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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRBMINUTES020106City of West University Place, Texas Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 1, 2006 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Stephan, at 6:00pm II. Individual Introduction of Board Members All Parks & Recreation Board (herein "The Board") members introduced themselves to other board members and public in attendance. III. Election of Parks Board Secretary Board members asked for a volunteer to serve as the Secretary to the Parks Board. Board member, Laura Theis, volunteered. Secretary to be approved by City Council. IV. Citizen's Comments Parks Director, Tim O'Connor, provided board members with copies of correspondences between boot camp members and the homes surrounding the Recreation Center, where the class takes place. Mr. O'Connor summarized the current situation for the board. Boot Camp currently has approximately 100 members and has been taking place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday mornings from 5:00am until 6:15am since October 2005. Several calls were made initially, mostly inquiries, and the situations resolved. However, there appears to one primary complainant who continues to phone in noise complaints to the West University Police Department. Recently a citation was issued due to the complaints received and the case is pending in West University Municipal Court. GiGi White, a Bellaire resident and Boot Camp member, came to speak to the board regarding the Boot Camp program and the noise complaints. Ms. White stated that the members of the class love the class and the facility and would like to have the Park and Recreation Department's support. The class has moved as far from the street as possible in an attempt to accommodate the complainant. The instructor has also lowered his voice to the point that the students at times have trouble hearing him. According to Ms. White, the students enjoy having the class at the Recreation Center, are dedicated to the instructor and would like to remain at the Rec. Center. The Parks Board withheld from commenting on the situation as there is a pending case in The City of West University Municipal Court. V. Review and Approve Proposed Parks Board By-Laws Upon review of the proposed by-laws and a sheet of objectives prepared by Tim O'Connor it was felt the proposed by-laws were inconsistent with the objectives of the Board. It was decided that Janine Schueppert would attempt to remove the inconsistencies and the by-laws would be redistributed to all board members for review and then a vote on approval by the Board before being brought to City Council. VI. Review of Park Master Planning Task Force Recommendation The Parks Master Planning Task Force (herein "Task Force") has been meeting for the past year. They have gone back with new suggestions and are prepared to present their findings at a public meeting to be held on Monday, February 6, 2006. This meeting will allow the public to see the plan and direct concerns and questions to the Task Fork prior to the presentation to City Council at a later date. At this stage, architectural design elements have not been contemplated. The Task Force reviewed the 2000 Master Plan, upgraded and revised it utilizing input from eight focus groups. Next, the Task Force will present their plan to City Council who will likely authorized staff to hire a firm for preliminary designs and cost estimates. Then there will likely be a bond election in November of 2006. Board members then discussed the Board's role, if any, in the Task Force. Board members would like to review the final presentation prior to the presentation to City Council and submit comments. Board members in attendance at the public meeting will advise the remainder of the Board of any changes since our presentation in January. The Board is concerned with the public's perception that they were not involved with the process in spite of the widely publicized meetings and opportunities for citizens to participate. Board would like to continue to promote the plans to the public to increase public participation in the hopes of deterring public roadblocks down the line. The Board passed a motion for an interim meeting, if needed, to discuss potential public concerns. VII. Friends Board Report The Friends Board is focusing on the upcoming Park Lover's Ball, Saturday, February 4, 2006. Traditionally the Friends Board and the Parks Board have come together to donate a collection of wines to be donated. If anyone is interested in volunteering the day of the event the Friends Board would appreciate the help. Approximately $123,000.00 has been raised preliminarily, that does not include proceeds from the auctions. VIII. Parks Master Planning Task Force Update No further discussion past that noted above. IX. Rice Pocket Park & Library Courtyard Task Force Update- Tim O'Connor Plans have been moving along quickly. White Oak Studios has been hired. They have worked with the City in the past on Colonial Park and during the 2000 Parks Master Planning Task Force. So far two meetings have been held within the community. The first meeting included immediate neighbors of the proposed park. Twenty six members of the community were in attendance. The second meeting was a general public meeting and 6 citizens attended. The information gathered at these meetings will go to City Council on February 13, 2006. The Council will hear the new information and will provide input on elements of design. Following will be one more public meeting and two Council workshops. The current stage of the project is determining what issues need to be addressed. Specific recommendations are not being made at this point. The Board would also like to review the plan and share comments with City Council. X. Schedule Date and Time for a Parks Board Tour of all Parks and Recreation Facilities Board members were asked to review several dates and include their preferences for a tour of the parks and facilities. XI. Staff Reports Not applicable at this time. In the future they will be distributed electronically. However, one Board member inquired into the status of a new floor in the auditorium of the community center. Mr. O'Connor informed the Board that a high-impact floor overlay would be installed at the end of the month. XII. Board Reports Not applicable at this time as there are no committees assigned. XIII. New Business None past the discussion above related to the