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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-07-11 PRC Minutes1-1 Parks and Recreation Commission MINUTES Senior Center 1445 Santa Rosa Street San Luis Obispo, CA Wednesday, September 7, 2011, 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Craig Kincaid called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Gary Havas, Ron Regier, Steve Davis, David Hensinger and Jeff Whitener ABSENT: STAFF: Director Shelly Stanwyck, Marti Reynolds, Christine Wallace, Dan Van Beveran Public Comment Betty Kulp, San Luis Obispo, inquired about the legality of charging for classes offered through the Senior Center and if there was a possibility of having reduced fees or attending on a donation basis. As Christine Wallace, who runs the classes program, was covering this in one of her agenda items, the question was addressed at that time. 1. Consideration of Minutes MOTION: (Havas/Whitener) Approve the July 6, 2011 minutes as submitted Approved: 6 yes: 0 no: 0 absent 2. Volunteer of the Month - Kincaid It is with great appreciation that the Parks and Recreation Commission recognizes the September Volunteers of the Month, Allison Palenske, Kendra Sears, Kristen Jones, Jesse Leidig and Robin Graham. Allison Palenske interned with the Community Services division this summer with the Community Gardens Program. She has redesigned the front of two gardens, Broad Street Garden and the Laurel Lane Garden, to improve curb-appeal by incorporating Public Art and creating a more stylized entrance. Allison’s hometown is San Diego; she is majoring in Landscape Architecture with a minor in Art. She has appreciated the opportunity of this internship to meet people who work and have Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes – September 7, 2011 Page 2 of 6 1-2 influence in the community. Post-graduation plans include becoming an American expat. Kendra Sears is a Cal Poly Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration major. Kendra interned with Community Services and assisted with all the major special events of the summer season including: 4th of July, SLO Triathlon and Movies at the Mission. She most enjoyed working with such great people and the relationships she was able to build. Kendra says she fell even more in love with Parks and Recreation during this internship. Kendra is from Castro Valley but her dream job would be to work for San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation. Kristen Jones is an Agri-Business Major with a concentration in Marketing. Kristen interned with the Facilities Division of Parks and Recreation this summer and worked on the Commemorative Bench program and promotional materials for City facilities. She enjoyed the projects she was able to assist with the flexible hours of the internship. Kristen is from Santa Rosa, CA and her dream job would be to work for Disney! Jesse Leidig is a Forestry major at Cal Poly and interned this summer with Ranger Services. Jesse most enjoyed working with the Jr. Ranger Camp, hiking the open space and seeing this community in a different way. Originally from Santa Paula, Jesse would like to be a Ranger, obviously. Robin Graham also interned with the Ranger Services division this summer. She is an Environmental Management and Protection Major at Cal Poly and hails from Arvada, Colorado. Robin assisted with Jr. Ranger Camp, creating Environmental Education lessons and also worked on a GIS program for mapping homeless encampment in the open space. She most enjoyed working with the kids at Jr. Ranger Camp, hiking and working with the Ranger. After graduation, Robin wants to travel prior to finding a career path. 3. Naming Approval for Railroad Safety Trail (aka Rotary Conner Cletsoway Link) – (Dan Van Beveran Dan Van Beveran, Public Works Senior Civil Engineer, addressed the Commissioners and gave background information regarding the proposed naming of the section of bicycle safety trail from Foothill Boulevard to the City Limits at Cal Poly. Council approved entering into a donor agreement with the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club in 2008; a total of $87,000 was raised to complete the project. The late Wes Conner and Dr. Richard Cletsoway were both long-time bicycle enthusiasts who wished for completion of the trail; Wes Conner was a dedicated Rotary member and a major portion of the donation was provided by Dr. Cletsoway’s estate. Rotarian, Mayor Marx communicated that the name of this section should be entitled the Rotary Conner Cletsoway Link. Commissioners discussed briefly. Commissioner Havas received assurance from Van Beveran that this would not impact the naming of the DeAnza Trail section. MOTION: (Regier/Havas) Recommend Council approve naming the Phase 4A section of the Railroad Safety Trail “The Rotary-Conner-Cletsoway Link“. Approved: 6 yes: 0 no: 0 absent Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes – September 7, 2011 Page 3 of 6 1-3 4. Senior Center Activity Report – Wallace Recreation Supervisor Christine Wallace gave background information to the Commissioners about her absorption of the role of liaison to the Senior Center since