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Home My WebLink About05-04-11 PRC Minutes1-1 Parks and Recreation Commission MINUTES Council Hearing Room 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Craig Kincaid called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Craig Kincaid, Gary Havas, Steve Davis, Ron Regier, David Hensinger, Kylie Hatch and Jeff Whitener ABSENT: STAFF: Director Shelly Stanwyck, Marti Reynolds, Todd Bunte, Katie Lichtig Public Comment None. 1. Consideration of Minutes MOTION: (Havas/Davis) Approve the April 6, 2011 minutes as amended. Approved: 6 yes: 0 no: 1 absent (Hatch) 2. Volunteer of the Month - Kincaid It is with great appreciation that the Parks and Recreation Commission recognizes the Recreation Department’s Spring quarter interns, Sara Kregness, Rebecca Leong and Brook Garnica. Interning with Ranger Services, Sara has assisted in a variety of projects including fixing fences, installing signs and benches, pruning (and acquiring) poison oak, and patrolling open space and the parks. Sara is a senior at Cal Poly majoring in Recreation Administration and after graduation in June hopes to gain employment as a full time ranger in a National Park such as Mesa Verde or Arches. Sara is from Tower, Minnesota. Also interning with Ranger Services is Brook Garnica. She has assisted in general trail maintenance and patrolling open space and parks. Her main project has been assisting with Environmental Education for the Sun N Fun program, teaching lessons on biomes. Brook is also a Recreation Administration major and after graduation in June hopes to travel throughout Europe. Brook is from Camarillo, California. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes May 4, 2011 Page 2 of 5 1-2 Rebecca is interning with both the Facilities and Marketing Divisions. She has assisted in the promotions of camps and special events and worked on a project to consolidate the Commemorative Works Programs in the City. The goal of this project is to improve the community’s ability to access information on Commemorative opportunities. Rebecca will be graduating in June from Cal Poly with a degree in Communication Studies and hopes to find a career in the field of marketing. Rebecca is from Santa Barbara, California. [Commissioner Hatch now present.] 3. 2011-13 Financial Plan Presentation - Lichtig City Manager Katie Lichtig gave a PowerPoint presentation and discussed the 2011-13 Financial Plan with the Commissioners. City Manager Lichtig outlined the plan to accomplish Council goals and produce a balanced budget by July 1. Lichtig explained the challenges of balancing essential services with resources available and highlighted the following: Goal of balanced savings, strategic budget direction, attracting and keeping motivated employees, and using sustainable strategies: (reviewing enhancements, employee concessions, CIP and operating program reductions) Consultant’s scientific survey of Measure Y to the public (Measure Y priorities expire 2014). A November 2012 survey was suggested to decide on a potential re-ballot in 2012 or to hold off until 2014. Major City goals were reviewed and other objectives including increased use of Damon Garcia fields. Five-year Capitol Improvement Program (CIP) cost savings balance and 5-yr limit pay as you go method, preparation for big tickets items, and rebuilding to sustainable levels. Last forecast and gap grew by $1.1 million. Explained 20% reserve and the consideration that other city’s bond ratings have been raised when they used reserves. Also, TOT property tax revenue is lower than anticipated. Council meeting on strategic budget direction to involve fewer operating budget reductions, higher employee concessions. Positions targeted based on service priorities. Currently hiring is still in a ‘chill’ status. Plan for June 21 budget adoption. Will negotiate with employee groups July and August. Community questions on revenue enhancements: 1) code enforcement corrections, 2) leasing portion of LCC, 3) street sweeping fee (stormwater fees funded from general fund) Commissioners asked about realistic possibility of State paybacks. Lichtig explained the annual claim for State mandates and that there is no anticipation of payback since the State suspended payments years ago, and has been accruing IOUs since then. Explained, for example, booking fees that used to be paid for by the State; as this mandate expires June 30, City and County governments are expected to absorb the added expense. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes May 4, 2011 Page 3 of 5 1-3 4. Confirmation of 2011 Park Tour and Cancellation of Regular June Meeting to Special meeting on June 22, 2011 – Stanwyck Director Stanwyck reviewed the agenda for the annual Park Tour for the three advisory bodies within the Parks and Recreation Department which, besides the Parks and Recreation Commission, include the Joint Use of Recreational Facilities Committee and Jack House Committee. The four-hour tour, which is held in lieu of a regular meeting, will include a mix of open space, trails, parks and public art sites that are new, renovated or have proposed future projects MOTION: (Regier/Whitener) Approve the agenda for the 2011 Park Tour. Approved: 7 yes: 0 no: 0 absent 5. Staff Report: Laguna Lake Golf Course – Todd Bunte, Golf Course Supervisor Golf Course Supervisor Todd Bunte gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Laguna Lake Golf Course. Bunte stated rounds are down 4% and revenues are down 8% since January, but are stabilizing. The Achievement House concession “11th Hole” opened and is doing well. During the remodel it became a necessity to move components of the City internet server, but because this was done in-house, $8,000 was saved. This savings covered the cost for a new sidewalk which was completed. The new quarterly newsletter ‘From Tee to Green” featuring information and specials now has 600 recipients. Director Stanwyck added that April 19 the Council recommended Laguna Lake Golf Course become part of the General Fund as part of strategic budget direction. This means the LLGC, as a recreational activity serving youth, seniors and others, is now a program within Recreation and funded by Capital Improvement Program funds. This reorganization greatly reduces the risk of closing the golf course now that it is no longer considered an Enterprise fund. There is no plan to raise fees next year. Future changes will still be brought before the Parks and Recreation Commission. In the meantime anticipate number of rounds to go back up. Commissioner Hensinger inquired about status as a park and Director Stanwyck explained zoning. Commissioners also asked about AT&T mobile communications agreements and Supervisor Bunte explained the RFP for new provider. T Mobile gave the City options but before they could be finalized they were bought out b y AT&T. Will reissue an RFP in the next month. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes May 4, 2011 Page 4 of 5 1-4 6. Monthly Report: Increasing Play at Damon Garcia Sports Fields – Davis and Whitener Director Stanwyck provided information from a recent meeting with Public Works. Public Works and Recreation are partnering for a collaborative approach to increase play at the sports fields. The Administrative Analyst Sheridan Bohlken has developed data points on use of field and will present them in July. Summer planting of Bermuda grass will take place soon. Trying rotational maintenance to keep portions of field open. Whitener suggested that it feels we’re on the verge of becoming a volunteer country. He would volunteer to mow the fields for example and suggested the idea of volunteerism for these areas. Director Stanwyck indicated these would be questions for the City attorney and was positive about a community effort with the addition of appropriate liability waivers. Director Stanwyck stated the right material for the fields continues to be questioned. Long term concerns indicate artificial turf ideal. Software replacement will help with data analysis. Drop in Play additions. 7. Identify 2011 Nominees for Wes Conner Award – Kincaid Director Stanwyck spoke on the 2011 nominations for the Wes Conner Award which are being reviewed now in order to gather information on potential nominees in a timely manner before September event. Although there is a good existing pool of potential award recipients, she encouraged additional nominees to add diversity and keep the list robust. Biographies will accompany the next agenda. Commissioners suggested adding Agatha Reardon and Debbie Black to the nominee list. 8. Director’s Report – Shelly Stanwyck, Director Director Stanwyck gave the Director’s Report and briefed the Commission on the following projects: Spring Break Camps was well attended Easter Egg Hunt at the Jack House on April 23: Over 200 families and 4000 eggs. Very well attended and received. Rec Swim at the Pool during spring break went better than last year and the Pool Party on April 29 turned out well. High School Swimming is wrapping up with some big swim meets this week. They will continue for a few more weeks but the high school Pac 7 Swimming Finals will be held here on Wednesday, May 4, from 9 a.m.– 2 or 3 p.m. Neither the pool or therapy pool will be open during the noon lap swim. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes May 4, 2011 Page 5 of 5 1-5 Registration for Summer Swim Lessons begins online on Saturday, May 7. There are still openings available for group lessons occurring in May. Registration is available now online at www.slocity.org/parksandrecreation.com. Meadow Park Public Art – There are 7 finalists that will present to the Jury for final selection. Public Art Additional Allocation Requests – A report is going to Council recommending funding of four new public art projects (using 2009-11 public art funds). Projects proposed include expanded Box Art, matching a Library Grant to paint murals inside the Library, hiring an artist to design the public art amenities at the Skate Park, and purchasing skate decks to be painted for a skate park fundraiser. Teen Track meets this Saturday at the High School. Summer Registration Fair is this Saturday at the Parks and Rec Offices SLO Triathlon already has 800 participants registered. Mother’s Day celebration “Hat’s off to Mother’s” is at the Jack House this Sunday from 1-4 p.m. There will be 25 vintage hats and two Model A vehicles. 9. Committee Reports Commissioners provided the following reports:  Tree Committee – Hensinger  Joint Use Committee – Whitener  Youth Sports Association - Davis  Jack House Committee – Hatch  Open Space – Havas  Golf – Regier  Bicycle Committee – Havas Commissioner Hensinger reported on the most recent meeting of the Tree Committee: there were several petitions, voted in favor of all requests; new system of marking trees; Arbor Day was successful; will be considering Meadow Park next year. Keith Pellemeir is retiring, however his position will remain vacant and more duties will be absorbed by Ron Coombs. Commissioner Davis reported on the most recent quarterly meeting of the Youth Sports Association. User’s group fee collection discussed – trying to extend contract wherein city funding exists for reduced rate to youth but not hopeful; may have to raise fees. School district is willing to waive last payment. Jeff Whitener is making a list of in kind donations. Meeting with user’s groups in future. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes May 4, 2011 Page 6 of 5 1-6 Commissioner Havas shared information from Natural Resources Manager Neil Havlik regarding Open Space including: Righetti Hill Open Space (a new area that could include 90 acres), Goldtree Tract (attempting negotiation to purchase 80 acres); Irish Hills Conservation Plan Update (still waiting for final draft of license agreement with Mountainbrook Church); Reservoir Canyon PG&E Work (PG&E agreed to build a trail from the ridgeline to lower tower); Skills Area at Stenner Springs (CCCMB will flag routes so we can determine eucalyptus tree cutting) and Agricultural Area Master Plan (working on nonprofit management agreement). Commissioner Havas reported there was no recent meeting of the Bicycle Advisory Committee. Commissioner Whitener reported on the most recent meeting of the Joint Use of Recreational Facilities Committee which included discussion of bylaws and changing the name and time of the committee; other changes will wait until the City Clerk’s review in 2012. Also, the SLO Blues and SLO Rattlers visited the meeting for public comment on the status of their teams in relation to stadium use. Commissioner Hatch reported on the Jack House Committee; reminded of upcoming Mother’s Day event. In the midst of reorganizing the gift shop and the buggy shed was repaired but electrical work still needs to be done. Commissioner Regier reported on the state of Laguna Lake Golf Course and extended an invitation to Commissioners to visit. An ad hoc committee is designing new location and signage system and will be taking conceptual ideas to May meeting of Planning Commission. 10. Communications May is Bike Month. Visit www.rideshare.org. 11. Adjourned The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m. to the June 22, 2011, special meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission to be located at the Laguna Lake Golf Course and various areas within the city. Approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission on July 6, 2011. /SGD/ ___________________________________________ Martha M.S. Reynolds, Supervising Administrative Assistant