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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks And Recreation Advisory Committee - 02/10/1999 S. W S PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Regular Monthly Meeting Wednesday. February 10, 1999—5:00 p.m. City Hall Committee Room - 1201 Leopard Street, Corpus Christi,Texas Memherc Ahcent Chaff John Dunn Robert Gross Joe Ochoa Marco A.Cisneros Robert Ibarra JoAnne McNeill Dan Whitworth Vic Menard Marvin Spears Mike Gordon Mae Milligan Oscar Hinojosa Carlos Mendez Gerardo Alvarez Billy Olivarez Adelle Ives CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Vic Menard called the regular February meeting of the Park & Recreation Advisory Committee to order at 5:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: The recording secretary called roll and announced that a quorum was present. (Chair Menard deviated from the regular order of business to welcome both the new Park and Recreation Advisory Committee member, Gerardo Alvarez, and the new Park and Recreation Department Director, Marco A. "Tony " Cisneros.) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Robert Ibarra moved to approve the minutes for the regular January monthly meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee. Mae Milligan seconded and the motion carried. ACTION ON ABSENCES: Chair Menard questioned the recording secretary whether any of the absent members,John Dunn, Robert Gross,Joe Ochoa, and Billy Olivarez, had contacted the Park and Recreation Department offices to inform the Committee they would not be able to attend. The recording secretary informed Chair Menard that Mr. Dunne, Mr. Gross and Mr. Olivarez had contacted the Park and Recreation Offices regarding their attendance of the January meeting. The recording secretary informed the Chair she had contacted Mr. Ochoa's office to remind him of the meeting and was informed by his staff he was not going to be able to attend as he had a conflicting business meeting scheduled. John Dunn reported to the Committee his absence for the January regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee was due to illness. Mr. Gross' absence was due to a conflicting work related meeting scheduled. Mr. Olivarez called prior to the meeting to inform staff of a death in his family requiring him to miss the January meeting. Robert Ibarra moved to excuse Mr. Dunn, Mr. Gross, Mr. Ochoa and Mr. Olivarez absences from the January meeting. JoAnne McNeill seconded and the motion carried. PRESENTATION OF "YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNITED": Dr. Phil Rhoades, Professor of Criminal Justice for Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi and member of the Commission on Children and Youth's Comprehensive Strategy Data Collection Group, gave a presentation regarding the Youth Opportunities United (Y.O.U.) Project. Dr. Rhoades began his presentation with a video explaining the Y.O.U. Project,which was created to meet the needs of youth. After the Committee viewed the video,Dr. Rhoades went on to make a PowerPoint presentation to explain the details of the Y.O.U. Project and its goals. Dr. Rhoades stated the project is a planning process that should lead directly to action. Dr. Rhoades specified the information gathered would \/ \/ Park & Recreation Advisory Committee Regular Meeting—February 10, 1999 Page 2 be a 5-year plan of action for Corpus Christi and Nueces County to reduce delinquency, child abuse and to improve education attainment. Dr. Rhoades indicated these risk factors since the Y.O.U. process comes from the Commission on Children and Youth's Master Plan. Dr. Rhoades reported the Master Plan had three major goals: prevention of child abuse,preventing of the victimizing of children, and to increase the education attainment level of Corpus Christi children and youth. Dr. Rhoades commented the Commission on Children and Youth developed the Comprehensive Strategy, which focuses on these issues through juvenile delinquency. Dr. Rhoades stated the Comprehensive Strategy's three goals are to improve the quality of life in Corpus Christi. Dr. Rhoades reported the process links risk factors such as alcoholism, drug abuse and teen pregnancy to a range of preventative factors to begin intervention sooner. Dr. Rhoades went on to give more information to the Committee compiled by the Data Group of the Comprehensive Strategy including the four priority risk factors: 1. Family violence; 2. Extreme economic deprivation; 3. Early academic failure and lack of commitment at school; and, 4. Early initiating of problem behavior. After giving the top four risk factors,Dr. Rhoades gave an outline of programs in place that intervene for the children. Dr. Rhoades heard questions from the Committee members explaining more of the processes of the program. Dr. Rhoades also stated within the next five years, the Master Plan would be moving towards a strategic plan beginning June 30, 1999. Dr. Rhoades informed the Committee the program would be funded by a grant of$290,000,which a steering committee would administer. Dr.Rhoades and Dan Whitworth gave the Committee more information regarding the manner funding would be applied for and on the distribution of funds once the grant was approved. DISCUSSION OF 25Th YEAR CDBG SUBMITTAL: Carlos Mendez, Park Planning Superintendent,gave an update on the Community Development Block Grant Projects Program. Mr. Mendez gave more clarification of each project from the list mailed to members. Discussion was heard on the projects. Marvin Spears discussed the manner in which the projects were placed on the priority list. Mr. Mendez