HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee - 07/14/20211201 Leopard Street
Corpus Christi, Texas
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City of Corpus Christi
Meeting Minutes
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
5:30 PM City Hall, Basement Training RoomWednesday, July 14, 2021
Regular Meeting
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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