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Home My WebLink About06/15/2010, B1 - DAMON GARCIA SPORTS FIELDS-FIELD MAINTENANCE UPDATE council6-15-10 j agenda Repout 1�Nmb. CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Jay D. Walter, Public Works DirectoRg Prepared By: Barbara Lynch, Deputy rector of Public Works SUBJECT: DAMON GARCIA SPORTS FIELDS —FIELD MAINTENANCE UPDATE RECOMMENDATION As recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission: Support continued low cost turf strengthening activities. DISCUSSION Background In August 2004, the City accepted completion of the construction of the Damon Garcia Sports Fields. This was the culmination of many years of advocacy from sports organizations, adoption of a Major Council Goal to create youth athletic fields, and work by City staff to bring the project to completion. The project was intended to serve turf sports games, with diamond sports occurring elsewhere in the City. The City hired a landscape design firm that specialized in sports turf in the hopes of obtaining very high quality, durable sports ,fields. The fields were designed as natural turf fields over-a sand base. The design included a drainage system under the sand base to carry water off the fields. The primary benefit of sand based fields, with their underground drainage, is their ability to drain rapidly so that ponding and muddy conditions do not occur on the fields for extended periods, allowing play to resume sooner after wet weather. Originally, users and the Council were led to believe the fields would be usable year round, every day, and, with the inclusion of lights, into the night. Early year issues & activities The turf type that was specified for the new fields was a combination of bermuda and rye grass. Bermuda grass is considered a very durable grass because of its ability to spread across the surface to re-establish itself. It needs hot weather to grow, and goes dormant, turning brown, in the winter. The rye was anticipated to provide temporary cover, until the bermuda was established. After the completion of construction, the fields were scheduled for a one-year grow in period. This was to allow the turf to become established, getting the root system well into the soil, and the grass filled in and hardened off. What occurred was growth of the rye grass, which is a cooler weather grass, with virtually no bermuda grass growth. The fields opened on schedule and were very popular with the community. Damon Garcia Sports Fields Page 2 It was soon apparent that the fields were being loved to death by the many and vaned user activities. Some community members felt that the decline in turf condition was because the bermuda grass never established. Staff consulted a variety of turf supply company representatives who consistently said bermuda was not suited to San Luis Obispo because of the cool climate. Given that consistent message, Public Works staff began a campaign of strengthening the rye grass. The Council supported this approach and provided funding for additional seed, fertilizers, and a fertigation system, which mixes fertilizer into the irrigation system for distribution. Staff was to report back to the Council on whether the efforts to strengthen the turf were successful. While the increased activities in the maintenance program appeared to be improving turf condition, the fields suffered a major setback when an unpermitted group played during a rain event, causing major field damage. The fields were shut down for repair, and Public Works and Parks & Recreation departments worked together to tighten access to the fields and develop a "game only" play policy. Recreation staff also held programming levels constant to aid in the turf recovery. Users have been extremely disappointed that after all of the effort that was put into getting the fields and the big promises that were made on its usability, they have received only a small portion of the playing time they had hoped for. Current status and issues Parks & Recreation and Public Works staff continue to hone the details of use and maintenance at the facility. Maintenance staff has continued to research new turf varieties in order to find ones suited to our climate and recycled water, but with greater durability and growth characteristics than the rye. Parks & Recreation staff works with the user groups to manage and prioritize the use. Maintenance staffing:levels have fluctuated at the site due to the hiring chills and freezes of the last few years, combined with a military service call-up for one of the regular employees. Parks Maintenance is currently operating with a temporary employee to fill a frozen regular staff position. The park also has been converted to recycled water since its original opening. The recycled water has provided some challenges. The high salt content of the water has begun to harden the sand/soil below the turf making penetration for roots and water more difficult. The last two dry years have meant more months with irrigation operating, translating into more salt delivered through the recycled water. The delivery system for the recycled water is also new and pressure fluctuations and unplanned shut downs of delivery have presented challenges to the irrigation system. The Utilities Department has been working with the system programming to reduce or eliminate these issues. Public Works and Parks & Recreation staff have also been working toward a new maintenance schedule to minimize down time while allowing renovation to occur during the best months for growing turf. Previously, maintenance periods cycled field, down time periodically throughout the year for minor renovation work and rest, with more significant renovation work occurring in the early part of the year. Starting this year, all the fields will go down once a year for major renovation from May through July. The final issue is the continued demand for field time that these fields cannot supply unless the City is willing to let them degrade to a condition where the turf cannot be sustained in the highest � r- a- Damon Garcia Sports Fields Page 3 use parts of the fields. The 2008 Needs Study completed by Wendy George for the Parks & Recreation Department clearly conveys that demand for more access to fields, including for practices, is a high priority that cannot be met on the Damon-Garcia site. See Attachment 1. Consultant site and use review Through a seminar on turf management, Public Works staff met Larry Musser of PRZ, a turf condition specialist. PRZ was hired by Public Works to bring a new perspective to the turf management at the sports fields, one that would not be biased toward any particular brand or products. Mr. Musser has spent 17 years in the turf consulting business and has worked with owners of thousands of fields across the United States during that time, creating a specialized "prescription" for whatever ails their fields. PRZ completed an extensive review of the facility including analysis of soil, turf tissue, water, use levels, irrigation systems, and the current maintenance program. The result was a report that discussed the various elements that make up an active facility and the relationships between them. See Attachment 2. Discussions with PRZ revealed that the decision to construct a sand based field for a municipal use was probably not a good one. This type of construction can work under highly controlled environments, such as professional sports complexes. As it turns out, the sand based construction is part of the durability challenge. The recycled water, which is high in salts, is causing soil hardening and reduces the ability for the plants to take up nutrients. Certain cultivars are sensitive to the salts and will not grow well with recycled water. Use levels appear to be above the current maintenance level provided. This confirms the findings in the 2008 Needs Study completed by Wendy George for the Parks & Recreation Department that the use occurring on the Damon Garcia fields is higher than generally accepted use levels for sand based fields with cool season grass. PRZ recommendations The report makes some recommendations for improvements to the maintenance program underway to deal with the various nuances of the facility. The most positive thing about the recommendations, from a City and user perspective, is that the bulk of the recommendations can be implemented with existing staff and equipment, within the existing operating budget, and without additional down time for the users. Specifically, the report recommends: 1. Use of sodium blocker to push the salts from the soil and prevent absorption by the plants. 2. Use of growth regulators to increase root growth, while reducing top growth, which reduces mowing time. 3. Increased mowing. 4. Change in seed to move the turf to a spreading, healing type turf from the current single plant, clumping type. 5. Increased fertilization to keep the plants well fed for growing and damage resistance. 6. Increased aeration to reduce compaction, allowing better root growth, and multiplying the plants to increase overall plant density. The last item, the increased aeration, will require a new piece of equipment to properly implement. The City is currently going through belt tightening; however, staff will look for SI-3 Damon Garcia Sports Fields Page 4 opportunities in the coming year to use funds left over from other purchases to fund the equipment purchase. The aeration unit will be of benefit to other parks and can assist in reducing water demand. Summary A sports field complex, such as Damon Garcia, has proved to be quite different to manage than the typical large park turf area. Public Works and Parks & Recreation staff continue to learn about managing this type of facility. Public Works believes the recommendations have the potential to greatly assist the condition and durability of the turf at Damon Garcia, and allow some increased use in the future. Based on the information in the report, it appears additional use could be in the 5 to 10 hours a month range. The fact that much can be done within existing budget and staffing makes continuing the approach of strengthening the turf appear to be the best approach. If at a future date, the City has the resources to invest significantly in a major facility overhaul, that may be the time to look at broader improvements such as synthetic turf or major renovation with drainage augmentation. CONCURRENCES Staff presented the PRZ report findings to the Youth Sports Association and the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC.) While both groups were supportive of any improvements for the fields, the