04-23-2012 (Parks & Recreation) Minutes CITY OF WYLIE Parks and Recreation Board
Meeting Agenda
Monday,April 23,2012—6:30 p.m.
Wylie Municipal Complex—Council Chambers
300 Country Club Road, Building 100
Wylie,Texas 75098
CALL TO ORDER
Announcing the presence of a Quorum,Chairwoman Anne Hiney called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m.
Board Members present: Dan Chesnut,Cristine Price,Jim Ward and Matt Rose.
Staff members present: Robert Diaz,Board Liaison and Park Board Secretary Interims,Mary Bradley and Janet Hawkes.
CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
No citizens addressed the Board.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Consider and act upon approving the Minutes from the March 26,2012 meeting.
Board Action
Board Member Rose made a motion,seconded by Board Member Price to approve the minutes from the March 26,
2012 meeting. A vote was taken and passed 5-0.
2. Consider and act upon approving the conceptual neighborhood park plans for the Forrest Ross property and
Pheasant Creek Park prepared by consultants Teague,Nall and Perkins, Inc.
Board Discussion
Discussion began with the Forrest Ross property or Park Site A. Superintendent Diaz met with the North Texas
Municipal Water District(NTMWD)and the United States Army Corp of Engineers(USACE)on two different
occasions to discuss conceptual plans for Park Site A. TNP has divided Park Site A into three park areas: Park
Area 1(west side-NTMWD owned property),Park Area 2(central piece-City of Wylie owned property),and Park
Area 3 (east piece-USACE owned property). NTMWD is open to ideas in regards to Park Area 1 but are in the
process of discussion for possibly putting in an additional retention pond,and are therefore are unsure if they will
ever want to sell that piece of land. Superintendent Diaz advised that Park Area 2,which is city owned property,
has ground that is not level;however Teague,Nall and Perkins (TNP),Wylie's Neighborhood Park Plan Consultant,
worked well at utilizing the contours of the land to accommodate amenities such as a pavilion and trails.
Superintendent Diaz stated that the USACE is open to any ideas in regards to Park Area 3 and are willing to lease
their land to us as they are not planning to develop there due to the fact that it is mostly flood plain. TNP shows a
Park Area 3 plan for soft surface trails connecting to nearby neighborhoods and the Wylie Angel area,with parking
located in Park Areas 1 and 2. Park Area 3 would be mostly trail area with minimal disturbance to land and
wildlife. Superintendent Diaz feels that all three areas are good conceptual park plans and can be done in phases.
The next step from here would be to obtain design/engineering documents and construction documents.
Board Member Price asked if TNP would have the opportunity to be the company who provides these documents
and Superintendent Diaz advised that they would along with other consultants. Board Member Rose requested we
go back to TNP and ask them to add more items to Park area 2 since NTMWD may never sell Park Area 1 land to
the City of Wylie. Chairwoman Hiney agreed with Board Member Rose since Park Area 1 is an unknown. In
addition Chairwoman Hiney felt like TNP's Wylie Park Master Plan for Park Site A did not change much from their
previous one and would like for them to give us a revised master plan in addition to the current one in the event we
don't get Park Area 1 land from NTMWD. Superintendent Diaz stated that the Master Plan submitted by TNP is
just a starting point showing maximum potential in Park Area 1.
Board Member Rose stated his concern with the low budget number estimation of$85 per square foot compared to
the$214 per square foot recently spent for the Community Park concession stand and restroom. Superintendent
Diaz advised that the figures given were bare bones numbers only,a starting point,and that prices change on a daily
basis. Site amenities and consulting plans are not included in the estimates shown by TNP.
Board Member Chesnut expressed his concern with the possibility that NTMWD may decide not to sell Park Area 1
land to the City of Wylie,as well as with the idea that NTMWD is considering adding a retention pond on their
property. Board Member Chesnut feels a retention pond would not only be unsightly but also would emit
unpleasant odors in Park Area 1,particularly in the summer months. Superintendent Diaz responded that the pond
NTMWD has said to be considering would not contain sewer water but treated waste water from the treatment plant.
Board Member Chesnut asked how the neighboring subdivision in Park Area 3 was permitted to build on a flood
plain to which Superintendent Diaz advised that the subdivision was located on private property and was not in the
flood plain. Superintendent Diaz stated that last year the City Council directed the Parks Board to look at Park 1
land as a gateway to the lake,looking into all possibilities. He added that all ideas suggested by TNP will be
brought before Council prior to any funding being allocated.
Board Member Ward suggested we ask TNP for an addendum backup plan in the event that Park Area 1 no longer
becomes an option. Board Member Price expressed that she liked the overall big picture of the parks but suggests
TNP change amenities in Park Area 1 (NTMWD land)to be shown instead on Park Area 2(City of Wylie land).
Superintendent Diaz explains that the Park Site A Plan was designed to show a viable neighborhood park with or
without park Area 1 and that each piece of land is designed to fit together and respectively work on their own. Park
Area 1,if obtainable,just had the most usable land to build on.
Chairwoman Hiney said that she felt the Board was not so much concerned with specific amenities on Park Area 1
but more so with what else could be realistically put on Park Area 2 in the event that Park Area 1 is not an option.
