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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks And Recreation Advisory Committee - 01/08/2020PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Regular Meeting * Wednesday, January 08, 2020 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 5:31 p.m. 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: Jerry Plemons, Amy McCoy and Mandy Cox. III. Public Comment – None. IV. Adoption of Minutes - Regular meeting – Adoption of Minutes from December 11, 2019 – 1st, Howard Schauer, 2nd, Hannah Husby, Unanimous thereafter. Motion made to excuse the 12/11/2019 absence for Flo East and Howard Schauer – 1st, Twila Stevens, 2nd, Flo East, Unanimous thereafter; motion passed. V. Police Department Report – No Report – Captain William Broyles did not attend. Lieutenant David Saldana was present on his behalf to answer any questions. Lieutenant Saldana said he works the night shift and has noticed fewer campers at night in Blucher Park along with less garbage. Informed that contacts are made one to three times a week of people parking in the attached parking lots at parks in North Beach and doing drugs after curfew. Mentioned Sunday morning feeding groups are picking up after themselves at Artesian Park. VI. Presentations – Jermel Stevenson, Parks and Recreation Director, familiarized the Board of the partnership that the park system and the City entered with the American Conservation Experience to do restoration work at Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge and at Blucher Park; those started this week. Apart of the education that we’ve done, news footage or interviews put out by the media, it all has been an effort to educate the community about why we’re taking the trees out; it is not random – it is all very strategic, so we’re blending into the ecotourism. We’re the birdiest city, so we’ll need to start taking care of our park properties. This is the first step in doing that. Particularly looking at the types of species of trees that we’re removing and planting because we want to attract birds from all over, which is the original intent; take Blucher Park, where the deed speaks to that – it’s the only thing that we can ever do at that park. Jermel asked Sonia and Dan to provide some educating to the Board as to why we wanted to do this, what we’re doing here, and why we’re engaged with them, as they’re the experts in this area, in case Board members receive questions from the community of exactly what is going on. Jermel introduced Sonia and Dan to the Board, each presented as follows: • The Nature Conservancy – Overview provided by Sonia Najera, Grasslands Program Manager, regarding issues with invasive species. Sonia manages all the grasslands program to provide plant material for seed and seedlings gathered from their preserve for restoration projects. An invasive species is one that is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human, animal, or plant community health – and can really change the structure of that system. Common traits of invasive non-native plants: high reproduction rate, like disturbance of topsoil, high dispersal rate through wind, animal, water, boot, equipment, vegetative reproduction. Invasive plants can become a problem due to their ability to grow and leaf-out earlier than native plants and are able to thrive in a wide variety of habitats and soil conditions. Explained to have a bird habitat, birds need structure; certain bird species prefer to feed in the canopy region, midstory, or ground cover. Structure provides cover for insects and food for birds. • American Conservation Experience (ACE) – Overview provided by Daniel McLendon, Director, Gulf Coast. ACE assists with land management issues. Dan created management plans for Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge for the City to follow to succeed against invasive species. Informed work will be done at Blucher Park and Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge within a five-week timeframe. Displayed the area of work to be done at Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge. Old Business and Possible Action • Bond 2020 Projects – Jermel provided Board with ideas he’s received for Bill Witt Park to consider having here: a tennis center, recreation center facility, and splash park. Jermel asked for ideas from Board with the focus being Bill Witt Park during the meeting of what they’d like to consider seeing here. Board mentioned: basketball courts, picnic tables, pavilion, keeping the abandon buildings, more open space. Jermel added there will be a connectivity trail at this park. Jermel encouraged the Board to send him more ideas for Bill Witt Park via email. This item will return on the next agenda. VII. New Business for Discussion and Possible Action • Committee Changes – Becky Perrin, Parks and Recreation Assistant Director, reviewed Council’s approval of the ordinance eliminating, revising, modifying, and merging advisory boards and committees. Becky said Park & Recreation Advisory Committee will stay along with Arts & Cultural Commission, Corpus Christi Commission on Children & Youth, Sister City Committee, Water Shore & Beach Advisory Committee; however, there is a merger of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Senior Companion Program into the Senior Corps Committee. Services are still being provided to the community, of our eliminated boards, just looks a little different. • Splash Parks – Update and Rules on sign for parks – Becky said we’ll research examples of sign rules in other locations and bring back to the Board for suggestions. This item will return on the next agenda. Joseph Johnson, Parks and Recreation Assistant Director, said splash park design is at 30%. Next 90% involves Development Services addressing the permits needed. Completion deadline for splash parks is May 22, 2020. VIII. Committee, Liaison/Staff Reports – • Island Strategic Action Committee (ISAC) – Concern with Packery Channel dredging. Board is pleased with pavilion progress. • Watershore & Beach Advisory Committee – No Report – liaison absent for today’s meeting. • London & Southside Area Advisory Committee – No Report – liaison reports Board has not met. Encouraged Board to take the survey on the City’s website. IX. Director Reports – Jermel Stevenson, Director • Overview of Council agenda items. Invited Board to Blucher Park Stakeholder’s meeting on 01/09/20. Said the Committee Workshop scheduled for 02/08/20 is postponed as City Management requested for another RFP (Request for Proposal) to be put out for the Parks Master Plan. Becky Perrin, Assistant Director • Overview of upcoming Parks and Recreation events to register for. Invited Board to a park clean-up on MLK Day of Service (01/20/20) and join with RSVP at Blucher Park. Introduced new pilot program, floorball. Said seniors have enjoyed better mobility due to the free dance program. Joseph Johnson, Assistant Director • Informed of achievements through the Park System, including demolition of concession stand at Botsford Park. Said Dimitt pier is in 60% design review for repairs. Reviewing eight submissions to hire a firm to design Cole Park pier. X. Committee Member Comments/Announcements/Agenda Requests – • Appoint ex-officio representative for County XI. Adjournment at 7:05 p.m.