Park Board Minutes - 06/26/2003RECEIVED IN
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting
June 26, 2003 Date
By � Time
Municipal Auditorium
City Council Conference Room
1:48 p.m.
Presiding: Gary Patrick/Chairperson
Members Present: Gary Patrick, Al Norris, Mark Howell, William Barnes,
Brett Lee and Walter Tyndale,.
Members Absent: Kenny Haney, Elmer Emory, Matthew Bohlen and
Steve Chaney
Staff Present: Jack Murphy, Glenn Jamison and Genice Wilson
City Council Representative: Johnny Burns
CALL TO ORDER:
Meeting was called to order at 1:48 p.m. The minutes of May 22nd were put before
the board. Mark Howell made the motion to accept the minutes and William
Barnes seconded the motion. Approved unanimously.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT:
• Holliday Creek Trail under FM 2380 bridge. There have been some problems
occurring and this project looks like it is going beyond the deadline. We are
estimating maybe two more months.
• Lucy Park Pond edging repair. This project is a little behind schedule but it is
coming along.
• Wood Memorial Park Pond edging is complete on the north side. We are trying
to come up with funding to complete the south shore so that we can put in a
trail that will tie into MSU's trail that they are building.
• Coliseum and parking lots landscape. We have spent a lot of effort in locating
the 21 conduits that are under the various paved areas to connect the
irrigation system. We have a $50,000 working budget for this project.
• CDBG Projects:
1. Lamar Park shelter and restroom has been ordered. It is the largest
shelter we have done in a long time. This is replacing a shelter that was
being vandalized. The restrooms will be replaced with a plate steel
restroom. If this restroom works we hope to have smaller units placed
along the trail where there are no restrooms.
2. Wichita River Linear Park Shelter is coming along.
3. Williams Park shelter relocation and restroom. This restroom will be
one of the plate steel restrooms. The shelter relocation is coming along
well.
4. Williams Park drainage and access walk. The drainage project is
complete, we are going to be expanding it to add an eight foot central
pilot drain that would double as an access walk to encourage
neighborhood residence to use the park.
5. Scotland Park land acquisition and shelter is on target. We have four
lots that we are hoping to acquire. This has to be negotiated. If there
are any unwilling to sell it would stop the project. On one of the sites
we are going to build a shelter.
Summer Recreation programs are in progress and are going well they continue
to expand. We have added a new pool table and a ping pong table to the 50 +
Zone.
Summer concerts in Lucy Park. Every Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. Mr.
Patrick wanted to know where we stand on having the concerts at the hill in
Lake Wichita Park. We are still waiting on more dirt and then the landscaping
needs to be completed. We will have concerts there someday.
Mark asks if we have done anything to address the shoreline erosion there at
the lake.
Capital Projects Planning depends on funding. Maybe within the next half year
we will start seeing some funding available for Recreation Projects.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Request by Wild Bird Rescue for amendment to their lease that would expand
the boundary to include the balance of land to the east, which is currently
available to the public for use of the old boat ramp.
Kimberly Payne gave a presentation to the board requesting additional
property for the Wild Bird Rescue. The school district will be desposing of
some of their portable buildings and the Wild Bird Rescue had the
opportunity to receive one of these buildings and need additional land to
put it on. This will be their first Wildlife building. This building will be used
to give tours to approximately 15 classrooms of children a year.
The Wild Bird Rescue is not allowed to show their birds to the public and in
getting around this in order to bring class rooms in to see the facility the
Wild Bird Rescue will be placing a corridor along the building so the facility
can be seen without disturbing the birds. The Wild Bird Rescue also talked
to the school district about a second building that they will use as an
educational building.
They are also hoping to increase their aviaries with the additional land.
Mark Howell asks if they had the extra space would the public be denied
access to the lake through that property. Kimberly said yes that access
would be denied.
This being public property denial of access is going to cause a problem.
There was a long discussion on public access and denial of access.
Walter Tyndale made the motion to accept the presentation as given and
the package to review. The board will do some site visits and discuss it at
the next meeting. Brett Lee seconded the motion. Approved unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Proposal by Jan Spears regarding construction of a decorative bridge over the
pond in Martin Plaza Park. Jan Spears was not at the meeting. Mr. Patrick had
talked with her and she wanted to discuss funding. She will be invited back
next meeting.
B. Discussion of pier on Lake Wichita.
Walter Tyndale brought an estimate of cost and design of a pier to be put on
Lake Wichita. This was discussed at length and all agreed that it would be a
great asset to the lake. Mark Howell made the motion to make a
recommendation to the City Manager to seriously consider this project as part
of our 5 year plan involving the Lake Wichita development and look favorably
on all three phases. William Barnes seconded the motion and it was approved
unanimously.
C. Discussion of a skate park in a City park.
Glenn Jamison suggested the little airplane circle in Lake Wichita Park, but as
deep in the ground as this skate ramp will be buried some members thought
this park would be below water level and not suitable. Weeks Park was
another suggestion. It was discussed and the location was a big plus. It was
suggested to put some further thought to the matter and bring it to the next
board meeting.
OTHER:
Mr. Patrick read a letter from Matthew Bohlen resigning from the Park Board.
Mr. Bohlen received and assignment to Travis AFB and he will be moving.
We will miss him.
ADJOURNMENT:
THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:10 p.m.