Board Member Rose advised he loves the overall concept of the Park Site A plan however feels that consideration
needs to be given in regards to screening(trees,shrubs,etc.)from the possible retention pond as well as ideas on
how to make Park Area 2 into the gateway to the lake in the event we don't have Park Area 1 as an option.
Superintendent Diaz then reviewed the Pheasant Creek Park,or Park Site B,with the board advising its plan is a
simpler plan to achieve;however,he added that the budget for such plan is very large. Park Area 1,although very
pretty,has design challenges due to the steepness of the ground around the creek area. Also,there is no easy access
to this park because it is not centrally located and is attached to neighborhood housing. Member Rose stated he
likes the overall plan but would prefer an all-city parking lot be added. Chairwoman Hiney felt that Park 1 would
not get a lot of traffic other than the surrounding neighborhoods and believed money spent on a parking lot at this
park would be wasteful spending. Superintendent Diaz added that a security issue could pose a problem for Park
Area 4 because the park sits directly behind residential homes without any screening present between homes and the
park.
Board Action
Superintendent Diaz asked the board if they wanted to vote tonight on the non-binding conceptual Park Site A
Master Plan or wait and see if TNP will submit a second conceptual master plan showing amenities. The Board
agreed that they wanted to wait with the hopes of receiving the second optional concept from TNP. Board Member
Ward made a motion,seconded by Board Member Price,to table both neighborhood park site plans(Park site A and
B)until next month allowing Superintendent Diaz to request an amended Wylie Park Master Plan for Park Site A.
A vote was taken and passed 5-0.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Community Park Project Update.
Superintendent Diaz showed the board recent photos of various parts of the Community Park project. Sod is being
laid on Eldridge Field,and the concession stand sign is up awaiting final painting. Restroom interior glass blocks
were installed which emit a lot of natural light to the interior. Water fountains on each side of the concessions stand
are in. Area lighting will be tested on Tuesday,April 24. The process for choosing the art for Community Park is
underway. Canopies are not yet on the roof. Contractor suggested pulling up the temporary fencing;however,we
are concerned that it is too soon due to safety reasons. Irrigation is running on sodded areas of the park that have
irrigation. To allow the sod to better establish,Wylie Baseball Association agreed to move several games to
Founders Park and WISD facilities.
Minutes April 23, 2012
Wylie Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
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Board Member Rose inquired on where we are at with the contingency,and Superintendent Diaz advised that it was
at approximately$20,000. There are still a few things which need to be paid for,such as artwork. Superintendent
Diaz notified the Board that once the project is closed out we will come back with a list of items that the City
Council would like addressed. The exact amount left from contingency should be available for the June Board
meeting.
Chairwoman Hiney stated that three artists and one alternative were selected to submit their ideas for the
Community Park art project. The Public Art Board subcommittee will choose the final artist and recommend them
to the Public Art Board wherein City Council will issue final approval.
2. Discuss recreation fees and Childcare 7-11 program at Wylie Recreation Center update.
On April 10,2012, Superintendent Diaz provided to the City Council an update on the Childcare 7-11 Program as
well as the plan to implement additional hours on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Council advised Superintendent
Diaz to keep going with it as is with plans to re-evaluate the Childcare 7-11 Program in the fall. Superintendent
Diaz stated that the Recreation Center staff will be present for the May Board meeting to review the new brochure
with the Board members. Superintendent Diaz presented graphs showing Wylie Recreation Center current revenues
which revealed that the revenues are on target with the budget.
Board Member Rose confirmed that the budget year runs from October to September. He does not recommend that
we change or discount any Recreation Center fees at this time.
Board Member Ward inquired on how much the 4B budget has reduced as a result of the Recreation Center.
Superintendent Diaz advised that in addition to the Recreation Center,4B has contributed to the Community Center,
Parks and paying the debt for the Wells property. The goal is to not exhaust the 4B balance,but he is unsure where
the funds should come from if 4b funds are exhausted.
Chairwoman Hiney agreed that the board should not reduce or make any changes to the current Recreation Center
fees but they should be evaluated again within the next fiscal year.
3. Review of the Parks Acquisition and Improvement Fund projects for FY 2012 and discuss projects for the FY
2013.
Superintendent Diaz stated he wanted to get the Board's perspective on the projects but that he was still awaiting the
current budget information from the Finance Department. Superintendent Diaz did review the current status of
projects for FY 2012: Dodd Park irrigation will be completed this summer in the west zone,trash cans and benches
put in at various parks in the central zone,and amenities have been purchased for the disc golf project in the east
zone. Chairwoman Hiney stated she would like to bring this review back in front of a full board for discussion at the
next meeting. Board Member Rose requested reviewing again the list of last year's suggested projects along with
their estimated budgets. Superintendent Diaz agreed and suggested that calling a special meeting might be required
to address the budget due to time constraints
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business a motion to adjourn was made by Board Member Chesnut and seconded by Board Member
Rose. The meeting was adjourned at 8:34 p.m.by unanimous consent.
ATTEST:
Ma Bra ley, Park Boar ecretary Anne-Hiney, GLair
(Intevrim) U I^n4`FEPoSe , Co•dna;r
Janet Hawkes, Park Board Secretary
(Interim)
Minutes April 23, 2012
Wylie Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
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