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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-05-11 PRC Minutes1-1 Parks and Recreation Commission MINUTES Council Chambers 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Wednesday, October 5, 2011, 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Craig Kincaid called the meeting to order at 5:29 p.m. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Gary Havas, Ron Regier, Steve Davis and Jeff Whitener ABSENT: David Hensinger STAFF: Director Shelly Stanwyck, Shannon Bates and Marti Reynolds Public Comment None. 1. Consideration of Minutes MOTION: (Havas/Whitener) Approve the September 7, 2011 minutes as amended Approved: 5 yes: 0 no: 1 absent (Hensinger) 2. Volunteer of the Month - Kincaid There was no volunteer of the month for October, however; Director Stanwyck commended the Martha Schwartz Volunteer of the Year, Toni Kincaid and the Wes Conner Award recipient, Agatha Reardon, who were both recognized at last month’s annual volunteer appreciation dinner. 3. Introductions: Parks and Recreation Element Update Team, Cal Poly Class 552 Emily Lipoma, a member of Cal Poly Professor Chris Clark’s class introduced herself and three other members of their group to the Commissioners including Jenna Higgins, Katie Mineo, and Catherine Tarone. They will form the Parks and Recreation Element Update Team. They plan to conduct surveys in parks, at Farmer’s Market and provide public education and outreach. The group will begin creating an inventory in the following weeks and provide initial findings to the Commissioners at the November meeting and again in March. Input and suggestions are welcome from anyone. At the suggestion of Director Stanwyck, they intend to try and find out who Parks and Recreation is serving already as well as who is not being reached. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Havas, links to the team’s survey will exist on the Cal Poly website. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes – October 5, 2011 Page 2 of 6 1-2 4. Discussion: Parks and Recreation Element Update - Stanwyck Director Stanwyck gave background information to Commissioners stating the Element is commonly updated every 10-15 years and was intended to be updated in 2006. Stanwyck expressed her excitement that the graduate students can assist with this endeavor considering the department itself has very limited staff time or financial resources to do so. Where most Elements are strictly policy, ours has a pragmatic component. In November will discuss what research is desired and will strategize over the questionnaire at that time. Commissioners discussed and suggested questionnaire be made available to Youth Sports Association users as well as include questions pertaining to open space use. The group assured the Commissioners that they intend to physically approach local SLO citizens downtown in local stores, markets, schools, parks, facilities, etc. with the questionnaire. Also, they will look at other communities and cities and do national case studies to assist in the project. It was noted that Professor Clark has himself successfully written Parks and Recreation Elements for other cities. 5. Public Art Report and Adult Sports Update - Bates Recreation Manager Shannon Bates gave a report on the status of public art projects currently going on in the city. Bates gave background on the assessment done a few years ago that realigned the Department to two divisions, during which time the responsibility of managing public art was given to her. Bates then displayed the scale size model of the public art piece “Root of Community” going into the Community Garden at Meadow Park that was chosen by a jury of gardeners, artists, councilmembers and neighbors from a wide selection of artists, six of whom flew in from out of town or state. The artist chosen is considered a ‘sustainable artist’ using one block of marble to cut out all of the pieces of his work, with each portion of the material being used in the design. The artist also created upright words from the marble block that represent neighborhoods and also serve as trellises. A bench was also formed for the gardeners to use as a common space for conversation. The material is coated with a silicon solution that seals the marble making it easy to wash off graffiti. The piece will still need to be approved by the ARC and Council with installment expected in a year if approved. A private contribution from Syd Holcomb’s estate augmented the community garden funding as she was a driving force in neighborhood issues. Commissioners were assured the structure has stainless steel connectors so there is no risk of the structure falling over if climbed. Bates then went on to update Commissioners on enhanced offerings through Adult Sports including Ultimate (Frisbee) at Damon Garcia, 3 on 3 basketball this winter at the LCC, a spring volleyball league. These cost recovery programs mean no impact to the budget. Upcoming events include the Halloween Hoopla, revised to include all divisions’ participation, the new Reindeer Run 5k, and breakfast with Santa. Also on the horizon is the introduction of digital Q&R codes for use with Smart Phone applications. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes – October 5, 2011 Page 3 of 6 1-3 Bates also explained the succession planning opportunity that exists with the opening of Christine Wallace’s position. Three temporary and lower level full time staff members will be given the opportunity to serve eight week temporary acting assignments. At the end of this period the position will be advertised and they will have the opportunity to apply. In the interim, some of the duties of that position have been divided and given to other managers and full time staff. 