HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2001-12-03 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD
OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS
HELD AT THE FIRE ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM
LOCATED AT 7202 DICK FISHER DRIVE AT 5:30 P.M.
December 3, 2001
ATTENDANCE
Present: Board:
Dwayne Leslie Chairman
Mark Haynes Vice-Chairman
Robin Eddins Board Member
Brad Greene Board Member
John Ramsey Board Member
John Lewis Board Member
Brenda Cole Board Member
Absent:
Present: Staff:
Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation
Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary
Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation
Greg Vick Managing Director of Community Services and
Facilities
ITEM 1.
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Leslie called the meeting to order December 3, 2001 at 5:29 p.m.
ITEM 2.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
APPROVED
MOTION:
Mr. Lewis made a motion, seconded by Mr. Haynes, to approve the minutes of the
November 5, 2001 meeting.
Motion carried 3-0.
ITEM 3.
RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS, TENNIS CENTER AND
CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM REPORTS
Mr. Jim Browne updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following:
The first "NRH Family Fall Fest" was held at Northfield Park on Saturday, November
10th from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Over 300 people were in attendance for this new event.
Several staff members from the Parks and Recreation Department are involved in
committee meetings for the 2003/2004 Games of Texas. We have staff serving on the
executive, marketing, opening ceremonies, and the sponsorship committees for this
event. They will continue to meet on a regular basis for the preparation of this event.
Dan Echols Seniors handmade a quilt that will be raffled off at the City Hall Christmas
Party. Tickets are being sold for $1 each of 6 for $5. Proceeds benefit the Dan Echols
High School Scholarship Fund. Each year Dan Echols raises between $400-$500 for
the scholarship fund.
The Smithfield "edge" program held their "Anything Goes Art and Talent Show" on
November 14th. Students showed their artistic talents in drawing, clay molds, and
paintings. Talent Show acts included martial arts, singing and dancing. There was also
a dance finale choreographed by Ms. Carolyn Riehl. Two professional artists judged
the art and awarded 1St, Znd, and 3rd place ribbons, certificates for participation and a
viewer's choice award.
The Youth Advisory Committee will be volunteering at the "Night of Holiday Magic" this
evening. Stacy Smith will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
Preparation has begun for the "Lotta Night Music Spring Concert Series". Six concerts
will be scheduled beginning on March 29th and will run every other Friday night through
June 7tn
NETAC awarded a$742.50 grant to help offset the cost of the Missoula Children's
Theatre Residency to be held this summer.
The Mixed 3.0 Richland Tennis Center team captained by Troy Cates won the USA
Team Tennis National tournament held in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 16'n _ ~$m
They also had a second team that did very well and finished 3~a
Richland Tennis Center realized a cost recovery of 76%, their best year yet.
Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 3, 2001 2
ITEM 4.
PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT
Mr. Bill Thornton updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following:
Staff is waiting for the City Manager's Office to establish the "selection committee" for
the Neighborhood Park Projects prior to proceeding. Once the selection committee has
been established, staff can proceed with selecting a contractor.
The contractor for the city entryway signs has to resort to "hand digging" due to
underground utilities at that location. This is causing the project to be delayed.
Cit~r Council is set to consider several options for streetlight fixtures at their December
10t meeting.
Brinkley Sargent Architects has been selected as the consultant for the NRH2O
Enhancements projects that include renovation of the office area, construction of a
picnic pavilion and boardwalk and correction of drainage issues. Preliminary space
planning is complete and now they are working on the development plan.
Request for Proposals are due on December 5th for the Bleacher Shade Projects at
Cross Timbers and Walker's Creek Park.
Field survey work is complete on the Calloway Branch Trail. Staff is waiting on the
revised layout plans from the consultant and the hydraulic study for the bridge
structures, which is also tied with the Little Bear Creek Trail. Once that is complete staff
can begin the design of the bridge structures.
City Council awarded the consultant contract to Dunkin Sims and Stoffels for the South
Electric Trail Project at their November 12~' meeting.
Request for Proposals, for the selection of a consultant, are due on December 5th for
the Walker's Creek Trail and Bike Transit Station.
ITEM 5.
SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER
Mr. Browne updated the Park and Recreation Board on the Senior Citizens Center
Expansion.
At their July 2"d Park and Recreation Board meeting the board voted to forward a
recommendation that City Council consider the request by the Dan Echols Senior
Activity Council and participants to expand the existing senior center into the adjacent
service bay area providing additional space for senior programs and activities.
Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 3, 2001 3
The Board also requested that staff explore other options and possibilities to address
the long range facility needs of our growing senior citizen population while keeping in
mind other established priorities set forth in the Parks, Recreation & Open Space
Master Plan.
Subsequent to this meeting, City Council held their annual Budget Retreat. The Dan
Echols expansion request was included on the agenda and Council voted to allocate
$50,000 for the project. The allocated amount will provide a functional, rustic space for
accessible storage and possibly additional program space. Staff has met with the
seniors and they are very pleased with the plans and what is being done with that area.
