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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRBMinutes030409WUP Parks and Recreation Board MINUTES MARCH 4, 2009 6:30PM CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM MEETING Monthly Meeting CHAIR Russ Schulze VOTE TAKER Mardi Turner ATTENDEES Russ Schulze, Dave Agerton, Mardi Turner, Janine Schueppert, Charles May (by telephone), Brian Fiegel, Tim O'Connor (staff) Michael Ross, Jeff Garber (PGAL), Ryan McLemore (PGAL), Phat Nguyen /ISITORS (PGAL), Scott Hamrick, Bob Fry (Council), Ramsay Elder, Linda George Smith, Lisa Berman) I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:33 pm by Chairman Russ Schulze. II. Citizen Comments - excluding the Recreation Center redevelopment Ramsay Elder requested an explanation regarding Russ' comments quoted in the Houston Press. He followed by stating that we are continuing to ignore the east side parks where there are no fees charged to use the basketball courts and that there had been a commitment made in the 2000 Parks Master Plan to move the courts to the west side and increase the available green space on the east side. III. Review and approve minutes of February 4, 2009 meeting. Janine made two corrections to the February 4 minutes. IV. Recreation Center Conceptual Plans Jeff first reviewed changes to the plan since our last meeting: a. Keep one entrance on Bellaire even if we acquire the two lots on West Point. b. Have two entrances on Bellaire until such time as the two lots are acquired. c. Add a dedicated room for a copier. LEED requires a separate room due to fumes. Two of the family restrooms were reduced in size as was the janitorial office and closet to accommodate the new room. d. The weight room has been rotated and now has a common wall with the cardio room. e. The upstairs restrooms and the conference room have been moved "down". f. The activity room now doubles as an observation area for the pool. Charles asked whether there had been any more discussion regarding the visual range for the control desk. Jeff indicated that there are defined needs for the existing offices. Michael Ross said that there will be cameras throughout the facility and there are plans for plasma screens for pool observation. Charles said that there needed to be space for just "hanging out". Janine agreed, saying that we want to create a sense of community and that we are not fulfilling the need for purely social space. The new observation area on the second floor does not accomplish this objective. Dave agreed. Janine said that she wants to be able to see the pool when you enter the facility and to be able to "hang out". Jeff stated that if the proposed observation area is in the space where the offices are currently located, half of the pool will not be visible. From the proposed second floor space, the entire pool is visible. Tim questioned the need for a dedicated space for observing the pool and said that the babysitting (that will take place in the same space) is limited to Jazzercise and is a service provided by them. Brian said that at St Street pool there are as many parents downstairs around the pool as there are upstairs in the observation. Jeff: We still have space in the halls for benches, for waiting and lounging and socializing. There are enough opportunities so that folks can do what they want to do, both inside and outside. Tim said that most of the swimming lessons are in the summer and the observation space can be outside; and Jeff pointed out that the north side of the pool would be shaded. On a new topic, Janine asked if there are issues with condensation. Jeff indicated that there were, but that there are different techniques that we can use to mitigate it. Jeff then moved on to explain "building mass" or shape, and displayed several different alternative shapes: low sloped roof, pitched roof, and a combination of low and pitched. Linda Smith asked which roof is more energy efficient. Jeff said that they can make either type of roof efficient, but it would be slightly more expensive with the pitched roof. Dave inquired about maintenance issues. Jeff indicated that the pitched roof had a slightly higher likelihood of wind damage, but said that we are going to have a good 20 year roof and the main question at this point is the aesthetics. The Board agreed that their preference is for the pitched roof. Janine asked if there was any significant cost difference (engineering, construction) in having Jazzercise upstairs instead of downstairs. Jeff said no. Jeff said that there will be an 8 foot solid fence on the Ruskin side of the facility. An aquatics consultant is coming on board and there will be a special meeting on March 12 to discuss pool design. Linda Smith explained that the residents at the end of Community are bothered by noise from the railroad tracks and from Little Woodrow's. She asked what sort of buffer there would be on Ruskin. Jeff said that there will be both a fence and trees. Charles and Dave asked that the subject of the observation room and gathering areas be revisited based on the input provided in this meeting. V. Friends Board Report: None - meeting rescheduled VI. Staff Reports - distributed via e-mail Tim reported that there are three Eagle Scout projects in the works. • Janine is working with one of the Scouts on an English garden at the west end of Judson Park. She distributed copies of the plan. • The second project is to plant trees on the Academy side of Colonial Park. The third is to build a vegetable and herb garden for the seniors. This garden will consist of multiple elevated beds and will be located behind the Community Building. VII. Board Reports VIII. Staff Reports - distributed via e-mail IX. Board Reports Charles: The gazebo at Colonial Park is fixed. Janine asked about the shade structure at Colonial. Tim said that it has been ordered. Brian asked about renewing the crushed granite at Weir Park. Tim is waiting for bids. He also said that there is an official "opening" planned for the park. Tim reported that they are getting bids for repair of the tennis court fences at Weir. X. New Business Charles reminded us that the tennis tournament is scheduled for April 24-26. XI. Adjournment - the meeting was adjourned at 8:28 pm. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on April 1, 2009 at 6:30 pm.