6. Monthly Report: Increasing Play at Damon Garcia Sports Fields – Davis and Whitener Commissioner Davis reported that the fields are holding up well even with increased traffic and look good from the user’s perspective as well. There is a positive feeling that we are headed in the right direction. Commissioner Whitener expressed how great it is to see more use. Chair Kincaid thanked Commissioners Davis and Whitener for their efforts. 7. Director’s Report –Stanwyck Director Shelly Stanwyck gave the Director’s Report and briefed the Commission on the following projects: Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. There was a great turn out for this terrific event with wonderful award recipients. Activity Guide. Preparing the winter guide right now. Rangers. A wide variety of work is underway with continued wishes for another full time ranger. Homelessness on private and public property has been the latest item to work on. Dogs off leash continue to plague certain residents. Winterization is in progress. New Lead Park Ranger Ben Ross was hired to replace Liz Marut this week and interns should be starting soon. Trail workday is on October 23 in the Eucalyptus Grove. The Froom Ranch Trail day in partnership with CCCMB is scheduled for November 12. Sun N Fun, Star and Teens. Continue to see increased numbers and Friday Night Out was a success. Currently working with an AmeriCorps worker. The Pool. The Swim Center is enjoying the slower pace the fall can bring with RecSwim concluding for the season. Private lessons are still available; now is the time to enjoy lap swimming. A power outage last Friday at 5 p.m. added some extra excitement! Event Reminders. Bike Rodeo is October 8, Jack House Haunted House is October 23 and 30 1 to 4 p.m., and Halloween Hoopla October 27. Director Stanwyck confirmed that Commissioners would like to meet next month at the SLO Swim Center. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes – October 5, 2011 Page 4 of 6 1-4 8. Election of Interim Jack House Representative – Stanwyck Chair Kincaid happily volunteered to be the PRC representative for the Jack House Committee. MOTION: (Whitener/Regier) Recommend Chair Craig Kincaid as the PRC representative for the Jack House Committee. 5 Yes: 0 No: 1 Absent (Hensinger) 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 A written report on the most recent Tree Committee meeting was submitted by Commissioner Hensinger and was shared in his absence. Topics included the Steinberg Gallery appeal. Chair Kincaid inquired about cypress stumps. Commissioner Davis reported there was no recent meeting of the Youth Sports Association (YSA). Commissioner Havas did not meet with Natural Resources Manager Neil Havlik regarding Open Space recently. Chair Kincaid attended the Froom Ranch dedication which was a nice recognition event put on by Natural Resources staff for all the donors of the property. Phyllis Madonna was pleased to receive an award. Commissioner Havas attended but had nothing to report on the Bicycle Advisory Committee. Commissioner Whitener reported on the most recent meeting of the Shared Use of Recreational Facilities Committee. A determination was made to allow the ladies tennis league to continue permitted play on Sinsheimer tennis courts from 9 to 11 am although much opposition was received from the men’s league whose preferred time, although unpermitted, falls from 8 to 10 am. Members of the SLO Blues and Rattlers and Men’s Baseball were on hand also but with the absence of the Chair due to illness, priorities for use were not discussed. Upon closing the SURF meeting, a quick meeting of the Adhoc subcommittee on Damon Garcia was formed. Director Stanwyck further explained the challenges of the tennis user’s situation and the perplexities of the Sinsheimer Priorities for Use. There was no representation for the most recent meeting of the Jack House Committee. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes – October 5, 2011 Page 5 of 6 1-5 Commissioner Regier reported on the state of Laguna Lake Golf Course; rounds were up 11 percent in September from last year and revenue 7 percent. Fiscal year-to-date rounds were down 1 percent and revenue down 5 percent. The greens were aerated by September 30. A new flag pole was installed. There are 35 members of the Cal Poly golf team. The Achievement House is doing quite well and is a great addition to the facility--the staff are getting to know the players well. The 9-11 ceremony, as coordinated by the Laguna Middle School and members of the American Legion, was once again a nice memorial and tribute. The late Bob Bryn was honored during the ceremony. 10. Communications Chair Kincaid inquired about relationship with community neighborhoods to try and help in facilitating code restrictions and encouraging appreciation for parks as ‘sometimes recreation is an easier way to make connections.’ The Neighbors Facebook topic was briefly discussed. Director Stanwyck explained the role of the Neighborhood Services Manager, Ardith Tregenza and offered to invite her to the next meeting of the Commission. 11. Adjourned The meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m. to the November 2, 2011, meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission to be located at the SLO Swim Center. Approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission on November 2, 2011. /SGD/ ___________________________________________ Martha M.S. Reynolds, Supervising Administrative Assistant