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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 1996-08-05 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 August 5, 1996 - 6:00 P.M. ATTENDANCE PRESENT: Board: Don Tipps Chairman J. Douglass Davis Board Member Bobbie Lambert Board Member Pam Jackson Board Member Rick Work Board Member Staff: Jim Browne Director of Parks & Recreation Larry Cunningham Assistant City Manager Christina Lopez Administrative Secretary Chris Swartz Aquatic Manager Bill Thornton Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation Monica Sue Walsh Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation ABSENT: Sharon Battles Vice Chairwoman Kami Graves Board Member Ann Perchard Board Member ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Tipps called the meeting to order August 5, 1996 at 6:02 P.M. ITEM 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES (Passed 5-0) Mr. Davis made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lambert, to approve the minutes of the June 3, 1996 meeting. 1 ITEM 3. PARK OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM STATUS REPORT Mr. Thornton provided a report of the status of the Parks Maintenance Department and Capitaf Improvement Projects. Discussion was held. The Calloway Branch Trail - Council approved execution of the agreement at their April 8 meeting. NJB, Inc. is proceeding with gathering base data and preparing on-site survey information. We will encounter slight delays because TxDOT requires the design work to be converted to metric measurement. The Bedford-Euless Road Landscape project is complete. Mr. Lambert commented that it was a"great job". The Tennis Center championship court and six other courts have been paured. Roof decking has been installed on the pro shop building, and wall framing has been completed. North Electric Trail design work is in progress and is expected to be completed for TxDOT review in August. Additional hydrofogical studies are required for the extended bridge crossing at Calloway Branch and Walkers Branch creeks. A preliminary meeting will be held the week of August 12. TxDOT will be bidding out the project. City Council approved execution of the agreement for Little Bear Creek Trail at their April 8 meeting. NJB, Inc., is proceeding with gathering base data and preparing on-site survey information. Glenview Neighborhood Park playground construction has begun with concrete being poured around the playground area. Site grading and lake construction is scheduled to begin in September. Plans are nearing completion for the lake and trail. Mr. Work wanted to know if staff took into account citizen input regarding the sidewalks and playground, and, how does the citizen know we took in to consideration their suggestions? Staff responded by stating that the citizens comments were taken into consideration at two separate park board meetings through their verbal suggestions and through a tabulated survey. The final plan reflects several adjustments based on their input. An ISTEA Grant Application was submitted March 15, 1996 for the North Hills Mall Multi-Use Trail project. The notice for award of the grant is scheduled for August 28, 1996. Design work is progressing for. the Girls Fast Pitch Softball Complex. The notice for award of the grant is scheduled for August 30, 1996. Construction wi11 take approximately one year. Preliminary design work is continuing for the City Park Site. Once the concept plan is completed staff wi{I present to the Park Board for your approval. Mr. Tipps asked if there was a nature center planned for this site. Staff responded that they are planning on having an indoor facility, possibly partnering with B{SD, if North Richland Hilis builds the facifity maybe BfSD could man it. The possibilities are still wide open, the opportunity is there, staff wi11 see what can be done with the school district. City Hai1 Landscaping and Irrigation is complete. Staff is waiting on cooler weather to replace some of the trees that died. 2 Brinkley Sargent Architects are beginning preliminary research planning for long term enhancements to NRH2O. Gary Kutilek of Landscape Alliance is preparing more detailed concepts for the various types of signage within our parks and trails for the Standard Park Signage project. The landscape and irrigation improvements at Richfield Park are complete. Sod was installed the week of June 24. Staff is in the process of locating funding to have all the electrical boxes and controls for the lights moved into the building. Plans and Specifications are being prepared for Mid-Cities Boulevard Landscape and Irrigation project and are tentatively scheduled for bidding in July. Funding is expected to be approved in July for the Dan Echols Parking Lot and Playground Improvements. Once the project is approved, a contract for the design work will be executed. ITEM 4. RECREATION, ATHLETICS AND SENIOR ADULTS Ms. Monica Walsh provided a report of activities in recreation, athletics, and senior adult services. Summer programs continue through the week of August 16. Staff completed program planning for the Fall "Leisure Resource Guide". The publication is expected to reach households by August 7, 1996. A Star Trac treadmill and Recumbent Bike were purchased for the Fitness Center. Bursey Road Center Renovation and expansion of the Bursey Road Senior Center is currently in process with completion expected at the end of September. The seniors are continuing to meet at the NRH Recreation Center while Bursey Center is being renovated. The new duplicate bridge class meets on Friday and has already filled five tables with piayers Dan Echols Center Fifteen seniors took on an ambitious project of painting the main activity room and kitchen at Dan Echols on July 13. The second coat of paint was applied July 31. The city purchased the paint and materials. ATHLETICS Meetings continue for the 1996 Corporate Challenge. Registration will continue through August 23, 1996. 