MINUTES
IRVING PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
MONDAY – AUGUST 14, 2000
COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM
6:00 P.M.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: IPAR STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Larry Stipes Paul Gooch
Debra Green Casey Tate
Jimmy Burkett Chris Michalski
Ann Dillard Dwight Pinnix
Kevin Reno Gayle Averitt
Roberta Carnley Karla Estrello
Carol Wood
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
James Dickens
Item 1 – Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Kevin Reno and seconded by Roberta Carnley to approve the minutes from the June 12, 2000 meeting. The motion carried unanimously.
Item 2 – Council Action Report
Paul Gooch reported on the Parks and Recreation related items that were approved at the
June 29, 2000 and July 13, 2000 City Council meetings.
Item 3 – Chairperson Report
No report.
Item 4 – Information Items
Walter Ritchie, Aquatics Supervisor, updated the Board on aquatic issues that are currently being addressed. Those issues include the new Texas State Codes for Aquatic Facility Operations, the need to improve customer service in aquatic operations, and the ongoing shortage of qualified aquatic facility personnel.
w State Codes – the Parks Department has created a 5-year action plan to address the new State Codes and work is already underway. The codes call for increased standards of care with respect to water chemistry, circulation, entrapment and supervision.
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August 14, 2000
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w Customer Service – the Aquatics Division has implemented several programs to maximize facility usage and improve customer service while maintaining the current service levels to customers. These programs include increasing T.A.A.F. team participation levels, enhancing the Learn to Swim program and creating a customer service training module for aquatic staff.
w Staffing Issues – In order to attract personnel for staffing needs, the Aquatics Division has created and expanded Junior Lifeguarding Programs, provided free training for staff members, developed an incentive program and provided equipment and uniforms for staff.
B. Playground Safety Update
Chris Michalski reported on the status of the Playground Safety Program that was implemented by the Department in October 1996. Since then, the Department has evaluated existing playground facilities for compliance to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) safety standards. This initiative was taken in an effort to provide the safest possible play environment for children utilizing play equipment provided by the Irving Parks Department. The Department has spent an estimated $1,574,500 to bring Irving playgrounds into compliance with CPSC and ASTM safety guidelines. Currently, 93% of the playgrounds are compliant as opposed to 29% in 1996. Additional funding requests will make all playgrounds compliant by fiscal year 2002-2003.
Paul Gooch reported that the Irving Parks Department is aware and concerned about the safety of customers at the playgrounds. He would like to make the Board aware that the Department has been supported by additional funds every year in the general fund budget to upgrade playgrounds.
C. Status of New Senior Center
Casey Tate reported that they are starting plans for the new Senior Center. City Council has authorized Staff to proceed with Eminent Domain Proceedings to acquire the Heritage Square Shopping Center on Jefferson and Second Streets for the location of the new center. In October, there will be some informal programming meetings concerning this project with members of the Lively Park Senior Center. Staff would like to select and hire an Architectural Firm by March of 2001. The planning and design of the Center will take 12-14 months and construction is anticipated to take 18-24 months. They will also be developing an indoor aquatic facility in conjunction with the construction of the project.
Paul Gooch reminded the Board that this Center is going to be a much larger facility than the typical recreation center and will be multi-purpose. Because of this, the process for the development of this project is going to take longer than a typical recreation center building.
D. Director’s Report
Paul Gooch reported that the budget retreat would occur this weekend. The budget should be very easy and everything should be approved. The Board should recognize that the City Manager has funded $22,000 for additional overtime for police coverage in the parks. It looks
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August 14, 2000
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like we may get the $500,000 grant for Running Bear Park and the final decision for that grant will be made at the end of this week.
Paul encouraged the Board to recommend agenda items for the next few meetings since we are nearing the end of the fiscal year.
E. Athletic/Aquatic Activities Update
The Department has just finished the Mustang World Series. The series ended up with three teams from Texas out of eighteen (18) teams. Puerto Rico won the tournament. There was no rain and the tournament went well.
The seasonal pools have closed Monday through Friday and are on a modified schedule running weekends only from 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
The North Lake Aquatic Center is closed for renovation/repair and will be back online September 1.
Staff has worked very hard this past Spring and Summer with the Irving Soccer Association. They are primarily based on the south side of Trinity View Park. They have had a difficult time in the past few years maintaining and sustaining turf to their liking. This year, Staff has been meeting with them every other week throughout the course of the summer and they are very pleased with the turf as their season is just getting started.
F. Recreation Activities Update
Dwight Pinnix reported that they have completed their summer session and they had a major increase in summer participation this year. The camp programs, jams and summer games were outstanding. The school centers were open this year, which contributed to the increased participation. The Youth Services Division also created new innovative programs that also contributed to increased involvement in the recreation division.
The gym floors at Senter Park Recreation Center will be refinished in the Fall (and not August 15-19 as the staff report indicates).
Fall registration at the recreation centers will begin August 22.
Programs coming up in the Recreation Division are:
w Irving Hollywood Teen Scene – August 19
w Teen Summit at the University of Dallas – September 23
G. Current Projects Update
w Mustang Park – contractor has broken ground and is putting in the storm sewer and is beginning excavation on the footprint of the building.
w Fritz Park – they are finishing up the improvements and starting to put out the grass seed.
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w Running Bear Park – the contractor has begun to excavate on the south end where the three lakes will be located.
w Cottonwood Creek – the erosion control contractor has been putting up retaining walls at the south end of the park along the channel.
w Lee Park – the power to the building should be turned on in the next 5-6 days. The HVAC units are set on top of the building. The roofing repairs that were authorized last month are completed. The glass installation has begun.
Item 5 – Committee reports
Debra Green reported that Cimarron Park Recreation Center is going to have a flea market on Saturday, August 19 from 8 AM – 3 PM.
Debra also recommended that the Board get a report from the police department on the 4th of July Parade. She stated that many citizens were upset that the parade was not allowed to go down past Millennium Park. Citizens would like the parade to go past Millennium Park in the future. Staff will get with the police department to discuss changing it back to the previous route.
Debra also reported on the puppet show that Maria Seppy put on at the Lively Senior Center. She felt that intergenerational programs such as this were a great thing to promote in the City.
Item 6 – Future Agenda Items
No future agenda items were mentioned.
Item 7 – Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:07 PM.
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