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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 1999-08-02 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, HELD AT THE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS COUNCIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT 7301 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 AUGUST 2, 1999 ATTENDANCE PRESENT Board: Dwayne Leslie Acting Chairman Jeff Arwine Board Member John Lewis Board Member Scott Turnage, Jr. Board Member 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 ABSENT: Kyle Appling Board Member Mark Haynes Board Member Sherry Milano Board Member .lohn Pena Board Alternate ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Browne called the meeting to order August 2, 1999 at 6:09 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Mr. Lewis made a motion, seconded by Mr. Arwine, to approve the minutes of the July 6, 1999 meeting. (Motion passed 4-0) ELECTION OF ACTING CHAIRMAN At this time the Park and Recreation Board does not have a Chairman or Vice Chairman. Mr. Browne opened the floor for the nomination of an Acting Chairman. Mr. Lewis made a motion, seconded by Mr. Turnage, to elect Mr. Dwayne Leslie as the Acting Chairman of the Park and Recreation Board. (Motion passed 4-0) ITEM 3. ORIENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED WORKSHOP Mr. Browne was prepared to present an orientation for the new Board members at this meeting, but in the absence of several new members, the presentation was deferred until the workshop. Discussion was held regarding the proposed workshop. Staff will look at dates and get with other Board members to see if there are any conflicts. The Board was informed to plan on not having a meeting on the Labor Day holiday. If we need to have a meeting, one will be scheduled later in that week. ITEM 4. NAMING OF PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES Mr. Leslie suggested tabling this item until the next meeting so more Board members could be present. Discussion was held if the Board wanted to break in to a subcommittee or discuss this item as a group. Mr. Lewis suggested discussion as a group. Mr. Lewis made a motion, seconded by Mr. Turnage, to table the Naming of Park and Recreation Facilities until the workshop and discuss this as an entire group. (Motion passed 4-0) ITEM 5. RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS, TEENS AND TENNIS CENTER REPORTS Ms. Vickie Loftice updated the Board on the following: • The 1St Annual Rec-Fest was held on July 17 at North Hills Mall with more than 2,000 people attending. The event was held to promote July as "National Parks and Recreation Month". • The "Fall Recreation Celebration Sneak Preview" has been scheduled for Saturday, August 14 at 9:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. This day of celebration includes free introductory classes, a chance to meet the instructors and $2 discount off of weekly classes, entertainment, clowns, 25¢ hot dogs and drinks, free chair massages and registration for giveaways including a family trip for four to San Antonio donated by Rufe Snow Travel. • The Fall "Time Of Your Life" brochure is scheduled to be mailed to the public by August Znd Or 3rd. • The Bursey Road Senior Center held their monthly "theme" evening with over 60 senior in attendance. July's theme was a luau. • The Gad-A-Bouts, from Bursey Road Senior Center, traveled to Bossier City, LA, in July. Mr. Lewis wanted to know what the City's expense is for the senior trips. Staff responded that Ms. Burleson, Director of Bursey Senior Center, makes all the arrangements and accompanies the seniors on their trips. Ms. Burleson is paid for her regular day of work. The seniors pay all their own expenses. Park and Recreation Board Minutes August 2, 1999 2 •"Texas Trail Blasters" provided entertainment at the Dan Echols Senior Centers' covered dish luncheon, which was held in July with sixty-eight seniors in attendance. • Registration is currently underway for Summer Adult Volleyball. The new season will begin in August and leagues will be offered on Tuesday and Thursday nights. • The Hook A Kid On Golf program was held July 12-16 with 45 kids participating at Iron Horse Golf Course. The program was very well received. Staff is looking at offering two clinics next year. • Fall Softball registration begins August 16~' for leagues beginning in September. • The Birdville Independent School District has approved relocating a portable building classroom to Smithfield Middle School for exclusive use by "the edge" after school program. The portable building will be used as a pilot program to measure the success of having a central indoor meeting place for students. The after school program was started in 1994 at one school and now is in all three middle school in North Richland Hills. The program has had a lot of success. • Richland Tennis Center's Men's 5.0 USTA team has advanced to sectional play in Dallas, August 13-15. Matt Watson, RTC's Head Tennis Professional plays on this team and serves as Team Captain. • Richland Tennis Center hosted a Mid-Cities circuit tournament on Friday, July 23 with ninety-three juniors participating. • Richland Tennis Center's revenue has increased 22% for FY98/99 over the same period for FY 97/98. Merchandise sales and racquet stringing continues to be strong with a 46% increase. Program enrollment has increased 24% for the same time period. ITEM 6. PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Thornton updated the Board on the following projects: • Newman, Jackson Bieberstein, Inc. has completed the preliminary design work and trail alignment for the Calloway Branch Trail and Little Bear Creek Trail. Staff will proceed with identifying and securing any necessary