CITY OF TEXAS CITY
PARKS, RECREATION & TOURISM BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 5:00 P.M.
Nessler Center - Captain's Room
2010 5th Avenue North
PARKS, RECREATION & TOURISM BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 5:00 P.M.
Nessler Center - Captain's Room
2010 5th Avenue North
The Parks, Recreation & Tourism Board met at 5:00 PM, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in the Nessler Center - Captain's Room, in Texas City, Texas, with the following in attendance:
- Present:
-
- Teri O'Brien, Member
- Paul Bland, Member
- Maria Ybanez, Member
- Nathan Exom, Member
- Christopher Walters, Member
- Hortensia "Tish" Hart, Member
- Frank Mistretta, Member
- Brends Williams, Member
- Winifed Gilmore, Member
- Staff Present:
-
- Dennis J. Harris, Sr., Recreation & Tourism Co-Director
- Jay Williams, Recreation & Tourism Co-Director
- Monica James, Recreation & Tourism Supervisor
Chairperson Nathan Exom noted that a quorum was not present and called the meeting of the Parks, Recreation & Tourism Board to order at 5:00 p.m. No official action was taken due to the absence of a quorum; however, informational updates and presentations proceeded for discussion purposes only.
(1)
ROLL CALL
Board Present:
Nathan Exom
Christopher Walters
Paul Bland
Fatima Naeem
Board Absent:
Brenda Williams
Winifred Gilmore
Frank Mistretta
Amanda Barker
Vacant Position
Board Present:
Nathan Exom
Christopher Walters
Paul Bland
Fatima Naeem
Board Absent:
Brenda Williams
Winifred Gilmore
Frank Mistretta
Amanda Barker
Vacant Position
(2)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
None.
(3)
NEW BUSINESS
(a)
Consider and take action on the minutes from the April 8, 2025, Park, Recreation, & Tourism Board Meeting.
Action was deferred due to a lack of a quorum. This item will be tabled for the next meeting.
Action was deferred due to a lack of a quorum. This item will be tabled for the next meeting.
(4)
UPDATES
(a)
Athletic Division Programs. (JuMarcus Thomas)
JuMarcus Thomas, Athletics Coordinator, provided an update on the Recreation & Tourism Athletics Division programs. He reported that the Tennis Program had 112 participants during the 2024–25 after-school session and 39 participants in the 2024 summer session. Both sessions included scheduled lessons, age group breakdowns, and program costs. The Fall 2024 Volleyball League saw 75 participants, with the league schedule and program fees reviewed.
For Basketball, the 2024–25 Youth Winter League had 297 participants. Program details included age divisions, league schedule, costs, and postseason tournaments. Texas City will host the 2025 TAAF Boys and Girls Youth State Basketball Tournaments on March 22–23 at the Lowry Fitness Center and Sanders-Vincent Center. The tournament will feature 28 teams from various cities, covering divisions 7U through 13U.
The Summer 2024 Track and Field Program included 62 participants. Program elements consisted of age groups, schedule, costs, circuit meets, and postseason competition. Participants will compete in the TAAF Region 1 Meet hosted by the City of LaPorte, and qualifying athletes will advance to the TAAF Games of Texas hosted by the City of Brownsville.
The Fall 2024 Pickleball League had 29 participants across singles and doubles brackets, with age divisions, league schedules, and program costs discussed.
Texas City Athletics continues to support youth sports through partnerships with Texas City Little League Baseball, Texas City Girls Youth Softball, and the Galveston County Youth Soccer Association.
Athletic facility rentals remain available and include 17 baseball/softball fields, 1 football field, 3 multipurpose fields, 9 soccer fields, 5 gymnasiums (including 3 indoor), concession stands, and a pavilion.
Lastly, a new Carver Park Kickball League is in development, with plans for a 6-week season during spring or fall depending on interest. Games will take place weekly at Carver Park, with teams of 8–12 players. Divisions will include adults (18+) and youth (under 18 with a guardian), and the registration fee is $250 per team.
JuMarcus Thomas, Athletics Coordinator, provided an update on the Recreation & Tourism Athletics Division programs. He reported that the Tennis Program had 112 participants during the 2024–25 after-school session and 39 participants in the 2024 summer session. Both sessions included scheduled lessons, age group breakdowns, and program costs. The Fall 2024 Volleyball League saw 75 participants, with the league schedule and program fees reviewed.
For Basketball, the 2024–25 Youth Winter League had 297 participants. Program details included age divisions, league schedule, costs, and postseason tournaments. Texas City will host the 2025 TAAF Boys and Girls Youth State Basketball Tournaments on March 22–23 at the Lowry Fitness Center and Sanders-Vincent Center. The tournament will feature 28 teams from various cities, covering divisions 7U through 13U.
