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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-04-2020 PRC MinutesCity of San Luis Obispo, Agenda, Planning Commission Minutes PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Wednesday, March 4, 2020 5:30 p.m. REGULAR MEETING Council Chambers 990 Palm Street CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair Robert Spector ROLL CALL : Commissioners Kari Applegate, Keri Schwab, Adam Stowe, Chair Rodney Thurman, Andrew Webber, and Vice Chair Robert Spector, Vacant ABSENT: Chair Rodney Thurman and Kari Applegate PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, people may address the Committee about items not on the agenda. Persons wishing to speak should come forward and state their name and address. Comments are limited to three minutes per person. Items raised at this time are generally referred to staff and, if action by the Committee is necessary, may be scheduled for a future meeting. Public Comment: John McKenzie: Pet Safe (a pet product company) offers 8 grants annually. I am asking you to authorize or direct staff to reapply for the Pet Safe Grant. The 2020 Pet Safe grant runs from May through June. The grant would offer the opportunity to construct and enclose a dog park for the City which is recreational amenity the City does not currently provide for over 13,000 dogs. Since the City applied a few years ago, it should be an easy application to submit. The grant awards 8 grants at $25,000 each, and three years to complete the dog park project if grant monies are awarded. I am also available to help the City with this request. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Committee of February 5, 2020 ACTION: APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR FEBRUARY 5, 2020. CARRIED 4:0:0:2 to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Body for the regular meeting of 02/05/20 as motioned by Stowe and second by Webber. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 4, 2020 2 | P a g e AYES: STOWE, SCHWAB, WEBBER, AND SPECTOR NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: THURMAN AND APPLEGATE CONSENT ITEMS NONE BUSINESS ITEMS 2. SLO Forward (Avakian – 30 minutes) SLO Forward is a conversation with the community about the future needs, challenges, and vision of San Luis Obispo. After a review of the current and future needs for services, maintenance and infrastructure, there is a financial gap between the resources available and what community members value most. SLO Forward is an opportunity for the community to identify what their top priorities are, and the results will be presented to the City Council in June 2020. Commissioner Comment Commissioner Schwab: How does this relate to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan? Director Avakian: Future funding for facilities and amenities and expansion of programming will rely on funding. We have a General Fund that we budget for every two years for the operational budget, but it is essential to meet the needs that you are looking at into the future at the expansion of our programs and services, it does factor in quite heavily. Vice Chair Spector: It is always difficult when your needs and wants to exceed the budget. But I also see a list of community priorities that top 1,2, 3 might happen then when you get to the bottom 1,2,3 they don’t get achieved. Is it possible to look at the priorities in a clearer way – I see 4 that relate to health and safety and if you have a choice of only 10 it is sort of an artificial delineation. And given all the discussion we have on environmental issues I don’t see that reflected here, it seems like a potential oversight. Staff Ryan Betz: On the community engagement survey card there are the 10 top priorities that were previously identified from a statistically valid survey that was conducted in September 2019. The Climate issues you mentioned did not rise into the top 10, however, we realize they are very important to the community, and we welcome the addition of those items in the survey in the blank space provided at the bottom of the survey and they would be included in the results that would be presented to the Council in June 2020. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 4, 2020 3 | P a g e 3. Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update (Avakian/Scott – 60 minutes) Review, discuss, and provide comments regarding the Recreation Amenities and Level of Service Analysis for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update. Endorse the list of facilities and amenities to be incorporated into the Master Plan Draft Capital Improvement Program. Should the CIP address both the resident and daytime population needs. Public Comment John McKenzie: Friends for SLO City Dog Park, request a change on how dog parks are being identified and analyzed. Identify major city neighborhood areas and then identify – if there are city parks in that area that could support a ½ acre or bigger dog park. There are at least four such areas in the city that could support dog parks now. Commissioner Comment Commissioner Webber: Suggest that the minimum standards become a new maximum and then we run a deficit. Presenting realistic minimums that go above the minimum standards and are closer to the daytime population. Consider size of dog parks. Please clarify the totals in the tables, the needed now, and the future needs? I would like to see a cost analysis on community center and senior center, which includes improvements to the Senior Center and or a multi-generational new community center. I would like to provide feedback and ranking on these tables and would like more time to review – can we email Staff after our review? Commissioner Stowe: In favor of recommending in between the minimum and the daytime population needs. Two additional sites for dog parks, in addition to Laguna Lake, and the should be a minimum of ½ acre and