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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/26/1999 CDC Amended 9-30-99 MINUTES THE COLONY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION T'.-IE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD THE LIBRARY BOARD WORK SESSION CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AUGUST 26, 1999 Work Session Present: 4B Board: Susan King, President Vicki Briggs, Treasurer Sue Walden, Member Don Goebel, Member Cindi Lane, Stafr Secretary Gere Ramsey, Di,-e.--tor Absent: Morris Seay, Vice President Pamela Kane, Secretary Parks and Recreation Board: Donna Baggett, Chair Larry Henderson Laura Bickerstaff John Sanders Susan King Mark Shaw Pam Nelson, Director Library Board: Wayne Bullard, Chair Diana Kruzich Lorraine Clark James W. Althaus Jayme Skelton Sue Parks Sandi Gehrke Joan Sveinsson, Director Guests: Dwayne Brinkley, Brinkley Sargent Architects Dennis Sims, Dunkin Sims Stoffels, Inc. The Colony CDC Minutes 8/26/99 Page I Amended 9-30-99 Item #1.0. Call to Order: The work session was called to order by CDC President Susan King, Library Board Chair Wayne Bullard, and Parks and Recreation Board Vice Chair Laura Bickerstaff at 7:15 p.m. A quorum was present among all boards. Item #2.0. Discussions among the 4B Board, the Parks and Recreation Board and the Library Board regarding the prioritizing of the needs of residents in The City of the Colony as part of the Brinkley Sargent Architects assessment: Dwayne Brinkley made a presentation of ideas and possible goals for The Colony. He explained what his firm was doing for The Colony Community Development Corporation. He explained the planning methodology, the master plan, time line and showed several examples of possible community activities. At the conclusion of his presentation, Mr. Brinkley invited the boards and residents to make comments, ask questions and make statements in order to establish the needs and desires of The Colony residents. Wayne Bullard, Library Board and Joan Sveinsson, Library Director: Mr. Bullard and Ms. Sveinsson discussed the long term vision for library development, including the need for a total of approximately 60,000 sq. ft. to serve the total build-out population of the city, the need to consider access to library services for residents south of 121 and on Wynnewood Peninsula, and the desire to locate a central library facility in the proposed community complex at Memorial and Paige. Timing of the development of services to the populace south of 121 and on Wynnewood would depend on the growth in those areas;services might be in the form of branch libraries, which might start out as storefront facilities and/or could be combined city facilities with several city services under one roof. Ms. Sveinsson emphasized the importance of long- range planning and in having property designated for the future central library for the time when the City can afford to build it. Larry Henderson, Parks and Recreation Board: Discussion of Colony Youth Football Association. Mr. Henderson discussed the necessity for lights on the fields and the accessibility to the fields. Laura Bickerstaff, Parks and Recreation Board: Addressed the needs of senior citizens and families, parks and facilities and future expansion to provide more facilities for sports. Susan King, 4B Board President, Parks and Recreation Board: Discussion of baseball, soccer and football fields. Ms. King discussed the need for lighting of these fields and softball complex enhancements. She discussed a need for in line skating, both hockey and recreational. Ms. King also discussed a need for an arboretum, theatre and other cultural arts. The Colony CDC Minutes 8/26/99 Page 2 Amended 9-30-99 Sue Walden, 4B Board: Ms. Walden made the group aware that the volunteer program, CHAMPS, would be available to water trees at area parks. Ms. Walden added that entrance features into The Colony need to be enhanced. Elise Knox, Aquatic Park Manager: Ms. Knox gave discussion of current pool restrictions. Ms. Knox would like to see expansion for competition events, expansion of the outdoor lagoon and construction of a children's playground. There was discussion of the possibility of L.I.S.D. partnering with the city to enlarge the pool facilities. Also discussed was the 6 acres behind the pool being available for future development of the aquatic center. Lori Hill, 5949 Carroll, North Texas Arts Project: Ms. Hill made several comments and suggestions regarding the need for an art center. She would like to see the current library converted to an art center with music and theatre. Her suggestion was for 4A and 4B to contribute $50,000 each and she would raise $50,000 from the arts community over the next five years for the development of a cultural arts center. There was discussion of using a part of the current library for meeting space and/or wedding