1996-11-11
City of Southlake, Texas
CITY OF SOUTHLAKE
PARKS AND RECREATION REGULAR BOARD MEETING
November 11, 1996
MINUTES
Board Members Present: Bethann Scratchard, Carol Lee Hamilton, Robin Jones, Ronnie Kendall,
Larry Goldstein, Vicki Johnson, Gary Beyer and Rod Johnson.
Board Members Absent: Sherry Berman
City Staff Present: Director Kim Lenoir
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Vice-Chair Vicki Johnson
Aizenda Item No. 2 Consider: Approval of Minutes for October 14, 1996 Regular Board Meeting
Gary Beyer corrected wording in agenda item 9, page 5 to remove the wording "the foundation and."
Motion was made to approve the minutes on October 14, 1996 as corrected.
Motion: Goldstein
Second: Scratchard
Ayes: Kendall, Hamilton, Goldstein, V. Johnson, Jones, Beyer, Scratchard
Nays: none
Approved: 7-0
Agenda Item No. 3. Administrative Comments
Bethann Scratchard asked that staff clarify to City Council the Board's motion concerning the master
plan for Bicentennial Park. The Board's motion was for the buffer north of the easternmost
ballfields be 75, feet and if feasible within the land constraints, 100 feet.
Gary Beyer asked staff the status for cost estimates for computerizing all of the ballfield lights. Staff
reported that several sources have been contacted and estimates are expected in the next few weeks.
Rod Johnson arrived at the meeting.
Agenda Item No. 4. Public Forum
Bill Dillard, an officer of the Southlake Girls Softball Association, requested that the City relocate
the backstop and lights on field one since the fencing was scheduled to be replaced.
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City of Southlake, Texas
Director Lenoir explained that the budget included only replacing the fences. Moving the lights and
relocating the backstop would be a major renovation project that was not budgeted nor could be done
in the short time frame available to have the field ready for the CHS softball team in January. She
stated that the ballfield lights do need to be upgraded and the Board may want to consider doing that
in the phase II construction project for Bicentennial Park.
Agenda Item No. 5 Consider: Removing the Hike & Bike Trail from the Corps of En ineers
Property in the Southlake Trail System Master Plan
Rod Johnson, at the request of Susan Scott asked for this item to be on the agenda. This is the first
trail requested to be "removed" from the Trail System Master Plan as approved in August 1995. In
the past the Board has recommended adding two equestrian trails (Huse Homeplace and Fox
Hollow) and relocating the trail from North White Chapel to Durham Elementary. Two citizens
requested to speak on this agenda item. Chairman Johnson recognized the following citizens.
Richard Anderson - Said he was representing a couple of equestrian clubs and he requested that the
hike & bike trail on the Trail System Master Plan be removed from the plan. His concern was that
the trail would be concrete.
Susan Scott - Requested that the hike & bike trail on the Trail System Master Plan be removed from
the plan because she was against bikes being near the equestrian trail.
In reviewing the Trail System Master Plan, the Board did not find any reference to the fact that the
hike and bike trail in the Corps of Engineer's property would be concrete. Board members told those
present if they could find such a reference in the Trail System Master Plan that the trails would be
concrete, to bring it to their attention. Bethann Scratchard who served on the joint Park Board/ P&Z
Committee on the Trail System Master Plan said there is not a reference to the surface of trails in
the parks or on the Corps of Engineer's property because she remembers the debate and compromise
that was made. The park site plans would address the size and type of trail surface. That process
was completed with the Bob Jones Park Master Plan, where public input determined that the trail
specifications be a soft surface hiking trail only.
The City Charter requires review and updating the master plan every four years. The Board
recommended that the citizens present get involved in the updating process in 1998 - 1999.
Chairman Johnson called for a motion. No motion was made.
Agenda Item No. 6. Consider: Fencing the south side of the Fox Hollow Equestrian Trail
Robin Jones and other residents of Ravenaux worked with the Fox Hollow developer to establish
an equestrian trail easement north of Ravenaux and south of Fox Hollow. The Fox Hollow
developer donated the ten foot wide easement and fenced the north side of the trail backing up to his
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City of Southlake, Texas
lots. The Parks and Recreation Board and City Council awarded Fox Hollow 100% park fee credits
for this project as outlined. One Ravenaux resident has complained that horses are cutting through
her yard, but a fence behind Fox Hollow will probably not help her situation. Most of her property
is to the east where the horses are cutting through her yard, which is where an equestrian easement
has not been dedicated. The developer has offered to fence the south side of the equestrian trail
easement if he could qualify for future credits on other developments.
Robin Jones felt that the trail project was not finished since the south side was not fenced. Carol Lee
Hamilton and Bethann Scratchard felt that at the time of the original discussion the residents of Fox
Hollow did not request a fence because they had always had the horses in their back yards and just
did not want to lose the equestrian trail due to the development of Fox Hollow.
Motion was made for the Board to request $10,000 to fence the south side of the Fox Hollow
Equestrian Trail during the next budget process.
Motion: Goldstein
Second: Jones
Ayes: Kendall, Hamilton, Goldstein, R. Johnson, V. Johnson, Jones, Beyer, Scratchard
Nays: none
Approved: 8-0
Agenda Item No. 7, Consider: Names for Neighborhood Parks
The Board reviewed the park name list from the past "Name the Park" committee who looked at
naming Bob Jones Park. The Board felt that advertising for park names would be beneficial to get
publicity about the three new public neighborhood parks:
1) Country Walk (5 acres) at Carroll Elementary on Continental Road
2) Lonesome Dove (7 acres) in the Lonesome Dove Subdivision across from the CMS on N. Carroll
3) Versailles (5 acres) on Continental Road and new South Carroll (now called Carlisle Road).
