HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-07-2020 PRC Minutes
Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of October 7, 2020 Page 1
Minutes
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order
on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. via teleconference by Chair Thurman.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Kari Applegate, Rick Blair, Adam Stowe, Andrew Webber, Vice
Chair Robert Spector, and Chair Rodney Thurman
Absent:
Staff: Parks and Recreation Director Greg Avakian, Senior Planner Shawna Scott,
Recreation Manager Devin Hyfield, and Administrative Assistant III Jeff Andrews
PUBLIC COMMENT ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Consideration of Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of
September 2, 2020.
ACTION: UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WEBBER, SECONDED BY VICE
CHAIR SPECTOR, CARRIED 6-0-0-0 the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the
Minutes of the Regular Parks and Commission Meeting of September 2, 2020.
BUSINESS ITEMS
2. Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update
Senior Planner Shawna Scott opened a presentation for PRC feedback to staff regarding the
progress and draft of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element
Update. Vice Chair Spector, Commissioners Applegate, Blair, Webber, Stowe, and Chair
Thurman provided feedback and asked questions on question 1 (What are the amenities that
are most important to prioritize, understanding operation and maintenance costs? Consider
near-term (0 to 5-year, 5 to 10-year) and long-term (10 to 20-year) timeframes.); question 2
(What are the parks and facilities that are most important? What parks and facilities should
be our highest priority to improve? What spaces?); and question 3 (What is the right fit
Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of October 7, 2020 Page 2
between amenities and parks (what amenities should be where)?; Shawna & Director
Avakian provided answers & guidance.
Public Comment
Gary Havas – Thanks for discussing this and for your brainstorming! I recall the plan/idea
to include events (concerts, etc.) that would draw other popular uses to the park. This
focused on the community-building aspect of parks, Meadow Park in particular. Long term
accessibility of any park, new or existing: bicycle connectivity. I know it’s on the radar, so
I just give it a nudge here. Also, we may have the Bob Jones Trail out of the Octagon barn
in the mid-term. Connecting this to SLO parks would be ideal. Another aspect would be
coordination with the Climate Action Plan. In conjunction, parking is an expensive
amenity. Cycling is less expensive and healthier. I have not looked at Islay Park yet and
understand that shade structures are deployed! I should think that with warmer temps being
predicted, shady sitting would be good in any park with fewer trees. Of course, trees
themselves would be even better. Start growing them now. Again, this would be
appropriate wherever these features can be added. Being a cycling advocate, good, quality
bike racks, front and center. Lighting for security (where the neighbors can benefit or at
least not be disturbed). Can’t recall beyond meadow, and net research suggests grill
encourage family attendance. Awkward: and toilets are an add
Steve Davis – following on Bob’s point of having a tournament facility, whether for pickle
ball, soccer, baseball, etc. The critical piece seems to be that it requires significant land area
to implement those facilities. Land acquisition seems like it needs to be a 0-5-year goal
even though the facility might be a long-term project start to finish. Land is a limited
commodity and working to secure it in the short-term locks in a lower price as well as
giving more options for the City to choose from.
Jeff Whitener – First off, kudos for all the work put in by you, staff, and commission. I'm
impressed with how the document is taking shape. You all are doing a great job. Regarding
prioritization, I agree with commissioners/public on the following points:
Rick's process. The recreational activities with the largest unmet needs, however you
determine them, should rise to the top of any list as opposed to just trying to pick off the
cheapest or easiest unmet need. Please do not prioritize by cost. I think it is important to
understand where the City stands now in the efforts towards reaching the Park Access
Standards goals listed under Policies/Build Community and Neighborhoods. The Park
Acreage and Access Standards chart there shows aspirational standards but does not tell
anyone what the city has now. In my opinion it should also have a Current Acreage
column. According to the LUCE EIR it would look something like this; Community Parks
= 2.5, Neighborhood Parks = .7, plus misc. parks for a whooping total of approx. 3.47 acres
of City owned parks per 10,000 residents. Not even close to the goal. Note: The LUC EIR
also noted 151 acres of Joint Use acreage (not City owned), which work out to another 3+
acres/10,000. Example on a micro level...how many basketball courts do we have and how
many do we need, etc., then compare with other deficiencies (baseball diamonds, soccer
fields, etc.) to determine the biggest shortfalls and prioritize accordingly.
Adam's & Steve Davis' remarks about 5-year priorities. See above. If we are already short
6.5 acres per 10,000 now, what will that look like when all the current housing gets built.
Therefore, it is, in my opinion, of the utmost importance to acquire land NOW or the big-
ticket items on your wish lists will never get built. If the commissioner who commented on
Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of October 7, 2020 Page 3
how expensive he thinks a sports complex will be now, think what it will be like trying to
acquire land 10 or 15 years from now. If you are serious about new facilities and land,
these acquisition/CIPS should be high on your list of priorities regardless of their costs.
This is a visionary document in many ways, and I think you should wish big.
Finally, Bob's vision. I like the idea of not being locked into some rigid, check-off list of
properties/needs. It did not work out that way with the to-do list of last P&R Plan. The
priorities should somehow be flexibility enough to allow for completion of some if/when
unique partnering opportunities, resources and/or financing become available and/or needs
change. Thanks again everyone for all your hard work! I appreciate it!
ACTION: No action taken.
SUBCOMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS
3. Subcommittee Liaison Reports
A. Adult and Senior Programming: Commissioner Spector
i. Senior center not open, not meeting. Spoke with president, no members hit by
virus, happy about that. Hanging in there, virtual elections.
