Park Board Minutes - 11/18/1999Memorial Auditorium
1:30 p.m.
Presiding:
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
City Council Representative:
Visitors:
CALL TO ORDER:
Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting
November 18, 1999
Gary Patrick/Chairperson
Gary Patrick, Al Norris, Barbara Green, Mark
Howell, Don Graham, Clark Waters and Kitty
Wilson.
Bob McBee, Bill Barnes, and Kenneth Haney.
Glenn Jamison, Terry Points and Genice Wilson
Dan Shine, absent
Reno Vassler /Southwinds Neighborhood Assoc.
Steve Seese /Planning Department
Gary Patrick called the meeting to order at 1:35. Mr. Patrick then introduced
Reno Vassler with the Southwinds Neighborhood Association to the board.
The Southwinds and Edgemere neighborhoods do not have access to the
trail that runs along Weeks from Midwestern Parkway to Southwest Parkway.
The Association would like to see a proposal addressed to put a bridge
across the Holiday Creek so these neighborhoods could also have use of this
trail. Several different possibilities were discussed. A motion to put this on a
future agenda and let Jack Murphy do some checking and give the board
some ideas on what if anything could be done. So moved by Al Norris and
seconded by Barbara Green. Approved unanimously.
The October 28`h minutes were put before the board and accepted. Al Norris
made the motion and second was by Barbara Green. None opposed.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT:
Since Jack Murphy was absent from the meeting, Gary Patrick made a
motion to admit the typed Departmental Report into the minutes. It was so
moved by Barbara Green and seconded by Don Graham. None opposed.
Al Norris had some questions about the irrigation problem. Terry Points
explained about the different nozzles that are going to put in and hopefully
will help the run off. Gary asked if there were any trees that could be planted
that didn't need very much water? Yes, there are and we do have several
planted throughout the city.
Martin Speedway, the bids came in way too high and it is now being
discussed by Jack Murphy, Peggy Gahagan and Legal. Costs are trying to
be cut so if at all possible this can go forward.
Kitty Wilson wanted to know how much the Recreation Department would
expect to get on the revenue if a rental fee were charged for reserving the
park pavilions. Glenn Jamison explained that we are doing a survey on that
subject right now and other cities get from $15.00 to $100.00 dollars a day for
their pavilions.
Gary Patrick wanted to know about the restrooms in the parks. Is there
anything we can do about getting them in shape? Terry explained that some
of the restrooms have old porcelain fixtures that we try to keep locked up
because these fixtures are broken easily. Hopefully, we will be able to put
different type fixtures in these restrooms that do not break so easy.
OLD BUSINESS:
a. Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan: An inventory of private facilities
was given to the board. Genice Wilson did the calling to several private
companies and facilities. A mailing was sent out to the churches.
b. Recreation Center progress. The renovations to the upstairs
Library/Recreation center have been approved and the first phase will
begin December 20th
c. The Lake Wichita boat ramp and parkland proposal: After the last meeting,
Gary Patrick and Jack Murphy met with the City Manager on this. We
need to help the City understand what the plans for these lots are. We
need a computer design or maybe a video imagining system so we can
bring our plans to life. Until we get the Master Plan in effect this is at a
standstill.
NEW BUSINESS:
a. Consider proposal to sell a parcel of Weeks Park on Weeks Park Lane
adjacent to Tiffany Apartments. Needs to be put on the ballot for city
council, but before doing so we need to make sure we have a full
inventory of disposable park land rather than doing it a piece at a time and
then put all the properties on the ballot at once.
OTHER BUSINESS:
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT
3:20 P.M. THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY,
JANUARY 27, 2000 IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM.
CITY OF WICHITA FALLS
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Park Board members
FROM: Jack Murphy, Director, Parks and Recreation Department
SUBJECT: Departmental Report
DATE: 18Nov99
• Acquisition of land for the CDBG linear sidewalk project is complete. The sidewalk
will connect O'Reilly Park with Williams Park along the Big Wichita River.
Advertisement for bids should go out in December.
Bids were too high for the Speedway/Martin Circle landscape project. Will be
working with the contractor to see if the cost can be reduced somehow and still
accomplish most of the desired landscape features.
Construction of the trail tram is on hold until repair work on the golf course is
concluded.
• Asphalt overlay work on Lucy Park trails is proceeding.
Looking for ways to add to the Plum Lake Kid Fish shore edging project with a
footing for seating. The edging walls were built too far and too high from the water.
An attachment for a foot rest will make fishing even better as one can sit in comfort
on the concrete walk
Traffic Division will install the new wiring for the lights to the practice
soccer /football field in January/February.
• Planning continuing on the two ornamental landscape structures on Harding St. and
McNeil at Kell. The damaged structure at Sheppard Main Gate will be reinstalled in a
couple of weeks.
• The Lake Wichita Boat Ramp docking pier elevation was inspected following the
suggestion by a citizen a ladder needs to be attached due to the height. Mark Howell
and Terry Points believe the present height is adequate as a lower height might create
potential for damage to the side of the boat by the pier.
