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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2005-02-07 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS MELD AT THE PRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT 7301 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 February 7, 2005 ATTENDANCE Present: Board: Brad Greene Vice-Chairman Mark Cochran Board Member Marty Kusmierski Board Member Ron Ruthven Board Member Chris Putnam Board Member Kim Kirby Alternate Absent: Mark Haynes Chairman Marlin Miller Board Member Present: Staff: Gary Bechthold Parks Superintendent Sharon Davis Recreation Superintendent Vickie Loftice Director of Parks and Recreation Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary Chris Swartz Aquatic Park Manager Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chairman Brad Greene called the meeting to order February 7, 2005 at 6:02 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVED MOTION: Ms. Kusmierski made a motion, seconded by Ms. Kirby, to approve the minutes of the December 6, 2004 meeting. Motion to approve carried 5-0 ITEM 3. PR 05-01 YOUTH ASSOCIATION PRESENTATIONS The following Youth Associations presented a report to the Park and Recreation Board on the state of their association. Richland Youth Association - Mr. Steve Barrett, President Little Miss Kickball - Ms. Robin Newman, President North Richland Girl's Softball League, Tim Joy, Board of Directors Ms. Loftice announced that the Green Valley Soccer Association and the North Richland Hills Soccer Association merged and is now called the Birdville Area Youth Futbol Alliance. Chris Maldonado of the Birdville Area Youth Futbol Alliance was unable to attend due to illness; therefore they did not present a state of their association report. ITEM 4. PR 05-02 PARKS IN PROGRESS SPOTLIGHT ON NEIGHBORHOOD PARK INITATIVE PHASE II - THEMING Mr. Bill Thornton presented information on the "theming" of each of the Neighborhood Parks that are currently in design. Little Bear Creek NP - Spanish/Fort Theme, Gateway or Entrance to the City. Smithfield Elementary NP - Homestead Theme, possibly install a cover to use for concerts, if they can accomplish that architecturally. Holiday Heights Elementary NP - Dinosaur Theme with boulders and possibly a time- line walk or sundial. Goode Place NP - Pocket park theme. All of these sites are in their preliminary design phase and will be brought back to the Park and Recreation Board for their input at a later date. ITEM 5. PR 05-03 PARK NAMING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS At the December 2004 Park and Recreation Board meeting a Park Naming Committee was formed to provide name recommendations for future parks currently in design. The future park sites are listed below along with the name recommendations from the Park Naming Committee that will be forwarded to the Facility Naming Board for their consideration: Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 7, 2004 2 Smithfield Area Park site - Located adjacent to Smithfield Elementary School. The top three proposed names were favorites of the committee. Homestead Park Cottonbelt Park Smithfield Park Othersuggestions: William Turner Park, Willow Springs Park, Bethal Park, Alfred Hightower Park, Eli Smith Park. Little Bear Creek Park site - Located within the 96 acre future LBC Community Park. The top two proposed names were favorites of the committee. Texas Heritage Park Look Out Park Other suggesfions: Mission Park, Little Bear Creek Park, Gateway Park, Sentry Park. Park Site Near Goode Place - Located on North Richland Boulevard, west of Davis. The top two proposed names were favorites of the committee. Harmony Park Pocket Park Other suggestions: Urban Pocket Park, Central Park, September Park, Terrace View Park. Holiday Heights Park site - Located adjacent to Holiday Heights Elementary School. The top three proposed names were favorites of the committee. Paleo Park Discovery Park Bona Park (Added per motion) Other suggestions: Play-a-saurus Park, Husk-a-saurus Park, Dinosaur Heights Park, Dino Rock Park. Dog Park Facility - Located within Northfield Park. The top four were favorites of the committee. The Barking Lot Central Bark K9 Camp Bone Henge (Added per motion) Other suggestions: Tipps Bark Park, Everybody and their pog Park, Kibbles & Tipps, No Bones About It, The Bone Yard. MOTION: Mr. Ruthven, made a motion, seconded by Ms. Kusmierski, to forward the name recommendations for the five neighborhood parks currently in design to the Facility Naming Board. Ms. Kirby amended the motion to add Bone Henge for the Bark Park and Bona Park for the Holiday Heights Park Site, Ms. Kusmierski seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried. 5-0. