Park Board Minutes - 06/26/2014 RECEIVED IN
Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
June 26, 2014 DATE: 9-
W.F. Recreation Center BY:_ IME:
Room 202, 60011th Street
1:30 p.m.
Presiding: Penny Miller/Chairperson
Members Present: Penny Miller, Stephen Garner, John Fritzsch, Jennica
Lambert, Nancy Howell and Sharon Roach
Members Absent: John Hirschi, Ben Filer, Walter Lambert, Colby Huffman
and James Croxson
Staff Present: Jack Murphy and Genice Wilson
City Council Representative: Tom Quintero (absent)
CALL TO ORDER:
Penny Miller called the meeting to order at 1:30 pm. The minutes of June 26th, 2014 were put
before the board. John Fritzsch made the motion to approve the minutes and Stephen
Garner seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT:
1. Amy McKim, Recreation Program Coordinator, resigned Tuesday to accept a position
with Helen Farabee MHMR. Genice Wilson and Clint Strong in the Recreation office
have given notice of retirement December 31St.
2. 50 Plus Zone events for the week included Blood Pressure Clinic, AARP Lunch
Meeting and Live Band Dance.
3. Recreation staff completed CPR/AED/First Aid recertification class this week.
4. Sports Complex will be hosting the AMMO Bowl Softball Tournament this weekend.
Teams from ten different military basses will be competing in this adult softball
tournament.
5. Maple wood Drive median tree irrigation pump station is 85% complete.
6. Floating fountain pump had to be replaced at South Weeks Park Pond.
7. Crews are spraying and treating for the ant population explosion along the trail,
picnic benches and tables, anywhere it is needed.
8. The Park Maintenance is finally seeing daylight on mowing and edging as the hot and
dry weather continues.
9. Falls Fest in Lucy Park will be on September 27th. It will be a one day event this year.
10. Projects:
A. Circle Trail -
1. There has been no change on the section along the BNSF ROW.
2. Section along Wichita River—park crew has cleared the trail alignment from
Wichita Bluff Nature Area parking lot to 400 yards from Loop 11 at West
Rogers St. This will allow staff to make final design review and provide
bidders convenient access.
3. Current plan is to advertise in September with an award October 21 for the
section from the Nature Area parking lot to the river bluff area.
4. Property Management continuing negotiation for acquisition of land with 7
property owners along the Wichita River from Loop 11 to Lucy Park.
B. Section along Lake Wichita.
a. Staff will site visit next week the Lake Wichita dry lake bed to better determine
the alignment options. Also, this will determine locations for taking soil samples
needed to determine trail design and construction costs. Public Works will
administer a contract for soil testing.
11.48 District V Park Improvement:
A. Expressway Village Park Pond
1. Luz Lerma Construction plans to start the 90 day contract September rd.
B. Land Acquisition—
1. Property Management continuing effort to acquire five vacant lots adjacent to
City View Park. Waiting for property owners to send ownership documents
before title searches are contracted.
12. Lake Wichita Study Committee:
A. The Fund Raising Sub Committee met this morning. The Lake Wichita Study
Committee meets September 9t'.
13. Fund 280 Special Account Projects:
A. Falls Bridge and By-pass Trail and University Kiwanis Park prairie dog exhibit
fence replacement and playground completion to be presented to City Council
after the budget adoption.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Park Improvement Committee:
A. Lake Wichita Study Committee with Stephen Garner.
The Fund Raising Sub Committee met this morning, Thursday, August 28th. Good
ideas were discussed about where we stand and where we need to go. The
committee has $22,000 dollars collected so far in donations. $316,000 is the
money needed for a 404 Permit application prepared by the RPS group. This is a
company contracted to formulate the studies that the Corps of Engineers ask for.
Stephen will be getting with Jack Murphy and staff to discuss monies that can be
accessed through the City.
The committee feels that it is time to go public with this project. We are about ten
months away from turning dirt even if full funding for the 404 Permit application
was available. On Saturday, September 13th, Lakeside City will be having their
Annual Appreciation Event, and if it were possible the committee would like to go
public at that time. They have gone as far as they can as a study committee and
they feel it is time to become active. Tom Lang is going to create a Facebook
page for the Lake and the committee has three web sites ear marked. If possible
the committee would like to see the event on September 13th held at the old boat
ramp across from the State Hospital to emphasize the lake.
The Lake Wichita Study Committee's next meeting will be September 9th.
B. Circle Trail Task Force: The Task Force met in July and will have a meeting in
September. The task force got the numbers back from the survey put out on the
City web site. Discussion on who to target. Mark Beauchamp found a railroad
company contact in Ft Worth and with whom he will be able to compare notes.
OTHER ITEMS:
Jennica Lambert,wanted to find out more on how we get rid of fire ants. Discussed the
fence around the prairie dogs in University Kiwanis Park.
Nancy Howell wanted to let Jack Murphy know that the connector trail safety
improvements to the ramp by her house was finished and is very much appreciated.
ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting was adjourned at 2:05 pm.
Signature:
Penny Miller/Chairperson