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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKFB Minutes 2013-11-19Keep Friendswood Beautiful Minutes November 19, 2013 Sherry Goen Katy Blanchard Sara Eakin Patty Steinke Kaye Corey Susan Stephens Frank Garza Paul Marx Todd Mendenhall James Toney, Director of Community Services Kimberly Ramirez, Staff Joshua Miles, Eagle Scout Bill Thorpe, 1st Baptist Friendswood Pat McGinnis, Council Liasion Bobby Jones, Guest Carolyn Lemgruber, Guest 1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order 6:33pm 2. Discussion/approval of October 2, 2013 minutes: Patty made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, Frank second the motion and the motion passed unanimously. 3. Communications/Guest: Sherry introduced Joshua Mills, Eagle Scout to the board; he informed the group of the progress of his Eagle Scout project. He stated he has been helping residents with yard work and home repairs for homeowners that are unable to do these repairs themselves. He has been cleaning out trash from homeowner’s yards with approximately 30 other volunteers. The project date for another clean-up is December 31st; his current goal is to look for a location to use as a base. Paul volunteered to help Joshua with his project. Sherry asked if anyone knows of volunteers that are willing to help to please pass on this information for this event. James stated that city staff has been working with Joshua and have asked Progressive to help him remove the trash from his project sites. Sherry introduced Bill Thorpe with 1st Baptist Church of Friendswood; he's the music pastor for the church and is over the church's orchestra, he is offering to bring his choir and orchestra to perform at the event from 7:30-8pm. The board stated that addition to the event sounds awesome. A. Volunteer Hours (need hours turned in by Dec 15): Sherry stressed on having everyone send their volunteer hours to her by the 15th. B. Median Maintenance: Corey submitted his proposal to landscape the FM518 medians. The amount of the project was $47,554.20. Sherry stated that we have talked a lot about the consistency of the medians. Kaye stated that we have talked in that past when we landscaped the medians due to the drainage project and came up with a landscape plan but it was not followed. Right now rose bushes are planted in the wrong place and too close together. Kaye stated that theirs almost enough plants there to do what we want to do. James stated that the quote that we received is broken up into sets of medians and we could do this in sections. Patty suggested on creating a subcommittee on creating a landscaping plan for the FM518 medians. Sherry suggested that we look at the consistency and have a committee look at it again. Sherry asked if this is an investment that we want to make. Todd stated we all need to agree on a design. Patty, Kaye, Todd and James will be on the median subcommittee. Will look at the design for the median, then we could look at funding this. Todd suggested to budget 6 medians a year. Patty made a motion to have a subcommittee design a median plan, Todd second the motion and the motion passed unanimously. Patty will head up the committee. C. Keep Friendswood Beautiful **Fall Haul Report: Sherry informed the group the numbers from the event. **Water Smart Workshop-January 28 meeting: Kaye stated that she talked to Chris Lachance and she would love to talk to us. She would attend the January KFB meeting. It will be an informative workshop. **Tree Giveaway-Todd stated he will pick up 120 trees. We will have 120, 15 gallon 8ft tall trees. Todd will store the trees in Alvin; the trees will have a 2 to 4 ft. spread, and are 6 to 8 ft. tall. KTB Training Report: Sherry stated she went to both of them. Katy and I went to KTB awards training. Katy stated that there are several programs that we have not been involved in that we have been active in. Katy stated she will be talking to James and Kimberly on adding new projects. **Solar lights in Stevenson and at the Animal Shelter/Jeremy. Jeremy has offered to put the solar light on a decorative pole at the animal shelter. James stated I think the lighting is something that is needed, the ones in Stevenson. The old poles have a throw pattern that is not that wide, we have ordered the new lights and we're waiting for them to come in, Jeremy will retro fit and expand the poles from the splash pad to the flags in Stevenson. James stated the bond has passed and that does include lighting in Stevenson Park so we will be able to expand the solar lighting in Stevenson. James informed the board that we will be removing the light fixtures in the trees and add light poles near the trees. **Cleaning of old metal trash cans in Stevenson park- Paul did get a quote, $145 each for 15 trash cans to be stripped and power-coated. Some of the lids need to be replaced. It will be the same color, we will have to remove them and take them to their place. James stated that there are still spots where more cans are needed. We have seen a reduction in trash where the new trash cans have been installed. Paul made a motion to power coat the trash cans, 7 at a time at $145 a can and not to exceed $1015, Kaye second the motion and the motion passed unanimously. **Forest Bend HOA Request/James: James stated that we have talked about the median maintenance on Blackhawk and possibly patterning FM518. We found out that one of the Presidents (Wedgewood) has passed away so we put the idea on hold. We have received a letter from Forest Bend Patio Homes HOA and want to partner with the city on beautification project. There was one particular median with over 30 trees planted in it by a resident and the code enforcement officer informed the resident that the trees needed to be removed. City had to remove the trees recently. The Forest Bend Patio Homes HOA recently sent a letter to us to ask to work on a Beautification project on the Blackhawk medians. We would have to come up with an agreement with them and then we can extend that agreement with the other Blackhawk HOA’s if their interested in doing that project as well. Maybe the first of the year we can get the 3 groups together and discuss this future project. Guest, Carolyn Lemgruber asked if we were just talking about trees in the medians or plants of some kind. James stated someone has to take care of any new vegetation planted in the medians. Right now the city only mows the medians and trims pines trees when needed. Guest, Bobby Jones asked if theirs water in those medians, James Toney stated no. It will be responsibility of the homeowners to maintain anything in the medians. Sherry thanked the ladies for coming to the meeting. D. Committees: **Business Beautification Award/Paul and Frank: The sign and award has been installed and given to the recipient. **Santa in the Park (December 14) Update (advertising, activities, vendors, volunteers, etc.): Holiday Decorating timeline: City Hall will be decorated Nov 27 and Stevenson is scheduled for Nov 28th. E. New Business: James stated he would like to get a priority list, we have a meeting with the parks board tomorrow night and we will talk about the priority list for the bond project. We need a new sign for FM528 and new bird sanctuary signs. 4. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Approved by: Kimberly Ramirez Date: December 10, 2013