2021-08-12 PARKS, RECREATION AND BEAUTIFICATION BOARD MINUTESMINUTES – REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND PARKS,
RECREATION, & BEAUTIFICATION BOARD, HELD ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 AT
8:30 A.M., VIA IN-PERSON/TELEPHONE/VIDEO CONFERENCE.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Jeff Webb called the meeting to order at 8.31 a.m.
II. BOARD ROLL CALL
Jeff Webb Chairman
Charlie McMurrey Board Member
Nancy Bankson Board Member
Zachary Boyer Board Member
Trent Epperson Administration, Deputy City Manager
Carry Capers Parks & Recreation, Director
Kevin Carter Parks & Recreation, Assistant Director
Ellen Stansbury Parks & Recreation, Executive Assistant
Brandon Torres Parks & Recreation, Athletic/Aquatic Manager
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mr. Charles McMurrey to approve the July minutes, and Mr. Ken
Rice seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
IV. BOARD REPORT
Mr. McMurrey reported that he had received the email regarding in-person meeting
requirements, and with the Delta variance doesn’t believe that we will be meeting in-
person next month.
Chairman Webb reported that $13,000 dollars was raised at the Pints in the Park event
for the Forever Parks Foundation, which is supporting the inclusive playground project at
Shadow Creek Ranch Sports Complex, and asked if the board members could spread the
word that the foundation is promoting $500 camp sponsorships; with recognition of being
on the wall of fame at the playground. The foundation is actively pursuing corporate
sponsorships also.
Mr. Ken Rice asked if Chairman Webb could provide information and literature, so that we
can see who might have been missed for corporate sponsorships. Chairman Webb will
contact Ms. Nikki Beck and will share that information with the board via email.
V. DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM
Mr. Brandon Torres reviewed the revisions to the RSA Policy and Athletic Field Use
Policy. The Board requested that staff add a section in both policies referencing alcohol
consumption. Mr. McMurrey moved that the approval for the policies should be tabled for
the next meeting after the changes can be made. Mr. Zach Boyer seconded the motion.
VI. DISCUSSION – FY 2022 Budget Submission
Ms. Capers was excited to share the good news with the Board that the budget office
presented the budget report to City Council and the supplemental requests were
approved.
We will replace four zero turn mowers, re-plaster the activity pool in the Natatorium,
received funding for the fireworks for the Hometown Christmas Tree Lighting Festival,
we are also requesting for funding to continue for the firework display.
Centennial Park restrooms and storage enhancements.
Bleachers here in the gym at the recreation center have failed, the cost to replace those
no longer make the sense, and will be replaced.
We have a large storage area with no lights, that will be brought up to code by putting in
lights.
Ms. Capers shared with the board that after the original budget submissions; the budget
office did come back and ask us to look within our budget to make some reductions.
After working very closely with the budget office and City Manager’s office they agreed
to allow us to keep our reductions at $26,014. Our budget is very lean, and we don’t
have any contingency funding built into our budget. Any additional reductions beyond
where we are right now would impact our level of service that we provide to the
community.
VII. DIRECTORS REPORT
Texas Open Meetings Act – beginning September 1, all meetings will be held in person.
I know several have expressed desire to continue meeting virtually. I propose that we
change our meeting location to a larger space here at the Recreation Center that we will
be able to spread out and have plenty of distance between us. We will make sure the
room is clean and provide hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes. You can also wear your mask
to attend the meetings.
COVID impacting operations – during summer camp we had a reported case, a set of
siblings, one was a camp counselor in training the other a camp participant. As soon as
the parents notified us, we acted, and followed our plan. The two individuals were
removed from the program. Fortunately, one of our strategies this year was to keep
everyone in small groups, so we immediately notified those groups that had been
exposed. There was another individual that ended up testing positive during that time.
We had over 100 campers, and we were able to keep it down to 3 case’s. All our cleaning
procedures and keeping people separated worked for us in this situation.
Reservation System – we are no longer operating the reservation system. We are still
monitoring the numbers though, but haven’t seen anything that has exceeded or makes
us want to go back in and reduce those numbers. Our staff are very diligent in sanitizing
and wiping things down. We are also continuing to fog. We are limiting our numbers in
the kids’ corner and this will be our last week of summer camp.
Registration for fall programs are available online, they are a little slow because people
are not accustomed to registering in these time sessions. We are putting a lot of
information on social media and our website.
Sunset Cinema - during the month of August, which is our drive-in movie theatre.
Ruff Runner is coming in the very near future. This is our 5K race and yappy hour which
will be held at Independence Park on September the 25th.
Dog Park – we are very close.
Trick or Treat Trail is October 31 - we will not being have inflatables this year. We will
encourage vendors to put the things on the table for people to pick up and take rather than
that exchange from one hand to the next.
Weight Room upgrade – should be complete 1st October
City Agenda Item - Recommend that Council approve some amendments to the City’s
financing naming right policy. Those amendments are going to include the way the policy
is written, it only authorizes the Forever Parks Foundation to sell and negotiate naming
rights. We are proposing that they open to charitable organizations that have a current
agreement with the City. We are also recommending that the policy is written to where it
includes Parks and Library facilities.
City Agenda Item - Recommendations to enter into an agreement with the Friends of the
Westside Library that authorizes them to raise funds for programming and services that
benefit the community and a part of that would be the naming rights.
VIII.ADJOURMENT
Chairman Webb adjourned the meeting at 10.04 a.m.
These minutes respectfully submitted by:
______________________
Carry Capers, Director – (transcribed initially by Ellen Stansbury)
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this 12th day of August 2021.
______________________
Jeff Webb, Chairman