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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_05.14.2009Minutes of the Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, May 14, 2009 The Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , May 14, 2009. Members Present: Bill Mateja, Bob Mathis, Jean Houck, Kent Buikema , Robert Laemel, Shane Morris Members Absent: Simone Pollard Staff Present: Randy Morrow, Kimberly Garrett, Jill Kellum Minutes ' Regular Meeting 1. Call to order The meeting was called to order at 7:08 pm. 2. Roll call 3. Introduce Erin Ruyle, Marketing/Special Events Coordinator Erin Ruyle was introduced by Garrett. Ruyle thanked the board for inviting her to the meeting. Ruyle stated that her main goal is to better and more effectively communicate the message of what parks and recreation has to offer. The first project that she worked on was the website redesign. Features were added to make it more aesthetically appealing and user friendly. There are rotating pictures which correspond to new stories. Now the public can see what is happening currently and what is coming up as opposed to the old site where the news stories were hidden on the bottom of the site. Ruyle created and maintains a parks and recreation blog which is called Live and Play in Georgetown. Ruyle has started a weekly/biweekly parks and recreation newsletter which public can sign up for online. Online surveys have been placed on the website for members and recreation users so they can provide input on how to better serve them. Facility signage has been installed at the Recreation Center in the locker rooms and the lobby to promote information. Parks and Recreation postcards are being sent to all new members with a hand written message from Ruyle welcoming them to the Recreation Center and the postcards will also go out as thank you letters to sponsors and latter for member's birthdays and achievement notification. As far as special events, she has been working on new ideas. One is a sidewalk chalk art contest, which has been offered in the past, which offers non -athletic adults and youth to participate in a fun event. More athletic events to offer would be a child triathlon, a duathlon, another road race, and a triathlon with a pool swim, where the Recreation Center pool can be utilized and the facility can be showcased. She is also working on internal marketing which is member appreciation by letting members know they are and their business is appreciated. June will be membership appreciation month with a kickoff event on th Friday, June 5 . There will be free food, face painting, games and prizes. There will be video added to the website which will show member testimonials and their success stories. Buikema asked if Ruyle is dedicated to the Parks and Recreation. Garrett stated that she is dedicated to Parks and Recreation only. Laemel asked if Ruyle will be working with the Tennis Center and the Meet the Pro event. Ruyle stated that she created the flyer for that event and that she will be helping with the event. Mateja challenged Ruyle to double the participants in the Cupid's Chase. Garrett stated that Ruyle is starting out showcasing the recreation side and that there is also the parks side to showcase and also the disc golf courses, the challenge course, teen/senior center, and softball leagues. The parks board thanked and welcomed Ruyle. 4. Discussion on advertising and marketing for Parks and Recreation Department Ruyle included discussion in item #3. 5. Update on the Lake Georgetown project Garrett stated information gathered from their trip to Lake Grapevine and Joe th Moore's assessment of Lake Georgetown was presented to City Council April 27 . Carey Weber, Lake Manager for Lake Georgetown, and Doug Cox, project manager for USACE Fort Worth district office, were present and answered questions. Doug Cox acts as a partnership liaison between the USACE and cities. Staff presented the information and requested direction from Council. Council directed staff to pursue options. Garrett stated that a consultant could be brought in for $1,000 - $1,500 for a rd day to get a 3 party report. Staff would report back to Council in 6 months. 6. Discussion on wish list for programs and facilities Garrett handed out a form to the parks board members that staff prepared showing their ideas for better programs and facilities. Staff is aware that the funding is not available currently. There was some discussion about the Tennis Center seating. Staff suggests that the berm area works well for the area but seating will also be considered. The consideration for parking lot lights at the McMaster's Complex has been submitted as a service level request but has not been approved at this date. Morris stated the softball participants would like to be able to grill at McMaster's Complex. Garrett explained that the Parks and Recreation Department has a concessionaire at the facility and that the department receives a percentage of sales. Garrett stated that the gates on the sand volleyball side have recently been unlocked since the parking lot is completed. They were being left locked because the participants were leaving trash in the area and not using the trash receptacles. Garrett also stated there is a gate on College Street and it is left locked to control parking off the berm or right next to the trail and want people to park in a designated parking lot. Additionally, the VFW will not allow parking on their area. Morris added that with the College Street side locked, when there has been an injury the ambulance has had to drive around to the parking lot. Garrett stated that the umpires have the combinations to unlock the gates in case of emergency. Mateja asked about the replacing the two nonfunctioning basketball backboard wenches in the Recreation Center gym and the cost. Garrett stated this is in the old gym and that they are currently electric but they will want to replace with a crank style and it would cost approximately $1,000.00. Mateja asked about replacing the nonfunctioning scoreboard in the Recreation Center gym and the cost. Garrett stated that the scoreboard will need to be replaced and the cost is approximately $2,500.00. Mateja suggested that we get sponsors for the scoreboard. Mateja asked if the facilities department could build the shelves. Morrow stated that with a new facility you want something nice installed. Houck stated that the commercial type shelving is very expensive for what you get. Mateja asked what the procedure was, in a down economy, with the City Council to appropriate funds to fix the backboards and scoreboard. Morrow stated they probably would not fund the scoreboard because it may not be something the city really needs right now in this economy and that they may look at it again in a year or two. 7. Update on Teen/Senior Center Opening, May 23, 2009. Garrett stated that the opening event for the Teen / Senior Center is being advertised on the website, in the newspaper, Channel 10, and a flyer was sent out to all the schools. Ruyle stated there will be a pizza eating contest and that is advertised at CiCi s and other restaurants around town and also at the Recreation Center. 8. Approve minutes from April 9, 2009 meeting Laemel made a motion to approve the minutes Houck seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. 9. Future agenda items Mateja read excerpts from the April 5, 2009 Williamson County Sun article titled Rec on a roll written by Linda Scarbrough giving accolades to Randy Morrow and Kimberly Garrett for the work on the Recreation Center. 10. Adjourn Morris made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm. Approved: Attest: n/ KentBuikema, Chair Parks and Recreation Board Shai'rris, Sectary Parks and Recreation Board