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Home My WebLink AboutPRB 2018-12-03 Minutes MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS HELD IN THE CITY HALL 4301 CITY POINT DRIVE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS December 3, 2018 A. CALL TO ORDER Chair Kusmierski called the meeting to order December 3, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Present: Marty Kusmierski Chair, Place 5 Mike Filis Vice-Chair, Place 7 Tracye Tipps Board Member, Place 1 Suzy Compton Board Member, Place 2 Russell Mitchell Board Member, Place 3 Vanessa Copeland Board Member, Place 4 Dianne Spradling Board Member, Place 6 Staff Members: Vickie Loftice Managing Director Adrien Pekurney Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Frank Perez NRH2O General Manager Gary Bechthold Parks Superintendent Christina Lopez Office Coordinator Absent: Kenneth Reeves Board Alternate B. CITIZEN COMMENTS There were no citizen comments. C. ACTION ITEMS C.1 APPROVE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 1, 2018 PARK AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING. APPROVED PARK BOARD MEMBER RUSSELL MITCHELL MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER ' 1, 2O'IH PARK AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING. BOARD MEMBER DIANNE SPRADLING ' SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6-O. Page 1 of 5 D. PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS: D.1 PARK MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES AND STAFFING. Mr. Gary Bechthold, Parks Superintendent, provided an overview of the organizational structure of the Maintenance and Operations Division, which maintains over $200 million dollars worth of infrastructure. About a year and a half ago, Parks Maintenance was asked to take over maintaining the City's medians and right-of-ways, which equal more than 100 acres, spread across 120 different properties. At that time, some of the larger properties were contracted out to be maintained by TCA Terracare with staff assuming maintenance responsibilities of approximately 90 properties. Mr. Bechthold introduced the crew that is responsible for maintaining these properties, Mr. James Fowler, MWII, Mr. Bryan Hamlin, MWI, and Mr. Matt Rohmer, MWI. Park Member Compton inquired about getting an Adopt-A-Spot Sign for the property in front of their subdivision, Brittany Park Estates, that is currently being maintained by her husband. Staff will send contact information to Debbie York to get the process started. E. DEPARTMENT UPDATES & GENERAL INFORMATION E.1 NRH2O FAMILY WATER PARK UPDATE Mr. Frank Perez, NRHzO General Manager, presented an update on activities at NRH2O. Highlights included: • Off Season Activities — Staff is presently working on a number of off-season projects that include replacement of furniture, upgrades and improvement to park attractions and facilities. • Polar Plunge — The 2019 Polar Plunge is scheduled for Saturday, January 19. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with plunging beginning at 10:00 a.m. The event benefits Special Olympics. • Season Pass Sale — Season passes are currently on sale for the 2019 season. NRH2O will be celebrating their 25th season in 2019. E.2 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR'S REPORT ON PARKS CAPITAL PROJECTS Ms. Vickie Loftice, Managing Director, presented an update on Parks Capital Projects: • HomeTown Lakes Pedestrian Bridge—The contractor for HomeTown will be lifting i the bridge into place on either Tuesday or Wednesday, next week. Dean construction will begin on the trail and sidewalk connections as soon as the bridge is in place. I, • Green Valley Raceway Historical Area — Mr. John Barfield recently donated $50,000 for the Green Valley Raceway Historical Project to supplement the already budgeted amount of $30,000. The project concepts are currently undergoing refinements. Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 3,2018 Page 2 of 5 • Linda Spurlock Park Renovation — Staff received Request for Qualifications from ten firms for the renovation of Linda Spurlock Park. Three firms have been selected for interviews, which are scheduled for December 13, 2018. Construction will begin in 2020. Park Board Member Russ Mitchell inquired about a trail that runs through a creek bed along or near Fossil Creek Park at Diamond Oaks, behind the golf course. Staff is not aware of a concrete trail at that location and will do some research. E.3 PARK MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS UPDATE Mr. Gary Bechthold, Parks Superintendent, presented an update on park maintenance. Highlights included: • Mowing & Maintenance Contracts— Bid specifications are currently being prepared for the annual mowing of general parks and facilities, medians and rights-of-way and general landscaping. Bids are scheduled to go out in January. • Tree Planting — Park staff installed 75 crepe myrtle trees along North Tarrant Parkway. • Special Event Preparation — Several park crews are assisting in preparing and setting up for upcoming holiday events: Holiday Magic, Run, Run Rudolph and Holiday Family Movie Night. • Ballfield Renovation — The renovation of all 30 park athletic fields is currently behind schedule