Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee - 07/14/20211201 Leopard Street Corpus Christi, Texas forward.cctexas.com City of Corpus Christi Meeting Minutes Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee 5:30 PM City Hall, Basement Training RoomWednesday, July 14, 2021 Regular Meeting The City of Corpus Christi promotes participation regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability or political belief. Reasonable accommodation is provided upon request and in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For assistance or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact (361) 826-3300 at least 48 hours in advance. Upon request, this information can be available in larger print and/or in electronic format. Call To OrderA. Chairperson Alissa Mejia called the meeting to order at 5:33pm. Roll CallB. Chairperson Alissa Mejia performed roll call. Parks & Recreation liaison Jacob Warren announced quorum was met. Public CommentC. No public comment was provided for this meeting. Approval of Minutes and Action on AbsencesD. 1.Minutes of the June 9, 2021 Regular Meeting A motion was made by Board Member Howard L. Schauer, seconded by Vice Chair Twila Stevens, that the Minutes be approved. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. Police Department ReportE. Capt. Ed Shannon South Bluff Park - Monitoring small group of transients that congregate in southeast corner during the day. Page 1City of Corpus Christi Printed on 8/19/2021 July 14, 2021Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Waters Edge / McGee Beach - Received request to "please lower the showers to knee-level." Only transients and tourists use these showers. Showers designed to rinse sand off of legs, but transients are using them to bathe. Alissa Mejia commented that full showers are useful at Water's Edge, especially for washing children who get sandy beyond just the knees down. Artisian Park - Transients still charging their phones in the afternoon. Off-duty officers stated that on Sunday they obtained permission to use Caller Times' dumpsters which will aid in trash cleanup efforts. Barge Dock - Continuing to monitor for racers on the weekend. Glen Arbor Park - Request to have trees trimmed. Transients sitting under low-hanging trees. Candlewood Park - Request to have trees trimmed. Caesar Chavez Park - Increase in transients due to heat. Cabra Park - Closing of Cabra Park has caused local transients to disperse to other areas in the City. Educational TopicF. Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve - Sara Jose, Program Specialist provided presentation on latest updates and general information for the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve. Unfinished BusinessG. New Business for Discussion and Possible ActionH. 2.Excuse of Absences A motion was made by Board Member Howard L. Schauer, seconded by Vice Chair Twila Stevens, that Lawrence Heatley be excused from his absence during the June 9, 2021 Regular Meeting. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. 3.Establishing the USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN-705) Submarine Veteran's Memorial and possible location site Item was briefly discussed. Lisa Oliver indicated that additional meetings outside of the current PRAC meeting must to be held before this item can be voted on. Howard Schauer agreed. 4.Establishing a U.S. Navy Memorial Lone Sailor Statue and possible location site Item was briefly discussed. Lisa Oliver indicated that additional meetings outside of the Page 2City of Corpus Christi Printed on 8/19/2021 July 14, 2021Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes current PRAC meeting must to be held before this item can be voted on. Howard Schauer agreed. Committee ReportsI. 5.Twila Stevens, Liaison for Island Strategic Action Committee Lifeguard Wages - Discussion about lifeguard wage increase to $13.41 per hour, with experience granting a further increase. Beach Maintenance Facility - Discussion about location of Beach Maintenance Facility at Commodore Park. ACM Neiman Young attended the meeting and provided information regarding the 8 location sites that were evaluated for selection. Also read a letter he wrote in response to the opposition from the Padre Island Business Association and committee asked for a copy of it. Committee leader said the GLO lease for the Packery jetties area had included the beach maintenance facility, but Neiman explained that it had been denied by the GLO. Committee asked for the denial letter, specs on the building, and operating costs for the building. Packery Channel - Neiman Young stated the City had been awarded $4.3 million by FEMA for repairs to sidewalks and railings for Packery Channel Park. Work is delayed until the foundation of the channel can be repaired. Beach Replenishment - The beach is lapping the southernmost end of the seawall south of Mike Ellis Park near the Whitecap Blvd beach access. Deidre Williams, who performs monitoring of the Packery Channel through Texas A&M, stated that when the channel is dredged it will provide extra sand to help replenish the beach front. The sand they currently have in the Channel will not be enough to fully replenish the beaches and they are currently searching for other sources of compatible sand. They hope to work with the Corps of Engineers to pull sand dredged from other locations. Due to how much the beaches have narrowed, Packery Channel should be dredged before making repairs to damages caused by Hurricane Harvey. It has not been dredged for 8 years. 6.Howard Schauer, Liaison for Watershore & Beach Advisory Committee Committee did not meet quorum and no meeting was held. 7.Florence East, Liaison for Flour Bluff Advisory Committee No updates. The Flour Bluff Area Development Plan has been finalized and implementation will begin soon. Director / Assistant Director ReportsJ. 