enclosed. Proposal of Swim Center to expand at existing location, I don’t think that is feasible given available space at current location. I suggest looking at new land for expansion or a new pool. A clarification, it says that the City maintain disc golf, but the City does not maintain them now. Can you tell me what other the though of the golf course partnering with other agencies – who would those be? Staff Hyfield: Clarification on disc golf, it is not maintaining the course it suggests maintaining or keep the two courses we have if it was suggested to relocate – maintain the current number we have. In regards, to the golf course, the other agency is for example Dairy Creek – there are two golf courses that surround the city so instead of building another course, we want to maximize the use of both before building another course. Vice Chair Spector: We need to determine the minimum standards and we need to create our minimum standards for the city. Our quality of life should be integral to what we are doing and proposing for the future needs of the community. We need to defend the minimum standards and not compromise. We will need some sense of costing. Please come Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 4, 2020 4 | P a g e back with a definition of minimums and where it comes from. I am suggesting we are transparent and show the numbers for the national standard, but in this area, it might not work for SLO, we may be more or we may be less. I think we should be adding a local standard to the table, that recognizes the uniqueness of SLO. Staff Scott: The tables show the number of what is needed now (1 court), then what is needed in the future a total of 2 courts, not additive, not a sum but a total. The standards and recommended service levels are based on the national standard put forth by the NPRA and are baseline numbers. We would like to provide the consultant with a list of projects that should be included in the Capital Improvement Program and the Master Plan is not limited to that, we can have other aspirational goals, the Master Plan document can have policies that set the stage for additional needs. Director Avakain: The minimum standards are based on the National Parks and Recreation Association (NRPA). The NRPA has standards based on a formula – this is just a baseline number. Our job is to present to the commission these numbers and ask is this what SLO wants/needs or do we come back with another number. We ask that the PRC provide Staff with the local standard and need – we have provided the baseline and we do know that SLO has a higher standard and need. We are hearing tonight that we need to go above the baseline standard, the question would be a possible blending of the two populations – current residents and daytime populations on certain categories and not all and not have the consultant double the population on every item. This is all about feedback at this time, there is no vote tonight, absolutely email your feedback, rankings and notes on the tables. 4. City of San Luis Obispo Designated Schedule at the French Park Pickleball Courts and the Joanna Santarsiere Memorial Tennis Court (Avakian/Hyfield – 30 minutes) Receive a presentation and provide feedback regarding the proposed uses of scheduled play on the Pickleball and Tennis Courts at French Park. Does the proposed schedule meet the needs of the community for pickleball and tennis users. Does the PRC wish to see additional drop-in times for tennis or pickleball in the mornings and afternoons. Are there any concerns regarding the Staff plans to assess the use over the next six month timeline. Would the PRC like to have Staff report back prior to the six month user assessment. Commissioner Comment Vice Chair Spector: Please clarify the difference between a Pickleball Club member and a community member playing during the drop-in time. Staff Hyfield: The nets are locked on the lower court, if the nets are not available then it cannot be considered drop-in play for all the community to use. The upper courts have designated time for club use and drop in use. The schedule posted by the pickleball club is in direct conflict to the schedule the City has posted on its website. Public Comment Connie Hanretty Church: VP of Pickleball Club. Thank you to Staff and Commissioners and City Council. Tonight, we are sharing our concern in the change of the scheduling of lower Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 4, 2020 5 | P a g e French Court. We strongly feel the proposed changes are a significant step backwards in the evolution of pickleball play in San Luis Obispo. Our numbers have increased significantly since the opening of the upper court and we use both the upper and lower courts when play is allowed. Summary of court use of data talk about health benefits, a brief homage to Joanna Santarsiere, and options to consider different from what City Staff has presented. Rick Blair: Pickleball Club Member. I am in charge of capturing data on a daily basis of all activity at the upper and lower courts at French Park. 450 participants per month – 3 years ago and today we now are over 1,000 participants per month. We track attendance numbers, and these are not estimates, this data reflects real people playing. The participation on lower French, shows significantly more Pickleball play than tennis. Tennis only represents 3% of the total activity, we have even looked at the court when it is reserved for tennis and shows about 15% usage during their given timeframe. Dr. Bonnie Bereud: SLO Pickleball Member. This is a huge success for the community, the Commission and staff. There are 160-200 people playing Pickleball on a rotating basis. The recent decision to further restrict play at lower French court is counter active to promoting health and well-being of the community. Pickleball contributes to the physical, mental, and social health of over 150 club members. Pickleball