issue of the need for more available time on the fields, or at other fields, continued to be at the forefront of the discussions. See Attachment 3 for PRC meeting minutes. The Parks and Recreation Department supports any activities that will improve turf conditions, while also understanding the users' desire for more field time. FISCAL IMPACT The implementation of the report recommendations will largely be done under the existing budget, as it is a matter of buying different materials. Additional mowing and aeration activities will be accommodated as available staff time allows. However, if the Parks and Landscape maintenance budget experiences additional cutbacks, that will affect the ability to maintain the fields. The result will either be deterioration in condition or a reduction in use. New knife aeration equipment is estimated to cost $15,000. The cost estimate from a private maintenance company to complete knife aeration work was $2,000 for the four fields. The report recommends completing this type of aeration monthly, yielding an annual cost of$24,000. This would indicate the equipment could pay for itself in under a year. Staff will investigate funding opportunities to allow this purchase in the future. The knife aerator unit is towed behind the tractor, and so will not add to the overall fleet maintenance responsibilities. The other recommended equipment modification is to invest in a bigger mower. This reduces staff time for mowing because each pass of the mower takes in a larger area, reducing the number of passes made. There are two mowers scheduled for replacement in 2011-12. At that time, staff will put forward a request for the wider mower. As outlined in the Fleet Replacement Request included in the 2009-13 Capital Program, the two mower replacement configurations are planned for review, with possible other improvements to assist with renovation tasks.. Damon Garcia Sports Fields Page 5 ALTERNATIVES 1. Complete a major reconstruction of the turf. Staff has continued to pursue low cost options to toughen the turf area, knowing that users would like to have additional hours of play made available, but that City funds to support that are limited. PRZ has presented an option for a major renovation procedure that amends the soil and expands the drainage system. This has the potential to increase the hours available for use. The cost is estimated at $763,000. Staff has not recommended this approach due to the City's current financial constraints and the concern of disappointing the users if the additional expense does not significantly increase use levels. 2. Construct artificial turf on Darryl Damon Field. The lower fields of the complex are not suitable for artificial turf because they act as a flood plain for the adjacent creeks. The upper field, Darryl Damon, could be converted. Artificial turf on this field is estimated to cost $1,500,000. Available use time could be expected to double, but only for this field. Artificial turf needs ongoing maintenance effort, as well as a significant reinvestment about every 12 years. ATTACHMENTS 1. 2008 Needs Assessment Executive Summary 2. PRZ Assessment Overview 3. PRC Draft Minutes AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN THE COUNCIL OFFICE 2008 Needs Assessment PRZ Fields Assessment trtomal agenda reporlsN"ic works car12010\mrksNde garcial&1510 dg mndiuon ptdoc B�5' - ATTACHMENT ATHLETIC FIELDS NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO Prepared by Wendy George George-Cyr, LLP P.O. Box 6129 Los Osos, CA 93412 805-772-8551 August 26, 2008 r 93 t ATTACHMENT f Executive Summary Athletic Fields Needs Assessment for The City of San Luis Obispo Prepared by Wendy George George-Cyr, LLP August 26, 2008 In 2005, City staff proposed to the San Luis Obispo City Council that it consider the feasibility of converting existing athletic fields to synthetic turf as a strategy for maximizing their use. It also directed staff to include a capital improvement request to convert Stockton Field, a baseball diamond located in Sinsheimer Park, to synthetic turf as part of the 2007-09 Financial Plan. Upon later consideration of this request, the Council determined that synthetic turf might not be as cost-effective as initially believed, and requested further study on the subject. In commencing this additional study, staff realized that in addition to further addressing the pros and cons of synthetic turf, they also needed to consider other better uses for limited available funding. Therefore, in February 2008, staff received approval from the Council to hire a consultant to conduct a needs assessment of athletic field user groups and offer recommendations for meeting those needs. Accordingly, the primary objective of the consultant's report is to address the following issues: a. Identification of youth and adult sports organizations using diamond and turf fields in the City of San Luis Obispo b. Identification of athletic fields being used by these organizations c. Identification of field use schedules d. Assessment of user needs as determined by personal interviews with group representatives e. Exploration of strategies for addressing those needs, including public/private partnerships with other organizations within the community f. Review of possible new field development in future City expansion areas g. Evaluation of current Damon-Garcia sports fields use h. Recommendation of best practices for Damon-Garcia field use and determination of their optimal level of use i. Consideration of the pros and cons of artificial turf placement on City athletic fields j. Development of a prioritized list of strategies to meet users' needs and maximize field use Bl —� i z-� -- A17ACHMENT Identification of Field Users and Existing Playing Fields The consultant's first step was to identify the turf field and diamond field organizations to be assessed and create an assessment tool. She then determined the local athletic fields that are used to support the programs offered by these organizations. In addition to City-owned fields, as a result of joint-use agreements with outside agencies, these programs also utilize fields belonging to San Luis Coastal Unified School District and the County of San Luis Obispo. Additionally, they sometimes use fields at Cuesta College, Laureate School and Talley Farms as overflow locations when regular fields are unavailable due to scheduling conflicts or the weather. All of the field owners schedule playing time on their own fields, and this practice sometimes leads to problems when turf sports are assigned to fields that have traditionally been used by diamond sports. Needs Assessments Each sports program interviewed was asked to identify its highest priority need,. and rank it on a scale from 1-10, with 10 representing the most severe need. Spokespersons also discussed other lower priority concerns, and were asked to provide suggestions on how to meet their program's needs. Generally, the greatest number of concerns came from the turf field users, with more access to the Damon-Garcia Sports Fields being the most consistent need. There were fewer concerns expressed by the diamond sport programs. The following charts reflect the highest priority needs of the programs, broken down by turf field users and diamond field users. SUMMARY OF TURF USER NEEDS AgesNo. of Organization Served Players HighestNeed Severity YSO Soccer I outh 1,250 More access to D-G fields for rowth 5 Central Coast Soccer Adult 250 More access to D-G fields; condition of fields 6 Central Coast Women's Soccer Adult 150-180 More access to D-G fields 4-5 Coast Soccer Club Youth 40 No unmet needs n/a Flag Football Youth 60 Unexpected field closures Mores ace for futuregrowth; -5 Old Dos Soccer Academy Youth/ 150 More access to D-G fields 18 —Adult Location for adultpick-up soccer 19 Premier Affiliated Soccer Ong. Adult 1,000 More field access for games and tournaments 17 SLO Rub ----Adult 16o Permanent practice location with li hts 3-4 SLO Rub Football Club Adult/ 200 Permanent practice location with lights 19 outh SLO Soccer Club Youth 200 More field access for games and tournaments 17 SLO Womens Soccer Adult 140 Timely net set-up for games 5-6 SLO Youth Football Youth 120-150 Lack of bleachers by field 6 SLO Youth Rugby Youth 61-- More access to D-G fields, esp in winter and after rain 10 Figure 1 2-5 A TACHMENT i SUMMARY OF DIAMOND USER NEEDS Ages • . ServedOrganization Players HighestNee-d— Cal Poly Baseball 'Camp outh 60 No unmet needs N/A Cal R ken/Babe Ruth Baseball outh 500 Conflicted scheduling with turf sports 9 Central Coast Mens Baseball Adult 150 Access to SLO stadium in summer 10 Co-ed Adult Softball dult 800 Making EI Chorro fields safer; 5 Rain makes Santa Rosa field unusable Cuesta Colle a Baseball Adult 250 No unmet needs N/A Girls Softball Association Youth 110 Conflicted scheduling with turfsports 4 Hancock College Baseball Adult No unmet needs NIA Mission Pre .Girls Softball Youth Drainage at Santa Rosa softball field 7 SLO Blues Adult 30 - Easier access to stadium for business purposes 2. SLO High Varsity Baseball Youth No unmet needs NIA SLO Rattlers Adult 35 linability to use concessions and BBQ area -ball Coach/Pitch YMCA Youth 200 No unmet needs !A Figure 2 Strategies for Addressing Identified Needs The consultant's next step was to consider strategies for addressing the needs identified by the sports field users. The first strategy explored was the possibility of developing new partnerships with other public agencies or private entities. Discussions with administrators at San Luis Coastal Unified School District led to the conclusion that the school district is unlikely to be receptive of any new partnerships with the City that involve financial commitments from the District, including the installation by the City of artificial turf or lights at any District owned fields. On the other hand, administrators at Cuesta College were more receptive to the concept of exchanging additional use of the college's fields for the installation of lighting by the City. However, it should be noted that Cuesta College's field maintenance staff was less enthusiastic about this idea, because of potential damage to fields caused by additional use. The County of San Luis Obispo was willing to entertain the use of Cuesta Park's field for youth soccer, if the City would pay for removing trees recently planted there, upgrading the field, and policing the area to prevent its abuse by Cal Poly students. Mission School was also amenable to making its turf field available to the City for overflow soccer play and might consider allowing the City's men's baseball team to use