• Monitoring the drought to anticipate irrigation restrictions that will be imposed.
Since median and park trees are so visible and irrigation runoff is difficult to control,
citizen complaints are expected. Benny Butler is experimenting with a different
irrigation head that puts out low volume of water over a long period. This may help
runoff on medians.
• Will hear in January from TXDOT if the City received an 80/20 grant for a trail from
the Lake Wichita spillway to the end of Fairway in Jaycee Park.
• The ISTEA trail in Weeks Park is proceeding well. It is planned by the contractor to
finish this section in Weeks Park before building the longer section from Southwest
Pkwy. to Old Lake Road.
Recreation Division Report
November 18, 1999
Athletics:
• Adult basketball leagues begin Monday at Barwise, Zundy, and McNiel Junior High Gyms,
with 37 teams.
• Recently completed leagues in Volleyball, Flag Football, Softball & youth Roller Hockey.
Christmas Activities:
• Santa's Mailbox - Nov. 29 - Dec. 17. Colorful mailbox set up at Fantasy of Lights Display.
No postage necessary. Letters sent to boys & girls from Santa if stamp is enclosed in letter.
• Santa's Discoveryland - Dec. 7, 6:30 - 9:00 PM, Museum & Art Center. $2 per child. Fun &
games. Hands on activities, film, crafts, a visit & treat from Santa. Assisted by Clown
Arounds. Teen Court volunteers, also. Parents go Christmas shopping for their kids.
• Adult Christmas Dance - Senior Zone, Dec. 9, 7:00 - 10:00 PM. Blue Country Band. $5 per
person. Recommended for age 50 & up. Refreshments, bingo, prizes.
• Lights of Christmas Excursion - In cooperation with Public Transportation. Dec. 13 & 15 for
ages 50 & over. Dec. 14 for all ages. Three City bus caravan departs the Blue Cross Blue
Shield parking lot at 7:00 PM. Tour goes through part of Sikes, Fountain Park, Tanglewood,
Morningside, Grant Street area, and stops at Memorial Auditorium for rest room break before
continuing through Downtown, Country Club, MSU Fantasy of Lights, Colonial Park, the
last half of Sikes, & returns to Blue Cross parking lot at 9:30 PM for hot apple cider. $2 per
person.
Breakfast with Santa - Huey School Cafeteria & Scotland Park grounds, Dec. 18. Ages 3 - 7.
$1 per child. Snack breakfast includes doughnuts, milk & juice. Games, singing, a candy
cane hunt, a visit with Santa plus a treat follow.
Miscellaneous:
• Applying for a Community Outdoor Outreach Program (COOP) Grant from Texas Parks &
Wildlife. Monetary range of the grant is from $5,000 - $30,000 per application and our
request will be approximately $20,000. Our program is entitled "The Great Outdoors" and
will target minority & low income youths, ages 7 - 16. Participants will experience overnight
camping, hiking, and fishing. They will experience & be instructed in the skills necessary for
outdoor camping; outdoor cooking, hiking, backpacking, awareness & identification of
natural surroundings (birds, trees, rocks, etc.) They will experience fishing & instruction in
baiting & casting. The proposal is to offer 4 overnight trips to State Park settings, with each
trip being offered to 50 participants. Grant money includes camping equipment, food,
transportation, fees for services, etc. Grant is a reimbursement process. Application deadline
is Dec. 1, with grants being awarded Feb. 1.
• Weeks Tennis Center was given a 400# capacity ice machine by some parents of the Center's
youth tennis players. The machine is about 2 years old and replaces the one previously
donated by the Tennis Association, which is no longer repairable.
• The staff is in the process of updating the automated information line.
• We are in the process of working on the new Recreation Goals for fiscal year 1999 - 2000.
Recreation Division Goals / Objectives
F1Y 1999 - 2000
• Obtain funding, using special revenue funds, to purchase a mobile stage.
• Develop programs & policies for mobile stage, if approved.
• Develop and extend programming to maximize the use of the renovated Recreation
Center.
• Attract and host amateur athletic, state and regional tournaments to the City.
• Develop an amateur athletic advisory committee of local players /coaches to serve as
liaison between the athletic teams and the athletic program coordinator.
• Update and improve ball park food concession operations.
• Obtain funding, using special revenue funds, to' purchase computer software for
program registration, scheduling and reservations.
• Alter recreation programs to better meet the needs and requests of the public, while
maintaining the status quo budget.
• Increase attendance at our newest indoor, summer day camp, Camp Fit `n' Fun.
• Develop a large invitational softball tournament, using outside sponsorship, offering
attractive amenities, in order to attract both local and out of town participants.
• Develop better promotions of programs, events & facilities, using alternate means of
publicity.
• Explore the idea of making park pavilion revenue producers by charging a rental fee
for reservations.
• Develop a recreation (picnic) package of equipment, available to the public for rental
in City parks.
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