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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKFB Minutes 2011-07-26 Keep Friendswood Beautiful Board Minutes July 26, 2011 Members and Staff Attendance: Sherry Goen Patty Steinke Susan Stephens Martha Cotton Loretta Murphy Gail Rodgers Frank Garza Guest: Marilyn Turner Guest: Todd Mendehall Economic Developer Coordinator: Karen Capps Director of Community Services: James Toney Staff: Kimberly Ramirez 1. Call to order: The meeting was call to order at 6:37p.m. 2. Discussion/approval of June 28, 2011 minutes: Patty Steinke made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, Susan Stephens second the motion and the motion was passed unanimously. 3. Communications/Guest--Friendswood #5 in List of 10 Best Towns in the US for Families: Karen Capps attended the meeting to talk to the board about the award. She informed the board that she talked to Family Circle in March, and months later they contacted wanted to interview a family. The magazine judged on how the community deal with the economy did. CCISD gave them a video of a boy that mother lost her job and became homeless and went to a shelter, the school book keeper took the boy in so he could finish school. Karen stated that Friendswood was the only Texas City that was awarded this award, James and I started talking about Sugar Land and how they started getting all of these awards and has created banners with their awards on them, they have theirs hanging from the ceiling in their city hall. Karen wants a banner inside city hall and is also thinking of the idea is to get street banners and have it where it would state Friendswood’s recognition. Karen and James have brain stormed with ideas for new banners and Karen recently saw banners in Austin and got some really good ideas , she is looking for marketing dollars to purchase the banners, have banners that state “downtown district” with pictures of city hall, library, block of the museum, activity bld, etc. that was one of the ideas. James passed around some samples of some banners; Karen stated that we need to replace all of them. She would like to change them so they can match the current banners that we have at the park, the ones we have now look a little dated. James stated that maybe KFB can concentrate on funding the installation of irrigation on FM 2351 with the help of Karen Capps funding the new banners with her budget. Sherry stated that banners that have recently been put up have pictures of their locations she thinks this is a wonderful idea to use Karen’s funding and would like to use uniformity with the addition of the new banners. Gail asked if we would change them out during Labor day and Christmas. The holiday banners need to be replaced. Karen asked KFB opinions of what they want the banners to look like. Patty stated that she liked Karen’s idea on having banners with pictures of city buildings on them. Karen stated that businesses are ask sponsorship a lot here and would hate to ask them to fund the banners. Loretta suggested putting the old banners on FM528. Karen stated that James and her are going to work with getting some samples of banners and send them to the board for their opinion. Sherry stated that a lot of cities are getting banners, their becoming very popular. Patty made a motion that KFB fully support the idea of economic development funding new banners with our input on design Loretta Murphy second the motion and the motion passed unanimously. Patty suggested that the portable banner could have logo on their with the cities accomplishment and they can take it with them with them to events. Patty would like to have KFB be involved with the development of the portable banner. Sherry stated that she thinks it’s important. Patty would like to have their seal and photographs on the portable banner. Sherry asked if there is a timeline on this. James stated that we need to get some more pictures. James will find out what fiscal year will this project come out of. A. Volunteer Hours: Sherry Goen informed the board to send the volunteer’s hours to John Merrifield. B. Median Maintenance: Sherry Goen stated that the trees on FM2351 are dying and the fact is that it doesn’t have an irrigation system. Sherry stated that Kaye Corey sent an email ask if the yellow bells will be taken out of the current medians. Patty Steinke stated she doesn’t think they need to be removed. Kaye Corey also sent an email about replanting Roger Roecker‘s office plants. She will be replanting those plants for him this week. James Toney stated that staff has taken a look to see if grant funds can be used to irrigate FM2351. Sherry asked if James has looked into irrigating FM2351, he said that the irrigation cost for FM2351 will cost around $250,000. Sherry stated that there has been suggestions of getting the trees out of FM2351 and have some sort of grass planted in its place. The trees in those medians will not survive without water. Patty stated we are not alone; other cities are having the same problem. Patty stated that it is not unusual to have pretty good droughts. Loretta Murphy questioned if we have a plan to remove them. James Toney stated that funding will be an issue to remove the trees; he stated the parks crew will be removing the trees in the winter when the parks crew has more time. Paul Marx asked when the lighting be installed at FM2351 entrance sign, James stated that they will be installed soon, but the parks crew is currently short staffed. Loretta stated that Frankie Carter park has cut down 60 trees that have died due to the drought. C. Clean up Letters: Sherry stated she contacted Cathy Gray on the cleaning issues at the Conoco Station and Bayou Gardens. Frank Garza is still checking with Cathy on the issue on Winding way and the grass that is overgrowing. Board also expressed concern about a trailer on Sunset full of trash. Loretta informed the board that, Eagle Scout Garrett Benson went to the post office and repaired the irrigation at the post office by replacing the batteries. Another Eagle Scout is going to redo the benches at the Compassionate Friends location at Stevenson Park; he will be starting this weekend. D. Keep Friendswood Beautiful KTB--Susan Stephens: Susan stated that she is going to register KFB for our Fall clean up with the Great American cleanup with Keep America Beautiful. Susan suggested adding an affiliate sign to League City entrance to Friendswood. Susan Stephens made a motion to purchase 2 more affiliate signs, Patty Steinke second the motion and the motion was passed unanimously. E. Rotary Pavilion Update: James Toney stated that their hasn’t been any progress on the sidewalk at the Rotary pavilion. Loretta Murphy stated that the new Rotary banner looks nice at the Pavilion; James stated that the Pavilion sign is being repaired at Dawson signs. F. Stevenson Park: Loretta Murphy stated that Marilyn Turner has been watering the park and with the help of the volunteers, they have saved the trees from dying in Stevenson park. James Toney stated that the orange fencing at Stevenson park that has been recently installed is to prevent anyone from getting in the area where large cracks have appeared due to the drought, they are very deep and large. Sherry Goen stated that Stevenson park looks great because of the help of all volunteers and Loretta Murphy. Marilyn asked about lighting in the back of the park, James stated that the lights are installed in the trees and need to be repaired and will be repaired soon. G. Positive letter to Business for Property Improvement/Application Letters: Patty stated that our big litter area is gone and has been cleaned. Dave Matthews with the Harris county commissioner’s office had the area cleaned on FM2351. KFB will send a letter of thanks for the cleanup. H. Improvements: Table I. Committees Business Beautification Award--Paul Marx: Paul Marx stated that he and Frank Garza looked at the Jacob White building and both think they’re a candidate for the beautification award. Banner Committee Report John Merriefield: Sherry Goen asked Martha Cotton to email John Merrifield on what happened with the banners. Recycling Committee: Paul Marx doesn’t have any additional information beside that the city is preparing the RFP. Loretta Murphy stated that she has seen that a lot of people that have purchased the large recycle bins. Subcommittee KFB mascot: Mary and Marilyn will bring ideas for new mascot at next month’s meeting. J. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m. Approved by: Kimberly Ramirez