Park Board Minutes - 01/24/2013in
RECEIVED 6
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Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting CITY CLERK"—
a OFF
January 24, 2013 WE:
W.F. Recreation Center BY IME: `
Room 202, 60011th Street
1:30 p.m.
Presiding: Penny Miller/Chairperson
Members Present: Penny Miller, John Fritzsch, Stephen Priester, Sharon
Roach, Ben Filer, Stephen Garner, Nancy Howell, Mike
Rucker, John Hirschi and Walter Lambert
Members Absent: April Bevington
Staff Present: Jack Murphy and Genice Wilson
City Council Representative: Mary Ward (Absent)
Guest: Tom Lang with the Texas Parks & Wildlife
Brandon Brown and Bryan Bullard with the YMCA
CALL TO ORDER:
Penny Miller called the meeting to order at 1:30 pm. The minutes of December 6th, 2012 were
put before the Board. A motion was made by Ben Filer to approve the minutes and
seconded by Mike Rucker. Minutes were approved by all.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Request by YMCA for a Five Year License to extend reservation privilege to use eight
ball fields in University Kiwanis Park and Lake Wichita Park. Staff recommendation is
to allow this and forward to the City Counsel on February 5th. Staff recommended a
few minor changes to the agreement.
The YMCA recommended an additional amendment to the License which is not to
have the Electric Bill in their name, but to return that to the City and the YMCA pay a
light fee of $15.00 per hour and a half per field for light usage. They also asked to be
able to have advertisement signage on the outfield fences.
Motion was made by Ben Filer to approve the Five Year License as is and discuss, at
the next meeting, additional amendments of electricity and signage. Next meeting the
YMCA will need to put together a definition of details for City Council.
Stephen Garner seconded the motion and it was approved.
2. The Park Board members recognized Peg Marquardt with a Certificate of Appreciation
for outstanding service on Park Board from December 16th, 2003 to December 31St,
2012.
3. Election of Officers: Penny Miller asked for nominations for the positions of
Chairperson, Co -Chairperson and Secretary.
Stephen Priester nominated Penny Miller for Chairperson and it was seconded and
approved.
Sharon Roach nominated Stephen Priester for Co -Chairperson and it was seconded
and approved.
Sharon Roach volunteered for the position of Secretary and it was approved.
4. Walter Lambert was sworn in as a new member of Park Board.
5. DEPARTMENTAL REPORT:
Circle Trail: A grant was submitted to TXDOT for a.94 mile trail in the Wichita Bluff
Nature Area and adjacent Oncor property. Notification will be in summer 2013.
We are continuing with engineering and construction documents for the 2.67 mile
section from Lucy Park to the Nature Area.
The recommended priority plan of the six miles remaining to complete the Circle Trail,
Lake Wichita and then the BNSF sections, were presented Tuesday to City Council.
Continuing with the 90% tree clearing for the flood reduction project in Lucy Park.
The Parks Department is spreading mulch on trees. They are preparing tree drip
irrigation and spray irrigation for Stage 3 water restrictions. Most trees can continue
to be watered by drip irrigation.
The Winter brochure is out for the Recreation Department. Some of the special
events coming up are: Kids Fishing Rodeo on March 2 at Plum Lake. Easter Egg
Hunt is on March 16th in Lucy Park. New and old classes are going well.
Team Sports: Softball, volleyball, kickball and pitch, hit and run event will be starting
soon.
4B District V park improvement: We acquired the 8.5 acre parcel adjacent to Lions
Park and the low water crossing in Sunset Terrace Park is completed. Waiting on an
available engineer for the Expressway Village Park pond and the bridge at Lions Park.
Waiting on response from owners of five parcels adjacent to City View Park.
Community Garden acquisition of the two lots on Smith Street is waiting on owners'
signatures before closing. Construction can begin, thereafter with opening in April as
planned. Operation will be by the five person neighborhood board.
6. Park Improvement Committee Report: The Park Improvement Committee is made up
of members of the Park Board with some additional interested community members.
Stephen Garner was asked to be head of this committee and he is asking for
volunteers from the board and community.
7. Discussion of a Friends of the Park organization: Penny Miller wants to revitalize this
and get it organized again, so she will be sending out an e-mail to each one to get
some response.
OTHER ITEMS:
Tom Lang/Texas Parks & Wildlife, wanted to ask about the pond behind Academy Sports.
He has some great ideas on stocking the pond and he wanted to know how the board felt
about the possibility of making these ideas come true.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion was made and seconded to adjourn meeting at 2:55 pm.
Signature: y J {
Penny Miller/Chairperson