Responding to the Park Board's request that other options be evaluated for additional
senior center space, staff prepared a re~ort outlining 13 options and possibilities. This
report was presented at their August 20 h meeting
At their October 1St meeting, the Park and Recreation Board narrowed the 13 options to
three and asked staff to prepare cost estimates for final discussion and consideration.
Below are the options selected, in the order in which they scored out in terms of number
of votes, by the Board:
Option #4: Acquire additional properties for construction of a new
Senior Ceater and new adjacent Recreatioa Center
This option would require purchasing property adjacent to Linda Spurlock Park for the
construction of the Senior Center and Recreation Center. This option is very desirable
because of the park setting and synergy of creating multiple facilities for recreation
uses. Land acquisition costs and public perception regarding possible eminent domain
may be challenging.
Pros Cons
Design new facility to adequately & specifically Cost of construction
address senior needs
Economy of scale for shared infrastructure costs Increased cost of M& 0
Synergy of Multiple Municipal Facilities Land acquisition costs
New modern facility PR issues in acquiring adjacent properties
Provides the preferred solution for Recreation
Center relocation due to Loo 820 ex ansion
Spurs redevelopment in depressed part of town
Potential TPWD Grant Funding ($500,000)
Provides opportunity to address long range needs
Seniors involved in the design process
Potential introduction of aquatic features for use of
both Senior Center and Recreation Center
Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 3, 2001 4
Option #4 $9.4 million
Square footage of senior center: 15,OOOsf
Square footage of recreation center: 35,OOOsf
Land acquisition (8 acres) $1.0 million
Based on TAD values. May change.
Site Improvements $500,000
Parking, entry drive, landscaping
Construction Costs ($125/SF) $6.9 million
(10% Contingency)
Soft Costs (15%) $1.0 million
Option #7: Construct New Joint Senior Facility near Fire Administration
Building
Study the possibility of acquiring land near the Fire Administration Building to construct
a brand new joint senior center that would serve the patrons of both Dan Echols and
Bursey Road Senior Centers.
Pros Cons
One large senior center with adequate resources Construction costs
and amenities
Shared Resources Seniors may have an emotional attachment to
existin facilities
Consolidated M& O Costs Geographic location may be less convenient to our
existin senior atrons
Seniors involved in the design
Negates equity issues between the two centers
Location is centrally located within the city
Would provide a new modern facility
Located next to Fire Department
Option #7 $5 million
Square footage of senior center: 30,OOOsf
Land Acquisition N/A
Site Improvements $300,000
Parking, entry drive, landscaping
Construction Costs $4.1 million
(10% Contingency) ($125/SF)
Soft Costs (15%) $620,000
Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 3, 2001 5
Option #3: Construct New Senior Center within Linda Spurlock Park
Take existing land within Linda Spurlock Park and construct a new senior center. This
option would allow the seniors to be involved in the design process and provide a
beautiful park setting for the center. With the popularity of the park and limited park
facilities south of Loop 820 it may not be desirable to lose parkland open space.
Pros Cons
Design new facility to adequately & specifically Cost of construction
address senior needs
Seniors involved in the design process Loss of open park space
Spurs redevelopment south of Loop 820 Increased cost of M& 0
New modern facility
Possibility of CDBG Funding
Introduces outdoor activities/added programs
Frees up Dan Echols Building for other municipal
ur oses
Provides opportunity to address long range needs
Beautiful park setting
Option #3 $2.85 to $3.45 million
Square footage of senior center: 15,000 to 20,OOOsf
Land Acquisition N/A
Site Improvements $300,000
Parking, entry drive, landscaping
Construction Costs $2.25 to $2.75 million
(10% Contingency) ($125/SF)
Soft Costs (15%) $300,000 to $400,000
Mr. Browne went on to explain that the Board has possibly three options in making a
recommendation.
1. The Seniors needs are being met.
2. Select one of the options, or
3. Select a combination of the options for a recommendation.
The city is in the process of looking at a future bond program and will be appointing a
committee within the next month or so. If the Park Board would like to have any of
these options considered under the future bond program we need to have a
recommendation to submit to City Management for them to include in the list of projects
for that committee and Mayor and Council to consider. Discussion was held regarding
each one of the options.
Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 3, 2001 6
Motion: Mr. Lewis made a motion, seconded by Ms. Cole, to forward all three options
to the Bond Committee for their review and to forward a recommendation to City
Council for Option #3 with the possibility of going to Option #4 if and when the existing
Recreation Center Facility and property is sold.
Motion passed 6-0.
ITEM 6.
OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
The Park and Recreation Board received small Christmas Trees in celebration of the
holidays.
ITEM 7.
ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Cole made a motion, seconded by Mr. Haynes to adjourn the meeting at
6:13 p.m.
Motion carried 6-0.
Dwayne eslie, Chairman
ATTEST:
~
Christina A. Lopez, Adminis Secretary
Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 3, 2001 7