Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

MINUTES Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Recreation Center Conference Room December 10th, 2020 1. Determination of Quorum: Present Myrta Garza – Parks Chairperson Mike Leinart – Member Benjamin Del Angel – Member via virtual Adrian Delgado – Member via virtual Damaris McGlone – Parks Director Carlos Velica, Jr. – Staff Absent Joe Lee Rubio – Co-Chairperson Hector Buentello Jr. - Member Esli Ceballos – Board Secretary ********************* 2. Meeting called to order by Parks Board Secretary, Mrs. Esli Ceballos at 12:10 p.m. ********************* 3. Pledge of Allegiance: United States Pledge * Texas Pledge • The pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge led by Board Secretary, Mrs. Garza. ********************* 4. Public Comment Period: PLEASE NOTE The Public Comment Period is designated for Hearing Concerns Regarding City of Brownsville Public Policy or City of Brownsville Business that is not on the agenda. • None to report. ********************* 5. Approval of Minutes • Minutes of last meeting (March 12th, 2020) approved on a motion by Mr. Mike Leinart, seconded by Mr. Adrian Delgado, motion carried. ********************* 6. Presentation, Discussion, and Possible Action of member(s) attendance and bylaws (Parks Advisory Board Secretary) • Attendance and bylaws were reviewed by Mrs. Garza, Parks Chairperson with the Parks Advisory Committee. No action was taken at this time. ********************* 7. Safety Concerns (Parks Advisory Board) • Mr. Del Angel commented on some safety concern regarding sidewalks, wanted to know if they are part of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee or is it a Parks Concern? Parks Director reiterated that the sidewalks is part of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory but that the Parks department can look into it, also just a reminder that there is a sidewalk and trails Master Plan, they will be holding a stakeholders meeting if anyone wants to join in. Mr. Del Angel also commented that on the corner of Alton Gloor & Paredes area, there is grass all over the sidewalk, the empty lots by Burns Elementary near the sidewalk trails and also by Price Road between Old Port Isabel and Hanna High, the sidewalk is horrible. Parks Chairperson commented that there is a missing sidewalk from Paredes to Jaime Zapata, who do we contact, if we have any concerns? Parks Director will find out and send that information to the board members. Parks Chairperson also reported a safety concern at Monte Bella Park with having low branches on the trail, causing one of her friends to get hit by the low branches and wanted to know if that could be addressed. ********************* 8. Discussion Period & Possible Action (15 minutes) a) Update on park renovations (Myrta I. Garza – Parks Chairperson) • Parks Director gave a brief update on park renovations. (See attached report) b) Gonzalez Park basketball courts and rims & Oliveira Park rims (Myrta I. Garza – Parks Chairperson) • Mrs. Garza commented on what the status was at the Gonzalez Park outside basketball courts, reason being that someone recently broke their foot playing basketball due to the courts not being even. Parks Director commented that it was on to do list and that the courts should be close depending on state of COVID but would check to see if there is signage & would check with the Parks Manager. c) Update on land next to Burns Elementary for potential trail park (Ben Del Angel) • Mr. Del Angel commented that the board had discussed at a previous board meeting about inquiring about the land across from Burns Elementary, if it was available for purchase to build something there as one of our projects for this coming year but due to COVID, everything was put on hold. Parks Director commented that is not city property, it was going to be a board project and the board would need to do presentation and present it to the city commission for potential purchase. As per Parks Chairperson, it was recommended for Mr. Del Angel to put together a power point presentation and be placed on the parks agenda as a Discussion, Consideration & Action, present to the board at the next Parks Advisory Board meeting.  d) Update and possible action on CAPRA Accreditation process (Damaris McGlone – Parks Director) • Parks Director gave a brief update on the CAPRA Accreditation process, commented that the department had placed an extension request. Asked the board if they would like to be part of it and do a sub-committee. Parks Chairperson Mrs. Myrta I. Garza and board member Mr. Adrian Delgado agreed to be part of the sub-committee. e) Consideration and possible action support for grant application and partnership for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department inland fisheries via a letter of support (Damaris McGlone – Parks Director) • After a brief discussion by the Parks Director on a motion by Board member Mr. Mike Leinart, seconded by Board member Mr. Adrian Delgado, motion carried to support for a grant application and partnership for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department inland fisheries via a letter. f) Consideration, Action and Discussion to appoint a Parks Advisory Board Committee member(s) to the Games of Texas Planning Committee. (Damaris McGlone – Parks Director) • After a brief discussion by the Parks Director, Parks Chairperson agreed to be part of the committee once her term with the Parks Advisory Board has expired. It was also discussed to bring the Games of Texas Planning Committee back at the next Parks Board meeting for discussion. ********************* 9. Director’s Report (Damaris McGlone – PARD Director) • Gave a brief report on having a stakeholders meeting with youth league presidents for re-opening with this being the third virtual meeting, notifying them of having to submit a safety plan, which will then go to the City Manager for review and to City Commission for their approval. • Updates on the Washington Light up event. Had some glitches with the video due to internet issues but everything else went as planned. • Director will email board members the 16 declarations from Cameron County or they can go their website for the latest update. • Reported on the status of the Ringgold Civic Pavilion and the Brownsville Event Center. The city is proposing the Ringgold Civic Pavilion to the Children Museum which will expand into it. The Brownsville Event Center repurpose to get it sold, commissioners did not take action on it at this time. Ringgold Civic Pavilion is currently still closed due to COVID -19. ********************* 10. Adjournment – meeting was adjourned at 12:56 p.m.