also reported on a new youth center, which would be located in the T.C. Ayers area. Mr. Mendez stated this project was not included on the priority list as he was waiting the completion of the Engineering Department survey. Mr. Mendez stated the funding for this center would be coming from TPWD. Mr. Mendez also informed the Committee that a manpower limitation is a problem in applying for these grants. Discussion was heard on these topics. Mae Milligan felt the area that is being cleared away by the refineries would be a good location for the new youth center. Chair Menard requested more information on the survey from Engineering. Chair Menard requested input from the Committee on the recommended CDBG priorities. Robert Ibarra, member of the Park Committee's Planning 110 1111110 Park & Recreation Advisory Committee Regular Meeting— February 10, 1999 Page 3 Subcommittee, requested to change the dollar amount of the Central Kitchen to reflect a total of $150,000. Chair Menard moved to change the dollar amount for the Central Kitchen from$150,000 to $600,000. Robert Ibarra seconded. Discussion was heard on the order of priority items and funding totals. In the discussion held by the Committee, Mike Gordon, Assistant Director of Operations, a suggestion was offered that would best suit the priority needs of Committee. Chair Menard withdrew his motion to change the dollar amount for the Central Kitchen from $150,000 to $600,000. Chair Menard moved to change the priority list as follows: 1. Neighborhood Parks (including the Ben Garza project) $300,000 2. H.E.B. Tennis Improvements $250,000 3. Central Kitchen(new facility) $500,000 4. ADA/Collier, Anderson, Lakeview $150,000 5. T.C.Ayers surfacing, lighting, ADA, site $ 75,000 6. Old Bayview Cemetery $ 35,000 7. Gold Star $ 25,000 8. Southside Senior Center $900,000 9. Art Zavala/Coppini Sculpture $ 35,000 10. State School sports Complex $300,000 TOTAL $2,370,000 Robert Ibarra seconded and the motion carried. Mr. Mendez mentioned to the Committee the deadline for CDBG submittals would be February 12, 1999. (Chair Menard changed the order of business in order to hear from the public present.) HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC: Jennifer Lorenz, 637 Atlantic, Corpus Christi, Texas, Executive Director for the Coastal Bend organization which works at protecting bays and estuaries addressed the Committee. At present,Ms. Lorenz's organization is providing signs for the refuge. Ms.Lorenz came before the Committee to honor Mrs. Suter for her many years of dedication as an active naturalist and conservationist by requesting the renaming of the Hans Suter Wildlife Refuge to the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge. Ms. Lorenz would like to have a dedication ceremony honoring Mrs. Suter on April 22 and requested the approval of the Committee. Ms. Lorenz has the support of many local conservation organizations and agencies. The consensus of the Committee was to ask that Ms. Lorenz follow the established process for the renaming of the park. Chair Menard requested Ms. Lorenz to submit the necessary forms and paperwork to the city staff in order to begin the 60- day waiting period necessary for the renaming of a city facility. Mr. Menard felt that if the necessary paperwork were submitted expeditiously, the approval of the renaming of the park would be on the regular April, 1999 agenda. - teeif Park & Recreation Advisory Committee Regular Meeting—February 10, 1999 Page 4 DISCUSSION OF SPECIAL EVENTS POLICY: Dan Whitworth reported on the Special Events Policy. Committee members were given a copy of the revised policy. Discussion and questions were heard on this topic. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Marco A. "Tony" Cisneros, new Director for park and recreation, commended Mr. Whitworth for his hard work in running the Department prior to his arrival. Mr. Cisneros also commented to the Committee his views regarding the outstanding staff of the Corpus Christi Park and Recreation Department. Mr. Cisneros also went on to state that from time to time the staff would be calling on the Committee to help bring issues to City Council's attention. Chair Menard concurred with Mr. Cisneros' comment regarding the park and recreation staff. Chair Menard also asked staff to keep the Committee informed on issues. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: Mr. Gordon reported to the Committee of the upcoming Planning Commission subcommittee meeting. Mr. Gordon felt it would be beneficial for the Committee's Planning Subcommittee to attend in order to voice the Committees concerns on park maintenance. Mr. Gordon reported the meeting would be held on February 18, 1999 at 5 p.m. Chair Menard thanked the Committee's Planning Subcommittee for their work on the CDBG priority list. CURRENT CONCERNS: Robert Gross asked if staff was working on the problem at Hans Suter Wildlife Refuge. Mr. Cisneros responded he would check on the matter and report back to the Committee at the next meeting. (Mae Milligan left at 7:20 p.m) Chair Menard inquired of staff on the status of the long-range plans for Park and Recreation. Chair Menard also requested an update on Capital Improvement Projects. Mr. Cisneros stated these topics would be addressed at the regular March meeting. ADJOURNMENT: As there was no further business, JoAnne McNeill moved to adjourn the regular February meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee. Robert Gross seconded and the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m. 99 p t*ICL -r=t; L-a-„r--c y Marco A. Cisneros, Director Park and Recreation Department