Park Board Minutes - 06/27/2002Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting
June 27, 2002
Municipal Auditorium
City Council Conference Room
1:30 p.m.
Presiding: Gary Patrick/Chairperson
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
City Council Representative:
CALL TO ORDER:
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Gary Patrick, William Barnes, Al Norris, Mark Howell,
and Clark Waters.
Barbara Green, Kenneth Haney, Steve Chaney,
Matthew Bohlen, Ed Godsey and Elmer Emory.
Jack Murphy and Lisa Jensen
Johnny Burns (absent)
Meeting was called to order. Only five board members were present so there was
not a quorum. The minutes of May 23, 2002 was put before the board. Motion was
made by Mark Howell to approve the minutes and seconded by William Barnes.
Approved unanimously.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT:
Wood Memorial Park dredging will start Monday, July 1. This Park is located off of
Maplewood going into the Sikes Lake area.
Landscape of US 287 Pond: Mr. Murphy and the City representatives will be
meeting with TXDOT to discuss the sign to be placed at the south entrance to the
City.
New Tree Nursery in Lucy Park: We have about 2,000 seedlings planted. It should
hold about 2,500 trees. Mark Howell asked as the tree nursery in Lucy expands,
could the one at Plum Lake be reduced? Mr. Murphy said, "No, we will go with the
trees that will grow there." What we have done is eliminated the one in Kiwanis
Park instead.
A new pond in South Weeks Park has been excavated by the Northwest Texas
Field and Stream private sportsman's club and the plans are for it to be filled with
rainwater, not City water like the old one currently is. The board discussed the
possibility of taking down signs at this park that the Field and Stream club put up
several years ago without city permission. Mr. Murphy responded that the
political will was lacking to remove the signs at this time.
The Lake Wichita Park gravel trail is now completed. This is a 1.5 -mile gravel trail
in Lake Wichita Park. This should be the best jogging trail in the City of Wichita
Falls. The Lake Wichita Park hill is at about 48 feet high now and may go as high
as 70 feet. We have several plans for this site and hopefully they will pan out.
Mr. Patrick wanted to know if it would be possible to make a mountain bike trail
somewhere. Several areas were discussed as possibilities for having a bike trail
where erosion would be least likely.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Discussion of a petition to acquire an 80 -acre site for a large urban park.
We are still looking for the fiscal resources to purchase this property. The
council is meeting with a consultant on the communication system
upgrade which is one of the big projects that 46 money is being used for
along with the police /fire training facility. The Burns property site would be
a very unique place for a regional park and we would hate to lose the
opportunity to purchase it. A tour of the property was set for Wednesday
morning.
B. Discussion and recommendation on proposed change to alcoholic
beverage possession and consumption at the Lucy Park Log Cabin.
There was a discussion on placing a change to consume alcoholic
beverages within so many feet of the cabin fence. It was suggested, since
there was not a quorum at this meeting, to move this to next meeting.
C. Boat ramp area property acquisition status.
Pat Hoffman informed Jack Murphy that there are two areas of four
properties each and there is no active response from owners for one
area. The owner she has been talking to on the other set of lots is
asking $25,000 dollars for the property that is on the tax rolls for
only $3,000.
D. Review of proposed wording for a plaque regarding the Junior
Chamber of Commerce improvement efforts in Lake Wichita Park
(formerly Jaycee Park). Several suggestions were discussed and
Mr. Murphy will reword the plaque text to reflect the original name of
Lake Wichita Park.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Request by Howmet Company for waivers of Sec. 82 -58, Sec 82 -63, and Sec
82 -68 for permission to drive upon the grass, post signs, and possess and
consume alcoholic beverages during a private event in Lake Wichita Park,
September 14, 2002. This being a private event, all agreed that no alcoholic
beverage should be permitted at this park. Mr. Murphy will suggest to them
to use Weeks Park (old Funland location) where alcoholic beverages are
already permitted or maybe going to the MPEC.
B. Discussion of Skate Park.
The Information Guide to create a City or private Skate Park was handed
out. Mr. Patrick suggested developing a committee for Skate Park
proponents. These citizens would do the work and raise the money and
bring plans before the Park Board and then the Council.
C. Discussion of July meeting cancellation. All agreed that there would be no
meeting in July unless there is enough important business to warrant it.
OTHER BUSINESS:
ADJOURNMENT:
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 4:00 P.M.