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Park Board Minutes - 12/05/2002Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting December 5, 2002 Municipal Auditorium City Council Conference Room 1:35 p.m. Presiding: Gary Patrick/Chairperson CITY CLERK'S OFFICEy� Date /� V - I e ` a By Time Members Present: Gary Patrick, Al Norris, Mark Howell, Matthew Bohlen, William Barnes, Ed Godsey, Kenny Haney, Elmer Emory and Steve Chaney. Members Absent: Staff Present: City Council Representative: CALL TO ORDER: Clark Waters. Jack Murphy and Genice Wilson Johnny Burns Meeting was called to order at 1:35 p.m. Mr. Patrick moved the New Business section to the top of the Agenda in order to accommodate our visitors. NEW BUSINESS: A. Presentation by Wild Bird Rescue to lease property on Shoreline Drive off Lake Wichita at the old boat club facility for bird rehabilitation. John Hirschi and Kim Payne of Wild Bird Rescue were introduced to the board. They brought before the Park Board an informal proposal to lease property on Shoreline Drive off Lake Wichita. The Wild Bird Rescue board is looking at this particular property because it backs up to the lake and this would help them to release waterfowl at Lake Wichita. At present these birds are being sent to Lubbock or Hutchins, Texas. These cities have the release facilities that we currently do not have. There is a small building sitting on the property that Wild Bird Rescue would like to improve. They want to add on and build about a 1500 square foot building utilizing the existing building sitting on the property. Also about a dozen outdoor aviaries would be built to help feed and prepare the birds for release. They would like to keep the property as wild as possible. Native plants and shrubs would be planted to protect the outdoor aviaries from the wind, rain, cold and heat of summer. They would also like to partnership with the city and use a city Pontoon Boat for bird watching excursions on Lake Wichita. Their organization would like to come back to the next board meeting with a more formal proposal. At this time they are trying to work out some zoning issues with the Planning and Zoning Board. The situation that the Wild Bird Rescue has at this time is they need to find a permanent home and because this property is inside the City it would help them recruit volunteers and perpetuate some fund raising. Mark Howell ask if there would be a problem with public access since there is an existing and functioning boat ramp there. Kim Payne said there would be no problem since they will be fencing off the property on three sides and other than the Pontoon Boat excursion, they would have very little public contact. Jack Murphy let the board know that there are two Pontoons out at Lake Arrowhead that were built for the City's use. One is too large and too heavy but the other could be transported and refurbished for use at Lake Wichita. Jack supports the proposal from the Wild Bird Rescue group and thinks it could be a good opportunity for the City. Kenny asked what kind of time frame we are looking at and when the group needs to get started. Kim noted a need to start as soon as possible in order to have everything ready for the bird season, which starts in March. Long -term goals to benefit the public are to return our wildlife birds back to this area. Kenny Haney made the motion that Park Board hereby supports the concept of the Wild Bird Rescue facility, subject to approval of codes and ordinances. Matthew Bohlen seconded the motion and it was approved. CALL TO ORDER CONTINUED: The minutes of October 24 meeting were put before the board. A motion was made by William Barnes to approve the minutes and Al Norris seconded the motion. Approved unanimously. DEPARTMENTAL REPORT: The Holliday Creek connector trail contract has been awarded to Young Construction out of Vernon. We have 180 working days on the project as awarded two council meetings ago. This connector will make two three -mile trails one six - mile trail system. The Lake Wichita Park Hill project is complete for now with more dirt to come in April or May from the water plant reconstruction. Tree planting time has come and we have about 700 or 800 trees coming out of the nurseries. We have about 300 committed for replacement of dead trees. Next we will be planting trees on the Kell project between Kemp and Fairway. TXDOT just informed us that will be able to plant trees now rather than wait for the next growing season. We are also committed to the downtown beautification project. We will plant some at Ohio and Austin from the Wichita River to the Recreation Center. The rest go into Weeks Park Golf Course. OLD BUSINESS: A. Discussion of proposed ordinance revision to allow issuance of permit for vehicles on parkland, signs, and alcoholic beverages. Jack handed out copies of the Park Ordinances Frequently Waived. Mr. Patrick asked each member to read and study these ordinances and it would be discussed in full at the next meeting in January. B. Review of plan for development of area northeast of Lake Wichita Boat Ramp. Copies of a map of the proposed plan were passed out. Two main developments of the area after the houses have been removed would be a restaurant or shelter with a view and a larger shelter off a semi - circle closer to the existing parking lot and the boat ramp. There would be areas of tree masses and other landscaping. This project scored high on our 10 -year Master Plan. There are a lot of things that need to happen to make it a reality though. The Board feels this would be a tremendous asset for the City. The Gymnasium is still priority one on our 10 -year plan. Mr. Patrick wants this to be ranked up there with the gym. The board needs to keep this project in front of them and fresh on the mind. We do not need to let it disappear. Perhaps the gym could go in the Lake Wichita area. OTHER BUSINESS: Al Norris and Mark Howell will bring nominations for Park Board Chairperson, vice - chairperson and secretary to the next meeting and it will be voted on then. We have a new appointee for the Park Board and his name is Brett Lee. He will be replacing Barbara Green. If any of the members knows of anyone who would wish to be on the Park Board, please let them know that we need applicants. ADJOURNMENT: THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:30 p.m.