HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Board Minutes 10-4-23
MINUTES OCT. 4, 2023 6:30PM IN PERSON, REC CENTER
TYPE OF MEETING Parks and Recreation Board Monthly Meeting
CHAIR Will Bertron
SECRETARY Evan Mintz
ATTENDEES
Members Present: Will Bertron, Richard Cunningham, Amar Patel, Evan
Mintz, Stephen Damiani, Lulu Lopez, Laura Turley, Arlene Wells, Brett
Bingham, Manish Agrawal
Staff: Susan White
Council Liaison: Council Member Shannon Carroll (2023-2025) and
Mayor Pro Tem John Montgomery (2021-2023)
VISITORS Additional Attendees: Alida Drewes
I. Call to Order: Will Bertron called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
II. Citizen Comments:
Alida Drewes: She was frustrated that staff play an active role on the boards. She called
for West U to open the parks to dogs, to create a senior park or a new outdoor area in the
senior center, create further cost breaks for seniors, and add new parks in areas lacking
parks. She also called for seniors over 65 to have free access to the Colonial pool and rec
center.
III. Meeting Minutes: Minutes for the Sept. PRB meeting were approved unanimously.
IV. Council Update: Shannon Carroll
Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery is changing to the senior board and CM Carroll will be
moving to the parks board. He commended Chair Bertron for his service and stewardship,
and gave him an award.
CM Carroll said that Friends funding was approved for architectural plans at Wier Park,
along with the city budget. Council meetings were moved to the first week of November
and December.
V. Friends Update: Sami Morrison, Friends Board Chair
Susan White spoke for Sami, who was not at the meeting.
Registration is full for Fathers and Flashlights. The Park Lovers Ball planning is beginning,
and sponsorship opportunities and tickets are available.
Parks and Recreation Board Minutes page 2
VI. Parks and Recreation Update: Susan White, Parks and Recreation Director
Edloe Pathway Project: The final stretch is completed. Sod is being installed along with
additional landscaping. The substantial completion walkthrough is scheduled for Oct. 17.
Colonial Park Deck: Bids are being put out for the Byron deck. A concrete walkway will be
installed to replace the wooden boardwalk.
Wier Park: Friends generously approved funding necessary to get through construction
administration with Burditt Landscape Architects.
Misc.: Movies in the Park on Oct. 20 and in conjunction with the Full Moon Festival. Fun
Run on October 28. Despite rainy weather, National Night Out was well attended.
VII. Park Ambassador Reports & Remarks
- Colonial Park: Amar Patel (east) not much to report; Evan Mintz (west) We’ve covered
problems with conditions on the deck, but it is better to see something need updating for
being used too much than not enough; Stephen Damiani (pool) It is cold and closed.
- Friends Park: Sami Morrison – Will Bertron noted that the big tree in the park needs to be
repurposed.
- Huffington Park: Brett Bingham – No issues since last time.
- Jennie Hughes Park: Laura Turley – She received some feedback from neighbors about the
timeline for repairing landscaping after the drought. Susan White noted that the 2024 city
budget has funds to support landscaping and council has approved them starting in 2023.
- Judson Park: Richard Cunningham – Everything looks nice, but we need to make sure the
gates are closing properly.
- Recreation Center: Manish Agrawal – It is great!
- Whitt Johnson Park: Arlene Wells – Looks great after all the rain
- Wier Park: Lulu Lopez – Can’t wait for the new update
XI. Order of Business
Old business:
New business: Gratitude to Richard for his work on a book about West U. The publisher
has selected a cover to promote the book even though the first draft is only about
halfway done. He’s asking for old photographs of West U.
XII. Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn – 7:22 pm.