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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2003-02-03 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 February 3, 2003 ATTENDANCE Present: Board: Brad Greene Vice-Chairman Janie McGuigan Board Member Marlin Miller Board Member Marty Kusmerski Board Member Fred Durko Board Member Jim Allen Board Member Kim Kirby Alternate Absent: Mark Haynes Chairman Present: Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation Sharon Davis Recreation Superintendent 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 Dalan Walker Parks Capital Projects Superintendent ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chairman Greene called the meeting to order February 3, 2003 at 6:00 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 January 6, 2003 meeting. Motion to approve carried 6-0. ITEM 3. LITTLE MISS KICKBALL REPORT Mr. Mike Newman, President of the Little Miss Kickball Association, presented information to the Park and Recreation Board about the Little Miss Kickball Association. Little Miss Kickball was founded in 1970 in the Flour Bluff Community of Corpus Christi, Texas. The Association became a non-profit corporation in 1971, governed by a Board of Directors. LMK has played at Fossil Creek Park, in NRH, since 1999. At this time there are only two kickball leagues in Tarrant County, NRH and Hurst. NRH currently has close to 300 girls playing in the league. Mr. Newman said LMK would like to host mid season tournaments, but in order to do so they would have to have 4 lighted fields. Mr. Miller asked what the Park and Recreation Board can do to get a 4th field to be used for tournaments or all star play. Mr. Browne commented that staff is doing a lot of research regarding youth association issues and will bring a report back to the Park and Recreation Board in the future. Staff thanked Mr. Newman for his presentation. ITEM 4. PR 02-34 - RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS, TENNIS CENTER AND CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM REPORTS Ms. Sharon Davis updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: To encourage customer feedback and suggestions, the GREAT IDEAS program has been developed. A GREAT IDEAS comment board, located in the lobby of the Recreation Center, allows staff to respond to a variety of comment cards that patrons and staff may complete and turn in to the front desk or suggestion box. After review of the current BISD flyer distribution procedures we are now developing a recreation quarterly newsletter to distribute to school campuses four times a year. The newsletter will also feature fun information and contests with a chance to win prizes and will be distributed in the months of February, April, September, and November. Spring softball registration is underway with the leagues scheduled to begin March 10th. The Hurst softball program will not resume this Spring so staff expects to maintain a significant number of teams. The Corporate Challenge steering committee met in January and plans are well underway for the competition. The theme this year will be patriotic with a tag line of "Together Everyone Achieves More". A kickoff luncheon will be held February 26th at the NRH Recreation Center. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 3, 2003 2 On January 30th the Bursey Center is planning a dinner/theatre outing and have invited the Dan Echols seniors to attend as well. Approximately 50 people are expected to register. The Bursey Center quilting group is raffling a quilt as a fundraiser. Tickets may be purchased at the center until February 13th. Funds raised will be used to purchase supplies for quilts which will be donated to various charity groups including Christhaven Children's Home. Fifteen participants from Bursey Center enjoyed a trip to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo on January 27th. Kathye McCall, the new Senior Center Supervisor at Dan Echols and Gwen Weisell, the new Senior Center Attendant have been busy programming new activities for the Center. Both `edge' sites enjoyed field trips to Mountasia where they played video games and Laser Tag. A representative from TCADA (Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse) will visit both `edge' sites in February and conduct drug, alcohol, and tobacco prevention groups with the teens. Dr. Larry Darlage, President of Tarrant County College, spoke at the January YAC meeting. He spoke to YAC about leadership, setting and achieving goals, and the steps he took to get to where he is today. Paul Dorasil, YAC Chairman, gave the Mid-Year report to City Council on January 27th. He gave a power point presentation on accomplishments, as well as activities and projects planned for the rest of the school year. Tickets for the 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration are on sale. The reception and concert are scheduled for Saturday, February 22nd. Tickets are $30 per person or $15 for the concert only. The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will be performing. The painting that was commissioned for the 50th Anniversary will be unveiled at the concert. The oil painting features Cross Timbers Park and the native plants at that site. Currently letters of agreement are being put together for the 15' x 4' wall at Foster Village Neighborhood Park Site. Staff has contracted with Dallas artist VET to facilitate this particular piece of public art. Richland Tennis Center had a women's 3.0 team, the Rowdy Racquets, coached by Jason Brown, travel to