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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/12/1995 - Regular Agenda - Parks Board (3)PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING - PUBLIC HEARING SE T MBER 12, 1995 -- 7:00 P.M. COLLEGE STATION CONFERENCE CENTER 1.300 GEORGE BUSH::.:. DRIVE, ROOM 106 Call to Order Approval of Minutes 2 3. Presentation and Discussion of Park Development Plans: 199E-2000 4. Public Hearing Concerning Youth Sports Activities 5. Other Business/Board Concerns 6. Adjourn J PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING PUBLIC HEARING' TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1995 - 7:00 P.M. COLLEGE STATION CONFERENCE CENTER ..:.:........:... 1300 GEORGE BUSH DRIVE, ROOM 106 MEMBERS PRESENT: Ron Gay, Chair; Bob b DeOtte, Vice Chair; Greg Taggart; Carol Reynolds; Barry Harding; Debra, Anderson;, Michael Manson; and Nancy Crouch, Council Liaison Steve Beachy, Director; Peter Vanecek, Senior Planner; Linda Waltman, Recreation Superintendent; Tony Scazzero; Athletics Supervisor; Curtis Bingham, Parks Operations :Superintendent; Robert Hensarling, Parks Operations Supervisor; Gary Marske, Parks. Operations Supervisor; Scott.: Hooks, Parks Operations Supervisor; Pam Einkauf, Senior Secretary STAFF PRESENT: VISITORS: Brandt.. Glover, Pony/Sandy Koufax League, 2917 Meadowbrook Court; Ron Carter, College Station Little League (CSLL), 1308 Leacrest; Gary Norton, Athletic Amateur Union (AAU), 3435 Greentree Circle; Steve Mistrek, City of Bryan Parks and Recreation Department; Scott Burns `CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chair Ron Gay at 7:05 p.m. IL APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were approved as submitted III :. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF PARK DEVELOPMENT PLANS: 1996-2000: Steve passed out a flyer that reviewed the recent bond election. He reviewed the renovations taking place at Sandstone Park which was funded from the 1990 bond election.' He stated that the next park to be designed will be Pebble Creek Park which will be located adjacent to Pebble Creek Elementary School. This project was funded through the 1995 bond election with a budget of $200,000. - The estimated date of completion is the summer of 1996. Steve stated that members from both the College Station ;independent School District and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department would be utilized in the design of the park. Several public hearings will be held prior to the actual construction of the park. Another project on the 1995 bond election was the Lincoln Center/Wayne Smith Park Corridor with a budget of $1,230,000. Completion is expected in the summer of 1997. Parks & Recreation Board Regular Meeting -Public Hearing August 15, 1995 Page (2) The project will include three, lighted baseball fields with adjacent rest room buildings, as well as some drainageii'nprovements'and additional sidewalks. A grant application is being considered to help with matching funds for this project. Steve mentioned that the city still needs to acquire, three properties, on Holleman Street prior to completion of the project. Bee Creek and Central Parks were listed oh'thebond electionwitha $200,000 budget. Estimated completion for these is the Fall of 1998. Improvements will include new fences, dugouts, backstops, concession improvements, and cleaning out the Arboretum. Steve mentioned that the land 'acquisition item on the bond election has a budget of $1.5 million. The 'estimated time frame is 1997-1999. Acquisition is to include y suitable for athletic facility development. The intent is, approximatel 150 acres of land to pUrChaSe the land and then utilize future bond elections for construction of facilities" on the land: Steve 'stated that the city has been working for over a year on developing a comprehensive' plan which includes the land use plan' and park master plan. This plan will help identify future possible locations' for parks.' The master plan is scheduled to be completed in December 1995. Steve mentioned that the new" budget year will be starting on October 1. The Parks' Department is working with a 3% budget reduction from last year, but will be expected to provide the same levels of service as last year. IV. PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING YOUTH SPORTS ACTIVITIES: Ron stated that each entity would be given five minutes to talk, and: then other individuals would be given a chance to speak. Ron mentioned that "'since the department's budget was reduced by 3%, the sports leagues could expect to receive the same level of support they.received last year, but that the department would not be able to increase their support due to the budget cuts. Ron stated that there could not be any expansion of schedules or facilities because the 'department are not prepared to absorb those costs within the budget. Ron asked that the organizations consult with the city prior to expanding or adding additional leagues. He also asked for them to consult with the city in the bidding of tournaments. He stated that he would like to see more .:tournaments brought to the city, but coordintionamust be made'to ensure the availability of facilities for: those tournaments,:as well as.coordinating with ;. the