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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 1996-10-07 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 October 7, 1996 - 6:00 P.M. ATTENDANCE PRESENT: Board: Don Tipps Chairman Sharon Battles Vice Chairwoman Bobbie Lambert Board Member Pam Jackson Board Member Ann Perchard Board Member Cheryl ~yman Board Member Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks & Recreation Sandra Miller Secretary, Parks and Recreation Chris Swartz Aquatic Manager Patty Moos Park Planning and Construction Superintendent Monica Sue Walsh Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation ABSENT: Rick Work Board Member J. Douglass Davis Board Member ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Tipps called the meeting to order October 7, 1996 at 6:00 P.M. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES (Passed 6-0) Ms. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Ms. Perchard, to approve the minutes of the August 5, 1996 meeting. 1 ITEM 3. INTRODUCTION OF NEW BOARD MEMBER Mr. Browne introduced and welcomed Cheryi Lyman as the new Parks and Recreation Board member. Ms. Lyman will be serving as the Alternate for the Board. ITEM 4. INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF MEMBER Mr. Browne introduced Ms. Charlotte Wylie as the new Tennis Center Manager for the Richland Tennis Center. Ms. Wy{ie comes to North Richland HiHs from Topeka, Kansas. Ms. Wylie joined the department in August 1996. 1TEM 5. TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT GRANT FUNDS AWARDED AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ISTEA GRANT FUNDS Mr. Browne informed the Board that the Parks and Recreation Department had been awarded grant funds from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the amount of $500,000 for the new Girls Fast Pitch Softball Complex. Other funds received for the Parks and Recreation Department were from the Texas Department of Transportation Commission from the Intermodal SurFace Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in the amount of $475,315. These funds are for the North Hills Multi-Use Trail and Landscaping project along Calloway Branch. He summarized that the department had received grants over the last few years totaling approximately $8,000,000. ITEM 6. COUNCIL ACTION ON PARK BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARK AND ~ACILITY NAMES The Board was provided a City Council cover sheet regarding proposed names for five Parks and Recreation facilities. Mr. Tipps expressed disappointment and felt as though something had been lost regarding the name of the tennis center. ITEM 7. PLAN FOR THE GIRLS FAST PITCH SOFTBALL COMPLEX Mr. Jim Cooper, MESA Design, made a formal presentation to the Board with an architectural rendering of the concept pfan for the Girls Fast Pitch Softball Complex. A handout was also provided to all in attendance. Mr. Browne said that the bid process would start soon. 2 Mr. Lambert inquired if there would be shade over the dugouts and stands. Mr. Cooper stated that this could be added later to the stands and had been designed to cover the dugouts. Ms. Battles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lambert, recommending approva! of plans to City Council. Motion passed 5 - 0. ITEM 8. C4NCEPT PLAN FOR 100 ACRE PARK SITE Mr. Bob Stoffels, J.T. Dunkin and Associates, made a formal presentation to the Board with an architectural rendition of the concept plan for the 100 Acre Park site. Copies of the concept plan were passed out to Board members and others in attendance. Mr. Bob Roberts of 7624 Douglas Lane, raised questions on the number of parking spaces allocated for the site. Staff replied that there were 60 parking spaces allocated per ballfield. He also wanted to know what pfans had been made to deter sound from the activities for the neighborhoods. Staff informed him that fields had been placed at a lower than grade elevation. The question was also raised regarding park hours. Mr. Roberts was told that the hours would be the same as our other facilities due to City ordinances mandating hours of operation. Mr. Roberts was in favor of the plan and felt that if the residents were informed there would be a more positive reaction from the start of the project. Mr. Roberts brought to the Board's attention that a North Richland Hills resident, Mr. Tywater, living in this was area was a descendent of Daniel Boone. He said that Mr. Tywater had lots of information regarding Daniel Boone and wondered if the department could try to obtain information from this elderly gentleman. Mr. Browne said that an archeological/historical evaluation could be conducted of the area as part of the grant. Ms. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Ms. Battles that the concept plan be recommended to City Council for approval. Motion passed 5- 0. ITEM 9. TENNIS CENTER BUSINESS PLAN Ms. Monica Walsh discussed the Tennis Center Business Plan which included the facility goals, objectives and programs. Mr. Tipps inquired about the availability of courts for students. Ms. Walsh stated that there would be eight courts available for the students to use and that she was meeting with the coach on programming. Ms. Perchard made a motion, seconded by Ms. Lyman, for the plan to be recommended to City Council for approval. Motion passed 5- 0. 