3 Staff manned a booth at the July Chamber Luncheon promoting the Corporate Challenge. The promotional video debuted at the luncheon. The video includes dignitaries such as Mayor Tommy Brown, Randy Moresi, CEO for Columbia North Hills Hospital, and Bill Eison, Haltom City's City Manager. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Green Valley Soccer Complex will be held on August 17 at 9:00 a.m. Mr. Davis asked if the soccer associations had good representation of teams. Staff responded that the associations were currently registering and the department has had lots of phone calls concerning the leagues. Ms. Walsh said the maintenance fee was approved by both associations and the concession bids are ready to advertise in the newspaper. ITEM 5. Aquatics Update Chris Swartz, Aquatic Manager, updated the Board regarding activities at NRHzO. Through July 15, total attendance is 131,067, compared to 107,709 last year. Attendance records have been broken and the season high of 4,980 was set on July 5, last year's single day attendance record was 3,701. On 20 days this season NRH2O has broken the 3,000 attendance level. This compares with 11 days last season. Survey results have show the park to be performing well. With 1,133 survey's in the computer, the overall guest service average rating is 4.72 out of 5. This is up from last year's average of 4.62. NRH2O's goal for this year is a 4.7 rating for guest service. The park's attractions and facilities rating is 4.43 and concessions rating is 4.41. All of the ratings are up from last year. Mr. Tipps inquired about accidents and injuries. Mr. Swartz responded that there have not been any major accidents or injuries, just normal cuts, scraps and bruises, one person had a seizure, but it was not water related. The park has not appeared to have had any problems with glass containers or alcohol. In effc~rts to continue to improve the level of service at NRH2O provides, they are implementing a new guest program. The "Mystery Shopper" program will provide the park with detailed information about their level of service in all areas of the park. It deals with guest service, park cleanliness and team member knowledge. The participants will receive complimentary admission in exchange for participating participating in the program. Staff has developed a form with detailed questions and are currently testing the program with a control group of Park and Recreation employees. Once the "bugs" are worked out, staff will be randomly approaching guests as they enter the park. To date NRH2O has nearly doubled the number of season passes purchased. A total of 1,702 season passes were sold all of last season in comparison to 3,221 season passes sold to date this season. That represents an increase from 5,300 individual pass holders last year to over 8,000 individual pass holders this year. Season pass holders provide up front revenues for the park, but as their visits increase the average amount paid for each visit decreases. Pass holders also tend not to spend as much on "in park" purchases. This accounts for decreased per capita spending. 4 Through July 23 NRHzO has had to suspend operations 13 times due to weather as compared to only six weather suspensions all of last year. This does not include days that were overcast and impact attendance levels. The weather impact becomes more and more important given the continued early return dates for our Iocal school districts. The Gift Shop has seen an increase of 56 percent in revenues over last year. This increase has been attributed to better merchandising, inventory and expanding product lines. The Ice Cream Shoppe has produced approximately 28 percent of the food and beverage sales this season. The total revenues for the Ice Cream Shoppe are an increase of over 500 percent more revenue than the Video Arcade that the Ice Cream Shoppe replaced. Special Note: Lifeguards used in the 1996 Summer Olympics were trained through the Ellis & Associates Water Safety Program, which is the same program NRH2O uses to train their fifeguards. ITEM 6. DISCUSSION OF OTHER ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA Mr. Tipps commented that he went to Sch{itterbahn, focated near San Antonio, TX, and noticed it looks worn. Mr. Tipps hoped that NRH2O will continue to look nice and maintain the new look. Mr. Browne responded that when the budget was formulated a"sinking fund" was created where proceeds are set aside for general maintenance and upkeep of the infrastructure, to keep the park in good shape, and also enable the park to introduce new rides and attractions and keep it interesting and a fun experience for all our guests. Mr. Tipps also commented that Schlitterbahn does have a spectators pass. Mr. Browne responded that NRH2O does not advertise this practice but will accommodate a request by our guest when warranted. Mr. Davis wanted to know if the park names that were agreed upon by the Park Naming Committee and the Park Board had been approved by Council. Mr. Browne responded that at this time the names have not been approved by City Council. Mr. Glenn Nerwin, Beautification Commission Member, extended an invitation to the Park and Recreation Board or anyone interested in a tour of the 100 acre park site. The tour takes approximately three hours. ITEM 7. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Davis made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lambert, to adjourn the meeting at 7:52 P.M. Motion carried 5-0. Don Ti , Chairperson ATTEST: ~ / ~ ~ ~/_,l~S < I ~ ~ Christina Lopez, Administrative Secretary 5