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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 1999-07-06 Minutes MfNUTES 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 J U LY 6, 1999 ATTENDANCE PRESENT Board: Rick Work Chairman Sharon Battles Board Member Dwayne Leslie Board Member Sherry Milano Board Member John Pena Board Alternate 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: Sherry Christensen Board Member Ann Perchard Board Member ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Work called the meeting to order July 6, 1999 at 6:01 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Mr. Pena made a motion, seconded by Mr. Leslie, to approve the minutes of the May 17, 1999. (Motion passed 4-0) ITEM 3. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED PARK PROJECT(s) FOR SUBMITTAL OF A TPWD GRANT Included in the proposed Parks and Recreation Facility Development Capital Improvement Program for fiscal year 1999/2000, is partial funding for development of a neighborhood park site located in the Brandonwood subdivision north of North Tarrant Parkway and west of Davis Boulevard. The developer of the subdivision has offered the donation of land for this park. The Parks and Recreation Department planned to forward a grant submittal to TPWD for the development of this park site. Thornbridge Neighborhood Park is currently being developed in the same manner, with funding assistance from TPWD. Arcadia Realty, developer of the NRH Town Center, has requested their consultant, Carter & Burgess, to prepare a TPWD grant application for development of the Town Center Lakes to be sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department for submission prior to the July 31, 1999 deadline. Selecting projects for TPWD grant assistance involves detailed evaluation of project scoring capabilities, scheduling in coordination with other projects and available funding. Not only does the potential for grant success need to be evident, but also timing in relation to over all priorities is critical. It is important to note that only one grant may be submitted per granting cycle. Staff has some concerns regarding the scoring capability of Arcadia's proposed project in comparison to the proposed Brandonwood Neighborhood Park Project. Another funding source that appears to be more applicable to the scope of work Arcadia is needing for Town Center lakes and Linear Park is the TEA 21 enhancement Call for Projects due in mid July. This grant program is designed for trail development and associated landscaping. Arcadia decided to withdraw their request on July 6, 1999. Staff would like to pursue forwarding a grant application for Brandonwood Neighborhood Park in the amount of $175,000 -$225,000 depending on appraisals. Staff feels this project will have a good chance at scoring in the grant process. The City will use the value of the land as their matching share. Motion: Ms. Milano made a motion, seconded by Mr. Leslie, to forward to City Council a recommendation to submit a grant application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the development of the Brandonwood Neighborhood Park. Motion passed 4-0. Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 6, 1999 2 ITEM 4. NORTH RICHLAND HILLS YOUTH SOCCER UPDATE At the February Park and Recreation Board meeting Dwight Jett, President of North Richland Hills Soccer Association (NRHSA), requested that one of the regulation soccer fields at Green Valley Community Park be overlaid with striping for finro smaller fields. Staff met with both associations, NRHSA and Northeast Tarrant Soccer League (NTSL), to discuss this request and determine a workable plan of action. The soccer associations agreed to work together in scheduling league games. NTSL also agreed to release both of their "Under 6" and "Under 8" fields on Saturdays after 2:30 p.m. for use by NRHSA. In addition, both associations will consider scheduling games during the week to fit in all their games. This will result in more efficient scheduling in lieu of adding additional fields. Staff also recommended that the two associations schedule inter-league games. To protect the turf and allow for sufficient recovery between games, it was agreed that play would only be scheduled on the regulation fields on Tuesday, Fridays and Saturdays. This would allow the turf to rest and recover on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Staff also has a call in to Willa Gibson, BISD Athletic Director to see if there are any other soccer fields that may be available. Both associations are encouraged to work with other cities to lobby for soccer facilities. Staff will evaluate the possible development of adult only regulation size game fields at an existing site other than Green Valley Community Park or as a conyideration in the acquisition of future parkland. Mr. Browne thanked both soccer associations for taking the time to work together and feels that this is a positive first step and wanted to make sure we are going down the right road. Staff will continue to get feedback from the associations and North Texas State Soccer Associations (NTSSA) on combining the associations. ITEM 5. NAMING OF PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES The Park System Master Plan update is nearing completion and staff feels this is a good time to begin considering names for the 100 Acre Park Site and the neighborhood park site located in the Thornbridge subdivision. The Board has been given a copy of the "Policy For Naming Parks and Recreation Facilities" for their review. The Board was also presented with several recommendations and encouraged to research any city historical information that may be helpful in naming these park sites. The NRH History Book completed last year would be a good resource. Motion: Mr. Pena made a motion, seconded by Ms. Milano, to table this item until the next meeting. Motion passed 4-0. Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 6, 1999 3 ITEM 6. APPROVAL OF THE THORNBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK PLAN At the May 17, 1999 Parks and Recreation Board meeting, the preliminary concept plan for the development of the Thornbridge Neighborhood Park site was presented and a public meeting was held. Three citizens posed questions during the public meeting, and also provided general comments in support of the proposed plan. Based on the comments received at the meeting, staff will also be contacting the Thornbridge Architectural Control Committee to review color and material selections for the playground and gazebo. Motion: Mr. Leslie made a motion, seconded by Mr. Pena, to forward a recommendation to City Council for the approval of the Thornbridge Neighborhood Park Site Plan. Motion passed 4-0. ITEM 7. RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS AND TENNIS CENTER REPORTS Ms. Vickie Loftice updated the Board on the following: Recreation Center facility revenue is up 64% for the year. The Northeast "Rec Fest" is planned for July 17th at North Hills Mall from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. This event is a collaboration with several northeast parks and recreation departments to bring awareness to National Parks and Recreation Month. Each department will have an information booth, highlight certain programs and have an interactive class or program that the public can participate in. Bursey Road Senior Center's line dancing class has grown in popularity so a second finro-hour class was added on Monday's. Twenty-one participants from Bursey Center enjoyed a trip to Chandor Gardens in WeatherFord. Bursey Road Center is expanding their library due to participant requests. Dan Echols held a volunteer banquet in May to recognize 48 volunteers who have contributed at least 75 hours last year to the Dan Echols Center. Two volunteers logged in more than 1,000 hours each. Hook a Kid On Golf is scheduled for July with a maximum of 45 children registered. The City has joined with Hurst, Bedford, Euless, Arlington, and Grapevine in bidding to host the 2003 Texas Games. If awarded, the economic impact will be over two million dollars along with facilitating hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators. Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 6, 1999 4 Another successfuf year was completed for "the edge" after school program. Total attendance was 13,070 for afl three school sites. Staff will meet with the principals of the schools to evaluate the program and make pfans for the upcoming school year. The Youth Advisory Committee held a meeting on June 10th and elected new officers. They also moved their regufar meeting to the first Thursday of the month in order to meet in the Pre-Council chambers. The next meeting is scheduled for July 8~' due to the holiday. The Richland Tennis Center hefd a SOS Benefit Tournament on Monday, May 3~a thirty-five women participated. Despite a five-hour rain delay, the NRH Junior Open finished on schedule on June 25tn _ 27tn There were 146 singles players and 36 doubles players participating. This is an increase from the previous year of 17 players. The first summer session began at the Richland Tennis Center on June 1St with 128 juniors and 91 adults enrolled in group lessons. RTC also showed a 67°/a increase in it's private lesson enrollment for the month of .lune. One hundred and twe{ve lessons were taught in the month of June compared to 67 for June of 98. Mr. Leslie recommended holding two sessions of Hook A Kid On Goff since the program is always full. Staff wi{I look into it. ITEM 8. PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Thornton commented that a{I the projects listed in the update have something going on but he wou{d only highlight a few specific projects: The contractor is making a lot of progress on the 100 Acre Park Site. Most of the parking lot has been poured and the baHfields have been cut. Data colleetion has been started on the City Streetscape and Image Study. This project is more global than just Parks and Recreation. Staff wi11 come up with recommendations to help refleet the image of NRH. This will incfude signs, entry way signs, pavers, reduction of visual clutter and more. Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 6, 1999 5 ITEM 9. AQUATIC PARK REPORT Mr. Swartz updated the Board on the following: NRH2O is finro weeks away from their biggest movie this year - JAWS. Jaws has proven to be the biggest draw of the Dive-In movie series. The movies are shown on Friday nights and start around 9:10 p.m. The new shade areas located by the Green Extreme, NRH2O Ocean and Tad Pole Train Station have been very well received. Picnic tables have been located around the Green Extreme and has helped with finding places for our guests to sit. NRH2O residents receive a 10% discount at all point of sale locations throughout the park when they show their resident ID or season pass cards. Park Attendance is down about 15%, but NRH2O had a great 4~' of July weekend. Park revenues are also showing a corresponding decrease at this time. NRH2O has experienced poor weather on almost a daily basis. Staff is hoping for a very hot July and August. NRH2O received two "Burbies" - NRH2O was selected as the best place for family fun and best place to swim in the first annual "Burbie" awards. Mr. Pena inquired about liability. Mr. Swartz said we use Ellis and Associates who are the water safety consultants for 93-95% of water parks. Ellis & Associates perForms unannounced audits on staff and puts them through a series of tests. Additionally NRH2O carries a general liability policy. The Texas Department of Insurance performs inspections and certifies all rides prior to them opening for the season. Staff also pe~forms daily inspections. Mr. Leslie inquired about our season pass prices compared to Hurricane Harbor. Staff commented that all of our prices are cheaper than Hurricane Harbor with the exception of the season passes. Forty percent of NRH2O's revenue comes from daily tickets and NRH2O is up front about what we charge. Hurricane Harbor charges for parking and tubes, we do not. Mr. Browne commented we are publicly setting prices with approval through City Council and Hurricane Harbor is aware of what we charge before they set their prices. Hurricane Harbor has added a Tree House and flow rider this year, which is what NRH2O had planned. Because NRH2O is still under the market value of the park, we will wait a few years and do these at a later time. Mr. Leslie asked if there is a perception that their prices are lower, but they aren't. Mr. Swartz commented that Premier is doing family oriented marketing. Last year they were very teen oriented. Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 6, 1999 6 ITEM 10. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Mr. Pena inquired about the cost of the HVAC system at the Recreation Center. Staff responded it cost approximatefy $40,000. Mr. Work inquired about the National Go1d Medal Award. Staff responded the winner will be announced in October. ITEM 11. ADJOURNAMENT Ms. Battles made a motion, seconded by Ms. Milano, to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. (Motion passed 4-0). ~ Dwayne L lie, Interim Chairman ATTEST: ~ ~ ~ • ~ Christina A. Lopez, Administrativ Se tary Park and Recreation Board Minutes July 6, 1999 7