its baseball diamond. The Laureate School was very interested in some sort of partnership with the City for use of one or both of its fields, but asked that in exchange it receive access to City water. Since the school is currently located in the County, this request is not viable at this time. Cal .Poly indicated a willingness to discuss Bl' 1 9 ' I ,24 ATTACHMENT possible use of its newly converted synthetic turf fields by the City, but only after enough time has passed for it to determine the full extent of its own needs. The owner of Talley Farms said he would continue to allow some programs to play on their fields on an overflow basis, but wider use would require permitting from the County and could create neighborhood problems for the business. The next strategy considered was the possibility of joining existing partnerships to create new athletic fields. Discussions were held with volunteers working to build a baseball facility at the Chevron Fields on Tank Farm Road and volunteers hoping to renovate San Luis Obispo High School's Holt Field. Currently, neither of these projects appears likely to be successfully completed, but City staff should continue to monitor their progress. Proposed fields in the Margarita and Orcutt expansion areas were also examined for their_ appropriateness for use as scheduled game or practice fields for turf sports. Due to constraints of their location or size, these fields would be most appropriate only for pick-up soccer, rugby or football games. Some of the difficulty in teams having enough access to the Damon-Garcia Sports Fields is the result of current scheduling practices. A number of changes can be made to these practices with minimal cost to the City, such as scheduling fields jointly with the School District, holding scheduling meetings in the evenings when more field users can attend, following adopted priority policies closely, ensuring sports playing within their traditional annual seasons have first priority over others (e.g. baseball or softball would have priority over soccer in the spring), developing better coordination and communication between the Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments over rain closures, the addition of a field closure hotline for user groups, excluding all non-sports events from the Damon-Garcia Fields and assigning certain fields for pick-up play on a rotating basis. Evaluation of Damon-Garcia Sports Fields When the Damon-Garcia Sports Fields were opened, they fulfilled a long-awaited demand for quality turf sports playing fields in the City. Although the fields were intended only for actual games and tournaments, the initial level of use was extremely high, as they were also used for pick-up games, scrimmages and non- sporting events. As a result, Field B and most of Field A were badly damaged before play on them was halted. Additionally, the mixture of grass installed during construction did not perform as expected. After initial conflict as to the best way to repair the fields, the Parks and Recreation Department agreed to the Public Works Department's proposal to rehabilitate the existing turf, rather than replacing it with hybrid Bermuda grass. The fields are currently undergoing rehabilitation, and only after completion of the winter sports season will it be possible to determine whether this approach has been successful. I i r • G 3 iv B NO i 2-7 C ;FiAUME«T r Best Practices for Darvon-Garcia Fields The City's Public Works Department is currently working with a consultant from the Wilbur-Ellis Company to improve the Damon-Garcia turf. However, even if this rehabilitation program is successful, City staff must insure that a limit is placed on the amount of time the fields can be used. The generally accepted belief, based on research from outside sources, is that cool season grass fields with sand based profiles can tolerate approximately 360 to 390 hours field use, factored by the type of sport, per year; cool season grass fields with native soils can tolerate approximately 425 hours; and warm season grass fields grown in moderate climates such as Northern California and supported with reinforced sand profiles may tolerate up to 500 hours of use. The Damon-Garcia fields fall into the first category. Based on totals provided by Parks and Recreation Department staff, the average unfactored total use on each Damon-Garcia field in 2006 and 2007 was about 865 hours. While continuing with the current rehabilitation plan, City staff should also consider several other changes that could help meet users' needs. One is to change the time for annual field maintenance on the Damon-Garcia fields to later in the spring, rather than in December, so that there is less impact on soccer season. Another is to move the internal light pole by the lower fields, so that the fields can be realigned on a regular basis to avoid wear spots. The Pros and Cons of installing Synthetic Turf Many public agencies and school districts have turned to synthetic turf as a way of increasing the time of play on their existing fields. Synthetic turf has come a long way as a.quality playing surface from the days of the original Astroturf. It allows for all-weather field availability, increased playing hours up to 58 per week and reduced maintenance and watering costs. However, installation is expensive. New synthetic fields can cost three times as much as grass fields. Resurfacing existing fields costs between $400,000 and $600,000. In hot climates, synthetic fields can be 60-degrees hotter than grass fields. There is also concern about the potential toxic content of the field material and its underlying cushioning, which has led to pending legislation in the California State Senate. While there is significant water savings by using synthetic turf, the fields are not maintenance free. They need to be disinfected regularly, washed to removed dust and foreign particles like sunflower seeds, and "fluffed" monthly to lift the fibers. Finally, the current life of a synthetic field is 10 to 12 years, at which time they must be replaced. The replacement cost is estimated to be about half of the initial installation cost, plus a fee for recycling the old material of $40,000 to $50,000. At this time, the consultant is not recommending installing synthetic turf at any City playing fields. The most consistent need expressed by the turf sport players is for more access to the Damon-Garcia fields for games, tournaments and R / V 1z 1 j ! A71ACHMENT scrimmages. Installing synthetic turf in baseball or softball diamonds in order to make them available to turf sports would only provide additional practice fields, and lack of practice fields is not the problem. If the current rehabilitation program for the Damon-Garcia is not successful, then the City should consider installing synthetic turf on Daryl Damon field to increase its availability to teams. While installing synthetic turf on the lower fields would actually be a better choice, considering the poorer quality of these fields, they lie in a flood prone area and cannot be covered with a non-porous surface. Conclusion After meeting with both turf and diamond sports field users of City-owned, and neighboring fields, exploring new partnership possibilities with other agencies, examining best practices that would help improve the natural turf at the Damon- Garcia Sports Fields and considering the pros and cons of synthetic turf, the consultant provided a set of recommendations broken down into three categories: Highest Priority Recommendations to be Implements as Soon as Possible; Lower Priority Recommendations for Future Consideration; and Actions Not Recommended at this Time. Those recommendations are found in Exhibit 1 to this Executive Summary. Vi Z-� ATTACHMENT � Exhibit 1 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS A. Highest Priority Recommendations, to be Implemented as Soon as Possible 4. RECOMMENDATION: Set up quarterly joint use meetings with the County of San Luis Obispo relating to the softball fields at Rancho El Chorro Regional Park. 5. RECOMMENDATION: Pursue a joint use agreement with Mission School for use of its baseball diamond for Babe Ruth teams and for overflow use of the turf field when Damon-Garcia fields have unanticipated closures. 12. RECOMMENDATION Rigorously apply the City's current policies on field sign-up priorities and make sure the policies are distributed to and understood by all field users. 13. RECOMMENDATION: Include staff from San Luis Coastal Unified School District in a joint semi-annual scheduling process that eliminates the District's practice of scheduling fields on a first come, first served basis. 14. RECOMMENDATION. Hold semi-annual scheduling meetings in the evenings when working adults are better able to attend them. Be sure that all users know the time and date of the meetings, as well as what information needs to be provided in requests and when it should be provided. 15. RECOMMENDATION: Work with the school district to develop a policy that provides for sports playing within their traditional annual seasons to have priority over others, e.g. baseball or softball would have priority over soccer in the spring. Do not allowone program to reserve fields for a full year at a time. Do not allow turf sports to use baseball/softball diamonds unless they are not needed by traditional users. 16. RECOMMENDATION: Parks and Recreation Staff should work more closely with Public Works staff to insure better coordination on field- closures for maintenance and rain and to assure that appropriate standards of wear are being used for each field that is scheduled. Vii 210 t,I,AGNMENT i 17. RECOMMENDATION: Parks and Recreation and Public Works staff should work together to establish a rain closure hotline that provides up-to-date field closure information to users. 18. RECOMMENDATION: Continue to reserve the Damon-Garcia Sports Fields for athletic games and tournaments only, excluding practices and pick-up games. Additionally, exclude all non-sport events such as festivals or shows. 19. RECOMMENDATION: Work with San Luis Coastal School District to assure availability of Taylor field to adult rugby. 20. RECOMMENDATION: Work with the County of San Luis Obispo to create one-stop scheduling of the Ei Chorro softball fields and payment for use of the lights 21. RECOMMENDATION: Determine those fields that are appropriate for pick-up play and assign their use on a rotating basis, either by month or day of the week. Post that information at the Fields and make It available to users in other ways as well, perhaps through a recorded hotline message. 