HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2003-04-07 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
April 7, 2003
ATTENDANCE
Present: Board:
Mark Haynes Chairman
Brad Greene Vice-Chairman
Janie McGuigan Board Member
Marlin Miller Board Member
Marty Kusmierski Board Member
Kim Kirby Alternate
Absent: Fred Durko Board Member
Jim Allen Board Member
Present: Staff:
Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation
Sharon Davis Recreation Superintendent
Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary
Chris Swartz Aquatic Park Manager
Dalan Walker Parks Capital Projects Superintendent
Greg Vick Assistant City Manager
ITEM 1.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Haynes called the meeting to order April 7, 2003 at 6:01 p.m.
ITEM 2.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
APPROVED
MOTION:
Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Mr. Greene, to approve the minutes of the
March 5, 2003 meeting.
Motion to approve carried 5-0
ITEM 3.
PR 03-13 RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS,
TENNIS CENTER AND CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM REPORTS
Ms. Davis updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following:
The 14th Annual "Easter In The Park" will be held Saturday, April 12th from 10:00 a.m. -
12 p.m. at Green Valley Park. Additional children's activities following the hunt: bounce
houses, arts and crafts, petting zoo, and children's entertainer, Eddie Coker.
Registration is currently being taken for Camp NRH Day Camp and Hook a Kid on Golf.
The Recreation Center is offering 20 different camps which include Recreation, Arts,
Theatre, Outdoor Education, and Sports. Registration for all the camps, other than
Camp NRH, will begin May 1St~ 2003.
Staff attended the BISD Employee Wellness Fair held in March. Information was
distributed on all programs and services offered at the NRH Recreation Center. On-the-
spot Fitness Center registration was encouraged by giving the resident discounted price
to all BISD employees. Our massage therapist conducted free chair massages to
advertise their services and two fitness center passes were given away for a promotion.
The Corporate Challenge sneak preview luncheon was held in March with 80 people in
attendance and staff also attended the March Chamber luncheon promoting the event.
Corporate Challenge is scheduled for April 26~' -May 10tn
North Richland Hills hosted the March Games of Texas Organizing Committee meeting.
The Games will be held July 24tn _ 27cn
Bursey Road and Dan Echols Senior Centers collaborated by taking their participants
on three trips together that included finro dinner/theater trips and a Bossier/Tyler trip.
Bursey Road Senior Center has a rummage/bake sale planned for April 4th and 5th. All
proceeds are going toward a chartered bus trip to New Orleans in May for participants.
This month 45 seniors participated in the Food Bank Program at Dan Echols Center.
Nineteen eligible seniors were given food in the USDA food program this month.
Both `edge' sites had a lock-in at the Recreation Center on March 7th and 8th. 31 teens
attended the event. They enjoyed sandwiches for dinner, movies, basketball, and art
activities. They also wanted to thank Debbie Durko for donating donuts for the teens for
brea kfast.
The March Youth Advisory Committee focused on brainstorming for the Operation
Backpack program.
Members of the Youth Advisory Committee will be discussing YAC with their teachers
and fellow students to help in the recruitment of inembers for the '03-'04 school year.
Each member is encouraged to find at least 2 new recruits.
Park and Recreation Board Minutes Apri17, 2003 2
Even though the weather did not cooperate for the first concert, Party in the Park was
well received. The car show was a big hit, and the Mighty Marvelous 4 were excellent.
The children really enjoyed the contests and the large inflatables. Many Parks and
Recreation Staff helped to make the event a success.
The Booker T. Washington Jazz Combo will be in concert April 11~'. This jazz combo
has won many awards including honors at the Monterrey Jazz Festival where they will
be performing again next week. The school, and the jazz program, was spotlighted in
the March 3~d edition of People Magazine because of the multiple Grammy
awards former students have received, most notably, Norah Jones.
RTC hosted a Mid Cities Circuit tournament Saturday, March 1St with 80 junior
participants.
ITEM 4.
PR 03-14 PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM STATUS REPORT
Mr. Walker updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following:
Construction should begin in early April on the Snow Heights Neighborhood Park
project. It was scheduled to begin in late March, but was pushed back due to the wet
and freezing weather.
GreenScaping has completed the perimeter trail and the playground infrastructure at
Kay Granger Park at Mullendore Elementary School. They have also poured the
playground ring border and have the formwork in place for the remainder of the trail.
City Council recently approved the contract for acquisition of 7.01 acres of land in the
North Davis Area (Forest Glenn East). Fifteen additional acres will be donated. The
park site will total 22 acres and includes a portion that fronts Davis Blvd, but that area
cannot be developed.
Materials have been purchased for the TUCOR conversion project. AI Obregon wil{
begin the installation in April.
Public Works staff completed the installation of sidewalk connections at J.B. Sandlin
Park. Staff is also finalizing grading and irrigation plans for the southefn portion of the
park.
Excavation for the planter walls at Adventure World Park is complete. The contractor
will new begin the install of the planter walls at Linda Spurlock, Cross Timbers and
Green Valley.
The Park and Recreation Board recommended putting in the budget funds so staff can
move forward with safety netting at Walker's Creek Park and rea(locating the balance of
Park and Recreation Board Minutes Apri17, 2003 3
funds for shade structures for future development of Bleacher Shade Structures at
Walker's Creek and Cross Timbers Parks.
TxDOT provided staff with authorization to bid the Phase I Bike Route Signs on March
28, 2003. Staff is working on get the project advertised and bid issued.
An agreement was reached with American Civil Constructors and the Fort Worth and
Western Railroad regarding flagmen during construction of the Cottonbelt Trail.
Construction should begin in April. Ms. Kusmeriski asked about the Cottonbelt Trail
crossing Precinct Line Road. Mr. Walker stated that TxDOT is aware of the crossing
that they have worked with Hurst and have reached a resolution that TxDOT is happy
with.
Ms. McGuigan asked about the TPWD Matching Grant Program and about a bill that
was before legislation prior to Christmas. The Governor was asking for a 7-8% budget
cut. TPWD offered'/z of the local park fund which is used for grants. Mr. Browne
responded that the City of North Richland Hills has been very fortunate to receive grant
funds from this park fund. It is usua{ly very competitive, but now will be finrice as
competitive if the proposed budget cuts are accepted. Staff sent letters to Senators and
Representatives asking them not to accept this budget cut.
ITEM 5.
PR 03-15 AQUATICS REPORT
Mr. Swartz updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following:
City Council approved replacement of the locker system at NRH2O Family Water Park.
American Locker Security Systems will construct new stainless steel lockers with an
expected useful life of over 20 years.
NRH2O is replacing its flat grill with a new automatic broiler in the concession area. The
new broiler will allow staff to serve better tasting burgers while decreasing the cost per
patty and cooking time.
The Green Extreme received an enhancement during the off-season. A new semi-
automated rider dispatch system. The system uses computer technology coupfed with
electric eye sensors to monitor the locations of riders and alerts ride operators when it is
safe to dispatch the next rider. !t also allows the system to be shut down in only the
areas affected by an incident (such as riders not clearing the crest of a hill} without
affecting the other riders further down the slide path.
ITEM 6.
OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
No other informational items.
Park and Recreation Board Minutes April 7, 2003 4
ITEM 7.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Ms. McGuigan to adjourn the meeting at 7:00
p.m.
Motion to approve carried 5-0.
'~'12i..~. ,r., .
Mark Haynes, Ch ' man
ATTEST:
. ,
~
Christina Lopez, Admini tr e Secretary
Park and Recrearion Board Minutes April 7, 2003 5