Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutKFB Minutes 2013-08-27Keep Friendswood Beautiful Minutes August 27, 2013 Board members: Sherry Goen Charles Richardson Jeremy Sampson Frank Garza Patty Steinke Susan Stephens Paul Marx Sara Eakin Kirk Clark, Guest Mike Wegner, Guest Karen Capps, Staff Pauline Moore, Guest Ron Miller, Guest Rhonda Pigott, Guest Joyce Tolliver, Guest Susan Kimball, Guest James Toney, Director of Community Services Kimberly Ramirez, Staff 1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm. 2. Discussion/approval of June 25, 2013 minutes: Jeremy made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, Paul second the motion and the motion passed unanimously. 3. Communication/Guest--Joyce Tolliver-Check presentation: Karen Capps stated that the CEDC committee is discussing a strategy for FM 528, and the amount of land that is on 528, as we build out, vision 20/20 we can always build more quickly with residential than commercial. Therefore when we finally build out there will no commercial land left. This would put more pressure on the city to rezone land. Karen stated we’re meeting with Keep Friendswood Beautiful, P& R Board, P & Z and the land owners to discuss the strategy for FM 528. The FM528 corridor is the prime commercial property for this area. We're looking at what makes sense for the future. The vision 20 20 is 80 % residential and 20% commercial. So far there has been no resistance to this strategy. Sherry asked if the land locally owned. or do you have to find the owners. Karen stated most of the owners live here in Friendswood. Karen stated we try to tell everyone was trying to diversify the tax base. We’re talking with the land owners, most of the sites don't have infrastructure to them and is very costly to develop. Jeremy asked if their trying to sell their land now? Karen stated that some are in the platting stage and they want to sell. Sherry asked what type of resistance was given; the biggest threat was rezoning to residential or non-revenue use. Karen stated everyone wants restaurants, but most of them are dry because they don’t have an after hour beverage permit. Friendswood doesn’t offer such permit. Every city around us has that ordinance except for Friendswood. It's mainly the principle of the environment. Joyce Tolliver with Justin’s Seafood and Susan Kimball from the Lions Club attended the meeting to present the donation check from the proceeds from the 1st Annual Crawfish Festival for $1750 to go towards the purchase of a new solar light for Stevenson Park. The board was very happy with the donation and thanked Ms. Tolliver and the Lions Club. Sherry informed the board that we have been approached to help landscape the medians on Bay Area Blvd, and we investigated that and it’s very costly. The first estimate was $38,000 for 98, 45 gallon trees and received a second estimate for $12,000. James informed the board that the developer would cut us a check for $12,000 to purchase and install 12, 45 gallon trees. A. Volunteer Hours: Sherry informed the board to turn in their volunteer hours. B. Median Maintenance/Clean up lots: C. Mike Wegner--100+ Year Old Oak Tree: Mike Wegner was in attendance at the meeting, he stated he read about the historical League City tree that was moved which was an 300 year old tree and thought he would contact the city with help on moving a large Oak tree from a property he is developing instead of removing and then disposing of it. He stated we have plans to develop a commercial office space near the new fire station on FM235. The 1.3 acres is under contract as we speak, it’s going to be an 18,000 sq. ft. office space, Mike stated he is going to maintain the smaller property and will be building his office in the same area. Mike informed the board that when we started our early stage of planning, the architect ordered a tree survey there are 3 mature trees that can be an easy save, but theirs one on the right side of the property, it could be a 50 year old tree and I wanted to do everything I could to save it. However to develop the 2 properties together we're going to have a shared access. Unfortunately the shared access would be right near the tree. We could keep the tree there assuming we can’t scoot it over but we can make the entrance wider to save the tree. Mike stated it looks like we’re going to be able to do it. I think we have a plan but it’s going to be some cost to it. If we relocate the pavers it could be a big plus for tree preservation. Mike stated that’s when he contacted KFB and looking into the KFB Matching Grant to help with the cost of saving the tree. He would like to partner with the KFB and also does a little PR work. Mike stated he was inspired from the tree in League City and that is why he is doing this. It's mainly the principle of the environment. D. Keep Friendswood Beautiful **Solar Light Project-Poster Size Picture: Table **Gift Bags for FISD Teachers/New Teacher Luncheon: Sherry stated the event was a success we gave the teachers cups with nuts in them with little tags stating “Figgy is Nuts about you”. **Survey-Focus on Friendswood newsletter information: Sherry stated that we pull the information from the city’s survey instead of coming up with our own. ** Litter Signs at Basketball and Volleyball courts in Stevenson: Kimberly showed the board the proofs of the signs. Patty suggested that we