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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2003-03-05 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 March 5, 2003 ATTENDANCE Present: Board: Mark Haynes Chairman Brad Greene Vice-Chairman Marlin Miller Board Member Marty Kusmierski Board Member Fred Durko Board Member Jim Allen Board Member Absent: Janie McGuigan Board Member Kim Kirby Alternate Present: Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation Vickie Loftice Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary . Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Greg Vick Assistant City Manager ITEM 1. Ca4LL TO ORDER Vice-Chairman Greene called the meeting to order March 5, 2003 at 6:05 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVED MOTION: Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Mr. Allen, to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2003 meeting. Motion to approve carried 3-0 ITEM 3. PR 03-07 CONSIDERATION OF PARK AMENITY REQUESTS FOR FY 03/04 The Park and Recreation Board, at their November 4th, 2002 meeting, requested staff to develop a policy for responding to requests for additional park amenities and improvements in existing parks. Staff developed this policy. According to the Park Amenities Request Policy applications for additional park amenities will be evaluated by Parks and Recreation Department staff in terms of the following: Compliance with the 2000, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan, current principles and methods of park planning and design, capital costs for the requested improvements, long term fiscal impacts reiated to maintenance and operations and impacts on other prioritized projects in the CIP Budget with regards to introduction of the funding and time schedules associated with the request. The following requests have been made: • A half-court Basketball Court at J.B. Sandlin Park - Requested by the Thornbridge Homeowners Association • Expansion of the Linda Spurlock Park Playground - Petition received from the area homowners • Expansion of the Bursey Road Senior Center - Mr. Marlin Miller requested this item for consideration by the Board. Mr. Thornton commented that preparation of the FY 2003/2004 Capital Improvement F'rogram is underway. The Parks and Recreation Facilities Development Capital irnprovement Program is supported by sales tax revenue. Revised sales tax projections have resulted in cash flow implications and a potential funding deficit in FY2003/04. Funding may not be available for introducing these requests in the CIP Budget. Mr. Thornton asked the Park and Recreation Board to prioritize the items listed above. Chairman Haynes arrived at the meeting at 6:25 p.m. Discussion was held. MOTION: Mr. Miller made a motion, seconded by Mr. Haynes to prioritize the requests as follows: #1 Expansion of the Linda Spurlock Park Playground #2 A half-court Basketball Court at J.B. Sandlin Park #3 Expansion of the Bursey Road Senior Center Motion to approve carried 5-0 Park and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2003 2 ITEM 4. PR 03-08 RECOMMENDATION TO INCLUDE A REQUEST FOR THE PURCHASE OF A BUS FOR THE SENIOR ADULT CENTERS IN THE FY 03/04 BUDGET PROCESS Mr. Marlin Miller requested that this item be placed on the agenda for consideration by the Park and Recreation Board. Ms. Vickie presented this item. At the December 2, 2002 Park & Recreation Board meeting, staff presented a survey of area cities that have passenger busses and the costs associated with purchasing a bus. The estimated cost for a 27 passenger handicapped assessable bus is approximately $90,000. The City of North Richland Hills currently owns two 15 passenger vans and one seven passenger van. The vans are used daily by the after school program. During the summer months all three vans are used by Camp NRH to transport children for field trips. The two senior centers also use the vans for local and extended trips. In 2002 a total of 286 trips were taken using the vans. The oldest 15 passenger van is due to be ~eplaced in 2007 and the newest one in 2012. The seven passenger van will be replaced in 2011. The primary use for a new 27 passenger bus would be for local and regional trips for the seniors. The after school program and Camp NF2H could use the bus as well. Staff asks the Park and Recreation Board to consider all budget implications prior to making a recommendation. Mr. Browne explained that the requested bus could be submitted as a service enhancement request in the Budget process and it would be beneficial to have an endorsement by the Park and Recreation Board. MOTION: Mr. Durko made a motion, seconded by Mr. Miller, to have the request for the purchase of a bus put in to a decision package and presented in the budget for City Council consideration. Motion to approve carried 4-0 Abstained 1 ITEM 5. PR 03-09 CONSIDERATION OF NAMES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS The City Council Naming Committee met to discuss names for the seven neighborhood park site. The Policy on Naming City Facilities requires the recommendations of the Naming Committee for City Parks be reviewed and discussed by the Park and Recreation Board prior to final City Council review and approval. Park and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2003 3 The City Council Naming Committee has proposed names for four of the neighborhood parks: Amundson / Main Park Dick Faram Park Holiday / Industrial Park Liberty Park Forest Glenn East Park Tommy and Sue Brown Park Mullendore Elementary Kay Granger Park at Mullendore Elementary School The Naming Committee would ask for these to be approved and for feedback on the other two elementary sites, Snow Heights and Foster Village as well as the Brandonwood Park site. Staff contacted Evalyn Lochridge, Chairperson of the NRH Historical Committee, and reviewed The Hisfory of North Richland Hills to brainstorm potential park names. After much discussion the Park and Recreation Board recommended forwarding the follo~ring proposed park names on to the Naming Committee for their consideration. • Brandonwood Park Site - Willow Springs Park - This area may have been referred to as Willow Springs prior to being referred to as Zion, prior to being Smithfield, may also tie in nicely if staff is able to include the Koi Pond wat8r ~eature. ' ~ Foster 0/illage - Pioneer Park - could tie in nicely with the public art mural that is planned at this site. •~now Heights - Clyde Zellers Park - Former Mayor, held the office when first paid Police and Fire Department was established. Resides in the Snow Heights area, still walks the neighborhood every morning placing neighbor's newspapers on their doorsteps. MOl`ION: Mr. Haynes, made a motion, seconded by Ms. Kusmierski, to go with the recommendation of the City Council Naming Committee on the four park sites and recommend the following names for the remaining three park sites: Brandonwood Park Site - Willow Springs Park, Foster Village - Pioneer Park, ~ Snow Heights - Clyde Zellers Park. Motion to approve carried 5-0 ITEM 