receptions. Ms. Hill offered to donate three Shel Silverstein works to the new library and would like to see the current Parks and Recreation Department to eventually become a Parks, Recreation and Cultural Department. She would also like to see a top notch, professional theatre be developed and offered to volunteer in the implementation and development. Eric Fancher, 7129 Longo: Mr. Fancher represented The Colony Soccer Association. His concerns were about Bill Allen Memorial Park and the Turner soccer fields. He stated that during the fall of 1999 there was an increase of 20% use of the fields not including select teams. He mentioned a grant from the North Texas Senior Soccer Association that would match 50% for enhancements of the fields. Mr. Fancher explained to the group that last year the soccer fields had 45 outside teams in for the tournament and that in February 2000 there would likely be more. He explained that Turner was maxed out, that Carney field had no lights. He would like to see two fields at each location. He mentioned the parking being a problem. The CYSA plans on having more tournaments and would like to see practice fields also. Clark Switzer, 5105 Brandenburg Ln.: Mr. Switzer represented the Cougar Football Association. He said that the Select Football Players have to rent a football field for a fee of $750.00 per year. Mr. Switzer would like to see more space allocated for football fields and he feels that the 80 acres that the city recently purchased should have more space for football fields. The Colony CDC Minutes 8/26/99 Page 3 Amended 9-30-99 Betty Horton, 5008 Shannon Drive, President of Senior Citizens in The Colony: Ms. Horton feels that the senior citizens of The Colony are out-growing the Senior Citizens Center. She believes that there are more seniors who live in The Colony currently and that it is time for a larger building. Mae Jean Zelle, 5008 Osprey Ct., Boys & Girls Club, Denton County: Ms. Zelle would like to see a place for kids programs for after school, drug education and just for kids to hang out. She feels that kids need a place to go where they do not necessarily need to compete or play sports. Brenda Anderson Bruner, 5913 Madison Dr., President of Northpointe Home Owners Association: Ms. Bruner feels that the 4B Board needs to communicate to the citizens what is going on in the city. Her priority is to see the existing parks being maintained. She is interested in a cultural arts center. President King clarified what uses can and cannot be made of 4B funding. She explained that this funding cannot be used to maintain existing facilities. It can be used to upgrade existing facilities and to build new facilities. It cannot be used for street repairs. She urged citizens to read the quarterly newsletter published by the Economic Development Department and to contact the Economic Development Director or any of the 4A or 4B Board members for further information. John Sanders, Parks and Recreation Board: Mr. Sanders would like for the athletic facilities and pool to be upgraded now. He feels that The Colony needs to take a total approach and use the land for parks. He wants lights on the football field. Donna Baggett, Parks and Recreation Board: Ms. Baggett pointed out to the group that Stewart Creek Park and Hidden Cove Park are great assets to the city and need to be utilized. She also feels like The Colony needs a competitive pool for the city's swim team. Pam Nelson, Director Parks and Recreation: Ms. Nelson would like to see hike and bike trails linking the community be developed. She pointed out that there are several natural places such as along the green belt that trails could be utilized. She would like to see an allocation of a percentage of funding for improving existing facilities. Mr. Brinkley summarized his job as establishing the 4B priorities, recommending budgets, incorporating the master plan and establishing time lines for completing projects. He said that to do this would be approximately a 4-month process. Gene Ramsey informed the group that Mr. Brinkley should have the complete report by October 26, 1999. At that time, a presentation would be made to the The Colony CDC Minutes 8/26/99 Page 4 Amended 9-30-99 city council and there would be a 60-day public comment period. Mr. Ramsey stated that hopefully the long and short-term projects would be approved by mid or late December 1999, and after the first of the year, the design and engineering phases could begin. Joan Sveinsson, Library Director, told the group about the sign-a-stack campaign for signage for the new library. Ms. Walden reminded the group not to forget about CHAMPS. President King adjourned the meeting at 9:04 p.m. i Cindi Lane Susan King Executive Secretary President CDC Economic/Community Development ( , v ~I f Donna Baggett Chair, Parks & Recreation B rd Way Bullard Chair, Library Board The Colony CDC Minutes 8/26/99 Page 5