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HomeMy WebLinkAbout17 04 PRB MinutesWUP Parks and Recreation Board MINUTES A PRIL 5, 2017 6:30PM REC CENTER – CONFERENCE ROOM TYPE OF MEETING Monthly Meeting CHAIR Kevin Boyle SECRETARY David DeAnda ATTENDEES Kevin Boyle, Mark Prescott, David De Anda, Peter Billipp, Sherry Harber, Tracy Larson, Donna Petrone, Wayn e Franklin and Stephen Damiani Staff: Susan White Council Member: Mardi Turner VISITORS Dick Yehle and Alida Drewes I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:31 pm by Chair Kevin Boyle. II. Approval of February 1, 2017 Meeting Minutes : Motion to approve the minutes was made by Mark Prescott and Seconded by D onna Petrone. Motion passed unanimously. III. Public Comments : Comments made by Alida Drewes. She expressed her concerns regarding fees. Stated that there was no ex emption for seniors and that many could not afford the fees. Says it needed to be approved by Senior Board. Had issues with potential naming of a room afte r Tim O’Connor. Stat ed that we need to make our parks more like Bellaire. Says that our parks are like prisons. Noted issue with respect to prior minutes. IV. Friends Overview : Comments made by Mark Presco tt. Don’t have the final number yet with respect to Park Lover’s Ball. Was not a record year but was a still a great year. Thanked Tracy Larson for donating thei r house for a big board item. V. Fee Schedule : Comments made by Kevin. Sub-co mmittee is in place. At next board meeting, will come back and report regarding work done by sub-committee. Stated that there will be a representative of the Senior Board who will have input on the fees. VI. Board Member Updates . Kevin asked the Board for any relevant updates. Weir Park looks good. Lost and Found at Recreation had b een expanded. Noted that indoor pool did not have hours on Sunday during the summer. Stated that reason may be due to fact that there is no life guard. Susan stated that she didn’t think there had been many request for it but that she would discuss it with Britney. Kevin asked how often the play structures are cleaned. Susan stated that equipment is cleaned on an as-needed basis. Director Update . Susan White stated that department is busy right now. Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for April 6 th . First concert on the park is on Friday and on Saturday they have the big Spring Event that the recr eation department conducts every year. This year they will have participation from the Houston Zoo. With respect to Jennie Elizabeth Hughes Park, Task Force had come up with 3 di fferent concepts that where to be presented and discussed during the town hall meetings. Susan stated that after the presentation of the concepts, there would be time for a Q&A and for citizen comments. Susan also stated Parks and Recreation Board Minutes page 2 that comments/questions could be submitted electronically. On Liberty Hill Park, they just finished the last part of the landscaping. The sign looks the same but new shrubs will improve the esthetic view. Stated the tennis committee continues to meet and they are in the process of implementing online reservation system. Ready to re open Colonial. Big Belly Waster/Recycling Containe r is on hold. Kevin asked what would the Fun Run funds be used if not used for Big Belly. Susan stated that they could utilized for Jennie Elizabeth Hughes Park but was not sure. VII. Council Update . Report made by Councilmember Tu rner. Library has reopened. Swift 911 is now in place and seems to be effective. Stated that certain members of the Council felt that the way we honored Tim at Park Love r’s Ball may have not been sufficient. She wanted to know whether there was anything else the Board wanted to do to recognize Tim. Felt that they were particularly concerned with recognizing people while they were still alive. Wanted to know our thoughts. Stat ed that there are onl y 3 instance where a monument type recognition was done. All thre e were former mayors. Kevin stated that he knows that Tim regrets not coming to the la st Park’s Board meeting and that he does have some interest in saying a more formal goodbye to the different boards and council. Stated that Tim had not commented with respec ting to a monument type honor. Kevin and Susan stated that an idea had been discussed that the naming of the Fun Run after him may be more appropriate. Also, discussed possibly havi ng a Tim O’Connor Party on the Patio. Consensus seemed that it may be more appropriate to do a one-time honor. Kevin discussed a property that abuts Hughes Park that is for sale and stated that there is potentially another house that ma y come on the market soon. Kevin asked for input from the Board on whether it should be suggested to City Council that they evaluate a potential purchase. Mark Prescott stated that it was not something that Friends would be able to fully fund. Councilmember Turn er stated that a bond is likel y not possible and stated that certificates of obligation are no longer allowed by law. Kevin asked for consensus as to whether Council should explore purchase of both properties. Board agreed that it made sense for Council to at least explore such purc hase. Councilmember Turner stated that she can have special meeting called to see if c ouncil has appetite to consider. Would also discuss with City Manager and City Attorney. V III. Old Business . Nothing to report. IX. Adjournment . Meeting convened at 7:32 pm. Next meeting on May 3 rd .