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2007-06-27 PEARLAND PARKS, RECREATION AND BEAUTIFICATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTESMINUTES REGULAR MEETING OF THE PEARLAND PARKS, RECREATION AND BEAUTIFICATION BOARD, OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2007, AT 8:00 A.M., IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT CONFERENCE ROOM, AT 2947 BROADWAY STREET, PEARLAND, TEXAS I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 8:03 a.m. II. BOARD MEMBER ROLL CALL Ben Carranza Vice - Chairperson Marjorie Wilcoxson Board Member Joe Miller Board Member Ed Miller Board Member Jon Branson Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Smith Parks and Recreation Superintendent Ed Grossenheider Parks and Building Superintendent Randi Wyatt Parks and Recreation Office Coordinator Julie Diaz Parks and Recreation Specialist - WEC III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — May 10, 2007 Mr. Joe Miller made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Ed Miller seconded the motion and the motion carried 4 to 0. IV. UPDATE REGARDING THE TRAIL MASTER PLAN Mr. Branson advised that Gary Mitchell with Kendig Keast will discuss the propose trail plan as approved by the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Board last month at the next Council Workshop scheduled for next Monday, June 25, 2007. A public Hearing will be held during the regular City Council meeting on the same date to solicit comments from the public on the proposed plan. Suggestions and/or directives provided by the City Council at the Workshop and information provided by the public during the Public Hearing will be taken under consideration by the consultant and presented to City Council at the July 9, 2007, City Council meeting for their consideration and possible adoption. Mr. Branson suggested that the board members attend the Council Workshop and Public Hearing to listen and/or provide input to the Mayor and City Council. 1 V. UPDATE REGARDING PARKS AND RECREATION BOND PROJECTS SCHEDULE Mr. Branson asked the board members to view fold out schedule in their binders, which list the proposed bond program schedule. The proposed bond schedule was presented to City Council by the Projects Department of the City on June 9, 2007. Lists of the projects were discussed along with a proposed time schedule to start and finish each project. Mr. Branson explained how the bond schedule was put together to minimize an increase of the tax rate over the entire schedule for all projects. It is anticipated that if outside funding sources are secured or relinquished for a project, the schedule of said project will be moved up or moved back on the schedule accordingly. Mr. Branson went into a brief description of the time frames for the Parks and Recreation projects on the schedule. VI. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING CHARACTER COUNTS PROGRAM Mr. Branson introduced Michelle Smith and Julie Diaz to the board members. Ms. Smith began by explaining that Ms. Diaz and herself went to a training seminar in April for Character Counts. Ms. Smith stated that the Parks and Recreation Department would like to implement Character Counts into the Recreation programs as apart of the curriculum. She explained that she would like to hold training with the Recreation instructors on July 5, 2007 to kick off the program. Ms. Smith has previously met with Mr. Eisen and advised that implementing Character Counts is one of the Parks and Recreation goals; however, as far as Ms. Smith is aware, the program has not been submitted to the City Council. In the Parks and Recreation Department, we have great opportunities to make connections with kids. We want to set goals and objectives to help make healthy kids and good citizens as they become adults. Ms. Diaz described the six pillars that the Character Counts program is based on and how they would be intergraded into the programs. The six pillars are Trustworthy, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. The pillars teach children good character skills without pushing religious ideas. Ms. Diaz and Ms. Smith taught the board members one of the activities associated with the six pillars. A motion to approve the implementation of the Character Counts program into the Parks and Recreation curriculum made by Mr. Joe Miller. Mr. Ed Miller seconded the motion and the motion carried 4 to 0. 2 VII. DIRECTORS REPORT Mr. Branson stated that since the last parks board meeting all of the Parks and Recreation projects were approved in the Bond Referendum. The Parks and Recreation staff is excited about the projects. Mr. Branson asked Ms. Smith if she would update the members on the status of the Senior Center Expansion. Ms. Smith advised that the Bid Opening on June 28, 2007. Ms. Smith described what changes will consist in the renovations. An additional four thousand square feet will be added to the existing six thousand square feet of building space. The address of the center will change due to the entrance of the building being changed from facing Grand Street to Park Ave. Mr. Branson introduced Mr. Ed Grossenheider. Mr. Grossenheider has recently come on board as the Parks and Building Superintendent. Mr. Grossenheider is in charge of the Wood Street Park Project. Mr. Grossenheider explained that there are approximately 20 acres on the corner of Woody Street and Orange Street that is about to undergo construction. This will be an in-house project in which the staff will be doing the construction. Mr. Grossenheider will be having a community meeting in mid July to get input from the community regarding the proj ect. Mr. Branson explained that he just sent the consultants a revised Tree Survey for Orange Street Park. The consultant should have a detailed cost estimate for the next Parks Board meeting. He advised that there is 100,000 dollars in the current year's budget for this project. He anticipates a portion of this funding to be used for the plans and specifications. Mr. Branson has asked for an additional 400,000 dollars to be earmarked for this project for the next year. If the budget is approved, plans and specifications could begin as early as next month or the first of August with construction to begin in late November or December 2007. Mr. Branson advised stated there is another project that is just finishing up. Medians have been put in on FM 518 between McKawa and Hwy 288. That is a Texas Department of Transportation project; however, there are 23 individual square dirt islands in those medians. The City has entered into an agreement with Clark Condon and Associates to design those landscape medians. There was a meeting yesterday with Clark Condon and TxDot to discuss the project. The actual instillation of the landscaping should begin later this fall. A discussion ensued regarding the medians and landscaping. VIII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:53 a.m. These minutes respectfully submitted by: Randi Wyatt Parks Office Coordinator .nutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this �� day of 12007. Thomas Gibbs, Chairperson 4