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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 1998-11-02 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, HELD AT THE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS PRE-C ~UNC~ CHAMBERS LOCATED AT 7301 NORTHEAST LOOP'820 NOVEMBER 2, 1998 ATTENDANCE PRESENT Board: Rick Work, Chairman Sharon Battles Board Member Sherry Christensen Board Member Pam Jackson Vice Chairwoman Dwayne Leslie Board Member Sherry Milano Board Member Ann Perchard Board Member John Pena Board Alternate Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Chris Swartz Aquatic Manager Monica Sue Walsh Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation ABSENT: ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Work called the meeting to order November 2, 1998 at 6:00 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Ms. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Ms. Perchard, to approve the minutes of the October 5, 1998 meeting. (Motion passed 6-0). ITEM 3. RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS AND TENNIS CENTER REPORTS Ms. Walsh updated the Board on the following: The Head For The Hills Family Festival was held on Saturday October 17 with approximately 6,000 in attendance despite the rain in the morning. Several major sponsors were secured for the event including North Hills Mall, North Hills Hospital and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. North Hills Mall was very excited because the mall traffic picked up quite a bit. Staff thanked the Board members who were able to help out. Boo Bash! was held at North Hills Mall on Halloween night from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. with carnival games, costume contest and treats galore! There were 100 people in the costume contest this year. Staff thanked the Board members who were able to help out at this event also. Fifty seniors from Dan Echols Senior Center took a trip to Bossier City and had a great time. Bursey Road Senior Center held an Open House on October 8th with approximately 50 people in attendance. North Richland Hills hosted the 1998 Fall TAAF Co-Rec Softball Tournament with 14 teams competing from around the State. BS Masonry, from College Station, won the Championship. The economic impact to the area, based on figures provided by the Texas Department of Commerce, was $28,000. NYSCA has announced new certification procedures for youth coaches. The first level class will now be a one night, 4-hour certification. This will be the only certification the coaches will attend. They will have the option to renew after one year and receive continuing education by mail. The Birdville Board of Trustees approved "the edge" program at Smithfield Middle School. The Teen After School Program should begin in January. A"Friday Night Out" Dance was held on October 30t" with 300 in attendance. Attendance was low since we do not have a Youth Outreach Specialist at this time. The Richland Tennis Center was undefeated in district team play, which allowed them to automatically advance to Regionals in Abilene, which was held October 30 & 31. The team did OK but was defeated. Richland Tennis Center will be hosting "Fun, Food and Fashions" on Thursday, November 12, 1998 from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. A Prince representative will be on hand to show the '99 fashions and participants will have drills and lunch. Sales are doing well in the Pro Shop. Chris Dvorsky has accepted the position of Assistant Tennis Professional. Chris has been on staff as a Tennis Instructor and has been working at the front desk of the pro shop since February 1998. There is a possibility that the Tennis Center will be hiring another Assistant Tennis Professional. Park and Recreation Board Minutes October 5, 1998 2 Ms. Milano wanted to know if the Head For The Hills Family Festival was completely funded by Sponsors? Ms. Walsh informed her that NRH2O, Economic Development, and North Hills Hospital provide funds for the event. ITEM 4. PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Thornton updated the Board on the following: Staff anticipates awarding bids at the December City Council meeting for construction of Phase I of the 100 Acre City Park. Phase I includes lighted baseball fields, restroom(concession building, pavilions and picnic areas. Construction should begin in January. The overlay of the parking areas at Northfield Park is complete. Staff is working on the design of the fencing and berming to be completed next. Funding has been allocated for the Restroom Building at Linda Spurlock Park. Staff is in the process of hiring an architect to begin the design and anticipates bidding the project in January. Staff is working in-house on a park tree inventory and plan design for new trees. Trees on Mid Cities Boulevard and Walker's Creek Park did not do well due to the heat and water restrictions this past summer. Staff anticipates going out far bids in December and installing new trees in January. Ms. Milano wanted to know which parks have restroom facilities? Mr. Thornton responded, typically your larger parks or community parks, which include Richfield Park, Walker's Creek Park, Green Valley Community Park, Fossil Creek Park and Northfield Park. She also wanted to know what maintenance we do on the facilities. Mr. Thornton responded that we maintain the restrooms on a daily basis. Ms. Jackson referred to the Park System Master Plan, which has set guidelines for which type of park restroom facilities should go in, depending on size and use. Ms. Christensen wanted to know if we did any type of security. Mr. Browne stated that the Police Department does routine surveillance as they do regular neighborhoods. She also wanted to know if there are any statistics that show that crime will go up with the restroom facility there? StafF responded that there is nothing official, but that if you put that type of facility in it does invite that type of problem. ITEM 5. AQUATICS REPORT Mr. Swartz updated the Board on the following: Staff