HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks And Recreation Advisory Committee - 11/14/2012PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting
November 14, 2012 5:00 p.m.
Sixth Floor Conference Room, City Hall
1201 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Members Present Members Absent Staff Present
Rita Padron Rick Barrera Michael Morris
Dorian Ramirez Stacie Talbert
Sylvia Samaniego
Lisa Torres
Richard Avila
Ron Woods
Carlos Valdez
Carlos Haney
Jinsun Kim
Huxley Smith
I. Call to Order
Chair, Lisa Torres called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm.
II. Roll Call of Members
The recording secretary called roll and announced a quorum was present.
III. Adoption of Minutes
Regular Meetings of September 12, 2012 and October 10, 2012.
Carlos Valdez Sr. motioned to accept minutes of September 12, 2012 and October 10, 2012 with attendance
amendments.
Huxley Smith seconded.
_ Minutes approved.
IV. Public Comment
Rita Padron commented on two issues. (1) Bayfront Park restrooms: Not handicap accessible, the doors are hard
to open and locked most of the time. (2) Stuart Alexandar Park: Busy with children, No parking lines, no lighting
and no police presence. Football scrimmages are held in the dark or lighting with parent's headlights. Coaches do
a trash roundup and leave field spotless after each practice /game. Whoever adopted the park should start
making some improvements. Solar lighting with timers and slow speed signs would help out with the problem.
Stacie Talbert stated that the adoption agreement has probably expired and will be revisited. Lisa Torres,
Chairperson, thanked Mrs. Padron and asked that she follow — up with an e-mail.
V. Presentation and Possible Action — No action
VI. Old Business and Possible Action
Artesian Park — Huxley reported no action taken.
VII. New Business and Possible Action
Rules and Regulations — R. Padron reported recommending a change to the Rules and Regulation ByLaws
wording which would allow the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee to mobilize to other City venues when
conducting official Parks business. Both M. Morris and L. Torres reported that previous discussion discouraged
moving the monthly meeting due to the concern that people who show up for public comment are aware that the
meeting is held monthly at City Hall. After some discussion, L. Torres recommended tabling the item with changes
and voting on it next month. Allowing staff to check with the City Secretary's Office /City Council on ordinances
and who has the final approval. Item was tabled.
PRAC Regular Meeting 11/13/12
VIII. Committee, Liaison /Staff Reports
• PSA, Finance /Marketing Task Force — Carlos
Haney, Lisa Torres, and Rick Barrera - no
report.
• Program Development Task Force — Ron
Woods, Sylvia Samaniego, Jinsun Kim, and
Rita Padron — no report.
• Volunteers Program Task Force — Rita
Padron - no report.
• Planning & Development Task Force — no
report.
• Athletics Task Force - Richard Avila, Rita
Padron, and Ron Woods — Richard Avila
reported will wait on Director's presentation on
Item b.
• TAC /Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee —
Huxley Smith — no report.
• Watershore & Beach Advisory Committee —
Lisa Torres — no report.
• Planning Department Liaison — Andrew Dimas
— no report.
• Police Department Liaison — Asst. Chief Garcia
— no report.
Director/ Assistant Director - Mike provided update.
a. Destination Bayfront — The Destination Bayfront group was approached with the idea of having a
PRAC member as liaison. The group appreciated the offer, but felt no need for an additional person
since they have developed a committee with the City Council. M. Morris reported still having some
voice because he and S. Talbert have been appointed to the committee.
b. Basketball Floor Donation — Contact was made with Texas A &M University- Corpus Christi with the
help of Mr. Avila. The University, purchased a new basketball court floor and was looking into getting
rid of the existing one. The basketball floor is currently in storage pending its new home. We are
awaiting a letter from the University officially donating it. Upon receipt the floor will be installed at Ben
Garza Gym. The donation was a savings of $100,000. M. Morris reported meeting up with the Athletic
Director and Sam Susser at another meeting and discussing the Stripes Logo on the floor because
Stripes helped sponsor the first floor. Once the floor is installed, he would like to take pictures and
forward them to Mr. Susser so he knows its location and use.