22. RECOMMENDATION: Consider requiring soccer teams using the Damon-Garcia Sports Fields to provide and set up their own goal cages. 23. RECOMMENDATION. Develop a collaborative approach with the San Luis Obispo Blues and Rattlers to fund the following improvements to the stadium: • Rebuild the press box • Bring the concession stand and barbecue area up to health codes • Improve the dugout stairs on the left side of the stadium field • Improve the backstop area of the stadium • Provide on-site internet connection 26. RECOMMENDATION: Advise the SLO Youth Football program to present the need for portable bleachers to the Joint Use Committee for possible financial assistance from a facility use grant. 27. RECOMMENDATION: Parks and Recreation and Public Works staff should assess the possibility of closing the Damon-Garcia fields for maintenance starting in March of each year, rather than in December. Viii Z-ll' �,TTACHMEN? i B. Lower Priority Recommendations for Future Consideration 2. RECOMMENDATION: Meet with Ed Maduli, Vice President of Administrative Services to discuss the possibility of lighting the Cuesta College's baseball diamond and/or one or all of the turf fields. Cost of lighting the diamond is in the range of $500,000 - $700,000. Cost of lighting the fields would depend on the number of fields lit and could cost about$100,000 for installation and$28,000 per fixture. 7. RECOMMENDATION. Pursue further discussion with Cal Poly University about using their synthetic turf fields after the fields have been in place long enough for the university to have a good sense of their own internal level of use. 8. RECOMMENDATION: Continue to monitor the approval process for the Chevron Corporation property to determine the viability of the proposed baseball complex. Consider participating in the project at some future date only if it receives approval from all permitting agencies and other funding Is assured. 9. RECOMMENDATION: Continue to monitor the progress of the Holt Field project. Consider participation only if it receives approvals from the school district and the funding is in place to make it possible. 10. RECOMMENDATION: Consider including the multi-use field in the Margarita Area as a recommended site for pick-up turf sport games. 11. RECOMMENDATION: Consider using the multi-use field in the Orcutt Area as a recommended site for pick-up turf sports games. Schedule softball and Cal Ripken games on the diamond upon its completion. 24. RECOMMENDATION: Consider methods to address the drainage problems at the Santa Rosa softball field by using French drains or other drainage approaches similar to those being implemented at Laguna Middle School. Estimated cost is $250,000. 25. RECOMMENDATION: Investigate the possibility of creating a turf sports practice field to replace the linear park that currently runs along the fence line behind the backstop at Meadow Park. 28. RECOMMENDATION: City staff should assess the possibility of moving at least one of the internal light poles to allow for greater field alignment flexibility. Such a move would necessitate finding alternative solutions to providing adequate lighting and would cost in the range of lx i i ATTACHMENT— $20,000 T ACHMENT$20,000 to move the light Additional costs could be required depending on whether alternative lighting sources are required. C. Actions Not Recommended at This Time 1. RECOMMENDATION. At this point, no new partnerships with San Luis Coastal Unified School District are recommended. 3. RECOMMENDATION: Using Cuesta Park as a turf field is not a good idea at this time due to the cost of removing trees and difficulty of keeping Cal Poly students from abusing it. However, this is a possibility that could be considered in the future if the need for turf fields continues to grow. It would be a good Idea to determine the actual measurements of this field for future consideration. 6. RECOMMENDATION: Do not pursue use of Laureate School fields at this time, due to the City's policy of not providing water outside City limits. However, should changes be made to this policy, or the property be annexed to the City, jointly developing the Laureate fields could be extremely beneficial to both the City and the school. 29. RECOMMENDATON: Do not install synthetic turf at any City playing fields at this time. However, if the current rehabilitation plan for Damon- Garcia fails, and if funding becomes available at some paint, the City should first consider installing synthetic turf at Daryl Damon Field, rather than at any of the baseball diamonds. X �-13 J ATTACHMENT 2-1 Field Overview Assessment City of San Luis Obispo Damon Garcia Sports Fields The following is an evaluation of these Sports Fields as of November, 2009. It discusses the current condition of these fields and explains why they are in these conditions. It will then go over a plan of action that can help to remedy the problems and cover the maintenance steps, needed equipment, and costs of maintaining these fields to prevent them from returning to their original condition. This document will then show the level of wear on the fields and how many hours of play per week each field can sustain and still have viable turf. Current Conditions of the fields You, your crew and I walked and evaluated the designated fields. To have sustainable turf you need 8"-10" of roots and as indicated in the chart below, all of yours are too shallow rooted to stand up to the wear they are currently receiving. This is reflected in the bare and wom areas which result directly in low spots as well. Several of the fields have faulty coverage or poor irrigation and most have a poor field grade which contributes to standing water and damaged and worn turf by the end of the playing season. INITIAL SITE SURVEY ROOT FIELD %BARE % %Compacted IRRIGATION %WORN HIGH/LOW WE IDRY SITE DEPTH GRADE SPOTS WEEDS Areas% SYSTEM AREAS SPOTS SPOTS Damon Garcia East Fields 0.2' Poor 1_ 40% 1 5% 1 80 Fair _ 40% Some Some Daryl Garcia West Field 0.2" Poor 1 40% 1 5910 180% Fair 40% Some Some The Causes of the Current Conditions 1. Wear has led to most of the current problems on these fields. Your wear is the greatest contributor to compacted soils and the resulting damage to your turf.The Wear Index In Hours Per Week table below shows that these fields have an average of 76.4 activity-weighted hours of play per week.This is a category average 4.5 wear level.The amount of play is scaled into levels 1-5,5 being the highest and there is a direct correlation between wear and maintenance. WEAR INDEX IN HOURS PER WEEK ACTIVITY MAINT. # WEIGHTED LEVEL NEEDED SITE SQ.FT WEEKS HOURS/WK CATEGORY Damon Garcia East Fields 309962 52 75.7 4,50 Daryl Garcia West Field 136120 52 77.2 4.50 Totals/Averages 446082 52 76.4 4.50 The following Activity Weighting Scale chart below shows the wear effect of each of the different sports and common activities that take place on sports fields.As you can see walking across a field is 1 and soccer practices are 2,meaning 1 hour of soccer practice is equivalent to 2 hours of walking or standing on the 1 ©PRZ International Sporn Turf Consulting. All rights reserved 4B/� /� �. ATTACHMENT 2-2 field.Also note that any sports clinics or tournaments carry a 2.5 rating which helps to explain the damage that can result from a weekend tournament. Activity Weighting Scale Walking on field/Softball 1.00 Baseball 1.25 PE 1.50 Parked Cars 1.50 Marching Band 1.75 Soccer Games 1.85 Football Games 1.85 Soccer& Football Practices 2.00 Adult Soccer& Football Games 2.13 Adult Soccer& Football Practice 2.25 Lacrosse& Field Hockey 2.25 Rugby 2.50 Sports Clinics &Tournaments 2.50 Note the chart on the following page titled Activity Weighted Hours by Week for Damon Garcia Sports Fields.The light blue area indicates actual hours on the Feld.The magenta area represents the activity weighted hours on this field and the light green area represents the average activity weighted hours for the year.The heaviest wear on this field takes place in August(approximately 160 average activity weighted hours per week).The dark blue line represents rainfall and your highest rainfall occurs during your heavy wear periods from November through February. The play that occurs during these months causes the most compaction and thus damaged turf.It will be critical that we insure that we have the proper drainage and strive to reduce play in these peak rainfall times (rain shut down for so many hours after the rain has subsided so they are not playing on saturated root zone)to insure sustainability.At various times during the year,the wear level fluctuates and the maintenance functions must also follow these fluctuations. 2 ©PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved BI 41 ATTACHMENT 2-3 Activity Weighted He=by Week VS Rainfall Damon Garcia Sports Fields 170.00 5.75 160.00 _. 5.50 5 25 150.00 ......._.._.__.__._..�_ 5.00 140.00 a7s 130.00 ......_. .. 960 425 120.00 4.D0 110.00 3.75 00.00 ISO a 90.00 3a5,? 960 i 80.00 IS 276.ye 70.002'60 c Wan 4 225 K 60.00 260 YVs 50.00 40.00 utr. val 943 1.50 2 � VM 125 Hm WHI. 30.00 ��Jj ' 1.00 Hes 20.00 Das 10.00 Y 0.50 Did.Hn. 025 0.00 0.00 Claw Mrs. =_re3a'SS'aa""aaSS'a::::�Q��""aa�ma��$��SS'a"a'aa�aaSg'a�ge3"`a"a"aa MOHTHMMEK w ^"•.•.•--^^" MAver. R01nfa0 2. The Current Maintenance Level of the Fields The Wear Index below shows that all turf fields at these sites combined have an average category 4.5 wear and your current maintenance level is an average 2.43. There is a direct correlation between maintenance and wear! This difference is substantial and is mainly responsible for your current conditions of your fields and can equal unsustainable turf on your high wear areas over time. WEAR INDEX IN HOURS PER WEEK ACTIVITY MAINT. CURRENT # WEIGHTED LEVEL NEEDED MAINT. SITE SQ.FT WEEKS HOURS/WK CATEGORY LEVEL Damon Garcia East Fields 309962 tt52 75.7 . 4.50 2.43 Daryl Garcia West Field 136120 77.2.___5 , 4.50 2.43 Totals/Averages 446082 .76.4 4.50 . 2.43 3. The Growine Season and weather patterns: Please note the Average Monthly Temperature Chart on the next page.When the monthly average temperature is less than 60 degrees,warm weather grasses are dormant or going dormant.This chart also shows the percent of healing potential that your grass has at your average monthly temperatures.Months where there is a yellow box around the percentage of potential healing are those where the percentage drops below 50%and healing potential slows down dramatically. 