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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Board Minutes Feb_7_2024 1 MINUTES WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING, February 7, 2024 ______________________________________________________________________________ Location: Recreation Center Chair: Stephanie Magers Secretary: Richard Cunningham Board members present: Stephanie Magers, Richard Cunningham, Sarah Barrett, Rebecca Brownlie, Ryan Firth, Stephen Damiani, Laura (Lulu) Lopez, Maryann Grahmann, Lauren Griffith. Board members absent: Arlene Wells Staff: Susan White Council members: Shannon Carroll Visitors: Sofya Domakhina Call to Order: Stephanie Magers called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Citizen Comments: Sofya Domakhina requested that the Parks Board consider adding more Recreation Center equipment, including a Stairmaster, a hip thrust machine and a back extension machine. Susan White, responding to Sofya’s suggestions, discussed options for reconfiguring or repurposing certain underused areas of the Recreation Center. Approval of the minutes from January 10 meeting: Sarah Barrett moved to approve, and Ryan Firth seconded. Unanimous approval. Council Update: Council member Shannon Carroll noted that Council has approved enhancements for the narrow medians on Buffalo Speedway at Bissonnet on the north end and Holcombe on the south (shown here). It will take several months to complete, but the design will include new planters, more flowers and West U logos to mark these two entrances to the city. Council also approved a liquor variance for a bodega on University directly across from West U Methodist Church. The ruling will allow the sale of bottles of wine, but not individual drinks consumed onsite. Council debated purchasing a new garbage truck, but that has been placed on hold until the Recycling Board has a chance to weigh in. Some residents have asked about plastic garbage cans that garbage trucks pick up mechanically. There are pros and cons to consider. Susan White noted that Council is scheduled to award the design contract for the Community Building/Library/Senior Center and updates to Rec Center. 2 Sarah Barnett asked about opposition to the Master Plan, and the protest signs she has seen regarding the proposed new fire station on Rice. Susan White gave some of the reasons why the new station is needed, including bigger bays to accommodate the larger size of new firefighting equipment and improved locker room facilities for both men and women employees. General discussion followed regarding the Master Plan. Friends Update: Sami Morrison noted that the Park Lovers’ Ball, scheduled for February 10, is sold out with 660 people planning to attend. Silent Auction bidding opened at 6:00 p.m. tonight (Feb.7). Parks & Recreation Update: Susan White said that work on the Wier Park upgrade will officially begin on Monday (photo is from the ceremony Feb. 12). Susan will meet on site with the contractor and the architect. Parks Board members will receive regular updates as the work progresses. Susan also noted that the city applied for and received a grant to pay for a “smart water” centralized irrigation control system that can be accessed via computer. The Harris County Subsidence District grant was approved for $52,500. The grant is a 50/50 match, so the total project budget is $105,000. Bids are out now. The new irrigation control system will save money for the city. The Parks Department is preparing for summer programs and working to provide enough lifeguards. Susan added that we are looking good and should have enough lifeguards to meet the city’s needs. Two new-full time coordinator positions have been added by increasing the hours for the formerly part-time Customer Service and Lifeguard coordinators. Signs have been added to the west end of Colonial Park to encourage uses to come in when the decks are not otherwise reserved for special events. Charlotte Herling, Parks & Recreation administrative coordinator created the signs. There will be a concert by Prelude Music on the west end of Colonial Park on Saturday, March 2. The Parks Board tour was held earlier today (Feb. 7). Susan White and Lauren Griffith discussed the existing Master Plan, which was released in 2015 to address city projects through 2030. While the existing Master Plan will not change, Susan and Lauren are looking at ways to refresh the Master Plan to include the recent additions of the Edloe Street Pathway and Jennie Hughes Park. 3 Park Ambassador Reports: Colonial Park West – Lauren Griffith agreed that the signs on the west end fence were good. She added that the lights might need to be replaced and that it would be nice to have some seating with backs rather than only picnic table benches. Edloe Street Pathway – Richard Cunningham asked if there was any progress toward removing the utility pole that sits in the middle of the path. Susan said that we are waiting for Center Point to remove its equipment from the pole and added that our project manager has been communicating with Center Point. Richard added that we are still waiting to hear from the State Historical Commission about the marker for the Harris County Poor Farm. The marker will be installed along the pathway later this year. Huffington Park – Ryan Firth said that the water dispenser has been repaired. He added that there is a minor drainage issue near the picnic tables and on the east end of the park. Susan said she has worked with Public Works to improve drainage. Friends Park – Sami Morrison noted that the fence needed repainting. Judson Park – Stephanie Magers Recreation Center – Rebecca Brownlie Colonial Park East – Maryann Grahmann Colonial Park Pool – Stephen Damiani Colonial Park West playground and decks – Lauren Griffith Wier Park – Lulu Lopez Jennie Hughes Park – Sarah Barrett asked how often the rocking chairs were cleaned. Susan said there was no regular schedule for that. Whitt Johnson Park – Arlene Wells Old Business: (none) New Business: Stephanie Magers said she would be unavailable for three meeting dates later in the year. June 5, August 7, and December 4. She also asked if we want to change the October 2 Parks Board meeting because it conflicts with Rosh Hashanah. Consensus was to move October 2 meeting to October 1. Will continue discussing possibilities at the next meeting. There are no scheduled meetings in July and August. Adjourned: 7:32 p.m. Unanimous.