(a) The city council shall appoint a number of residents of the City of Dallas equal to the number of members on the city council who shall constitute the park and recreation board of the city. The members shall possess the same qualifications and be subject to the same disqualifications as provided by the Charter for members of the city council, or by general laws of the State of Texas, except that a member is not required to be a qualified voter of the city, and shall serve without compensation.
(b) All members of the board shall be appointed by the city council, in accordance with Chapter XXIV, Section 13 of this Charter, as are other boards and shall serve for like terms, as provided by this Charter. The mayor shall appoint the president of the board from among the members appointed by the city council, subject to confirmation by a majority of the city council. (Amend. of 8-12-89, Prop. No. 1; Amend. of 11-5-24)
(a) The park and recreation board shall have jurisdiction over the control, management and maintenance of the public parks of the city, with power to acquire, in the name of the city, land for park purposes, except as herein otherwise provided. The city council must approve:
(1) any purchase of land;
(2) any contract requiring council approval under rules established by ordinance; and
(3) any lease or agreement with a term exceeding one year.
(b) Any purchase of supplies or contracts, including emergency purchases, shall be made in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the city council.
(c) The park and recreation board shall have the following general powers, duties and authority which shall be exercised and performed as herein provided and in accordance with the Charter and general ordinances of the city, as follows:
(1) to the extent required by rules and regulations adopted by the city council, to control and manage all property owned, or that may hereafter be acquired by the city for park purposes; all public properties, on which there is a joint use agreement with other public or private entities for recreational purposes; all public properties used jointly with other departments of the city for recreational purposes; and all other grounds and properties that may be assigned to them by the city council for control, maintenance or management;
(2) to manage, maintain and repair all buildings and equipment in the park system;
(3) to establish all rules and regulations for the protection of rights and property under the control of the said board for use, care, maintenance and management of all parks and the activities conducted therein;
(4) to conduct playgrounds and recreational facilities on the grounds and in the buildings in charge of the board; to supervise and equip playgrounds and play fields and manage and direct the same; and provide such other means and methods of recreation as it may deem advisable;
(5) to have authority to make such charges for such facilities of amusement, entertainment, refreshment or transportation of the public upon the park properties, and to grant or lease concession rights within the parks on such terms and conditions as it shall deem proper;
(6) to plant, set out, place, protect and care for flowers, vines, shrubs and trees to adorn and improve the public squares, grounds, boulevards, streets, avenues, parkways or other spaces within the city;
(7) to provide for an animal zoo and to exercise supervision and control thereof;
(8) to enforce all ordinances, rules and regulations governing parks and boulevards and such recreation centers, grounds and areas as have been or may hereafter be established, and to provide for the policing of same;
(9) to take and hold by purchase, gift, devise, bequest or otherwise, such real and personal property as may be useful or needful in connection with park purposes and to administer the same according to the provisions of the instrument of conveyance;
(10) in acquiring lands for the use of the park system, to exercise the rights of condemnation available to the city and in the name of the city;
(11) with the approval of the city council, when required by law, to sell and convey or lease lands whenever required in the interest of the city;
(12) to make all contracts necessary to carry out the objects and purposes of the park system as herein provided, the same to be approved by the city council as herein set out;
(13) when deemed advisable, to provide for park and recreation facilities on all public lands adjacent and recreational activities conducted on, the municipal water reservoirs of the city, and to provide for the maintenance, control and policing of same where not otherwise provided for, whether located within or without the city limits of the city;
(14) to enter into agreements with other park and recreation departments of other municipalities, school districts, the county or other governmental bodies, for joint administration and control and supervision of facilities jointly administered;
(15) to the extent required by rules and regulations adopted by the city council, to contract for the use of Fair Park, acquired and now owned by the city, heretofore known as State Fair Grounds, or any portion of or addition thereto, for public affairs, public recreation, sports events, or other public events when conducted thereon, and also to provide for public entertainments of all kinds that may be lawfully conducted upon the premises, and to charge admission fees therefor. All contracts and agreements heretofore made with the city in relation to said grounds shall be binding upon and shall be observed by, said park and recreation board to provide for the direction and control by the board of the improvement and maintenance of said grounds and appurtenances subject to existing and future contract rights;
(16) to provide for, or to conduct public affairs, public recreation, sports events or other public events on any of the lands under the control and management of the park and recreation board;
(17) to maintain and manage any and all abandoned cemeteries as park properties when requested to do so by resolution of the city council, and after funds are appropriated by the council; and
(18) to contract with civic, historical, educational, improvement or other nonprofit organizations whose main objective is the aesthetic, cultural, educational or scenic improvement of the community. (Amend. of 4-2-83, Prop. No. 1; Amend. of 8-12-89, Prop. No. 12)
The park and recreation department shall be composed of a director and the positions of assistants and such other employees as the council may provide upon the recommendation of the park and recreation board. The compensation to be paid to the employees of this department and the personnel rules and regulations to be followed shall be those established by the city council in conformity with standard schedules of compensation and personnel policies for all city employees.
Loading...