3 ©PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved /�l9 ATTACHMENT 2-4 AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE VS% HEALING POTENTIAL w i taox 60 nx z F 41% X z n 2M 0 to M a ax AN FES MARCH AWL MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPI OCT NOV DEC MONTHS ti AVE.Temp Keotudy Bweaeme �Ba Um Gram Typeom.: San Luis Obispo Rye Gnsm JAN FEB MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC Avenge Mumbly Temenlurea 54 55 56 58 61 65 67 69 6M 65 59 54 Percent Of Henling Potential-Coal Weather Gn4Ma 35.0-. 46.0% 52,0% 64.m% 75.m/. 94.094 99% 100% 100,01% KIM. 70.M. 40.0% Pereol Of Holing Pmendal-Bermuda Gran 0.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 2.0% 6.0". 10.01. 12.0% .12.01. 6.m. 2.m4 0.04. Indlen n I m than 50%of patendai for mending. This chart shows the average monthly temperatures for San Luis Obispo over the past 30 years.Note that this chart shows why cool weather grasses are much more affective here than Bermuda grasses.From March through November the cool weather grasses are nearly able to heal at their maximum potential but from December through February they have diminished or much less healing potential.Also you can see at your temperatures Bermuda grasses never get above 12%of their healing potential and this vividly shows why these grasses did not work at all at this site. The chart on the next page is like the first one above(Activity Weighted Hours by Week)but these numbers are compared to your 30 average temperatures.The chart also and indicates when Bermuda grasses go into dormancy and come out of dormancy.(63-64 degrees coming out of dormancy and 60 degrees going into dormancy).You can see that for you this is coming out by the third week in May and going into dormancy by the first week of November. At your location,your cool weather grasses do not go dormant but the wear ability of these grasses is reduced from December through February.Your wear that takes place during cooler months can severely damage the turf. It is very important that you vigorously protect the turf during this time by not allowing any more play to take place and reducing some of the play that you already have if possible. 4 ©PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved -" ATTACHMENT 2-5 Activity Weighted Hours by Week VS Temperature&Dormancy Damon Garcia Sports Fields 170.00 72.60 70.00 160.00 67.60 150.00 __ _..__......._. 65.00 6160 140.00 60.00 130.00 57.60 55.00 120.00 - 6150 47.60 110.00 47.60 m Y 100.00 45.60 m 603 Bam daar,a Dormamy eamuagaa Oamia�cy 43.60 Z Won 40.00 37 80.00 Oar 15 >2.60 i 70.00 a 14 30.00 60.DD r.-- 37.50 W 13 20.60 a 5000rt. �-1 l `---r-a 33.50 20.00 40.00 Cu - •2.13.47 v 12 17.50 30.00 tV/ 15.00 Ave.Md. 13.60 X72. 20.03 tD.00 7.50 OWtd.Hm. 10.00 5.00 0.00 0.011 ORaw Hrs. _ _aaaaaaSS'a':55:aaaa�a�aaaa �aS�aaaaaaa$oa�... . �aSSa MONTH&WEEK 0Ave. Temp. 4. The Soil Analysis: The following soil analyses of the root zones of these fields do not vary.significantly so it will not be necessary to treat each are differently..Any maintenance plan must be customized for each site based on the all of the conditions mentioned:It shows that the root zone soil content of these fields ranges from an approximately 87.3%-89.3%sand and 10.7%to 12.7%silt and clay.These silt and clay particles are the fine materials that when combined with high moisture and heavy play,can still allow these soils to be compacted.The organic level in these fields is low which is very typical for these very sandy soils and the potassium level is low or marginal in all three.The greatest concern though is the elevated sodium levels and particularly the sodium%of the Cations in these samples.The readings of from 10.05-13.97%are very high and we will be addressing the cure for this. SOIL ANALYSIS COMPARISON RECOMMENDED LEVELS S.LOAM 3%+ 50 PPM 212 PPM 15 PPM 1300 PPM 200 PPM 35 PPM 3 PPM 25 PPM 3 PPM >I 5: 14-16 Daamn Garcia Ran Fldda Sand% 89.3% Silt-/. 6.76/ Clay% 47/6 %Passing H200 Sereea PH SALT LIME T83T m ORGAN. NIT. PHOS. POTAS. SULF CALC. MAGN. SOD. ZINC IRON MANG. CEC MMMOS % % NPPM PPPM KPPM SPPM Ca PPM Ma PPM Na PPM Za PPM Fe PPM Mn PPM %NA 8.40 0.37 Lo Sand 110 3.00 84.00 181.00 59.00 1285.00 297.00 228.00 3.40 40.00 3.00 9.57% 1016 Daryl Garda West Fleld Sand% 87.3% Silt%=Clay%F 5.39/7. %Passing#200 Screen 12.7% PH SALT LIME MMU ORGAN. NIT. PHOS. POTAS. SULF CALC. MAGN. SOD. ZINC IRON MANG. CEC MMMOS % % NPPM P PPM K PPM S PPM Ca PPM Ma PPM Na PPM Zu PPM Fe PP51 Ma PPM XNA &50 0.44 Lo Loamy Sand 1.10 3.00 81.00 165.00 43.00 1255.00 284.00 215.00 1.90 36.00 2.00 9.30% 10.05 Damon Garcia Cmter Field, Sand%88.0% 'Silt%=Clny%=%Passing#200 Screeo r7U00Rj PH SALT LIME TYMUM. ORGAN. NIT. PHOS. POTAS. SULF CALC. MAGN. SOD. ZINC IRON MANG. CEC MMMOS % .. N PPM P PPM K PPM S PPM Ca PPM Ma PPM Na PPM Zn PPM Fe PPM Mn PPM XNA &40 0.65 La Sand 1.30 Lee 78.00 .250.00_ .109.00 .1552.00 374.00 333.00 2.40 $2.00 5.00 10-17% 13.97. RECOMMENDED LEVELS S.LOAM 3%+ 50 PPM 212 PPM 15 PPM 11 1300 PP 200 PPMJ 35 PPM 13 PPM 1125 PPM 11 TPPM >I 14.16' 5 O PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting..All rights reserved 1B l-a JATTACHMENT 2-6 5. irrigation Water The irrigation water analysis below compares side by side your reclaimed water analysis on 9/25/2006 and the latest on 1/20/2010 This reclaimed water is very high in chlorides, electrical conductivity and TDS and is described by the lab as "Fair Quality Irrigation Water". Clay has a negative charge and sodium has a positive charge so the clay attracts and accumulates the sodium over time.As the sodium accumulates in the soil it slows down the percolation rate through the soil to the point that there is little oxygen getting down deep and the end result is shallow rooted turf that can't defend itself. This is happening on this site and is unusual because of your high sand content. 1/15/2010 )J'' y..;Ce r., l..i.'_i. Customer )I�L C;;h5U1 \1(.; City of San Luis Obispo 3335 Doubly Trm Ct Calorado Springy,CO 80921 Dmon-Garcia Sports Park 719.2602003.Faa:JIM26-9657 San Luis Obispo,CA IRRIGATION WATER ANALYSIS Reclaimed Water _ot(, 0_ot 1/20/2010 9/25/2006 Normal &Leaf Reclaimed Reclaimed Analysis Units Levels Toxicity Water I Water Total Nitrogen NO3-N mg/l 5-50 29.2 19.2 Chloride Cl m� 0-70 >100 140 l62 Sulfate SO4 me 30-90 96 150 Sulfate-Sulfur SO4-S mg/I 32 Bicarbonate HCO3 mJl 0-90 >500 220 220 Carbonate 003 mg/I <10 a0 Hydroxide,OH mg/I <10 <10 Total Alkalinity CaCO3 mg/I 180 Hardness CaCO3 mg/I 260 I 265 Hardaess Grains gr.�gl 0-200 >200 15 15 Total Calcium Ca mg/l 20-60 43 44 Total Magnesium Mg mg/l 10-25 37 39 Total Potassium K mg/l 5-20 20 18 Total Sodium Na mg/1 0-70 >210 130 166 Sodium Absorption Ratio SARu <6 >9 3.5 4.4 Adjusted SAR SARs 7.2 Sodium, %of Cations 49.8 Boron B --—— mgJl <.7 >3 0.28 I 0.30 Total Iron. Fe mg/l 0 0.07 Total Manganese, Mn 0.044 0.01 i Phosphorus PO4 mg/I .3-1.21 >1.21 Orthophosphate OPO4 mg/l Electrical Conductivity mmho/cm EC70 >1000 1180 _ 1280 Total Dissolved Solids mgA <450 >450 755 Water pH 7.3 7.3 Water pHc 7.4 Langlier Index -0.1 Aggressive Index Ai 12 FAIR QUALITY IRRIGATION WATER.There is a potential for chloride leaf bum especially with high temperatures and low humidities. A positive Langlier Index indicates that the water is non-corrosive and tends to deposit scale on the inside of pipes. An Aggressive Index greater than or equal to 12 indicates water is non-aggressive. Water pHc values above 8.4 indicate a tcndancy to disolve lime from the soil through which the water troves;values below 8.4 indicates a tendency to precipitate liter from the water applied. 6 0 PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved ATTACHMENT 2-7 6. Many of the fields have undulations and low soots in them. These can be dangerous over time if not corrected annually with top dressing however yours appears to be settling in some areas which is not common in very sandy soils. This will be discussed in greater detail in the maintenance manuals. Your Potential Solutions 1. You must dramatically increase your maintenance level The chart below shows how far below your current maintenance program is below a sustainable level for your turf.You are at average maintenance level 2.43 and wear level 4.5.You can see how many of each task you are doing at this site and also how many you should be doing to achieve sustainable turf. MAINTENANCE FREQUENCY CATEGORY MOWINGS AERATIONS TOP-DRESS OVERSEED FERTILIZE Lend PER PER PER PER PER aw NEW 1 YEAR YEAR YEAR. YEAR YEAR ctr ISm IAY IIILVO. 1 1XVU tiVll. hVL ITNE tfV UY WYLI._ ell. IIF'6L Dam.Cvrtia East Fkid, _ 2.43 4,30 _ 104 139 _ 2 12 1 I 4 4 2 _ 12. Daryl Garda Writ FMd 243 . 4.40 101 13A 2 _ .13 I t. 4 4 2 72 AVERAGES 28t 4.40 _ _101,7 1173 2 12.3 '. -- .1 - 4_. 2 12 The major increase is in the number of aerations,fertilizations and mowings.This chart shows how many of each task you should be doing to maintain these fields with the same equipment you currently own.This report makes recommendations that will allow these numbers to be reduced and dramatically change the sustainability of your turf.Category 4.5 level of maintenance includes: • Deep-tine or shatter-tine aeration at least once annually to relieve and prevent deep compaction. • Annual Top dressing to re-level the field and to replace used up organics to the soil. • Monthly applications of fertilizer or fertigation to grow grass as fast as it is being worn off. • Mowing 2-3 times a week daring periods of high use because of the higher growth rate. • Knife aeration at least monthly. A. Continue to Replace or repair the irrigation system on these fields where this is not adequate to deliver the correct amount of water with matched precipitation.Turf cannot mend itself under your high wear conditions without this: 7 ©PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved ATTACHMENT 2-8 I - - I B. You should consider implementing a lower wear time each year during the slower recuperative times from December through January for healing damaged turf. You are already doing this in June and July and this should become an edict from the park board and City council to prevent user groups from getting around any maintenance plan for recovery during the down time. C. Fertigation is the best and cheapest way to increase wear-ability while decreasing manpower. This chart indicates that your growing season is 8-10 months long but you are only fertilizing most sites 2-3 times a year.Turf must have nitrogen in the leaf for the plant to defend itself.This means that there are many months when your turf is unable to defend itself. Fertigation allows you to grow-in,mend and renovate the wear areas of your fields the very quickest way possible.It also controls the mowing rate and maintains the beautiful dark green color throughout 8 9 PRL International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved I ATTACHMENT 2-9 the growing season.When the fertilizer is delivered to the tanks by an outside contractor,there is a tremendous savings in manpower.We have found that CPS(Crop Production Services)will make up a liquid product for these fields that is customized by our computer to add as many things as we possibly can through the fertigation.system.The price is$3.15 per gallon which '/2 of what we normally see and they will place it your tank for you.There are limits and we must still add some extra dry and liquid products this first year to turn things around and quickly. D. We recommend that you over-seed with a very aggressive Kentucky Blue grass and Texas Blue grass seed blend. 