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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKNRH 2000-07-18 Minutes MINUTES OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHlAND HillS, TEXAS, HELD AT NORTH RICHLAND HILLS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES LOCATED AT 7200 C DICK FISHER DR. S. JULY 18, 2000 ATTENDANCE Present: Patsy Tucker Jeanne Lueck Delores Pultz Peggy Weatherred Chairperson Vice-Chairperson Commission Member Alternate Absent: Emily Ward Doris Batenhorst Jane Dunkelberg Commission Member Commission Member Commission Member STAFF Pam Burney Debbie York Carey Parrack Director of Environmental Services Environmental Resource Coordinator Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER Patsy Tucker called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Motion by Delores Pultz to approve the minutes of the June 20, meeting, second by Peggy Weatherred. Motion passed. 3 KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL CONFERENCE REPORTS Patsy Tucker, Peggy Weatherred, and Debbie York presented members with information and ideas they gleaned at the Keep Texas Beautiful conference in EI Paso. Patsy Tucker read to commission members a report she had written detailing different workshops she attended and other experiences she had at the conference. Patsy Tucker then asked Debbie York and Peggy Weatherred to provide an oral and written report on the conference. Patsy Tucker then requested that Keep Texas Beautiful Conference Reports be placed on the next agenda in order to supply council members with detailed conference information. Debbie York informed commission members that scores for the Governor's Community Achievement Award 1999/2000 had been released. North Richland Hills scored an 86 , which is considerably higher than last year's score of 67, but not high enough to win an award. Debbie York told commission members that one thing the award winners have in common is a large volunteer base, which North Richland Hills does not have. Peggy Weatherred reported to commission members that she attended a workshop on litter surveying. Workshop participants were given guidelines to use when measuring how much actual "litter" is in an area. The area receives a score, based upon the amount of litter. 4. Y ARD-OF- THE-MONTH PRESENTATION-REVIEW Debbie York demonstrated for commission members the power point program, which is used to recognize the "Yard-of-the-Month" winners at the City Council meetings once a month. Commission members discussed adding a "featured yard" to the presentation, which is a yard owned by elected officials or City personnel, as a program opener or closer to the Yard-of-the-Month presentation. Delores Pultz made a motion to use specific pictures of City personnel or elected official's yards as the "featured yard",second by Peggy Weatherred. Motion passed. 5. STAFF REPORT Debbie York reported that the pond in front of Environmental Services' office was one of ponds featured on the Water Society's tour of ponds. The day of the pond tour Debbie York set up a display table with a sign promoting the pond building seminar the Beautification Commission is having in September and a sign up sheet for anyone interested in receiving additional information. Several people signed up. Pam Burney announced that she just found out about a resolution by the Texas Municipal League being put forth before the Legislature which requests that bottlers and grocery stores put up a deposit for glass, like they must now do for aluminum cans, which will force them to take them back. It is suggested that doing so would help with the litter problem. 8. FALL SEMINAR PLANS Patsy Tucker announced that she spoke to the pond building instructor, Scott Wood, about holding the seminar at Environmental Services' office building on September 23, to which Mr. Wood agreed. Commission members agreed that class size should be limited. Peggy Weatherred advised commission members that she will advertise the pond building seminar in the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram and on gardening shows broadcast by several of the radio stations in the area. Commission members suggested she also mail seminar information to past and present Yard-of-the-Month recipients, leave information at senior citizen centers, city offices, churches, and at the Barnes and Nobles bookstore. 7. CITIZEN INPUT None at this time. 8. ADJOURNMENT Beautification members agreed there was no need for a workshop in August, then Patsy Tucker adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m. c~- Environmental Services Secretary WHO KEEPS TEXAS BEAUTIFUL? I Do...You Do...We All Do... This is the theme of the Keep Texas Beautiful program. The continued use of this answered question throughout the state emphasizes the essential cooperative efforts of all Texans to keep our state clean and beautiful. After attend- ing the 2000 convention in El Paso, I am overwhelmed by the intensity of the combined participation of Texans from cities ranging in size from 1,000 to 500,000 in population. Based on the spirit of volunteerism, changes are being realized in the elimination of trash, creation of massive clean-up projects, and a general warlon ~nvironmental hazards throughout the state. The convention showcased the results of determined Texans as nime cities were awarded the Governor's Community Achievement Awards. They are according to ascending size: Riverside, Big Lake, Wimberly, Athens, Lake Jackson, Pear- land, Odessa, Abilene, and San Antonio. Representing the City of North Richland Hills from the Beautification Commission were Debbie York, Coordinator, Patsy Tucker, Chairman; and Peggy Weatnerero, member. We arrived in El Paso via Southwest Airlines on Thursday, June 