HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee - 11/09/2022 (2) ' CitCit`' of Corpus Christi 1201 Leopard Street
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Meeting Minutes
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
Wednesday, November 9,2022 5:30 PM City Hall -6th Floor Conference Room
A. Call To Order/Roll Call: Chair Mejia called the meeting to order and a roll call took
place with no absences.
B. Public Comment: Carrie Meyer at 4401 Gulfbreeze & Ron Graban at 202 Surfside
Boulevard
C. Approval of Absences - Duke Canchola & Hannah Husby: Approved.
D. Approval of Minutes
1. 22-1888 Regular Meeting Minutes of October 12, 2022
A motion to approve the minutes with a correction to omit the Rally-4-Parks
subcommittee update was made by Twila Stevens. It was seconded by Linda Lindsey
and the motion passed.
E. Director's Report
Robert Dodd, Director of Parks and Recreation Department, gave an update on the
following items:
Upcoming City Council Items - November/December:
- Coastal Management Program Grant to complete Phase 1 -A recreational connection
(hike/bike trail) from the Flour Bluff to Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve. Phase 1 - Completion
of a feasibility & structural engineering assessment of the old railroad trestle (Tex-Mex
railway spur); a Master Plan.
-Three year Service Agreement Extension: Friends of the Museum of Science & History
for the management of the Museum (Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue fund).
-West Guth Park: Purchase of a new, additional playground unit/swing set, both with
shade structures.
- Food & food supplies purchase for the senior& summer youth nutrition programs -
Participation in the TEXAS 20 Purchasing Cooperative (Grant).
- Construction contract for the Salinas Park improvements project - Funding available
from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.
- Salinas Park Connectivity - Connecting Airport Park with Salinas Park.
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Cole Park Skate Park:
Facility was designed for the specific use of skateboarding; does not include additional
measures to prevent damage from other uses. Corroded steel coping, recently replaced
with cast, in place of pool coping, and is more susceptible to damage from uses other
than skateboards. Failure to use equipment in accordance with manufacturer
specifications creates City liability in the event of an accident. Parks & Recreation
recommends the Skate Park remain for its intended use. The BMX facility at Salinas
Park is currently not operational. Parks & Rec along with the BMX community & Joey
Jewel from VCC are working together for a resolution. A local Corpus Christian has been
in contact with VCC - Expressed interest in the possibility of building a BMX Track at Bill
Witt.
Scooters:
To improve the issue of scooters being left strewn about in an unsightly manner, the City
is currently working on creating scooter drop zones (6-week implementation timeline).
Scooter companies will enable geofencing; riders should receive a notification to drop off
at a designated site, when within 1,000 feet. The City is also working with the Clean
Team to conduct three scooter sweeps daily, and companies are also supposed to reset
scooters overnight.
Adopt-A-Park:
Mr. Dodd gave information regarding a suggestion from PRAC from the October 12,
2022 Committee meeting. It was asked if a utility bill insert could be included for
advertising Adopt-A-Park. Approximately 100,000 utility customers receive paper bills
(electronic customers will also receive/view digital insert). The estimated cost is $4,000
for a 3X8 inch double-sided insert and $11,000 for a full page.
Riley P. Dog Park:
Acting as liaison, Assistant Director, Kevin Johnson, along with the Water
Utilities/Engineering Department, met with the Owner on October 21, 2022. Line
locations were identified during the site visit. Research is ongoing for the use potable
water lines instead of effluent water. Corpus Christi Water will design the plan/profile for
the line. The lead-time/arrival of materials will determine installation schedule. Dog Park
operators will have to engage with a contractor to design/install irrigation system. Next
steps are being coordinated because the original lease agreement needs an
amendment as it states the owner will pay for water utilities.
Southside Drainage Ditches: Response to the Liaison report from the Pedestrian/Bicycle
Connectivity Committee's inquiry to improve implementation of the Mobility Plan by
increasing mowing frequency for areas adjacent to drainage ditches in the southside
area of town -The Committee believes it would create an opportunity for cyclists to
establish a pattern of use/bike paths with the inclusion of minimal signage.
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Mr. Dodd stated the Public Works Department is responsible for the maintenance of
drainage ditches. There are approximately 17, southside ditches from Kostoryz
Road/Carroll Lane to Cimarron Boulevard. These ditches are listed as 'off-road/multi-use
trails" in the Mobility Plan. The ditches are on a mowing schedule of every 35 to 45 days
(depending on weather conditions, etc.) and light equipment is utilized. Heavy equipment
is mobilized for major channel maintenance cycles, which could possibly damage
established trails.
Memorials:
To continue with the request for information on the responsibility for the
operation/maintenance of memorials, Staff has been tasked with compiling an inventory
list. Specifically, monuments at Sherril Park will take time/research as Staff will have to
obtain the names on the markers for each memorial and research the background
information.
F. Briefing
2. 22-1889 PRAC Duties & Open Meetings Act
Aimee Alcorn-Reed, Attorney with the Legal Department, presented item "2" for the
record as shown above. She went over the purpose and role as an advisory committee;
the method of providing recommendations. She proceeded to go over key points of the
Open Meetings Act. She gave the definition of a meeting and examples and general
rules of meetings.