1. These seed varieties in the mix have: A.Quick germination(8-9 days) B.Quick Establishment(15 Weeks) C.Remarkable wear tolerance D. Shade tolerance E.Fine leaf texture F.Disease resistance G.Dark green color H. UP less water requirement than regular blue grasses 1.Extensive rhizomes&extensive lateral movement for quick repair By over-seeding with this product,you will see it take over your fields and allow you to use less water. Also the faster germination allows it to reestablish quicker on damaged fields. E. The use of growth control products(Primo)will greatly enhance your maintenance program. This type of product takes the energy produced by fertilization and mowing and causes the turf to mend much more quickly and to send roots down deep.It will normally cut mowing in half however in most cases you would need to add one or two mowing per week to keep up with the wear.You should be able to maintain these sites with 1.5-2 mowings per week but have substantially deeper roots and quick mending turf.Another very good side affect was discovered; the turf that was treated with this material has been coming out of dormancy at least 30 days .earlier in the spring!You don't have dormancy here but hopefully,this product would make your turf more wear tolerant earlier in the spring. 2. Purchase some special and larreer nieces of multi use equipment that will save you man-hours on your sports fields. In the maintenance manual part of this assessment we will discuss specific advantages of the recommended equipment and the approximate costs.We can then help you to write a tight specification to insure that you get the correct equipment on your bid. A. We recommend that you purchase the Aerway aerator.This machine has a 100 gallon ballast tank on top for weight,a greens roller at the back to smooth down turf that might be rough after it passes,a 7"fracturing tine that can fracture as deep as 10"under the right conditions and a 6' turf tine that should be used at least monthly to maintain soil percolation in high wear areas. B. We are also recommending that you purchase a new over-seeder machine for the annual over- seeding that is approximately 3 times faster than your current PTO driven machine. C. Using a 16' rotary mower would cut your mowing time dramatically each time. Since we are calling for more mowings,this can help offset the increased manpower costs. 9 ©PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved Ll-C ATTACHMENT 2-10 3. Reclaimed Irrigation water There is a product called sodium blocker that moves the sodium in the reclaimed water and in the soil out of the root zone so it can't affect the turf.It can be put in the fertigation tank with the regular fertilizer and applied at the appropriate rate.The pictures below are before and after pictures of the Rose Bowl Park area in Colorado Springs which has Kentucky bluegrass,the least salt tolerant turf grass.The reclaimed water over time had turned the field into the picture on the left.The picture on the right shows the park after one season with sodium blocker applied through the fertigation system along with the fertilizer.This would particularly help with sodium problem in the soil at this site. f i r 4. No-Till renovation of athletic fields The fields that have bad grades and or poor irrigation systems will need to be renovated if you are ever to have sustainable turf. To totally renovate which would include soil amendments roto-tilled in,sod, drain system and new irrigation can cost as much as$3.00 per square foot($5 for sand based fields). I believe that by utilizing some new tools in our arsenal,you could renovate this site with a new drain system and the no-till renovation system for under$1.50 per square foot if your irrigation system was still working properly.Our PRZ Design services can layout all of the proper steps,the costs and with the help of your Sports Field Landscape Architect,write the bid ready specifications. 5. We are recommending a Soorts Users Committee for this site or better vet Citvwide We have found from doing these assessments for cities,the user groups believe that the reason that the fields look bad is because either the city employees don't know what their doing as far as sports field maintenance or they don't care.When we present this assessment to the user groups,we start by saying here is what we found at this site or at these sites and they are all agreeing on how bad the fields are. Then we explain how the fields got that way and you could hear a pin drop in the room.They are dumbfounded to discover that they are part of the problem(wear on the fields and when they want to use them). Once they realize this,they understand now that this is not just the city's problem but our problem(theirs and yours)and they are very willing to try to help. I usually recommend a committee be made up of 1 member from each sport(even if soccer has 4 leagues and I has 3,000 kids)and each member has 1 vote.Also on this committee are 1 or 2 voting people from park Maintenance(director and I who maintains the site), I from recreation and possibly 1 from finance. This committee makes decisions about the fields-no play immediately after the rain,no play if frost on the ground,set aside time for renovation etc.It is a tremendous tool for getting them to take ownership (no longer a rent-a field which has someone else fixing it if they break it). 10 0 PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved \3 ATTACHMENT 2-11 I have also found that once they realize with the help of this assessment that because of growth nationally of soccer and now Lacrosse the wear level on all fields has gone off the chart in the past 15 years and the maintenance level has remained close to the same.This is unsustainable turf and there no city in the US that can afford to step up their maintenance from level I or 2 to level 5 on a large number of fields in a short period of time.This is when I suggest that if they are willing to help,we can have them pay an additional head charge per person that will go into a fund that will be used only for maintaining the fields(man power,materials,new equipment or even building new fields etc).The value of this type of a charge is that the head count goes up every year.We base the head charge on the amount of damage each sport does to the turf based on the Activity Weighted Scale. Costs of Solving Your Problems 1. Manpower The wear index chart below indicates that by increasing your maintenance level from 2.43 to your wear level of 4.5,you will add 621 additional annual man-hours or approximately$36,069 annually in maintenance costs at this site based on your current wages&benefits.By implementing the recommendations in this assessment,this figure can be substantially reduced.This figure doesn't include the additional materials such as fertilizer,seed,and topdressing. WEAR INDEX IN HOURS PER WEEK ACTIVITY MAWT. CURRENT CURRENT NEEDED ADDITONAL CURRENT NEW 0 WEIGHTED LEVEL NEEDED MAINT. ANN.MTN. ANN.hl". ANN,SITN. APPRD% "MM SITE SQ.FT WEEKS HOURS/WK CATEGORY LEVEL. HOURS HOURS HOURS MTN.COST MTN.COST Da..Garda Eau FkM4 1 309962 1 52 1 75.7 1 4.50 2.43 1 1357 1 1907 1 450 $7$809 $104,931 D.0IGarcia Wnl Fidd -136120 52. .,772 4.50 2.43 494 665 171 $28,666 $38,613 TW2W Avu . I 446092 52. 78.4 4_10 _. L43.,;._ IN50 2471 621 3107,675 5143.544 2. Annual Maintenance Costs- In the chart below,Scenario#1 below shows your current maintenance level and the$238,233 it cost you in 2009 to maintain the fields at this site.This is$23,263 per acre per year.Scenario#2 shows the$269,966 in costs which is$31,733 more in additional manpower and materials for stepping up your maintenance from level 2.43 to level 4.5.This is$26,362 per acre per year.Scenario#3 shows your annual costs of $264,069 which includes the one time purchase of the new equipment that is needed.The cost per acre that year would be$25,786 per acre.Scenario#4 shows the$211,860 in annual costs of maintaining these fields after the purchase of this new equipment and implementation of all of the recommendations in this report. This would average about$20,688 per acre per year which is in the very high range for high wear fields in your climate.Your irrigation water costs alone account for$7,345 per acre per year which is nearly double what we normally see and 10 times the rate we normally see for reclaimed water.This has more to do with the water rate than your water usage.Scenario#4 also includes approximately a 20%savings in water costs which comes from the combination of much more aeration of compacted soils,fertigation and switching to the water saving Hybrid Blue grasses.Obviously we need to do everything we can to bring these costs down and the improvements and maintenance plan that we are recommending will help to do this. 1 1 0 PRZ international Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved - ATTACHMENT 2-12 COMPOSITE SCENARIO COST ANALYSIS Scenario#1 Scenario#2 Scenario#3 Scenario#4 2009 2010 2010 2011 Current Current Current Current City of San Luis Obispo Wear Wear Wear Wear Composite Damon Garcia Sports Fields Mtn Level Mtn Level. Mtn level Mtn Level 2.43 4.50 450 450 No New No New Purchase After Equipment Equipment New New Equipment Equipment $/acre/yr $23,263 $26,362 $25,786 $20,688 Square Feet Natural Turf 446,082 446,082 446,082 446,082 A_NNUALTOTALS: $_238,233_ $269,966 $264,069 $211,860 Top dressing $3,613 $15,920 $15,920 $7,960 Spread top dressing-Contractor $o $o $0 $o Grass Seed $1.1,398 $7,155 $7155 _ $7,155 Slit Seed-Contractor $o $0 $o $0 Fertilizer $35,000 $22,600 $22,600 $22,600 Deeptine aeration-Contractor $0 $0 $o $o Contractor Mobilization $0 $0 $o $o Manpower $107,475 $143,544 .$103,169 $103,169 Water $75,221 $75;221 $75,221 $60,177 Irrigation repair $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 Primo $0 $0 $5,273 $5,273 Field Striping $1,526 .