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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-04-12 Regular Meeting Parks and Recreation Board April 12, 1976 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board was called to order at 7:40 p.m. in the conference room of the Euless City Hall by Chairman Jay Theder. Members present were Mrs . Jolly Rawlings and Messrs . David Williams, Olin Steele and Elden Traster. (Absent was Mrs. Zella Stierwalt) . Also present were Parks and Recreation Director, Frank Lindsey and Recording Secretary Denise Holden. VISITORS The visitors in attendance were Mayor Harold Samuels, Councilmen Glenn Walker and Charles Hunt, Mrs . Willie Mae McCormick, Mr. Al Wenzel and Mr. Jim Taliaferro. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Mr. Lindsey. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the meetings dated March 8, and 29th were approved as written. I. DIRECTOR'S REPORT '`See Attached Copy. Mr. Lindsey reported that the Recreation Department had met with some members of the Council of Social Concerns. They were interested, he said, in more activities for the junior high age citizen and had surveys con- ducted by this age group as to what they felt was needed. Mr. Lindsey stated that he had discussed this matter with Mr. Oler and Mrs . Wakeley and that Mrs. Wakeley had responded to this need in a letter to the Council of Social Concerns wherein she offered this group two rooms in the Community Building three days a week for various activities. s - (Page Two, Regular Meeting, Parks and Recreation Board, Apr. 12, 1976) Mr. Steele requested that the Board have made available to them a copy of the summary of this survey conducted by the Council of Social Concerns. Councilman Hunt asked if it was the request of the Council of Social Concerns that we furnish personnel to help in this program, as implied in the letter. Mrs. McCormick stated that they hoped to work mainly with volunteers and that their main concern with the Parks and Recreation Department was for adequate space. Vice President of the Euless Soccer Association, Mr. Al Wenzel reported that they projected 1200 sign- ups for next year's soccer season and already had two women's and four men's teams for the adult league this fall. He also, on behalf of the association, extended their thanks and appre- ciation to the Euless Parks and Recreation Department for the services rendered during the Spring soccer season. He said that of the three mid-cities they had worked with, Euless was by far the most helpful. Mr. Theder asked how many fields they would need to accommodate this number. Mr. Wenzel stated that they would need alot more fields if they couldn't depend on using school property. He stated that they were encountering some problems in dealing with the schools. Rev. Traster stated that he felt we had reached the stage where we've got a problem in our dealings with the schools and that it was time for someone to make a move on it. He recommended a three city committee working in a joint cooperative effort with the schools rather than each city working by themself. He said one committee would handle this responsibility well. Mr. Lindsey stated that the school contract problems arose because it was in conflict with T.A.A.F. rules, but that these had been worked out. He stated that basically the problems with the schools have resulted because of their inconsistency throughout the years . Mayor Samuels requested a copy of the School contract with the City. Mr. Theder requested that the City- School joint contract be an item on the next regular meeting's agenda. Mr. Lindsey reaffirmed the need for a joint committee made up of, at least in part, of council and park board members and mayors from each City. (Page Three, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, Apr. 12, 1976) Councilman Hunt suggested that any recommendation from the Board to the Council concerning the joint school contract have some feedback from other park boards in Hurst and Bedford. Mr. Steele stated that even if the other cities didn't want to form a joint committee it would still be to our advantage to form a committee for this purpose. Mr. Taliaferro stated that the adult soccer league would be needing further space. Mr. Theder stated that he didn't see why West Park couldn't be used for this purpose if most of their games were on the weekends. II. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS It was requested at the last meeting that the City Manager supply the Board with the balance of capital improvement funds and an itemized statement of expendi- tures. Mr. Lindsey stated that the balance was $229,000 and that an itemized statement would be forthcoming. III. MIDWAY POOL BATHHOUSE PLANS Mr. Lindsey stated that Mr. Lyn Shackelford had the plans of the bathhouse at South Euless and was using them to draw up plans for the bathhouse and restroom facilities at Midway. Mr. Theder requested that the Midway bathhouse be an item on the next agenda and that Mr. Lindsey bring the plans for the next meeting. IV. LAkEWOOD TENNIS COURT PLANS Mr. Lindsey stated that before plans for the tennis courts could be drawn up that the Board needed Council approval. Mr. Theder stated that he, along with the Mayor, had received complaints from citizens about locating adult facilities, such as tennis courts, next to school property. He asked that the Board reconsider recommending adult facilities in conjunction with the schools. (Page Four, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, Apr. 12, 1976) Mrs. Rawlings stated that if the people involved, such as the teachers, principals etc. , were told of the problems that exist where adult facilities are in conjunc- tion with school property and that signs were posted, the problem wouldn't exist. Rev. Traster stated that if when we go to permanent reservations for the tennis courts it would also solve this problem. Mr. Lindsey stated that basically interference from school children came only from the schools that did not have an adequate amount of asphalt surface. Mr. Theder requested that Lake- wood Tennis court plans be an item on the next agenda. V. REVIEW PARK MASTER PLAN In reviewing the Park master plan, the Board was in agreement that they should first determine how many acres per 1000 population that they would recommend for a guideline in park land acquisition. He said that previously they had recommended 4.0 acres per 1000 based on a population of 80,000, which would be a grand total of 290 acres of park land. Mr. Williams stated that irregard- less of park standards, the acquisition of park land would come when it is at the right price and with the necessary population growth. Mr. Samuels suggested, to enhance further citizen input, that the Park Master Plan be displayed at the City Hall on the bulletin boards by the water department. Mr. Theder stated that from the citizen input thus far, the people wanted larger parks and more mult-purpose athletic fields. Mr. Samuels recommended that the Board look into leasing land for practice fields. Mr. Theder suggested looking into acquiring land next to proposed school sites now. Mr. Samuels recommended that when a developer or the like comes in and is interested in donating land or making land available for park land acquisition, that they be shown the planning cells for population growth map as a reference instead of the proposed park sites so as to emphasize that these sites are flexible and not hard and fast. (Page Five, Regular Meeting, Parks and Recreation Board, 4/12/76) Mr. Steele suggested that the Board recommend that the Council approve the Master plan park sites and the number of acres per 1000 keeping the recreation facility standards separate. After some discussion, Mr. Steele made the motion that the Board recommend to the Council to approve the Park Master plan park sites and 4.0 acres per 1000 population, not including school property. Rev. Traster seconded the motion and the vote was as follows : Ayes : Mrs. Rawlings, Messrs. Williams, Steele, Theder and Traster. Nays : None The motion was declared carried. Mr. Theder recommended that as many board members as possible attend the Council meeting to clarify points on the master plan and to stress that these proposed sites are not hard and fast. It was also desired that more citizen input be given to the Park master plan by holding an open meeting in the Council room at the next regular meeting, May 10, 1976. It was further suggested that publicity be given this open meeting date. Mrs. Rawlings also suggested a short and concise survey be sent out attached to the Mayor's newsletter asking citizens to number their priorities for the master plan. She stated that they could be mailed back or deposited at specific locations. It was agreed that the May meeting would be an open meeting and that surveys would be mailed out in the next Mayor's newsletter. In the discussion on needed recreation facilities as stated in the master plan, Mayor Safauels asked about the possibility of lighting the Trinity tenni3 courts. He stated that he would be glad to contact the Presi- dent of the School Board concerning this matter. Mr. Theder requested that Rev. Traster and Mr. Lindsey look into the cost of lighting these courts for the next regular meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Approved: , Chairman