Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

The Parks Advisory Board met in regular session on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Annex. MINUTES Board Members Present Kathy Boswell Mandy Edwards Kim Houston James Hailey Board Member Absent Amber Kunes City Staff Present Andy Tarkington, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Terrie Ortiz, Parks and Recreation Clerk AGENDA ITEM 1.0 Call to Order Kathy Boswell called the meeting to order. The meeting began at 6:02 pm. AGENDA ITEM 2.0 Approval of Minutes Kathy Boswell called for motion to approve the January minutes. Kim Houston made a motion. Mandy Edwards seconded his motion. The minutes were approved by unanimous vote. AGENDA ITEM 3.0 Hear Comments From the Parks Board About Park Playground Replacement Recommendations by Whirlix Andy Tarkington talked to the board about Whirlix’s recommendations. Andy asked the board what their thoughts were about the plans that Whirlix sent. Andy told the board that Whirlix was going to give him add alternate cost for a splash pad. Andy told the board that when he gets the information he will send that out to the board members. He told the board then they can decide if a splash pad is worth having or not. Kathy Boswell asked Andy how much he thought it would cost. Andy explained to the board that the cost could be an issue, due to the fact that at Southeast Park we would have to re-circulate the water. Andy told the board that the Director of Public Works, Bob Neal, said the water would have to be re-circulated. It cannot run into the gutter system. Andy went on to tell the board that it will almost double the price at Southeast 1 Park, from $200,000 to about $400,000. Mandy Edwards asked if is because of the way the water system is set up or is it a Public Works issue. Andy told the board that the splash pad would be like a pool. It would have to have chlorinated water. Andy said that water cannot run into the gutter system. Andy told the board that re-circulating the water would be the better way to run a splash pad. He also told the board that if there were any water restrictions the splash pad would follow the same rules. Kathy Boswell asked if the splash pad was going to be at Southeast Park. Kim Houston thought it was going to be by the pool at West City Park. Kim stated that the reason she thought the splash pad was going to be at West City Park was there are more access to West City Park than Southeast Park. Andy told the board that in his opinion a splash pad could hurt the pool admissions. Kathy stated that the big kids will like the splash pad at Southeast Park as much as the little children. Andy reminded the board that as soon as he gets the plans and cost for the splash pad he will get it to the Parks Board. Andy asked the board what their overall thought was on what Whirlix presented. The board was impressed with the plans from Whirlix. James Hailey told Andy that the only thing he felt was missing was a swing that would hold a wheelchair. Andy told James and the board that he would talk to Whirlix about the swing. Andy asked the board if they would like the wheelchair swing at the West City Park for the all-inclusive playground. The board was unanimous about the wheelchair handicap swing. Kim asked Andy about the price for the all-inclusive playground, because all the board had was the price for Southeast Park. Andy has the information and said he will get it to the board. Andy informed the board that without the splash pad the cost for both parks was less than $1 million dollars. Andy informed the board that he thinks it is amenity for the City to have a splash pad. The board agreed with Andy. Andy told the board that most Parks and Recreation have a splash pad system. The board told Andy that people will drive to Weatherford, TX to take their children to their splash pad. James Hailey and the board agreed with Andy that putting a splash pad at Southeast Park would be better since West City Park was going to be an all-inclusive park. AGENDA ITEM 4.0 Consider and Possibly Take Appropriate Action on a Staff Proposal to Cancel or Postpone the March 2021 Parks Board Meeting due to a Staff Absence Andy told the board that Texas Recreation Parks Society is having a conference. Andy informed the board that they have been information deficit over the last year due to not being able to get together. Andy told the board that the conference was being held March 10-13 and he would not be in attendance for the Parks Board meeting. Kathy asked the board if they approve. Kathy asked for a motion to cancel the March Parks Board Meeting. James Hailey made the motion. Mandy Edwards seconded the motion. The cancellation of the March meeting was approved by unanimous vote. The next Parks Board meeting will be held April 14, 2021. AGENDA ITEM 5.0 Hear the Presentation of the Parks Projects Completed This Winter Andy told the board about the projects that the parks crew have been doing this winter. Andy informed the board about the steps that were put in at the Little League fields. Kathy Boswell asked if they did more than one set. Andy told the board that right now there is only one set of 2 steps, we can add more later. Kathy Boswell told Andy that the new steps the parks crew put in at the Little League field were going to be a big help with getting down to the fields without falling. Andy told the board about the walking and jogging trail at West City Park. Andy told the board that the parks crew, with the help of the Street Department, put concrete in for the trail instead of asphalt. The board was also happy about the new walking and jogging trail at West City Park, by the American