8.Kevin Johnson, Assistant Director - Operations & Maintenance Page 3City of Corpus Christi Printed on 8/19/2021 July 14, 2021Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Mowing - Asked that PRAC members help explain to the community that parks have not been able to be mowed due to heavy rains. The outer edges of our park areas are usually dry enough to mow them, but the interior sections take significantly longer to dry out and mowing wet areas can cause water damage to City equipment or to become stuck in mud. B-Type Board - Currently working towards re-branding the Packery Channel with new signage and performing landscaping. Additionally working towards placing a monument sign in front of Packery Channel Park. Labonte Park - Working on gateway signage for the entrance into the City. Labonte Park would be the prime location for the new signage. Ocean Drive Parks - Park improvements will be implemented for Ropes Park, Oleander Point at Cole Park, Doddridge Park, Swantner Park, Poenisch Park, and Palmetto Park. Upgrades among these parks include new playground & shade structures, tables, water fountains, redoing sidewalks & railings, repaving parking lots, etc. Peary Place Park - 47.2 acres of land that was given to the City by the Navy that is undeveloped. We're going to install a playground, a split-row fence, a water fountain, a swing set, utility amenities (trash cans), a basketball court, a walking trail, sidewalks, trees and foliage, a parking lot, bar-b-que pit, benches, shade structures with picnic tables, and light poles. Howard Schauer posed concern with ensuring Engineering is on board to route drainage properly. Cole Park - Will also receive a make-over including installation of the previously discussed mural with lighting, 21 picnic tables with shade structures, and replacement of 3 water fountains. Sherrill Park - Howard Schauer asked for start date and completion date for shade structure at Sherrill Park. Lisa Oliver stated work was supposed to begin on July 6, but rain caused delays. It is a 90-day project, so it will be completed by the end of September. Have been in communication with Martin Longoria from Mayor's Veteran's Affair Committee. Howard asked to be kept informed as well. Ropes Park - Howard Schauer stated safety issues are a major concern at Ropes Park. Additionally has drainage issue. Time Lines - Alissa asked for time lines. Kevin will be placing projects with Engineering, but there are no time lines right now. The projects are still in the designing stage currently. 9.Lisa Oliver, Interim Assistant Director - Master Plan Update - Games of Texas 2021 - Summer Programming & Special Events Page 4City of Corpus Christi Printed on 8/19/2021 July 14, 2021Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Parks Master Plan - The online survey tool is still available and the date has been extended through July 30. Consultants reported 600 participants. Lisa showcased an interactive map. Games of Texas - Opening ceremony on Friday, July 30th at 8:00am. Provided updates to sporting schedule and directed members to taaf.com for additional information. Bay Jammin' & The Concert at Cinema Series - Currently ongoing. Have had rain cancellations, but we're trying to accommodate by offering bonus movie nights. Events being held at Cole Park. Program Services - Senior Centers and Recreation Centers began programming again on June 14. Recreation Centers have been reaching capacity. Summer camps also being offered. Some camps exceeding pre-COVID-19 attendance. AHKP - Offering all day summer camps at select sites from 7:30am-5:30pm. Beginning to offer registration as well for after school programming. CCISD has requested additional sites for the upcoming school year. CCISD and Calallen begin on August 10. Alissa Mejia - Asked if Parks still needs volunteers for the Games of Texas. Lisa stated we definitely do. 10.Dante Gonzalez, Interim Director - Introduction of New Interim Director - Follow-up Items Introduction - Dante Gonzalez introduced himself as new Interim Director of Parks & Recreation Department. PRAC Member Questions / DiscussionK. Minutes - Alissa Mejia shared that she has requested that the presentations made at PRAC be attached to the minutes when archiving meetings for the public record. This would follow the format that City Council already uses in attaching presentations to agendas and minutes, and it is useful for future researchers to understand context. Jacob Warren stated that this process will occur organically soon due to method transitions in progress with City Secretary's Office. Identify Items to be placed on the August 11, 2021 agendaL. Douden Park - Twila Stevens commented that Douden Park was adopted by PIPOA. Island residents have stated concerns regarding progress of repairs and improvements at Douden Park. Would like to have an informational update on it. Kevin Johnson stated he will review contract, do research, and will provide answer. Parks to Divest - Howard Schauer requested updates on parks potentially being moved to developers, divested, etc. Lisa Oliver stated that would be part of the Master Plan Page 5City of Corpus Christi Printed on 8/19/2021 July 14, 2021Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes process and will be updated at a later time. AdjournmentM. Meeting Adjourned at 6:39pm. This meeting may be held via videoconference call pursuant to Texas Government Code § 551.127. If this meeting is held via videoconference call or other remote method of meeting, then a member of this governmental body presiding over this meeting will be physically present at the location of this meeting unless this meeting is held pursuant to Texas Government Code § 551.125 due to an emergency or other public necessity pursuant to Texas Government Code § 551.045. Page 6City of Corpus Christi Printed on 8/19/2021