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Home My WebLink AboutPRB 2007-04-02 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS HELD IN THE PRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT 7301 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 Present: Brad Greene Marty Kusmierski Ricky McElroy Tom Lombard Jay Crane Mike Filis Marlin Miller Tracye Tipps Staff Members: Vickie Lottice Bill Thornton Sharon Davis Chris Swartz Adrien Pekurney Christina Lopez April 2, 2007 Chairman Vice-Chair Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Alternate Director of Parks and Recreation Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Waterpark Manager Recreation Center Manager Administrative Secretary A-1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Brad Greene called the meeting to order April 2, 2007 at 6:01 p.m. A-2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVED Mr. Lombard moved to approve the minutes of the February 5, 2007 Park and Recreation Board meeting. Ms. Kusmierski seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6-0. A-3. DISCUSSION AND SETTING OF PRIORITIES FOR THE PARK SYSTEM MASTER PLAN UPDATE Ms. Loftice introduced Francois de Kock, Lenny Hughes and Diane Van Buren from Halff Associates assigned to update the Park System Master Plan. Mr. de Kock outlined the process for the PSMP update and action taken to date which has included: the review of the existing park system, public input, demographics, needs assessment, past priorities and the creation of an action plan. A copy of the action plan was distributed to members of the Board. Discussion was held. Mr. Tom Lombard left the meeting at 6:50 p.m. Ms. Kusmierski recommended that the 2007 Action Plan, as prepared by Halff Associates, be included in the Park System Master Plan Update for consideration. It was the consensus of the Board to do so. Break 7:23 p.m. Meeting reconvened 7:32 p.m. A-4. PLACEMENT OF VENOMOUS SNAKE SIGNS AT AREA PARKS Staff received a request from a citizen to place six "Warning Venomous Snakes" signs within Cross Timbers Park. Last summer (2006), considerable attention was given to Cross Timbers Park due to sightings of snakes within the park. Wildlife experts determined that the snake sightings were most likely due to the increase in temperatures and drought conditions necessitating snakes and other wildlife to seek out new sources of food, water and ground cover. In an effort to educate and alert the park users and the surrounding neighborhood areas, the following actions were taken: _ Educational flyers were distributed to adjacent neighborhoods _ Signs were posted throughout Cross Timbers Park alerting users to snakes, and other wildlife habitats _ Brush and debris were removed from the fence lines to help eliminate ground cover and hiding places for snakes and other rodents _ John Davis, a wildlife expert from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department gave a presentation, "Co-Existing with Wildlife" on November 2, 2006 at City Hall. Over 2,000 invitations were mailed to adjacent homeowners. _ An educational video on wildlife safety, including snakes, was produced and provided to all schools in the Birdville Independent School District. The video is also available on the city's website. Staff requested that the Park and Recreation Board review the request. Ms. Kusmierski moved to include the words "Caution, some snakes may be poisonous" to the existing signs that have already been placed throughout Cross Timbers Park. Mr. McElroy seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6-0. Park and Recreation Board Minutes April 2, 2007 2 A-5 DISCUSSION OF TURF RENOVATION AT TIPPS CANINE HOLLOW Mr. Thornton updated the Park and Recreation Board on the necessity of annual turf maintenance at Tipps Canine Hollow. Since the dog park opened in June of 2006, extensive use has resulted in significant wear on the turf. Regular routine maintenance includes weekly mowing cycles, slice aerations, fertilization and pest control. Annual turf renovation is another necessary maintenance practice. Performing turf renovation will impact the operation of the facility and staff is seeking input from the Park and Recreation Board as to the most appropriate approach. Several options were presented for consideration: Option #1: Close the entire facility for a period of approximately three weeks. to re-sod and hydro mulch all grass areas and allow for established root growth prior to use. Option #2: Close only one side and alternate small/large dog use on the remaining side while the turf is being renovated. This process will take six weeks to complete. The facility can remain open; however, inconvenience to the user will be prolonged. Option #3: Fence off sections at a time within each side using temporary fence. This process will take anywhere from 10 to 12 weeks and increase project costs. Discussion was held. Mr. Miller moved to use Option #1 and close Tipps Canine Hollow for three weeks for the turf renovation. Ms. Kusmierski amended the motion to add: place friendly signs and suggestions for other dog parks. Mr. Filis seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 4-2. Staff will place the signs at Tipps Canine Hollow in advance of the temporary closing date to notify park users about the scheduled turf maintenance. B-1. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Ms. Vickie Loftice, Director of Parks and Recreation, provided a brief overview of the following items: Blue Thunder Pro Baseball - Blue Thunder Pro Baseball has requested use of Cross Timbers Park for their inaugural season beginning May 25, 2007. Teams are comprised of 20-25 players, many of them former college stars, young pros from independent leagues and professional minor league teams. Curtis Wilkerson, a former Texas Ranger, will coach the Park and Recreation Board Minutes April 2, 2007 3 team. Details are being finalized for the 12 week, 60 game season. Games will be played Thursday _ Sunday on the Colt Field at Cross Timbers Park. According to the proposal submitted, the team will incur all costs associated with field preparation, electricity costs, overtime hours as well as rental costs for use of the fields for practices, games and instructional clinics. Art in Public Spaces - Since the implementation of the Art in Public Spaces program, the City has acquired 15 pieces of public art for its collection; 14 of which are original commissioned pieces. The Internal Public Art Committee is also committed to including public art in the architectural design of new parks and facilities, such as the mission façade included at Dr. Pillow Park or the prehistoric climbing structures at Norich Park. The future library park plaza will also include a public art feature which may not necessarily be a separate stand alone piece, but instead be included in the architectural theme of the park plaza area. Staff is also working with TxDOT for approval to place a future piece of art work within one of the medians along South Boulevard 26. The piece will be commissioned later this year and will compliment the Boulevard 26 theme and the new intersections. Siqnal Art Proqram - To further enhance the public art program, a new initiative involving city traffic signal boxes will be implemented this summer. Artists will be commissioned to design original artwork for 10 signal boxes. The artists will be encouraged to draw upon historic and cultural references. Artists will be paid approximately $500 - $750 through the donations account and will be selected on the quality of their portfolio and concept sketch of the selected signal box. B-2. REVIEW OF CURRENT CAPITAL PROJECTS IN PROGRESS Mr. Bill Thornton updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following Capital Improvement Projects currently in progress. JoAnn Johnson Trail is complete and was dedicated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 31st. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on March 1 th for Dr. Pillow Park, Ace Park and Norich Park. Additional trees are being planted at Norich Park as part of the Annual Tree Planting Project. B-3. NRH20 FAMILY WATERPARK UPDATE Mr. Chris Swartz presented the following update: Construction on the Accelerator is progressing. The slide should be ready for testing in the early part of May. A new amenity at NRH20 this year a roped off with private 12' x 12' Park and Recreation Board Minutes April 2, 2007 4 cabanas which can be reserved for private use. Guests can reserve the cabanas for approximately $75 - $100 per day and will receive a higher level of service, such as wait staff for refreshments. Chris presented pictures of the Accelerator, shade structures and cabanas. C. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Ms. Davis announced the first Sounds of Spring Concert will be held on April 6th at the grounds of NRH20 featuring Reckless Kelly and Shy Blakeman and the Whiskey Fever Band. Food items will be available for purchase in the pavilion area and the after-party will be held at Cottonbelt BBQ. D-1. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Crane moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:09 p.m. Mr. McElroy seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6-0. Ä~ Brad Green" ¡rmáñ ATTEST: ~ Christina Lopez, Administ ti ecretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes April 2, 2007 5