c. Oleander Point Statue — Presented by Dusty Durrell a year ago. The contractor to begin creating the
base to be completed by December then the artist will place the "Wind Dancer" sculpture. The work
may be completed by the end of the year.
d. Bond 2012 Results — The Park Bond Proposition passed. M. Morris and S. Talbert thanked R. Woods
and C. Haney for the awesome work with the Proposition Four TV Ad. Feedback was well received
from other City departments and other Parks & Recreation Departments across the state. Selection
Letters for Architects /Engineers assigned to the projects is underway. The process was conducted
upfront to save time and help move things along. Street item designs are currently being negotiated to
be completed by end of January '13. The February —March timeframe will start with other project
negotiations. Project Construction may take 1 — 1 '/2 years to start depending on project. R. Woods
reported receiving $150,000 from HEB to do a "band -aid" on the Tennis Center until the bond monies
come through. This will allow for tournaments to be conducted in a decent facility. With the economic
impact plus ongoing programs the center is in bad shape. The money will be used to resurface the
courts. R. Avila reported that being a good move because UIL tournament winners advance to State
from here in mid- April. If improvements get started between now and April and Cadillac upgrades the
following year. There have been concerns from tennis parents. S. Talbert asked that R. Woods meet
with staff regarding the contractor list and perhaps both could use the same one. M. Morris
recommended CCTA form a committee that would work with the City Bond committee as they work
through the Tennis Center project. This would help with alternative options on what to do with the
stadium whether to save, box or teardown. R. Woods reported this would access extra money from
USTA because it is a new project.
Bond Projects: (Tennis Centers) - Monies include $3,000,000 for HEB and Al Kruse Tennis Centers.
PRAC Regular Meeting 11/13/12
2
Most of it for HEB Tennis Center for much needed updates. (Parks) - Other projects to include 5
Community Parks (West Guth, Bill Witt /Oso Creek, H.P. Garcia /Salinas Park, Parker Park (Flour Bluff)
and Village Park (Island) with the emphasis on irrigation and landscaping. There were originally seven
parks but two have already been renovated. If money remains, a dog park at one or all of the parks
will be considered among other items. (Aquatic Facilities) — Two Swimming Pools in need of repairs
include West Guth and Collier. The design is similar to the new HEB pool style. Collier Pool needs
lap swim. We will keep the similar design for lap and have a different one for play. The contractors will
provide different options. D. Ramirez stated that kids cannot learn to swim in the HEB style pool. S.
Talbert reported that discussion was on addition at West Guth not conversion. Both pools will have a
combination of lap /play access. The 12 project breakdown will occur over a five year period. The City
Council determines the start order of the projects on December 11, 2012. The HEB Tennis Center will
be pushed in the discussion to be a starting project. C. Valdez asked, "Is there was going to be
communication to the citizens the duration of the projects "? So people can understand why it will take
five years for project completion. (Cole Park) — Plans to finish the Shoreline Restoration. (Swatner
Park) — There is a compromise in the seawall. Water is getting behind it causing erosion and
sidewalks are falling in. If funding remains, there are plans to do irrigation at that park. (Schanen Ditch
Hike and Bike Trail and Oso Creek/ Bear Lane Trail) R. Woods asked, "Once they demolish the
stadium at HEB can the concrete be used for places along the bay needing repair ?" D. Ramirez
reported a special permit would be required from the General Land Office.
IX. Identify items to be placed on next agenda
Rita Padron — ByLaws Rules and Regulations
Sylvia Samaniego - Tree Ordinance Update
Dorian Ramirez — Water Fountain Update (Cole Park to American Bank Center)
Carlos Valdez — Fishing Pier @ Cole Park
Rita Padron - City Council Presentation
Sylvia Samaniego - Master Calendar (meetings)
X. Adjournment
As there was no further business, R. Padron motions to adjourn the meeting, S. Samaniego seconds. Chair Lisa
Torres adjourns at 5:55 pm.
PRAC Regular Meeting 11/13/12