Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

MINUTES Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Recreation Center June 04, 2015 Present Leo Rosales – Parks Chairperson Derek Benavides – Members Tito Mata – Member Anisa Gonzalez – Member Damaris McGlone – Interim Parks Director Jerry L. Hatley - Member Carlos Velica – Parks Staff Absent Meri Heggie - Member 1) Meeting called to order by Parks Chairperson Leo Rosales at 12:07 p.m. 2) Approval of minutes • Minutes of last meeting (May 07, 2015) approved on a motion by Mr. Derek Benavides, seconded by Mr. Jerry L. Hatley, motion carried. 3) Chairperson’s Report • Commended the Parks department and Damaris for doing a great job for picking up after Mr. Patterson left and not to hesitate to contact the Parks Chairperson and the Board members for any help. • Wanted to know when the Parks Master plan deadline was and also not clear on the Brownsville Sports Park, what’s going to happen there and who is going to handle the park? • Interim Parks Director commented that at a recent BCIC meeting, it was up for discussion but was tabled. It was still unclear but BCIC will retain ownership for now. BCIC feels Parks and Recreation department cannot maintain the facility at this time. Also reported that Ray Arellano from Parks and Recreation was named Interim Sports Park Superintendent for now and could be a permanent position. • Board Member Mr. Hatley commented on how are the dome’s coming along at the Sports park and if it was going to be (1) one or (2) two dome’s built and what is the capacity to shelter people? • Interim Parks Director reported that there is a (6) six week delay due to inclement weather but the finish deadline for dome should be by November or December of this year. Also the dome is not a shelter, it is a safe room and has a capacity for  4,000 people but will get more information from Odee Leal of Operations Emergency Management office. • Board member Mr. Mata commented that he read somewhere that the dome could be used for sports venues throughout the year. • Parks Chairperson wanted to know how the dome was going to be utilized since the city is not informing the public. Also noticed that the department has a lot of openings but didn’t see anything posted on the website. 4) Public Comment • Board member Mr. Mata reported that his wife was asked to be on the Parks Master Plan advisory board. • Board member Mr. Hatley commented that the public is asking for street hockey and wanted to know if they could use one of the courts at the Brownsville Sports Park? Interim Parks Director said that she would have to check the current courts for any damages, the parking area and would need to check with Ray Arellano at the Sports Park for availability. • Interim Director commented to Mr. Hatley that on her recent trip to San Francisco for Greater Greener Conference, they had several ideas for the public staying healthy by going to the park, having healthcare, etc. • Board member Mr. Hatley also suggested that the city needed to build more bike lanes especially in areas where roads are being build but are lacking bike lanes. 5) Director’s Report a. Action item to create by-laws, review Parks and Recreation Advisory board city ordinance and adjust if necessary. • Interim Parks Director Damaris commented that City management needed the Parks & Recreation Advisory committee to submit the by-laws and have them in place, so legal department can review them and have city commission approve them at the next city commission meeting. Also commented that there is currently only a Park & Recreation Advisory ordinance. Suggested to the Parks Board members if they would prefer of having the Parks department do the by- laws internally and then have the Parks Advisory committee review it and suggest any changes if needed. • Parks Chairperson commented, “Go ahead and put something together and we’ll take a look at it and give our suggestion of yes, add or change it”. Interim Parks Director commented if the Board members would prefer to put something together themselves instead? Parks Chairperson suggested of having the board members in attendance review other cities Parks board’s by-laws and email their suggestions to him of what they would like to add to the Parks Advisory by-laws. • Board member Mr. Benavides suggested of tentative having a sub-committee planning meeting on June 25 to discuss the by-laws unless all board members submit their suggestions before then to the Parks Chairperson, then no meeting would be necessary. Parks Chairperson said he would be contacting each board member for their suggestions to the by-laws. • Interim Parks Director recommended of having the Board members submit their by-laws to her via email as quickly as possible, so they are able to put it on the Parks agenda for the next Parks Advisory meeting in July for consideration and action item. Board members agreed to move the next Parks Advisory Board  meeting to July 9th due to the 4th of July holiday the week before and have sufficient time to review the by-laws before approving them. • Reported that Cabler Park and Prax Orive Park were tied on being considered for the KaBOOM playground. 6) Discussion Period a. Discussion on propose power lifting program(Tito Mata) • Board Member Mr. Mata wanted to thank the Interim Parks Director and City Mr. Cabler for their support on the weight lifting program. Commented, “City Manager has given us a warehouse located on 13th & Ringgold Street, the old E.M.S. building to use for our weight lifting program. Everything is going the right direction and my gold is bringing a world title to Brownsville with one of these kids.” b. Parks and Recreation Master Plan discussion and possible action on submitting any proposal concerns or ideas for submittal to Pros Consulting for consideration (Leo Rosales) • Interim Parks Director Damaris asked Board members if they had any feedback on the Parks Master Plan. Parks Chairperson asked when the Parks Master Plan deadline to submit their suggestions or recommendations was. Interim Director inform them that the deadline had passed but that she would submit her recommendations to PRO’s Consulting and notify the Board members of any changes. All board members were in agreement. • Board member Mr. Hatley wanted to know if there were any plans in the Parks Master Plan for bike lanes. Suggested of putting in protective bike lanes. Interim Director commented that Planning and Traffic department recommended protective bike lanes but the community doesn’t want it. The city is advocate for safer bike lanes. • Parks Chairperson would like to put an agenda item for the next Parks Board meeting to appoint a new Parks Chairperson. Also commented that the Parks Committee needed to convey to city commissioners on Parks being increased but the budget staying the same for the Parks department. 7) Adjournment – meeting was adjourned at 1:07 p.m.