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Home My WebLink AboutPRB 2006-02-06 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS HELD AT THE PRE-COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT 7301 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 February 6, 2006 Present: Mark Haynes Chairman Brad Greene Vice-Chairman Marlin Miller Board Member Marty Kusmierski Board Member Ron Ruthven Board Member Mike Filis Board Member Kim Kirby Alternate Absent: Mark Cochran Board Member Staff Members: Lori Brown Cultural Arts/Special Events Coordinator Sharon Davis Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Vickie Loftice Director of Parks and Recreation Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary Chris Swartz Waterpark Manager Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Mark Haynes called the meeting to order February 6, 2006 at 6:02 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVED MR. GREENE MOVED TO APPROYE THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 5, 2005 MEETING. MR. MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROYE CARRIED 40. 3. PR 06-01 PRESENTATION BY YOUTH ASSOCIATIONS Mr. Scott Bowers, North Richland Girls Softball League presented a report on the state of their association. Note: Over 500 players, that he is aware of, have received scholarships since he has been with the association. NRGSL would like the City to consider: additional fields at Walker's Creek Park, shade structures, picnic tables, meeting room lights, additional parking, outfield distance signs, recognition plaques, and dug out misters. Mr. Rodney, Courtney, North Area Youth Association was not able to attend due to illness. Mrs. Kim Kirby arrived at 6:15 p.m. 4. PR 06-02 UPDATE ON THREE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Mr. Bill Thornton, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation, presented an update on the three neighborhood parks, Little Bear Creek Park site, Goode Place Park site and Norich Park, soon to be under construction. Bids were received on December 5, 2005. The lowest overall bidder was The Fain Group with a bid of $995,000, which was $36,142 greater than the available funding. A change order was prepared to delete some items that would not impact the overall project but would bring the project back within budget. City Council approved the construction contract and change order at their January 23, 2006 meeting. According to the contract, all three parks are scheduled for completion in December, 2006. Mr. Mike Filis arrived at 6:47 p.m. 5. PR 06-03 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET Ms. Vickie Loftice, Director of Parks and Recreation reviewed the Capital Improvement Program Budget process. Preparation of the CIP Budget will be completed February 24. Continuing projects will make the budget very tight, however, staff wanted to get the Board's input on any projects they would like to consider. Some of the scheduled projects include: Neighborhood Park at the Billy Graham property, Little Bear Creek Trail, Calloway Branch Trail, South Electric Trail, Park System Master Plan Update, Davis Blvd. Streetscape Project, Public Art and design for the new Library Plaza Park. Ms. Loftice asked the Board to call or email her with any other requests or suggestions. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 6, 2006 2 s. PR 06-04 RECOMMENDATION TO INCLUDE A REQUEST FOR THE PURCHASE OF A BUS FOR THE SENIOR ADULT CENTERS IN THE FY 06/07 BUDGET Marlin Miller, Park Board Member, requested that the Park and Recreation Board consider a recommendation to include the purchase of a passenger bus in the FY 06/07 budget. This item was initially brought before the Park and Recreation Board in 2003. A Decision Package was prepared and submitted as part of the FY 03/04 Budget. Due to funding limitations, the bus was not approved. The estimated cost for a 27 passenger buss is approximately $100,000 with fuel and maintenance costing an additional $5,000 each year. The City of North Richland Hills currently owns two 15 passenger vans and one seven passenger van. These vans are used by Camp NRH to transport children for field trips and by the finro senior centers for local and extended trips. MOTION: MR. RUTHVEN MOVED TO RECOMMEND INCLUDING THE PURCHASE A 27 PASSENGER BUS IN THE FY 06107 BUDGET AS A DECISION PACKAGE FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. MR. MILLER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6-O. 7. PR 06-05 UPDATE ON THE SOUNDS OF SPRING CONCERT SERIES Ms. Lori Brown, Cultural Arts/Special Events Coordinator, presented information on the city's concert series which has been retooled to include a new name, Sounds of Spring, and a new logo. The Sounds of Spring Concert Series will feature accomplished musicians and emerging Texas Bands. There will be opening acts for each concert beginning at 6:30 p.m.; the headliner band will begin at 7:30 p.m. The concert schedule is as follows: Friday, April 7- Brave Combo (opening band: Watusi) Friday, April 21 - Fingerprints (opening band: Drop Trio) Friday, May 5- Zayra Alvarez (opening band: Grupo Amistad) Friday, May 19 - Radiant (opening band: Meridianwest) Friday, June 2- South Austin Jug Band (opening band: Fishing for Comets) Friday, June 16 - The Django Walker Band (opening band: Blake & Fallon) A partnership has also been formed with the Texas Music Project in support of music education initiatives. Don't Mess With Texas Music CD's will be sold at the concerts. