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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2001-03-05 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS HELD AT THE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS RECREATION CENTER LOCATED AT 6720 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 March 5, 2001 ATTENDANCE Present: Board: Scott Turnage, Jr. Vice Chairman Mark Haynes Board Member Andrew Wolff Board Member John Ramsey Board Member John Lewis Board Member Brenda Cole Board Member Absent: Dwayne Leslie Chairman John Pena Board Alternate Present: Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Sharon Davis Recreation Superintendent Chris Swartz Aquatic Manager Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Turnage called the meeting to order March 5, 2001 at 6:03 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVED MOTION: Ms. Cole made a motion, seconded by Mr. Wolff, to approve the minutes of the February 5, 2001 meeting. Motion carried 5-0. ITEM 3. INTRODUCTION OF NEW BOARD MEMBER Mr. Browne introduced and welcomed Mr. John Ramsey to the Park and Recreation Board. ITEM 4. RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS AND TENNIS CENTER REPORTS Ms. Loftice updated the Board on the following: The Texas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball Team held their "Cowtown Volleyfest" Volleyball Tournament at the NRH Recreation Center on February 23-25. Vicki, Truitt, State Representative, recognized the Recreation Division and the BISD Council of PTA's in appreciation of our collaborative efforts in the one day parenting seminar "Parenting Solutions" held in January. The seminar addressed issues such as peer pressure, teen dating and drug awareness. The Cultural Arts Division received finro grants for the "A Lotta Night Music" Spring Concert Series.; $2,000 from Ryder Systems Inc. and $700 from the Texas Commission on the Arts. The spring concert music series is set to begin March 30 at Green Valley Community Park at 7:00 p.m. PerForming will be Mood Indigo. The Children's Art and Entertainment Series scheduled for this summer received a$500 sponsorship from Owens Family Restaurant. The Bursey Road Senior Center held an English Victorian Tea celebrating Valentines Day. All the ladies received corsages and special gifts donated by area merchants. Thirty seniors from Dan Echols Senior Center went to Bossier City on February 22. Plans are underway for a trip to Mississippi and Tennessee on April 16. The 9th Annual Corporate Challenge Sneak Preview Luncheon is planned for March 8 at the Recreation Center. New this year is the "Survivor" theme. North Hills Hospital is sponsoring the event with the addition of Bates Container as a corporate sponsor. Spring Softball begins March 5 with 77 teams participating five nights a week at Northfield Park. North Richland Hills Parks and Recreation along with the City of Hurst will be sponsoring the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation 6ft and Under State Basketball Tournament on March 10-11 at the Recreation Center. Park and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2001 2 Beginning March 6 Junior Achievement will be offered at Smithfield Middle and North Richland Middle Schools for "the edge" program. The theme of the program is "stay in school". Each class will have an adult volunteer from ABC Builders and will be taught one day a week for eight weeks. "the edge" received a grant for this program. Street hockey will also begin at all three after program school sites. Staff will be teaching the teens basic rules of the game. Once players are familiar with the game there will be tournaments held at each site. Richland High School hosted a JV tournament on Tuesday, February 6 at Richland Tennis Center. There were over 200 students participating. The Northeast Tarrant Tennis Association (NETT) held a toumament at Richland Tennis Center on Wednesday, February 21 with fifty women participating. Fort Worth Christian School is practicing at Richland Tennis Center on Monday and Wednesday for the months of February and March. ITEM 5. PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Thornton updated the Board on the following: Preliminary alignment plans have been submitted for review to TxDOT for the Calloway Branch Trail. Staff is working on the acquisition of easements from BISD, TXU and Kimberly Clark. The bid letting date is anticipated to be September 2001. Staff is working on the acquisition of property from various property owners, according to TxDOT procedures for the Little Bear Creek Trail. The bid letting date is anticipated to be September 2001. Staff received approval from TxDOT's district office for bike route signs as proposed in lieu of TxDOT Highway Standards. We are now waiting on approval from the State office. Plans and specifications should be ready in about three months for the North Hills Multi- Use Trail. The plans will be submitted to TxDOT for review. Anticipated bid letting date is January 2002. Staff is awaiting approval of the design exceptions from TxDOT on the Cottonbelt Trail. Anticipated bid letting date is May 2001. The consultant is making the requested changes requested by TxDOT in the contract for professional services for the South Electric Trail. Staff anticipates a bid letting date of