the department’s reorganization in 2010. Supervisor Wallace introduced Maryanna Fitzgerald, Senior Center volunteer and PathPoint employee who has developed the role of “activities coordinator” at the Senior Center. Through Ms. Fitzgerald’s involvement, many new activities have been introduced to the center in the form of seminars, classes, field trips, yoga instruction and even monthly movie gatherings. Wallace addressed the public comment from Betty Kulp earlier and advised that some instructors are in fact working on a donation basis and accepting from $2 to $15 or waiving fees entirely. They are providing a service without going through the contract class process. Conversations are in progress with other instructors who do charge a fee to encouraging them to grant scholarships. Wallace added that the City owns the building and that the Senior Center operates it without paying a fee. To put it into perspective, essentially a club-type meeting is being held in a City building. Opportunities for managing the program better are excellent, particularly with the help of Ms. Fitzgerald. Chair Kincaid inquired if there was a language misunderstanding with the use of the word fee rather than donation. Wallace clarified ‘fees’ are incurred only if the instructor is under contract. Ms. Kulp asked for verification that it is legal to have donations for classes which Ms. Wallace did verify and offered that Ms. Kulp should contact her if she has any future questions. Director Stanwyck addressed a question from Commissioner Whitener on communications with staff program managers. She explained the Senior Center Board’s desire for autonomy in its relationship with Parks and Recreation. This has not changed, however; there is a bridge between the Department and the Board developing with the expansion of new programs. Stanwyck verified for Whitener that there is no legal separate non-profit contractual agreement, which is presumed to be acceptable unless it is heard otherwise from the seniors. All legalities and waivers have been reviewed by the City Attorney. 5. Tour of Kitchen and Other Enhanced Amenities – Wallace 5:54 p.m. excused from seating to take tour Recreation Supervisor Wallace led the Commissioners, staff and participants in a brief tour of updated amenities including the computer ‘bank’, kitchen remodel, new parking lot and the office area. It is hoped that the Senior Center will absorb the computers at the Ludwick Center which are used by the Computer Partners learning program with the idea being that the program will then be held at the Senior Center. The remodeled kitchen has greatly enhanced and simplified functions held at the center. Also greatly appreciated is the convenience for seniors of nearby parking in a more safe locale off the street (including ADA designated spots). The new parking area has also alleviated a lot of the traffic in the neighborhood and even serves two church groups who rent the senior center on Sundays to hold services. Use of the center is higher in summer, due to visiting seniors from out of town. 6:07 p.m. returned to seating Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes – September 7, 2011 Page 4 of 6 1-4 6. Authorization of Gifting Ownership to Cal Poly (Jack Family Papers Item) – Wallace Recreation Supervisor Wallace explained briefly the current Depository Agreement the City has with Cal Poly University that provides housing Jack Family memorabilia in the Special Collections and Archives Department of the Robert E. Kennedy Library. Currently there is an inventory of 40 boxes of Jack Family papers that were given to the Jack House Committee on a permanent loan. Recently, Peter Runge, the new head of special collections from Cal Poly communicated the possibility of reassessing the City’s agreement and changing the ownership from on-loan to gift status. With Council approval, the benefit of this would be that the papers would be properly archived as well as shared online with the public in a virtual museum. The library has already placed archived images and information from other collections they maintain on the internet, successfully creating a form of virtual history classroom. Commissioners held a brief discussion and Wallace reassured them that, if at some time in the future the university chose to de-assess the collection, the City would have the right of first refusal. MOTION: (Havas/Davis) Recommend Council approve authorization of gifting ownership to Cal Poly’s Special Collections and Archives Department of the Jack Family Papers presently on-loan. Approved: 6 yes: 0 no: 0 absent 7. Monthly Report: Increasing Play at Damon Garcia Sports Fields – Davis and Whitener Commissioner Davis reviewed the events leading to the ad hoc committee’s formulation last May and the goal of increasing play and year-round use at the fields. Since then it is felt that much progress has been made and communications and understanding has increased with maintenance staff as well. Davis then shared information from the last meeting of the committee; a new knife aerator is in place and the testing areas of Bermuda grass are doing well with the increased heat. Also, a new online calendar for Damon Garcia field use was recently made available by the Department. 