3 ITEM 10. PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Ms. Patty Moos provided a report of the status of the Parks Maintenance Department and Capital Improvement Projects. Discussion was held. Calloway Branch Trail - Proceeding with gathering base data and preparing on-site survey information. The Tennis Center and Practice Fields - Tennis Courts have been poured with the Masonry and wall framing completed on the pro shop building. The light poles and fencing are being installed. North Electric Trail - Design work has almost reached completion. TxDOT is in process of reviewing the preliminary design. Little Bear Creek Trai1 - On-site survey information and preliminary design work is in progress. Glenview Neighborhood Park - Playground construction is complete. The lake construction and site grading is scheduled to begin this fall. Phase I Bike Route Signage and Signs - Currently in process of gathering base data and preparing on- site survey information and preliminary map work. The ISTEA Grant Application for the North Hills Mall Multi-Use Trail project was awarded in August 1996. The department is proceeding with the consultant selection. Design work is complete for the Girls Fast Pitch Softball Complex. The project awarded a grant in the amount of $500,000 and plans have been sent to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for review. Design work is still continuing for the City Park Site. Brinkley Sargent Architects have begun preliminary research planning for the NRH2O Master Plan update. Gary Kutilek of Landscape Alliance is in the process of preparing more detailed concepts for the various types of signage for our parks and trails. Richfield Park improvements have been placed on hold pending further discussions with Richfield Yauth Association. Mid-Cities Bou{evard Landscape and Irrigation project plans and specifications are being prepared for and are tentatively schedu{ed for bidding in Spring 1997. Dan Echols Parking Lot and Playground Improvement plans are being prepared for bid. 4 ITEM 11. RECREATION, ATHLETICS AND SENIOR ADULTS Ms. Monica Walsh provided a report of activities in recreation, athletics, and senior adult services. Fall programs began the week of August 26th. Friday Night Out Teen Dance had over 800 teens that participated in the first dance of the school year. BURSEY ROAD CENTER Renovation and expansion of the Bursey Road Senior Center is currently in process with anticipation of returning by the end of the month. DAN ECHOLS CENTER Sara Hunsucker, Dan Echols Senior Center Supervisor, and Ruth Hamilton were nominated for the Northeast Star Telegram Volunteer of the Year Award. The Swingin' Seniors performed at Pioneer Days in Fort Worth for a 30 minute program. ATHLETICS The 1996 Corporate Challenge consisted of thirteen companies participating from within the Metroplex. Adult softball registration reached an all time high with 103 teams registered. NYSCA training for football, basketball, cheerleading and soccer concluded with over 200 coaches certified. TENNIS CENTER The facility will be opening for programming in January 1997. Currently plans are being made for staffing, merchandising and promotion of the facility. ITEM 12. AQUATICS REPORTS Mr. Chris Swartz updated the Board regarding activities at NRH2O. Guest Service scores climbed a full tenth of a point from 1995 to 1996 with a 4.72 out of 5. Contributing factvrs for the rise have been the new tube s{ide, allowing cooiers in the park along with Professor Frogstein and the E{ements of Fun. Park attendance increased 20.28 percent from 1995 to 1996. ln the 1996 season 222,986 visits were paid to the park which is an increase of 37,611 from last year. Season pass sales grew 53%. In 1995, 5,250 in comparison to 8,050 being sold in 1996. 5 Mr. Lambert inquired if staff was looking at new ideas for additions in the future. Mr. Swartz stated that staff was currently in the process of researching and looking at larger attractions. ITEM 13. DISCUSSION OF OTHER ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA Mr. Glenn Nerwin, Beautification Member and City Volunteer, was in attendance to introduce finro Eagle Scouts, Nathan Gasser and Rusty Hicks. These finro Eag4e Scouts had compfeted work at the 100 Acre City Park to achieve completion of an Eagle Scout project. Mr. Nerwin informed the Board that this was the seventh or eighth Eagle project that had been compfeted. Nathan Gasser widened the trail behind Adventure Wor1d to the canopy forest and Rusty Hicks eliminated smilax from the eastern section of the property which has now created a fire break. Mr. Jim Streit, NRGSL Commissioner, gave an informal report of the association. He stated that from March - October that the park was in use fuil time. For the fall season they currently had 560 girls comprising 43 teams in the league. ITEM 14. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Lyman made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lambert, to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 P.M. Motion carried 5-0. ~ D T' , hairperson ATTEST: Sandra Miller, Secreta Parks and Recreation 6