Houston to compete at the state level. Fort Worth lost in the semi finals to Dallas. RTC staff is busy with group lessons and the formation of USA teams for the spring season. Staff anticipates a record number of teams calling RTC "home". Park and Recrearion Board Minutes February 3, 2003 3 ITEM 5. PR 02-30 - PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Bill Thornton updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: The contractor is making progress at the Mullendore Neighborhood Park site. They are coordinating construction with the school sites and will be working on a couple of park sites at one time. Staff will be revising the completion dates of the Forest Glen and Industrial/Holiday Neighborhood Park sites pending recommendations. The OLMS Conversion Project is complete with the exception of Richfield Park. Based on research and investigation by staff, the Richfield Park OLMS conversion does not appear to be economically feasible at this time. Staff will look at other options. City Council will consider awarding the contract for construction of the park sign planter walls and landscaping at their February 5th meeting. City Council rejected the bids for the Bleacher Shade Project at Cross Timbers Park. A survey was distributed to the Park Board for their review. Staff will bring the Bleacher Shade Structure Project back to March Meeting for the Park and Recreation Boards review. Staff will be looking for a recommendation to forward a change order to city council for their consideration or evaluation of other options. TxDOT approved the contracts and Notice To Proceed for the Cottonbelt Trail Project. The contractor is preparing a schedule of construction activity showing work schedules in Colleyville and NRH. Construction should begin in February. The preliminary trail layout is complete for the South Electric Trail. Staff is waiting to receive TxDOT's comments from the December submittal. ITEM 6. HOLIDAY / INDUSTRIAL PARK SITE The Neighborhood Park Initiative Project includes construction of seven new neighborhood parks, of which the following five are currently under construction: Brandonwood, Amundson / Main, Foster Village, Snow Heights and Mullendore. Development and TPWD issues with the Forest Glen East park site and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) requirements with the Industrial / Holiday park site precluded their inclusion in the initial bid package. The approved Master Development Plan for the Holiday / Industrial Neighborhood Park Site includes extension of culverts out-falling at the northeast corner of the park site, trail-head parking atop the culvert extension, and creation of a lake in the Calloway drainage channel, all of which are within Jurisdictional Waters of the U. S. The extension of the culverts was included for the purpose of correcting extensive erosion Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 3, 2003 4 into residential properties along the northern bank of the tributary, and to provide a location for a trail-head parking lot. Since October 1, 2002, the consultant has been working with the USACE and has been preparing flood plain data relative to these studies and documents. In light of the timeframes associated with the approval and permitting requirements, staff and the consultant explored other approaches that would remedy the erosion problem and expedite the project. A Bank Stabilization Permit wi{I allow for the installation of a retaining wall and feathering back of the banks of the tributary. Given the current cost estimate, it appears that the wall necessary to stabilize the bank can be constructed within the available funds. Additionally, this approach would not require a Pre-Construction Notification Document, Wetlands Assessment or Mitigation Plan, thereby eliminating delays associated with USACE review and processing. Mr. Miller and Mr. Allen do not think the 7' x 4' box culvert wiN handle the flow of water. Staff responded that a hydrau{ic study was prepared and that any proposed extension of the culverts wou{d be designed to accommodate storm water velocities and flow. Mr. AUen wanted to know how the culverts were going to be combined. Staff noted that the engineers would design accordingly. As discussed at the time the master development plans were submitted to Council for consideration, the master development plans were designed to represent ultimate development. The current construction budget may not allow for the inclusion of some of the amenities shown on the plan in the first phase of development. In order to complete the construction documents for the Holiday / Industrial park site, staff has prepared options and requests direction as to the extent of work to include in the bid package for construction of the park. Options 1(a). Include the bank stabilization work along with the development of the park. This approach will allow the consultant to complete the construction documents and bid the project. The extension of the culverts, trail-head parking lot and lake construction woufd not be included in the bid package, however these amenities could be considered at a later time. This option can be implemented within the current construction budget and wou(d reduce otherwise lengthy USACE, FEMA and TCEQ processes. (b). If the Park and Recreation Board and City Council elects to proceed with this approach, staff would like additional direction as to which amenities, if any, should be included in future Capital Improvement Program Budgets. In addition to the culvert extensions, trail-head parking lot and lake, future amenities could include a separate pedestrian bridge adjacent to Holiday and City Image enhancements on either side of the Holiday bridge and to the bridge itself. Should Council desire to more forward with any or all of these amenities staff will prepare the necessary budget amendments for engineering and USACE/TCEQ permits in order to expedite their review process. