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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Wichita Falls, Texas
Memorial Auditorium Building
December 7, 2006
Item 1
The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas met in special joint session with the
Park Board on the above date in the Wichita Falls Recreation Center, 600 11th Street, Second
Floor, Room 209 at 1:30 o'clock p.m., with the following members present:
Ray Gonzalez - Mayor Pro Tern
Jim Ginnings - Councilors
Linda Ammons -
Dorothy Roberts-Burns -
Rick Hatcher -
Charles Elmore -
Mayor Lanham Lyne - Absent
Darron Leiker - City Manager
Bill Sullivan - City Attorney
Lydia Ozuna - City Clerk
In the absence of Mayor Lyne, Mayor Pro Tern Gonzalez presided over the meeting.
The meeting was called to order.
Mr. Elmer Emory, Park Board Chair, called the Park Board joint meeting to order and
asked the Park Board members to introduce themselves and gave their interest in serving on the
Park Board.
Item 2
Mr. Emory reviewed the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan and the Five-Year Plan.
He noted that the Skate Park and the Softball Complex projects had been addressed by the City
Council.
The following Capital Improvement Programs were reviewed and discussed by the City
Council and the Park Board. These items are prioritized as set out beginning with the first priority.
Gymnasium (three in one) — Scott McGee and Kathy Whetstone, Parks and
Recreation staff, provided detailed information and ideas for numerous uses of the
proposed facility. Attebury flour mill was a suggested location.
Lake Wichita Shoreline Improvement — Acquire the land out there for a fair price
now to avoid future price increase; dredging the Lake; determine City property out
there; mark boundaries; utilize aerial maps; address encroachment issues; activate
Lake Wichita Study Committee.
McGrath Creek Walkway — Contract in place with TXDOT to replace the culvers on
Maplewood. This project could be used to bring tourism like the San Antonio River Walk.
Shops and restaurants are already in place in the area just need to add the trail and
decorative pedestrian bridges.
Park Land Acquisition— Recommend to retain the Funland Pavilion and not use for
Skate Park. The City has not added a park in 30 years. Currently there are no identified
sites as provided for in the Subdivision Ordinance, except for the 80 ft. Tanglewood area
that has been designated as "open space".
Bicycle Trail completion —Cost to complete the circle around the City is $8 million.
First item would be to change the two mile gap to link the two trails from Lucy Park to Lake
Wichita. Cost for markers estimated at $25,000. The issue is where the markers are
placed and if the property owners agree since there are some properties that encroach
pretty far out.
Biological Exhibits -100 acre fenced site of plants and animals; outdoors and indoor
exhibits such as a zoo, arboretum, botanical center, aquarium, etc. This would be similar to
Albuquerque Biological Park.
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These issues have been under discussion for years and appreciation was expressed that
this Council has addressed the Softball Complex and the Skate Park.
More jobs are being brought to Wichita Falls, as well as people, and the quality of life will
keep those folks here, and if we increase the quality of life they will stay here. We have wonderful
people in Wichita Falls and that is why so many people stay here but we want them to have a
better quality of life. Wichita Falls is a growing City and as more people come we will have more
revenue brought into the City to do things; we need to make it a better place every year. These
projects will bring people into our community to spend their money and the more things we have
for people to do and enjoy will improve tourism as well as activities.
City Council and Park Board adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this kq day of )2006.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
Lydia Ozuna
City Clerk
NOTICE OF MEETING
Special Meeting Of The Mayor And City Council And Joint Meeting With
The Park Board Of The City Of Wichita Falls, Texas, To Be Held At The
Public Library, Second Floor, Room 203, 600 11th Street, On Thursday,
December 7, 2006, Beginning At 1 :30 P.M.
City Council: Mayor Lanham Lyne, Councilors Jim Ginnings, Linda
Ammons, Dorothy Roberts-Burns, Rick Hatcher, Ray
Gonzalez, and Charles Elmore.
1 . Call to Order
2. Review And Update The Priorities In The Parks, Recreation And
Open Space Plan And The 5 Year Plan.
3. Adjourn
Wheelchair or handicapped accessibility to the meeting is possible through the
main entrance at 600 11th Street and lobby elevator to the second floor. Spanish
language interpreters, deaf interpreters, Braille copies or any other special needs
will be provided to any person requesting a special service with at least 24 hours
notice. Please call the City Clerk's Office at 761-7409.
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the above notice of meeting was posted on the bulletin board at
Memorial Auditorium, Wichita Falls, Texas on the day of
, 2006 at o'clock (a.m.)(p.m.).
City Clerk