Boot Camp class. Meeting was adiourned at 7.30nm City of West Universitv Place, Texas Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 1, 2006 I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Stephan, at 6:00pm II. Individual Introduction of Board Members All Parks & Recreation Board (herein "The Board") members introduced themselves to other board members and public in attendance. III. Election of Parks Board Secretary Board members asked for a volunteer to serve as the Secretary to the Parks Board. Board member, Laura Theis, volunteered. Secretary to be approved by City Council. IV. Citizen's Comments Parks Director, Tim O'Connor, provided board members with copies of correspondences between boot camp members and the homes surrounding the Recreation Center, where the class takes place. Mr. O'Connor summarized the current situation for the board. Boot Camp currently has approximately 100 members and has been taking place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday mornings from 5:00am until 6:15am since October 2005. Several calls were made initially, mostly inquiries, and the situations resolved. However, there appears to one primary complainant who continues to phone in noise complaints to the West University Police Department. Recently a citation was issued due to the complaints received and the case is pending in West University Municipal Court. GiGi White, a Bellaire resident and Boot Camp member, came to speak to the board regarding the Boot Camp program and the noise complaints. Ms. White stated that the members of the class love the class and the facility and would like to have the Park and Recreation Department's support. The class has moved as far from the street as possible in an attempt to accommodate the complainant. The instructor has also lowered his voice to the point that the students at times have trouble hearing him. According to Ms. White, the students enjoy having the class at the Recreation Center, are dedicated to the instructor and would like to remain at the Rec. Center. The Parks Board withheld from commenting on the situation as there is a pending case in The City of West University Municipal Court. V. Review and Approve Proposed Parks Board By-Laws Upon review of the proposed by-laws and a sheet of objectives prepared by Tim O'Connor it was felt the proposed by-laws were inconsistent with the objectives of the Board. It was decided that Janine Schueppert would attempt to remove the inconsistencies and the by-laws would be redistributed to all board members for review and then a vote on approval by the Board before being brought to City Council. VI. Review of Park Master Planning Task Force Recommendation The Parks Master Planning Task Force (herein "Task Force") has been meeting for the past year. They have gone back with new suggestions and are VII. VIII. IX. prepared to present their findings at a public meeting to be held on Monday, February 6, 2006. This meeting will allow the public to see the plan and direct concerns and questions to the Task Fork prior to the presentation to City Council at a later date. At this stage, design elements have not been contemplated. The Task Force reviewed the 2000 Master Plan, upgraded and revised it utilizing input from eight focus groups. Next, the Task Force will present their plan to City Council who will likely authorized staff to hire a firm for preliminary designs and cost estimates. Then there will likely be a bond election in November of 2006. Board members then discussed the Board's role, if any, in the Task Force. Board members would like to review the final presentation prior to the presentation to City Council and submit comments. Board members in attendance at the public meeting will advise the remainder of the Board of any changes since our presentation in January. The Board is concerned with the public's perception that they were not involved with the process in spite of the widely publicized meetings and opportunities for citizens to participate. Board would like to continue to promote the plans to the public to increase public participation in the hopes of deterring public roadblocks down the line. The Board passed a motion for an interim meeting, if needed, to discuss potential public concerns. Friends Board Report The Friends Board is focusing on the upcoming Park Lover's Ball, Saturday, February 4, 2006. Traditionally the Friends Board and the Parks Board have come together to donate a collection of wines to be donated. If anyone is interested in volunteering the day of the event the Friends Board would appreciate the help. Approximately $123,000.00 has been raised preliminarily, that does not include proceeds from the auctions. Parks Master Planning Task Force Update No further discussion past that noted above. Rice Pocket Park & Library Courtyard Task Force Update- Tim O'Connor Plans have been moving along quickly. White Oak Studios has been hired. They have worked with the City in the past on Colonial Park and during the 2000 Parks Master Planning Task Force. So far two meetings have been held within the community. The first meeting included immediate neighbors of the proposed park. Twenty six members of the community were in attendance. The second meeting was a general public meeting and 6 citizens attended. The information gathered at these meetings will go to City Council on February 13, 2006. The Council will hear the new information and will provide input on elements of design. Following will be one more public meeting and two Council workshops. The current stage of the project is determining what issues need to be addressed. Specific recommendations are not being made at this point. The Board would also like to review the plan and share comments with City Council. X. Schedule Date and Time for a Parks Board Tour of all Parks and Recreation Facilities Board members were asked to review several dates and include their preferences for a tour of the parks and facilities. XI. Staff Reports Not applicable at this time. In the future they will be distributed electronically. However, one Board member inquired into the status of a new floor in the auditorium of the community center. Mr. O'Connor informed the Board that a high-impact floor overlay would be installed at the end of the month. XII. Board Reports Not applicable at this time as there are no committees assigned. XIII. New Business None past the discussion above related to the Boot Camp class. XIV. Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 7:30pm.