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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2001-08-20 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 August 20, 2001 ATTENDANCE Present: Board: Dwayne Leslie Chairman Mark Haynes Board Member Robin Eddins Board Member Brad Greene Board Member John Ramsey Board Member Absent: John Lewis Board Member Brenda Cole 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 August 20, 2001 at 6:08 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 July 2, 2001 meeting. Motion carried 4-0. ITEM 3. BOARD MEMBER ORIENTATION Mr. Jim Browne presented "Qualities of the `Perfect' Park & Recreation Board Member" a training program and orientation for new Park & Recreation Board Members. Mr. Browne has presented this program to many Park Boards including the Cities of Dallas, Fort Worth and numerous other communities as well as at Regional, State and National schools, conferences and training seminars. ITEM 4. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN Elections were held for the office of Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the Park and Recreation Board. Motions: Mr. Mark Haynes nominated Mr. Dwayne Leslie for the office of Chairman, seconded by Mr. John Ramsey. Motion carried 4-0. Motion: Mr. Brad Greene nominated Mr. Mark Haynes for the office of Vice-Chairman, seconded by Mr. John Ramsey. Motion carried 4-0. ITEM 5. RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS, TENNIS CENTER AND CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM REPORTS Ms. Vickie Loftice updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: The Fall 2001 "Time of Your Life" Brochure was distributed on August 3, 2001. The 6th Annual Recreation Celebration was held on Saturday, August 11, 2001 at the NRH Recreation Center from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This "open house" event showcases many of the youth and adult classes that will be offered in the fall as well as programs, memberships, leagues, services and other leisure opportunities for the community. Several hundred people attended the event. Camp NRH had a very successful summer. Several hundred youth ages 6- 12 enjoyed a fun-filled summer of sports, games, art, field trips, and NRH2O visits. Recreation Center staff have been very busy painting the front office, fitness center, free weight room, locker rooms and multipurpose room. They also affixed a NRH Parks and Recreation logo in royal blue vinyl on the wall in the free weight room. Park and Recreation Board Minutes August 20, 2001 2 The City's web site has a new look with several links for Parks & Recreation. The "Time of Your Life" brochure can now be downloaded from the web site and soon our customers will be able to register for classes and programs via the internet through E- Connect. The program is anticipated to go online in December or January. Re~qistration for fall softball is ongoing with the season scheduled to begin September 17t . Bob Hagin, Athletic Coordinator, served as a liaison for the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation Games of Texas which was held in Midland/Odessa on August 2-5, 2001. The City of North Richland Hills will be jointly hosting the 2003-2004 Games of Texas with several other cities. "Chocolate to Die For" was the theme for a July gathering at the Bursey Road Senior Center. Forty-three people participated in the dessert contest with Peggy Luna being awarded the gift basket for the most creative dish served. The Bursey Road Senior Center also held a"secret dining out trip" in July. The participants were given clues along the way and they had to determine where the dining trip would end up. Mary Phirman prevailed as the winner and won a free dinner for her efforts. The Dan Echols Senior Center held a"Games Night" in July with 64 seniors participating. Forty-four children participated in several visual arts camps that included Multi-Media Arts, Pathways to Creativity and Claymation & Creation. A grant obtained from NETAC helped offset some of the costs of this first ever series. Plans are underway for the 2nd Annual Night of Holiday Magic and Tree Lighting Ceremony. The event scheduled for December 3 has been moved from the Library Complex to the Fire Administration Building on Dick Fisher Drive. Scheduled to perform are Trout Fishing in America, Heather Myer, The Brass Associates and the Rebellaires. Staff is preparing for the start of "the edge" Teen After School Program which is scheduled to begin September 4. Four computers will be added to the Smithfield School site for students to complete homework, projects and play computer games. Richland Tennis Center hosted the NRH Junior Championship Major Zone Tournament on July 6-8. There were 356 singles entries and 46 doubles teams. The tournament was played at five different locations, RTC, Haltom High School, Colleyville City Park, Ridglea Country Club and McLeland Tennis Center. Richland Tennis Center received a$500 grant from the USTA-Texas Section for the promotion of our USA Tennis 1 2 3 program. Park and Recreation Board Minutes August 20, 2001 3 The Richland Tennis Center Men's 3.0 USA Team Tennis team won Sectional competition in Dallas and will advance to the National competition in Tucson to be held at the end of