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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Board Minutes September_4_2024 FINAL MINUTES WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD (PRB) MEETING SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 ______________________________________________________________________________ Location: Recreation Center Chair: Stephanie Magers Secretary: Richard Cunningham Board members present: Stephanie Magers, Richard Cunningham, Rebecca Brownlie, Ryan Firth, Laura (Lulu) Lopez, Maryann Grahmann, Lauren Griffith, Arlene Wells Board members absent: Sami Morrison, Stephen Damiani, Sarah Barrett Staff: Susan White Council members: (none) Citizens: Alida Drews, Lori Hill, Margaret Salem, and Maryetta Manseur Call to Order: Stephanie Magers called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. Citizen Comments: Alida Drews expressed her opinion on the City’s budget and facilities during her allotted time. Approval of the minutes from the June 5 PRB meeting: Ryan Firth moved to approve, and Rebecca Brownlie seconded. Unanimous approval. NOTE: One error was corrected in the minutes – Stephanie Magers was inadvertently listed as both “present” and “absent” for the meeting. Stephanie was absent on June 5 and Lulu Lopez filled in as Vice Chair. Council Update: Council member Shannon Carroll was unable to attend. Susan White provided an update on her behalf. Susan noted that Council members discussed the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) at their most recent meeting. Design is underway, and funding approval is a work in progress with the budget process. Susan encouraged Parks Board members to visit the City Manager’s page on the West U website to see details of the plan. The next City Council meeting (Monday, Sept. 9) will feature a presentation by a representative of PGAL, the international architectural and engineering company that is designing the FMP Phase One, including the new Public Works facility on Westpark. Phase Two of the Facilities Master Plan covers the Community Center/Senior Center, Library, and potential updates to the Recreation Center. This is a work in progress and still in the early stages. Susan explained that as part of the preliminary work on the Facilities Master Plan Phase Two, she and other staff members took a recent road trip to visit award-winning recreational and community centers in the Dallas area. Ideas will be discussed at the Senior Board meeting on September 12. A representative from PGAL will be there to answer questions about the functionality of new facilities. Proposed Parks & Recreation fee changes: Susan noted that she has only received a few comments from citizens regarding fee increases. As a reminder, these fee changes were discussed and approved by PRB members at the last meeting. Even with the proposed increases, West U’s family aquatic center fees are still lower than comparable facilities fees in Bellaire. She added that “Members Only” incentives, such as a Saturday morning “Moms and Tots” hour in the Colonial Park pool have been suggested. This and other ideas will be discussed with the Programming Committee. Anyone with a Senior membership (65 and over) at the Colonial pool should renew it soon to ensure that their current benefits will extend into next year. Reminders are being sent now. Complimentary memberships are available for those over 75. There are multiple people on the “economic hardship” waiver, as well as some paying for regular Senior memberships with a 50 percent discount. Susan added that membership and usage fees cover approximately 10 percent of the operations of the Recreation Center. While a small amount of money comes from the city’s General Fund, the majority needed to pay the expenses of the Recreation Center comes from Programming. Altogether, the facility generates approximately 88 percent of its own operating cost. Friends Update: Stephanie Magers (filling in for Sami Morrison) noted that the annual Fathers and Flashlights event is scheduled for the weekend of November 2nd and 3rd. Registration will open next week, with returning campers and registered event sponsors able to register early. There will be a waiting list, so families wanting to participate should register as soon as possible. The Friends of West University Parks Fund Park Lovers’ Ball committee has selected their co-chairs for the event on Saturday, February 8, 2025. The theme is “Starry Night.” Invitations will go out soon. Two sponsorships are available for benches in Wier Park on either side of the gate at the Belmont entrance. The cost is $5,000 each. Interested parties should contact Donna LaMond. New Tennis Committee members include Nina Springer (Chair), Ryan Firth (Parks Board representative), Hari Gopu, Margaret Salem, Kimberly Dennison, Sanjan Varughese, Leo Slootsky, Amy Tang, Jana Sloan, and Natalie Wommack (alternate). The committee’s first meeting will be the week of September 16. Lauren Griffith moved to approve all members of the Tennis Committee; Richard Cunningham seconded. Unanimous approval. Parks and Master Plan Update: Stephanie Magers noted that the extensive plan developed in 2015 is being reviewed. We will not be doing a completely new plan, but there will be some updates to the existing one. Parks Board member and landscape architect Lauren Griffith has offered to help. The new Jennie Elizabeth Hughes Park and new Edloe Street Pathway, for example, need to be added to the Master Plan. The goal is to have a draft by the end of 2024. Parks Board members are encouraged to offer their suggestions. Lauren Griffith asked about the status of the easement beside the railroad tracks on the west side of town. Susan White explained that West U has discussed purchasing the old El Paso Natural Gas pipeline easement. Negotiations were delayed, however, because some pipelines in the right-of-way are still active. While Susan is not directly involved in the discussions, she noted that if it happens, acquisition of the right-of-way should be addressed in the revised Master Plan. Susan reminded board members that the city is installing a Smart Water Irrigation System for West U parks. The project is funded in part by a grant from the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. The city-wide computer-controlled wireless system, which saves water by providing more efficient irrigation, is close to completion. Colonial Park has experienced a 10 percent drop in revenue this season due to rainy weather. The 2025 Capital Project was submitted to Council on September 3. There were no questions because the Colonial West enhancements are being funded through the Friends of West University Parks Fund. Part of the work will include leveling the ground where the fence is sagging and repairing the gates. Several pop-up events are planned Colonial in 2025. There is $5,000 in the budget now to cover staffing for such events to be held during Colonial’s off-season. Susan and her staff are seeking estimates to upgrade the Recreation Center jogging track. To hold down the cost, they are considering a rubberized surface, like what was used for the Edloe Street Pathway. Park Ambassador Reports: Edloe Street Pathway – Richard Cunningham noted that the Tangerine Beauty Crossvines that were planted along the fence have taken hold and are continuing to spread as planned. Huffington Park – Ryan Firth. Susan noted that the thin rubberized surface that was installed over concrete is coming off. One thing being considered is simply to remove the material and leaving only the concrete that is already underneath. At an estimated $30,000, replacing the rubberized surface would be too expensive. Judson Park – Stephanie Magers. All okay. Stephanie went by the park twice recently and both times noticed people playing pickleball rather than tennis. Recreation Center – Rebecca Brownlie. Playground fence gates do not latch properly without extra effort. This is a danger for small children because the playground is close to the car park. Susan will turn in a service request for the gates. Wier Park – Lulu Lopez. The renovation is great. She has heard only positive feedback from park users. Susan said that the contractor is coming out to repaint the basketball court. Stephanie mentioned that we need a sign asking people not to operate electric bikes or scooters on the basketball court. Susan added that we need similar signs to prohibit electric vehicles on the Edloe Street Pathway. Whitt Johnson Park – Arlene Wells. The recent Snow Cone and Cotton Candy event was well received. She noticed that some bolts were missing on the climbing structure, but Susan said that has already been fixed. New Business: The next PRB meeting will be Tuesday, October 1. The change is because Wednesday is a religious holiday. Adjourned: Lauren Griffith moved to adjourn at 7:54 p.m. Ryan Firth seconded. Unanimous approval.