HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks And Recreation Advisory Committee - 06/09/2021PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting * Wednesday, June 9, 2021 5:30 p.m.
Webex
MINUTES
I. Call to Order by Chairperson Alissa Mejia at 5:30 p.m.
II. Roll Call of Members
• Present: Alissa Mejia, Twila Stevens, Florence East, Howard Schauer, Hannah Husby, Mandy Cox,
Amy McCoy, Diego Solis, Casandra Lorentson
• Absent: Jacob Dryden, Lawrence Heatley
• Quorum was met.
III. Public Comment
• None
IV. Adoption of Minutes
• Regular Meeting – Adoption of Minutes from May 12, 2021: Minutes from May 12, 2021, were
passed unanimously.
V. Police Department Report
• Police Department Report – Captain Ed Shannon: Not many changes. Artesian Park – small groups
of transients coming in to charge phones in the afternoon and after eating at local shelters. Cabra
Park – Lt. Harrison impressed with Parks and Recreation crew for cleanup efforts. Shocking how
well it looked after they were finished. Glen Arbor Park – increase in camping. Increase in daily
enforcement to handle increase in transient activity. All parks in town and downtown are seeing
influx of transients after cleanup of Cabra Park.
VI. Educational Topic
• Playgrounds & Shade Structure Update – Kevin Johnson: 11 parks currently under construction to
be completed on 6/20/21 including shade structures. Some have been delayed due to rain which
prevents completion of Pour-N-Play. Presented playground units and shade structures currently
being installed along with details of their intended uses. Also presented prospects for future
playground units. New unit prospects will need to be measured before any are purchased. All new
units will come with a shade structure.
VII. Old Business and Possible Action
• None
VIII. New Business for Discussion and Possible Action
• None
IX. Committee, Liaison/Staff Reports
• Island Strategic Action Committee (ISAC) – Liaison Twila Stevens: Two topics discussed. 1) City
recruiting lifeguards for beaches – total of 44 needed and currently have 28. City is working on
providing a pay raise for lifeguard staff to offer strong enticement for employment. 2) Beach Ops
maintenance facility at Commodore Park – highly opposed by ISAC. ISAC members were under the
impression that they would be a part of the location and design selection process. With the
architectural design being 90% complete, they believe they were given no chance to provide input.
Public comment from Padre Island Business Association stated they opposed the location. They
also sent letters to the Mayor and City Manager. Most likely explanation for the opposition is that it’s
an industrial facility being placed in a residential area. Also, the presenter at the May ISAC meeting
stated there would not be a wash station there which would make it less confrontational in a
residential area. However, in the June meeting they stated there would be a wash station included.
Additional concerns around moving heavy equipment along main roads and the potential loss of
millions of dollars in real estate value. Originally five locations to select from and the item had been
placed on hold to determine best location. The facility will occupy a large portion of Commodore
Park. Twila expressed concern about why PRAC did not have more input before it had reached 90%
design completion.
• Watershore & Beach Advisory Committee – Liaison Howard Schauer: Board discussed lifeguard
information and number of permits they sold that weekend. An update on the North Beach restrooms
and roadways construction work would be beneficial to provide for the next meeting. WBAC
members expressed concern over erosion issues occuring at waterfront parks.
• Kevin Johnson stated that erosion issues are being researched and worked on currently. Will
provide reports and a full briefing as soon as possible.
• Flour Bluff Advisory Committee – Liaison Florence East: Development plan is complete, but still
needs to be presented to Council.
X. Director / Assistant Director Reports
• Assistant Director – Kevin Johnson: Currently getting mowing efforts caught up after rain delays.
There is tall grass in some parks, but we needed to wait until they were dry before mowing to prevent
damage to equipment. Palm tree trimming should be completed this week.
• Kevin will provide a mowing schedule to PRAC members. Some parks are contracted though, so
schedules vary based on weather.
• Interim Assistant Director – Lisa Oliver: Update on Master Plan – issued a press release for
availability of online tool. Link leads to survey which is first of 3 phases. Next will be the interactive
mapping tool and finally the virtual meeting room. Survey will close on July 3, 2021. Games of Texas
– plans are in motion and event will be held from July 29-August 1, 2021. All events will be available
to the public. Press release for the event will be held on Monday June 28, 2021with the Council
presentation occurring on Tuesday June 29, 2021. Facilities being used for the event will be closed
for public use during the event. Pickleball, flag football, disc golf, water polo, and beach volleyball will
be new events this year. Estimated attendance potentially 10,000-12,000. Bay Jammin’ event – every
Thursday now through August 12, 2021 will have various bands playing at Cole Park Amphitheatre.
Cinema Series partnered with Bay Jammin’ event. Cinema Series will be held on Friday nights.
Community centers are reopening. Senior centers will be opening on Monday except for Greenwood
which is being using as a COVID-19 vaccination site. Recreation centers will be reopening as well.
After Hour Kid Power is also preparing to reopen. Curbside meals will be transitioned back to dining
settings. The Oso Recreation Center is also now operated by City staff and not under a lease
agreement.
• Interim Director – Sarah Munoz: ACM Neiman Young will be attending the next ISAC meeting to
inform members of the site selection process that was used. Presented the proposed layout of the
Beach Ops facility and a rendering. Initial layout plans show the facility being placed closer to the
nearby fire station rather than closer to Commodore Park grounds. Land elevation has been strongly
considered through the site selection process. City Manager has also stressed the importance of the
landscaping of the proposed facility. Proposed landscaping will be beautiful and full. Landscaping
should provide enough of a barrier to cover the facility.
XI. PRAC Member Questions/Discussion
• None
XII. Identify items to be placed on next agenda – July 14, 2021.
• None
XIII. Adjournment at 6:18 p.m.