Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

The Parks Advisory Board met in regular session on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Annex. MINUTES Board Members Present Katherine Boswell, Chairman James Hailey Kim Houston Board Member Absent Mandy Edwards City Staff Present Andy Tarkington Parks and Recreation Superintendent Terrie Ortiz, Parks and Recreation Clerk Guest Present Preztynn Conally Precious Conally Willie Harrison Shawn Harrison Ayna Harrison Carla Carter Dionna Garrett AGENDA ITEM 1.0 Call to Order Kathy Boswell called the meeting to order. The meeting began at 6:10 pm. James Hailey made a motion. Kim Houston second his motion. AGENDA ITEM 2.0 Approval of Minutes Kathy Boswell called for motion to approve the minutes. James Hailey made a motion. Kim Houston second his motion. The minutes were approved by unanimous vote. 1 AGENDA ITEM 3.0 Presentation of 2019 Mineral Wells Male and Female T.A.A.F. Athletes of the Year Andy Tarkington talked to the board and guests that attended the parks board meeting about the Athlete of the Year award. Mr. Tarkington gave the board and the guests a bit of background about the Athlete of the Year Award. Mr. Tarkington told the board and the guests that T.A.A.F started the Athlete of the Year back in the mid 90’s. T.A.A.F would award plaques to state regional and local athletes. Mr. Tarkington worked in Mineral Wells Parks and Recreation back in the late 90’s and started the program of nominating athletes for the year. Back in 1997 there was a state male Athlete of the Year from Mineral Wells, Tavis Harvey. In 1999 there was a state female Athlete of the Year from Mineral Wells, Jennifer Holyfield. Mr. Tarkington came back to Mineral Wells Parks and Recreation in September of 2019. He wanted to start the program back up to recognize athletes that work hard at the sports they play in. Mr. Tarkington informed the board and guests that because he started in September, and the deadline to submit any athletes was August, he submitted nominations for two athletes anyway. Mr. Tarkington presented Pretzynn Conally with an Athlete of the Year plaque in front of the board members and his family. The female award winner Alex Ritthaler, could not be present, but Mr. Tarkington will present her Athlete of the Year award to her soon. Pretzynn Conally won the award for state in the 10U high jump in track and field. Alex Ritthaler won the award for participating with the swim team. Mr. Tarkington told the board members and the guests that were in attendance that he would post the pictures on our Facebook page and get it in the Mineral Wells Index. AGENDA ITEM 4.0 Parks & Recreation Report Andy Tarkington, Parks and Recreation Superintendent, gave the Parks and Recreation reports. Mr. Tarkington informed the board that men’s adult basketball is still going on until March 16, 2020. Mr. Tarkington informed the board that we had adult volleyball sign ups ended only one team signed up. We had several teams interested for adult volleyball, they just didn’t sign up. Also, Mineral Wells Parks and Recreation will be hosting the T.A.A.F. Coed State Adult Volleyball Tournament in April. Kathy Boswell asked Mr. Tarkington how it was possible for Mineral Wells to acquire hosting the T.A.A.F. State Coed Adult Volleyball Tournament. Mr. Tarkington told the board that when he attended the T.A.A.F. state conference back in September he bid on hosting the event. Mr. Tarkington informed the board that he has worked out arrangements with the Best Western Hotel for this event. At the end of youth volleyball sign ups, February 6, 2020, we had thirty seven teams that signed up. This is a record for our youth volleyball program. We had 90% sign up on the last day. Youth volleyball will have 111 regular season matches and 80 tournament matches. T.A.A.F. Regionals will be held in Stephenville this year and the T.A.A.F. State Tournament will be held in Denton. The Mineral Wells Parks and Recreation will pay for the 1st place team of each age group to go to regionals. Kathy Boswell asked how many of the teams registered were from Mineral Wells. Mr. Tarkington estimated about 10 teams were from Mineral Wells. C.C.S. girls are still using our gym until they get through play offs. Once C.C.S. is done, then there will be more practice time available. The CCS boys have finished their season. Mr. Tarkington told the board that Luz Merino had come back from maternity leave and then gave us a two week notice that she was going to a different department. We were at full staff in 2 the gym for about three weeks. The city has posted on the position on the city website and Mr. Tarkington posted the position on Parks and Recreation Facebook page. Tracy