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Parks staff update: grant miss, master‑plan procurement and two unanimous board votes
Summary
Staff reported a narrow miss on a Texas Parks & Wildlife grant for Leonard and Helen Johns (scored two points shy), announced work to begin a Parks & Recreation master plan, and the board unanimously approved the Dec. 4 minutes and recommended council approval to permit beer and wine sales at the March 21 Holi Festival at Heritage Park (backup April 11).
During the Feb. 5 meeting the parks director (addressed in the transcript as Chuck) and staff delivered operational updates and board business.
Chuck briefed the board on recent operational work (winterization, restroom and drainage repairs at Bakersfield), staffing (an intern, Lacey Foster, and two open maintenance positions), and grant outcomes. "We wound up two points shy of money," Chuck said of the Texas Parks and Wildlife scoring for the Leonard and Helen Johns grant application. Staff said they will continue submitting grant applications for trails and parks.
Staff also reported that funds are available to begin the parks and recreation master‑plan procurement. The director said staff will assemble a top‑three list of firms and proceed with interviews and contract negotiation; the master‑plan process was estimated at roughly eight to ten months once under contract.
Travis, recreation, noted the division is fully staffed with a new full‑time aquatics coordinator, Madison Foster, who started Jan. 20, highlighted high senior‑center participation (over 2,800 members, roughly 4,500 monthly pass scans and 1,100 lunches served last month) and previewed upcoming events such as the Holy (Holi) Festival on March 21.
On governance items, the board handled two votes. A committee member moved to approve the Dec. 4, 2025 Parks Board minutes; the motion was seconded and the minutes were approved unanimously. Later, after a presentation by Jill de Ramos on behalf of the Denton County India Cultural Association, the board voted unanimously to recommend that town council permit the regulated sale and consumption of beer and wine at the Holi Festival at Heritage Park on March 21, with a backup date of April 11. Staff described controls including a fenced perimeter for a monitored alcohol‑service area, ID checks and wristbands, and security‑monitored entrance and exit.
No formal council action occurred at the Feb. 5 meeting; both votes were recommendations and standard board governance items. Staff said the Holi Festival recommendation will be forwarded to town council for final approval.