by about three weeks, but they should be ready to go by March. The delay is due to the wet summer and fall and needing to allow the youth associations use of the facilities longer than normally intended. • Cleanup—Park maintenance crews have begun power-washing park buildings and entry signs to spruce facilities up prior to spring. Ms. Loftice also updated the Board on the Revised Ordinances — Staff took the revised ordinances to Council for adoption with the exception of the ordinance regarding Stormy Plaza. The City Attorney thought this one would be impossible to enforce. Ms. Loftice is excited to inform the Park and Recreation Board that Parks and Recreation now has two new, fully accessible, passenger vans. The seniors have their first trip planned next week to visit Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie. Ms. Loftice also updated the Board on the relocation of the Community Garden due to the pending sale of the church and church property that includes the garden. Staff and the Community Garden Coordinator, Dianne Spradling, will be bringing this item back to the Board in the future. The Community Garden will be relocated to property located off Dick Fisher Drive, near the BCTAL and will be able to utilize the BCTAL parking lot. Staff is working with Mike Benton, who will oversee the construction of the new plots and shed. I The Ribbon Cutting for TEXRaiI Smithfield Station is scheduled for Friday, December 31, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. Board Member Filis stated he did not like the train whistle. Ms. Loftice replied that TEXRaiI is doing a lot of testing at this time. Board Member Spradling also Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 3,2018 Page 3 of 5 stated that all crossings in NRH are slated to be "quiet zones". The Board may have also noticed some of the damage caused on the Cotton Belt Trail due to the heavy equipment moving over the trail during the construction of the Smithfield Station. TEXRaiI will be replacing approximately 100 panels at their cost to repair the damage. E.4 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR'S REPORT ON CURRENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Ms. Adrien Pekurney, Assistant Director, presented an update on activities at the NRH Centre, Athletics, Senior Center, Tennis Center and the Grand Hall. Highlights included: • NRH Centre Indoor Aquatic Pool Re-Plaster Project—The Aquatic Pool Re-Plaster project will begin on December 10, with the pools scheduled to reopen to the public on January 5, 2019. The aquatic party room floor will be replaced and the gymnasium floor will be refinished and restriped during this period as well. • Revenues for the NRH Centre and Grand Hall are off to a good start for FY19. • The NRH Centre is holding a "turn-of-the-year" membership special that will run through February 2019. • Ms. Sarah Gray, NRH Centre Aquatic Supervisor and Ms. Krista Henry, Aquatic Program Coordinator, will provide information on the NRHWS365 Program at the December 6 district-wide BISD PTA meeting. Ms. Loftice thanked Board member Copeland for starting the WS365 Program. • The Winter/Spring 2019 Discover Brochure will be available at the beginning of December. • The 7t" Annual Run, Run Rudolph Family Fun 5K Run/Walk was held Saturday, December 1, 2018. This year marks the largest number of registrations to date for this event. • Ms. Jodi Griggs, Senior Center Supervisor, will be retiring from the City of North Richland Hills in December. A come and go reception will be held on December 19 from 12:30 —2:30 at the Grand Hall. After retirement, Jodi and her husband will be relocating to Boerne, Texas. • Holiday Magic is scheduled for Friday, December 7. Staff has been watching the weather closely and in the event of forecast changes events will be shifted as follows. Memphis Soul will perform in the Grand Hall at 7:00 p.m., the Community Stage will move to the Gymnasium, Fireworks will still happen as long as the wind is not too high, Craft Vendors will be inside the NRH Centre lobby and concourse area, food trucks will be in the drive through near the Senior Center entrance. Santa and Mrs. Claus will still be in the Library Community Room and the NRH Library will still be used for children's crafts. The tree lighting will be held in the gymnasium since the Christmas Tree can be seen completely from the gymnasium. The holiday scenes will also remain up for the month of December. • NRH Pop Up Gallery— Call for Art begins today, December 3, for the next Pop Up Gallery which will be held at Kindred Coffee Company located on North Tarrant Parkway. The Pop Up Gallery will be on display for one month beginning on Friday, January 25 with the artists reception and will close on Friday, February 22. Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 3, 2018 Page 4 of S F. INFORMATIONA� ITEMS Ms. Vickie Loftice wished the Park and Recreation Board a Merry Christmas and presented them with a small token of appreciation for their service. G. ADJOURNMENT Chair Kusmierski adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m. ( Marty usmi rs i, ATTEST: G - Christina Lopez, Offi C inator �I II ,�� Park and Recreation Board Minutes December 3, 2018 Page S of 5