is in the process of compiling the end of season reports. The Waterpark staff attended the World Water Park Symposium and Trade Show in Orlando Florida this past October. They will be including some recommendations in their December Report to the Park and Recreation Board. Park and Recreation Board Minutes October 5, 1998 3 NRH2O Family Water Park has been selected as a tour destination for the {nternational Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) National Conference which will be held in Dallas. The tour is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 19, 1998. NRH2O will be showcasing the Green Extreme. Since October 1St Beanie Baby sales have totaled approximately $5,000. ITEM 6. YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATION REQUEST FOR FOSSIL CREEK PARK SOFTBALL FIELDS At our August Park and Recreation Board meeting discussion was held concerning the use of athletic fields by more than one youth sports association. Discussion has included background checks and maintenance fees. Gary Holt, from the Little Miss Kickball Association, has requested use of Fossil Creek Park for their spring 1999 season. Little Miss Kickball anticipates having approximately 260 girl's, 67°l0 of which will be NRH residents, participating. Currently, North Richland Girl's Softball League (NRGSL) uses Fossil Creek Park for practice and league games and will continue to use them in the spring. Scott Bowers, NRGLS and Gary Holt, have held discussions about the use of Fossil Creek Park. Mr. Bowers and Mr. Holt would like to talk over the next month and bring back a proposal to the December Park and Recreation Board meeting. Staff has been in contact with NRGSL regarding Walker's Creek Park and maintenance fees. NRGSL is very receptive to this idea. Currently the Parks Division is maintaining the fields at Walker's Creek Park but is not collecting the maintenance fees due to the condition the contractor left the ~elds in. Staff is working to resolve this issue with the contractor and bonding company. Staff will meet with NRGSL after their fall season to evaluate this issue and proceed with the implementation of the maintenance fees. Mr. Pena wanted to know if we are setting a precedent regarding the maintenance fees. Mr. Browne commented that we have already set a precedent with Green Valley Soccer Complex. Ms. Milano wanted to know if we were going to revisit the sign issue. Mr. Browne stated that that has already been complete, an administrative policy was made and implemented. ITEM 7. CITfZEN SURVEY - COMMUNITY PARKS AND RECREATION NEEDS Staff presented a draft of the Citizen Survey for the Park and Recreation Board's review. The survey is to be distributed to citizens of North Richland Hills for their input in the updating of the Park System Master Plan. Staff worked with the consultant, Andrea Thomas, National Service Research, in the drafting of the survey. Staff has asked if the Board has any comments or additions to please cafl as soon as possible. The survey will be presented to the Park System Master Plan "Executive Committee" and City Council for their review. Once the reviews are comp{ete the survey will be sent to the citizens. Park and Recreation Board Minutes October 5, 1998 4 Ms. Christensen wanted to know if existing hike/bike trails could also be used as equestrian trails. Staff responded that they could not. Equestrian trails are surtace natural trails and are separate from the concrete hike/bike trails. ITEM 8. TOWN CENTER PROJECT UPDATE Mr. Thornton passed out an artist rendering of a proposed recreation center and site map of the town center project. Mr. Browne presented and reviewed Park and Recreation Board Resolution 98-1 acknowledging support of the North Richland Hills Town Center Project. Discussion was held. MOTION: Mr. Leslie made a motion, seconded by Ms. Battles, to pass Resolution 98-1. (Motion passed 7-0). ITEM 9. OTHER INFORMATION ITEMS The City CouncillPark and Recreation Board Workshop is scheduled for November 17 at 7:00 p.m. The Board has been requested to turn in any topics for discussion to Mr. Browne and to RSVP by November 5rn Ms. Milano commented that she did not receive an invitation to the Boards/Commission Appreciation Dinner. Mr. Browne stated he would pass that on to the City Secretary's Office. Mr. Browne presented Park and Recreation Board Resolution 98-2. This resolution is a recommendation to the Land Use Committee to evaluate recommending the establishment and implementation of Park Land Dedication and/or Park Impact Fees for the development of neighborhood parks and trail linkages. At this time there is no funding available in the Capital Improvement Program for neighborhood parks. Park Land Dedication and/or Park Impact Fees would allow a developer to dedicate a portion of land or pay an established fee per dwelling for the purpose of building neighborhood parks. Mr. Pena wanted to know what the timeline is for the Land Use Ad Hoc Committee. Staff responded that they should complete their charge in December/January. He also wanted to know if there is a minimum amount of land to donate. Staff responded that they could possibly be charged a Park lmpact Fee instead of the land dedication if there was not sufficient land to dedicate. Ms. Mi{ano wanted to know if this couid be expanded to commercial property? Staff responded that this resolution does not preclude incfuding commercial property. Details of land, cash-in- lieu of land or specific impact fees and residential or commercial development requirements would be developed with Park Board input after further study and consensus was gained to evaluate this opportunity. MOTION: Ms. Milano made a motion, seconded by Ms. Christensen, to pass Resolution 98-2. (Motion passed 7-0}. Park and Recreation Board Minutes October 5, 1998 5 10. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Leslie, to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. i Work, Chairman ATTEST: , ~ 0 Christina . Lopez, Administrativ Se e ry Park and Recreation Board Minutes October 5, 1998 6