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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 1998-06-01 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 June 1, 1998 ATTENDANCE PRESENT Board: Sharon Batties Vice Chairwoman Pam Jackson Board Member Bobbie Lambert Board Member Lorraine Miller Board Member John Pena Board Alternate Rick Work Board Member Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks and Recreation Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation Sharon Davis Assistant Superintendent of Recreation Chris Swartz Aquatic Manager ABSENT: Ann Perchard Board Member ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Ms. Battles called the meeting to order June 1, 1998 at 6:09 p.m. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Mr. Pena made a motion, seconded by Ms. Miller, to approve the minutes of the May 4, 1998 meeting. (Motion passed 6-0) ITEM 3. RECREATION, ATHLETICS, SENIOR ADULTS AND TENNIS CENTER REPORTS Ms. Davis updated the Board on the following: The "Time of Your Life" brochures were mailed out the third week of May. Almost all the classes are full. Recreation staff attended a weeklong ESCOM training for the new computer system for the recreation center, which will include facility booking and point of sale applications. Thirteen outstanding leaders from the Teen After School Program went on a weekend camping trip to Mineral Wells State Park. Bursey Road Senior Center held their "Game Night" on May 4 with 25 in attendance. Dan Echols Senior Center held a special birthday party, on May 15, for Rebecca Lawson who turned 97 years young. Corporate Challenge concluded on May 16 with Bates Container and North Richland Hills each capturing first place in their divisions. North Richland Hills will host the Men's Church State Softball Tournament on June 26 & 27. The Ribbon Cutting ceremony for the Girl's Fast Pitch Softball Complex at Walker's Creek Park is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. The Richland Tennis Center held a SOS Benefit Tournament on May 4 with 64 women participating. The Tennis Professionals at the Richland Tennis Center gave 144 people free tennis lessons during the USA Tennis Free for All from May 9-23. The 2"d Annual NRH Adult Open Tennis Tournament was held May 23-25 at the Richland Tennis Center with 243 participants compared to 87 least year. ITEM 4. PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Thornton updated the Board on the following: Calloway Branch Trail is in the preliminary design phase. Staff anticipates approximately six more months of design then the review process will begin. Construction continues on the North Electric Trail across Davis Blvd. and continuing to NRH2O. Newman, Jackson, Bieberstein continues with the preliminary trail alignment of Little Bear Creek and the acquisition of easements. Staff anticipates approximately six more months of design. Base survey work has been completed for Thornbridge Neighborhood Park. Design work will be completed in-house. Staff is planning a meeting with the developer to workout the details of the land donation. The bike route map is under final revisions. Staff anticipates having a sample of the map for the next Park Board meeting. Preliminary Design work has been completed for the North Hills Multi-Use Trail. Staff is working with TxDOT on completion of review. The Girl's Fast Pitch Softball Complex is substantially complete. The contractor is working on punch list items and preparing for a final walk through. The plans and specifications for the active use area at the 100 Acre City Park is under review with Texas Parks and Wildlife and Architectural Barriers. Installation has begun on the Standard Park Signs. The signs will be at Northfield Park, Richland Tennis Center, Green Valley, Richfield Park, Walker's Creek Park and Linda Spurlock Park. Preliminary design work has begun on the Cottonbelt Trail. The project will be bid as one project jointly with Southlake and Colleyville after the design work has been completed. A town hall meeting is scheduled for June 18, 1998 to discuss the Park System Master Plan. A contract has been awarded to Landscaping Today for the replacement of playground equipment at Richfield Park. ITEM 5. AQUATICS REPORT Mr. Chris Swartz updated the Board on the following: Attendance through May 25, 1998 is 8,725 and is up compared to last season. Season pass sales are also up compared to last year. The Green Extreme "Sneak Peak" scheduled for May 22, 1998 has been postponed. The "Sneak Peak" will be rescheduled to the earliest possible opportunity. The construction delays did not allow us to open the world's largest uphill water coaster for Memorial Day Weekend. The ride will only be opened to the public after the final safety inspections are perFormed. The Park POS/Ticketing System is working better than it has ever worked before. The stability of the system is resulting in quicker lines at the front gate and better opportunity to strengthen the financial controls over park revenues. NRHzO was closed on Wednesday, May 22 due to storm damage. Eight funbrellas were damaged during the windstorm. Staff is in the process of repairing storm damage and fixing shade structures. Ms. Battles thanked staff at NRH2O for helping her with a conflict concerning Glenview Christian School. The school had an event scheduled at NRH2O the day they were closed due to storm damage. She expressed her appreciation for their assistance. ITEM 6. BACKGROUND CHECKS ADDDED TO YOUTH SPORTS GROUP USER CONTRACTS Discussion was held regarding background checks being added to the contractual agreement for use of City park athletic fields with youth sports associations. A committee was formed to discuss the research on background checks and have forwarded a recommendation to Park Board. The committee recommends adding background checks to the user contracts. The contract would be amended to state that all youth sports coaches, board members and any other person in official capacity of the youth sports association, have a statewide criminal background check conducted on them. Mr. Lambert made a motion, seconded by Ms. Miller, to forward the committee and Park Board recommendation of adding background checks to the contractual agreement for use of City park athletic fields to City Council for their approval. (Motion passed 6-0) ITEM 7. Linda Spurlock Park Restrooms City Council requested that the Park and Recreation Board explore the possibility of installing a restroom facility at Linda Spurlock Park. Staff presented of the options available for the facility, which include: portable unit, pre-manufactured building or a building constructed on site. Staff reviewed the pros and cons of each facility with the Park Board and the funding options. Mr. Lambert made a motion, seconded by Ms. Miller, that if a restroom facility is built at Linda Spurlock Park that it is a good one. Mr. Work amended the motion to include that the facility be of top quality and be in line with the park design and what is in other parks. The funding would come from supplemental funds and cost savings from the Douglas Road widening project. (Motion carried 5-0) ITEM 8. OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Staff showed the video, which was submitted for the 1998 Gold Medal Award. Mr. Browne announced that he is doing a presentation to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Board of Governors on NRH2O Family Water Park. NRHZO was selected as one of five projects in the innovation category to be presented to the Commissioners. Ms. Davis handed out Volume I, Issue I of "The Cutting Edge" a publication for the Teen After School Program which shows summer activities for teens. ITEM 9. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Battles adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m. Sharo Battles, Vice Chairperson ATTEST: ~ Christina A. Lopez, Administr ive ecretary