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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2001-10-01 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 October 1, 2001 ATTENDANCE Present: Board: Dwayne Leslie Chairman Mark Haynes Vice-Chairman Brad Greene Board Member John Ramsey Board Member Brenda Cole Board Member Absent: Robin Eddins Board Member John Lewis Board Member Present: Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation Vickie Loftice Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary Chris Swartz Aquatic Manager 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 October 1, 2001 at 6:04 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVED MOTION: Mr. Haynes made a motion, seconded by Mr. Greene, to approve the minutes of the August 20, 2001 meeting. Motion carried 3-0. ITEM 3. RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS, TENNIS CENTER AND CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM REPORTS Ms. Vickie Loftice updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: Th 2"d Annual Sponsorship Appreciation Golf Tournament and Luncheon was held on Thursday, September 13~' at Iron Horse Golf Course. Over 38 people enjoyed golf and over 50 company/sponsor representatives took part in the luncheon. Prizes were given to the tournament winners and appreciation plaques were handed out to the 2000/01 sponsors for their continued support. Boo Bash will be held at North Hills Mall on October 31St from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., for children 10 & under. The Fall Competitive & Recreation Indoor Volleyball Leagues began on September 26tn with 31 teams signed up to play Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Bursey Road Senior Center participants expressed interest in taking "day trips" and will begin taking these trips on a regular basis. This month they went to the Stockyards and enjoyed Senior Citizen Day at the Fort Worth Zoo. Over 100 people gathered at Dan Echols Senior Center this month and voted unanimously to give up their catered Thanksgiving Luncheon and send the $1,000 that is collected for the Luncheon to the Policeman and Fireman Relief Fund in New York. Three Dan Echols Senior Center participants got together and cut 1,800 red, white & blue ribbons for the North Oaks School students and faculty to wear. The first Friday Night Out Dance of the school year was held on September 7th at the Recreation Center with over 490 middle school students in attendance. The Fall Season for USTA, NETT and TCD started on September 7th at Richland Tennis Center. Twenty-five teams are calling Richland Tennis Center home this year compared to 13 teams last year at this time. Richland Tennis Center has two teams going to the USTA Nationals. A Men's 3.0 team and a Mixed Doubles 3.0 team. RTC also has three Lonestar teams (beginning adult classes) going to local playoffs. "Mid Cities Salutes America" will be held at Green Valley Community Park on Sunday, October 7th at 2:00 p.m. The North Texas Ballet under the leadership of Less Jordan will hold a patriotic perFormance. Also performing will be the Richland Rebellaires and Heather Meyer. The event is a fundraiser to benefit the American Red Cross and the victims of the events on September 11 th~ 2001. The Star-Telegram and WBAP will cover the event. Park and Recreation Board Minutes October 1, 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 in the process of selecting a consultant for the Neighborhood Park Initiative Project. Neighborhood Park sites included in this project are Brandonwood, Forest Glen East, Snow Heights, Stonybrooke, Mullendore, Industrial/Holiday Lane and Amundson. RFP's were received last week. Staff will select a consultant. One contractor will be selected to build all the parks, which could be phased. Staff made a few changes on the grant submittal for Forest Glen East and has resubmitted it to TxDOT. The Forest Glen East Neighborhood Park Project missed the last granting cycle by just a few points. City Council concurred with the many recommendations of the City Image Study. Staff will begin preparing appropriate plans for revising policies and ordinances to reflect those recommendations. The next step is to select street lights and traffic light fixtures. Plans and specifications are being prepared for the Spring 2002 Tree Planting Project. Plans are underway for an Irrigation Project that includes installation of an irrigation system at Fossil Creek Park and conversion to the TUCOR irrigation system at Northfield, Richfield, Green Valley, Walker's Creek Parks, Richland Tennis Center and Bedford-Euless Road Greenway. Also underway are plans to convert sports field lights at Green Valley, Richfield, Northfield, Walker's Creek and Fossil Creek Parks to the OLMS sports field lighting system. Requests for Proposals were received for the NRH2O Enhancements Project. Staff is working to select a consultant. Richland Tennis Center will have all 16 courts resurfaced in the Spring/Summer 2002. BISD will be responsible for resurFacing four of the courts. TxDOT has forwarded final plans for the Cottonbelt Trail Project to their Austin office for authorization to bid. Staff anticipates that approval to bid the project will come after the first of the year. Consultant selection will begin within the next few weeks on the Walker's Creek Trail and Bike Transit Station. Mr. Greene asked about the Calloway Branch Trail alignment and where it crosses North Ridge Elementary and Middle Schools. The trail has been set on paper and with flags. The