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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Rec Advisory Board-Minutes-8/1/1994 PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES AUGUST 1, 1994 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Pat Horn called the meeting to order at 6:35 P.M. on :t\1onday August 1, 1994. PRESENT: Pat Horn, Mike Billings, Yvonne Hatton, Chuck Walton, Steve Rahn, Rich Hendler, Paul Vigiletti, Skip Keller, Parks and Recreation Coordinator; Sharon Curry, Recreation Supervisor ABSENT: Ray Brockie SPECIAL GUESTS: Athletic Association Representatives: Bill Carroll (Softball); Russ Overbee (Soccer); Dan Rice (Baseball); :t\1ike Duran Nature Center Neighbors: Stephanie Dwyer; Dave Moore, Carol Pawenski, Sandy Rouch, Judith Szuhy, Larry Szuhy APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mike Billings made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Steve Rahn seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. OLD BUSINESS 1. Discussion of Nature Center Hours A letter requesting the Nature Center hours be changed to daylight to dark had been presented at the last meeting. The Board invited members of the neighborhood to attend this meeting to address their concerns. The issues discussed were: -- Enforcement - not lighted: other parks are wide open and allow easy viewing; CNC has trees and trails; not easily policed; teenagers hangout after dark; racing in front of park; drinking, etc. Needs to be accessible to enforcement; -- Maintenance - Board explained it is to be left in a natural state and not neatly groomed and maintained like other parks; maintenance will be improved with Park maintenance Plan; have requested utility vehicle in budget that will allow policing of trails and back areas without causing damage; -- Exceptions need to be addressed if hours are changed to daylight to dark; many use the park after dark to view wildlife that is not visible during the day. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes of August 1, 1994 Page 2... Board members expressed concerns about changing the hours and how it would affect people using for the park as it was intended when built - as a nature preserve and viewing nature and animals in their environment and the times of day they are visible. They expressed concerns about the police department enforcing illegal activities in and around the park and requested Skip Keller meet with the police chief to determine what the police department sees as the problems, what they are currently doing, what their plans are and his recommendations are. TABLED FOR MORE INFORMATION 2. DISCUSSION OF USE OF ATHLETIC FACILITIES Athletic associations had requested use of athletic facilities on Sundays, particularity City Park, due to growth of their associations and limited field availability. Representatives discussed various reasons for allowing play on Sundays. Board members expressed concerns and understanding for the requests, and agreed if used carefully, and fields were left available for family and other groups to use to allow limited play on Sundays. Pat Horn made a motion to allow Colleyville youth athletic associations the ability to host organized youth activities on sundays between the hours of 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m. to play organized games, make up games. Fields to be agreed upon and approved by the Parks and Recreation Coordinator as detailed in the Facilities Use Agreement. Steve Rahn seconded the motion which was approved by a majority vote. Rich Hendler opposed the motion. 3. REVIEW JOINT WORKSHOP WITH CITY COUNCIL AND DISCUSSION ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION Pat Horn reviewed the joint meeting with the City Council and stated the Board had approached the meeting as an opportunity to build bridges with the Council and to set its primary goal as the upgrading and improvement of City Park. (See attached overview). Revenue and Funding were of primary concern. Various options were discussed including increasing the Non-Resident fee from $10 to $20-25; an option supported by several council members. The possibility of a 1/2 cent sales tax election was discussed and opposed by several council members. The potential for abuse as the law is written was sated as the primary reason. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes of August 1, 1994 Page 3... Board members expressed concerns that the council will not even let the citizens vote on whether or not they wanted the sales tax option. Several questioned why it has not created problems in other cities in the area that have approved the sales tax and how they have handled it. Members stated they look at the sales tax election as an opportunity; City Park is not going anywhere without it. The consensus of the Board is to revise the City Park Master Plan and to project costs in a stair-step approach; assign a committee to develop the plan, asking for Terry Cheek's input; report on an action plan and estimates in September. The committee will consist of Pat Horn, Mike Billings and Steve Rahn. 4. REPORT ON COMMUNITY CENTER Paul Vigiletti reported the final plans for the Community Center will be presented to the City Council at Tuesday night's meeting. Committees are forming to help raise funds for completion of the Center. 5. OTHER CONCERNS: Board members discussed the outstanding efforts of the Garden Club and their contributions to the butterfly and maze gardens at Kidsville and the plans for landscaping the Parks office entrance. Yvonne Hatton made a motion to request the City Council issue a proclamation recognizing the Garden Club for all their hard work on the Butterfly Garden~ Maze Garden and Arbor Days projects. Mike Billings seconded the motion which carried by a unsmimous vote. The Board also discussed Fort Worth Christian School's extraordinary efforts on the Kidsville project sating the closing of the High School for a day during construction, the number of students that returned after their scheduled times to continue to help along with the willingness to help and spirit of cooperation they exhibited. Yvonne Hatton made a motion to present a plaque from the Park Board to Fort Worth Christian for their extraordinary efforts on the Kidsville project. Paul Vigiletti seconded the motion which carried by a unsmimous vote. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes of August 1, 1994 Page 4... NEW BUSINESS 1. DISCUSSION OF YOUTH ASSOCIATION USE OF CITY ATHLETIC FACILITIES AND FACILITIES USE AGREEMENTS. Pat Horn recapped the Sports Summit agreements that all associations would provide to the Parks Department a list of board members and facility use agreement requests to Skip Keller by July 1; Skip would have the fmal agreements to the associations by July 15 and the signed agreements would be returned to Skip by August 1. Skip Keller reported the Facilities Use Agreements have not been finalized because after several requests, he is waiting on baseball's request for fields so all fields can be scheduled accordingly. Association representatives recapped their needs. Skip reminded association representatives the terms of the Agreements would be strictly enforced this year, specifically, proof of insurance, board of directors information and financial statements must be on file. . Board members and associations representatives questioned why financial statements are necessary and discussed pros and cons of requiring them. Board members requested staff to check with the city attorney to determine if there are legal reasons for including the financial statement requirement. Paul VJ.giletti made a motion that the financial statement requirement be dropped form the Facilities l.J se Agreement unless the City Attorney determines otherwise. Steve Hahn seconded the motion which carried by a unAnimous vote. STAFF REPORTS Staff reported the Track team did very well in the State Games of Texas with 16 of 39 team members qualifying for the competition. The Basketball Advisory Board will meet at 7:00 p.m. on August 18 at the Parks and Recreation Office. Skip Keller attended a meeting in Austin on the proposed changes to the Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan. Those changes include: consideration of local needs over regional needs; emphasis on local master plan; refurbishing older parks rather than only funding construction of new facilities; use of dedicated drug seized money for development of programs designed as a prevention measure. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes of August 1, 1994 Page 5... Staff reported the volleyball courts are near completion; the first one is ready for play and the second will have sand added during the week. Valve boxes at the new soccer fields will be completed next week. ADJOURN There being no further business, Rich Hendler made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:12 p.m. Chuck. Walton seconded the motion which carried by a UI1Rnimous vote.