McCloud was helping out the animal shelter and has returned to the parks division, now they are back up to full staff. Mr. Tarkington posted on the Facebook page about pickleball. We are offering pickleball for the month of February for free. We have had moderate interest, about 9-12 people have come to play each day. We have been putting the nets up for Tuesday morning and Thursday morning. Starting in March there will be a regular charge, same as everyone else. Mr. Tarkington inform the board that people have been playing in Weatherford. We could offer pickleball in the evening after youth volleyball is over. Mr. Tarkington told the board that the softball fields are beginning to look like ball fields. We purchased some ball field dirt but it wasn’t enough so had to purchase more. Melvin Flores and George Cliett have been working on the ball fields to get them ready for adult softball, and kickball. The Public Works department went and got the dirt so we wouldn’t have to pay a delivery fee. Melvin helped them out at Christmas hanging decorations. Mr. Tarkington told the board that he would all the fields ready for some practice time as well. Mr. Tarkington talked about field 3 being too much in disrepair to prepare. Mr. Tarkington was asked about the tennis courts behind the gym. He said he would like to get them resurfaced and marked for outdoor pickleball. He would also like to get the outdoor basketball court ready as well. Melvin and George replaced and repainted the poles and cables at West City Park. People can now pull up, unload and then go park. The parks crew also added a new barbeque grill at West City Park. They also added reflective tape to the poles. The parks crew added road base at the shelter. The parks crew repainted the ramps at the skate park. Dionna Garrett asked about the lights at the Skate Park. She stated that there were several of them that were not working. Mr. Tarkington wasn’t aware of them being out, told her that we would look into it. Gary worked at the activity center to be ready for renting. Mineral Wells Parks and Recreation got the go ahead to rent the building. AGENDA ITEM 5.0 Review of Southeast Park Project Andy Tarkington, Parks and Recreation Superintendent, informed the board about Southeast Park. Mr. Tarkington told the board about the new drawing for Southeast Park. Mr. Tarkington informed the board about wanting to add a splash pad to the concept plan. He didn’t want to add it to West City Park and take away from the pool revenue. Kathy asked what the cost of a splash pad would be for Southeast Park. Mr. Tarkington told her it could be about $130,000. He informed the board that he would like to go ahead with doing Park Open Space Plan. Mr. Tarkington told the board that he and Dionna Garrett had discussed some people and places that could help with money for Southeast Park. Mr. Tarkington gave Dionna the opportunity to explain what she and Mr. Tarkington have discussed. Dionna informed the board about talking with Wendell Privett of the New Lions Club. Dionna informed the board that Mr. Privett found out that Stephenville got $100,000 matching grant through Lions Club International. This club is a supporter of the blind; handicap people. Mr. Privett told her that the grant had to be between $10,000-$100,000. The only problem is that the money couldn’t be through the city. If the Parks Board could see about getting more information on where and what we could do through a grant. Dionna also mentioned to the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Class about raising money 3 for Southeast Park. Mr. Tarkington informed the board that we will get all of this done it just may take some time. Mr. Tarkington told the board about Proposition 5 passing in November. He informed the board that it was split up, half of the money goes to Parks and Wildlife and the other half goes to their grant programs. The maximum amount of small city grant is $75,000. The maximum amount of an Outdoor Grant is $500,000. The Parks and Wildlife Department are not planning to raise the amount of these grants, which is good due to the fact that these grants are very competitive. Mr. Tarkington suggested to the board that we should go for the Outdoor Grant which is $500,000, instead of the $75,000 grant. Kim asked Mr. Tarkington if we could go for both of the amounts of these grants. He told her that we couldn’t do that, they will not give two grants for the same project. Mr. Tarkington told the board that he may not do a full presentation of Southeast Park but would let the board know about the funds he receives for Southeast Park. Dionna Garrett told Mr. Tarkington and the board that she thought companies weren’t allowed to donate to the city. Mr. Tarkington