Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2003-06-02 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 June 2, 2003 ATTENDANCE Present: Board: Mark Haynes Chairman Janie McGuigan Board Member Marlin Miller Board Member Marty Kusmierski Board Member Fred Durko Board Member Kim Kirby Alternate Absent: Brad Greene Vice-Chairman Present: Staff: Vickie Loftice Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary Chris Swartz Aquatic Park Manager Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Absent: Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation Greg Vick Assistant City Manager ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Haynes called the meeting to order June 2, 2003 at 6:01 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVED MOTION: Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Ms. Kusmeriski, to approve the minutes of the May 5, 2003 meeting. Motion to approve carried 5-0 ITEM 3. Pr 03-20 ATHLETIC FIELD REGULATIONS ORDINANCE Ms. Loftice presented the proposed Athletic Field Regulations Ordinance. In an effort to protect and preserve our athletic game fields, staff is recommending that the City of North Richland Hills adopt an ordinance that prohibits entry on closed or restricted athletic fields. The Parks and Recreation Department has posted signs in an effort to restrict practices and deter unauthorized use of game fields, but these signs are ineffective because there is not an ordinance to support the policy. The ordinance will prohibit entry on closed fields or restricted athletic fields; provide for the placement of signs to prohibit unauthorized use; establish a penalty; provide for publication and establish an effective date. The proposed penalty for violating this ordinance is not to exceed $500 for each violation. With limited practice fields available in other cities, teams from all over the northeast region are practicing on our game fields. This kind of unrestricted use of athletic game fields damages quality playing conditions and also increases the cost of maintaining and repairing the overburdened fields. Practice fields are available throughout the City for use by city youth sports associations. Currently there are 11 softball/baseball backstops and 16 soccer/football practice areas. With the opening of the new neighborhood parks we will add an additional eight backstops and three practice soccer fields. Several cities throughout the Metroplex have adopted similar ordinances including Grapevine, Colleyville, Southlake, Arlington, Irving, Frisco, Denton, Plano, Lewisville and Mesquite. Ms. Loftice commented that the ordinance is not intended to penalize a father and son, or family, who come out for a game of flag football or a group picnic, just organized practices. Discussion was held. MOTION: Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Ms. McGuigan, to present the Athletic Field Regulations Ordinance to City Council for their consideration. Chairman Haynes asked if it was staff's intent to put signs up immediately. Ms. Loftice said they would put signs up when approved by City Council. Motion to approve carried 5-0 Mr. Durko said he would like to see the youth associations refreshed each year of where all the practice fields are located. Park and Recreation Board Minutes June 2, 2003 2 ITEM 4. PR 03-21 RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS, TENNIS CENTER AND CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM REPORTS Ms. Loftice updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: Winter Spring classes concluded in May with over 460 classes offered. Carolyn Riehl, the recreation centers dance and gymnastics instructor was honored by Representative Bob Griggs in a surprise presentation at the May dance recital. Representative Griggs presented Mrs. Riehl with the Governor's "Yellow Rose of Texas" award. The award recognized Mrs. Riehl for over 30 years of service to youth. The award will be presented to Mrs. Riehl at the City Council meeting on June 24tn North Hills Corporate Challenge finished with the wacky Olympics event at Northfield Park. A cookout and awards ceremony followed. The Division A Champion was BISD and the Division B Champion was the City of Bedford. The City of Bedford won by one point over Bates Container ending Bates' ten year reign over Division B. The Bursey Road Senor Center began a new pottery class in May. Arthur Koons demonstrated the pottery wheel to 20 people who were in attendance. The Dan Echols Senior Center held a"Dancin' in the Fifties" dance on May 22~d. The dance was sponsored by Alterra Assisted Living Facility. Entertainment was provided by a live band and an Elvis impersonator. Camp Quest, a summer program for low-income youth, will being on June 2nd and run through July 25th. The first four weeks of the program will be held at Linda Spurlock Park and the last four weeks at Fossil Creek Park. The Camp will also take weekly field trips to NRH2O. More than 500 people were in attendance for the Sara Hickman "Lotta Night Music Concert" held on May 23~d. Attendees were encouraged to complete a concert series survey so likes and dislikes can be assessed. The last