8. Director’s Report –Stanwyck Director Shelly Stanwyck gave the Director’s Report and briefed the Commission on the following projects: Movie Nights. Mission Plaza movie nights were a tremendous success. Activity Guide. The pocket guide went out to all residents in an August Tribune and is now available on the City’s website. Those without computers can register in person at 1341 Nipomo. There have been good responses to the fall classes. Rangers. Rangers are preparing for Creek Day Saturday, September 17 and are coordinating volunteers to haul out tons of trash from the creeks in preparation for winter storms. The Froom Ranch Trail work day, in partnership with Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers (CCCMB), is Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes – September 7, 2011 Page 5 of 6 1-5 scheduled for November 12. Ultimate Frisbee. Drop-in Ultimate Frisbee is now on the books. Lacrosse. Sunday night drop-in is almost ready to launch. Sun N Fun, Star and Teens. Youth services is back in business for the school year and numbers are up. There are four returning site coordinators and only one new one at the elementary schools. Casey Fodness is in charge of teens at Laguna once again. We have hired an AmeriCorps worker who will spend the year working on a project plan to better serve our teens and increase volunteer participation with this group. The Ludwick Center will likely be a new hub for teen activities in the future. The Pool. The Swim Center is enjoying the slower pace the fall can bring with Rec Swim concluding for the season. Private lessons are still available; now is the time to enjoy lap swimming. Meadow Park Public Art. A piece has been selected by the Jury and is being forwarded through the process to the ARC and then the City Council. Steel from the Wo rld Trade Center has arrived in town and will be used in a public art piece at Fire Station No. 1. Event Reminders. Bike Rodeo is October 8; Jack House Haunted House is October 23 and 30 from 1 to 4 p.m.; Halloween Hoopla is October 27. Volunteer Appreciation, Wednesday September 28, 5:30 p.m. at the Ludwick Community Center Kylie Hatch resigned from the Commission last month. Next month an interim Jack House subcommittee representative will be agendized. Chair Kincaid volunteered to attend the September 14 meeting. 9. Committee Reports Commissioners provided the following reports:  Tree Committee – Hensinger  Joint Use Committee – Whitener  Youth Sports Association - Davis  Jack House Committee –  Open Space – Havas  Golf – Regier  Bicycle Committee – Havas Commissioner Hensinger reported on the most recent meeting of the Tree Committee; trees that were planted before the existence of a tree list were reviewed for appropriateness. Commissioner Davis reported there was no quorum at the last quarterly meeting of the Youth Sports Association (YSA). At a future meeting, the committee will be looking at the YSA fees and discussing new goals for youth football. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes – September 7, 2011 Page 6 of 6 1-6 Commissioner Havas shared information from Natural Resources Manager Neil Havlik regarding Open Space including an agreement in the works for Filipponi property; Irish Hills trail proposals; final draft in place of a license agreement with Mountainbrook Church for Froom Ranch trail connection; development of the Stenner skills area and planning for a work day for ramping is underway; the actual management agreement on the Agricultural Master Plan is going slowly— another more short-term lease for the site is being looked at; Righetti Hill open space annexation is on hold; PG&E has agreed to build a trail from the ridgeline at Reservoir Canyon in 2013 when the ‘reconductoring’ project will be undertaken. Commissioner Havas reported he did not attend the most recent meeting of the Bicycle Advisory Committee. Commissioner Whitener reported there on the most recent meeting of the Joint Use of Recreational Facilities Committee which was in July. Discussed were priorities for use at Sinsheimer; a subcommittee meeting with Babe Ruth representatives to gain a clearer picture of use as it is expected to increase; meeting with the SLO Blues and SLO Rattlers September 14 to more clearly define the Rattlers in terms of an adult league. There was no representation for the most recent meeting of the Jack House Committee. Commissioner Regier reported on the state of Laguna Lake Golf Course; rounds were down six percent in August from last year and revenue down 12 percent. The 9-11 ceremony will be held on Monday, September 12 at 10 a.m. 10. Communications Commissioner Havas shared photographs of the Meadow Park building area construction. 11. Adjourned The meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m. to the October 5, 2011, meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission to be located in the Council Chambers. Approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission on October 5, 2011. /SGD/ ___________________________________________ Martha M.S. Reynolds, Supervising Administrative Assistant