$1,526 $i,526 51,526 Infield Materials $0 $o $0 $0 Out Sourcing $o $0 80 $o Purchase New Equipment 1 90"Aerway aerator $15,603 I Set Floation Turf Tires for tractor $1,000 1 5'Redixim Overseeder 3 X Faster $12,601 New Equipment Costs $29,204 Sports Field Management System Manual Below is the Composite Sports Field Management System Annual Calendar for The Damon Garcia Sports Fields that lays out every aspect of maintenance for the year.This calendar is customized for this site only. The operator in the field has a plastic laminated version of this.This particular calendar is based on fertigation.The product on the far left and the.sodium blocker are added through the fertigation system. There are also 3 granular fertilizer products and 2 liquid spray products shown in this first year.Down the left side are the dates that each fertilizer item and task should occur. 12 ©PRL International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved ATTACHMENT 2-13 DAM SQ.er: .2 Damon Ce rola Composite Maimem ee Calendar Ovlme APMCAMN XCIIP.DULr.: ❑ e1 S.Loh 06 ID.47l ai}0 aB.H u�r pcap\kd.slkro\mkw a4Wr Nl en 1,,- P Mwhprwwl \bnyµWeA 90aM Xuar Wllklm P4} nrcr" Ty wrf:\oP . . rya Ee 1y.. W .. 1: 1.. 1. Gm N'ftl Priv. w'ae hlm TNe MeY e-9 Y1r. elmal 0 0 0. 0 0 0 0 0- -a- 2.00 2 1.0 X amv 3. IA ai=i 2 IA ev2wT 2 AA aeLl 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 7.0 2 1.0 ,X Imm 1,0 Will: 1.0 svx7 $ 1.0 a1K'I $115 0 0 O 2660 '0 20. 676. 3161 2m 2 IA X .1li 1.0 mile, 2 1.0 M. 2 1.0 WLI 0 0 0 o a e o o Y 144 2 '1.0 X awe'I 2 1.0 wool .2._.. IA e 2A1 2 1.0 wae7 205 . 0 0 m Ism 0 20 06 3161 alp 3 3.0 X X X X. X M711 3 0.9 whir - J 7.0 Mill 3 3.0 evlell 3'_ 3.0 .1 0 1 0 1 a 0 0 0 0 0 a_ a." 3 3A X wlvl J 10 wlwl 3 3.0 °dsvl 3. 3.0 Me" $0.e 0 0 0 258 0 $0 676 3161 in ._.. 3--. IS X o me'I J 1.5 wnNl 3 IS w2Y1 w1.1 2 JAI av 0. 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 2011 -.J. _ 13 X mLI 3 U R'2a'I J. 1.5 vn7m "l: 13 awvl $a5 0 0 0 250 0 $0 a 3161 2.0 3 IS �% enwl 3 L5 won mol J S Imm -.a'_. a a o a -e... 0 0 0 20 3.. I3. X. ,. 3. L$ earm 3 1.5 IMYI 3 I3 16417 205 0 0 - 0 a. _.0_. 20 a 0. a0tl .c'-31:'.: 3A X 1vev1 3- 10 11nLr J. 10 Ip1w1 7 30 Imwl J 3,0 I CAVI 0 0 0 0 0 0- o .0 a Y - J 310 X loom 3.. 3.0 Irvin l j0 is Ll J- 3.0 IN -b 20 0 0- Y ] 3.0 66Np2 2647.8 1023 Gls Mi..Nutoerds 0 i.m ,5 Mowing.alwak=Mowing awry 14 dale 045-0 0 Loa P. 18.89 GIs 1 Mowing per week=Mowing awry 7 do, 6 o 0 i.m MOgroaium{peom Sa =28 Lbs 1.5 Mowings per week•Mowing awry 5 days Cameoatr 223 Gb Gypsum 12 5 Lbs 2mowidg.per weak-Mowing ewry4 days Groh Mediem 10241 Lbs Bbdur .192.55 Gb 2.5 Mowings per week=Mowing a wry 3 days MANAGING SPORTS FIELD WEAR The Field Usage/Availability Analysis chart below is customized chart for the East fields. This chart shows exactly how many Activity Weighted hours per week these fields can handle for each month of the year. Since fields can be different from the others,a composite chart averaging the available hours for the fields would not be meaningful for your current conditions. 13 ©PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved V ATTACHMENT 2-14 Note that at your current maintenance level of 2.43(the yellow bar across the chart)you currently have an excess hours of annual usage of 765 activity weighted hours.This means that your turf is getting 765 activity weighted more hours of play than it can tolerate annually.Since there is soccer on this site with a rating of 2,this is an excess of 382(765/2)actual hours per year more than the turf can tolerate.When you step up your maintenance level 2.43 to level 4.5,you will have 528 additional activity weighted hours or 264 actual additional hours per year.Unfortunately even at wear level 5,from August through December you still have an excess of from 6.76 to 41.36 activity weighted hours per week more than this turf can tolerate.This would be 3.38 to 20.68 more actual hours of play more than this turf will tolerate during this period.It would be ideal if some of these hours in August through December could be spread out during the year to months where you have additional hours available or spread to other sites.November and December play is what is causing the most damage to these fields. City of San Luis Obispo FIELD USAGE./AVAILABILITY ANALYSIS Damon Garcia East Fiek Squarc FL 309962 Total Type of Cray: WvaWVR 32 Hours Average Jam Feb. March April May Jun July Aug. Sept. Op. Nov. Ike. KOLM:GRASS Weekf/as. 4 5 4 4 3 4 .4 ? 5 4 4 4 4. Field Availability (Numbers represent ao0vlty Wghted hours per week) Carrot Mahn.Hours Allowed 1 1244 25_15 1 12.25 1 16.10 I120 22A0 26.15 32.W1 1.65 35.00 35.00 32.90 24.511 14.00 level Hours Available 3.91 0.29 7.22 24131 32.90 34.65 SA3 Faces hours of,= 1 766 1 27.41 25.54 I I I 1 51.32 41.76 1 50.09 64-1 15536 Maim.Level Hours Allowed 1294 25.35 12.25 1 16.10 18.20 1 22.40 26.25 32.411 1 1.65 1 35.10 15.00 31.90 1430 1 14.W 2.00 Haas Available 3.91 .019 7.22 24.31 32.901 34.65 E..hoursafusxge 765 :23.94 .2554 1 1'51.924176 50.114 M33 1 55.36 Malin.level Hours Allowed - 1664 3259 15.75 10.70 23.40' 2&80 33.75_ 42.30 1 4455 1 45.W. 45.011 42.30 31.50 1 18.011 IN Hours Available 8.51 .5.49 13.2 _ 31.81. 42.30 4455 Eaces hours ofasage .3% 12.39. 22.01 .41.%2: 31.76 40.64 -57.33 5136 Maim.level Houn Allowed .0..3 .9.h - 9. ..0 XhO 35.20 41.5 51.70 1 54.45 1557 %61) 51.71) .%.51) 22.W 4.00 Hours Available 13.11. 10.69 20.02 39.31 51.70 1.54:45 Fxcashour;ofusage _ 27 0.84 1%_54 _ 3LIQ 2176 31.24 50.33 47..% MtivL laud Haus Ailawed a 2588. 50.64 .2450. 3220 36.40 WJ4.80..52.50 65.x0 6Y 7� 70.W 70.W 65.X0 44.W 2N.W 5,00 Hours Available 528 16.49 20.01 18.49 29.62 .50.56 6560 69.30: EA=hours ofuxage 13.24 1 1IM1SY M1.7fi 17.IY 1Y.%3 1136 Activity We1g60nC5ale'-�� w.- Delermidng Field AvailabWry Malydecance Frequenciv Amual Requirement Walking an field/Softball 1.00 Uw lh fdbwbug sten W evaluom nqucas for Comm INccded Baseball 1.25 aldowaal f id urar btalm.Loud 2.41 4.5 PE 1.50 1.Da..thu Waal Won.of addmmNl mu Mowhgd Yr IM 120 ! Parked Can 1.50 ,oi.tod AermicasT, 2 10 Marching Band 1.75 2 Mulliply ticlowl Minx orpmpowd uw by Tap DrecoN, 1 I Soccer Damn 1.85 dwappmpmae ucu,ity..,hl. Over Seed/Yr 4 4 Football Games 1.8.5 3.Locate dmcalmum far Ne.0 who Ike FeaNraiomYr 2 12 soccer&Football Practices 2.00 pmpavl adJilioW me..W acm. Sweeldag I 0 AdutSoce,r&Football C. 2.13 d.Davmim•ifuMeareavailahlcMinxamc Oeep 11a 'r 0 1 Adult soccer A Football Practice 235 vmm auirvc• mx lave,lflhav me:you 'er0auldngy'r 0 0 Lecroase A Field Hockey 235 wa v hohdc da:aaiviry. Rugby 2_50 f Ifm4 n«irmRvi.wl hnuvarm Fruwk Aavoal Coals$167.902 'i1x9,4aoj sports Climes A Tournament, L50 wAIAv 6y i.i,•due muimauuu•loud. .5m.laereax s2l.rs Cumin N'.v level 4.543 1 h Ifxu0iiiun boon rs�Fe nook wailahlu and Con/mnth $14.030 1515•%501 Oan_m M.lawunr.l...1 2A you uu ham0e aNlaffad lh Wdaiaid Cocu*nk $.1308 IS3,%1.\hd6laler.Le..gN'..rbr.WlmM --_,....-- Led �a:hohrlathcaaivhv. 14 @ PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved i ATTACHMENT 2-15 The chart below is for the Daryl Garcia West Field.Note that at your current maintenance level of 2.43(the yellow bar across the chart)you currently have an excess hours of annual usage of 717 activity weighted hours.Since there is soccer on this site with a rating of 2,this is an excess of 358(717/2)actual hours per year more than the turf can tolerate.When you step up your maintenance level 2.43 to level 4.5,you will have 19 additional activity weighted hours or 10 actual additional hours per year.Unfortunately even at wear level 5,from October through January you still have an excess of from 2 to 22.38 activity weighted hours per week more than this turf can tolerate.It would be ideal if some of these hours in October through December could be spread out during the year to months where you have additional hours available or spread to other sites.October and November play is what is causing the most damage to this field. City of San Luis Obispo FIELD USAGE/AVAILABILITY ANALYSIS Daryl Garda West Field Square FL 136120 Total Type of Gran: WrdWYE 21 Hama Avenge Jan. Feb. Much April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nw. Dec KBIAEGNA55 weekafmo 4 5 4 4 5 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 Field Availability (Nutritionistraprosant amlvi"elghted hours pm week Current Metal.Ham Allard 735 1 25.35 12.25 16.10 18.20. 22.40. 26.25 32.90 34.65 35.00 35.00 32.90 24.50 14.00 t.ed Hours Available _. .1.14. 20.07 .:22.52' 32.90 34.65- fi.35- 2.43 Ewes hours of ilgq 1 717 1 34.15 1 23,22 9.65 1 1 15.91 1 55.18 44.71 1 16.00 Maim.Level Hours Allowd 735 25.35 1 12.25 16.10 18.20 22.40 26.25 1 32.90 34.65 35.00 35.00 1 32.90 24.50 1 14.00 2.00 Ham Available 1.1420.07 22.52 32.90 34.65 6.35 Excess hours arm 717 34.15 23.22 9.65 15.91 1 55.18 44.71 . 16.00. Mom.Lerd--Hours Allowed 945 32.59 15.75 20.70 1 23.40 28.80 33.75 42.30 44.55 45.00 45.00 1 42.30 31.50 18.00 3.00 Hours Available 5.74 26.47 ..30.02 42.30 44.55 16.35 Excess haus of usage 507 24.15 19.72 4.45 . 5.91 45.78 37.71 . 12.00 Mom.Level Horns Allowed 1155 39.83 19.2.5 25.30 28.60 35.20 41.25 '51.70 5.1.45. .55.00 '55.00SI.70 38.50 22.00 4.00 Hours Available 10.34 0.75 . 32.87 .37.52. 51.70. 54.45 :26.35 4.09 Excess hours ofma: 297 14.15 16.22 - 36.38 30.71 8.00 maim. Level Hours Allowed 1471 50.69 24.50 32.20 36.40 44.80 52.50 65.80 69.30 70.00 70.00 65.80 49.00 28.00 5.00 Hates AvoLa61< 19 0.90 17.24 8.55 42.47 48.77 65.80 69.30 41.35 19.09 EsrsS hums oftnage - -10.97 22.28I 2011 200 Aetivllyy Weighting Scale ____ ___.DesernduinB Field AvallabWry, �•� Otalmenana Frequendes-Annuo Requirement Walking on neld/Softball 1.00 Use the folbwing sups to evaluate rrqunnfor Current Needed: Baseball 115 additional fi.W,ime: S1a1nCl.evel 243 4.5 PE 1.50 I.Detetminc the mtunl hours of.,khtional we Mowings'Yr 104 136 Parked Can 1.50 mquand Aeralions'Yr _ 13 Marching Band 1.75 2.Multiply the anal boom of pmpored ase by Top Dress[Yr I ! I Soccer Gomm 1.85 the appropriate mi,ity weight. Over Sad'Yr 4 1 4 Football Gomm 1.85 3.Latest,the culture for the month whm,he Ferilirationlyr 2 i 12 Soccer&Football Practices 2.00 proposed ddiumul ase would Harv. Sweepirg 1 0 Adult Soccer&Football Gar 213 4.D termine if them me available hours a the Dap TitayYr 0 I Adult Soccer&Football Pro 2.25 arms sommemme,level.If there are,you ecdcuOinyNyr 0 0 laerease&Field Hockey 2.25 ran schedule the wivay. 2.50 S.If not,see if sufficient hours can be made AnnualAnnualAl Costs 559.650 S73538 sp= Clinics&Tnmvamms 2.50. . available by innmsing the rommmmnct,iced. Amt Inas SI lRn I Current Wear Levrt 4_50 6.If sufficient hours ne be made mmilable,and Cosumomh SI.I50 I$1.418' C.,Main'..IL" _24_3 you ran handle and afford the admonal Coueweek 5288 1 $355 :N¢4m M.im tave6W'erbq A4jomce� 4,6�! meimmma.you can schedule the sciarvity. When you find as you have that your maintenance level overall on the fields is much lower than the wear level,you have choices that need to be made.What are some viable options? 