HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_02.14.2008Minutes of the Meeting of
the Parks and Recreation Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , February 14, 2008
Members Present:
Barbara Owens, Kay Cobb, Kent Buikema, Mike Simpson, William Mateja
Members Absent:
Bob Mathis, Mark Ramsey
Staff Present:
Kimberly Garrett, Jill Kellum
Minutes 1
Regular Meeting
Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.
Roll Call
Update on Recreation Center expansion and renovation
Garrett stated the new part will be open in November including the pool and
then the current Recreation Center will be renovated and that should be
completed in February. This is the current timeline. Mateja asked about a grand
opening date. Garrett stated there will probably be two openings; one for the
new section and one for the renovation. This will not be planned until closer to
the completion. Owens asked if the staff will be more involved with the
construction. Garrett stated that staff has been in contact with Terry Jones, the
construction project manager, and staff has been informed about the time and
dates of meetings and are welcome. Additionally, once the steel goes up staff
will be more involved. Garrett stated they are working on the parking lot by the
playscape restroom so the south side parking lot can be closed to begin
construction. TXDOT came and put signs on Austin Avenue stating parking
there is prohibited.
Update on Parks Master Plan
Garrett stated the results from the phone survey are in and the online survey
ends tomorrow, 02/15/08. Buikema asked if there were any responses that were
significant based on the responses of the telephone survey. Garrett stated there
was a large response from the north west quadrant area where the responses
from that quadrant were people over 65 without children. Garrett stated she
would have liked more responses from citizens with children and the younger
population. The consultant is looking at the data and bringing the results
together.
Consideration and possible action to discuss implementing a curfew in
neighborhood parks
Garrett stated that a citizen from the Meadows subdivision has inquired about a
curfew. Garrett explained that in this neighborhood there is a park. There is a
small backstop, playground and pavilion in the park but no lights. There are
kids hanging out there and causing mischief. Garrett stated that the police do
not have anything to enforce for them to leave the park. There are no curfews in
any parks in Georgetown. The city manager has requested that the issue be
brought before the parks board to review and discuss is they wanted to
implement a curfew. There has been more than one complaint from that specific
park. Garrett stated some things to consider were if this would be considered for
all parks, or neighbor parks. This would require amending the ordinance.
Garrett gave some information from other cities. Round Rock municipal parks
are open between 6 am — midnight; Leander 6 am — 10pm. Owens asked how
that would affect events in San Gabriel Park. Garrett stated that the parks would
have to be defined if they were neighborhood parks versus other classifications.
She also explained that the hike and bike trail is lit so that people can use the trail
all day and night and some of the parks have the trails going through them. It
was suggested that if the curfew was implemented that it be limited to
neighborhood parks and be specific to exclude San Gabriel Park and Rivery Park.
In Houston the park are closed between 11 pm — 6 am unless other public use of
visitation hours have been posted for the park. Garrett suggested that for San
Gabriel and Rivery parks post separate hours and all other parks would have the
same hours. Garrett stated the citizen was also checking with the HOA on this
issue. Simpson stated that if they made an action on this after one complaint it
would be reacting to quickly. He suggested the HOA get a petition together to
have limited hours for the park and that a reasonable number of homeowners, 30
— 40 percent, backing the petition would be good number and would then be
appropriate for the board to consider the issue. Owens stated that it has been
considered and does not warrant any action at this time. Buikema stated that he
requested Garrett and Morrow take the issue back to the City Manager, that the
parks board has discussed it and at this time there are not enough requests to
warrant an action. Simpson stated it would be useful to communicate to the
citizens in that neighborhood that the parks board has considered this request
and if there are enough homeowners that agree with the request that the
advisory board would consider the request at that time. Garrett stated that there
has been more than one complaint from that park and that police have been
asked to drive by the park occasionally and monitor. Garrett was directed by the
board to give the information to the citizen about what was discussed and
Garrett to keep the research about the parks in the other cities, in case this issue
gets revisited.
Update on fees for Adult Baseball
Mateja explained that Buikema, Morrow, Glenn Moss and himself have viewed
the Eagle Field for possibilities of rent and the City Council has asked them to
come up with a fee, based on all the new improvements which were about
$160,000, which is what was approved for lighting and fencing, and come up
with a fee that was competitive in the market place, meaning Georgetown and
Austin for use of that complex. Mateja stated they are still in the research mode
and that they will bring information to the parks board next month for review
and approval so that it can be presented to the City Council. Garrett explained
that staff prepares all the information and the staff person in charge of the item
will bring it up at the council meeting but having the board there to show
support for the decision is important. Mateja stated it will be in April when they
present to the city council. Garrett clarified that this item will only involve the
fees and not any other amenities. Mateja stated that staff will be looking into the
high school and how they will use the field if needed with the new high school.
Buikema stated that the information that Morrow and Moss gave was complete
and helpful. Garrett stated that Moss has contacted the City's electric
department to see what the requirements would be as far as transformers
Approve minutes from January 10, 2008 meeting
Simpson made a motion to approve the minutes and Cobb seconded and it
passed by unanimous vote.
Future agenda items
Enhancement of Dog Park
Map of land for proposed parks from developers
Blue Hole update
Garrett stated that TXDOT have not pulled the money for the off road bridge
systems. They still have 5 million for construction but don't have the money for
the engineering costs. The city has approved $450,000 to engineer the plan. The
work could begin in August if the project is not pulled.
Additional Comments:
1) Mateja would like to commend Jaime Jones, who is the coordinator for the
Cupid's Chase, on her organization and follow through skills. Mateja stated he
volunteered with one of the water station and then proceeded to the finish line
where he saw great enthusiasm and a great family happening in Georgetown
which was a warm feeling. He stated he was disappointed on the marketing side
of it that there was not a lot of pre- publicity and post publicity. He asked the
staff to examine that process and that the advisory board could help make that a
better process to give the Georgetown Parks and Recreation more publicity in
Central Texas. He also stated that the organization was outstanding. Garrett
stated that a press release was sent out.
2) Buikema would like the minutes to reflect a thank you to Kay Cobb and
Michael Simpson for their contributions to the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board over the past several years. Cobb thanked everyone for the opportunity.
Simpson appreciated the opportunity to work with the group. He extended a
special thanks to Morrow, Garrett, and the entire staff, stating they are
professional and that it is a pleasure to work with.
Adjourn
Mateja made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:58
pm.
Approved:
Attest:
Mark Ramsey, Chair Parks and Recreation Board Barbara Owens; Secretary Parks & Recreation