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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - Parks and Recreation Board - 1993 - 07/13 - Special CalledMINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD SPECIAL CALLED MEETING JULY 13. 1993 - 7:30 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT Tom Clark, Chairman Lonnie Thomas, Vice -Chairman Jim Waldbauer, Secretary Frank Maitland Ross Obermeyer MEMBERS ABSENT David Franck Melissa and Earl Veasey Derek Morrison Darrell Schrock Jeremy Tigelaar Mike, Sharon and Travis Akin Kathy and Rod Shrum Daniel Vogel Daniel Ottosen Maria Martinez Ben Gleason David Kenney James Goodner Janie, Tim and Trace Sheridan Brant Atchison Kathy and Joe Chenoweth Ray Galloway GUESTS PRESENT David Franck Melissa and Earl Veasey Derek Morrison Darrell Schrock Jeremy Tigelaar Mike, Sharon and Travis Akin Kathy and Rod Shrum Daniel Vogel Daniel Ottosen Maria Martinez Ben Gleason David Kenney James Goodner Janie, Tim and Trace Sheridan Brant Atchison Kathy and Joe Chenoweth Page 2 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING JULY 13, 1993 STAFF PRESENT Rhoda Savage, Director of Parks and Recreation Sue Witkowski, Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m., by Chairman, Tom Clark. II. ITEMS OF INFORMATION A. Citizens Comments - to Gather Citizen Input Regarding Use of Tennis Courts by Roller Bladders Joe and Kathy Chenoweth expressed their concern that asphalt surfaces wear out the blades very quickly and does not provide an appropriate surface for the roller blade (in-line) skates; that parking lots and streets were dangerous due to moving vehicles. The request was made for a permanent in-line hockey facility in the City of Allen. Trace Sheridan (age 15) spoke to the Board as a skater who uses Reed tennis court. He indicated that the In -Line Hockey was fast becoming a very popular sport and was not a passing fad. He indicated the youth of Allen needed a place to play this sport and he would appreciate any help the City could provide in establishing this facility. He indicated that he probably would not be open to paying a user fee to use such a facility Brant Atchison indicated that there are three tennis courts in Allen and he felt that Reed could be expanded and would appreciate any help the City could offer in providing an appropriate facility for in-line skater to utilize. Janie Sheridan informed the Board that the citizens of Allen should be very proud of the in-line roller blade team from Allen who were going to the national roller blade events in Colorado. This team has competed in Dallas at Fair Park and placed first, qualifying them for Page 3 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING JULY 13, 1993 the national meet. She was requesting the City of Allen provide a place for the in-line skaters to use. James Goodner (age 15) indicated that while trying to roller blade in the public streets, police have been called to remove them. He felt they were much safer on the Reed tennis courts and ask the City to help him and his friends find an appropriate facility Melissa Veasey said that she works for a national athletic company and that the $79 roller blades were at the low-end of the scale and that most parents had invested $225-$350 for most of the older boys to use roller blades. She felt it is definitely an up and coming sport and should be supported by the Parks and Recreation Department. She indicated that the school district would not allow any skating on any of their property (tennis courts, parking lots, sidewalks, etc). David Kenny (age 17) said he would like to go to a place where no one harassed him while he tried to skate. Sharon Akin indicated that she was a resident of Fountain Park and had lived immediately across from Reed Park for 5 years. She said she had never seen very many tennis players, and that the roller bladders had a higher participation rate in three months than she had seen in 5 years of tennis participation. She was asking that the City allow in-line skaters to stay on Reed tennis courts. She indicated that she had witnessed a scene whereby adult tennis players threatened adolescent skaters and ordered them to leave the facility. Ms. Akin felt it was a very healthy sport and that the City should support the youth in their athletic interests. Travis Akin (age 15) indicated that it was an up and coming sport, not a fad or temporary activity. Travis indicated that two courts were available, and that the less experienced, younger were using one court while the larger, more experienced players used another. Derek Morrison told the Board that he was a skater wishing to have a permanent facility in Allen for the exclusive activity of skating. He felt that if a permanent facility were available, games of pick-up street hockey could be conducted on a nightly basis. He also indicated that as far as the older skaters giving time to the younger skaters, it was the Page 4 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING j JULY 13, 1993 same thing that used to happen at Open Gym Program when adults refused to allow younger people into their basketball games. Maria Martinez indicated that her son had been told to leave the facility at Ford by an Allen policeman.. He was told that there was a City ordinance that would disallow in-line skaters on the City streets. He was concerned over the availability of activities for the teenagers of Allen. She felt that teenagers were picked upon by police and other adults. A separate facility for the roller bladders to use would solve the problems of both sides of the question. Daniel Ottosen indicated that he was a tennis player and felt the need to have a place for the skaters to play. He said the hockey sticks were destroying the latex surface at Ford Park tennis courts and that the Ford courts were the best tennis facility in the City. He also indicated that Ford had the best playground