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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20 05 PRB minutesMINUTES MAY 6, 2020 6:30PM TELECONFERENCE TYPE OF MEETING Monthly Meeting CHAIR Peter Billipp SECRETARY Mary McCulloch ATTENDEES Members Present: Peter Billipp, Will Bertron , Mary McCulloch, Mardi Turner, Brett Bingham, Sami Morrison , Maryann Grahmann, Lindsey Swiger, Laura Turley Members Absent: Nina Pilson, Jeff Chen Staff: Susan White, Brooks Smith, Jeremy Veld, Donna LaMond Council Liaison: Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Trautner VISITORS I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:36 pm by Peter Billipp . II. Approval of February 12th Meeting Minutes: Brett made a motion to approve with Sami seconding the motion. The minutes were approved. III. Citizen Comments : No citizen comments . IV. Friends Update: Sami Morrison Friends is meeting next Wednesday, May 13 th, and will discuss Colonial Park improvements. Mary Franc es DuMay and Kimberly Eads were welcomed to the board and were chairs for Park Lovers Ball 2020. $495,000 gross from Park Lovers Ball 2020 – up around 20% over prior year. Attendance was flat, sponsorship was up and live auction was significantly up. Still waiting on net number. Monitoring the situation for Fathers and Flashlights planned for November 2020. V. Council Update: Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Trautner City management doing a great job with the COVID-19 situation. Katherine Dubose is joining the team as Finance Director. Communication has increased. More detailed minutes available. Approved update to audio visual system in council chambers, facilitating workshops virtually. Buffalo Speedway design is at 90%, construction to begin January 2021. Lights will be updated along the street with LEDs. Will asked for status on perimeter cameras. There are a couple of cameras up and project is moving forward. Online question about drain age . Some federal funding has been received for Buffalo Speedway and looking into retaining more. VI. Parks & Rec Update: Susan White 1) Gyms and exercise facilities can reopen on May 1 8th. Specific reopening challenges for gyms so it will be a modified opening. Rec staff working on these plans. Most likely we will have reservations for the machines. Goal to open rec center pool on the 18th as well, even though governor is allowing on the 8 th. We will need to get staff back up and running, rehired and trained for new guidelines . Colonial Park Pool has so many water features that are not necessarily approved for reopening. Additionally, social distancing limitations are difficult to maintain with young children @ CPP. The CDC still recommends that playgrounds remain closed and th ere is an order currently in effect by Harris County Judge Hidalgo that playgrounds and park benches remain closed . Rec Parks and Recreation Board Minutes page 2 center fields, colonial east and tennis courts are open with guidelines. Senior services staff are doing a lot to keep our seniors (espe cially isolated, Good Neighbors candidates) engaged and providing them with services. Interestingly, virtual classes have been utilized by this group more than others. Laura commended Susan and her team on a great job dealing with all of the challenges. 2) Parks Survey and Senior Needs Survey – advised that we need to wait on releasing the survey because there is no normalcy right now. Most likely we will release the survey this Fall. 3) Colonial Park Pool – wonderful features have all been installed. Travel b ans are being lifted so the slide commissioners can come, but then it still needs to be inspected by the insurer. Wally the Walrus is installed as well as the new short water feature. VII. Colonial Park East – 2020 Improvements Overview of space. Agility trainers are going to be replaced with the vault walls. Artificial turf with concrete curb wall around. Investigated possibility of having shade over this entire area but have some concerns about the way the space would look as w ell as the cost being prohibitive at $55,000. 2 -5 Year old play structure will receive a facelift since it is in good condition. Trying to carry over the nautical theme. Sand area received overwhelming request from user group for both the boat and the hous e. Shade structure was looked into for this area as well. Freestanding shade structure will not fit in the area due to use zones around the play structures. The existing tree canopy provides some good natural shade in the area, so it is probably not neces sary and it is also difficult to fit a shade structure around the trees. That said, a quote for a cantilever shade modification came in at $21,000. The 5- 12 year old structure conical climbing feature won over other options in the focus group. Lighting – including walking pathway and poles in the playground area. Peter’s cousin gave a pro bono neutral opinion on the proposed plans. The area will not be lit up in a glaring way. It will be to increase level of visibility and sense of security but it will not be bright enough for engaging in nighttime activities. Highest lumen output was recommended. The pole lights in playground will be 12 feet and need to be approved by council. Mary asked about the lights around the walking path being able to wit hstand park users damaging them. Susan said they are commercial grade and should be ok. Mardi asked about a fan in the pavilion and Susan confirmed there is one. Total project costs with contingency is $400,000, with includes $16,000 in reduced cost has been negotiated by Brooks. A vote for the proposed Colonial Park East 2020 Improvements was taken and unanimously approved! VIII. Park Ambassador Assignments :  Colonial Park East (Will)  Colonial Park West (Nina)  Colonial Park Pool (Mary)  Friends Pocket Park (Sami)  Huffington Park (Maryann)  JEH Park (Laura)  Judson Park (Jeff)  Recreation Center Playground (Mardi)  Whitt Johnson (Brett) Parks and Recreation Board Minutes page 3  Wier Park (Lindsey) No issues to be reported as parks have been closed . IX. Order of Business: Peter Billipp, Chair New Business: Susan asked for feedback on reopening Colonial Park Pool… Maryann would love to go back! Understands there are challenges but her family is very much looking to go back as soon as possible! Sami said they are spending more time at Briar Club but in talking with friends in the neighborhood everyone is interested in CPP opening. Brett said he would definitely buy a membership, but is curious what can be done to make it as safe as possible considering the science says children can be asymptomati c carriers. Mary expressed concern over the staff regulating 25% capacity and social distancing. Peter said the Briar Club is saying you must be 18 or older and limited to 1.5 hours at a time. X. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Next meeting is tentatively scheduled for June 3, 2020.