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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC 01-07-2015 MinutesCity of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Council Chambers 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Wednesday, January 7, 2015, 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Davis called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: Chair Steve Davis, Vice Chair Jeff Whitener and Commissioners Ryan Baker, Craig Kincaid, Michael Parolini, Ron Regier and Susan Updegrove ABSENT: Ron Regier COUNCIL: John Ashbaugh STAFF: Shelly Stanwyck, Melissa Mudgett, Devin Hyfield, Rich Ogden, Jeff Hendricks Public Comment Tim Ross, SLO resident, asked the Commission to add allowing slacklining on Bishop’s Peak to a future Agenda. Director Stanwyck said she would set up a meeting with the City’s Natural Resources Manager and Mr. Ross to discuss this matter and report back to Commission to determine if a future agenda item would be pursued. Director Stanwyck shared that the timing could be 3-6 months until the return to the Commission. John Ashbaugh, Councilmember, Council Liaison to the Commission and SLO Resident, invited the Commission to the Community Forum on January 13th and was looking forward to hearing from Laguna Lake Park stakeholders. He shared that the Kiwanis Club will be having its Centennial celebration on January 21st at 4:30pm at Emerson Park and invited the Commission to attend. Councilmember Ashbaugh said that they plan to share draft plans for the proposed Community Garden at the Laguna Lake Golf Course. Roxanne Prior, SLO resident, asked the Commission to consider a bicycle skills/pump track at Sinsheimer Park as a great way to teach the community’s youth about mountain biking skills. Director Stanwyck responded that Ms. Prior had provided previous emails on this topic and the correspondence was forwarded to the City Council to be included in the Community Forum Goal Setting process on January 13th. 1. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES of Regular Meeting of November 4, 2014 MOTION: (Kincaid/Updegrove) Approve the Minutes of November 4, 2014 as amended. Approved: 6 yes: 0 no: 1 absent 2. COMMUNITY INPUT FOCUS: DIAMOND SPORTS (Hyfield/Ogden) Director Stanwyck shared the new opportunity in 2015 for the Commission to receive community input about various recreational facilities and operations. A calendar of Community Input Topics Meeting Minutes Parks and Recreation Commission City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle was provided to the Commission and was made available to the public. The Diamond Sports presentation was provided by the Recreation Supervisor for Facilities (Devin Hyfield) and the Recreation Supervisor for Adult & Youth Sports (Rich Ogden). Parks Maintenance Supervisor (Jeff Hendricks) was available to respond as needed. A summary of the City’s recreational Diamond Sports programming is provided below. Presentation Summary  8 City parks and 11 Ballfields (including El Chorro Joint Use Agreement with County)  The recreation uses of Diamond Sports include Adult Softball, Youth Sports - Jr. Giants (Stockton Fields), Adult Softball, Senior Softball Boomer (Co-Ed) League. There are approximately 1,500 participants per softball season with three softball seasons annually.  Users groups include SLO Tigers (Club), Cal Poly, Mission Prep, CC Baseball, SLO Youth Baseball, SLO High, SLO YMCA and SLO BLUES  Staff presented a schedule of annual field maintenance  Staff presented a schedule of annual field closures which include a one-week renovation rotation which starts with Sinsheimer Park in the Fall (Sept) and opens up for use in the late Spring (May). Maintenance of Diamond Sport fields are challenging as these fields are experiencing increasing use by other sports (soccer and practices) throughout the year. Fields are experiencing more wear; making it challenging to renovate within a 12-week period. Parks Maintenance Supervisor, Jeff Hendricks, said Emerson Park is an example of a field that has really taking a beating due to drop-in soccer play. Public Comment Michael Parolini, Commissioner and adult softball league participant, said that San Luis Obispo is the County seat and he feels has the worst adult softball league in the County. He felt that umpires were poorly educated about the rules and there is regular alcohol use at the parks. He recognized that there are challenges to finding qualified staff but would like the City to explore other ways to provide for positive adult recreational opportunities. Commission Comments Commission Kincaid asked if there was competition for field use for Fall ball. Staff Hyfield responded that all the user groups meet in April for field allocation and have worked to coordinate their uses well. Commission Parolini said he liked how the field allocations were based upon historical use data. Commissioner Updegrove asked which sports fields use recycled water. Staff Hendricks responded that Damon Garcia Sports Field, French Park, Islay Park currently use recycled water. Staff Hendricks shared that the fields have a 3-day closure in July for field aerification. He further mentioned that the County maintains the turf at the El Chorro Regional County Park and the City maintains the skins and whites. Staff Hendricks added that the Sinsheimer Park irrigation system is antiquated as it was built in 1970’s. Vice Chair Whitener asked about the age group of CC Baseball. Staff Hendricks responded that this includes college-age kids and above. Vice Chair Whitener as about the defacto dog park at Stockton fields. Staff Hendricks responded that off-leash dogs are not allowed and signage is posted. He indicated that the same issue is City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle occurring at the Ken Hampian Hockey Rink. Ranger patrols of these areas are helping to educate and inform the public about allowable uses. Director Stanwyck responded