is based served with multiple courts in one location, because most players arrive alone, and the club provides the nets, the balls and lessons; people are rotating in 4 people at a time all day long – all courts are in use during all times we are allowed to play. Katie Arnz: SLO Pickleball Member. I took lessons from Joanna Santarsiere, I think about her when I play Pickleball on the tennis court, which is memorialized for her. We didn’t choose to play Pickleball on this court, it was chosen for us by the City. I think Joanna would be thrilled to see her court with so much use and proud to see many of her former students playing Pickleball and staying active. I do believe she would be sad if people were denied recreational opportunities in her name. Lanny Herndendez: SLO Pickleball Member. I would like to give you a few options to consider: recommend schedule for pickleball play as stated in the Club schedule or recommend that pickleball get expanded now to support those needs that are mentioned in the Master Plan and include seven mornings a week at the lower court. And I do want to mention that Islay Park offers a tennis court for local neighborhood play and is only a half mile from one park to the other. My recommendation is to support the Master Plan support now and expanding the use at the lower court and allow for re-striping for Pickleball use. The SLO Pickleball Club its only purpose is to enhance the ability for all community residents to learn, develop and play Pickleball, and encourage all to play with fair allocation of playtime. Bob Goldman: SLO Pickleball Member. I do want to mention we have drop in option at both courts with one unlocked net at the lower court. Pickleball has been a collaboration with city staff and the club. Last week the club president Brian O’Kelly, met with the Director, felt blind sighted and mislead by City staff when came to the meeting. I would like to talk about what Greg said at the meeting and I quote “numbers do not count” – I am here to say numbers do count and do matter. The elephant in the room is that people do not play tennis anymore and pickleball is booming. Numbers speak for themselves and collaboration and numbers matter. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 4, 2020 6 | P a g e Jim Zukowski: SLO Pickleball Member. I am an ex tennis player, and I don’t want to disparage tennis. But sports are changing, for example golf is going down – this is a big issue for you to figure out in your Master Plan. The age population, we are older people and we need something to do, and it seems there are a lot of ex tennis players that have ended up on the pickleball court. John Hyduchak: SLO Pickleball Member. I helped start the pilot program 5 years ago, and when we came to the City, they were very good to us – by giving us Meadow Park basketball court and the Ludwick Center. We have had massive growth in the SLO Pickleball Club. My big concern is what will happen now and not in 2035, not in the future. We are at the limits at the facilities today. We need more pickleball courts today. Lori Couto: SLO Pickleball Member. We have all expressed our appreciation to the City in providing the courts for us. I do not want to be negative to tennis, I love all sports. I noticed that the pickleball community allows all to come and learn and no one is turned away. There is a constant rotation of people moving on and off the courts. We help maintain and clean the courts with blowing off the courts daily. Tisha Smith: SLO Pickleball Member. I disagree with the recommendation. I have noticed with the new courts more people are coming to French park. On Friday, the ultra skilled players are coming to the city to play at these courts, these are the best players in the County. These players are coming from around the County to play and in addition spend money in the city, on gas, on food and shopping. Why would Parks and Rec staff want to discourage this and decrease pickleball time. We wait for the clock to strike Noon on Wednesday afternoons, in order to get onto the court once tennis is finished with their scheduled time and no one was ever playing. This new proposed schedule seems to be trying to appease everyone. This is not the mission of the Parks and Rec department, the mission is to inspire happiness by creating community, and pickleball is a community based sport. Ken James: SLO Pickleball Member. History on how we help people get into pickleball and the services we do. The club offers instruction and practical lessons. Weekly instructional classes have been provided since 2015, including a proposed youth instruction coming soon. In the six years since the free instruction has been offered over 1,800 volunteer instruction hours have been given and over 3,000 participants and over 10,000 participant hours have been enjoyed. This free weekly continues and provided to many organizations in the community. The free instruction has now moved from Ludwick Center to the French Park Courts. The success of this program is a win for the community and all of its residents, and the city should be proud of this program and not take away time allotted for pickleball users. James Healy: SLO Pickleball Member. Imagine French Park as a pickleball destination, including large tournaments that could bring in revenue to the city. Think about the amount of money the city could bring in if there were tournaments held at French Park. We regularly go to Templeton to play in tournaments at their facility, at $100 per person. French Park could host quarterly tournaments and 100-200 players and come from all over and stay in hotels and spend money in the city. