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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 1999-02-01 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PARKS 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 FEBRUARY 1, 1999 ATTENDANCE PRESENT Board: Rick Work Chairman Sherry Christensen Board Member Dwayne Leslie Board Member Sherry Mi{ano Board Member Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Monica Sue Walsh Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation ABSENT: Sharon Battles Board Member John Pena Board Alternate Ann Perchard Board Member ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Work called the meeting to order February 1, 1999 at 6:02 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Prior to approving the minutes Ms. Milano wanted to clarify what their role is regarding the budget. She does not want to spend the money she just wants to be able to recommend or advise and better understand the direction of the Department and the Boards role and would appreciate some feedback. Mr. Browne responded that we are getting into a gray area befinreen an Advisory Board and a Policy Board. He will have to have more discussion with City Administration and City Councif to see what level the Park and Recreation Boards role should be in relation to the budget. Budget review and approval has historically been the responsibility of City Council. Ms. Milano just wants to know how they can be more effective. Mr. Browne commented that many of the current Board members were not on the board when we were going through the park development process on current projects and that the Board may not feel very effective because a lot of these projects are now in construction and implementation phases. Once the plans and specifications are complete and bid out we move forward and build what Mayor and Council approved. The group of individuals that have been added to the Board have a real interest and desire to be more active and that is good. Staff is trying to integrate more opportunities for input for the Board where appropriate. As we move into new projects the Board will be brought in and be more involved, as they have been in the past. Mr. Leslie thought it would be beneficial to have the budget, which he feels will show what the Council and Mayor priorities are and what direction they are going. The Board could then focus their attention on those items. Mr. Leslie does not want to get into the role of telling anyone how to spend their money. Mr. Browne stated that we would strive to do a better job of educating the Board of those issues. One of the ways the Board is involved in the budget process is through the input of goals and objectives. Mayor and Council met and established goals and objectives for the City and the Departments goals and objectives will branch out from their goals. Now is the time that the Board can provide input in the goals and objectives. Ms. Christensen wanted to know when this process would start. Mr. Browne said it would be probably in March or April. Ms. Christensen indicated more corrections to the prior meeting minutes. Mr. Browne stated that we would strive to make sure the minutes are as accurate as possible, another alternative would be to make the minutes a lot more general. Ms. Christensen responded the more specific the better. *(Editorial Note: The minutes are provided as a general summary of discussion and action taken. They are not intended to be a verbatim transcription. The meets are audio taped and the tapes are kept as a permanent record available for review.) Mr. Work has a couple of comments regarding Ms. Milano's questions on the Boards role. He was not at the City Council/Park Board meeting but he did hear of a comment that was made, that he does not fully agree with, stating that the Park and Recreation Board was not doing enough. This comment came from reading minutes. He doesn't feel that you can have a complete understanding of all the work and discussion by just reading minutes from a meeting. Mr. Work asked if Mr. Browne could set aside a day for the Board to have a work session to see where we need to go in the next year. Mr. Leslie made a motion, seconded by Ms. Christensen, to approve the minutes, as amended, of the January 4, 1998 meeting. (Motion passed 4-0) Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 1, 1999 2 ITEM 3. RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS AND ' TENNIS CENTER REPORTS Ms. Walsh updated the Board on the following: Adrien Pekurney has been hired to fill the Recreation Supervisor position. Adrien comes from the First Texas Council of Camp Fire as the Outdoor Program Director. Adrien was a graduate assistant in Recreation Sports at the Southwest Texas State University where she received her Masters in Sports and Leisure Management. North Hills Hospital co-sponsored a free "Health Awareness Day" with the NRH Recreation Center on January 20th. An estimated 200 people participated in the free screenings. The Recreation Center held a"Challenge of Strength Fitness Workout" on Saturday, January 23~d with 35 people in attendance. This was an hour and a half workout to introduce the aerobic instructors. The 8t" Annual "original" Daddy/Daughter Valentine Dance "The Cinderella Ball" will be held on Saturday, February 6th. City Garage sponsored the event again this year. Computer classes are overflowing at Bursey Senior Center. The Bursey Road Gad-A-Bouts group continues to bring interested newcomers to the center. The Branson Trip has a waiting list. The major trip of the year is scheduled to be the western states in September. Dan