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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2003-12-01 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 December 1, 2003 ATTENDANCE Present: Board: Mark Haynes Chairman Marlin Miller Board Member Virginia Stencel Board Member Kim Kirby Alternate Absent: Janie McGuigan Board Member Brad Greene Vice-Chairman Marty Kusmierski Board Member Fred Durko Board Member Present: Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation Vickie Loftice Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary Adrien Pekurney Recreation Center Manager Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Mark Haynes, Chairman, called the meeting to order December 1, 2003 at 6:02 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVED MOTION: Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Ms. Stencel, to approve the minutes of the November 3, 2003 meeting. Motion to approve carried 3-0 ITEM 3. PR 03-38 RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS, TENNIS CENTER AND CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM REPORTS Ms. Loftice introduced Ms. Adrien Pekurney, Recreation Center Manager. Ms. Loftice and Ms. Pekurney updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: The 3rd Annual Night of Holiday Magic will be held on Saturday, December 6th from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Mid Cities Municipal Complex. The Recreation Center received new carpet on the lower level, the interior walls will soon be painted and new light fixtures installed. The restrooms were also recently updated. Building Services is managing the projects and paying for them from their budget. Recreation Center staff is receiving quotes for new fitness equipment. The fitness center will receive three new treadmills and a new recumbent bike. Instructor Appreciation Week will be celebrated December 8-13 at the Recreation Center. We have over 35 instructors and staff wants to show our appreciation to them. The Center also has many volunteers that help with our special events. Parks and Recreation Staff helped with five new neighborhood park ribbon cuttings in November. Kay Granger and Clyde Zellers were in attendance for the dedication of the parks named in their honor. The Faram Family was in attendance for the park named in honor of their father Dick Faram, a former Mayor. The Parks Planning Division did an outstanding job managing the projects and the Parks Maintenance staff worked along side the Planning Division to ensure the parks were ready for the dedications. Public Art was installed at all five of the newly opened neighborhood parks. Artists were selected to produce original works of art for each site. Legacy Park features an underwater mural by artist Vet: Founders Park features a bronze Blue Heron by artist Deran Wright; Dick Faram Park features a"People Train" sculpture by local artist Seppo Aarnos; Clyde Zellers Park has three 12' pinwheels designed and constructed by artist David Hickman and Kay Granger Park has interactive activity walls designed by artists Carol Wider and Charlotte Lindsey. All future neighborhood parks will have a public art element. Upcoming events include: Growing Great Kids, Parenting Seminar to be held on Saturday, January 24 from 8:00 - 1:00 p.m. at the Recreation Center. 13th Annual Daddy Daughter Valentine Dance to be held on Saturday, February 7. The theme this year is "Hooray for Hollywood". Park and Recrearion Board Minutes December 1, 2003 2 Plans continue for the 2004 Games of Texas. Mr. Jim Browne was selected Chairman for the 2004 Games of Texas. The Games will be held July 23-27, 2004. Meetings begin on December 16th for the 2004 Corporate Challenge. Each returning team is invited to send representatives to attend. Corporate Challenge is scheduled for April 17 - May 1, 2004. Youth sports leagues are wrapping up their seasons. During the off season, staff will be drafting a Tournament Policy to address the numerous requests for tournaments. This policy will be brought to the Park and Recreation Board for their input regarding equitable use of our limited athletic fields. The Green Valley Soccer Association and the North Richland Hills Soccer Association are discussing merger possibilities. The Parks and Recreation Department believes the merger would benefit the youth soccer players and also provide better service to the parents. The Bursey Senior Center held a free Thanksgiving Lunch and silent auction on November 20th as a fundraiser for the Center. Dan Echols Senior Center held their installation of officers for the Center's Advisory Committee: They include: Marlin Miller - President Sarah Hunsucker - Vice President Jonel McMahon - Secretary Louise Phillips - Treasurer Dan Echols also held a Thanksgiving Lunch on November 19th. 138 seniors attended. As part of the Cookie Cabaret Series, a WWII era musical review was held at Bursey Senior Center. The musical review was perFormed by Carol Brandon. Thirty people attended. Jason Brown, Head Tennis Professional at RTC, traveled to John Newcombs in New Braunfels with the RTC junior tennis team. They placed third in their division. ITEM 4. PR 03- 39 PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Thornton updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: The Parks Maintenance and Operations Division experienced a man-hour shortfall in November of 202 hours. This shortfall was due largely to the number of special events and tournaments that occurred. Due to the short fall, staff contracted, at a cost of Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 1, 2003 3 $3,000, the trimming of the trees and shrubs at various city sites in preparation for Christmas lights. The Tommy and Sue Brown Neighborhood Park project is scheduled to be bid concurrently with Liberty Park on December 15tn Most of the excavation and rough grading is complete for the MLIC at NRH2O. The contractor has begun pouring the concrete in the parking lot and was scheduled to begin pouring the piers and the pump house on November 26tn The Walker's Creek Net Extension project is completed, but they are still having fouf balls escaping the netting. The contractor is disappointed as they matched the specifications exactly. The contractor suggested and has agreed to install a netting material over the plaza area to protect from foul ba{Is. The contractor wi{I do the installation for free if we can provide the supplies. Staff and the contractor feel this is the only way to fix the foul ball problem. Staff reviewed the 90% comments with TxDOT on November 20~" for the Walker's Creek Trail and Bike Transit Station. The consultant is making final revisions to address the comments. Mr. Miller wanted to know where we stand on the Dog Park. Mr. Browne explained the budget process and the Park Amenity Request Policy. Mr. Browne has visited several dog parks and staff is researching Dog Parks. This item will be brought back to the Park and Recreation Board at the appropriate time for discussion. Mr. Haynes commented that all the park dedications went well. ITEM 5. PR 03-40 DISCUSSI~N OF PARK AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE APPROVED Staff was recently asked to complete a Sunset review of all Boards and Commissions guidelines and make recommendations for any revisions that may be needed. One of the recommendations staff made was for the Park and Recreation Board to meet every other month rather than monthly. Changing the meeting dates to bi-monthly would enable staff to make the meetings more substantial and/or meaningful than just "information" reports. Discussion was held. Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 1, 2003 4 MOTION: Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Ms. Kirby to change to the bi-monthly meeting schedule and requests that staff forward a City Councii recommendation to amend Ordinance No. 1477. Motion to approve carried 3-0 The next Park and Recreation Board meeting is scheduled for February 2, 2004. ITEM 6. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Ms. Kirby requested that the Recreation Center try and get more youth programs on Saturdays or in the evenings. Ms. Pekurney responded that staff has tried that, but the Center has an evaluation going out next week and they wil{ include information to see if there is more interest now. ITEM 7. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Ms. Stencel made a motion, seconded by Mr. MiNer to adjourn the meeting at 6:43 p.m. Motion to approve carried 3-0 Z 2 0 Mark Haynes, airman ATTEST: 1 ~ Christina Lopez, Admin' ive Secretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 1, 2003 5