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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRB 2021-12-06 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS HELD IN THE CITY HALL 4301 CITY POINT DRIVE DECEMBER 6, 2021 REGULAR MEETING A. CALL TO ORDER Chair Copeland called the meeting to order on December 6. 2021 at 6:04 p.m. Present: Vanessa Copeland, Chair, Place 4 Tracye Lewis, Vice-Chair, Place 1 Kate Beck, Place 2 Russell Mitchell, Place 3 Casey Daniel, Place 5 Dianne Spradling, Place 6 Jennifer Childs, Place 7 Brad Evans, Alternate Staff Members: Adrien Pekurney, Director Antonio Evangelista, Recreation Operations Manager Frank Perez, NRH2O General Manager Joe Pack, Senior Park Planner Gary Bechthold, Park Superintendent Ron Newman, Membership Services Supervisor Christina Lopez, Office Coordinator Cindy Dobbs, Secretary A.1 CITIZEN PRESENTATION There were no requests to speak from the public. A.2 PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no requests to speak from the Public. B. ACTION ITEMS B.1 APPROVE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 4, 2021 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING. December 06, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 6 APPROVED A MOTION WAS MADE BY BOARD MEMBER MITCHELL, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER BECK TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 4, 2021 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-0. B.2 REVIEW THE PARK AMENITY REQUEST POLICY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING PARK AMENITY REQUESTS FOR THE FY2022/23 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET. APPROVED Mr. Joe Pack provided a summary of the Park Amenity Request Policy, and reviewed finro Park Amenity Requests that were received by the Parks and Recreation Department in 2021. Security Lights in Linda Spurlock Park: Staff recommends not funding additional security lighting in Linda Spurlock Park due to the preparation and maintenance for installation and beyond is very costly. Linda Spurlock Park was recently renovated at a cost of almost$1,000,000 and included adding security lighting to the new restroom building and new pavilion. Fitness Equipment in Dick Faram Park: Staff recommends consideration for further exploration and discussion of the Fitness Equipment at Dick Faram Park. The implementation plan as outlined in the 2007 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan addresses the need to continue to provide needed recreational facilities and equipment. Per the resident's request, staff is also considering adding amenities to the highly used Cottonbelt and Walker's Creek Trails. Mr. Pack added that the ongoing pandemic has increased the public's desire for more outdoor activities. Board Member Beck inquired if there had been any recent criminal activity reported at Linda Spurlock Park and there has been none that Parks and Recreation is aware of. Ms. Beck also confirmed that most of lighting of the parks in NRH are around the pavilions and sports playing fields. Board Member Mitchell asked what the approximate cost of lighting the trail at Linda Spurlock Park would be. An exact dollar amount was not available, however, previous projects have shown it to be very costly. Ms. Adrien Pekurney pointed out that the other trails and walkways in the city are not lighted. She stated that each request received is December 06, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6 reviewed and considered on a case by case basis. Board Member Mitchell was glad that this is something that can be revisited in the future. Board Member Mitchell asked what the budget was for the Linda Spurlock remodel. Mr. Joe Pack stated that it was just under$1,000,000. Parks and Recreation staff recommended the following: -Not funding additional security lighting at Linda Spurlock Park -Consideration for further exploration and discussion of the Fitness Equipment at Dick Faram Park A MOTION WAS MADE BY BOARD MEMBER SPRADLING, SECONDED BY VICE-CHAIR LEWIS TO PROCEED WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON BOTH AMENITY REQUESTS. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-0. B.3 CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO READOPT THE NRH YOUTH PROGRAMS STANDARDS OF CARE ORDINANCE. APPROVED Mr. Ron Newman presented the NRH Youth Programs Standards of Care Ordinance. Adopted standards are a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services requirement for an exempt status for day care licensing. The Parks and Recreation Board recommended to forward the Youth Programs Standard of Care Ordinance to City Council for their consideration for adoption. A MOTION WAS MADE BY BOARD MEMBER MITCHELL, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER SPRADLING TO FORWARD THE YOUTH PROGRAMS STANDARDS OF CARE ORDINANCE TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION FOR ADOPTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-0. C. PRESENTATION / DISCUSSION ITEMS D. DEPARTMENT UPDATES D.1 NRH2O FAMILY WATER PARK UPDATE Mr. Frank Perez, NRH2O General Manager, provided an update on activities at NRH2O Family Water Park. December 06, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6 -During the off-season, staff is focusing on necessary repairs and upgrades to attractions and buildings. These repairs include various motors, pumps, concrete and plumbing as well as general maintenance to prepare for the 2022 season. -Revisions on hiring and incentive plans are also in the works. -Daily ticket prices will increase in the upcoming season. -Polar Plunge is scheduled for Saturday, February 5, 2022 which will benefit the Special Olympics