Convention and Visitors Bureau on the availability of rooms.;Ron encouraged,Ihe organizations, to make :arrangements; to . use .vacant land around town„ for : practice fields, as wellas checking with the Parks Department aboutland that could be used for -' Ron stated.that there, will be greater demands in the future than the city will, be ;able to... meet with its current facilities ., Hementioned that additional , funds are needed for repairs;' maintenance, and supplies of current fields He said ,that the; replacement of the four scoreboards at Southwood by College Station Little League is a good example of the type of thing, that, needs to be done on an annual basis by these. leagues. Other'', 4.4r,0 j - Parks & Recreation Board `�• Regular Meeting -Public Hearing h "kAugust 15, 1995 \A/\. Page (3) needs include fence replacement at Southwood, where people practice batting by hitting balls into it, the purchase of marble dust to the mark the fields, fertilizer, roofs for the dugouts, windscreens for the outfield fences, foul ball netting, additional soccer goals, etc. Ron ` Carter, Chairman, College Station Little League, informed the board that their organization is broke. He stated that when the league went to Southwood in 1980, the league consisted of 400 kids on 25 teams. In 1995, the regular season consisted of 1,256 playing on 97 teams. He stated that the league is growing but they are still having to play on the same amount of fields. He stated that his league was contacted by the District and State Little League Offices to host the Major Boy's Sectional State Tournament because of the quality of the fields. He said they were unable to accept because of conflicts regarding use of the fields. Mr. Carter stated that this opportunity was lost due to the lack of playing fields Mr. Carter stated that he requested, at a previous board meeting, that the soccer fields at Southwood be converted to t-ball fields to alleviate the crowding at the other fields. He asked that the board make an immediate decision so that they could proceed with scheduling for the 1996 season. Mr. Carter stated that their organization received a list of 23 practice fields from the Parks Department this past year. Seven of those fields were unplayable, some due to holes, one was unmowed, and Sandstone, which had road construction, was inaccessible, He stated that some teams either didn't practice or had limited practice due to the late communication. He is requesting that their league be given a list of practice fields by February 1. Brandt Glover, Sandy Koufax, read a letter from Mark Johnson, A&M Baseball Coach, which promoted that particular league. The league started 3-4 years ago and is played at Haswell Park in Bryan. The league is open to everyone 13-14 years old, including those outside the. College Station/Bryan area. The first season starts in the middle of February and is a 14-game season, and the second season starts affer the first one ends. Mr, Glover stated that 13-14 year olds don't have a place to play baseball in College Station until the middle of May when the Jtmefier High School is finished playing on the senior league fields. The other problem is that the fields are major league dimensions which is difficult for that age group to play on. He believes that more 13-14 year old kids would play baseball if there were fields to play on Gary Norton stated that AAU became big in 1994, when he and Robert Williams put a 9-and-under team together and took them to Kenner,. Louisiana. Twenty teams from across the nation went to participate in the tournament. This year, 1995, thirty teams showed up in Kenner. Mr. Norton would like to see tournaments like that brought to College Station. He would like to see additional funds put into the Parks Department budget that would allow the hosting of these tournaments. Nancy Crouch stated that the Council was having a public hearing about the budget the following Thursday and would like for these organizations to be there to voice their concerns, ... Parks & Recreation Board Regular Meeting -Public Hearing August 15, 1995 Page .(4) Tony Scazzero ,stated that, he organizes the youth athletic programs for ,the City, of College Station, The purpose is, to offer an opportunity to every child to Participate, in those sports activities, not taking a select few that can Make it to all-star teams. He stated that every child gets to play a certain amount of time in each sport. He, also mentioned that every child that participates in the city's program uses the same equipment, gets theism-0e shirts and receives the same awards ,as every other child. Also, all parents/volunteers receive the same training :for C:Oaching_their_tearn. . Tony ,mentioned that in , order to help accommodate the, growth of the softball program; he and ,David Hudspeth, Assistant Athletic Supervisor, move dates back and:: forth, and .plter, the way the mason is run by changing the length of the season, :the, number of games, as well as :the formats. When heltookover,ct Central Park. there were 120 softball teams, to date there are 51,2 :teams, which is a maximum, Tony: stated that he bids on national, state, and invitational tournaments throughoutthe year. He checks with the Convention and Visitors Bureau prior to bidding on