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 3, 2003 5 Include either the extension of the culverts, the parking lot and/or the creation of the lake in the bid package and amend the construction budget to reflect the costs associated with these amenities. Depending on the USACE, FEMA, and TCEQ permitting processes, the timeframe for permit approval would most likely result in not being able to issue bids concurrently with Forest Glen. Given the construction budget and most recent cost estimates, the costs associated with these amenities, as described above, would necessitate the following budget amendments: Culvert Extensions - Would require an additional $65,000 Parking Lot - Would require an additional $84,000 (above culvert extensions included) Lake - Would require an additional $192,500 Culvert Extensions, Parking Lot and Lake - All three items together would require an additional $276,500 (These options would use the $65,000 available balance based on current estimates for the project, if the bank stabilization work is not done in the 1 st phase of development, and would take 12 - 18 additional months for USACE permitting at a minimum.) Discussion was held. Mr. Durko wanted to know what usage level the park will achieve. Mr. Thornton said it would be a highly visible park and the first neighborhood park in this zone. Mr. Browne said there is a lot of traffic that goes up/down Holiday Lane and Industrial and is a very visible site and provides an opportunity to introduce some of the city image elements and demonstrate the impacts some of those items can have. This area can be kept in its current condition which is somewhat of an eye sore or it can be turned in to an asset with the addition of city image elements, a body of water and public art. When people drive by the park and they see how nice it looks that makes you feel good. Mr. Browne stated that there are obviously two choices: We can go through the Corp of Engineers permitting process that will take approximately 12 - 24 months, then another year to construct the park; or We can move forward and do the things we can afford to do now such as the core elements of the park which include the playground, trail, pavilion, and also put in the bank stabilization retaining wall to help protect the property owners to the north. While this is going on we start the Corp review process and amend the budget to get the design and engineering money in the budget so they can develop plans for the Corp to review. We get the benefit of a couple of year's use of the park before we look at putting additional funding into the park to add a parking lot or lake later. Mr. Browne feels the lake would be a good amenity due to the major trail corridor connection. He knows it's a lot of money for a small site, but it is an important site due to its location, visibility and providing neighborhood park services to a fully developed area that does not currently have any park services. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 3, 2003 6 Mr. Durko wanted to know if the other hydraulic issues that Public Works is concerned about would be addressed. Mr. Browne did not want to speak for Public Works on that and that he honestly does not know the answer. He did comment about the concerns that Mr. Miller and Mr. Allen had about the two larger culverts being redesigned to a single 7'x4' culvert and its ability to handle the flow of water. Mr. Browne said one of the ways to move more water is to move it with more velocity. In relation to the hydraulic study and combining a properly designed but smaller culvert you can move more water through faster than what is currently happening there now. Mr. Thornton commented that regardless of what is there now, the cost estimate is to cover the design to carry the water underground to a certain distance to avoid the erosion problems. Mr. Miller commented that we are forgetting one thing, the people who live in that neighborhood. He thinks that is the stinkiest muck hole with snakes and it is up to the City to get it cleaned up. He wants the lake taken out of there, thinks it is a mosquito breeding area. Mr. Browne clarified that mosquito's breed in 6-8 inches, or less, of water and the lake would be a lot deeper than that. Mr. Thornton explained how the lake would be designed with the proper depths to actually prevent mosquito breeding. Mr. Greene commented that Green Valley has a beautiful lake and they don't have any problems there. Mr. Miller said that's because they have a fountain. Mr. Browne said that would be proposed at this site as well. Mr. Durko wanted to know who is maintaining the channel at this time. Mr. Miller said nobody. Mr. Browne clarified and said the Parks Maintenance Division has begun taking care of that site and has even spoken to Mr. Cole, an adjacent homeowner, who has complimented staff on their work and appreciates what has been done. What staff is proposing in the first phase of development with the retaining wall and embankment improvements will help alleviate the potential loss of property that the homeowners could have. Mr. Miller and Mr. Allen said the area still has a mosquito stink element and