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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-14 PRC MinutesParks and Recreation Commission MINUTES Council Hearing Room 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Kincaid called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Craig Kincaid, Jeff Whitener, Susan Updegrove, Ron Regier and Michael Parolini ABSENT: Steve Davis COUNCIL: STAFF: Shelly Stanwyck, Melissa Mudgett, Bridget Fraser, Marti Reynolds Public Comment None. 1. Consideration of Minutes MOTION: (Updegrove /Parolini) Approve the January 15, 2014 minutes as amended. Approved: 5 yes: 0 no: 1 absent (Davis) 2. Sinsheimer Park Playground Equipment Capital Improvement Project Kick Off ( Stanwyck, Fraser, McKay) Director Stanwyck introduced City Engineer, Bridget Fraser and RRM Architect, Leif McKay who have been before the Commission before on other playground improvement projects. Fraser displayed a diagram of the project plans and explained the idea of combining the upper and lower play areas to one lower level. Explained upper pathway non - compliant and too far from small parking lot. Commissioners inquired about past updates to the park and the current use of the volleyball park. Director Stanwyck discussed the public review process that would be involved if requesting to move the volleyball park. Clarified budget for project and answered questions about high use of the park including tennis, disc golf, barbecue, summer camps and YMCA as well as school district ownership of the property. Commissioners also discussed the location of the lower combined play area being better if the volleyball area was relocated. Would ultimately like to see plan for whole area with ideas trending toward decisions that require an updated Master Plan. Director Stanwyck summarized Commissioners desire to look at plans for the park with assumption that volleyball court will be removed and look at cost of its relocation and explained that a new Master Plan could be requested of Council during the next budget cycle in correlation with an update to the Parks and Recreation Element. Director Stanwyck suggested bringing this up again for discussion this summer when the Commission will be scheduled to update priorities and goals. 1 -1 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes — February 5, 2014 Page 2 of 5 Mr. McKay emphasized that the useful life of playground equipment is 10 -15 years, about the same amount of time it will take to implement a new Master Plan. A decision made on equipment at this time would not necessarily be a problem if a new plan resulted in changes to the park design. The Commission gave Staff direction to move forward with the current play area concept as outlined in the adopted budget. 3. Measure Y Presentation ( Stanwyck) Director Stanwyck gave a PowerPoint overview on the City's efforts to accomplish the 2013 -15 Fiscal Health Goal, which includes possible renewal of Measure Y or an alternative revenue measure. Currently, Measure Y and the half cent sales tax are set to expire in April 2015. Stanwyck explained the Council budget process and potential funding scenarios if the Measure is not passed. 4. Parks and Recreation Element — Check In and Discussion of Agenda Items identified as a Result of Commissioners Review of said Element (Davis) The Commissioners reviewed the Parks and Recreation Element prior to the meeting and raised questions on costs and staff time to update the element. Director Stanwyck pointed out time and staffing constraints the Department has with only one of the Recreation Manager positions still vacant due to budget constraints. Also discussed need for statistical input from users, the need for updated policies and an Environmental Impact Assessment. Commissioners raised the question of utilizing staff from Community Development. Director Stanwyck explained that Master Plans and Elements are done separately and that not every park has a Master Plan. Commissioners pointed out that the original Element was created before internet technology had advanced and could now be a useful tool for gathering data. Expressed interest in what budget was to create original Element and how much time was expended. Commissioners discussed future agenda items and requested Director explain how the department would estimate time and ask for funding for updating the Element. The Director indicated it would be helpful to know what parts of the Element the Commissioners feel work well. Acting Chair Kincaid asked that this be an ongoing agenda item for discussion. Director Stanwyck suggested that a section of the Parks and Recreation Element be agendized for discussion at each future meeting of the Commission beginning next month with the Introduction and Goals 5. Director's Report ( Stanwyck) Facilities and Pool Recycled Water /Drought Impacts. Staff meeting tomorrow between Public Works, Parks and Recreation and Utilities to discuss short and long term options. Utilities staff to attend March or April PRC meeting. Pool Closures Struggling with some maintenance fine tuning; impellers had to have a part replaced and had some issues with the therapy pool. Now open and operational. Annual Users Meeting meets tomorrow night: school district and swim club representatives to discuss uses. Trying to coordinate closure for re- plastering and parking lot reconstruction. 