Echols Senior Center is offering a Jam Session on the 3rd Friday of each month from 10:00 - 12:00 P.M. Corporate Challenge is sponsoring the NE Chamber Luncheon on February 21St to promote this event which kick's off April 24tn "The edge", Teen After School Program began at Smithfield Middle on January 11 th. A "Kickoff Pizza Party" drew approximately 300 students. Daily attendance averages 34-40 students. Tina Harvey installed electronic message boards in each of the middle school cafeterias to promote the Teen After School Program. Richland Tennis Center had a 39% increase in enrollment for lessons and leagues for the first quarter of the 98/99 fiscal year. Total revenue increased by 52% for the first quarter. Jason Brown was hired at Richland Tennis Center as an Assistant Tennis Professional. Jason comes to us from Topeka, Kansas where most recently he was teaching and coaching at Topeka High School. His playing experience includes playing #1 singles and doubles at Emporia State University. Jason has been a certified tennis professional for seven years. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 1, 1999 3 Chris Dvorsky has accepted a position with American Airlines. She will be resigning her position as Assistant Tennis Professional effective February 1 st. Chris will be staying on at the Tennis Center as a Tennis Instructor and she will continue to help out in the pro shop. Ms. Wylie interviewed a potential assistant pro today and should have the results by the end of the week. Ms. Christensen wanted to know if Adrien replaced someone. Staff responded that Adrien took Tina Harvey's position as Recreation Supervisor after Tina took Nicole Lucas' position as Youth Outreach Coordinator when Nicole resigned to go to FWISD as a counselor. Tina is doing a really good job with the Teen After School Program. Ms. Christensen wanted to know if there was a charge for the Daddy/Daughter Valentine Dance. Staff responded that the tickets are $31 for the package deal, which includes admission tickets, wrist corsage, rose, boutonniere, picture and glass slipper. Individual tickets are also available to be purchased for $7 a piece. The event sells out every year. Ms. Christensen wanted to know why Parks and Recreation administered the Teen After School Program and not the schools. Mr. Browne responded that we recognized a need and filled the need. We modeled the first comprehensive Teen After School Program in Northeast Tarrant County. We did surveys of the students to see how many were left unsupervised after school and the numbers were astounding 70-80%. We compiled the data and put together a program, received Park and Recreation Board approval and presented it to Council. Other activities help offset the cost such as the teen dances and other special events. We get a lot of positive feedback from parents, teachers and coaches. At this time the Teen After School Program is in all three NRH Middle Schools. The program is offered from 3:15 to 5:30 each school day and is free and totally voluntary. The city provides two TASP Leaders at each school and volunteers teach some of the activities. ITEM 4. PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Thornton updated the Board on the following: All of the projects listed in the update currently have something-active going on but thought he would only cover a couple. Bids were received and awarded to Dean Construction in the amount of 2.5 million dollars for Phase I of the 100 Acre City Park Site. Work is to begin in February 1999. The Parks and Recreation Department received a$500,000 TPWD Grant for this phase of construction. Currently work has begun on the expansion of Douglas Lane from Bursey to Starnes. The increase in width will come off of the park side (west side) and will include two lanes and one turning lane. Bids were received and awarded in the Park Tree Planting Project. The installation of trees is expected to begin within the next few of weeks. The tree planting will replace existing trees that were lost to last summer's drought in parks and right of ways. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 1, 1999 4 ITEM 5. APPOINTMENT OF NEW LIAISON TO LAND USE ADH HOC COMMITTEE Mr. Work requested that this item be placed on the agenda. Currently Mr. Rick Work serves as Liaison for the Park and Recreation Board on the Land Use Ad Hoc Committee. Due to other commitments, Mr. Work has not been as active on the committee as he would like to be. Mr. Work would like to ask if someone else on the Park and Recreation Board would have an interest in completing his Liaison role. Mr. Leslie wanted to know how much longer they are expected to meet and that he thought that their assignment is almost over. Mr. Browne felt that they just had a couple of other items to address and invited anyone that wanted to attend their next meeting which is scheduled for February 16th at 6:30 in Pre-Council to do so and see if they would be interested in assuming his role. He said it is very important that the Park and Recreation Board have representation on the committee. Mr. Work asked if anyone had an interest to attend to please let him know otherwise he will try and attend. Ms. Christensen recommended Mr. Pena, but he is in Austin during the week since the session has begun. ITEM 6. REPORT ON TRAPS LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST Mr. John Pena attended the Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) breakfast honoring members of the 76t" Texas Legislature on Thursday, January 28, 1999 in Austin at the Austin Marriott. Mr. Pena has been in Austin on business during