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 7, 2004 3 ITEM 6. PR 05-04 CONTRACT MOWING - A WAY TO MAXIMIZE PARK MAINTENANCE RESOURCES The Parks Maintenance and Operations Division has adopted annual goals and objectives that include maximizing all available resources to provide the highest level of maintenance standards possible and implementing staffing strategies to address the continued growth of the park system. While addressing these objectives, staff looked at potential cost savings and level of service enhancements that could result from outsourcing certain tasks. Staff has concluded that this approach can provide the opportunity to improve productivity and efficiency in a fiscally responsible manner and is recommending a program to outsource mowing in lieu of hiring the four approved mid year maintenance workers included in this fiscal year. Man-hours not expended on unskilled tasks such as general mowing can be directed toward skilled tasks such as park support (playground inspections, infrastructure repairs, renovations, construction), chemical applications, athletic field preparation, and horticultural services (aeration, top dressing, pond maintenance, landscaping), thus increasing the quality of service in these areas. The funds associated with the approved decision package for the four new maintenance workers, along with other associated costs attributed to general mowing, can be re- directed towards a mowing contract for FY 2004/05. By contracting as much general mowing maintenance as possible, the City may afford the opportunity to increase the level of park maintenance service while maintaining or decreasing the overall cost. Staff reassured the Board that there will be absolutely no laying off of any staff. Ms. Loftice will be taking this item to Mayor and City Council in an Informal Report in the near future. Upon approval the outsourcing of mowing will be bid out and could begin in April. ITEM 7. PR 05-05 RECREATION PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Ms. Davis updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: Registration is underway for 2005 NRH Summer Day Camp. Seven of last year's Summer Day Camp staff is returning this year which is a compliment to Angela Meyer, Program Coordinator, who oversees the Camp. The Recreation Center will be replacing the Paramount Universal Equipment in the Fitness Center with new equipment. The Paramount is 20 years old and patrons have been requesting that the outdated piece of equipment be replaced for a number of year. An Adult Coed Kickball League is scheduled to begin play on Wednesday nights starting March 14tn Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 7, 2004 4 Dan Echols Senior Center held their first "Game Night" on January 11 th with 47 seniors in attendance. The program will be offered every other Tuesday evening from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Ms. Kirby mentioned that she saw 30 marines participating in a step aerobics class at the Recreation Center recently one evening. A Marine recruiter contacted the Recreation Center asking if there was something that 30 marine recruits could do. After explaining our class and fitness center policy, one of our Program Coordinators, Teddi Zonker-Visser, invited them to come by and try a step aerobics class. All the marines enjoyed the class and it proved to be a tough workout for them. ITEM 8. OTHER INFORMATION ITEMS If you have not already received your invitation to the Tommy and Sue Brown Park Dedication Ceremony, be looking for it soon. , Mr. Thornton asked what the Board would like the Parks Division to highlight at their next meeting. The Board requested additional information on the Hike/Bike Trail System. Ms. Kusmierski requested a copy of the Hike/Bike Trail map. Staff will be planning a March workshop and will get back with the Board on a date. Mr. Cochran knows that all the youth associations want shade structures at the park sites and wanted to know how to get that on the agenda. Staff will look at the Capital Budget and try to include in a future year as it is not be possible to include this FY. ITEM 9. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Ms. Kusmierski made a motion, seconded by Ms. Kirby to adjourn the meeting at 8:19 p. m. Motion to approve carried 5-0 Brad Greene, Vice Chairman ATTEST: , Christina Lopez, Administrat e e retary Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 7, 2004 5