for his small children to utilize while he played tennis. He asked if the basketball courts at Ford could be converted for the use of skaters (fencing, additional lighting, and enlargement). He indicated that tennis players and skaters do not mix - just be the very nature of the two games, one is quiet and studied, while the other is loud and physical. Daniel Vogel, visiting tennis professional, agreed that the in-line hockey was a very aggressive sport, and he felt it should be organized and supervised by the City. He indicated that he felt a short-term solution to the problem would be to let the skaters use the high school tennis courts. One long-term solution might be to convert an l 10x60 foot permanent court for the skaters - another long-term solution might be to build a new facility. Kathy and Rod Shrum indicated that the tennis courts were being destroyed and that an alterative site for the skaters would be appreciated. It was also pointed out that no city in the surrounding area allows in-line skates on their tennis courts. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shrum requested that a permanent facility be built for the skaters to use on a regular basis. Mike Akin indicated that there would always be conflicts over multi -use facilities - soccer having to play on a field where football has preceded it, basketball goals on a tennis court, and soccer goals in the way of Page 5 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING JULY 13, 1993 softball players. Mr. Akin said that in order to have a "win win" situation with the skaters vs tennis players, there must be a place provided for the skaters in the immediate future. That place needs to have a fence, lights and appropriate surface. In response to the noise complaint regarding the skaters, Mr. Akin felt the football activity at Reed in the past has produced as much or more noise for the homeowners in the immediate vicinity Jeremy Tigelaar (age 17) indicated that he was a member of the Allen High School Varsity Tennis Team and also a member of the in-line hockey team headed for Colorado to the National Meet. He indicated that he enjoys doing both activities and want the opportunity to do the in-line skating on their own facility. Darrell Schrock indicated he was a tennis players and hated to see something that is already in place be taken away He felt it was more appropriate to add a new facility for the skaters than to remove a tennis facility When questioned as to whether he felt a written survey to every household in Allen regarding this situation would be fair, he indicated that it would not since most people were unfamiliar with the sport of in-line hockey. Again, he requested that no tennis courts be removed as a tennis facility. Derek Morrison said that he was both a hockey player and tennis player. He indicated that the brakes were leaving the black marks on the tennis courts and agreed that a permanent and separate facility for the skaters was badly needed. David Franck indicated that he was an adult roller bladder and felt that the City should contact other cities who have already gone through this (he suggested the city of Minneapolis) and that the City of Allen not try to "re -invent the wheel" where in-line skaters needs are concerned. He was pleased the City was investigating the problem early and indicated his desire for policies be put in place that would meet long-term concerns as well as involve other issues. It was pointed out by a unidentified gentleman in the audience that if Reed would be converted to a skating facility, it could always revert back to a basketball or tennis facility at some future date. Page 6 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING JULY 13, 1993 Tom Clark, Chairman thanked everyone for coming forward to express their concerns and opinions. He informed the Board that no action would be taken immediately, this was an information gathering process. He also informed the guests that the Parks and Recreation Board did have the authority to establish rules in the parks. Rhoda Savage thanked everyone for attending the meeting, and indicated she would be researching several avenues for reaching a speedy solution to the concerns expressed. B. Update on Allen Recreation Center Design Process Rhoda Savage reported to the Board that at their last Council meeting, the City Council voted to amend the process recommended by the Board and staff. Rhoda is currently in the process of finalizing the questionnaire which will be mailed to every 10th Registered Voter in the City of Allen. She felt this change would put the process of building a recreation center approximately one month behind schedule. The special interest groups discussed earlier will still be polled for their opinions regarding this facility. C. Citizens Comments There were no citizens wishing to speak to the Board on an issue other than the skaters using tennis courts. III. ITEMS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION A. Tabled Item: Recommendation to Award Bids for Country Meadows Development Since the Parks and Recreation Board last met on June 15, 1993, Director Savage has learned that it was not possible to "piggy -back" a bid for playground equipment onto the City of McKinney's bid. Therefore, that item will be bid separate from the concrete for Country Meadows Park. Therefore, it will be removed from the agenda for the present. Page 7 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING JULY 13, 1993 B. Approve Minutes from June 15, 1993, Special Called Meeting MOTION: A Motion was made by Frank Maitland to approve the minutes from the June 15, 1993 Special Called Meeting as presented. Lonnie Thomas seconded and the Motion carried, 5 for, 0 against IV. ADJOURN There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. These minutes read and approved this 10th day of August, 1993. Tom Clark, Chairman Ji Waldbauer, Secretary