easements. • The bike route maps are at the printer in production. • A preliminary alignment has been set for the North Hills Mall Multi-Use Trail. North Hills Mall has put the project on temporary hold due to their possible site development changes. • The consultant is proceeding with additional survey work necessary for preparing the detailed design of the Cottonbelt Trail. Mr. Turnage wanted to know how they will cross Rufe Snow? Staff will address these issues with DART. At this time the trail is scheduled to stop at Browning due to the expansion of Rufe Snow and then continue on to Precinct Line Road. He also wanted to know if DART will ever run on that track. Mr. Browne responded, possibly, at this time the Tarantula now runs on that track. • TxDOT is in the process of reviewing the consultant selection for the South Electric Trail. • Grant Applications have been submitted for the TEA-21 Enhancement funding submittal. Notice of award should be in November or December. • Construction continues of the 100 Acre Park Site. The contractor will begin on the restroom building soon. Improvements to Douglas continue as well. • Plans and specifications are being completed on the Thornbridge Neighborhood Park project. Staff anticipates construction beginning in late fall with completion in April 2000. • A grant was submitted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the Brandonwood Neighborhood Park. Award of Grant is scheduled for January 2000. Park and Recreation Board Minutes August 2, 1999 3 • A letter or agreement for professional services has been requested from Team Design and Landscape Alliance for the City Entryway Signage. Preliminary sites for the first two signs will be Loop 820 at Iron Horse Golf Course and Bedford Euless Road. • Park System Master Plan Surveys have been returned and tabulated by the consultant. Staff will be presenting the results to the Park System Master Plan Executive Committee and the Park and Recreation Board for their input. • Construction continues on the Linda Spurlock Park Restroom building. • Award of Bid will go to City Council on August 8, 1999 for the Linda Spurlock Park Irrigation System. Sprinkle and Sprout is the apparent low bidder. • Staff will meet with the Development Review Committee to review the data collected and discuss the direction of the City Image Study. ITEM 7. AQUATIC PARK REPORT Mr. Swartz updated the Board on the following: • NRH2O is in their last full week of operation. • NRH2O will be hosting the 2"d Annual Texas State Junior Lifeguard Championship on Thursday, July 29, 1999 from 8:00 - 3:00 p.m. This is a great program to provide future lifeguards for NRH2O. • Mid-season survey results show the park is performing well. With 1,100 survey's in the computer, the overall guest service average rating is 4.65 out of 5. This is up from last year's average of 4.58 for the same period. The attraction rating is 4.36 and concession rating is 4.25, both up from last year also. ITEM 8. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Mr. Arwine wanted to know what the process is for youth associations to use new facilities. To use City facilities, youth associations sign a contract which identifies who uses the facility and when, general maintenance, fence maintenance, coaches certification requirements, irrigation, infield preparation, light maintenance, electrical usage and background checks, just to name a few. At this time there has not been a signed contract for use of the 100 Acre Park Site. Maintenance fees have been implemented for associations using Green Valley Soccer Complex, Walker's Creek Park and Fossil Creek Park. The maintenance fee program has been well received. Staff proposes to implement the program at the 100 Acre Park Site upon its completion. Staff would like to implement the program with RYA at Richfield Park, but has some challenges due to the poor design of Richfield Park and the overuse. Mr. Leslie commended staff on securing over $9 million in grant funds, and that they do a wonderful job. Mr. Lewis inquired about Iron Horse Golf Course. Staff responded that Iron Horse is operated by a management company, supervised by the City Manager's office. The golf course is set up as an enterprise fund. NRH2O is operated by the Parks and Recreation Department and is managed by Chris Swartz. This park is also set up as an enterprise fund. NRH2O will have $1.5 million in the Park and Recreation Board Minutes August 2, 1999 4 infrastructure fund built up over the first five years. This fund will be used to keep the park in top quality condition. Mr. Turnage inquired about the undeveloped land around NRH2O. Staff responded that this land also includes Walker's Creek Park and allows NRH2O room to grow. NRH2O sits on about 17 acres with the total park at 72 acres. Mr. Browne told the Board that staff would be bringing a Parkland Dedication Ordinance to them for their review. City Council showed interest in the Parkland Dedication from a previous Park and Recreation Board recommendation. The Board inquired about the'/2 cent sales tax and if it ever stops. Staff responded that the only way to rescind the'/z cent sales tax for parks is for 10% of the citizens sign a petition to call for another election, then over 50% of the votes would have to vote to have the'/z cent sales tax ended. The Crime Control Sales Tax is different and they will automatically hold another election in 2001 to keep that in effect. ITEM 9. ADJOURNAMENT Mr. Turnage made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lewis to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m. ~ ~ - Dwayne L slie, Acting Chairman ATTEST: C ~ ~~~..~c~- v~- 7~~1~~t~ Christina A. Lopez, Administrative Secretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes August 2, 1999 5