Park Board Minutes - 01/28/1998Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting
January 28, 1998
Memorial Auditorium
2:00 p.m.
Presiding: Gary Patrick/Chairperson
Members Present: Gary Patrick, Bill Barnes, Al Norris,
Kenneth Haney, Bob McBee,
Mark Howell, Donald Graham, Barbara Green
and Clark Waters
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
City Council Representative:
CALL TO ORDER:
Kitty Wilson, David Holder
Donna Clemons and Jack Murphy
Dan Shine
Gary Patrick introduced the newest Park Board member, Bill Barnes. Mr. Barnes
stated his primary interest in the parks involved the need for trails and parks in
the City.
The December minutes were read and accepted. The motion for acceptance of
the minutes was made by Mark Howell and seconded by Donald Graham. The
motion was adopted by all members in attendance.
The members of the nominating committee (Mark Howell & Al Norris) presented
to the Board the slate of officers: Gary Patrick - Chairman, Al Norris - Vice -
chairman and Mark Howell - Secretary.
Bob McBee asked if there was a need to submit the names to the Council, if not
he moved to accept all the nominated officers by acclamation. The motion was
adopted by all members in attendance.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT:
1. Tree planting - Parks Maintenance is planting about 900 trees.
2. The approved playgrounds to be installed from last year are being
completed.
3. Hoping to proceed with Phase II of ISTEA which has been scaled back
because of increased funding.
4. Roselawn Park playground is complete and has been well accepted.
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OLD BUSINESS:
A. Lake Wichita Boat Ramp - Board requests the City to acquire 2 vacant lots.
Piling removal specifications are being considered. If the pilings are not
removed they would interfere with operations of the boat ramp. The boat
ramp budget is $200,000 and the Board is recommending the City Council
appropriate the City's share of $50,000.
B. The Board also considered the sale of a small portion of East Lynwood
Park and this will probably be considered by City Council in March. The
process of selling park land and under - utilized pieces of park land are to
be considered. Will table and interested Board members will tour the park
to see where this land is exactly located.
C. Roller Hockey - The Sutherland building sale will close 1- 29 -99. Roller
hockey games for the current session are approved at Skate Whirl.
D. Jefferson Park - The City is negotiating with the School district. Rider
student parking has created a traffic problem. The proposal is to trade the
Jefferson Park land for school district land. The School Board wanted to
trade Lion's Park to the City for Jefferson Park. However, these parks are
not of equal value. The school requests acquisition of Jefferson Park in
it's entirety. Mr. Patrick commented the park should stay with Parks, if at
a later date the school won't use the park as an athletic field. The Park
Board would like to keep the park area and have a strip of land accessing
the road by Jefferson Elementary unless other suitable arrangements can
be made.
E. 2nd Floor Library Improvements - The Board recommended to ask
the 4B Board to revisit the 2 "d Floor issue. Motion to accept as presented
and not read. Motion was made by Al Norris and seconded by David
Holder.
RESOLUTION The Park Board requests the City Manager and City
Council represent to the 4B Board the proposed 2nd floor library
improvements and to reconsider the $400,000 funding request. Mark
Howell made the motion and it was seconded by Barbara Green. The
motion was adopted by all members in attendance with the exception of
Clark Waters who would like as a long range goal to see a new
recreation center built.
F. Concerning field lights at Jaycee Park on the soccer and football
fields: Traffic has not done any work on the lights, they do not work.
There is no money budgeted to improve the light's wiring or illumination.
The Board had representatives from the teams using the facility, request
that the lights be improved. There is a possible wiring problem. The
estimate to repair the lights is $10,000.
NEW BUSINESS:
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NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion of a need for an informal Park Board Plan - Board might
consider setting aside 2 - 3 hours to go through the list of projects
recommended in the past to see exactly what they are and if there are any
changes. The Board is looking for a committee to create a master plan (to
identify the advantages to be created by having a 5 -year plan). Volunteers
for this committee are: Al Norris, Mark Howell, Clark Waters, Bill Barnes,
Gary Patrick, Barbara Green, Donald Graham and Kenny Haney.
UPCOMING MEETINGS: Texas Trails Symposium - Grapevine, February 4 - 6,
1999 and the Southwest Park & Recreation Training Institute in Lake Texoma
State Park Lodge - February 6 -10.
A citizen is going to ask the 413 Board for $12,000 - $15,000 for a disc golf course
in Jaycee Park. Jack Murphy will invite Steve Kundert to make his disc golf
presentation to the Board at the next meeting. Dan Shine commented that
citizens should be steered to the Park Board before doing to the 413 Board for
funding for Parks related projects.
There is a request for new updated playground equipment in Hursh Park.
Bob Seabury sent a letter to the Board concerning holding outdoor concerts — at
a different location on the river. The Board would like to revisit this, but at this
time, there is no money in the budget.
PARK ADVOCATES:
Al Norris - Senior Zone - a recent senior's exercise class had 40 members
participating.
Barbara Green - In Wood Park the stream inlets need to be cleaned.
Ducks are using the pond. The park could use some benches and grills.
Lincoln Park - there is limited playground equipment and no water
fountain. Spudder needs picnic tables. It was clean and there was no
visible trash. Since these parks are in areas to be used by small kids they
need to have equipment that improves their imagination and builds
physical coordination.
Mark Howell - has had calls for dead and dying fish in the Williams Park
pond. The city Park staff had added too much chlorinated city water at a
time. Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. is willing to measure future chlorine
levels and add city water as needed.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT
4:40 P.M. THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY,.
FEBRUARY 25, 1998 IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM.
RECEIVED IN
CIT CLERK'S OFFICE
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