Principal has since decided to install an outdoor classroom at the same location where the trail crosses their property. Staff is working with BISD on this. Park and Recreation Board Minutes October 1, 2001 3 ITEM 5. AQUATIC REPORT Mr. Chris Swartz updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: NRH2O posted their second highest season of attendance at 250,406 for the 2001 season, compared to last year's attendance record of 260,500 NRH2O will receive the "Platinum" overall rating from their Aquatic Risk Management Firm, Jeff Ellis and Associates. Jeff Ellis and Associates conducted three unannounced audits of NRH2O. These audits included video surveillance of lifeguards performing their job duties, an evaluation of the lifeguard's ability to successfully manage an emergency situation and an evaluation of the facility as a whole. This puts NRH2O in the highest category of performance and is a first ever for the park. Staff at NRH2O is in the process of breaking things down for the winter. This is the first year that NRH2O will be able to drain all their pools since they have been resurfaced. This will enhance safety during the off season. NRH2O staff is researching new wristbands (debit/credit) for next year. They are looking at a wristband that operates with a chip. ITEM 6. FACILITY NAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Mr. Jim Browne updated the Park and Recreation Board on the request of Mrs. Betty Brewer for renaming a part of, or one of the fields at Cross Timbers Park to Shaw Field or Shaw Stadium as well as the request of Mayor Pro Tem Russ Mitchell to rename Thornbridge Park to J.B. Sandlin Park. The NRH Public Facility Naming Board asked specifically for the following information: 1. Report back a recommendation regarding both items. The Board will provide as a result of these discussions. 2. Do background checks as required by the ordinance. Police Department files only go back to 1984, as a result there are no files available for Mr. Shaw. Mr. Sandlin's background check came back clean. 3. List reasons for and against the proposals, and any other names that should be considered. Board will compile as a result of these discussions. 4. If changing names, should we do a ceremony, and appropriate recommendations regarding same. Dependent upon Board recommendation and discussion. 5. Estimate of costs to taxpayers for making the changes. The existing Thornbridge Park sign cost $6,600. The Sandlin Memorial cost the City between $2,500 and $3,000 including Park and Recrearion Board Minutes October 1, 2001 4 concrete, bench, concrete pedestal, edging and landscape. The plaque, which was paid for by Liberty Bank, cost around $2,500. Total investment to date is approximately $12,000. If we were to replace the sign, a completely new sign would have to be constructed due to the way the signs are made. However, we could use the same foundation and electrical. A new sign would cost around $5,000. 6. Solicit Thornbridge HOA input regarding this proposal. Staff spoke with Kevin Briles, who is the President of the Thornbridge Homeowner's Association. His opinion was that the Thornbridge Homeowner's Association would not be supportive of a name change and would rather see those possible funds put into other improvements within the park. 7. Acquire details about how each piece of land was obtained, was it donated, purchased, etc. Request research on family history on Shaw request. Attachment 8. Request significant contributions to the community and outstanding community leader input. Attachment. Mr. Ramsey asked if the Board has ever thought of having a memorial park. Chairman Leslie said the Board and staff have been contemplating adding a"Ring of Honor" or "Wall of Fame" at the new Recreation Center in Town Center. MOTION: Mr. Green made a motion, seconded by Mr. Haynes, to not rename any part of Cross Timbers Park or Thornbridge Park. Motion carried: 4-0 ITEM 7. SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER Responding to the Park and Recreation Board's request that other options be evaluated for additional senior center space, staff wrote a report outlining thirteen options and possibilities. The Board, at their August 20th meeting requested time to study all the options listed. After their review the Board will choose three or four to discuss further. Discussion was held. The options were voted on as follows: Option #4: Acquire additional properties for construction of a new Senior Center and new adjacent Recreation Center. 5 votes - M. Haynes, J. Ramsey, B. Cole, D. Leslie, B. Greene Option #7: Construct new joint senior facility near Fire Administration Building. 3 votes - M. Haynes, D. Leslie, J. Ramsey Park and Recreation Board Minutes October 1, 2001 5 Option #3: Construct New Senior Center within Linda Spurlock Park. 2 votes - J. Ramsey, D. Leslie Option #8 - 1 vote: M. Haynes Option #11 - 1 vote: B. Greene Option #12 -1 vote: B. Greene Based on the information the Park and Recreation Board has at this time, it is the consensus of the Board to proceed with a cost analysis of the top three options voted on and reserve the right to come back at a later date to review other options. ITEM 8. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS None ITEM 9. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Cole made a motion, seconded by Mr. Haynes to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Motion carried 4-0. Dwayne eslie, Chairman ATTEST: Christina A. Lopez, Administr tiv cretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes October 1, 2001 6