should spend our money on more trash. Patty stated the weak spot is the basketball courts. Patty is requesting that more trash cans are put near that bench area near the tennis courts. Maybe we can relocate trash cans from Shadwell to the tennis court areas. James stated we can purchase additional trash cans for the park and also near city hall. Patty made a motion to purchase 4 trash cans for Stevenson Park, 1 at splash pad, 1 at the basketball court, 1 at tennis courts and 1 near the swimming pool parking lot, Sara second the motion and the motion passed unanimously. **Grass at Stevenson: Sherry asked about if the parks department is going to purchase more picnic tables, James stated that we ordered 5 and their already in place. James informed the board that the Rotary Club has agreed to donate $10,000 to help build a small pavilion at Stevenson Park near the splash pad. This will help fund the project which cost is estimated at $30 to $40,000. **HOA's on Bay Area Blvd Landscaping Project: Sherry stated that she will look at the matching grant and see if there's some way we can assist. James stated that this is not a done deal and there's a possibility that lights are going in those medians in the future. The HOA is requesting lights near the entrance of Friendswood Oaks due to lack of lighting out there and also due to an accident. The Friendswood Oaks HOA doesn't condone this idea of spending funds to install trees in the medians; this idea was only from 1 resident. The HOA asked if all 3 HOA’s don’t participate what would happen. James stated that there’s a possibility that 29 trees will go in the medians. Patty stated that the more HOA’s that would participate the more beautiful they will be. The Friendswood Oaks HOA stated we have over 250 homes and one homeowner brings up something like this, who's to say that you have to do this. Patty stated that we don't have any medians that we haven't landscaped. James stated that the goal of this group is to install a brick entrance sign out there in the future; we would want to put landscaping in those medians too. Sherry stated it’s not usual to contact this group on beautification of City property, we, KFB gather information and investigate the situation. If the HOA was not interested then we would keep mowing it. The HOA asked if there’s a spacing plan on the planting of trees, James stated yes. The HOA asked on the potential of the 29 trees, what you would be asking from us as far as the medians, James stated nothing. They asked to keep the Friendswood Oaks HOA up to date on what is going to happen with any improvements to the medians on Bay Area Blvd. Sherry stated we would like to partner with you on the beautification of the medians. HOA stated most people that live in the subdivision are more concerned about lighting than the landscaping. **Budget Needs for the Remainder of the year/Event Banner/Litter Signs: Kimberly stated that there is $4,100 left in the budget that's including the matching grant. James stated he would like to purchase a street banner and a lit banner in Stevenson Park for the Home for the Holidays Santa in the Park event. Jeremy stated that he would contribute to the lighted banner. Patty made a motion to purchase the Home for the Holidays HomeTown Bank street banner across 518, Susan second the motion and it passed unanimously. **Water Conservation Information: Sherry asked if y'all have any comments on water conservation. We're still trying to remind people on water conservation efforts. Sherry stated I'm at a lost to what to do with this project. I don't know what to do that doesn't involve a huge contribution from the city. Susan stated we can drive some of it but it's mainly the city. James stated that public works goes into the schools as well. Sherry asked if we still want to do this. **KFB Calendar Development for a Fundraiser: Table **Order trees for tree giveaway: Sherry stated we will order trees in October E. Committee: **Business Beautification Award-San Joaquin: The pictures were in the newsletter and on Facebook. F. 2013 Goals/Projects Updates **Additional entrance signs: Table **Banners for 528 Softball Field: Table **Update on Landscaping on 2351 and 518: James stated that we're waiting for the signed contract from TXDOT. As soon as we get it we're going out for bid. **Appreciation/Recognition Letters G. New Business: James stated the Parks boards are talking about doing a fundraiser, a MS150, they want help for this. Sherry asked where you want to have this. James stated we want to keep it in Friendswood. James stated also that we might transition away from that and try to give funds to the Parks board for capital improvement type projects. This would be a good way for the parks board to do something with these funds since they don’t have a budget. James stated we're going to have a conversation with senior staff to see if it’s ok to transition this event. With that, we would just need people to help them out. Sherry stated we could possible work this with an Earth Day event. The board is interested in doing this. **Sponsorship Sources: **Set Dates for Holiday Decorations, Santa in the Park: Dec 14, Tree Giveaway: January 18th, Spring Sparkle: April 12th and Fall Haul-a Day is Nov 2. Next meeting-Sept 24, 2013 4. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:52 pm. Approved by: Kimberly Ramirez Date: September 24, 2013