that this use could be indicative of the pent up demand for dog park uses. Chair Davis asked if the batting cages are being utilized. Staff Hyfield responded that there are intermittent uses by Cal Poly for camps and various club users throughout the year. The batting cages have not been staffed since 2005. Roxanne Prior, SLO resident, responded to the Commission that she did not prefer to see batting cages in this location and the area seems unsafe for use at night. She indicated that there would be better access and lighting by the School District’s Bus Barn. Chair Davis asked the Commission about the format of Community Topic Input as there were no Diamond Sport users in the audience. Chair Davis solicited other ideas to increase attendance at focus group meetings. Personal telephone contacts to both coordinators of user groups and the users could be helpful, as well as posting signage at the facilities . He understood the challenges of determining the School District uses and the impact on facilities. Chair Davis said that calendar adjustments might be needed sports that are in-season. Commissioner Baker said that the topic of Diamond Sports is not in rotation for another 2 years and would like to add another opportunity to the calendar. Commissioner Baker inquired about getting netting installed between the two fields at El Chorro for safety of spectators and dug-out participants. Director Stanwyck responded that as part of the El Chorro Joint Use Agreement this would be the City responsibility and staff can have conversations with new County’s Parks and Recreation Director, Nick Franco, who starts with the County on February 2nd. 3. DIRECTOR’S REPORT Director Stanwyck presented an overview of Parks and Recreation Department upcoming items.  As February’s topic for Community input is Damon Garcia, staff will begin user group outreach earlier.  Two reminders items for the Commissions’ February Agenda: Acceptance of the Community Garden Donation at Laguna Golf Course and a presentation by Pickleball.  Director Stanwyck alerted the Commission to future “meaty” agenda items such as ADA accessible bathrooms at the Golf Course, design concepts for Sinsheimer park playground, reports on budget and future dialogues about slacklining.  SLO Skate Park Grand Opening, Saturday, Feb 28th 1:00pm. Invitations will be sent electronically.  Lifeguard recruitment is ongoing  Trail Day on Saturday January 24th at Irish Hills & Prefumo Canyon  Salt Cedar eradication work nearly complete at Laguna Lake  Mountain lion siting at Bishop’s Peak. A camera has been installed and warning signs posted on trail.  A camera has been installed at the Bill Roalman Memorial (Bill Roalman was a former Council member and bike advocate) to encourage better behaviors, safety and public use.  Director Stanwyck shared with the Commission that the Council decided not to issue an RFP for operations and maintenance of the Golf course. Staff will continue the next steps in support of pending retirement. City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle  A NEW ADA Accessible Cart now is now in service at the Golf Course and is the first of its kind in the County. Staff is working with Strokes and PT groups to promote its use. Staff will be provided a press release and media push. 4. SUBCOMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS Tree Committee: Commissioner Baker said the Tree Committee met in December to consider eight tree removal items. The Tree Committee’s purview is over removals of healthy trees. Natural Resources: Commissioner Kincaid reported that Council recently approved appraisal services for two open space properties (Ahern property and a portion of the Meossi property). Commissioner Parolini said he would like to see an increase in Ranger staffing to account for new open space acquisition addressed as part of future acquisitions. Jack House: Commissioner Updegrove said there was no meeting in December. The January meeting had been cancelled and the group will take a tour out to the Jack Ranch on January 14th. School District: Commissioner Parolini shared that as part of the City’s Joint Use Agreement with the School district that the City’s Rangers patrol district property. Commissioner Parolini said he would like to add a presentation about the Ranger Program to share with the new Commissioners information about the program. He further added that the City’s Community Action Team (CAT) has designated police officers for each park. He concluded that the School district’s largest field issue was unpermitted play of adults on School district turf fields. Damon-Garcia: Commissioner Parolini and Chair Davis met with Deputy Director of Utilities Wade Horton regarding use of potable water at Damon Garcia fields. It was determined that this would require the California Department of Public Health approval and the irrigation system would require infrastructure upgrades for an air gap. Commissioner Parolini encouraged the other Commissioners to support an independent cost assessment of an air gap system as the next step. Golf: Vice Chair Whitener said that golf rounds are down and YTD revenue is down 3%. The Course is in the process of a new mower replacement. The Course is organizing a tree planting day with ladies group. The new ADA golf cart has arrives and is now in use. Vice Chair Whitener concluded that he got his first hole in one at the course on hole #7 and that there was a witness. Bicycle Committee: Commissioner Regier was absent. No report. Youth Sports: Chair Davis said no formal meeting in December but that the Youth Sports Association is in process of negotiating with School District on new MOU. 5. COMMUNICATIONS None. Adjourned at 7:14pm to the February 4, 2015 Regular Meeting in Council Chambers, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission as amended on February 4, 2015. ________________________________________________ Melissa C. Mudgett, Parks and Recreation Department Manager