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 4, 2020 7 | P a g e Greg Macedo: SLO Pickleball Member. Former PRC member for nine years. I always liked seeing the visions of new parks and recreation amenities and how it impacted the community, for example the SLO Skate Park and city’s beautiful open space program – I think that pickleball fits into these categories as providing a need and vision for the community. The sport is easy to learn ages 5 to 85 and it serves all abilities and contributes to physical and mental health. It brings all the cities together on the Central Coast and support tourism. Linda Healy: SLO Pickleball Member. I want to clarify the national standards and city standards. When looking at national standards on pickleball and tennis, that is not going to be representative of our city. The City needs to look at the numbers within the city, not national numbers. We need to look at stats and numbers, when tennis is playing you have two people playing, when pickleball is playing you have 50 plus for two hours. Or what about looking at Sinsheimer Park tennis courts – we do not have any other place to go. Steve Davis: Former PRC commissioner. I do remember meeting in my office in 2014-2015 with pickleball and tennis players. I would like to provide some historical context that I am not hearing tonight. We brought together pickleball and tennis players and I think the biggest fear at the meeting was you are going to take away our facility with the pilot program and never get them back. And I think tonight there are a few tennis players here who are wanting more time and there are also the Pickleball Club who want more time too. From my perspective and being on the commission, you need a long vision of looking ahead and if I look at all the new parks coming online with the new developments, they are including pickleball and there should be adequate facilities in the future. There are not now, I totally agree, but there are also not enough facilities for other sports. Anita Smith: Tennis and Pickleball are both good for your health as we both agree. The tennis community started a petition to not transform Joanna’s court into pickleball; then we started another petition to return Joanna’s court to tennis only. We heard that it would not return to tennis only. We tennis players are willing to share the lower court. We are asking since pickleball had three mornings, that the tennis players now get the chance to have three mornings to play. I have seen days where pickleball players are playing on Joanna’s court and the new pickleball facility sits empty. We appreciate the offer of Saturday play for tennis, however if pickleball players would like to have a tournament on a Saturday we would be more than happy to share the court. John Stocksdale: SLO Pickleball Member. I was the prior Director of the SLO Pickleball Club, and I live in Pismo Beach. The SLO club members are coming to Pismo when they cannot get on courts and are spending their money in Pismo. I do not agree with cutting hours of club time on the court and sending them to Pismo. Judy Jennings: I feel strongly about athletics and health. I do not wish to play tennis at the French court anymore, as the lines on the court are very confusing for tennis players. Sinsheimer is not an option as there are many tournaments with four people per court and other non-tournament courts are being use too and most of the players are even older than me. I do believe in shared use for all. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 4, 2020 8 | P a g e Commissioner Comment Commissioner Webber: Please clarify the drop in use – club or non-club drop in. We realize we all would like more of everything. As far as pickleball, working with the PRC and the goals of the community and I read the 50 plus letters the only time for me to get lessons is to take time off work and take my kids out of school to play. The letters and comments tonight are not aligning with the goals stated of the club as being inclusive. I would encourage you to be proactive to be more intentional in your times and inclusive. Commissioner Stowe: I am thoroughly impressed with the organization of the club and turning out like this. Along with the data tracking is amazing. I do agree with a comment made earlier that we cannot make everyone happy. But the City needs to best serve as many residents as it can and as best possible as it can. As Commissioners, we know we do not have enough of anything right now, but I also do not think it is right to ask for it all right now. We need to serve the entire community. A posted schedule might help with no mixed drop-in times that might help clarify and if there was a standard schedule. I do think that tennis is intimidated by pickleball. I do know 4 or 5 people that were turned away, because they were designated for the SLO Pickleball Club. We need to allow for more time for the general public to play. We all agree a posted schedule would be beneficial. We cannot make a decision right now. Vice Chair Spector: As organizations we often deal better with crisis and failure than we do with success. In this case, this group has been unbelievably successful, and as a result we are caught with the shorthand and now trying to catch up and what is the best way to handle the success. I reject the notion that this proposed scheduling change is tennis vs. pickleball. I am also concerned we are not clear on the issue we are dealing with its not just the schedule we are discussing. Yes, there are not enough resources for everyone that is a given. There is probably a lack of equity to the facilities we do have, between tennis players or too many pickleballers. I would like to know more data on tennis players and pickleball club and the drop in players – we do have a responsibility to address the needs of the drop in users too. It is completely awkward transforming a court into another use and then back again. If all things were equal it would probably be best to make the whole place a pickleball center. I think the scheduling is confusing, I think signage helps. We are not equipped to make a decision without more data collected, and discussions with the stakeholders to