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Park Board Minutes - 08/26/1999Memori al' Auditorium - -- 2:00 p.m. Presiding: Time IWichita Falls Park Board Meeting August 26, 1999 Gary Patrick/Chairperson Members Present: Gary Patrick, Al Norris, Bill Bames, Don Graham, Kenneth Haney, Kitty Wilson, Bob McBee, Clark Waters, Barbara Green and Mark Howell Members Absent: None Staff Present: Donna Clemons and Jack Murphy City Council Representative: Dan Shine, absent Visitors: Kathy Zolo, Times Record News CALL TO ORDER: The July 22nd minutes were read and accepted with two corrections. Mark Howell made the motion which was seconded by Bob McBee. None opposed. DEPARTMENTAL REPORT: Jack Murphy presented a video of various sites including the Harding & Rosewood intersection where an 18 foot tall clock tower will be erected covering the traffic box. The Weed and Seed program had requested some improvements to this area. Next year's budget will include funding for another traffic cabinet. CDBG Linear Sidewalk at River Road and Williams Park trail is already cut through the woods. The trail will cross at River Road. Planning for the Plum Lake north shoreline improvement is complete. The city has also received a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife to complete similar work on the south shoreline of Plum Lake. Plans for Expressway Village Park include digging the pond deeper to enhance the park and to make it more attractive. A floating fountain would help provide more oxygen to decrease the algae content. The new Scotland Park shelter built this summer was funded by CDBG funds. At Lake Wichita, the lake remains full thanks to Council action to divert water from Lake Diversion through the irrigation canal system. The boat ramp is near completion. Jack Murphy has contacted the owners of the two lots adjacent to the boat ramp parking area concerning possible acquisition. 1 The TRAM will operate on the linear sidewalk. The coach will have four rows of seats. It should be ready for use this fall. OLD BUSINESS: A. Long Term Master Plan - Made minor changes from last Park Board meeting. Ready for City Council barring any last minute changes. Bob McBee made the motion to adopt the LTMP and submit it to City Manager and City Council for their review and consideration. The motion was 2 "d by Mark Howell. All were in favor of the motion. None opposed. B. Improvements to the second floor of the Library: repairs are to begin soon. Facility needs to meet code standards to reach maximum use. C. Budget - FY 1999 -2000 - I" hearing is Tuesday. New things recreation has asked for in the new budget include 1) outdoor mobile stage, 2) linear sidewalk (trail) by the 1-44 bridge by the Falls and a new bridge (10 feet wide) at the Falls to be wider & heavier to accommodate more weight. 3) Maintenance equipment. Discussed the budget request for repairing the lighting and irrigation on the JayCee Park practice fields. There are fields that need to be irrigated and maintained to keep children from being injured. Is it practical to request money to repair lights on the field if there is an irrigation system in place that is not functioning? There is a need for all groups to work together on utilizing the community facility for the use of every one. What all is needed to get the Jaycee fields up to code /standards for maximum use for soccer and football? These fields need to be maintained on a continuous. Jack Murphy will check on the status of these fields such as irrigation, lights etc. by the next meeting. At the next meeting, contact a representative from the soccer association to come to the Park Board and share for about 10 - 15 minutes their ideas and goals. Parks are important to all and we want them to be used for maximum benefit. Kenny Haney made this motion which was seconded by Bob McBee. NEW BUSINESS: Randy Holden, new Tennis Professional at Weeks Park Tennis Center was introduced to the Park Board by Glenn Jamison. There will be a news conference set tentatively August 27, at 3:00 p.m. A. Request by the Wichita Falls Radio Control Club for a waiver to permit vehicles on the grass. This event is not open to the public. Al Norris made motion to allow waiver, Barbara Green seconded, and it was approved. B. Proposal to landscape the Kell and US 287/82 intersection after overhead freeway is completed - Bob McBee made a motion to direct Jack Murphy to develop a proposal for landscaping the Kell -US 287/82 intersection 2 recognizing that TX DOT needs to transfer or lease land to the city first. The motion was seconded by Mark Howell and approved by the Board. PARK ADVOCATES: Will redistribute the parks among the advocates. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 4:00 P.M. THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 1999 IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM. M August 1999 REGEIVED IN — 9 CITY u_=r. S OFDFI,„ E Gate LASl'cl I - - -- - - - -- RV Long Term Master Plan It is the belief of the Wichita Falls Parks and Recreation Board that'a Long Term Master Plant would be to the benefit of the citizens of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas. Some of the reasons for a Long Term Master Plan are as follows: 1. Helps the city identify current and fimue needs for parks, open space, and recreation facilities 2. Establishes priorities for the needs that have been identified in the master plan 3. Allows the city government to properly plan and budget for these needs 4. Enhances the ability of the city to secure grants from the various grant programs that are available to help fund these needs Some of the benefits of a Long Term Master Plan are as follows: 1. Enhances the duality of life for this city by having properly planned and adequate facilities throughout the city 2. Improves the "MarketabUity" of Wichita Falls as we strive to make our city attractive to the decision makers when determining where to locate their businesses and industries 3. Provides a vision that can become a focus for financial support from individuals, businesses, and foundations Two of the documents that were useful to the board in this process were Lake Wichita Alive, The Report and Recommendations of the Lake Wichita Study Task Force and Procedural Guide, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Recreation & Parks Account Program. While the Wichita Falls Parks and Recreation Board recognize that a Plan of this magnitude requires considerable citizen input, as well as extensive city staff work, we have included out preliminary recommendations that should address both present and future needs and cover a minimum period of five years. - Develop the recreation facilities that are currently located on the second floor of the library. These facilities are currently being used by numerous citizens and especially so by senior citizens. The area involved is in bad physical shape, out of code, and often not configured to allow proper use of the space. Additionally, there would be a room that would be jointly used by the recreation department and the library. The Board believes that a new city -wide recreational center will be eventually required to fulfill current and additional needs as the city continues to develop. - Develop a Lake Wichita Park between the site of the new boat ramp and the dam. This area would provide various activities that are associated with a lake park for our citizens and yet be located within the city limits only a mile or two from the commercial heart of the city. The city would have to acquire the land that it does not already own and develop the area with facilities such as a pavilion, boardwalk/fishing pier, restroom facilities as well as beautification of the area. - Identify a city park, other than Lucy, for future major enhancements such as an outdoor amphitheater, arboretum, nature center, extensive recreational facilities, etc. Lucy Park, being in the flood plain, does not allow this type of development. This "Super Park" should be readily accessible to all areas of the city and have adequate parking. A master plan should be created for this park to provide for an orderly development. - Review each park use for possible enhancement, downsizing, or disposal. Adopt a policy to maintain park facilities in quality condition. Facilities, such as restrooms, fountains, recreational and picnic facilities should be well maintained or eliminated. A study should be conducted to compare the city's park and recreation inventory against published norms for cities our size as well as against other cities in Texas that are of comparable size. The city needs to identify critical areas in and around the city for future parkland acquisition as the city continues to expand. - Continue the goal of completing a trail system around the city. Other areas that had support were: - programs that would identify appropriate settings throughout the city for installation of fountains, statuary or enhanced landscaping that would encourage funding from citizens, organizations and businesses - cooperation with MSU in dredging Sikes Lake -other improvements to Lake Wichita such as reworking the boat launch area at the old Yacht Club and enhancing the beach area in Jaycee Park - - -other programs that would encourage the citizens to adopt parks, medians or purchase trees for planting in parks or medians to commemorate or as a memorial for someone or some event We should encourage `ownership" by our citizens and citizen groups of the parks and medians because only through an involved citizenry can we make Wichita Falls as livable as possible. There are three approaches in determining parks and recreation needs. They are Demand - Based which relies on information gathered from usage rates and surveys; Standard - Based which relies on established standards; and Resource -Based which examines the resources of the area such as lakes, rivers, hills, forests and defines how these resources can be used. The Long Term Master Plan should address both present and future needs and cover a minimum period of five years. The plan should also be reviewed and revised, if necessary, yearly. However, flexibility should be maintained that would allow priorities to quickly change should unique opportunities unfold. Should the City of Wichita Falls choose to proceed on this Plan, the Parks and Recreation Board stand ready to assist as appropriate.