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Park Board Minutes - 08/23/2001Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting August 23, 2001 Municipal Auditorium City Council Conference Room 1:50 P.M. Presiding: Gary Patrick/Chairperson r RECEIVED IN CITY CLERK'S OFFICE_ Date og-30-bl —. Time L BY Members Present: Gary Patrick, Clark Waters, Al Norris, Mark Howell, Kenneth Haney and Barbara Green. Members Absent: Bob McBee, Ed Godsey, William Barnes, Linda Bates and Matthew Bohlen. Staff Present: Jack Murphy, Glenn Jamison and Genice Wilson City Council Representative: Johnny Burns (absent) DEPARTMENTAL REPORT: Jack Murphy received an invitation from Burkburnett to attend the dedication of their new park on October 6`h. It is a million - dollar project; to be completed with a grant received from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Their park improvements include a ball field, walking trail, pond and an outdoor theater. It would be nice if some of the Park Board members could attend this dedication and check out this outdoor theater, since the theater is one of our requests in the Master Plan. We are almost finished with the construction of a safety trail in Expressway Village Park. This will connect Rhome Drive through Expressway Village Park to Rockhill. This will allow children to walk from Rhome Drive through Expressway Village Park to Rockhill then over to Missile Road. We are continuing with some sidewalk amendments on the linear sidewalk between O'Reilly Park and Williams Park. We have a current contract for - $13,000 to take the sharp turns and round them off so that eventually it will be a nicer for the public. Regarding the budget, we came through pretty well unscathed. We didn't get any above the current request, but there was no reduction. We did gain more responsibility for the Vacant Lot Weed Mowing program and along with this we received a couple new positions. We have a second contract for the Lucy Park Pond. The first contract we had did not work out. This is for a water well to be put in Lucy Park in order to fill the Pond with well water instead of city drinking water. Recreation ha a new program starting next month called Wood Carving. It will be sharing the room with our Senior Zone Crafts. Hopefully this will go well. Mr. Patrick asked about the trail between Eastside Drive and Scott Street. Mr. Murphy said that it is a little behind schedule, but we are still working on it and it should be finished in a month or two. Mr. Howell wanted to know about the project going across the spillway at Jaycee Park. Mr. Murphy said they are pouring concrete and it is going well. CALL TO ORDER: The minutes from June 28, 2001 were put before the board. Mark Howell made the motion to accept the minutes and Al Norris seconded the motion. Approved unanimously. We had several groups present to make requests and the Mr. Gary Patrick asked that these groups go first. NEW BUSINESS: A. Request by Southside Girls Club for lease of additional parkland for construction of another gymnasium and parking lot off Armory Road. Jim Hughes and Ann Rousey were present to present this request. The Southside Girls Club has experienced a growth in basketball and volleyball participation and in order to accommodate this growth, requested that another gymnasium be built off Armory Road. Motion was made by Kenneth Haney to let Jack Murphy meet with the Southside Girls Club and work out the details. Barbara Green seconded the motion and all approved. E. Presentation by Judith McGinnis for a Lucy Park support group. Judith requested approval of enlisting neighborhood and park users in support of improving and sustaining park facilities. If successful, this group could serve as a template for support groups at other city parks. Mark Howell made the motion to support the concept of a resolution from the Parks Department to be presented to the City Council along with a presentation from Judith McGinnis. The Park Board requests the concept of a park support group called the Friends of Lucy Park. Al Norris seconded. Approved unanimously. The Friends of Lucy Park objectives are enclosed with minutes. C. Presentation by Eamon Riley for an off -leash dog facility in a City park. The Wichita Falls Dog Club Association is requesting that a portion of a city park be turned into a dog park. This would be where dog owners could take their dogs and let them run loose without a leash. The Dog Club Association would be responsible for maintenance of this park. Mr. Riley recommended a portion of Hamilton or Kiwanis Park be considered for the Dog Park. Mr. Patrick requested that the Parks Department do a little research for the Park Board and check with other cities that have this type of park. The Board will place this on the next Park Board meeting agenda and it will be discussed in length at that time. B. Request by City Council for recommendation on proposal to prohibit prepared food and the cooking of food on the grounds of the Softball Complex. There was not enough time to discuss this and it will be put on next agenda. D. Discussion of proposal to end maintenance of cul -de -sac median landscapes. There was not enough time to discuss this and it will be put on next agenda. OLD BUSINESS: A. Motorized vehicles on trails proposal. The City has received a letter back from the Texas Department of Transportation that states that they do not allow motorized vehicles on sections of trails that are funded with Federal Highway funds. A copy of this letter had been requested and copies were made for the board. The Parks and Recreation's tram will not be allowed on trails funded by this program either. Lengthy discussions and several recommendations were made on this subject, but no agreement was forthcoming. Options: 1. The city makes the rental of permitted vehicles available to the public. 2. Make inspection stickers available. 3. Set aside a part of a park for them to use. A Park Board sub - committee will meet on this and prepare a proposal for presentation at the September Park Board meeting. B. Gymnasium construction project (no time to discuss). C. Jaycee Park fill dirt from Sikes Lake project (no time to discuss). OTHER BUSINESS: ADJOURNMENT: THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 4:55 P.M. Resolution of the Park Board August 23, 2001 Whereas, it is desirable to maintain and improve parks for the continued enjoyment and benefit of the citizens of Wichita Falls; and, Whereas, City financial resources are scarce and difficult to fund to the levels desired for maintenance and improvement; and, Whereas, the City encourages direct citizen support of park maintenance and improvement. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Wichita Falls Park Board that the City Council is hereby encouraged to support this and other organized citizen efforts to promote the maintenance and improvement of the parks of Wichita Falls. Gary Patrick, Chairperson Wichita Falls Park Board