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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes Parks And Recreation Advisory Committee - 04/11/2012PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Regular Meeting April 11, 2012,5:00 p.m. Sixth Floor Conference Room, City Hall 1201 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Members Present Members Absent Staff Present Carlos Haney Richard Avila Stacie Talbert Rita Padron Tracey Weber Dorian Ramirez Sylvia Samaniego Huxley Smith Rick Barrera Lisa Torres Jinsun Kim Richard Avila Ron Woods Rene Gutierrez I. Call to Order Vice Chair, Carlos Haney called the meeting to order at 5:05 pm. II. Roll Call of Members The recording secretary called roll and announced a quorum was present. III. Adoption of Minutes Regular meeting of March 14, 2012 Rita Padron motioned to accept March 14, 2012 minutes. Sylvia Samaniego seconded. Minutes approved IV. Public Comment Carlos Haney, Vice Chair resigned the gavel momentarily to Rick Barrera to make public comment in reference to an email received from Art Norman about almost being run over earlier in the week in Oso Creek Park and the inability for police officers to get into the park to follow the offenders because they responded in police cruisers. Mr. Haney is speaking on behalf of Art Norman to begin dialogue regarding this situation. Rick Barrera returns gavel to Carlos Haney, Vice Chair. V. Old Business for Discussion A. Plans for Artesian Park — Huxley Smith • Huxley spoke with Joe Hernandez and the irrigation system in the park is not yet complete, but should be in the next week. • PRAC has not had an Artesian Park workday in several months due to the water issue. • A few issues related to Beautify Corpus Christi's involvement in the Artesian Park have occurred • Stacie Talbert to follow up with current chairman of BCCA and when irrigation will complete • Rita Padron motions to table discussion until Stacie can provide updates. Huxley Smith seconds. Item tabled. PRAC Regular Meeting 04/11/12 1 VI. Old Business for Discussion and Possible Action A. Ban the Bag — Sylvia Samaniego Sylvia would like for PRAC support toward the Ban the Bag Initiative. After some discussion and an overall Committee wish for more information regarding this initiative, Sylvia motioned to make a resolution to support any anti litter initiative taken up by The City of Corpus Christi, to include plastic and other non biodegradable materials to reduce their impact on our environment. Rita Padron seconds the motion. Motion approved. VII. New Business for Discussion A. Parker Pool — Chair, Lisa Torres Chair, Lisa Torres opens the floor to the Committee for questions regarding Parker Pool. • Stacie Talbert provided some information about the reasons for the closing of Parker Pool, citing structural issues, costly maintenance and lack of funding. Parker Pool will remain open for Summer 2012, but will close after that. The Committee asked several questions such as: • What determines pool closures; is geography taken into account • Can we cut pool costs by turning pumps off when not being used? • Can pool equipment be stored away out of the elements during the off season to prevent having to replace those expensive items as often? • Has the department looked at closing other pools where there are a cluster of facilities, rather than Parker Pool. • Who is included in the pool closing decision making process? • What happens to the pool when it is closed? • Cost estimates to repair Parker Pool? Some answers provided were: • Geography is taken into account • Structural issues not a safety hazard, but constant filling of the pool and the chemicals to treat that water is costly • PARD has shifted funds to open other facilities • Staff makes recommendations....... • A pool is drained and filled with sand when it is closed Some possible solutions: • Partnerships with other entities to keep the pool open • Leasing out the pool • Parks Master Plan • Turning the closed pool into a splash pad VIII. New Business for Discussion and Possible Action A. Neighborhood Bond Parks: Plan to visit one park in each district — Rita Padron Rita requested that this item be tabled as she needed to leave. IX. Committee, Liaison /Staff Reports Finance /Marketing Task Force — Rick Barrera, Rene Gutierrez — no report Athletics Task Force - Richard Avila, Rita Padron, Ron Woods — no report Program Development Task Force — Ron Woods, Sylvia Samaniego, Jinsun Kim, Rita Padron — Rita sent 49 letters for Golden Millenium Olympics - checks to go to PALS Olympics. Earth Day Bay Day May 21 10 a -5p. Texas Arbor Day Aprll 27. Proclamation on April 24, 2012. 12,000 in 2012 raised $1200 to purchase trees and Gator Bags, will have booth at Earth Day Bay Day. PSA Task Force — Carlos Haney, Lisa Torres, Rene Gutierrez - No report PRAC Regular Meeting 04/11/12 2 Approximately 2800 hundred trees have been planted. Also being purchased are tags that will be placed on trees at Turners so that people who purchase them can call and record their tree that they planted. Volunteers Program Task Force — Rita Padron —. TAC /Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee — No report Huxley Smith — Safe passage ordinance on the agenda again. Not certain when it will go to Council. A planner has been assigned from the Engineering Dept. to write a complete street ordinance which will include bike lanes. Special ProiectTask Force — Lisa Torres — no report Watershore & Beach Advisory Committee — Lisa Torres — no report Planninq & Development Task Force — Dorian Ramirez, Carlos Haney, Rick Barrera, Rita Padron — no report Director/ Assistant Director - a. Spring Break Report — Stacie Talbert — The CVB reported an estimated 195,000 visitors to the beach for Spring Break 2012. 14,000 Beach parking permits were sold, 85 tons of trash were removed from the beach. EOC, which activates during emergency situations and some special events opened. There were no major accidents reported. b. Labonte Park Update — 111 Camping permits out of 132 were sold. Structure of having "campsites" was good and there was less trash. The press was very helpful in getting the word out. There were some initial outlay expenses so the fees collected will not cover all of the expenses this year. c. Volunteer work days for April and May • April 14 — clean up at Oso Creek 1 & 2 and the initial cleanup for Oso Bay Learning Center and Wetland Preserve April 21 — Edge garden at Lindale Park May 7 — Lindale Park — 9 -am — 11 am workday and afternoon dedication May 19 — National Kids Play in the Park Day — Proclamation. Re grand opening of HEB Pool, and ribbon cutting at the new playground at HEB Park — HEB Complex 10 am —all day event VIII. Identify items to be placed on next agenda Ron — Master Plan Update — May or June Lisa — mowing schedule Huxley — Artesian Park IX. Adjournment As there was no further business, Sylvia Samaniego motions to adjourn the meeting, Huxley Smith seconds. Chair Lisa Torres adjourns at 6:41 pm. Michael Morris, Director Parks & Recreation Department PRAC Regular Meeting 04/11/12 3