B. Active Transportation Committee: Commissioner Webber
i. They have not met since July; paving and painting plan going well; speed bumps
on High St make a big difference in traffic speed; happy with work done; Bike
plan network viewer on Active Transportation website, great tool to see bike
connectivity in town
C. City Facilities (Fields, Golf, Pool, & Joint Use Facilities): Commissioner Applegate
i. See programming update below
D. Jack House Committee: Vacant
E. Tree Committee: Commissioner Thurman
i. Grant written and accepted, managed by ECOSLO
F. Youth Sports Association: Commissioner Stowe
i. Has not met since March
UPDATES
4. Director Report
Recreation Manager Lindsey Stephenson provided an update on Community Services, Youth
Services, and Public art
• Community Services Sports
o getting some programming and activities back in action following the County
Health Guidelines
o Staff started a 3 Session Youth Sports Clinics for ages 8-12 years old (the sessions
sold out in the first hours of registration)
o Session 1 runs through October 22 Mon/Weds Soccer Clinics at Damon Garcia
o Tues/Thurs at French Park – with the first two weeks basketball skills and drills
and the last two weeks Pickleball skills and games
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o Session 2 will run from October 26 – Nov 9 and will follow similar format and
switch to Speed and Fitness and Pickleball
o Session 3 will take us through the winter break and is a work in progress on the
types of sports highlighted
• Contract Classes
o We have brought back a couple contract classes that can adhere to the County
Health Guidelines; Tennis instruction and Basketball Evolution AND we will be
adding next month a Youth Yoga and Jump Rope class
• Halloween/Fall Activities
o Staff is working on a Neighborhood Ghoul Hunt through multiple parks (DeVaul,
Islay, Meadow & Throop), Families can stroll through the park and look for the
hidden ghouls – no scheduled times – ALSO some fun virtual costume and
pumpkin decorating contests before Halloween.
• Looking forward to November we are working with the History Center and the Seniors
on a virtual celebration for Veteran’s Day
• We also brought back the Virtual Activity Page on the Parks & Rec Website updated
with virtual fall activities for all age groups
• Community Gardens
o Staff has worked with the gardeners and volunteers on two socially Garden
Workdays in the past month.
• Youth Services
o We are in our 7th week of running our childcare program, partnering with the
school districts distance learning. We are serving to date 115 children at 3 school
sites, and all adhering to the cohort sizes of 14 to 2 ratios
o Bishops Peak has two full time rooms and one half time room
o CL Smith has two full time rooms and one half time room
o Sinsheimer has 3 full time rooms
o We are still recruiting for teachers
• Public Art
o Lindsey is working on an exciting project with the Public Works Transportation
team called the Neighborhood Greenway Public Art project – that is following on
the heels of the resealing and striping in Islay, Nipomo/King, Morro Street
corridors and the Pismo Pedestrian walkway. The call for artists closes on Friday
and next Thursday, we will host a virtual jury to review the designs. The painting
of the bulb outs and pedestrian mural will occur in November and December.
Recreation Manager Devin Hyfield provided a programming update
• Aquatics
o Starting October 5, the SLO Swim Center updated its policies to allow up to 2 persons
per lane from within the same household or social circles. Each swimmer will be
stationed on opposite ends of the pool and instructed to only stop at their designated
end of the lane.
o September had a total of around 3,500 swims
o Private lessons are continuing through the end of October
o A lifeguard recertification class will be held in October
Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of October 7, 2020 Page 5
• Facilities
o Youth Sport organizations have been following a County and State guidelines for
safe operations of physically distanced events
o The City is working with the County to provide a polling location at the Ludwick
Center for the upcoming election
o While the State has provided guidelines for allowing limited capacity indoor
reservations, the City has not resumed indoor rentals.
o French, Meadow, and Islay fields will be closed this month for turf renovation
• Golf
o Given the continued high demand for golf at LLGC, the hours at the course have
expanded to 7 days per week, 7 am to 6 pm and resuming cart rentals.
o Starting in November with the time change hours will be 8 am to 5 pm through
February
o New for this year, Night Golf will take place every Thursday night up from once per
month in past years
o Golf rounds continue to remain consistent with the reduced hours, with over 1300
paid rounds out of 1500 total
o Course conditions continue to improve after a dry summer and irrigation leaks
continue to be addressed
Director Greg Avakian’s update
• ATP is in review and draft, Adam Fukushima to send draft to commissioners
• Working on goals and financial update for PRC, focusing on P&R Master Plan
• Staff to follow up with priorities
• Night hike 2-year pilot program concluded in March 2020; looking at options to extent
program; potential start first week in November
• Staff applying for grants; applying for grant with focus on Mitchell Park, possibly adding
pickle ball courts; another possible grant for Emerson park; grants due in December,
hoping to hear back in springtime
• Rangers started work on new trail at Miossi open space; working with City departments,
County Health, and contractors for upper Bob Jones trail/creek clean up
• Islay Park playground is officially open, good feedback from families
• Budget review – optimistic as we head in to fall, mid-year review due for January
• 4 nominees for employee of the year in the City: Shawn Tucker (Aquatics), Basile Inman
(Ranger Service), Sahvanna Ettestad (Community Services), and Employee of the year
winner Aleah Bergam (Admin)
Kudos from Commissioner Applegate on Youth Services SPARK program
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:59 p.m. The next Regular Parks and Recreation Commission
meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 5:30 p.m., via teleconference.
Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of October 7, 2020 Page 6
APPROVED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: 11/04/2020