concert of the season is scheduled for June 6th and will feature Carol Brandon's Broadway Showstoppers. The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. The Northeast Family Fourth will be held at the Birdville Fine Arts and Athletic Complex on July 4th from 6:00 -10:00 p.m. There were 258 participants in the NRH Adult Open held at Richland Tennis Center on May 9-11th. The Open used four venues including RTC, Birdville High School, Haltom High School, and Colleyville City Park. Richland Tennis Center had eight women's USA Team Tennis teams advance to the local playoffs held at RTC on May 17th & 18th. Four teams advanced to the finals. Park and Recreation Board Minutes June 2, 2003 3 Mr. Durko wanted to know how much advertising we do for the concert series. Ms. Loftice said we have several ads weekly in the Star Telegram, Dallas Morning News. The concerts are listed in the Time of Your Life Brochure, NRH Cable, and a sign located at the entrance to Green Valley Park. ITEM 5. PR 03- 22 PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Thornton updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: TPWD has requested additional information and clarification of the appraisal report for Tommy and Sue Browne Park (Forest Glenn). The appraiser responded to TPWD. Construction began on Clyde Zellers Park (Snow Heights) on May 2~d. The existing playground has been removed and grading is underway. Grading is scheduled to be complete the first week of June. Concrete formwork will begin after completion of the rough grading. Concrete work is complete except for the playground area and retaining wall at Legacy Park (Foster Village). All other concrete flatwork is formed, and the wall formwork is in progress. Irrigation is in progress at Kay Granger Park at Mullendore Elementary School. The existing playground has been installed. The new playground equipment is scheduled to be installed in late June. Special training for Park staff was held on May 14th for the TUCOR Irrigation System. The masonry park sign wall is complete at Adventure World, Cross Timbers and Linda Spurlock Parks and irrigation is in progress. The wall at Green Valley has been excavated and the masonry work has begun. The wall material was revised at Green Valley due to unavailability of the specified block resulting in a three week delay. Bids have been received for the trash receptacles and bleachers. Whitewater was selected as the manufacturer of the next major themed attraction at NRH2O which will be a Multi-Level Interactive Complex. Other improvements include site work and infrastructure associated with the new attraction and additional parking. Design work on the parking lot is in progress and site planning for the attraction continues. Staff is completing plans and specification for the Annual Tree Planting Project. Trees will be planted at the five new neighborhood parks being constructed as part of the first phase of the neighborhood park initiative. The project also includes replacement of dead trees at various locations. Completion of the construction documents is scheduled for late June. Park and Recreation Board Minutes June 2, 2003 4 The bid opening for the Phase I Bike Route Signs was postponed until June 4th due to only receiving on bid on the 21 St Staff is currently waiting on the Hospital to meet with representatives of the Doctor's Association in order to approve the easement for the North Hills Mall Trail. Survey work has begun in Colleyville for the Cottonbelt Trail and will continue into North Richland Hills. Staff is working on submitting environmental documents to TxDOT on June 12th for the Walker's Creek Trail and Bike Transit Station. Mr. Durko wanted to know how GreenScaping is performing on the Neighborhood Park Projects. Mr. Thornton said GreenScaping has hired a new Superintendent and are catching back up on some of the things that were behind. ITEM 6. PR 03- 23 AQUATICS REPORT Mr. Swartz updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: Mr. Swartz thanked Mr. Thornton for all his park staff that comes out and works on the NRH2O landscape. Included in the Aquatic Report is a list of Management Team Members so anyone visiting the park will have names to go with the hard working faces. NRH2O had their first Ellis Audit today, 6/2/03, and received a 100. Mr. Durko asked about the Green Extreme Dispatch System. Mr. Swartz said the dispatch time is down and that it is working exactly as it is supposed to. Ms. Kirby asked about the settling that is occurring in the kiddie pool slide area and wanted to know when that would be fixed. Staff said there is money in the 2004 season budget to fix that. The park has been open for two weeks. ITEM 7. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS No other items were discussed. Park and Recreation Board Minutes June 2, 2003 5 ITEM 8. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Kusmeriski made a motion, seconded by Ms. McGuigan to adjourn the meeting at 7:06 p.m. Motion to approve carried 5-0. ~ Mark Haynes, Ch irman ATTEST: ,~Z~~~ Christina Lopez, Administra ive Secretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes June 2, 2003 6