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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2003-07-07 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 July 7, 2003 ATTENDANCE Present: Board: Brad Greene Vice-Chairman Janie McGuigan Board Member Marlin Miller Board Member Marty Kusmierski Board Member Fred Durko Board Member Absent: Mark Haynes Chairman Kim Kirby Alternate Present: Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation Sharon Davis Recreation Superintendent Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary Chris Swartz Aquatic Park Manager Greg Vick Assistant City Manager Dalan Walker Parks Capital Projects Superintendent Absent: Vickie Loftice Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Park Board member, Fred Durko, called the meeting to order July 7, 2003 at 6:05 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVED MOTION: Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Ms. McGuigan, to approve the minutes of the June 2, 2003 meeting. Motion to approve carried 3-0 ITEM 3. PR 03-24 DISCUSSION OF A DOG PARK IN NORTH RICHLAND HILLS Mr. Durko asked that this item be tabled until Mr. Greene arrives. Mr. Greene arrived at 6:07. This item was discussed beginning at 6:17 p.m., after the Recreation update. Ms. Tracye Tipps, a North Richland Hills citizen, requested that this item be placed on the agenda for discussion by the Park and Recreation Board. Ms. Tipps drafted a proposal for a dog park in North Richland Hills and gave a brief presentation. The proposal "Take Me Out To The Dog Park" was included in the Park and Recreation Board packets for their review prior to the meeting. Ms. Tipps said there are over 500 dog parks in the United States, Dallas has finro and is planning on three more and Austin has 12 dog parks. Discussion was held. Suggestions included taking an available park and allotting a time share for a temporary dog park to see how it works out. Mr. Miller asked about what kind of dogs would be able to use the park and about insurance. Ms. Tipps said the dog parks would be available to non-aggressive, neutered dogs. People could pay an annual fee and receive a sliding card for access to the facility. Staff responded that there is an implied risk with any recreational activity, but that is something staff deals with on a regular basis. The liability for a dog park would be fairly nominal. Ms. Tipps stated that in gathering information for the presentation everyone she talked with have never had any legal problems that involved the City. Mr. Durko explained that the Park and Recreation Board just recently adopted a Park Amenity Request Policy. He asked Ms. Tipps to fill out the request and turn it in to staff. This will give staff the opportunity to research the request and collect data, costs and such. Staff will bring the request back to the Park and Recreation Board closer to budget preparation time. Several of the Park Board members stated that they are in favor of this idea and like the idea of a permit. The permit and or access card could be tied to animal licensing and shots and the owner would sign a waiver for their "pooch pass". Ms. McGuigan asked if it would be possible to consider naming rights to a park by a company to help bring in the money to build it, such as Petsmart? Ms. Tipps thanked the Board for their time. Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 7, 2003 2 Mr. Browne thanked Ms. Tipps for her research and gave her a form to submit the request on. Mr. Browne said they would look at park inventory and sites and talk with the Animal Rescue Center about possibly forming a partnership for this program. ITEM 4. PR 03-25 RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS, TENNIS CENTER AND CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM REPORTS Ms. Davis updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: Camp NRH continues to attract the maximum capacity of 60 campers each week. There are a total of 169 youth on the wait list for the camp. Oak Leaf Mobile Home Park sponsored a CPR class for their residents after a child experienced a breathing emergency on their playground. Seven residents took advantage of the class held at the Recreation Center Vice-Chairman Brad Greene arrived at 6:07 p.m. The Athletics Division held their fourth annual Gridiron Football Camp with 51 youth participating and 71 girls participated in the Volleyball Camp. North Richland Hills hosted the TAAF Men's D State Softball Tournament on June 28 & 29 with nineteen teams participating. Originally, the City of Hurst was to host the tournament, but they were unable to do so due to the continued renovation of their adult athletic complex. The Bursey Road Senior Center held a 1900's party in June. All the participants dressed up in clothing from their favorite era and enjoyed entertainment that took them from the 20's to the 80's. Hot dogs and ice cream were served as refreshments. The Dan Echols Senior Center sponsored a Life Line Screening Program. Participants were screened for possible stroke, aneurysm, arterial disease and osteoporosis. The Youth Outreach Division is offering Camp Quest again this summer. The program is offered to children from low-income families and gives them the opportunity to participate in a fun summer camp without paying typical summer camp fees. Camp Quest costs $10 per week and includes a field trip to NRH2O once a week. Lunch is provided for the children everyday. The camp has averaged between 10 - 18 children daily. The Missoula Children's Theatre kicks off on July 14th. This year the musical production will be Treasure Island. The Cultural Arts Division will also begin a new series this fall, titled The Cookie Cabaret Series. The program will be held at Dan Echols and Bursey Road Senior Centers. The series will include music and a book review. Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 7, 2003 3 Richland Tennis Center offered a high performance tennis camp this year, for the first time, with 20 juniors participating. They also had 54 juniors participating in two other tennis sports camps. The Tennis Center also hosted the Mid Cities Circuit Tournament on June 27th with 93 singles participating. Mr. Miller asked if the performers for the Lotta Night Music Concert Series played for union scale. Ms. Davis responded no. Mr. Miller commented about some of the groups that have played at the Library during their Masterworks Music Series and if we had thought about working with the Northeast Arts Council on securing groups. Mr. Stacy Smith, Cultural Arts Program Coordinator, has worked through the Northeast Arts Council before, but usually looks for someone that would create a large draw for the concert series. Mr. Miller suggested checking out some of the groups that play at Dan Echols to save some money. Ms. McGuigan wanted to know how we recruit youth for Camp Quest. Ms. Davis said staff advertises through the Time of Your Life Brochure, through the schools for students on the reduced or free lunch program and from individuals that call in looking for scholarships for children's programs. Staff has been happy with the turnout this year. Mr. Miller wanted to know what happens to the families that cannot afford the $10 per week for Camp Quest. Ms. Davis said that when the program was proposed to the parents they were very excited about the price of $10 per week. The regular Camp NRH costs $80 per week. Mr. Miller said he may talk with some of the seniors at Dan Echols to see if they would like to sponsor some of the children for Camp Quest. ITEM 5. PR 03- 26 PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Walker updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: Plans and specifications should be ready soon for Tommy and Sue Brown Park. Major excavation is complete at Clyde Zellers Park as well as a portion of the trail. The playground area has been formed. The re-installation of the playground equipment is almost complete at Legacy Park. The contractor is about to begin work on the irrigation. The irrigation is almost complete at Kay Granger Park at Mullendore Elementary. The playground has arrived and will be installed as soon as the contractor's schedule allows. Staff should have plans to review for Liberty Park tomorrow (7/8). Although the project schedule does not show work beginning on Dick Faram Park yet, the contractor has been able to grade that site. Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 7, 2003 4 Installation of the TUCOR irrigation equipment at Northfield and Richland Tennis Center will be completed in-house. The conversion has already been finished at Bedford- Euless Road, Green Valley and Richfield Park. The Park Sign Wall and Landscaping project is substantially complete. The contractor is tweaking some irrigation issues. Bleachers have been ordered and delivered. They will be installed at Cross Timbers Park. Staff is awaiting approval on the bids for the trash receptacles. Bids are scheduled to be issued on July 8th for the Annual Tree Planting Project. Staff is currently waiting on a Supplemental Agreement from Newman, Jackson, Bieberstein for hydraulic work required for FEMA for the Calloway Branch Trail and Little Bear Creek Trail. Bid opening is scheduled for July 8t" for the Phase I Bike Route Signage. The bid opening has been postponed four times due to lack of response. If only one bid is submitted again, TxDOT has indicated that they will bid the project for us at no additional cost. TxDOT can bid the project state wide. Layout work is still in progress on the Cottonbelt Trail and the contractor should begin moving dirt this week. Teague, Nall and Perkins submitted environmental documents to TxDOT, on June 12tn, for the Walker's Creek Trail. Staff met with TxDOT to review the 60% submittal on July ~ St Mr. Greene commented that the landscaping around the park signs looks great. Mr. Walker said he would pass that on to our Britt Flaten our Park Planner who designed the planter walls. ITEM 6. PR 03- 27 AQUATICS REPORT Mr. Swartz updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: NRH2O Attendance is slightly down from the 2002 season due to overcast weather. Attendance has increased so far for the month of July compared to last year. Locker revenue is up 50% for the 2003 season. The increase is attributed to the new locker system that was installed, price adjustment and the addition of family lockers. Also there have not been any locker thefts so far this season, so the lockers are working very well. NRH2O staff is working on rehabbing the water slides appearance. With the constant exposure to the elements, the color of the waterslides fades over time. Staff is in the Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 7, 2003 5 process of gel coating the outer surFaces of the slides which returns the true color of the slide to its surface and increases the slides overall appearance. Mr. Durko wanted to know what staff is doing long term for NRH2O. Mr. Swartz explained the definition of a water park and that they would like to see a new attraction every two years. The next attraction if a"tree house" planned for 2004. There is an approved master plan that takes us to 2008. Mr. Swartz wanted to make sure the Board is clear on what a water park is compared to a leisure pool or aquatic center. He stated that it is very important to maintain our market niche. ITEM 7. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS No other items. ITEM 8. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Greene made a motion, seconded by Mr. Miller to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 p.m. Motion to approve carried 4-0. Brad Greene, Vice-Chairman ATTEST: Christina Lopez, Adm' is tive Secretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 7, 2003 6