1. You can raise your maintenance level to your wear level. As this assessment has pointed out this is expensive! 2. You can lower your wear level to your maintenance level. This is very hard to do without a user group committee that understands your dilemma and is willing to bite the bullet with you.This assessment can be very helpful in gaining this cooperation once these groups understand that they also are part of the problem and are willing to take ownership(not just a rent-a-field that someone else gets to pay for if they damage it)! 3. You can add new fields to spread your wear over a larger area. This is also very expensive in an area of high land prices and many times by the time they are built,they are already at full capacity. 15 ©PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved L9/-3/ I � ATTACHMENT 2-16 4. You can add artificial turf on lighted high wear fields. This is very expensive at approximately$11 per square foot currently but it does double the amount of wear you can put on a field and you don't have to purchase new land. 5. You can do a combination of these things. This concludes the Executive Summary for this report.The next step is for you to determine how many of these recommendations you wish to do.We will then put these steps into the maintenance manuals for each of these sites. 16 0 PRZ International Sports Turf Consulting. All rights reserved ATTACHMENT 3-1 Parks and Recreation Commission MINUTES Council Hearing Room,990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Craig Kincaid called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Craig Kincaid, Gary Havas, Kylie Hatch, Steve Davis, David Hensinger,Ron Regier and Jeff Whitener ABSENT: STAFF: Director Betsy Kiser,Marti Reynolds,Christine Wallace and James Bremer CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES: MOTION.(Whitener/Hatch) Approve the April 7,2010 minutes as submitted. Approved: 6 yes: 0 no: 1 abstained (Bensinger): 0 absent 1. Public Comment None. 2. Oath of Office—Cano City Clerk Elaina Cano administered the Oath of Office for returning Commissioner David Hensinger. 3. Volunteer of the Month The May Volunteer of the Month is Betty Himoto. Betty volunteers at the Senior Center and leads the Senior Exercise Group. This group benefits seniors who are looking to maintain or improve their fitness, flexibility, coordination and balance through chair exercises and gentle stretching. Betty had been a participant in the group for several years and started substituting as the instructor when that person couldn't attend. When the instructor had to stop teaching, Betty was asked to take over the class and she's been at it now for 10 years. Betty teaches each Tuesday and Thursday for an hour each day. Betty has lived in San Luis Obispo for the past 12 years and has four children that live in SLO, Goleta, Seattle and Isleton. Betty's son owns the Santa Maria Valley Railroad and she helps him out with special events when she can. Betty enjoys staying active and socializing with her peers. 7-7 ATTACHMENT 3-2 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes May 5, 2010 Page 2 of 10 4. Review Appointment to PRC Subcommittee Assignments-Kiser As a few Commissioners were absent last meeting, Director Kiser and Chair Kincaid asked Commissioners if they were satisfied with current subcommittee assignments. Commissioner Whitener offered his appointment on the Tree Committee to Commissioner Hensinger in exchange for the Joint Use Committee. The subcommittees and appointed meeting times were reviewed and appointments and re-appointments made as follows: Tree Committee—David Hensinger Golf Committee—Ron Regier Open Space—Gary Havas Joint Use Committee—Jeff Whitener Jack House Committee—Kylie Hatch Youth Sports Association—Steve Davis The Mayor's Quarterly Advisory Body Meeting will be attended by Chair Kincaid 5. PRZ Executive Summary—Walter/Beights Director of Public Works Jay Walter and Parks and Urban Forest Supervisor Todd Beights gave a PowerPoint presentation and update to Commissioners on Damon Garcia Sports Fields field maintenance and findings by PRZ Consultant Larry Musser. The sports field complex has proved to be different than the typical large park turf area. Public Works and Parks and Recreation staff continue to learn about managing this type of facility. Background was given on high use, rain wear patterns, the first turf campaign (strengthening efforts, current status, site review and soil sampling). It was noted that nationwide soccer use has increased 60%. PRZ commended user groups for patience, attitude and conscientiousness resulting in the field condition being better than what one would anticipate given its use. Recommendations are to use a sodium blocker, growth regulators, changing to a spreading type of sod, increased fertilization and aeration. Also shifting maintenance to a more productive time of year (referenced cart showing healing potential). Public Works believes these recommendations have the potential to greatly assist the condition and durability of the turf at DG and allow some increased use in the future. Alternatives were discussed such as a `no till method' of reconstructing the turf and installation of artificial turf on Daryl Damon Field, both very expensive alternatives. Support recommended turf program, all options support "varying degrees of additional future use." Critical to understand relationship of field wear to field maintenance. 1-2 51 --3X ATTACHMENT 3-3 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes May 5, 2010 Page 3 of 10 Commissioners entered into discussion with Walter and Beights. Commissioner Havas inquired as to stakeholders, end-user group concerns, sustainable system, SLOCUSD and YSA, rainy conditions effect on sodium, test areas for grass types and staff opinion on maintenance recommendations by PRZ. Beights explained difficulty of plot testing on 15 acres and very limited personnel hours available. Noted Cal Poly trials and similar micro- climate. Commissioners Regier and Davis discussed condition of field affecting long term legitimate use and desire to get to point where can increase hours of use per week to more effectively meet demand and user groups' expectations. Commissioner Hensinger discussed redlining fields and high wear areas. Parks and Urban Forest Supervisor Beights explained that due to design changes involving the placement of lights, there was little room to allow flexibility in moving fields or managing high impact to allow for healing. Inquired about clippings, mulch, more frequent mowings. Beights explained process of using growth hormones. Commissioner Whitener entered into discussion with Beights on sand-based fields, failure rates, drainage, sodium bicarbonate deposits and fertigation. Also inquired as to history of Damon Garcia land and development costs. Chair Kincaid expressed disappointment in report and concern over new consultant suggestions getting any better results than initial field treatments. Beights explained background and basis for hiring consultant. Also explained 52-week PRZ model and scientific monitoring of renovation program that has begun. Chair Kincaid also inquired about revenue from fields. Bremer explained relationship with youth organizations and that rental fees are not charged to youth. Chair Kincaid Opened to Public Comment. Mauricio Argentay, San Luis Obispo. Landscape Architect, and involved with soccer programs. Excited for report but disappointed even knowing in advance of design flaws. Discussed differences in rye and Bermuda grasses as well as bluegrass; referenced Cuesta College field as a good example and not on reclaimed water. Liked idea of pilot testing a portion of DG to see if new program works. Parks and Urban Forest Supervisor Beights discussed use of various products to date and offered to meet with Mr. Argentay to explain and discuss findings of consultants further. Explained difficulty of pilot testing on a portion of DG due to irrigation/fertigation system. End of Public Comment. 1-3 31 '35' ATTACHMENT 3-4 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes May 5, 2010 Page 4 of 10 Commissioners discussed further. Commissioner Hatch noted if field was what was meant to be, would have different issues to face. Commended Beights on work in handling issues at hand. Commissioner Whitener voiced recognition of the frustration involved with the situation and noted a long term solution would be needed if facility is to provide what was initially desired and promised. Asked Commissioners if wanted to push for more budget to do right, approach Council. Chair Kincaid expressed disappointment with the fields but supports staff and commended Beights for education gained on the subject. Director Kiser suggested that the Commissioners may want to support the proposed program but consider crafting a statement that also supports the desire for more use in the long tens. Director Walter offered the statement to `have staff explain options that will achieve X number of hours at sports complex, drastically increasing use.' Then come up with number to strive for with Supervisor Bremer's experience. Bremer stated that perhaps what is needed is to spend the money on another field; that even under a perfect scenario of hours, there are still only four lit soccer fields in the City. If optimum number of hours is found and experts say can't be done on DG,what has been achieved. Beights referenced the Athletic Fields Needs Assessment of 2008 with 100 hours of use. Walters stated solution may very well involve another field. That 60 hours/week justifies cost. Commissioner Hatch agreed that as the community grows, increased fields may not ever satisfy demand. Commissioner Regier expressed not ready to craft a statement. Director Kiser suggested developing a goal statement for submittal to Council as part of Goals and Objectives for 2011-13 budget. Commissioner Hensinger suggested putting a subcommittee together to craft a sports field goal for the next budget cycle. MOTION. (Havas/Hatch) Support continued low cost turf strengthening activities suggested by PRZ report. Approved: 7 yes: 0 no: 0 absent 0 Commissioner Regier asked to reflect on Commissioner Whitener's comment that staff should be looking for a long-term solution.starting now. He would like to see Council direct Parks and Recreation staff to explore possibility of changing out turf at Damon Garcia. 1-4 3l-3-(