still needs to be cleaned up. Mr. Allen said staff can't say that someone is doing something out there, because they're not. Mr. Thornton responded that the area is jurisdiction waters of the Corp and we are not allowed to go in there and rip out the materials or any other growth in that area without the proper permitting. By doing the bank stabilization permit, which we would have to get a permit for, it will allow us to stabilize the slopes and feather back the top if the banks and clean up the appearance of the overall site without getting in to the flow line which would require going through the Corp of Engineers. Mr. Browne stated that the feathering back of the banks will get us to a more maintainable slope so we can get equipment down there to raise the standard of maintenance. Staff cannot grade the area until we have the permit and permission of the Corp of Engineers. Mr. Allen wanted to know whose responsibility it is to maintain that property and who owns the property? Mr. Browne stated that the City of North Richland Hills does, but we can only do what the law allows us to do. We are legally bound, subject to the laws of the federal government. This is a protected area as jurisdictional waters of the United States. Mr. Miller wanted to know what we are going to do with that mosquito infested place. He said the water is going to have to drain out of there. Mr. Browne commented that what staff is proposing are improvements to the outFall of the culvert and by feathering back and grading will allow staff to get down there to mow and maintain the area to minimize those issues. But we cannot do that until we go through the permitting process. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 3, 2003 7 Mr. Allen wanted to know what type of sewer line runs down Calloway Creek. He wanted to know how we were going to build a lake if it is a sanitary sewer. Mr. Browne said the lake will be a subtractive lake, where you excavate down, bringing the fill material out and work with existing water levels. What ever is required by Public Works and or any pertinent codes with regards to the sanitary sewer will be respected. That is part of the consultant's job to design a facility that's not going to cause problems for other utilities and they are well aware of what is there. Mr. Allen wanted to know if anyone has come up with an idea of how much water is flowing down through there at different times of the year. He thinks that at certain times of the year there won't be any water flowing to keep the lake full. Mr. Thornton said the lake will probably be charged by some mechanism. The Home Takes ~akes and Linda Spurlock Lake are charged with water. Mr. Allen wanted to know why they give a range for the culvert extension of 175'-200' and not a specific foot measurement such as 180' or 190'. Mr. Thornton said they would determine the length in the design phase. There may be requirements placed upon us by the Corp or issues that come up pertaining to the parking lot. Staff obviously wants to the do the least amount that we have to do, but solve the problems. Mr. Allen asked what the problem was. Mr. Thornton said the erosion, lack of grade where water stands causes the water to not evacuate. The ultimate goal is to clean up that site. Based on the site survey, and the approved master development plan, that is the distance we would have to take the culverts underground in order to accomplish the development shown in the master development plan and alleviate the problems that exist. From that point on to the channel, the regrading and feathering back of the slopes would allow for a more maintainable area. Mr. Allen questioned the figures in the cover sheet regarding the costs of the culvert extension. Staff explained the cost estimates. Mr. Durko commented that what he understands is that we could go with Option 1 and get the channel fixed quicker and spend less money and then review extending the culverts and putting in the parking lot at a later date. That way staff can get the park built and bank stabilization done on a faster review process than we can do the total project with the lake and the culvert. So we have to decide if we want to spend $600,000 or $300,000? Mr. Greene said really all we need is a recommendation to send it to Council. Mr. Durko sees recommending Option 1 because it will get the park started and the bank in a more maintainable position. Mr. Greene said Council would make the final decision on this, were just making the recommendation to send it to Council. Mr. Miller and Mr. Allen questioned why they were even on the Board then. Mr. Miller thought it was the purpose of the board to discuss it before it gets to the Council. Mr. Durko asked Mr. Allen is he was looking for a quicker fix to the mosquito infested stink hole? Mr. Allen said no, he just wants some answers to the figures in the cover sheet. Mr. Greene said it is not about the figures. Mr. Miller countered that it is about figures, he is a tax payer and everyone else on the Board is a taxpayer, it is about figures. Mr. Greene clarified that what he understands is that we are to discuss making a recommendation to Council on how to proceed with the project. Mr. Miller said we are here to discuss anything that comes up that we want to discuss. And if that is not so he Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 3, 2003 g can fold his books up and go home. He doesn't feel he would have any purpose here. Mr. Miller said he is just trying to figure out what the cost of the project will be before it goes to