September. ITEM 6. PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Bill Thornton updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: Preliminary plans have been submitted for the development of Brandonwood Neighborhood Park. This project will be included in a bid package that will include a number of other neighborhood parks. Three City Entryway Signs have been completed; Mid-Cities Blvd, Precinct Line Road, and N. Tarrant Parkway. The sign located on Loop 820 is substantially complete. A City Council work session has been scheduled for September 17th to discuss the City Image Study. Artographx, Inc. is finishing up punch list items on the Standard Park Signage Project. The Snow Heights Elementary School Neighborhood Park Project has an estimated completion date of February 2003. Chairman Leslie wanted to know if we have heard anything on the award of grant for the Forest Glen East Neighborhood Park Project. Mr. Thornton said TPWD should be meeting soon. Staff is in the process of seeking authorization from TxDOT to pursue the acquisition of easements on the Calloway Branch Trail Project. Staff anticipates a December 2001 bid letting date on the Cottonbelt Trail Project. Mr. Haynes wanted to know what is taking place at the Green Valley pond. Staff is working with the Public Works Department on some grading changes that will allow water to flow towards Smithfield. Chairman Leslie wanted to know if we allow people to swim in the ponds at various parks. We do not and there are signs posted. Mr. Leslie wanted staff to check location of the sign. Park and Recreation Board Minutes August 20, 2001 4 ITEM 7. AQUATIC REPORT Mr. Chris Swartz updated the Park and Recreation Board on the following: Revenue is up. Attendance through August 15, 2001 is 237,016. NRH2O is planning the expansion of the Group Sales/Season Pass Processing area and management team office area. Mr. Swartz presented the NRH2O Capital Improvement Program Budget. ITEM 8. DAN ECHOLS SENIOR CENTER EXPANSION ANALYSIS The Park and Recreation Board, at their July 2"d meeting, voted to forward a recommendation to City Council for their consideration of the request by the Dan Echols Senior Center Activity Council and participants. They have requested expansion of the existing senior center into the adjacent service bay area providing additional space for senior programs and activities. The Board also requested that staff continue to explore other options and possibilities to address the long-range facility needs of the senior citizen population while keeping in mind the established priorities set forth in the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan. City Council at their annual Budget Retreat, voted to allocate $50,000 for the Dan Echols Senior Center Project to provide functional, rustic space for storage and possibly additional program space. City Council also requested that the Park and Recreation Board continue to evaluate options for long-range facility needs. Mr. Browne presented the Senior Center Expansion Analysis prepared by staff: As noted in the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan, which provides a framework and guide for the long-range development of our park system, facility needs were grouped into high, moderate and low needs. Senior facilities did not rank in any of the groups nor were senior citizen facilities written in under the "other" category although 22.2 percent of the total sunrey respondents were age 55 and over. This indicates that we were either meeting their needs or it is not a priority. Since 1992 more than $537,000 has been allocated toward senior center facilities expansion and improvements. Park and Recrearion Board Minutes August 20, 2001 5 Mr. Browne covered thirteen different analyses of options, which included: 1. Expand Dan Echols Senior Center into adjacent bay area 2. Demo existing building and construct new facility at same location. 3. Construct new Senior Center within Linda Spurlock Park 4. Acquire additional properties for construction of a new Senior Center and new adjacent Recreation Center. 5. Relocate Senior Center to Food Lion Building. 6. Relocate to existing Recreation/Library/Municipal Court Complex. 7. Construct new joint senior facility near Fire Administration Building. 8. Evaluate use and space efficiency at existing Dan Echols facility. 9. Expand hours of operation to address programs needs. 10. Combine Senior Center with existing Recreation Center 11. Combine Senior Center with home town recreation center 12. Eliminate separate senior facilities and incorporate general recreation facilities. 13. Expand into bay area and renovate existing building. Chairman Leslie recommended that the Park and Recreation Board review all the options, pros and cons, and narrow it down to three or four to discuss further. This item will be placed on the next Park Board Agenda. ITEM 9. OTHER INFORMATIONAL fTEMS Mr. John Pena resigned from the Park and Recreation Board on Friday, August 17, 2001. ITEM 10. AD.fOURNMENT Mr. Ramsey made a motion, seconded by Mr. Greene to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m. Motion carried 4-0. 0 Dwayne slie, Chairman ATTEST: ~ ~ ~ Y Christina A. Lopez, Admin~ ra ' Secretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes August 20, 2001 6