Parks and Recreation Meeting

MINUTES OF CITY OF WHARTON CITY COUNCII. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING City Hall, 120 East Caney Street, Wharton, Texas Monday, February 24, 2020 5: 30 pm City Manager Andres Garza, Jr. declared a meeting of the City Council Parks and Recreation Committee duly open for the transaction of business at 5: 30 p.m. Committee Members present were: Councilmember Russell Machann, Councilmember Steven Schneider and Councilmember Terry Freese. Committee Member absent was: None. Council Member present was: Mayor Tim Barker and Councilmember Clifford Jackson. Staff Members present were: City Manager Andres Garza, Jr., Finance Director Joan Andel, Assistant to the City Manager Brandi Jimenez, Community Development Director Gwyn Teves and Assistant to the Community Development Director Krystal Hasselmeier. Staff Members absent were: None. Visitors present were: Mr. Ron Sanders, Executive Director of the Wharton Chamber of Commerce and Ms. Sandy Sanders. The next item on the agenda was public comments. There were no public comments. The first item on the agenda was to review and consider minutes from the meeting held September 23, 2019. Councilmember Russell Machann made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Councilmember Terry Freese seconded. All voted in favor. The second item on the agenda was to review and consider Request by the City Staff for a Mini Mural Park. Community Development Director Gwyn Teves stated that the City Staff would like to implement a Mini Mural Park on Fulton Street behind the City Hall Building on current city owned property that is not being utilized. She stated that the mini park would contribute to the City' s Comprehensive Plan and activate a current dead space that is already being maintained by the Parks and Recreation Maintenance Department. She stated that if approved to proceed, City staff would also like to apply to the AARP Community Challenge 2020 Grant Program to fund this project. She stated that there was an opportunity to apply under the create a vibrant space category. City of Wharton Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting February 24, 2020 Page 2 of 2 After some discussion, Councilmember Terry Freese made a motion to recommend to the City Council the approval of a Mini Mural Park. Councilmember Russell Machann seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The third item on the agenda was to review and consider Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council authorizing the submission of an application to the AARP Community Challenge 2020 Grant Program and authorizing the Mayor of the City of Wharton to execute all documents related to said submission. Community Development Director Gwyn Teves stated to the Committee that the City staff would like to apply to the AARP Community Challenge 2020 Grant Program to fund the Mini Mural Park. She stated that there was an opportunity to apply under the create a vibrant space After category. some discussion, Councilmember Russell Machann made a motion to recommend to the City Council the approval of the submission of the application to the AARP Community Challenge 2020 Grant Program. Councilmember Steve Schneider seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The fourth item on the agenda was to review and consider Bi-weekly Food Truck Monday Event. Community Development Director Gwyn Teves stated to the Committee that the City Staff of the Community Development and Code Enforcement Departments were requesting a recommendation to City Council for permission to implement a bi-monthly Food Truck Monday event starting in the spring at Gulley Park. She stated that this project would lay the groundwork for multiple goals in the City of Wharton' s Comprehensive Plan, specifically related to encouraging and growing small/ local business development and increasing economic opportunities. She stated that in addition to the economic impact, hosting this event would attract more people to the central downtown area, which is the historical core of our city. In summary this event would increase the likelihood participants will invest in the local businesses of the area, could improve community pride, and it provides a food source on a day where other restaurants are typically closed. She stated that this event would help the City achieve goals around parks and recreation in that it establishes Guffey Park as an open and out-door ` market space' destination that can be utilized for future farmer' s markets, holiday markets, community garage sale/ swaps, or other public gathering opportunities that build community. She stated that this event would be small and inexpensive, yet a powerful way for the City to start the path towards positive and successful growth for our community. After some discussion, Councilmember Russell Machann made a motion to recommend to the City Council the approval of the bi-monthly Food Truck Mondays Event. Councilmember Terry Freese seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The fifth item on the agenda was adjournment. There being no further business to conduct Councilmember Steven Schneider moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmen Terry Freese seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 6: 00 p.m. An es Garza, Jr. Ciif M# 1ager 2