29. and checked into the Camino Real Hotel. The first sche- duled event was the 5:00 P.M. Opening Ceremony where Litter Law Enforcement and Individual and Civic Awards were pre- sented. At 7:00 P.M. we took a chartered bus to Juarez, Mex- ico for a Coordinator Recognition Dinner. This affair exemp- lified how the best laid plans of mice or men can oft go as- tray. It is virtually impossible to fit three hundred con- ventionaires into a medium-large restaurant already bursting at the seams with a boisterous Mexican celebration. We were allocated the balcony where a buffet service had been arranged. The first glitch was apparent when we noticed one single serv- ing waiter had charge of the seven steam containers. Much to the chagrin of all KTB members the food was terrible as well as meager in portion size. To add to the confusion of long - 2 - slow lines, there was a problem with the availability of drinks. Beer was either warm or served over ice. No real alternatives came out of our poor understanding of Spanish and their total lack of English. Getting through the evening was uppermost in our minds, for the music pounding from the twenty foot spea]{ers had disrupted all brain functions. We headed for the buses only to find the drivers gone, buses locked, and raindrops falling on our heads. One man's ingenuity at locating one driver rescued us from our only visit to South of the Border. On Friday we attended the GCAA Parade of Projects where three of the nine winners of the Governor's Award presented details of how they had earned the first prizes. None had done more than our own Beautification Commission to deserve the award. We conclude that there must be some secret to filling in the application. After a delicious lunch at the hotel, the Governor's Awards were officially presented. That afternoon all members could select concurrent educational sessions. Each of us attended a different seminar in order to cover all the topics. I attended "Strategic Planning." The primary function of our commission was challenged. We need question our mis- sion, our reason for being. Why do we do what we do? For what do we want to be remembered or recognized? What are our current strengths? Challenges? What results are we seeking? Does our mission need to be revised? We need to ask whether we are meeting the expectations of our city council. Ask what council wants us to be doing other than what we do. Are we making a difference in our city? We must look at our plan, checking our strengths and challenges. Ask "If we weren't already doing this, would we start doing it now?" "Are we working in the right areas? Do we need to change our focus? Consider that effective goals are: ªPECIFIC----MEASURABLE----ATTAINABLE----REALISTICALLY HIGH TIME TRACKED or altogether SMART. - 3 - I particularly agreed withthe following: RECIPE FOR BOARD COMPLACENCY TOO MANY INITIATIVES, TOO LITTLE VALUE LOTS OF PROJECTS - NO PROGRAMS NO FUTURE THINKING CAN'T SEE A CRISIS TOO MANY RESOURCES LOW EXPECTATIONS FOCUS ON THE SHORT TERM LOTS OF JUST HAPPY TALK NO FEEDBACK "DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT" NO MEASURES DENIAL HEAD NODDING, SEAT WARMING, CHECK WRITING COORDINATOR DOES IT ALL RECIPE FOR BOARD COMMITMENT BUILD PASSION DEVELOP A CAUSE LET VOLUNTEERS ACHIEVE EMPOWER LEADERS NEED THEM GIVE RESPONSIBILITY GIVE THEM A SENSE OF BELONGING - VALUE BUILD MOMENTUM ALLOW RITES OF PASSAGE STRENGTHEN THE TIES THAT BIND RAISE EXPECTATIONS GIVE THE RIGHT PERSON THE RIGHT JOB RETURN COMMITMENT Commissions which are effective are using these tools. - 4 - v/ As a volunteer, I particularly appreciated the session on "Recruiting Volunteers" presented by Gary Cooper of Rockport, Tx. Here are his sentiments on effective volunteers. AS A VOLUNTEER, I AM LEAST EFFECTIVE... When not fully understanding or being enthused about the goal, feeling I am wasting time o~ important details or projects, or when I am involved with some problem I don't fully comprehend from a business or technical standpoint. When I have no staff feedback that my volunteer efforts are helpful or a hindrance. Some feedback is essential. When there is no direction, no planning, no prel~inaries. Superiors make decisions desregarding volunteer committees' work. When what I am doing seems menial and that I do not have real responsibilities. When I ~ too busy (as simple as thatt) Whett I bite off more than I can chewt When I have. to carry the ball alone. When the work I'm asked to do is routine and unc~allenging. When I'm being "used" and not really necessary.. .busy work jobs. When I am given little volunteer help and cooperation and must handle a task totally by myself. I get into these binds, especially when my committee is polled on an idea; they think it's great but won't help carry it out. When the job is not challenging, interesting or over-staffed. Then I feel my time is ,; asted. When working with patronizing professional. When I have too little time available to fulfill my responsibilities and I guess, honestly when I feel my efforts are not needed or appreciated. When I don't understand the people I am working with. Also to be most effective you need to believe in the cause you are working for. When I have agreed to do something merely because I felt I should or that it was "my turn" rather than because I really wanted to. When I have to take a staff person's ideas and expound them to a group. When directed in an unclear manner or have not helped in planning. When I can see no goal or end. "'''''_''~'_~O.<M~.,___..____"_..~._.____~"__~,~_..