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Birdville ISD music program. A commercial for the Sounds of Spring Concert Series will air on VH1 and CMT along with ads in Texas Music Magazine, Fort Worth Weekly and the Dallas Observer. Park and Recrearion Board Minutes February 6, 2006 3 8. PR 06-06 NRH2O CHILDREN'S AREA RENOVATION UPDATE Mr. Chris Swartz, Waterpark Manager, presented an update on the Children's Area Renovation. City Council awarded a contract to Funtraptions, Inc. for the fabrication and installation of a new children's pool feature which will replace the AquaExpress Locomotive. The new feature includes 25 water play features, 12 of which are child activated and utilizes an open approach that will allow parents to keep eye contact with their children. The renovation will be complete and ready for the 2006 Operating Season. 9. PR 06-07 PARKS IN PROGRESS REPORT Mr. Bill Thornton updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: Staff held an irrigation training day at Tipps Canine Hollow. Park staff installed the irrigation system enabling all staff to acquire hands on experience with irrigation systems. The park will open in the summer after the turf is established. The playground expansion at Linda Spurlock Park is complete. The contractor will remove the construction fence soon. Ms. Kusmierski asked when the Calloway Branch Trail would be complete. Staff said the project should be complete in 2008. Design work is on hold pending a revision to the LBC Ordinance. 10. PR 06-08 UPDATE ON RECREATION PROGRAMS Ms. Sharon Davis updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: The 15th Annual Daddy/Daughter Valentine Dance was held on February 4 with 350 people attending. The Recreation Center will begin using a new electronic mail system soon. Staff will be able to send newsletters to members with specific interests such as current Fitness Center members or sneak peeks at upcoming events. The Athletic Newsletter "Game Plan" is being distributed to all athletic participants via mail or email. The Game Plan provides an organized way of distributing athletic programming information to all the participants. Corporate Challenge is scheduled to take place April 20- 23, 2006. Staff is trying a new 4-day format instead of the two week format to help companies get more staff involved in the competition. The Bursey Senior Center added a new Pilate's class this month. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 6, 2006 4 The Dan Echols Senior Center began the AARP Tax Assistant Program offered between 9 a.m. and noon every Thursday in February. Staff has been interviewing artists for a mural to be commissioned for the Public Art at Goode Place Park. The mural will be 7' tall by 70' long. It will be an energetic cityscape to accompany the pocket park layout planned for the park. The Richland Tennis Center will offer three special events in February: A February Fun Day, an Adult Tennis Camp and Winter Break Tennis Camp. 11. OTHER INFORIIJIATION ITEMS The front pond at Green Valley was stocked on January 27 with Winter Trout. The pond will be stocked again on March 16. Park staff has been renovating a landscaped courtyard at City Hall. Staff will include the Liberty Park Lake project in the upcoming CIP Budget. Staff previously ran into some challenges due to permitting requirements. Parks and Recreation staff wil! be attending a kick-off meeting with the consultants for the Park System Master Plan Update on Thursday at 8 a.m. Richard Abernathy, Assistant to the City Manager, will make a presentation on park naming at a future Park and Recreation Board meeting. Due to recent legislation, al! Boards and Commissions are required to attend an Open Meetings Training Session. The training consists of a 1 hour long DVD, and will be held at an upcoming Board meeting. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 6, 2006 5 12. ADJOURNMENT MR. M[LLER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEET?NG AT 8:28 P.M. MRS. KUSMIERSKI SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROYE CARR[ED 6•O. Mark Haynes, Chai an ATTEST: ~ Christina Lopez, Administrative et Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 6, 2006 6