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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRBMINUTES110508WUP Parks and Recreation Board MINUTES NOVEMBER 5, 2008 6:30PM CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM TYPE OF MEETING CHAIR NOTE TAKER ATTENDEES VISITORS Monthly Meeting Russ Schulze Mardi Turner Russ Schulze, Janine Schueppert, Mardi Turner, Tim O'Connor, Brian Fiegel, Charles May, Helen Talianchich, Dave Agerton, Robert Schultz Frank Griffin, Marco Rasi, Jane Rasi I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:28 pm by Chairman Russ Schulze. II. Citizen Comments: Mr. Griffin requested that the Colonial Park Pool be kept open this winter. Mr. Rasi indicated that he wants to hear the discussion about winter pool operation. III. Minutes: The minutes of the October 1 meeting were approved as written. IV. Friends Board Report: Russ read Joni's report, which is appended to these minutes. V. Results of Bond Election: • The bond referendum passed. The results will be certified on November 17, 2008. • Helen: Mayor Kelly wanted a significant majority and he did not get it. She hopes that we will consider scaling back the redevelopment plans in recognition of the feelings of those who voted against the measure. She feels that the pools are the most important part of the plan. • Russ: There was a meeting with PGAL today. They were asked to make a presentation to next week. We will have public meetings with PGAL. We would like to get the Rec Center pool ready by next fall. Cost projections are down considerably (up to 5%) because of the economy. • Tim said that we have $1.1 million available immediately and that City Council is considering committing the insurance money for damage sustained as a result of Hurricane Ike to the redevelopment effort. • Dave said that Bellaire has some regrets about how they did their design, and the costs that resulted from those decisions. • Tim said that there are about seven leaks in the Colonial Park building and that it would cost $28,000 to replumb the building. • Dave reminded us of the Weekly YMCA experience - they get great usage because they spent a little more on their development. • Russ said that the YMCA was initially planned for 3,000 family units, and have reached 5,500, so the need (for recreation facilities) is there. • Helen asked what facilities there will be for families during the winter months (when Colonial Park pool is planned to be closed). • Russ said that the Rec Center pool will be available for family activities. • Tim reminded us that the Rec Center pool will not be dedicated solely to lap swimming and instruction. • Janine said that the two homeowners adjacent to the Rec Center property are interested in selling their properties. She also mentioned that the lack of a basketball court is coming up as an issue again. It may be possible to add an outdoor court where the big tree in front of the current building sustained heavy damage. • Brian asked what would be done to provide batting cages during the construction period at the Rec Center. Russ responded that the field construction would be planned for winter and suggested that Tri Sports could probably move the batting cages. • Helen asked if we are going to acquire the two adjacent properties because that would give us all sorts of options. Tim said that Michael Ross is going to begin talks with the property owners now that the bond election is over. • Brian asked if parking will still be allowed on the pipeline right of way. Janine said that we might formalize our relationship with the pipeline company and pave the area for parking. Tim said we might even establish a linear park on the right of way. • Brian asked about fencing between the railroad tracks and the park playing fields, for safety reasons. • Helen thinks that a basketball court is a wonderful idea - and that perhaps a key card system could be used to ensure that it is for resident use only. Tim said that all ingress/egress to all of the Rec Center facilities will be via a control area. • Helen asked whether we could move the building and fence the entire area if we acquire the two adjacent properties. Janine said that we are already planning to fence the entire Rec Center property. • Charles asked if the proposed basketball court could be on the back of the property. Russ indicated that both lights and noise would be a problem for the neighbors. Tim said that the basketball court that is envisioned is really a multi-use covered pavilion. VI. Colonial Park Winter Operation • Russ began the discussion with a reminder that limited usage last season and the expense of keeping the pool open led us to the recommendation to close the pool from late November until February (or when weather permits). • Helen would like the pool to be available all season and feels that it is not that expensive when we are going to spend millions on new facilities. • Tim said that Mr. Rasi had asked why we aren't looking at other possible revenue opportunities. He reminded us that the single heater, designed for an enclosed space, was completely inadequate without the bubble, so we lost the potential revenue from lessons last year. It will cost $18,000 for a new heater; and the heater will be reusable in the new facility. He thinks we can heat the water to 80 degrees. There are two swim teams that are looking for space for winter practice. • Mr. Rasi acknowledged that the pool was really cold last year. • Dave said that when we had the bubble, about 50 people swam per day. • Janine asked about current attendance, and Dave suggested we check with the YMCA about their winter pool usage. • Janine asked Messrs Rasi and Griffin why they feel we should subsidize a relatively small group of swimmers. Mr. Griffin said that he considers the pool to be a service of the city, unless the cost is truly exorbitant. • Mr. Rasi asked how long the pool has been operating all year round? Tim responded that the pool was a year round operation from the time it opened in 1947. Mr. Rasi said that we were just one year away from providing a century of service, once the new facilities are on line. • Tim said that the biggest problem last year was in not being able to provide consistent good service to pool patrons. The inconvenience was shared across the board. • Mrs. Rasi said that the alternate swimming locations are very inconvenient and would add as much as 40 minutes to someone's workout time. Mr. Rasi concurred with the inconvenience factor. • Tim said that if we can recruit a couple of swim teams to help defray cost, it would make sense to acquire a new heater and keep the pool open through the winter. • Dave was concerned that school swim team practice schedules might conflict with the lap swimmers. Mr. Rasi thinks that the peak usage during the week is in the morning. • Brian asked if we can contact the users to let them know if we get a new heater. • Charles asked what temperature the water needs to be and asked if we really need a new heater. Tim said yes. Charles also was concerned about the new heater being reusable. • It was agreed that we will recommend that a new heater be purchased, that the pool be kept open during the winter, and that we should look for additional revenue sources. VII. Playground Redevelopment Tim provided a verbal update on the progress at Wier Park and Whitt Johnson Park. The details are in his departmental update which is attached to these minutes. He also said that he is getting a small advisory group together to work on the plans for Huffington Park. Brian and Helen would like to see the design and specifications for this redevelopment in advance of any meetings. VIII. Movie Night Janine reported that Movie Night was awesome, but was surprised that the kids were so young. Robert asked if the tennis court lights could be turned off for future Movie Nights. Tim said yes. IX. Staff Reports Tim provided a written report. A copy is appended to these minutes. X. Board Reports Brian said that a water spigot at Wier Park is broken, and that there may be a burst pipe near the front - there is a sewage smell. He also asked who controlled the lighting for the fields at the Rec Center. Tim said that the lights are the responsibility of Tri Sports. Janine said that someone wants to donate a tennis backboard for the court at Judson Park. Dave would like the architects to consider informal gathering spaces when they are designing the Rec Center building. XI. New Business Robert asked if there is a way to recognize local "heroes", like a lifeguard who saves a life. Helen wanted to know why she and her neighbors were told that they could not have a block party for Halloween. Tim said that it was a police matter. Mardi said that she was asked by a citizen to explore the possibility of covering Poor Farm Ditch and making it a linear park. Tim said that the property is owned by Harris County Flood Control, that the idea had been brought forth in the past and was very expensive. XII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm. The next meeting will be on December 3, 2008 at 6:30 pm.