Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

The Parks Advisory Board met in regular session on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Annex. MINUTES Board Members Present Katherine Boswell, Chairman James Hailey Mandy Edwards Amber Kunes Board Member Absent Kim Houston City Staff Present Andy Tarkington Parks and Recreation Superintendent Terrie Ortiz, Parks and Recreation Clerk Stormy Smith, Recreation Coordinator Guest Present None AGENDA ITEM 1.0 Call to Order Kathy Boswell called the meeting to order. The meeting began at 6:00 pm. AGENDA ITEM 2.0 Approval of Minutes Kathy Boswell called for motion to approve the March minutes. James Hailey made a motion. Mandy Edwards second his motion. The minutes were approved by unanimous vote. AGENDA ITEM 3.0 Parks and Recreation Report Andy Tarkington read the report and informed the board of the activities that have been going on because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Andy let the board know that the Recreation division of the department went out into the field and help the parks crew with the weedeating and mowing that had to be done. Autumn McKennon and Terrie Ortiz helped Tracy McCloud at the Ft Wolters 1 area. The areas that they helped Tracy include: ball fields, the Wolters entrance to Ft Wolters, the road ways around Ft Wolters, the Veterans memorial median, the gym and the activity center. Jill Davis assisted George Cliett and Melvin Flores at West City Park and the areas that they work, which are: the animal shelter, commons, east median, highway 180 median, Southeast Park and the downtown areas. Andy also informed the board that Stormy Smith has been working very hard on getting lifeguards hired so that the Aquatics Center can be opened for the summer. Andy told the board that the gym opened back up on May 18, 2020. He informed the board of the gym practicing social distancing. The weight room was the only part of the gym that was opened on May 18. Andy told the board that patrons were required to wear full finger gloves. Basketball court remained closed until the Governor allowed it to open on June 8th. Andy informed the board that the pool would be opening June 19, 2020. Andy told the board that Gary Christian has been working on pool maintenance to have it ready for opening day. Andy let the board know that Melvin and George took out the railroad ties from around the play area at West City Park and Southeast Park, and replaced them with new plastic boarders. Andy also told the board about Melvin and George also opening up the Little League fields, putting the basketball goals and the sand volleyball net back up on June 1, 2020. James Hailey asked Andy about the sand filter tanks at the pool. James asked if Andy thought they were going to hold up through the pool season. Andy informed the board that he thought the tanks would hold up and depending on the next budget year he would get them in so we could get them replaced. AGENDA ITEM 4.0 Update on Covid-19 Reopening Parks and Recreation Facilities From Closures Related to Covid-19 Pandemic Andy informed the board that we had to close the gym on March 18, 2020. He let the board know that we reopened the gym to the public on May 18, 2020. We had cleaning bottles and paper towel dispensers put throughout the weight room so that the customers could wipe down the equipment after they used it. The customers were required to practice social distancing in the weight room, plus wear full fingered gloves, not latex gloves. The gym staff are cleaning after the customers too. The restrooms and weight room are to be cleaned every 2 hours. The basketball court reopened on June 8. Andy informed the board that the pool will open on June 19, 2020. Stormy has hired a few extra people to monitor social distancing and perform extra cleaning. Kathy Boswell asked if we would continue to have board meetings. Andy informed them that we would, but we would practice social distancing and wear mask to the meeting. The locker rooms at the city gym will remain closed to the public. The patrons will have to use the front restrooms. The saunas will remain closed until further notice. The rest rooms at the pool can be used, but all showers will be closed, that includes the outside showers as well. AGENDA ITEM 5.0 Review of Southeast Park Project Andy informed the board about Mr. Randy Criswell, City Manager, finding out that Southeast Park project is going to cost over a million dollars. James Hailey and Kathy Boswell have done some research on the handicap areas for Southeast Park. Andy informed the board the he is 2 working on getting the Parks and Open Space Plan in the budget. Andy explained that without the Parks and Open Space Plan that the city can’t move forward on the grant applications. Andy informed the board that he has been checking on the price for Parks and Open Space Plan and it would be about $25,000 to $33,000 for the plan. Andy would like to include the Parks and Open Space Plan in the budget for this upcoming year. When the Parks and Open Space plan is complete we will send it to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and they choose whether to accept our plan or not. It is very competitive to get a grant approved for funding. Once we are accepted, then we can apply for grants. Andy explained that a contracted firm would come in and assist us in completing the Parks and Open Space plan. James Hailey asked what is needed from the committee to ensure that we could get a Parks and Open Space plan. Stormy Smith suggested putting out a questionnaire to the citizens of town. Andy is hoping that we could move forward by October and have a firm to help complete the plan by December. AGENDA ITEM 6.0 Discussion of Future Agenda Items Kathy asked that any other suggestion be sent to Terrie Ortiz to be put on next agenda items. Kathy asked if anyone had suggestions for future agenda items, no suggestions were given. AGENDA ITEM 7.0 Other Business James Hailey told Andy about a Pickleball tournament that was ESPN. Kathy suggested that we need to do pickleball outside. Andy let the board know that the COVID–19 pandemic has ruined the sports for Parks and Recreation Department during the spring. Andy told the board that hopefully we can start up softball and kickball again in the fall. Andy told the board that we had softball again after eight years of it not making. Then, we had to cancel the spring season due to the pandemic. He let the board know that some of the teams had us hold on to their entry fees for the next season. Andy let the board know that we did get the basketball season finished before shutting down for the COVID – 19 pandemic. AGENDA ITEM 8.0 Adjournment Kathy Boswell asked for a motion for adjournment. Mandy Edwards made the motion. James Hailey second the motion. The parks board meeting was adjourned at 6:45 pm. 3