The motion was made to announce the donations of the new parks and solicit names in conjunction
with the Park Naming Policy. A sub-committee of Kendall, Hamilton, and Scratchard would review
the submittals and make recommendations to the Board.
Motion: Jones
Second: Kendall
Ayes: Kendall, Hamilton, R. Johnson, V. Johnson, Jones, Beyer, Scratchard
Nays: Goldstein
Approved: 7-1
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City of Southlake, Texas
Agenda Item No. 8. Consider: Types of Sig_nage for Neighborhood Parks
Motion was made to install temporary signs noting "Future Neighborhood Park Site" at Country
Walk and Versailles.
Motion: Hamilton
Second: Scratchard
Ayes: Kendall, Hamilton, Goldstein, R. Johnson, V. Johnson, Jones, Beyer, Scratchard
Nays: none
Approved: 8-0
Agenda Item No. 9, Liaison Reports
Budget - Bethann Scratchard will present a budget procedure for the Board to consider in January.
Publicity - Robin Jones will assist the staff with the flyer for naming the neighborhood parks.
Recreation - Carol Lee Hamilton and Ronnie Kendall met with Kathy Schaeffer on the Saturday
Night Live program. Ronnie Kendall presented the Board with written comments from citizens not
satisfied with the program due to third graders being allowed to attend and the dark dance floor. She
attended the November 9 program and recommended that the program be suspended until changes
could be made. Carol Lee Hamilton and Vicki Johnson reiterated that there were concerns that
needed to be addressed. Members of the Board urged the Director to consider suspending the
program and that they would work with the staff to make changes. Director Lenoir said she would
attend the Saturday, November 23 event which was already publicized and make a determination.
The other Board members were urged to also attend.
Future Park Development - Larry Goldstein and Robin Jones are looking at properties and have
some creative projects for the City to consider.
Bob Jones - Ronnie Kendall will work with the neighborhood on the trail issues and announced that
the plans were approved by P&Z. The City Council will review the plans November 19.
Youth Sports Association - Gary Beyer met last week with the staff and youth associations
concerning the Spring 1997 schedule.
SPDC - $3,000,000 is projected to be available in early Spring.
JUC - Bethann Scratchard reported that JUC will meet again Tuesday. The Board wanted to urge
the CISD staff to reconsider allowing indoor soccer in the gym.
KSB - Kathy Schaeffer needs to call a committee meeting to planning the "March for Parks."
Development Issues- Robin Jones read a draft of a "boiler plate" letter to go to developers that are
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City of Southlake, Texas
coming to Southlake about public park needs. Robin will work with staff to finalize the letter.
Robin Jones left the meeting at 8:48 pm.
Agenda Item No. 10. Discuss: Updated Policy and Procedures Manual
The Park Board / City Council initiated and adopted policy and procedures were reviewed by the
Board. Minor changes have been made (ie. coordinator to director, division to department). Carol
Lee Hamilton asked that the procedure for Board agenda preparation be revised in a `procedure'
format rather than a `question' format. Procedures will be revised for the Board to consider in
December.
Agenda Item No. 11. Discuss: Bicentennial Park - Construction Phase II (this item was partially
discussed after agenda item 7)
Debbie Orzech, representing Southlake Girls Softball Association (SGSA), presented the Board with
a letter (attached to the minutes). She stated that the SGSA had funds of $5000 to $9000 to
contribute to improvements to the softball fields and storage. She said SGSA would be paying for
the wiring of the new scoreboards. She complained that the ballfield lights were not coming on early
enough and they had to delay a scheduled game last Sunday. Director Lenoir said she would follow-
up with the maintenance staff to reset the timers.
The Board requested that SGSA to do their research and present a proposal to the Board for their
consideration.
The Board recommended SPDC consider financing under the existing facility enhancement phase -
the playground pavilion, parking lot expansion, underground utilities and 50% of the budget for the
trees and shade structures at the baseball fields, the hike and bike trail phase the in-line hockey court
and the three basketball courts and move up the softball field restroom renovations and relighting
the existing softball fields.
Agenda Item No 12, Discuss: Bob Jones Park - Construction Phase I
SPDC wanted to know the Park Board's recommendation for the first phase of construction at Bob
Jones Park. The Board reviewed the budget prepared during the master planning process and
recommended the pre-development buffer and the soccer complex phase. If the City receives the
TPWD grant the 1.5 mile hike and bike trail will need to be included.
Agenda Item 13. Discuss: Constructing Soccer Fields at School Sites
The Board recommended that SPDC consider installing two sodded and irrigated soccer game fields
by the Fall of 1997.
Agenda Item No. 14. Discuss: Joint Meeting with City Council - December 9
The Board will invite the City Council for a joint work session / reception at 7:30 pm, Monday,
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City of Southlake, Texas
December 9. The Board wanted to discuss formalizing the approach to developers with the Park
Dedication Ordinance, a Sidewalk/Trail Ordinance, land acquisition and indoor soccer facilities. The
Board asked Bethann Scratchard to also invite the members of the Joint-use Committee.
Agenda Item No. 15, Discuss: Park Board Goals Retreat 1997-98
The Board to set a date for a Goals Retreat on Saturday, February 22. This will be the first step in
the budget preparation process.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:38 p.m.
i"AAXt.,
Rod Johns n, Chairman
ATTEST:
Carol Lee Hamilton, Secretary
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