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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks And Recreation Advisory Committee - 04/21/1993 • V MINUTES PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE April 21. 1993 - 4:00 KM MEMBERS PRESENT: Toby Shor Oshman,Chairman,Jimmy Rodriguez,Vice-Chairman, Claude Axel, Gwen Bryant, Roger Garrison, Curtis Rich, Robert Rios, Gus Ruiz, Cefe Valenzuela MEMBERS ABSENT. Joe Garcia, Jack Ratkovic STAFF PRESENT Malcolm Matthews, Director, Dan Whitworth, Assistant Director for Programs, Judy Dreyer, Secretary. CALL TO ORDER: The regular monthly meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Training Room at City Hall. Chairman Shor Oshman noted a quorum was present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Mr.Axel moved that the minutes of March 10th be approved as received. Mr. Rich seconded and the motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF ABSENT MEMBERS FROM MARCH MEETING. Mr. Axel moved that Mrs. Bryant's absence be approved. Mr. Rich seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Axel moved that Mr. Rios' absence be excused. Mr. Valenzuela seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Action on Mr. Ratkovic's absence was held over until the May meeting. DISCUSSION ITEMS Goals and Objectives: Mrs. Bryant made the motion to delay this item to a future meeting due to the length of the agenda. The motion was seconded by Mr. Valenzuela and passed unanimously. �' .•r_.i.n .f Pr. ._, : .r An _ .. . , Pr. ur• 1,• Mr. Matthews reviewed the history of the adult softball program. He stated the City Council has discussed subsidy of adult athletics for two budget seasons. One of the areas targeted is adult softball and the Council members feel that subsidy should be reduced or eliminated. The City has attempted to raise the rates of the program a reasonable amount each year so that the program can continue to be offered. Staff looked at two things: 1) what could be done as a City to make adult softball recover more of its costs and 2) have the program operated by another party. Staff surveyed other cities, but there not does seem to be a trend. Staff developed a Request For Proposals on privatizing adult softball and informed the City Council that they would be looking at ways of improving the City program, separate from privatization, however, there was not much interest from the Council on this option. He pointed out how the status of softball has changed in the last ten years. During that time, the economy has changed, the Grandstands has been built and the number of corporate sponsors has declined. SCAN?11° i..® ri Currently, eleven fields are maintained out of the Park Maintenance activity; program costs are budgeted in the Athletics activity. When both direct and indirect costs are taken into consideration, adult softball is subsidized approximately 57%. The program has three seasons, eight games per season, including playoffs. Mr. Matthews then reviewed the specifics of the two proposals received for operation of the program. The Grandstands will need two fields at Greenwood in addition to their four-field complex. The C. C. Softball Association is looking at a four field operation, which takes over the softball program within the community; youth, senior, and adult. Therefore, the entire complex at Greenwood would be turned over to them. He also mentioned that the City currently has a contract with a food concessionaire which runs into 1994. Another issue that will have to be resolved is the fact that Grandstands sells alcohol which could impact the church leagues. The Committee questioned staff on the various issues with the proposal, such as the methods used by other cities,program changes, status of remaining fields at Greenwood and the alcohol question. Mr. Rios questioned if the organizations were operated as non-profit. Mr. Matthews explained that the C. C. Softball Association is non-profit to be operated by individuals who cumulatively have approximately 50 years experience. The Grandstands is a for-profit corporation, and Mr. Rich has been in operation for ten years. With either proposal the City will have some subsidy because of the infrastructure maintenance requirements, debt service, etc. Mr. Garrison commented he understood that staff would like the Committee's input, but questioned if it was not premature for the Committee to select either proposal at this time without having a firmer lease and more information on the City program. Mr. Whitworth then reviewed options available to the City. At this time Chairman Shor Oshman opened the floor for public comment. Mr. Lonnie Lanningham,4713 Alma, stated he had played softball for 20 years and has been an umpire for 7 years. He stressed the quality of the game by having two umpires at each game, as proposed by the C. C. Softball Association, rather than one, which is reflected in the Grandstands proposal. Mr. Robert Kenney, 4606 Lake Huron, introduced Robert E. Lee, ASA Commissioner for District 21, stating Mr. Lee has been involved in softball for