make everyone a winner. Director Avakian: I can address a couple things, first of all we really appreciate everybody’s support; we are athletic, wellness and recreation community based. There is some miscommunication or misinterpretation on a few things, I have met with Mr. O’Kelley four times in the past six months regarding potential schedule changes and I met with our tennis advocates twice and also on the phone. There has been context that probably wasn’t clear enough that I presented, the philosophy is the non-club members we are trying to address in our community, there are definitely pickleball players that are not part of the club and are feeling they are unable to use when it is seven days a week between 9 and noon when it is not available. Our role as city staff is to look at the shared uses and the proper scheduling, so that people can do a true drop in. The upper courts are built for that, they are always set up, they can drop in anytime, when it is not reserved. Currently, we have tried to Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 4, 2020 9 | P a g e support as many courts as possible for SLO Pickleball Club and balance that tennis piece. The objective is to revise the schedule and readjust some of the time periods, the afternoons that were drop in are unfortunately the lower courts with the locked-up nets, which resembles a club drop in and not a true community drop in. We need to try and make it equal and look at 3 days of week for tennis and 3 days of week for pickleball – that is where we want to get feedback. We can look at afternoon reservations for the SLO Pickleball Club, but it would need to be reserved, so tennis knows not to show. We are trying to get away from the perception that you are not sure if you can play or not and you drive over there, and that is the challenge and where the consistency would be beneficial to both groups. We would like to solidify the modified schedule in the next two weeks and the opportunity to set up a posted schedule, that way tennis know when they can play on the tennis court and when the pickleball club can do their version of setting up the lower courts. There needs to be a way to get as much exposure to these courts the City invested in, as well as meet the needs of the club and users. SUBCOMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS 5. Subcommittee Liaison Reports (Chair) – 15 minutes) a. Adult and Senior Programming: Commissioner Spector NONE b. Active Transportation Committee: Commissioner Webber NONE c. City Facilities (Damon Garcia, Golf, Pool & Joint Use Facilities): Commissioner Applegate Aquatics Spring lessons began this week. Hiring is taking place for summer with two lifeguard certification courses offered in beginning March 28. Facilities The Ludwick Community Center hosted 3 district polling places this past Tuesday with 371 ballots and received 150 votes by mail. The 2020 census has been utilizing the Library Conference Room throughout the weeks as it prepares for Census day. Golf Course With the amazing weather of late, the golf course has been seeing high number of rounds played, with 2170 rounds in February – higher 100 rounds higher than September 2019 and over 1000 rounds higher than Feb 2019. Staff is continuing to address leaks on the course and is planning on temporarily shutting down the practice green for expansion. Community Services Last week of youth Basketball – 70 teams and over 600 kids Futsal begins March 30 Spring softball is set with 64 teams Staff continue to meet with community groups and clubs to finalize agreements As summer is approaching, staff is busy preparing for the 41 st SLO Triathlon and highly successful Junior Giants season. d) Jack House Committee: Commissioner Schwab NONE e) Tree Committee: Commissioner Thurman NONE f) Youth Sports Association: Commissioner Stowe NONE 6. Directors’ Report (Avakian - 15 minutes) - 6-7 P&R Dept staff will be attending the CPRS Conference in Long Beach next week Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 4, 2020 10 | P a g e - Emerson Park was not selected for the Prop 68 grant funds - Meadow Park bridge replacement nearly complete. Scheduled to open in April - Islay Park RFP approval is scheduled to go to Council on 3/17 with project start date estimated for May/June - Ranger Services continue to focus on equipment training and trail development at Whale Rock, as well as preparing the initial property line fencing at the Miossi Open Space property - Youth Services is currently conducting the minimum day schedule to support the school schedules. Staff have been preparing for spring break camps, summer camp registration, and next fall's school site registration process. - PRC Candidate interviews have been concluded and the City Clerk's office will be contacting the two new commissioners in the next few days. First PRC meeting will be April 1. 7. Communication Vandalism at Sinsheimer Park: The vandals have been apprehended. The top layer of the structure was burned, not sure of the damage and how long it will take to repair. Parks Maintenance staff will keep P&R staff apprised of any closures. ADJOURNMENT AT 8:16 p.m. To the meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commi ttee as approved by the PRC to Wednesday , April 1, 2020, at 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: 07/08/2020  The City of San Luis Obispo wishes to make all of its public meetings accessible to the public. Upon request, this agenda will be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with disabilities. Any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting should direct such request to the Parks and Recreation Department at (805) 781-7300 at least 48 hours before the meeting, if possible. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (805) 781-7107. Meeting audio recordings can be found at the following web address: http://opengov.slocity.org/WebLink/1/fol/61014/Row1.aspx