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Park Board Minutes - 01/24/2002Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting January 24, 2002 Municipal Auditorium City Council Conference Room 1:35 p.m. Presiding: CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Date C) (-�, l -E),-)- By �`ii Time Gary Patrick/Chairperson Members Present: Gary Patrick, Kenneth Haney, Al Norris, Mark Howell, William Barnes, Matthew Bohlen, Steve Chaney and Elmer Emory. Members Absent: Barbara Green, Ed Godsey and Clark Waters. Staff Present: Jack Murphy, Glenn Jamison, Larry Nash and Genice Wilson City Council Representative: Johnny Burns CALL TO ORDER: The new members Steve Chaney and Elmer Emory were introduced to the board and each told a little about themselves. Lydia Torres, the City Clerk, had the new members stand and be sworn in. DEPARTMENTAL REPORT: We have completed the linear sidewalk on Holliday Creek between Eastside Drive and Scott Street. We have contracted for the construction of a compacted gravel trail in Jaycee Park supported by grant money from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. City Council approved the recommendation of staff and the Park Board for applying to the 4B Sales Tax Board with a request for $285,000 to complete the trail going under FM 2380 to Lake Wichita and $90,000 for excavation at Wood Park to support the MSU Sikes Lake Project. Tuesday January 29' these proposals will be put before the 4B Board. Mark Howell ask if it would be helpful if someone from the Park Board were to attend the Tuesday meeting? The meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 291h at the City Council Conference Room. Some additions to the trail along the Wichita River between O'Reilly and Williams Park have begun. These additions will eventually accommodate the Trail Tram. The Jaycee Park Hill will eventually be built up to a 50 -foot observation hill with a structure on top and a nice view of the lake. We are about % way through with planting 600 trees. We are putting 100 trees at Weeks Park Golf Course, 200 trees for the trails and 20 -25 trees will be planted downtown for the City's Downtown improvement effort at Indiana and Ohio Eighteen new trees will also be planted at the Transfer Station off Lawrence Road. Mark Howell asked if the trees at Lake Wichita were irrigated? Mr. Jack Murphy stated that yes they are irrigated along with most other locations. We will be proposing a new tree nursery be put in at Weeks Park north of the old Funland area, about 2 acres in the open space. This will be done as the tree nursery at Plum Lake is reduced. The Plum Lake site had slow tree growth rates. The Recreation Department is looking at another overnight camping trip for the 50 Plus Club, which is the original Senior Zone. They really enjoyed the last one and keep asking when they will have another such event. After the Departmental Report, the minutes from December 6, 2001 were put before the board. Mark Howell made the motion to accept the minutes and Al Norris seconded the motion. Approved unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: A. Discussion and recommendation for use of the former marina site off Lake Shore Drive for an off leash dog area and a dog training facility. Frank Haschke /President of the WF Dog Obedience Club and Dana Goff/Publicity Chair Person were present at he Park Board Meeting to speak for the Obedience Training Club of Wichita Falls. Dana Goff was introduced to the board and read a statement, in which the Obedience Training Club of Wichita Falls stated that in order to stop the negative media publicity generated from these discussions that their board of directors withdraws their entire proposal of December 6. The Dog Park Association of Wichita Falls representative Becky Hawkins was at the board meeting and stated that their association had proceeded to do all that the board had requested and were ready to share the facility. Mr. Patrick asked if the Association had proceeded on getting their non- profit status? The Association is reportedly continuing work on getting this status. They have the application filled out and will be sending it in. Gary Patrick asked if there were any comments or discussion. Al Norris stated that he didn't see how we could continue until the Dog Park Association put a copy of the 501 -C3 and by -laws in the hands of the Park Board. It was stated that the Park Board is already on record as approving the concept of a Dog Park and until we have the correct paper work in hand along with operating and maintenance procedures then this is as far as the board can go at this time. B. Discussion and recommendation on proposal by the Radio Control Club for a safety training requirement and additional ordinance for use at the facility in Jaycee Park. Jack Murphy went to the Radio Control Club meeting last Tuesday and he said the Club wanted more time to go over the rules and so they asked to withdraw their proposal until a later date. C. Discussion of development of the Lake Wichita Boat Ramp area. Jack Murphy said that the city property management office sent letters trying to get in touch with the owners of the lots the board has suggested be purchased for development of the area and that they finally received some response. Mr. Murphy said this is a positive sign and he is hoping a step forward to the city acquiring the property. There is a definite hold up on funding because Mr. Berzina has said that he wants to make sure that we have 4B support for the police /fire training facility and communications which are remaining items from the election. He wants to feel comfortable with getting these done before starting on new projects. Mr. Murphy said that the City Manager is in favor of the development of the Lake Wichita area and it could be a future step for 4B. As far as having the new gym put in Jaycee Park, a different location needs to be considered because of utility line issues at the site suggested by the Park Board. Hopefully a new site can be considered and matching funding for a grant proposal identified within the next 6 months. D. Discussion of locations for regional parks. From the Park Master Plan, a need for more land for regional parks was identified. Glenn Jamison, Terry Points, Pat Hoffman and Jack Murphy went out to check out an 80 -acre tract for sale from Seymour Hwy. to the Wichita River, just east of the Tanglewood area. Mr. Murphy told a little bit about the area and what a beautiful park it could make. NEW BUSINESS: A. Lydia Torres advised that members should call the chairperson if they believe they will be absent. This will ensure the absence will not count against the member's attendance record. This was discussed with the members and an alternative of calling 761 -7490 was given for notifying Genice if they could not make a meeting. B. Softball Complex rules of operation changes. Changes were made in Part II of the Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances, Par5ks & Recreation Article V, Softball Complex. These changes were discussed by the staff and members of the board. The Changes on page 4 and 6 concerning the times that a light fee would be a mandatory charge were voted on. Kenny Haney moved that the 5:30 time in all sections be left as is. Al Norris seconded the motion. Approved Motion was made by Bill Barnes to change months to March and April instead of April and May on page 4 and on page 6 add February and leave April and October as optional for coaches paying a light fee which is as it has been in the past. Seconded by Kenny Haney. Approved. OTHER BUSINESS: ADJOURNMENT: THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 4:00 P.M.