told the board that he would talk with Mr. Criswell about getting naming rights to Southeast Park. Mr. Tarkington told the board he would let them know in a future meeting what he has found out. The naming rights would be for companies that have donated funds for any park project. Mr. Tarkington told the board that if he needs to make a presentation to the New Lions Club or any of the other clubs. Mr. Tarkington informed the board that David May, with the Rotary Club, is looking for speakers as well. AGENDA ITEM 6.0 Discussion of Future Agenda Items Kathy wants to include on the Mineral Wells Aquatics Center on the future agenda. Kim Houston asked about community service use on the future agenda. AGENDA ITEM 7.0 Criteria for Organizations Requesting Free or Reduced Fees for Facility Usage Mr. Tarkington showed the board a list of potential groups that could request fees waived on facility usage. Mr. Tarkington suggested that we should have a policy for waiving fees for some groups. Kim Houston informed the board that she didn’t have a problem with fees being waived but there should be certain criteria for fees to be waived. Mr. Tarkington informed the board that the U.S. Census that wanted to use our facilities declined because our technology wasn’t up to their standards. Mr. Tarkington told the board that Mr. Criswell is looking into that, and wants all city facilities to be WI-FI capable. Mr. Tarkington went over some examples of groups that might ask for fees to be waived. Kim asked where the Little League Association puts money besides their referees. Mr. Tarkington told her that they have donated quite a bit for the ball fields. Kathy explained that they do a lot for the baseball fields out at the park. Little League Association have put lights in, put new dirt in the infield, they have built new practice cages. The Little League Association has done some maintenance improvements at the fields. Mr. Tarkington told the board about a storm that blew out the lights at some of the fields, after insurance, paid for three light poles to be replaced, the Little League Association paid for one out of the four lights to be replaced. These light poles cost about $38,000 each. Mineral Wells Youth Association hasn’t donated to the ball fields, but want to use our fields and the West City Park ball fields. Kim asked why the Youth Association doesn’t use the fields out at the old Optimist 4 Club fields. Mr. Tarkington asked the board for their feedback on the fee request. Kim suggested certain ones could be waived and others have a much reduced rate. Kathy asked Mr. Tarkington what some of the policies were in the bigger cities that he worked in. Mr. Tarkington informed Kathy in many cities all charges had to be paid by renters, whether they were no-profits or not. Mr. Tarkington asked the board what their thoughts were on the one that was presented to them, Project Graduation. Kathy suggested that organizations that put back into the community could use the facilities with fees waived. Organizations like Project Graduation should pay a fee. Mr. Tarkington informed the board that the lights aren’t free. Kathy told the board that the more you give away is why we have so much maintenance for the city to fix and clean up. The board was unanimous that certain organizations should get fees waived or reduced. Other organizations should have to pay all fees. Kathy told the board that if the contract says what the fees are then they should abide by the contact. The consensus of the board that were still present was that the city should not endure a cost that the citizens have to pay for that is not reimbursed by the renting party. AGENDA ITEM 8.0 Other Business Mr. Tarkington informed the board that after Lauretta Poole resigned from the Parks Board, the Parks and Recreation Department posted on the city website a request for new applications for a new member. Peggy Clifton got about 15 responses. Mr. Tarkington recommended a former board member Jerry Hamilton. Mr. Tarkington was asked if there were any that he would disqualify, he said there were none that he could see. Kim told Mr. Tarkington about one that was on the new application was a former coach, he is at the Jr. High School, and his name is Neil Mesler. Kathy asked about one that was a Dr. Warren, a foot doctor. Mr. Tarkington said he saw his name on the list of applicants. Mr. Tarkington told the board that the City Council will decide who will be the next board member. Mr. Tarkington said he will let the board what he finds out about the new member at the next meeting. AGENDA ITEM 9.0 Adjournment Kathy Boswell asked for a motion for adjournment. Kim Houston made the motion. Parks board meeting was adjourned at 7:53 pm. 5