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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks And Recreation Advisory Committee - 04/14/1999 V • PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ReCliar Monthly Meeting Wednesday.April 14. 1999—5:00 p.m. City Hall Committee Room - 1201 Leopard Street. Corpus Christi.Texas Jo Dunn Ro•. • 'o. Gross ony Cisneros JoAnne McNeill Vie Menard Marvin Spears Addle Ives Oscar Hinojosa Gerardo"Alvarez Joe Ochoa Billy Olivarez Marvin Spears Mae Milligan CALL TO ORDER: Chair Menard turned the meeting over to Vice-Chair Robert Ibarra. Vice- Chair Ibarra called the meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee to order at 5:04 p.m. ROLL CALL: Roll was called and the recording secretary announced that a quorum was present. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Vice-Chair Ibarra called for the approval of the minutes of the regular March 10, 1999 meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee. John Dunn moved to accept the minutes as written. Billy Olivarez seconded and the motion carried. ACTION ON ABSENCES: Vice-Chair'bans called for action on absences at the March 10, 1999 regular meeting. Vic Menard reported he had contacted Park and Recreation staff to inform them he would not able to attend the March meeting due to illness. Robert Ibarra reported he was unable to attend the March meeting due to business commitments. Oscar Hinojosa reported he was ill and unable to attend the March meeting. Billy Olivarez reported he was unable to attend the March meeting due to work. JoAnne McNeill moved to excuse Vic Menard's absence. John Dunn seconded and the motion carried. Vic Menard moved to excuse Robert Ibarra,Oscar Hinojosa and Billy Olivarez' absences from the regular April 14, 1999 meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee. John Dunn seconded and the motion carried. RENAMING OF HANS SUTER WILDLIFE REFUGE: Tony Cisneros,Director of Park and Recreation and staff liaison, gave an update on the efforts on the renaming of the facility. Mr. Cisneros requested the Committee to take action on this item with their endorsement and recommendation to City Council. Mr. Cisneros also stated that several individuals were present at this meeting to speak before the Committee regarding this item. Mr. Frank Hankins, 721 Crestview, was present at this meeting and requested to speak to the Committee regarding the renaming of the Hans Suter Wildlife Refuge. Mr.Hankins spoke positively of the efforts being taken to rename the facility and of Mrs. Suter's work involving environmental matters that impact the community. Carter and Jo Whatley, 5502 Oso Parkway,addressed the Committee regarding Mrs. Suter's work at the wildlife refuge. Mr. Whatley stated he felt Mrs. Suter was very deserving of the recognition. Mrs. Whatley agreed with Mr. Whatley's comments. "". '! r , ",. ,.,, ( Nee Park & Recreation Advisory Committee Regular Meeting—April 14, 1999 Page 2 Vic Menard stated it was his pleasure to move to recommend to the City Council the renaming of the Hans Sister Wildlife Refuge to the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge. John Dunn seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Cisneros informed the Committee the dedication was scheduled for April 26, 1999,which was Earth Day, at noon at the wildlife refuge. DIRECTOR'S REPORT:Mr.Cisneros stated that he was unable to get members their information packages as he had promised due to a death in his family. Mr. Cisneros assured the Committee members they would receive a complete package for next month's meeting. Mr. Cisneros reported the department was moving forward with the Weed & Seed Program. Mr. Cisneros introduced George Hodge,Director of the Weed&Seed Program. Mr.Cisneros informed the Committee that the Requests for Proposals(RFP) for the program would be reviewed on April 15, 1999. Mr. Cisneros stated sixteen proposals had been submitted for consideration. Mr.Cisneros stated the Weed and Seed Committee would review the proposals for recommendation to the City Council. At this point,Mr. Cisneros turned the discussion over to Mr. Hodge in order to give the Committee members an overview of the Weed and Seed program. Mr. Hodge gave an overview of the conception of the program Mr.Hodge also informed the Committee of the various projects that the program has undertaken. Mr. Hodge gave the members a copy of a basic report on the Weed and Seed Program. Mr. Hodge informed the members that Operation Clean Sweep was a part of the Weed and Seed Program. This project was instrumental in eliminating 26 structures within the community which were known to harbor drug and gang activity. Mr. Hodge also informed the Committee of the target area clean-up endeavored by the Weed and Seed Program where 39 tons of trash were removed. Mr. Hodge informed the Committee he would be participating in the National Weed and Seed Jamboree where he would taking area youth,ages 9 to 12,to participate. Mr. Hodge also stated he had taken several of the target area youth to visit the U.S. Customs Department. Discussion and questions were heard from the Committee. (Gerardo Alvarez arrived at 5:25 p.m.) Vice-Chair Ibarra thanked Mr. Hodge for his work with youth. 0 V Park& Recreation Advisory Committee Regular Meeting—April 14, 1999 Page 3 Mr. Cisneros reported on a study being conducted on area bays by the Bays and Estuaries Program. Mr. Cisneros gave each member a copy of the study. Mr. Cisneros informed the Committee he was working on changing the bylaws of each committee under the direction of the Park and Recreation Department. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:Billy Olivarez reported on the Green's Committee meeting. Mr. Olivarez stated several complaints were made on the broken hand dryers at the Gabe Lozano Golf Center. Vic Menard asked if there were any complaints from winter Texans regarding the new tee-time system. Mr. Cisneros stated that the new reservation system was giving the winter Texans more time to make a reservation. Mr. Cisneros felt the new system would eliminate the problem. Mr. Olivarez also stated the consensus of the Green's Committee meeting was to have the fencing at Gabe Lozano Golf Center examined. Mr. Cisneros went on to inform Vice-Chair Ibarra and Joe Ochoa the next Planning Commission meeting would be held on April 22, 1999 at 4 p.m. in the Committee Room of City Hall. CURRENT CONCERNS: Mr. Hinojosa inquired of Mr. Cisneros if anything was being done to prepare the City's parks for the summer months. Mr. Cisneros responded that the summer programs were in the planning stages, and he would have more to report at the next meeting in May. Mr. Cisneros also informed the Committee that new changes have occurred in the maintenance of the parks. JoAnne McNeill commented on a report from an acquaintance regarding the discrepancy from Gabe Lozano Golf Center and the Oso Golf Court in charging senior rates. Mr. Cisneros requested Ms. McNeill to provide more information regarding attending staff in each incidence in order to rectify this situation. Billy Olivarez reported being approached by two Boy Scout leaders regarding free practice time for scouts trying to earn badges. Mr. Olivarez was concerned on the youth participating in such programs not having funds to practice. Mr. Olivarez suggested the fees be lowered for youth in such programs and projects. Vice-Chair Ibarra stated this issue should go before the Green's Committee before being discussed at the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting. Vice-Chair Ibarra requested an update from staff on park mowing at the May meeting. ‘11 .r Park& Recreation Advisory Committee Regular Meeting—April 14, 1999 Page 4 HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC: None. ADJOURNMENT: As there was no further business, Vice-Chair Marra called for adjournment. Vic Menard moved to adjourn. Oscar Hinojosa seconded and the motion carried. The meeting of the Park&Recreation Advisory Committee adjourned at 5:56 p.m. Marco A. Cisneros, Director Park and Recreation Department