Legion. Andy informed the board about the playground border that the parks crew added. Andy told the board that they replaced the wooden railroad ties that were around the playground equipment. James Hailey how deep in the ground did the border that went around the playground equipment go down. Andy told James and the board that the border went in the ground about 5” or 6” inches deep. Andy explained to the board members that the border replaced the wood ties that were around the playground equipment. Andy told the board about a piece of equipment that was vandalized. He told them that the replacement piece was so clear that we had to put a piece of reflective tape on it so no one would get hurt. Andy let the board know that another project that is about to be completed. Andy told the board that the Parks crew with the help of the Street Department, put in barrier poles at West City Park to keep people from driving on the grass at the park. Andy informed the board that the Little League told him about people driving up to the fields and blocking the batting cages. Andy told the board that the parks crew would have to fill in the ruts from people driving on the grass, so they put barrier poles in that area as well. Andy informed the board that the parks crew were almost done just have to get the cable run through the poles. Andy told the board that the cable should be finished within the next week. Kathy asked if the barrier poles were going to in the parking areas. Andy told the board that the poles were only to keep people from driving onto areas that are not for parking. Kathy asked if the Little League is responsible for the maintenance of the fields. Andy explained that the Little League maintains the infields, but the city is responsible for the fields. Andy told the board that he spoke with Rick Morris, President of the Little League, and he is taking care of the infields. Andy informed the board that Parks and Recreation has an agreement with the Little League, they have been maintaining the fields and improving the park and the Parks and Recreation Department does not charge them. AGENDA ITEM 6.0 Hear Announcement of Park Board Term Expiration and Process for Serving Two Additional Years Andy explained to the board that all of the board members terms are expiring. Andy told the board commissions in other cities have staggered terms. The city of Mineral Wells has everyone on the same term. Amber Kunes just joined the Parks Board, she filled an unexpired term. Andy explained that Amber took over for a board member that had to resign. Andy told the board members that he talked with Peggy Clifton, the City Clerk, she told Andy that the City Council members have requested that all board members turn in a new application. Andy told 3 the board that most of the people on the boards the council did not know them and someone may have changed their interest while on the boards. The City Council is asking everyone that is serving on a board to re-submit. Andy informed the board that the council will discuss all board members at the City Council meeting in March. AGENDA ITEM 7.0 Hear the Presentation of the Parks, Recreation and Fossil Park Report Andy told the board about Stormy Smith will be resigning as the Recreation Coordinator. Andy read the report of the Parks, Recreation and Fossil Park. Kathy asked Andy about the Mineral Wells Youth Sports Association agreeing with the Parks Board recommendation of the contract for the use of the gym. Andy informed the board that they did agree. Their season ended February 6, 2021 at the gym. Recreation Department will start the youth volleyball games February 13, 2021. Kim Houston asked if Community Christian School were having their play-off games at the gym. Andy informed the board that C.C.S. will be ending their season on February 19, 2021. Andy informed the board that winter time is when we can get projects done. Kim asked Andy if we could get a marker to tell how far a person has walked around the park. Andy told the board that he would look into that. Kathy asked Andy about the wilderness trail, she wanted to know how much of the property does the city still have. Andy told the board as far as he knew the city still has the trails. Kathy told the board that the trail looked grown up with weeds. Andy informed the board that the Wilderness trail is to be kept in its natural state. Kathy told Andy she meant that the trails are over taken with weeds. Andy told the board that we would look into the maintenance for the trails. Mandy asked Andy if the wilderness trails were included in Flying Tire Bicycle Guide. The owner of the Flying Tire Bicycle Shop in Weatherford would like to connect all of the new trails to the Rails to Trails, and to Lions Park. Andy told the board that he heard that this man wanted to do all of these trails at one of the council meetings. AGENDA ITEM 8.0 Hear Parks and Recreation Board Ideas for Future Agenda Items Kathy asked if there were any other future agenda items other than Andy bringing back the revised designs from Whilix about the splash pad. James Hailey asked about the parks and open space plan. Andy told the board that it was in the Parks Board meeting minutes that were presented to the City Council at the council meeting in December, but it was not addressed. Andy told the board that next time he gets to talk to Mr. Criswell, the City Manager, to ask the City Council to address the parks and open space plan. 4 AGENDA ITEM 9.0 Adjournment Kathy Boswell asked for a motion to adjourn. Mandy Edwards made the motion. James Hailey second the motion. The parks board unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting at 6:52 p.m. 5