09-14-2020 (Parks & Recreation) Minutes CITY OF
WYLIE Parks and Recreation Board
Meeting Minutes
Monday,September 14,2020—6:30 p.m.
Wylie Municipal Complex
300 Country Club Road#100
Wylie,Texas 75098
CALL TO ORDER
Board Co-chairperson Suarez called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.with Board Member Swendig,
Board Member Willeford, Board Member Allen, and Board Member Stewart in attendance. Board
Member Mullis was absent from the meeting. Board Chairperson Robinson arrived to the meeting at 7:01
p.m.
Staff members present were Parks and Recreation Director Robert Diaz, Parks Manager Brent Stowers,
Recreation Manager Carmen Powlen, and Parks Board Secretary Janet Hawkes.
CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
No citizens came forward.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
1. Consider and act upon approval of the Minutes from the August 10, 2020
Meeting.
Board Action:
Board Member Swendig made a motion to approve the Minutes from the August 10, 2020
Meeting. Board Member Allen seconded the motian, and a vote was taken and passed 5-0.
2. Consider and act upon approval of a vendor application for a Wylie East
High School Theater Department fundraiser event at Community Park on
October 12, 2020.
Board Action:
Board Member Stewart made a motion to approve a vendor application for a Wylie East High
School Theater Department fundraiser event at Community Park on October 12, 2020. Board
Member Swendig seconded the motion, and a vote was taken and passed 5-0.
Remove Item 3. from the table and consider:
Board Member Swendig made a motion to remove from the table the item consider and act upon
recommending the Founders Park Master Plan.
3. Consider and act upon recommending the Founders Park Master Plan.
Director Diaz reviewed the Founders Park Master Plan with the Board reiterating that the
primary priority for the proposed phases is to focus on patron safety featuring use of
underdeveloped portions of the park including increased parking throughout, improved and
additional football and soccer fields, additional restroom and concession facilities, extended trail,
larger plaza areas, shortened softball fields C and D reduced from 300 feet to 250 feet each,the
development of improved road access through the park, and the addition of an all-inclusive
playground to the replace the aging Pirate Cove Playground. The Founders Park Master Plan
includes four possible phases with estimated costs as follows: phase one$5,267,438; phase two
$5,236,684; phase three$4,726,548; phase four$710,498; and a grand total estimated cost of
$15,941,169 inclusive of all four phases.
When the Board met on August 10, 2020 the consensus was to table the item until after staff
gave league officials the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the completed Founders
Park Master Plan. League officials were invited to attend the September Parks and Recreation
Board meeting in order to provide their input and address any questions they might have in
regards to the plan.
Wylie Baseball Softball Association (WBSA) representatives were unable to attend the meeting;
however, WBSA President Lance Wallace emailed staff and explained that his only concern with
the Founders Park Master Plan is the intent to shorten the two south softball fields (fields C and
D.) Mr.Wallace feels this change could potentially impact the future field needs of girls and adult
softball.
Wylie Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) representatives President Mike Emmert and Field
Director Jason Coker attended the September Parks and Recreation Board meeting to provide
input on the Founders Park Master Plan. They stated they were very impressed with the plan,
particularly the inclusion of additional parking and shade trees. Their only concem was the
playability of the fields during the construction of the three phases. WYSA representatives
advised they would like to staff to prioritize improvements to the fields on the west side of
Founders Park in order to ensure player safety.
The Board consensus was to have the consultants revise the Founders Park Master Plan by
providing an updated phasing plan that would provide an alternative plan wherein the south
softball fields are not reduced in size.
Board Action:
Board Chairperson Robinson made a motion to again table the item until an updated master plan
with the revisions requested by the Board and league officials has been completed. Staff was
directed to bring back the plan at a future meeting for review. Board Member Allen seconded the
motion, and a vote was taken and passed 6-0.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
• Board Tour-Proposed date October 17, 2020
The Board Members agreed with Director Diaz's proposal to schedule the Parks and Recreation
Board tour at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2020. Director Diaz advised that the tour will
last approximately three hours,with transportation and lunch provided. During the tour the Board
will have the opportunity to recognize Arbor Day by planting a tree at the Pheasant Creek Park.
In addition, Director Diaz invited the Board Members to distribute trees to citizens outside of the
Recreation Center on Friday November 6, 2020. Board Chairperson Robinson requested staff
order matching Parks and Recreation Board shirts to wear during Board related events.
Minutes September 14, 2020
Wylie Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
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• Board meetings at alternate sites.
Director Diaz requested input from the Board on the idea of holding future Parks and Recreation
Board meetings at alternate locations such as one of our parks, the Thomas and Maddie Brown
House,the Wylie Senior Center, the Wylie Recreation Center as well as other similar locations.
The Board consensus was to meet at alternate sites but to limit it to only indoor facilities.
• Project updates.
Director Diaz reviewed ongoing projects with the Board.The Twin Lakes/Southbrook Trail
connection project continues with a tentative completion date estimated in mid to late September.
As discussed earlier in the meeting, the Founders Park Master Plan is 98% complete and
awaiting final approval of a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Board.
Staff continues to work on construction documents for Phase 1 improvements to the Thomas and
Mattie Brown House with the project's expected date to begin in the fall of 2020. The accessible
lift and/or possible ramp location at the Thomas and Mattie Brown House are in review by staff
and the Historical Review Commission.
Staff is finalizing the start date for construction of the Avalon Park fence project wherein a four-
foot PVC coated fence will be added to the perimeter of the park in order to ensure future patron
safety.
The City budget for fiscal year 2020/2021 was approved by City Council and included in the
budget is funding for an aquatics study and a Lavon Lake parks study. Dunaway Associates,
who also consulted for our Parks and Recreation Master Plan,will be consulting for both
upcoming studies. Director Diaz advised the Board that both studies will require significant Board
involvement.
• Parks Division updates.
Parks Manager Brent Stowers led a power point presentation for the Board reviewing ongoing
Parks Division projects including the Twin Lakes Trail Project,the Avalon Fence Project and the
Westgate Median Landscape project.
• Recreation Division updates.
Recreation Manager Carmen Powlen presented the Activity Menu to the Board. As part of the
presentation Carmen provided a step by step process on how to navigate through the menu
online.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Board Member Stewart. Board
Member Allen seconded the motion, and a vote was taken and passed 6-0. The meeting was adjourned
at 7:28 p.m.
ATTEST
Jane Hawkes,Parks Board Secretary binson,Parks Board Chairperson
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Minutes September 14, 2020
Wylie Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
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