6. PR 03-10 RECOMMENDATION ON WALKER'S CREEK PARK SHADE STRUCTURES Included in the currently approved Parks and Recreation facility development Capital Improvement Program budget is funding for construction of shade structures over the bleacher areas at Walker's Creek Park and Cross Timbers Park. Park and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2003 4 Bids were received and opened on September 19th. The lowest bid submitted for the project was over budget. Staff worked with the lowest bidder in an attempt to bring the project within budget, but after extensive value engineering, evaluation of potential construction materials and methods, the project remained over budget. Staff, in recognizing that the second phase of development for Cross Timbers Park is scheduled to begin next fiscal year, presented an option to the City Council awarding the bid for construction of shade structures only at Walker's Creek Park and waiting for the next phase of construction of Cross Timber Park to add those shade structures. Walker's Creek Park has been in existence longer, has more teams, participants, tournaments and spectators. The North Richland Girl's Softball League has been requesting this improvement for quite a whiie primarily for providing protection for spectators from errant foul balls. Funding is included in the FY2003/2004 CIP Budget for the second phase of Cross Timbers Park and shade can be addressed with this project, taking advantage of economies of scale. The next phase for Walker's Creek park is not until 2004/a5. City Council rejected the bids received for the shade structures at their November 25tn meeting and requested staff and the Park and Recreation Board evaluate potential methods of addressing the issues and concerns regarding foul balls and bleacher shade/protection at Walker's Creek Park. In response, the following potential options were developed for consideration: • Re-bid the project • Change Order to the Neighborhood Park Initiative Project • Consider using shade fabric in lieu of inetal roof material • Provide for the extension of netting fabric around the backstops Staff reviewed all of these options and has concluded that since the immediate need as expressed by NRGSL is the extension of the backstop netting, the installation of covers over the bleacher areas to shade spectators can be addressed as part of the second phase of development. This would also apply to Cross Timbers Park as well. The net extensions can be addressed in the FY 2003/2004 CIP Budget. Discussion was held. MOTION: Mr. Haynes made a motion, seconded by Mr. Durko, to recommend the extension of the netting around the backstops and look at shade structures in a future phase of development for the parks. Motion to approve carried 5-0 Park and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2003 5 ITEM 7. PR 03-11 RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS, TENNIS CENTER AND CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM REPORTS Ms. Vickie Loftice updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: A new quarterly newsletter has been developed by Parks and Recreation to be sent to BISD schools four times a year advertising youth and family programs. The newsletter titled "North Star" with the tag line "Your Journey Starts Here" will also have a character "Cosmo the dog". Cosmo will introduce children to fun activities. BISD likes the new concept versus individual flyers for every event throughout the year. The Corporate Challenge sneak preview luncheon postponed due to inclement weather has been rescheduled for March 12th. Corporate Challenge kicks off April 26th and concludes May 10tn The 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration held at Birdville High School was very successful with approximately 500 people in attendance. Cindy Horstman, a jazz harpist, provided ente~tainment during the reception. The concert featured the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Also the first piece of public art was unveiled at the reception and at the concert. Limited edition, signed prints and regular prints were available for purchase. The painting by artist Daniel Blagg showcases Cross Timbers Park and the native blue stem prairie, ITEM 8. PR 03-12 PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Bill Thornton updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: Construction is scheduled to begin in May on Brandonwood and Amundson / Main Neighborhood Park sites. The trail has been poured and play ground has been excavated at the Foster Village Neighborhood Park Site. The perimeter trail is complete and playground infrastructure is being installed at the Mullendore Neighborhood Park Site. Construction should begin in late March for the Snow Heights Neighborhood Park site. City Council awarded the bid for the purchase of materials for the TUCOR Irrigation Conversion Project at their January 27th meeting. Staff is waiting for a meeting to be set with the Fort Worth and Western Railroad representatives regarding the flagmen requirement for work within the railroad controlled DART right-of-way during construction of the Cottonbelt Trail. Construction is scheduled to begin in March. Park and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2003 6 ITEM 9. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Ms. Kusmeriski commented that there has been a lot of paint ball damage at Cross Timbers Park and new graffiti on the side walk - weekly. She wanted to know how park rules come about. Staff responded that park rules can be established by Ordinance or by an Administrative Policy. Staff would like to place this item on a future agenda to discuss and possibly forward a recommendation to City Council requesting an amendment to the ordinance. Mr. Browne commented that recently during the ice days, kids were out on ATV's at Cross Timbers, we were able to send a staff person out there who detained the kids until the police arrived. Vandalism is something staff would like to discuss with the Park and Recreation Board in the future. Staff is also working on the draft of an ordinance that would prohibit practice on athletic sports fields. This item will be brought back at an upcoming meeting. March 28t~' A Lotta Night Music Concert Series kicks off at Green Valley Park. The Mighty Marvelous 4 will be performing along with the D& D Rockin' Rods car show, dance contest, and children's activities. The Party in the Park begins at 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p. m. Mr. Miller commented about one of our neighboring cities - Keller. Some of their seniors took a day trip and when they returned that evening, there were three patrol cars waiting to take them home due to the ice storm. He thought that was darn nice of them. ITEM 10. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Haynes made a motion, seconded by Mr. Durko to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m. Motion to approve carried 5-0. Brad Greene, Vice Chairman ATTEST: G Christina Lopez, Admin at e Secretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2003 7