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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFBMINUTES090606-version (2)Friends of West University Place Parks fund, Inc. Board Meeting Minutes June 6, 2006 Friends of West University Place Parks Board met on Wednesday, June 6, at 11:30 a.m. at the West University Place Recreation Center, 4210 Bellaire. The following were in attendance: Board Members Joni Fichter Sue Hanna Susie Boyce Margaret Wallace WUP Parks Staff Tim O'Connor Chairman's Report - Joni Fichter Donna's mom had open heart surgery to repair (did not have to replace) a valve so she is tied up. She did well - once again, thanks to the great docs at St. Lukes!! Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Jack Loftis is doing well also thanks to the docs at St. Lukes - I talked to Beverly. Thanks to Vicki and Penny for hosting a wonderful PLB kick-off party! So fun and tots of new faces mixed in with the old. I attended City Council and made a presentation of what Friends has been up to, status of Lewis Matching Grant, things we need their help with. They asked about signage and what we really need so I've asked Donna and Tim to work on this (size, location, length) so we can get council approval and move forward with Royal Oaks Bank hopefully. We received the anonymous donation to cover a big portion of the shade structure at Colonial. Donna and Sue met to prepare an invoice for 2005 to the Lewis' and I have approved it, signed and mailed it. Solicitation letter was prepared by Susie Boyce and reviewed by Donna and me and was edited to reflect those. Susie will cover in her report. Joni, Tim, Donna, Vicki, and Penny to meet with Cathy Dean 713-286-4803 next week for breakfast to discuss possible funding sources. Approval of the Minutes and Sign-in Sheet A motion was made by Sue Hanna and seconded by Margaret Wallace to approve the minutes as sent to all for our last meeting. The motion carried. Executive Director's Report -Donna LaMond Donna was not present and will present a full report at the next meeting, Board Reports Treasurer's Report -Sue Jensen Tres Sue was not in attendance as she was teaching Vacation Bible School Joni distributed the balance sheet and discussed the invoice for the Lewis Matching Grant. In addition, she noted that we had received a donation for the shade structure at Colonial Park. PLB -2007 - Vicki Grams Vicki distributed the list of committee positions fitted to date. She announced that negotiations were nearly complete with Hotel Zaza and that they were researching on-line bidding. She also announced that the Ladies on the Lake Sociable has been rescheduled to August 9 and 10. E-store - Diana Brown No report Development Committee - Stacey Speier No report Membership £t Marketing/PR - Katy Holt No report Resident Decorators/Special Project/Wish List/Giving Tree - Maria Elena Herbst No report Business Partners. Storks - Lvnne Goddard No report Parks Et Rec Report - Tim O'Connor Rice Pocket Park: • Final Conceptual Designs have been completed and will be presented to Council on 6/26/06. Once the conceptual design is approved, project will be phased based on budget and staff and the consultant will move forward with preparing the construction documents. It is anticipated that construction could begin around September of this year. Purchase of Additional Parkland: • Council authorized the City Manager to begin preliminary negotiations on two properties identified by Council as suitable park properties • Properties located between Poor Farm Ditch east to Buffalo Speedway, one south of University and one north of University • If purchased, it is anticipated that one of the properties would remain in its natural state with very limited development, specifically limited to parking, security lighting, nature paths and seating. If purchased, one of the properties would be developed as a "neighborhood" park, comparable to Huffington and Whitt Johnson Parks. Preliminary cost estimates: Property - $4M and Development - $1M Funding options to be investigated: Some type of debt Serious consideration being given to plan for the purchase of the residential properties, located immediately north and south of the Cason entrance to the West University Recreation Center, along Westpoint. Intent is to maximize the properties "footprint" and minimize the impact to residential neighbors. Park Master Planning. • Council stated that the immediate need involves addressing the failing Colonial Park pool enclosure. The preliminary thought is to move forward with the design and construction of an indoor Fitness 8 Instructional Pool at Colonial Park. • Council authorized the City Manager to engage the PGAL firm to meet with staff and develop a preliminary design "footprint" for the proposed re-development of the Colonial Park Pool and Recreation Center and for the proposed re-development of the West University Recreation Center. NOTE: These will not be detailed designs, but rather general conceptual designs inclusive of an estimated development cost. Council and Staff realize that much citizen and facility user input will be needed before specific designs/costs can be determined. Parks Board will have an active rote in assisting in the final designs/costs efforts The submitted Proposed 2006 Parks Master Plan has been received by City Council. It is the consensus of Council that the "plan" be accepted as a general roadmap, pending further study by the Council, Parks Board, and staff. Discussed the removal of items from the proposed master plan that are not logistically or financially feasible; for example: parking garages, street closures, park trolley system, neighborhood park spraygrounds and neighborhood park restrooms Colonial Park Shade: • Remove the four ( 4 ) Sycamore Trees immediately. Project to include removal of trees, grinding of the stumps and topdressing the surface. To be funded by the West University Tree Maintenance Fund. • Plan forward for replacing these four ( 4 ) trees with "spade planted" - 6" caliper trees, with "bubbler irrigation system", in late October/early November 2006. Craig wilt determine species and planting locations. Trees should be planted as to "frame" the pavilion. To be funded by the West University Tree Trust. • Investigate and plan forward regarding the possible donation of the Oak Tree Charles offered and the Batd Cypress Tree that is being displaced by the city's sidewalk program, being planted at Colonial Park • Investigate the need for and feasibility of re-planting some of the existing 4" caliper trees, with bubbler irrigation system at Colonial Park, to better plan for their future growth and canopy coverage • Plan forward for planting three ( 3 ) or four ( 4) , 4" to 6" caliper Live Oak Trees inside the Colonial Playground area, in late October or early November of 2006. To be funded by the West University Tree Trust. • Investigate the possibility of salvaging the dead Cedar Tree, by means of developing it into a community "totem pole" project and mounting it in Colonial Park • Plan for the planting of "trumpet vine" to cover the arbor over the swing in the Colonial Park Playground • Add construction of an Arbor along Academy, at the ramp-up on the east end of Colonial Park, to the 2007 budget Et PARDners Fall Clean-up/Spruce-up program • Schedule the purchase and installation of the artificial shade structures for the identified Colonial Park Playground systems and picnic tables - Phase I Colonial Park Recreation Center £t Swimming and West University Recreation Center User Fees: • Fees have not been reviewed or revised since 2001 • Council has directed staff to revise the fee schedules and have the Parks Board review and approve, by recommendation, a proposed 2007 membership and walk-in fee schedule. Staff will have a preliminary document for Parks Board review by the July Parks Board Meeting - 7/5/06. • Fee Schedule will be reviewed and updated annually, as part of the regular budget process 2007 Budget Preparations: • The City operates on a January 1 through December 31 Budget Calendar • Staff is beginning the preliminary 2007 budget preparation process • Parks Board should begin the development of a proposed budget for the identified PARDner's Program, City Beautification program, Parks Shade Program and any other specific Parks Board Initiatives • Staff will provide the Parks Board with a copy of its' preliminary 2007 Budget proposal, as to receive their input and address any questions or concerns they might have. Anticipated review of this document would be facilitated in July/August of 2006. Old Business No old business. New Business Next meeting - September 6, 2006 at 11:30 am. Adiournment: With no further business the meeting adjourned at 12:30PM.