__,~._____<___~____,__ - 5 - "Planning With Your City" by Jennie Stultz, a former KAB affiliate director and currently mayor of Gastonia, N.C. was particularly effective as it concentrated on how to involve the mayor and council in commission activities. She advised close communication. Keeping council aware of successes gives all a share of the rewards. Always present a positive front. Be sure to include the mayor in handing out awards. Stress neighborhood enhancement, the current attention gripper in all cities. The emphasis is on green ways, trails, liveability, and quality of life. Appearance of the city is primary now. We should practice "SMART GROWTH'.' Avoid brown fields. Be a "Responsible Care Community," fighting hazardous waste. Friday at 6:30 P.M. the "Don't Mess With Texas" dinner featured business, media, and Adopt-A-Highway Award winners. Entertainment included Old El Paso's Wild West Show with six guns and shady ffiadies in old west re-enactments. There was an explosive gunfight in period costumes. A sing-a-long of favorite Texas tunes with all new (KAB) words helped to intro- duce the revamped "Don't Mess with Texas" logo. Saturday, July 1, was dedicated to youth activities. At the crafts seminars} plans and directions were offered to make bunnies of towels, metal flowers, tin men, coffee can bird houses, Christmas card boxes, newspaper wreaths, Christmas decorations, newspaper hats and other items fashioned from recyclable materials. These ideas will aid in our Envirofair. That afternoon was on-our-own for lunch and entertainment. We chose to take a trolley to see El Paso up close and personal. Perhaps we got over confident when we advanced to a city bus to visit local shopping malls. Walking over hot blacktop to the distant stores after debusing at the stop made us more appreciative of the ease of air-conditioned cars at our daily access. Fortunately, we were able to retrace our steps back to the hotel without disastrous events. Saturday evening promised a special bar-be-cue outing and a presentation of Viva El Paso, a display of outdoor entertain- - 6 - ment featuring multicolored costumes, electrifying musical production numbers, and legendary VIVA characters. The catch word here is "outdoor. II We were visiting during the rainy season, when there is one, and were advised to bring umbrellas. Of course, as no one expected, a magnificent lightning and thunder display substituted for Viva El Paso. We bought handy plastic ponchos to avoid being drenched and prayed on the return bus ride back to the hotel that we would not experience the high water fate of so many cars and trucks that floated in the memporary rivers whièh ìmimlté8 before had been hot dry streets. Sunday brunch featured a visit from President Teddy Roosevelt, namely Kevin McGough, a Roosevelt look alike. But we had a plane to catch at noon. We will never know just how much he resembled old Teddy. We do know that with the exception of a few natural. unexpected circumstances, the 2000 Keep Texas Beautiful Convention was a bang-up success. Thank you Beautification Commission for sending us to El Paso. Next year the great spectacle will be held in Fort Worth. Our travel expenses should be much cheaper. I understand that we will be playing a part in the preparations. Until 2001, I say keep on trying, the big money is ours to reach! Patsy Tucker, Chairman ~ QLe~vL -,.,.~-'"'._-~_.._-_.,-"._.~-'-~...~_._-~~-~---~.----.. Who Keeps Texas Beautiful? I Do...You DO...We All Do... First, I want to thank the Council for allowing me to attend my first "Keep Texas Beautiful" convention. I met a lot of interesting people along with learning a lot about recycling and litter control. We had a great time even with the perils of food in Juarez, Mexico and the lightening storm that canceled Viva EI Paso. I attended all the big meetings with Patsy Tucker and learned a lot from her experience. We would then go to different workshops so as to have information on all the conferences offered to the delegates. I attended a conference with Debbie York on measuring litter within your city. It is a requirement on the application for all the cities who want to attain recognition and receive awards for participation and achievement. They have re-vamped the process to make it easier and more consistent the world over. The Beautification Committee is very interested in participating in this activity and we petition the City Council's help in achieving this goal. We just cannot do this by ourselves. In one workshop, we learned how to recycle lots of items from newspaper to aluminum cans into useful and sometimes funny items. The one I liked the most was a birdhouse from a 1-gallon can. It helped the birds and it also made a throwaway useful again. I also attended a workshop with Patsy titled "Planning with Your City" taught by Jennie Stultz. Mrs. Stultz has now been on both sides of the fence-one as an organizer and volunteer, and now as the mayor of her city. She was a funny and enlightening speaker on how to look at the big picture and go forward with volunteers and your elected officials. We learned that nothing will happen without support from volunteers and your city officials. I sat on the bus for about an hour with a gentleman from Abilene, the winning city in Category 8 population 100,001-250,000 and he offered a lot of interesting information on how to fill out the application to make the figures pop out on the page for the judges to see. In looking at the other entries, we do everything that the other cities do and we just could not understand why we are not chosen for an award. As for me, this is the first thing that I have gotten excited about for our city since being appointed to the Beautification Commission. It would be great to achieve the Governor's award just for the recognition of North Richland Hills. Our city is beautiful and we need to become concerned about keeping it the city of choice along with keeping it beautiful. Peggy Weatherred