of Texas - Greater Fort Worth area. Proceeds help support more than 4,200 athletes in the Greater Fort Worth area. -Season passes for 2022 are on sale. They had over $40,000 in sales on Cyber Monday, which is the most ever brought in on this day. Board Member Beck asked if there was an increase in the Season Pass pricing and there is not. D.2 PARKS CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE Mr. Joe Pack, Senior Park Planner, presented an update on capital projects. -Richfield Park Tennis/Pickleball Court replacement construction documents are complete and have been approved. The project will go out for bid on January 7, 2022. Proposals will be due on February 3, 2022 and will be presented to City Council on February 28, 2022 for their consideration. Construction should begin shortly after Council approval. -City Point Trail Development in Oncor Easement: Park Planning Staff has been working with the North Central Texas Council of Governments to designate the proposed trail in the Oncor easement west of City Point Section 2 as future Regional Veloweb in the 2040 Regional Trail Plan. This will be an all-off-road pathway with no on-road portion. Ms. Adrien Pekurney expressed her appreciation to Mr. Pack for his efforts on the details regarding the Richfield Park Tennis/Pickleball Court replacement. D.3 PARKS MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS UPDATE Mr. Gary Bechthold, Parks Superintendent, provided an update on parks maintenance and operations activities. -Parking lot striping is complete at multiple parks and NRH2O. December 06, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6 -Dumpster enclosures are nearly completed at Walker's Creek and Green Valley Parks. -Replacing and restoring the plants and trees that were damaged during the winter storm in February 2021 is nearly complete. Rock and landscape features have also been added along the rights-of-ways along North Tarrant Parkway. -Park maintenance staff is assessing field maintenance and restoration needs as the Fall youth and adult sport tournaments and leagues are ending. Crew will start right away to have it ready for Spring play. -Mowing schedule will be coming to an end soon, dependant on weather conditions. -Park staff installed holiday decorations at the NRH Centre and Library. Chris Lamar, Park Supervisor, managed the contractors that installed the Christmas lights throughout the city's facilities. -New motor for the south pond fountain at Home Town has arrived and staff will coordinate with the contractor for installation. D.4 NRH CENTRE, GRAND HALL, ATHLETICS, SENIOR CENTER, RICHLAND TENNIS CENTER, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES UPDATE. Mr. Antonio Evangelista, Recreation Operations Manager, provided an update on activities at the NRH Centre, Grand Hall, Senior Center, Richland Tennis Center as well as programs and services. -NRH Centre has developed turn-of-the year membership specials that have gone out to boost memberships for the new year. -Run Run Rudolph 5k was a success with 220 participants and great weather. -Grand Hall is getting busier with corporate and social events and is starting to see pre-pandemic numbers in their revenues. -Average Joe's Basketball continues with strong enrollment numbers with another sold-out league. Current league ends mid-December 2021 and new one starts in January 2022. Adult softball has been successful as well. No winter league was held this year like there was in 2020. -The NRH Senior Center Craft Fair was held October 27 and 28 at the Grand Hall. It featured 71 senior crafters selling handmade items just in time for the holiday season. -The NRH Senior Center relies heavily on Community Partnerships to offer many of their December 06, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6 programs, such as lunches, bingo and other activities. -Richland Tennis Center has had a great year for tournaments. The last event for 2021 will be the Toys for Tennis Tournament on December 11. Toys collected will be donated to the Community Enrichment Center. The 2022 tournament season will start January 22 - 23 with the monthly UTR series. -Recent special events include the Pop Up Gallery at the Dan Echols Center, November 19 - 20, which celebrated the theme "Art Lives in Our City". Over 125 visitors attended the Artist's Reception on Friday evening. The Tree Lighting Celebration on Thursday, December 3 was a huge success. Festivities included a holiday drone show. Chair Vanessa Copeland was complimentary of the drone show. Ms. Adrien Pekurney mentioned that the holiday lights will be up through the end of the year for the public's enjoyment. Ms. Copeland and Ms. Pekurney discussed the pros and cons of having this event on a weeknight versus a Friday or weekend. E. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS E.1 COMMUNITY SERVICE MONTHLY REPORTS (SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER) PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD UPDATES (OCTOBER - NOVEMBER) Board Member Spradling made an announcement to the Board that tonight was her last meeting. Ms. Adrien Pekurney thanked her for many years of service to North Richland Hills, including 11 years on the board for the Community Garden and eight years as a Park Board Member. Ms. Pekurney presented Ms. Spradling a plaque in appreciation of her dedication to NRH. Ms. Adrien Pekurney wished the Parks and Recreation Board a happy holiday season and happy new year. F. ADJOURNMENT Chair Copeland adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m. Vanessa C eland, Chair ATTEST: / Cindy Dobb , ecretary December 06, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6