Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

MINUTES Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Recreation Center Conference Room March 11th, 2021 1. Determination of Quorum: Present Myrta I. Garza – Parks Chairperson Joe Lee Rubio – Vice-Chairperson Benjamin Del Angel – Member via virtual Esli Ceballos – Board Secretary via virtual Damaris McGlone – PARD Director via virtual Carlos Velica, Jr. – Staff Juan C. Guerrero – BEC Staff Cynthia Cervantes – BEC Staff Graciela Salazar – Asst. Parks Director Absent Mike Leinart – Member (unable to log in) Hector Buentello Jr. – Member Adrian Delgado – Member ********************* 2. Meeting called to order by Parks Chairperson Mrs. Myrta I. Garza at 12:10 p.m. ********************* 3. Pledge of Allegiance: United States Pledge * Texas Pledge • The pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge led by Parks Chairperson, 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 (February 11th, 2021) approved on a motion by Mr. Joe Lee Rubio, seconded by Mr. Ben Del Angel, motion carried. ********************* 6. Presentation, Discussion, and Possible Action of member(s) attendance and bylaws (Parks Advisory Board Secretary) • Attendance and bylaws were discussed by Mrs. Garza, Parks Chairperson with the Parks Advisory Committee & Board Secretary Mrs. Ceballos. Item was tabled on a motion by Mr. Rubio, seconded by Mrs. Ceballos; motion carried to be discussed at the next board meeting. ********************* 7. Safety Concerns (Parks Advisory Board) • Parks Chairperson commented that they were putting up rails on the new portion of the bridge by the trail going to Los Fresnos, which was pretty neat! Also commented on the bridge over Canales Elementary looking pretty shabby, fencing needs to be redone, repainted and needs to be power wash. Maybe get a group to do paint it and do murals as a community project. • Board member Mrs. Ceballos commented in reference to the Boca Chica trail, that Board member Mr. Rubio had spoken of at the last meeting, she spoke with her brother, who is project manager with TXDOT and he had told her that they had fixed the issue with the bike trail going on there and if we needed anything, just to let him know. • Board member Mr. Del Angel didn’t have any concerns but mainly a timing regarding a section of the trail that got repaved or painted over with new paving; asked if the trail that is behind his home between Dennet & Alton Gloor, if that was scheduled to be repaved anytime soon or if it was on the plans yet? PARD Director reiterated nothing is actually scheduled yet, still working on other things but will look at the budget and see what the next phase will be based on needs. On a side note, the PARD Director reported that the pedestrian bridge in the Southmost & International area thinks it’s a TXDOT thing but is not sure. Will check within our City department to see who has governed over it and what can be done. ********************* 8. Discussion Period & Possible Action (15 minutes) • Board member Mr. Rubio commented, that the comment period ended yesterday for the West Trail and wanted to know if the Parks department was involve in any discussions for West Trail plans for the Hike & Bike Trail? Also commented that most likely the Parks Department will be taking care of it in the future and if they can have some sort of water source in the area. Damaris reiterated that she wasn’t aware of it but any decisions were being done at the City Commission and City Management level. ********************* 9. Director’s Report (Damaris McGlone – PARD Director) • Brief update on Director’s report on the PARD operations, confirmed that we would be receiving the Legacy Lone Star award for Washington Park.  • Brief discussion & review on CAPRA; will email the board members the documentation if they would like to review and give their input as well. • Updates on the Monte Bella Park trail and with several entities that would connect the trails from Monte to the State Park and open to the public. It’s just in the planning stages, will be trying to get funding or a grant for that project. • Reported on Independent League re-opening phase. • Please see attached PARD Director’s report for more information. • On a motion by Mr. Del Angel, seconded by Mr. Rubio, motion carried to accept the Director’s Report. ********************* 10. Adjournment – meeting was adjourned at 12:39 p.m.