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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks And Recreation Advisory Committee - 11/13/2019PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Regular Meeting * Wednesday, November 13, 2019 5:30 p.m. Basement Training Room, City Hall * 1201 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, TX 78401 MINUTES I. Call to Order by Dotson Lewis at 5:30 pm II. Roll Call of Members: Dotson Lewis, Jerry Plemons, Bobby Broderick, Amy McCoy, Alissa Mejia, Casandra Lorentson, Mandy Cox, Howard Schauer, Flo East, Hannah Husby and Twila Stevens. Absent: Mandy Cox. III. Adoption of Minutes - Regular meeting – Adoption of Minutes from October 9, 2019 – 1st, Howard Schauer, 2nd, Jerry Plemons, Unanimous thereafter. IV. Public Comment – (1) Eric Lee Tunchez with Stop Bullying Inc. spoke to bring awareness of Botsford Park with the process to obtain a rental agreement to bring back youth football to this park. V. Police Department Report – No Report – Captain William Broyles did not attend. Lieutenant James McCarty was present on his behalf to answer any questions; sees improvement in Blucher Park. VI. Presentations – None. VII. Old Business and Possible Action • Artesian Park – Recap overview provided by Alyssa Barrera Mason, Downtown Management District (DMD) Executive Director. She stated improvements have begun in Artesian Park to install electricity; moreover, because money is being invested in the park, the Mayor has indicated an interest in putting a fence around the park to help protect the investment. The DMD does not favor a fence. Alma Casas, on behalf of Arlene Medrano, restated, the recommendation from this Board will be taken to TIRZ #3 Board. Alyssa said, Mayors main concern is vandals which was discussed at the TIRZ #3 Board meeting because improvements are funded by the TIRZ #3 which consists of the entire City Council, a County representative, and a Del Mar College representative. Alyssa noted, at one-point, DMD was looking into a fence, but found it would have an opposite effect of a tourist attraction that the DMD is going for; so that idea was scrapped, but it kind of stuck. Board discussed variety of fencing material, including wooden white picket, shrubbery, metal - aluminum, large strategically placed boulders. o Motion supporting any type of fencing around Artesian Park – 1st, Jerry Plemons, 2nd Casandra Lorentson. o Motion to recommend a fence by a count of raised hands – in-favor, none; opposed, all. Motion failed to carry. o Second motion. Motion that the Board asks the Parks and Recreation Director Jermel Stevenson to work in cooperation with the Downtown Management District and the Corpus Christi Police Department on buy ability of a camera system to help protect the assets and people who enter Artesian Park – 1st, Jerry Plemons, 2nd Howard Schauer. All in-favor of the motion asked to raise their hand, all; opposed, none; unanimous thereafter. • Splash Parks Update – About to hire a firm. We have answered about 20 different questions from firms that are interested in doing the job, which is part of the Procurement process. There are some specifics at Manuel Q. Salinas Park, for example, which is funded with CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding; there are federal guidelines to follow. Expected to be before Council before end of December to get them hired to start in January and done by May 22, 2020. VIII. New Business for Discussion and Possible Action • Committee Workshop – Planning a tentative date to meet from 9am to 1pm on a Saturday, mid-May 2020. The idea or vision for this is for the Board to be able to make recommendations on the Master Plan, which will be a big project for this Board, and support Council goals. Suggestions welcome. • Bond 2020 Projects – Started brainstorming internally bond projects for the Park System. City Manager is targeting November 2020 for them. A list will be brought to the Board for input. IX. Committee, Liaison/Staff Reports – • Island Strategic Action Committee (ISAC) – Off road vehicles and golf carts, City Council passed on the first reading; however, there is concern if it applies only to the Padre Island area, is there a speed limit, and cannot be at certain crossings. Packery Channel still waiting for money from FEMA. ISAC committee also agrees to the beach permit increase. • Watershore & Beach Advisory Committee – A copy of the Motion passed to increase the beach parking permit fee will be given to the County Judge for her to talk to the Port Aransas group to obtain their opinion. Amendments made in 2006 to prevent future beach developments from denying beach access. Meeting with TxDOT, and have support from Todd Hunter, regarding access to freeway signs to put rip current warnings for those that are not on the Reverse Alert System. No swimming signs to be placed by jetty’s in Packery Channel, as there are no signs, currently, and no swimming is allowed within fifty feet of the jetty. It’s better to drive and park on the beach than to park away from the beach and walk across the dunes, which destroys the habitat over time. • London & Southside Area Advisory Committee – Met November 1st. Draft plans presented for London and Southside areas by Freese and Nichols. Focus was on Southside. Committee torn due to language used to describe the London area; the public said that they want to keep the rural feel. Need more people from London to voice their opinion. Next meeting takes place December 5, 2019. X. Director Reports – Jermel Stevenson, Director • Overview of Council agenda items. Spoke about Flags for Heroes at Ropes Park, Flour Bluff ISD discontinuing the Latchkey program as of November 1st and decreasing staff vacancies by partnering with Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend. Becky Perrin, Assistant Director • Overview of upcoming Parks and Recreation events to register for the Holidays. Conveyed the need for volunteers during the Games of Texas. Having another public meeting on November 21 for an 18-hole proposed disc golf course at Oso Creek 1 Park due to rain during the first meeting; everyone present was in favor for it, but meeting needs to happen again. Games of Texas will have disc golf; courses utilized to be Oso Creek 1 Park, West Guth and Lamar Parks. Joseph Johnson, Assistant Director • Overview of programs offered at Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve. Said beach parking permits will be ready early December, Sherril Park shade structure construction to begin early summer 2020, park clean-up at Botsford Park, Cole Park Pier to be rebuilt and Dimitt Pier to be repaired. XI. Committee Member Comments/Announcements/Agenda Requests - • MLK Day of Service (January 20, 2020) • Presentation request on North Beach Parks • Update on Park Sales • Senior Companion Program • Bond 2020 Projects XII. Adjournment at 7:02 p.m.