The Summer 2024 Track and Field Program included 62 participants. Program elements consisted of age groups, schedule, costs, circuit meets, and postseason competition. Participants will compete in the TAAF Region 1 Meet hosted by the City of LaPorte, and qualifying athletes will advance to the TAAF Games of Texas hosted by the City of Brownsville.
The Fall 2024 Pickleball League had 29 participants across singles and doubles brackets, with age divisions, league schedules, and program costs discussed.
Texas City Athletics continues to support youth sports through partnerships with Texas City Little League Baseball, Texas City Girls Youth Softball, and the Galveston County Youth Soccer Association.
Athletic facility rentals remain available and include 17 baseball/softball fields, 1 football field, 3 multipurpose fields, 9 soccer fields, 5 gymnasiums (including 3 indoor), concession stands, and a pavilion.
Lastly, a new Carver Park Kickball League is in development, with plans for a 6-week season during spring or fall depending on interest. Games will take place weekly at Carver Park, with teams of 8–12 players. Divisions will include adults (18+) and youth (under 18 with a guardian), and the registration fee is $250 per team.
(b)
Davison Home Operating Schedule and Fee Change Proposal. (Shelby Rodwell)
Shelby Rodwell, Museum Curator, presented a proposal to revise the Davison Home’s operating schedule and admission fees. Currently, visitors to the Texas City Museum may access the Davison Home and the two other historic homes in Heritage Square Park for $1 per home. The Davison Home is open for semi-guided tours on the first Sunday of each month, with the exception of December due to a recurring private event. Admission fees for the Davison Home have remained unchanged for over a decade, set at $1 per adult and $0.50 per child.
Shelby proposed increasing the admission fee for the Davison Home to $2 per adult and $1 per child. She clarified that there would be no change to the current $1 fee for the other two homes in Heritage Square Park and no additional fee beyond the existing structure.
Additionally, she recommended changing the Davison Home’s public tour day from the first Sunday of each month to one Saturday per month (with flexible scheduling), still excluding December. Shelby explained that the museum is closed on Sundays, and opening the home on that day incurs additional staffing costs to bring in an employee on their day off. Moving the tours to Saturdays would align with regular museum operations and help reduce those expenses.
Due to a lack of quorum, this proposal will be tabled until the next meeting, as no vote can be taken at this time.
Shelby Rodwell, Museum Curator, presented a proposal to revise the Davison Home’s operating schedule and admission fees. Currently, visitors to the Texas City Museum may access the Davison Home and the two other historic homes in Heritage Square Park for $1 per home. The Davison Home is open for semi-guided tours on the first Sunday of each month, with the exception of December due to a recurring private event. Admission fees for the Davison Home have remained unchanged for over a decade, set at $1 per adult and $0.50 per child.
Shelby proposed increasing the admission fee for the Davison Home to $2 per adult and $1 per child. She clarified that there would be no change to the current $1 fee for the other two homes in Heritage Square Park and no additional fee beyond the existing structure.
Additionally, she recommended changing the Davison Home’s public tour day from the first Sunday of each month to one Saturday per month (with flexible scheduling), still excluding December. Shelby explained that the museum is closed on Sundays, and opening the home on that day incurs additional staffing costs to bring in an employee on their day off. Moving the tours to Saturdays would align with regular museum operations and help reduce those expenses.
Due to a lack of quorum, this proposal will be tabled until the next meeting, as no vote can be taken at this time.
(5)
STAFF REPORT
(a)
a. Aquatics - Marcell F.
b. Athletics - JuMarcus T.
c. Lowry Fitness Center - Michael R.
d. Museum - Shelby R.
e. Parks & Shooting Range - Byron S.
f. Recreation Centers - Carver, Sanders, Nessler - Michael R.
g. Reservations - Amanda G.
h. Senior - Nessler Center - Leonora M.
i. Special Events/Programs - Nicole M.
b. Athletics - JuMarcus T.
c. Lowry Fitness Center - Michael R.
d. Museum - Shelby R.
e. Parks & Shooting Range - Byron S.
f. Recreation Centers - Carver, Sanders, Nessler - Michael R.
g. Reservations - Amanda G.
h. Senior - Nessler Center - Leonora M.
i. Special Events/Programs - Nicole M.
(6)
BOARD COMMENTS
NONE
NONE
(7)
ADJOURN
Having no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Paul Bland and seconded by Christopher Walters. The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
Having no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Paul Bland and seconded by Christopher Walters. The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.