the week and was able to attend. Mr. Browne stated that the Texas Recreation and Park Society which is our professional statewide organization has become more actively involved in legislative issues. Mr. Browne serves on a legislative committee. TRAPS has begun, in the last few years, hosting this breakfast to get to talk with Senators and Representatives who have an interest in promoting Parks and Recreation issues. Mr. Pena was impressed that so many Senators and Representatives were there. Some of the lobbing efforts that he attends do not have that much representation. The TRAPS Legislative Platform was included in your packet. Mr. Browne referred to the integrated state recreation park system which is the result of a study that Texas A&M did with TRAPS and TPWD and a hand full of parks and recreation directors from around the state. The purpose of the finro day workshop was to do a lot of brainstorming and visioning in determining what the priorities are state wide and what ways the legislature could enact laws to help promote Parks and Recreation and help identify funding sources for park development. A lot of the parks NRH has built in the last couple of years have received some form of grant funds. The grant funds are tied to sales tax on sporting goods. Senator "Buster" Brown entered legislation this morning to take the cap off of the sporting goods tax (which is currently capped at $32 million) so that more money can become eligible for projects. The idea is to fund more projects each year. NRH has been very successful in being awarded grant funds over the last few years because we have a good Master Plan and address the greatest priorities of the citizens in this very competitive process. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 1, 1999 5 Ms. Christensen wanted to know since we have received so much grant funds in the past do we see that slowing down in the future? Mr. Browne responded that we have a good Master Plan, have put together great grant applications, project's are done on a timely basis, we have handfed their funds well and have a great relationship with them. At some point in time the other cities may question why NRH has received so much in grant funds and it may come to the point of diminishing returns. The fact remains that the more money that is available, the more opportunity there is to bring those tax dollars back to NRH. ITEM 7. OTHER INFORMATION ITEMS Included in your packet is a letter from Pam Jackson resigning her position on the Park and Recreation Board due to the growth of her job with the City of Fort Worth. We will be doing something to recognize Pam for her service. Also included in your packet is a letter from Dwight Jett, North Richland Hills Soccer Association, which we received on Friday, requesting that additional fields be striped at Green Valley Soccer Complex. We have responded back that we need more lead time to discuss this type of issue. The Park and Recreation Board and Staff have to be sensitive to the political history of Green Valley Community Park and we will need to have the consensus of the Board and Council prior to adding any fields. We did not receive this item in time to be included as an agenda item, but the request has been made. The participation numbers on soccer have increased by about 150°lo from what they were the previous season. We will compare these numbers with the spring season to see if the growth trend continues. We will also have to start evaluating how much use we can allow in order to maintain the turf. All of the soccer associations are currently registering participants. We need to begin to either find a place to put more fields or, upon approval from Mayor and Council, rea{locate the fields at Green Valley or adjust the field sizes or put a cap on registration. Ms. Christensen wanted to know when the soccer season starts. Staff responded February or March. Mr. Dwight Jett, President of North Richland Hil{s Soccer Association, addressed the Board. He thanked the City and Park and Recreation Board for the care that has been taken at Green Valley on the soccer fields. He also thanked staff for working with the NRHSA and North Texas State Soccer Association on the certification of coaches. Currently NRHSA is at 730 participants. Mr. Jett is asking the Board to give consideration to the addition of more fields at Green Va{ley Community Park. Currently the under 6 and under 8 are playing from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and could possibly go longer and playing on Sundays. Both associations are working together on the adult fields and older age brackets. The trend is growing as we{I as the adults with the other association. He is afso talking with BISD and Watauga trying to {ocate more fields. Ms. Mi{ano wanted to know why there is such an upward trend? Mr. Jett responded that it is a family sport and after parents see their kids play, they go out and try to play and also the fields have a great reputation and people want to play on them. Mr. Jett does not think it is a fad. Plano has close to 6-7,000 participants, Keller 1,600, and Summerfields 1,200. Current{y NRHSA registration is at 730 and they are still bringing in late registration. Ms. Christensen wanted Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 1, 1999 6 to know what percentage is NRH residents. Mr. Jett responded about 2/3, but that he would need to check the fall records. North Texas State Soccer Association's policy states that anyone can play in any association as long as they get a release from their "area" association. Mr. Jett doesn't feel like there is a way to