed, and soaked. We planted the seeds on the small berm at the south side of the Civic Center. We shaped the soil with the turf-shaper, planted the seed, then covered them with an inch of sand, and we have watered them almost every day in hopes of having bluebonnets in the Spring. After the bluebonnets die down, the grass will take over, and will be mowed the rest of the season. VI. REPORT ON THE JOGGING TRAIL Mr. Phillips stated that the Parks crew has used the turf-shaper on the Jogging Trail then spread two loads of wood shavings, putting it in good condition. It takes two loads of shavings to cover the one-half mile tract. The shavings (Paige Five, Regular Meeting, Park & Recreation Board, September 10, 1979) cost $60.00 per load now, and predicted to reach $70.00. VII. BEAR CREEK Mr. Phillips reported that work at Bear Creek is really progressing. The area is shaping beautifully. The Parks crew has been trimming trees and clearing out underbrush around the area where the softball field will be located. Mr. Owens inquired about the large quantity of dirt moved into the park. Mr. Phillips stated this was to clear the flood level for rest-rooms, covered pavilion, and a storage room for the Parks Dept. The Parks crew will sod the slope, and make a good place for people to sit while watching softball. The other side of the slope will be nice for watching tennis players. VIII. LIGHTS ON JOGGING TRAIL After some discussion the Board members agreed that the cost of lighting the Jogging Trail is pro- hibitive until power is made available. Mr. Owens suggested that the Park Board :night have a guard light placed on the northeast corner of Carr Park to illuminate the only really dark place which is in the far northwest corner of the park. Chairman Calhoun tabled this item until we receive additional funds. IX. PARK & RECREATION FUND REPORT Ms. Kachel reported that she had interviewed Dennis Horvath, Park and Recreation Dr. , in North Richland Hills. Mr. Horvath purchased a house in North Richland Hills before he began working for the City, and found out about the Fund when he started water service. Citizens who wish to participate in the Fund add 50k1! to their monthly water bill. No figures are available, but Mr. Horvath estimated approximately $3,000.00 per month is added to the Fund which is divided with the Library fifty-fifty. Chairman Calhoun called on Colleyville. They started their program about two years ago and it is strictly a donation for Parks. The participant donates $1.00 per month. When a citizen pays his water bill he either pays the additional charge or checks it off the bill. When they started the program they had news- paper coverage. They sent brochures to the citizens, and put a letter in the water bill explaining the program. They send out 1,800 bills (Page Six, Rejular Meetinz, Park & Recreation Board, September 10, 1979) per month. They had 60% participation in the beginning, and maintained that for three months. Then the figures began to drop. The Parks Dept. did not make a showing of the use of the Fund, and the Citizens did not feel the monies were being put to good use. Also, it was not made known to the public that they had a voice in how the monies were to be used. The citizens were kept in the dark. Now the balance is posted on the bulletin board at City Hall. Also, the amount received the prior month is posted, and how the monies are being spent. They are receiving around $500.00 per month presently which is approximately 40% participation. The Board members were in agreement that implementing a Specific Fund such as this would be beneficial to the growth and development of the Parks in the City of Euless. X. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. �,I / / C