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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_03.12.1998CITY OF GEORGETOWN Parks & Recreation Board Minutes March 12,1998 MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Tom Swift, Chair Ms. Joan Sukup Ms. Joyce Gadison Mr. Wesley Kidd Mr. Don Brent Mr. Thurman Holt MEMBERS ABSENT: Ms. Debbie McGarry Mr. Ben White, Vice Chair Ms. Rochelle Hall OTHERS PRESENT: Kimberly Garrett, Administrative Assistant Randy Morrow, Director of Parks and Recreation Gene Lawhon Jerry Birkelbach I. APPROVE MINUTES FROM February 12,1998 A motion was made by Joyce Gadison to accept the minutes from the February 12, 1998, meeting. Don Brent seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. II. CITIZENS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD None. II1. FOLLOW UP ON PLAYSCAPE Randy has been working with Russel Duddewiez on organizing maintenance for the playscape. Two weekends have been planned for maintenance on the playscape. March 28th and April 4th. March 28th, the playscape will be sanded and power washed with bleach solution and on April 4t1-4 the playscape will be sealed with linseed oil. Volunteer groups helping are Sertoma. Serteen, APO from Southwestern, and Sun City Employees. IV. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON BATTING CAGES IN SAN GABRIEL PARK Gene Lawhon and Jerry Birkelbach, private investors. are proposing to nut a batting cake in San Gabriel Park at the intersection of FM 971 and Austin Avenue and are asking for the board's approval. At the January meeting, Gene passed out drawings and information on the proposed facility. There will be no interference with the Hike and Bike Trail and a parking lot will have to be put in off of FM 971. Gene believes there is a great need for batting cages in Georgetown because there are a lot of baseball and softball players in the community. The batting cages would be a combination softball/baseball so the batter may choose. The plans would have to go through planning and zoning and City Council to work out landscaping and parking issues. If the concept is approved, then details regarding a lease, a percentage of fees, and programming possibilities can be worked out. Wesley's concern is the aesthetics and looks of the batting cages. He wants it to look first class and to make sure there are enough parking spaces available. Planning and Zoning will dictate the number of parking spaces needed. Don asked about liability. Randy said a contract would be signed saying that the batting cage owners will assume all liability. Wesley asked about alternate locations if FM 971 and Austin Avenue did Ilot pass City Council. Gene said that other locations will be considered if the first location is not available. Gene said he would work very closely with the board and staff on the final plans of the batting cages. Thurman Holt made a motion to recommend to City Council the approval of the proposed batting cages by Gene Lawhon and Jerry Birkelbach withstanding major parking and detention pond requirements. Don Brent seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. Randy Morrow and Tom Swift will draft a letter as soon as possible to City Council with the recommendation. V. INFORMATION FROM BOARD MEMBERS AND DIRECTOR Wesley Kidd had some possible ideas from the talk given by Officer Schacherl last month. He said that when he was growing up in Arlington there was a place in Mansfield called Cowbell and people could ride a bull for $5.00. He said it was just an idea. The youth today do not want dances unless it is after a football game. He said there are many diverse groups of students and maybe there could be some activities for each group. Randy mentioned giving all the high school students a free membership like the library gives a free Iibrary card. Tom talked about sponsoring a task force targeting needs of high school age students. Tom said he would like to see one of the members from the parks board contact Barbara Pearce with the Georgetown Project to see about the possibility of creating a sub committee of the Georgetown Project to see if a survey instrument could be put together that could be distributed over a period of time. Also maybe get a town meeting together with students to have some brain storming on ideas. Wesley mentioned a group at High School that involves a very wide cross section of students from 9th - 12th grade and Richarte students. They deal with what is going on in the school, but Wesley said it would be a great start. Linda Megs is the sponsor of that group. Tom asked Wesley to contact Linda and get together a rough plan so that the board could go to City Council and inform them of the interest. Tom asked if Wesley could have something by the April meeting. Wesley said that GISD is in need of an intramural program. Many schools up north have this and it would be good to have in Georgetown. Don Brent said there is a problem with the lighting in the parks. Don said lie would talk to LCRA and would approach them with the possibility of putting up some lighting in the park. He said he would also approach TU Electric. Randy said there is a need for lighting in the parks, but there has not been enough money to install them. Randy said that the parks department is looking at solar lighting in the park along the trail and would really like to have lights at the new athletic complex. Don said he would check into the lighting with LCRA and TU Electric and report back to the board. Thurman Holt told the board that he was on the 150th committee for the county's celebration. The event will be held at Settler's Park in Round Rock on October 15 - 18th in conjunction with the Cowboy Jubilee. He is looking for suggestions for free or cheap entertainment. Joan Sukup asked when the Easter Egg Hunt will be. Randy said this year Parks and Recreation is helping with the hunt in San Gabriel Park. Jiffy Mart and Marvin Waley are donating 16,000 eggs. The hunt will be on April 11th at 9 am at the gazebo. Tom Swift said that Lucas Adams, President of the Williamson County Art Guild, is very interested in building a building to support the arts. It would be a multi - purpose center. They are looking at a location in the park and are interested in a joint facility with the City. He will be at the April meeting to talk to the Parks and Recreation Board. Randy Morrow passed out free guest passes to board members. A tentative date for the Bonner/McMaster dedication has been set for March 28, 1998. This could change if the signs are not ready and also depending on when Mr. Bonner's family can come to the dedication. At the next meeting, Susan Morgan. Director of Finance, will discuss the Annual Operating Plan with the Parks and Recreation Board. The Parks and Recreation department accepted the TRAPS State Gold Medal Award in Corpus Christi on March 6, 1998. The award is given to the best parks and recreation department of their size in Texas. The department also won the award in 1992. The Annual Boards and Commissions Banquet will be held at Sun Cit%- 011 March 20, 1998. VI. ADJOURN Joyce Gadison made a motion to adjourn the meeting.