put a cap on registration. The way NRHSA tries to operate is to give NRH and Watauga first option to play (that is their boundaries set by NTSSA) and then consider other areas if there is room. Mr. Leslie wanted to know who the other association is that is using Green Valley and do we know how many players they have participating? Mr. Browne responded that it is North Richland Hills Area Soccer League (NRHASL) and recafls that last fall their participation was close to 1,200 - 1,500 total which include about 500 adufts. The adult program has increased dramatically. NRHSA ages include 4- 16 years of age. Mr. Leslie wanted to know how many fields each association is using? There are eight fields at Green Valley and they are split down the middle odd/even between the association. Each association uses 4 fields, there are two under six fields, two under eight, two under 10 and finro adult fields. If they want or need to use additional fields, they work it out between the associations. Mr. Leslie wanted Mr. Jett to explain exactly what he is requesting from the Board. Mr. Jett responded that in the under 5 and under 6 bracket they have about 12 teams and what he was trying to do was have NRHSA purchase two sets of goals and have bright yellow or orange lines painted on an adult field to be used at interim fields. Last year they could not get all their games in due to rain. NRHSA has several complaints last season because some teams p{ayed only six games while others played nine. He would like to see one of the adult fields overlaid with an under eight and an under six field since they have had an overwhelming registration this season to help get those games in. Mr. Leslie didn't know how much we wanted to address this item since it was not an agenda item but wanted to know if one of the concerns is the turf and the effect of that much play and parking issues. Mr. Browne responded that the turf is a concern. Traffic counts have been done and Mr. Browne feels that parking will not be an issue. The primary concern is turf wear and tear especially with adults playing. The adult fields get used almost daify. Ms. Christensen wanted to know if NRHSA policy is to give first option to pfay to kids in NRH and Watauga why we don't cut registration off at what we feel is the maximum registration. Mr. Jett responded that other cities have had better luck at finding fields to play at and he is in contact with BISD to see about using fields at schools. Mr. Leslie wanted to know what our long-range plans are with soccer fields and what about the field at NRH2O. Mr. Browne responded that the field at NRH2O is a practice field and the turf is not very good and we could have some liability issues. We are installing a practice field at Walker's Creek Park but it is not complete yet. When the Park System Master P1an was completed in 1991 we identified the need for 19 soccer fields at that time and we have addressed a part of that need but there is still a deficit. Mr. Browne said that the Park System Master Plan Update would help with addressing the deficiencies in soccer, basebafl and other sports. This information will need to be evaluated in context with the other priorities from the citizen surveys that will be sent out soon. Mr. Browne thinks we will still have a deficit in soccer fields because that sport requires a lot of acreage. Mr. Leslie was under the impression that Green Valley was intended for children and not adults and did not want to preclude any children from playing. He also added that it was not the intent of the neighborhood to have the fields reduced to prevent children from pfaying. His personal opinion is to cut the adult soccer playing time so the children can play. Mr. Leslie thought that the park was for kids up to age 18 and if we have children 6- 8 years not playing he wants to make some changes. Mr. Work asked if we could have some background information before this is an agenda item. Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 1, 1999 7 Mr. Browne announced that Ms. Monica Walsh has accepted the position as Director of Parks and Recreation with the City of Colleyville. Monica has been with the City of North Richland Hills for 11 years and has contributed to the growth of our recreation and athletic programs, the NYSCA program, which she currently serves as Chapter Director for the DFW Area. Some of Monica's other highlights include getting Corporate Challenge started, Hook A Kid On Golf and IronKids Triathfon which was on ESPN last year and the start up of the tennis center. We wanted to express our appreciation to Monica and are excited for her as she takes on her own department. Monica thanked the City and Board for the past 11 years and looks forward to taking the knowledge she has learned in North Richland Hills to Colleyville. Mr. Leslie extended his congratulations and thanked Monica especially for the Hook A Kid On Golf Program. His daughter participated in HAKOG and continued to play golf all four years of high school. Mr. Work informed the Board that Council passed the Maintenance Fees for NRGSL at last weeks Council meeting. Ms. Milano inquired about an appointment for Ms. Jackson's place on the Board. Mr. Browne said that Mayor Pro Tem Phifer has a copy of Ms. Jackson's letter and is aware of the opening in that place on the Board. 8. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Christensen made a motion, seconded by Ms. Milano to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 p.m. i k Work, Chairman ATTEST: ~~1~'l.C.~ Christina A. Lopez, Administrative ecretary Park and Recreation Board Minutes February 1, 1999 $