The required, written notice for meetings is at least 72-hours and public comment must
be allowed. Ms. Alcorn-Reed gave information on quorum requirements and when a
quorum is not established/lost; what establishes a walking quorum. Meetings must be
accessible and open to the public. A vote may not take place by secret or written ballot
and action may not be circulated by letter without a meeting. She explained how
deliberation need not be oral, and cautioned the Committee when communicating via
E-mail. She gave a list of best practices when using E-mail or social media.
After the briefing concluded, the floor was opened for Committee comments/questions.
PRAC sought guidance on the process of presenting a resolution and asked for an
example. It was discovered that no other City advisory committee has successfully
passed a resolution in the past two years when an established resolution process was
put in place.
G. Unfinished Business for Discussion & Possible Action
Regarding an erosion response plan, Chair Mejia updated the Committee on an
upcoming Joint Resolution, with the help of Ms. Alcorn-Reed, between PRAC, Marina,
WBAC & ISAC committees. The resolution will be added to the December PRAC
agenda for action/recommendation. Staff noted that the parks along Ocean Drive
(Bayfront Parks presentation - PRAC 9/14/22) already have a plan in place and will not
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need to be included with this specific resolution.
Regarding Cole and Labonte Park Master Plans, it was discussed that this item was
added back to today's agenda after City Council requested that the Parks & Recreation
Department obtain more Committee/Stakeholder/Public input. Discussion took place
regarding how Staff plans to execute that process as there is no definitive timeline right
now. For this project, the Committee recommended that Staff draft/provide a timeline
schedule for the next PRAC meeting in December with updates/next steps/community
engagement efforts. It was mentioned that timelines are also coordinated with the
Executive Leadership team to deliberate phases/stages. It is PRAC's intent to follow a
procedural timeline for future key projects moving forward. The Committee would like to
see a template that is finalized, with proper terminology,in January 2023.
Further discussion took place regarding the type of engagement is planned such as
surveys, town hall/open house meetings with consultants. Social media and press
releases would be utilized as well to disseminate information/events. The process would
be similar to the methods used for the 10-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Thomas Cronnon suggested if informational signage (QR Code) could be placed at the
specific park, informing visitors of surveys/town hall meetings and echoed having a
PRAC representative assigned for specific projects. Discussion also took place
regarding the Bond process. For future Bond packages, PRAC should provide input for
that as well.
H. New Business for Discussion & Possible Action
PRAC was notified that the master planning projects for Sherrill and Commodores Park
have not yet begun. For these projects, the Committee also requested that a timeline
schedule be provided at the earliest stage of initiation. Discussion took place regarding
the 2022 Bond project for Commodores Park which passed during the recent election.
The project is for the design and development for a community center and recreational
amenities to be placed within the park.
I. Committee Liaison Reports
Strategic Action Plan Subcommittee -Alissa Mejia:
The most recent draft of the Plan was presented to the Committee. Chair Mejia updated
the Committee on the addtion of advocacy priorities for advancing the 10-year Master
Plan (Initiative 4 - Goals 1 & 2):
Goal 1: Improve communication to help public park and recreation facility users learn
about parks/facilities, get involved, make suggestions, and report problems, via:
- Informational signage at each park
- Improvements to the city web site
- Promotion of the awareness of PRAC &Adopt-A-Park program
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Goal 2: Develop an off-road pedestrian and bicycle connectivity network beginning with
drainage canals on the South Side, via:
-A regular mowing schedule of canal-side land
- Low-tech directional signage
-Trailheads
-A map of off-road trails
Chair Mejia stated these goals reference the types of recurring comments from the public
that the Committee receives, and that they feel have an opportunity for momentum. She
also stated the Plan is a living document and can be amended by future PRAC
Committee groups.
Island Strategic Action Committee (ISAC) -Twila Stevens:
Ms. Stevens gave updates regarding Packery Channel Park. Restrooms are planned
with funding through TIRZ; benches will be removed from the cabanas and replaced with
picnic tables and BBQ grills. She also gave an update on erosion at the Park that
ocurred during this hurricane season. During this ISAC meeting (November 8, 2022), the
Committee discussed a draft of a Joint Resolution regarding erosion for inland beaches.
They plan to take action on the resolution at the December 2022 meeting.
Bayfront Area Development Plan (ADP) -Alissa Mejia:
Chair Mejia updated the Committee on the community survey results. Transportation was
listed as a top priority along with safe access for pedestrians/bicycles. Park
enhancements and the environment were also recurring themes (pollution/beautification
of the bay). The next opportunity for public input is planned for January 2023.
Rally 4 Neighborhood Parks (R4NP) - Linda Lindsey: She gave information on the
application process and said a simple application form is in place. The time frame to
process the application is based on legal steps and should be a maximum of 60 days to
complete. Beginning in 2023, there will be monthly events for community information
about adopt-a-park with a culminating "Park Adoption/Cleanup Day" in April on Earth
Day.
J. Future Agenda Items for December 14, 2022
- Peary Place Park
- Joey Jewell with VCC
- Sherri & Commodores Park
K. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
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