September 2002. Park and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2001 3 Staff is working on the execution of the grant agreement and concurrence of TxDOT in the selection of a consultant for the Walker's Creek Trail and Bike Transit Station. Park staff is preparing the fields at Cross Timbers Park for the upcoming baseball season. Thornbridge Park is complete. Brandonwood Neighborhood Park was not selected for grant funding. City Council approved proceeding with the Brandonwood project by transferring the Forest Glen East funding and using TPWD grant funds to construct Forest Glen East Park. Staff will begin survey work soon. Artographx Inc. is continuing with the installation of the City Entryway Signs and Standard Park Signage projects. Electrical work is scheduled to begin next week, then the construction of the foundations for the City Entryway Signs. The foundations are complete for the standard park signs and the signs should be installed this week. The Developer Agreement was approved by City Council for the Town Center Recreation Center at their December 11th meeting. Staff should have a consultant selected by June. Mr. Thornton said he would cover the City Image Study in more detail later in the meeting. The Spring Tree Planting project is complete. The contractor has one year to replace any trees that died. Staff has set a meeting with BISD to discuss coordination of the Snow Heights Elementary Neighborhood Park Project. Staff will then select a surveyor to begin the survey work. Staff submitted a TPWD Grant application for development of the proposed park site in Zone 4, which is Forest Glen East. Notice of award is anticipated for July 2001. City Council approved the acquisition of two neighborhood park sites at their January 22nd meeting. The acquisition includes 2.4 acres at the northwest corner of Industrial and Holiday and 6.35 acres at the northwest corner of Amundson Road and Main. ITEM 6. CROSS TIMBERS PARK - BRONCO FIELD USE At the February 5, 2001 Park and Recreation Board meeting Mr. Dwayne Leslie requested that this item be place on the next agenda for discussion and a recommendation. Mr. Leslie is not present at this meeting. Park and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2001 4 The Bronco Field at Cross Timbers Park is not available for league play as directed by City Council. Mr. Leslie requested that the Park and Recreation Board discuss the possibility of asking City Council to allow use of this field for league play. Discussion was held. Staff's recommendation is to let the youth associations implement this first season and develop a good relationship with the neighbors. MOTION: Mr. Wolff made a motion, seconded by Ms. Cole, to not take action at this time regarding the use of the Bronco Field. Motion carried 5-0. ITEM 7. OVERVIEW OF THE CITY IMAGE STUDY Mr. Bill Thornton gave a brief overview of the City Image Study and proposed recommendations. Discussion was held. Staff would like to take the City Image Study to the Mayor and Council for a workshop in April. MOTION: Ms. Cole, made a motion, seconded by Mr. Haynes, to approve the concept of the City Image Study and move forward with a presentation to City Council. Motion carried 4-1. Mr. Wolff voted against the motion; he doesn't feel comfortable forwarding it on without further review. Mr. Wolff left the meeting at this time due to a prior commitment. ITEM 8. NRH2O 2000 SEASON REPORT Mr. Chris Swartz, NRH2O Park Manager, presented the NRH2O 2000 Season Report. NRH2O recorded their highest attendance this season with 260,500 guests compared to 239,420 for the 1999 season. Revenue was $3.1 million and expenses $2.4 million. 2001 recommendations include changing the current season pass pricing structure from a base price of $79.95 ($59.95 Resident) with a volume discount to a base pass price of $59.95 ($49.95 Resident/$39.95 Resident purchasing four or more passes) with no volume discount. The second recommendation is to change the height that determines the difference between child and adult pricing to a level more appropriate with park Pazk and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2001 5 safety rules and industry standards. This level is 48" which is a decrease from the current 54" height level. Mr. Swartz also updated the Board on the new Point Of Sale System for NRH2O and the construction of the new slide the "Maroon Typhoon". MOTION: Ms. Cole made a motion, seconded by Mr. Haynes to approve the adjustment in season pass pricing and change in height requirements for NRH2O and forward a recommendation to City Council for their consideration. Motion carried: 4-0. ITEM 9. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Mr. Lewis inquired about the bridge at Thornbridge Park and the way it is allowed to rust. Staff responded that the bridge is designed to rust to an aesthetically pleasing color and saves on maintenance. The bridge does have a wooden handrail. The rusting will eventually settle down. ITEM 10. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Haynes made a motion, seconded by Ms. Cole to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 p.m. Motion carried 4-0. ~ Scott Turnage, Jr., Vice Chairman ATTEST: ~ Christina A. Lopez, Administr ive cretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes March 5, 2001 6