Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2000-05-01 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, HELD AT THE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS PRE-COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT 7301 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 May 1, 2000 ATTENDANCE Present: Board: Dwayne Leslie Chairman Scott Turnage, Jr. Vice Chairman Mark Haynes Board Member Kyle Appling Board Member John Lewis Board Member John Pena Board Alternate Absent: Andrew Wolff Board Member Jeff Arwine 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 Park 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 May 1, 2000 at 6:04 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVED MOTION: Mr. Turnage made a motion, seconded by Mr. Pena, to approve the minutes of the April 3, 2000 meeting. Motion carried 4-0. ITEM 3. RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS AND TENNIS CENTER REPORT Ms. Loftice updated the Board on the following: Spring Break Camp was held April 17tn _ 21 St with 26 participants. Adrien Pekurney has been promoted to Recreation Center Manager. Toby Dykema and Angela Pritchett have been hired as Program Coordinators and Stacy Smith has been hired as the new Cultural Arts Program Coordinator. Summer class registration begins today. Bursey Road Senior Center held the following events; Dirty Shirt Day in conjunction with the Birthday Luncheon/Ice Cream Social on April 20`h; Mother's Day Breakfast on May 11`h and a Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on May 18tn Dan Echols Senior Center held the following events; Covered Dish Luncheon on April 19`n and a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on May 2"d. The Swinging Seniors also performed at four nursing/retirement homes during the month of May. "the edge" program began offering a four week dance session with Dance Sensations and celebrated the end of the six week reporting period by tye-dying edge t-shirts. They are also planning picnics at Linda Spurlock and Green Valley Park to celebrate the end of the school year. Richland Tennis Center was busy with USTA, TCD and NETT matches during the month of April. Richland High School held it's Varsity District tournament on April 5th & 6th with 96 students participating. They also held their JV District tournament on April 25'h with 110 juniors participating. Richland Tennis Center hosted a Mid Cities Circuit tournament on Saturday April 22"d with 75 juniors participating in the one-day tournament. Head Tennis Professional, Jason Brown visited Smithfield Middle School for career day. He will also be visiting Haltom High School's Varsity, JV and PE classes to provide them with information about the tennis center and its programs. ITEM 4. PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Thornton updated the Board on the following: Mr. Thornton attended a meeting with TxDOT to review the status of projects and funding cycles. The following projects have a bid letting date of no later than September 2001, Calloway Branch Trail, Little Bear Creek Trail. Phase I Bike Route Signage and Signs has a bid letting date of no laterthan February 2001, North Hills Multi Use Trail a bid letting date of no later than January 2001 and South Electric Trail a bid letting date of no later than Park and Recreation Board Minutes May l, 2000 2 September 2002. Plans and specifications have been submitted to TxDOT for their review for the Cottonbelt Trail. Anticipated bid letting date is September 2001. The TEA-21 Grant Applications have a bid letting date no later than March 2003. TxDOT assigns the dates, but staff can, if feasible, move the dates up. Cross Timbers Park is substantially complete. The contractor is working on the shade structures and group pavilion. The sod will be installed when the irrigation pump is up and running. The completion date is still set for the end of May. The playground and bridge should be installed soon at Thornbridge Park. The majority of the trail has been installed. Ms. Leslie asked about the North Hills Mall Trail since the mall has new owners. TxDOT recommended that we proceed with the North Hills Mall Project and tie into the mall when and where we can. ITEM 5. AQUATIC REPORT Mr. Swartz updated the Board on the following: NRH2O held a March Madness Season Pass Special from March 1 St - April 15th. The sale was a great success with over 600 passes sold. NRH2O Season Pass holders have also been invited to attend an exclusive event on May 19th which will include live music, entertainment, discounted food and the opportunity to pick up their passes while avoiding the early season long lines. The Pacer/CATS system has been upgraded for the 2000 Season. One of the new features will be a color photo on all season passes. Staff at NRH2O is continuing the hiring and training of this season's team members. All training sessions are conducted on park using "hands on" methods. Team members are trained in a variety of areas. Safety, guest service and park cleanliness are the three highest stressed priorities for every team member at NRH2O. Staff is finding it more and more difficult to fill these positions but are stressing the non-monetary benefits available to them for working at