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Board, Commission, Committee, and Panel Agendas and Minutes:
MINUTES
IRVING PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
MONDAY April 10, 2006
COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM
6:00 P.M.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: IPAR STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Roberta Carnley Paul Gooch
Melissa Davis Dwight Pinnix
Kristian Williams Chris Michalski
Marcy Brown-Marsden Casey Tate
Matt Davis Gayle Averitt
Daisy Staples Becky Dietz
Ed Bowers
Karen Harmon
Amy Wood
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
James Dickens
Item 1 – Approval of Minutes
Melissa Davis made a motion to approve the minutes. Motion was 2nd by Daisy Staples. The motion carried unanimously.
Item 2 – Council Action Report
Gilbert Perales, Assistant City Manager, visited the meeting to speak to the board about the “Brimer Bill”.
Mr. Perales answered questions from board members.
Paul Gooch informed the board that the award of contract to Jim Bowman Construction Company, L.P. for the Towne Lake Park Pedestrian Bridge and Walks Project had been approved by the City Council. Paul also mentioned that the City Council approved the resolution authorizing staff to negotiate a contract with Terracon Engineering to establish a Municipal Setting District for the Heritage Senior Center Site in accordance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Guidelines for Municipal Setting Districts.
James Dickens mentioned that we now have a new City Manager that will start on May 1st and his name is Tommy Gonzalez.
Item 3 – Chairperson Report
No report this month.
Park Board Meeting
April 10,2006
Page 2
Item 4 – Action Items
A. Use of Park Land for Trinity River Authority
Paul Gooch advised the board that the City of Irving will hold a Public Hearing on April 27th to receive comments and to discuss a proposed 102 inch sanitary sewer main to be installed by Trinity River Authority through various City Park properties, namely Mountain Creek Preserve Park, Campion Trails, Twin Wells Golf Course, Trinity View Park and River Hills Park. The Trinity River Authority has proposed to acquire additional permanent and temporary easements generally parallel with existing permanent easements owned by Trinity River Authority in order to construct the new sanitary sewer main. The City of Irving has negotiated certain times of the year that the sewer main can be installed with specifications for how repairs are to be done.
Roberta Carnley made a motion to support the use of this land and that (a) there is no feasible alternative to the use of taking of such land and (b) that the program or project includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land or park as a recreation area. Ed Bowers 2nd the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Subsurface Mineral Development in City Parks
Paul Gooch advised the board that the City of Irving will hold a Public Hearing on April 27th to receive comments and to discuss subsurface mineral development of all City of Irving park property. Specifically, the City of Irving seeks to advertise from time to time for competitive bids to allow the extraction and sale of natural gas and other minerals under City of Irving park land. The proposal does not include any drilling from the surface of the park property, but rather by horizontal or directional drilling from a location other than the park property. Roberta Carnley made a motion to support the Staff and Parks and Recreation Board to support the subsurface development of minerals within city parks and find this to be an acceptable use of park land including (a) that there is no feasible alternative to the use of taking of such land and (b) that the program or project includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land of the park or recreation area. The motion was 2nd by Daisy Staples. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Changing Use of Park Land for Housing Purposes
The Laurex Group has made presentations to the City’s Housing and Human Services Board, the City Council and the Park and Recreation Board, requesting the use of City dedicated park land for housing development. The presentation requires two tracts of park land for the development of single family and senior housing. The use of park land would require a City election to change this use for purposes other than park and recreation activities. The City Council requested the review and recommendation of the Park and Recreation Board. This development presentation was reviewed and discussed at the March 13, 2006 meeting of the Board. Upon completing discussion of this proposal, the Board reached a consensus not to support the proposed development and the required election to change the use of dedicated park land. Paul was approached by Councilman James Dickens by request of another councilman and the Director of the Housing and Human Services Department have asked that they be given additional time to investigate other alternatives.
Park Board Meeting
April 10,2006
Page 3
Paul expressed to them that as the Director of Parks and the person responsible for the stewardship of our park lands, he does not feel that he would be able to support the call of an election at any time. The Park Board feels the same way. In the spirit of cooperativeness, Paul felt there was no harm in giving them additional time to see if there was something else that could be more of a win-win situation.
Paul Gooch recommends that this item be tabled tonight to give them more time to further investigate this action. Daisy Staples made a motion to table this item. Melissa Davis 2nd the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Paul asked if there were any citizens that wished to speak regarding this matter. Mr. Tom Wright, residing at 2115 Royal Oaks, Irving, TX spoke in the opposition of this proposed project.
D. Review and Endorsement of Proposed FY 06-07 Budget
Board and Staff discussed the proposed budget. Board members asked Paul questions regarding the budget. Daisy Staples made a motion to endorse the proposed FY 06-07 Budget. Matt Davis 2nd the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Item 5 – Information Items
A. Continued Discussion of Campiòn Foundation
Board and Staff discussed ideas for the foundation. Melissa Davis thought it would be a good idea to put together a sub-committee to research maybe having a Town Hall meeting or a Corporate meeting to get the word out about the foundation. Board members Matt Davis, Karen Harmon, Ed Bowers and Marcy Brown-Marsden along with staff member Casey Tate will be on the sub-committee.
B. Director’s Report
No report this month.
C. Athletic / Aquatic Activities Update
Chris Michalski thanked the board members who attended the Underwater Easter Egg Hunt. Chris mentioned the high winds that came in that evening and caused the roof of the Natatorium to whip around and the lightning detection system to malfunction. The event was well attended and went very well. Chris said this month will be a very busy month with the Synchronized Swimming Regional Championships to be held at North Lake Aquatic Center on May 6th and 7th.
D. Recreation Activities Update
Dwight Pinnix informed the board of the several Easter Egg hunts going on at the Recreation Centers. Dwight mentioned the upcoming flea market at Cimarron Park and the Community Fest at Senter Park. He also mentioned a new summer camp program called the Teen Scene Summer Experience for children ages 13 to 15. Another upcoming event will be Poochfest on May 6th at Heritage Senior Center.
Park Board Meeting
April 10,2006
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E. Current Projects Update
Casey Tate updated the board on the current projects in process. Casey mentioned that the bids were opened for the North Lake Ranch project and received some favorable bids. The final plan review for the Skate Park will be April 13th at Lively Pointe and will be getting more input from skaters. Casey informed the board of the upcoming public input meetings on Cimarron Family Aquatic Center on April 20th and 27th at Cimarron Recreation Center.
Item 6 – Committee Reports
No report this month.
Item 8 – Adjournment
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