tournarnents.fo.ensure the availability of rooms on certain clates. , • Tony mentioned,that the fees charged for youth programs. are not on acost-recovery basis but help to pay for maintenance items, and lighting and .watering costs,. Hp, also stated that 75% of all youth are out of organized sports by age 12 because of their parents' involvement. Kids just want to play Pali, not be over -controlled and organized! Steve mentioned that the department has determined that it pan only, accommodate, a certain number of teams and once that maximum number is reached, subsequent teams are either turned away or put on a waiting list. He stated .that since the city is.: limited In its resources, these youth organizations need to start thinking about doing the same thing. Steve also mentioned thatmaylDe the organizations need to start thinking; about serving the College Station residents first, before letting outside residents participate: Ron asked if :the Little League. organization thought about the consequences .when they allowedfive year olds to play baseball. -Mr..Carter stated that, the, agreement was that tie year, olds would only p1ajr,an eight7garne,season.. He also,saicl that he does not want to, deny Bryan residents,fromp!aying baseball in .,college Station because he,. thinks It s one community and,Littie League is a universal: sport. Ron stated that Steve doesn't want to separate the two cltles, but that tneOtty:Pf College Station has an obligation toserve fhe Citizens of College Station first. It does not mean that we won't serv9, pther.,reSidentp 'though. . • , Mr. odder stated that you can go anywhere in the state and you won't find better fields •than at Southwood,,Roftogte0that if .Lithe. League. continues to expand,i,heir.: program, those fields may not confinUe to stay in good condition Ron would like to see more communication befween' the various sporfs organizations and the Parks Board, He would like the organizations to consult with theboard before expanding their leagues. Greg asked what the major conflict was regarding the fields; was it practice fields or play fields? Mr. Carter stated that there just weren't enough playing fields. Greg asked Parks & Recreation Board Regular Meeting -Public Hearing August 15, 1995 Page (5) if he had checked with CSISD for the availability of using their fields for playing games. Mr. Carter stated that they already use those fields for practice, but not for games, and he could look into it. Discussion took place regarding the usage of the senior league fields. Gary Marske stated that the junior high school uses the fields from about January through April Barry asked about the baseball field at Willow Branch. Tony stated that the field was used and maintained by a 30-and-over adult baseball league, but the maintenance of the fields got beyond what they could handle. Ron asked if Little . League and Sandy Koufax could work together and form one league. Mr. Glover stated that he was willing to work with Little League. ;.Steve asked what the.. organizations charged for kids .to participate in the league. Little League charges $25, Sandy Koufax charges $60. Mr Carter stated that Little League will . probably go "up to $40 per child next year to help cover expenses. Mr. Glover stated that their fields at Haswell .Park are maintained by that organization and the parents. He said that ;the City of Bryan gave those fields to the Sandy Koufax League. Steve asked the representatives present, if If the City had two fields with 90' bases, two fields with 80' .� bases, four; fields with 60' bases and.four t-ball fields with minimal facilities, would that accommodate these organizations?". Mr.Glover stated that he would be thrilled with those facilities. Bob mentioned that the soccer league grew 35% this past year and that they use the Southwood fields from February through March. In addition, soccer lost the fields on'. Anderson due to the construction of the church. Steve asked if Little. League could schedule their t-ball games after the soccer season ended in order to use those same fields. Ron suggested combining Little League and Sandy. Koufax and asked what problems Sandy Koufax had with Little League rules. Mr. Glover stated that Little League does not 'allow double headers on weekends.,.. Ron stated that he doesn't think it makes. sense for the community to have three leagues servicing the same population. , He does not want to see competition between the leagues. Mr. Norton asked that the board request additional funds for the Parks Department for 'additional maintenance of the current fields to accommodate the leagues that have come about. Nancy asked.. if Little League paid fees for maintenance like the, city leagues do. Curtis stated no. Nancy stated that the department should consider limiting their subsidizing of these activities to a certain number. If the leagues should decide to go above that number then they would be responsible forpaying the. fees. associated with the increase. V. OTHER BUSINESS/BOARD CONCERNS: Ron mentioned that the park tour would be on September 26, at 4:00p.m. and would begin at the Teen Center.. VI. ADJOURN: Ron`Gay Board Chairman Parks & Recreation Board Regular. Meeting Public Hearing August 15, 1995 Page(6) Ron adjournedthe meeting at 9:25 p.m.