many years. Mr. Lee, 715 S. Alamo, stated he has been involved with softball since 1966, is past president of the Softball Association and the Umpires' Association. He stated his main concern is the youth. Mr. Kenney stated he started the slow pitch softball program in the city in 1966 and addressed the importance of maintaining affiliation with the Amateur Softball Association and Texas Amateur Athletic Federation because of the regulations established by those organizations. He added that he started with 6 teams in 1966 and at the time of his retirement of the City, there were 440 teams, so he was familiar with promotion of the program. Mr. Harry Falcon, 915 Driftwood, stated he is an umpire and has umpired games at both the Grandstands and for the City. He stated it is his observation that the City is spending a large amount of its budget on maintenance and suggested that maintenance be contracted out. He stated he hoped the City would not drop the whole program, as he felt there was room for improvement. He also expressed his concern over any possible conflict of interest Mr. Rich may have with any of the Committee members or members of the City Council as he sits on the Advisory Committee. Mr. W. E. Dehu, 5230 Kostoryz, pointed out that the City will still subsidize the program regardless of the proposal they adopt. He stated that approximately 30 years ago, alcohol was allowed and the fights had to be broken up on a regular basis. He firmly asserted his feeling that alcohol and softball do not mix. He stated that youth and adults would both be playing at Greenwood and the youth should not be exposed to watching the adults consume alcohol. Mr. Rey Daniel, 117 W. Capano, Mathis, stated he has played in several surrounding communities and at the Grandstands. He left the Grandstands because of the alcohol issue. He continued that from an umpire's standpoint, only one umpire cannot see everything going on the field and the quality of the game is greatly improved with two umpires. Mr. Curtis Rich, stated he endorsed staffs recommendation and strongly recommended it to the Committee. He pointed out he has been working very hard on this proposal for the past few years. He stated he felt staff had evaluated every possible scenario and made a good recommendation, continuing he was being attacked as an endorser of beer drinking, but in reality there has never been one alcohol-related incident at the Grandstands. Mr. Mike Sahadi, 602 Pasadena, President of the C. C. Umpires Association, stated that when the issue was first discussed with the umpires, the unanimous decision was made that the organization would not work at the Grandstands, if given the contract. He added that his employer,Cit-go Refining Co. sponsors four teams, but will not sponsor the teams if they play at the Grandstands. Chairman Shor Oshman closed the meeting to public comment at this time. Discussion continued and Mrs. Bryant moved that the staff develop separate agreements with both the C. C. Softball Association and the Grandstands and develop program enhancements to reduce the subsidy for City retention of the program. Mr. Axel seconded and the motion passed with Vice-Chairman Rodriguez voting "no." The item was scheduled for the next regularly scheduled Committee meeting on May 12th. Discussion of Bayfest Contract- Mrs. Mary Ann Rhodes, Executive Director of Bayfest and Mr. Duncan Samo, General Chairman, addressed the Committee with a request to amend the Bayfest contract to charge an admission fee of $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for seniors. There would be no charge for children 12 years and under. Mr. Samo stated their general fund has continued to be depleted and without the proposed fee, they cannot continue to operate. Mrs. Rhodes stated their organization had surveyed 17 festivals similar to the size of Bayfest and of those seventeen, twelve charge an admission fee. Plans currently call for a time period on both days where visitors could enter without paying an entry fee. Bayfest will look for a corporate sponsor for this no-charge window. It was stated that last year the contract was amended to allow for a donation, at which time the City Council questioned if a gate fee was appropriate. Bayfest agreed to attempt the donation method first. A brief discussion followed and Mr. Garrison moved that the Committee approve the request to amend the contract, subject details being approved by staff. Mr. Bryant seconded and the motion passed unanimously. DIRECTOR'S REPORT- Mr. Matthews reported on the status of HB 706, stating it had passed the Ways and Means Committee. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT- The Chairman advised the Planning Subcommittee should meet soon to discuss the Southeast Area Development Plan. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS- None. CURRENT CONCFRNS• None. HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC: None. ADJOURNMENT- As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Areguhat- Malcolm Matthews, Director Park & Recreation Department aprnun.p&r/jd31