Council. Mr. Browne commented that we need to take a step back and realize that we are all on the same team. Initially some of the questions may have come across as accusatory or suspicious or possibly meaning that staff is trying to fudge numbers. Staff will answer any questions the Board has and has absolutely nothing to hide. Obviously, staff wants to spend the least amount of money on infrastructure and the most money on amenities that we can to solve the problems and make the best product out there. Staff is 100% happy to answer any questions; Mr. Browne just requests we do it in a more team oriented fashion. Mr. Browne also commented to the debate over the Board's role. The Board's role is to evaluate the recommendations that staff has made, including costs, what is included and not included in the project and let staff answer all your questions so the Board can have a good understanding of what is being proposed and they can make a good recommendation to Council. Mr. Browne stated that Staff is going to ask for a recommendation tonight because this item is going to City Council on Wednesday night. Staff is going to have a recommendation and hopefully it is the same as the Park Board. This is a very complex issue; it took a week for staff to write the three page cover sheet to put it in an understandable context. He said it is a lot more complex than what is even in the cover sheet. What ever questions the Board has, staff wants to answer them, he would like everyone to respect each other and do it in a team oriented manner. Mr. Browne said staff are professionals and they wil{ give you their best recommendation. He is not a civil engineer, but has consulted, met with and listened to many over the last 22 years so he has a basic understanding. Bill has $40 million in capital projects experience and Dalan has $20 million. Mr. Miller thought that's what they were doing. Mr. Allen said he was offended by Mr. Browne's statement that he is not a team p{ayer. Mr. Vick explained the scope of the neighborhood park projects and history. The numbers were put together about two years ago before we started acquiring sites. We now have an approved master development plan. There are five parks under construction. For this site we have essentially two options. Mr. Vick explained the two options stated above. Mr. Allen thanked Mr. Vick and said he understands it and really understood it from the first. He said he started asking questions and was getting different answers and then was offended by Mr. Browne's comment. Mr. Browne clarified that he didn't say he wasn't a team player, he said the questions could be asked in a more team oriented manner. Mr. Thornton asked if Mr. Allen's questions were answered. Mr. Allen said yes. Mr. Miller asked how many acres this site is. Staff responded 2.4 plus the additional acreage in the open space of the drainage easement. Mr. Miller thinks it's a lot of money for a small park. Mr. Thornton said the elements that are included on the master Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 3, 2003 9 development plan are the same elements included on each of the other neighborhood parks, a pavilion, playground, a length of hike and bike trail. Mr. Miller wanted to know if in the end do we want to spend this much money? Mr. Durko wanted to know if we know the density of this area compared to some of the other neighborhoods. Several people commented about the new housing development. He feels that this park will provide more bang for the buck than some of the other parks, because of its density and lack of open space in this area. Mr. Miller said he would like to go with the first Option. Mr. Durko said he felt the first Option would benefit the citizens the most. He thinks Mike Curtis has some hydraulic issues that parks can check on and Public Works possibly could benefit from the 404 permit. He knows there were some issues in that channel about six years ago and doesn't know if that has been corrected yet. MOTION: Mr. Durko made a motion, seconded by Mr. Miller, that the Park and Recreation Board accept Option 1A & 1 B and forward a recommendation to City Council Motion to approve passed 6-0. Ms. Kusmeriski wanted to know if the parking lot is not going to be included until phase II how do people get to the site. Mr. Browne said it is a walk to or ride your bicycle to destination. The real value of the parking lot is supporting the trial head for the hike and bike trail system going through the park. Mr. Vick clarified Option 1 is to include A and B. Mr. Durko understood that. Mr. Thornton also commented that the budget will be amended to include the design costs and permit fees. Mr. Browne said the actual implementation of the culvert, parking lot or lakes will be put in a long term budget to concur with the timeline it takes to get through the permitting process. Council would make a decision if those will be included at that time. But staff wanted to be sure that is ultimately what the Park Board would like to see because we will be spending some money to head that direction. Mr. Browne thinks that is what he heard and wanted to confirm. The Board confirmed that. ITEM 7. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS No other items. Park and Recrearion Board Minutes February 3, 2003 10 ITEM 8. ADJOURNMENT Ms. McGuigan made a motion, seconded by Ms. Kusmeriski to adjourn the meeting at 7:27 p.m. Motion to approve carried 6-0. Brad Greene, ce Chairman ATTEST: / . Christina Lopez, Adm' is ive Secretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 3, 2003 11