1 -2 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes — February 5, 2014 Page 3 of 5 • First Field Closures due to weather in a year this weekend. Most of Soccer tournament completed before stopped play around 11:30 a.m. Saturday. • Managed parking operations plan for Damon Garcia/SESLOC being worked on by staff for when that parking becomes available later in the year. Rangers • Froom Ranch Trails continue to expand and open; new loop. Rangers flagging new trail up to the BLM property. • Reservoir Canyon Bridge Reinforcement carried in by convict work crews. Ranger Dixon leading effort with volunteer Gary Havas to reinforce large bridge as a more affordable solution than reconstruction. • Preparing Environmental Education lesson plans for the year. • Patrolling parks, open space, creeks and school district daily. Youth Services • Completed first Teacher Work Day of the year. • All Star Family Fun Zone this Friday at the Ludwick Community Center Sports • Softball season starts soon; exploring use of safe softballs at Taylor Field. • Working on possible kids Lacrosse program. • 35`h Anniversary of the SLO Triathlon is July 27 Community Services • Senior Center Agreement • Jack House details on paper; gazebo and bathrooms will be under construction next week. • Skate park is out to bid; bid opening end of the month Other • Slack lining to Council on February 18 • Public Art Jury meets in two weeks to select the final piece for the 9/11 memorial at Fire Station 1; currently there are five finalists. Director Stanwyck also passed out flyers for the SLOCAPRA annual training in Morro Bay in March, the new Triathlon logo for this 35h year and a flyer for "Friday Night Flicks" to be held at the stadium throughout February. The Director also addressed question of if other rooms were available as a suitable alternate meeting place and stated there was really nothing other than the regularly scheduled Council Chambers (allowing for moving to the Hearing Room when the Human Relations Committee needs the Chambers), and occasionally the Parks and Recreation Conference Room and the Pool Meeting Room. 6. Committee Reports Commissioners provided the following reports: • Tree Committee — ■ Golf - Whitener • Natural Resources — Kincaid ■ Bicycle Committee — Regier 1 -3 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes — February 5, 2014 Page 4 of 5 • Jack House Committee — Updegrove ■ Damon - Garcia Sports Field - Parolini • School District — Parolini ■ Youth Sports - Davis Representation at the Tree Committee is open due to the vacancy created by Commissioner Hensinger's departure last month. Acting Chair Kincaid stated he will attend next month's meeting. Commissioner Updegrove asked about large trees at Grange Hall and fine for being removed by owners without permission. Commissioner Kincaid reported he did not meet with Natural Resources staff on Open Space but commented on how nice Froom Trail is looking. Commissioner Updegrove reported the Jack House Committee meets next week. Questioned the timing of rehabilitating the turf prior to the gazebo. Commissioner Parolini stated he had nothing new to report on the School District since the January PRC meeting. Did talk with Adam Basden who will be meeting with Parks and Recreation this week. Parolini reiterated the scientific need for why salts must be flushed from the turf and further discussed problems from the drought situation. Also noted the golf course was not constructed with the idea that recycled water is what they would have to use. Commissioner Parolini reported on the Damon Garcia sports fields stating a future site visit would be in order to look at maintenance issues as there are exposed beams on some of the structures. Commissioner Whitener reported on the status of the Golf Course stating rounds for the month of January were up 15 percent and revenue for the month was up 21 percent. Rounds for the year are up 7 percent and revenue up 11 percent for the year. First Tee began with 37 kids. Recruitment underway for a pro shop staff position. Continuing discussion with Councilman Ashbaugh and Director Stanwyck on One Cool Earth's community garden proposition. Golf Course Supervisor Bunte has met with City Arborist about drought- affected redwoods which will be replaced with more suitable trees. Commissioner Regier reported he could not attend the Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting held January 16. Volunteer Gary Havas reported he attended and that the Airport Area Specific Plan was discussed and when bike routes would be created as well as way finding signage. Also discussed Bob Jones Trail briefly. Commissioner Updegrove commented that her friend was the one who was hit recently while crossing to Cal Poly and expressed concern for the dangerous corner of street. Requested intersection path be painted green if nothing else. Asked for update on bridge project (Union Pacific) from Havas next month. Commissioner Regier reported there was no quorum for the Youth Sports meeting. 7. Communications Commissioner Parolini stated Commissioners are mutually buying a brick for the "Buy a Brick" 1 -4 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes — February 5, 2014 Page 5 of 5 program and asked to have agendized for next month's meeting. Expressed desire for photo at groundbreaking. 8. Adjourned The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. to the March 5, 2014 regularly scheduled meeting which will be located at the Council Chambers. Approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission on Meii 55a. C. M u al V- "' srstant (/ 1 -5