NRH2O. ITEM 6. PARK USE POLICY Staff is currently researching and compiling information for the development of a Park Use Policy. The Park Use Policy will establish guidelines for various types of uses while protecting our resources. Mr. Browne asked the Board for their input regarding the topics of items to be address in the policy. Once a draft of the policy has been complete, it will be presented to the Park and Recreation Board for their review. Park and Recreation Board Minutes May 1, 2000 3 ITEM 7. CONSIDERATION OF TRIBUTE FOR THORNBRIDGE PARK APPROVED At the April Park and Recreation Board meeting Mr. Scott Turnage submitted a request for consideration to honor Mr. J.B. Sandlin for his contributions to North Richland Hills and Northeast Tarrant County. Staff and Mr. Turnage were asked to do some research and bring this item back to the May meeting with one or finro options. Mr. Browne and Mr. Leslie have spoken with several Council members and know that there is support for some type of recognition. Mr. Leslie said that he felt that several of the council would not settle for anything less than naming a park after Mr. Sandlin. Mr. Turnage recommends placing a monument at Thornbridge Park. He feels that if we start out with something smaller, City Council has the option to approve something higher. Mr. Leslie also liked the monument that staff designed. Mr. Browne said that the Policy states that you cannot name a park after someone until they have been deceased for one year, but City Council has the option to change that with a 3/4 majority vote. Mr. Pena would like something else to be considered. He feels that we have a golden opportunity to leave a legacy. This could be done in the form of a memorial wall or "wall of fame" and could be displayed at the new Town Center Recreation Center. The wall could have bronze or copper plate plaques displayed at a focal point. Also, the family of the person dedicated to the memorial wall could also receive small plaques for the family for a charge. He would like to see more people receive recognition. Mr. Leslie commented that several City Council members would support a memorial wall. Mr. Leslie wanted to know what the Board would think about naming it after Mr. Sandlin. The memorial wall would be added to periodically. Mr. Browne commented that the new Recreation Center is down the road 2-3 years. He said you could consider adding a monument at this time and add Mr. Sandlin to the wall when the Recreation Center is complete. Mr. Leslie would like to do both. Mr. Pena would like to only do one. Mr. Haynes likes the idea of a memorial wall, but would like to do only one. Mr. Turnage recommended putting forth both ideas and let City council decide. Mr. Turnage doesn't think they will settle for anything less that naming a park after Mr. Sandlin. Mr. Lewis said that there are more people that could be put on the memorial wall prior to Mr. Sandlin such as our forefathers. This wall could create a historical perspective and list our founding fathers in historical order. Mr. Pena said that there is legacy to be left and we can put it in a focal point and build on it. Park and Recreation Board Minutes May 1, 2000 4 MOTION: Mr. Turnage made a motion, seconded by Mr. Pena, to submit to City Council a proposal for either or both of the two options: first option - monument at Thornbridge Park, second option: memorial wall (wall of fame) at the Town Center Recreation Center. Motion carried 5-0 ITEM 8. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS NRH2O's Opening Day is May 20th. There will be a private event for season pass holders on May 19th. NRH2O is working under a different operating schedule this year due to the school schedule. They are tailoring NRH2O's hours to when the guests attend, according to past data. NRH2O will have a 92 day operating schedule and the hours on Sunday have been changed from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 Noon - 8:00 p.m. Mr. Pena asked about lifeguard certification. Mr. Swartz explained about the training that all lifeguards are required to take which is through Ellis & Associates. NRH2O has several team members who are certified instructors with Ellis & Associates and they conduct the training. Ellis & Associates also performs unannounced audits on the staff, films them and actually puts them through skill audits after their presence is known. The lifeguards do pay for their training, but they can receive a bonus to help offset the initial cost if they stay and work until the end of the season. Mr. Haynes thanked Jim and staff for their perseverance with the Park Land Dedication Ordinance, he also thanked Mr. Leslie for speaking at the Council meeting. Mr. Leslie said it was a great effort on everyone's part. Mr. Browne announced that the Parks and Recreation Department is a finalist for the 5th straight year for the NRPA National Gold Medal Award. Staff will be putting a video together, which is due at the end of May. Citicable will work with staff in the video preparation. ITEM 9. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 7:12 p.m. Dwayne L slie, Chairman ATTEST: c ~ - Christina A. Lopez, Adminis ati Secretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes May 1, 2000 $