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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC 12-02-15 MinutesParks and Recreation Commission 9d9 Meeting Minutes Council Chambers 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Wednesday, December 2, 2015, 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Whitener called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: Chair Jeff Whitener, Vice Chair Ron Regier and Commissioners Ryan Baker, Susan Olson, Michael Parolini, Douglas Single and Susan Updegrove ABSENT: None COUNCIL: None STAFF: Shelly Stanwyck, Melissa Mudgett, Doug Carscaden, Freddy Otte Public Comment Don Green, SLO City Laguna Shores area resident, spoke about Priolo Martin Park as a well -used and loved park by the neighborhood. He asked the Commission to urge for landscape maintenance and to address lighting issues. He supported the collaborative meeting of Parks and Recreation, Administration Natural Resources, Public Works parks maintenance and arborist staff onsite to discuss neighbor concerns. Director Stanwyck confirmed that City staff and neighbors will be having a collaborative meeting in the field. Ken Kienaw, SLO resident across from Priolo Park, said he would like to see the willow trees in the open space trimmed as it presents a neighborhood safety issue. Commissioner Parolim asked how the park will be visually delineated between park and open space area. Staff Freddy Otte responded that the natural vegetation breaks will be used to visually discern the boundaries between park and open space areas. 1. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES (Commission) Motion: (Updegrove /Olson) Approve Meeting Minutes of November 4, 2015 as amended. Approved: 7 yes: Ono: 0 absent 2. REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION OF COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN (Carscaden, Otte, Stanwyck) Staff provided an overview of the draft Open Space Maintenance Plan developed as part of the adopted 2015 -17 Major City Goal for Open Space Maintenance and Preservation. The plan incorporates existing City policies as well as best practices for open space management. Staff Carscaden highlighted the community engagement process followed using those adopted in the City's Public Engagement Manual (PEN). Staff Carscaden provided the Commission with an operational update regarding Ranger staffing. Since October 81h Ranger Services has been fully staffed consistent with 2015 -17 budget allocations. As a result the division's staffing levels include: 1 full time Ranger Supervisor, 2 full time Rangers, 4 full time limited benefit Rangers, UST Y 0 and 1 part time city worker five Ranger. As a result of this staffing Rangers are in the City's open space approximately 250 hours a week (excluding breaks and administrative paperwork time). In the 45 days since the division has been fully staffed and trained, 43 citations have been issued in the open space and approximately 20% of those have been at Bishop Peak. This additional Ranger staffing has resulted in increased open space protection through patrol and maintenance Commission Comments: Commissioner Olson asked about benches and if there is an opportunity to create memorials. Director Stanwyck answered that the City has a bench memorial program that would be iiii demented. Commission Olson asked about cost sharing opportunities with fencing. Staff Carscaden responded that city staff will coordinate with adjacent land owners as opportunities arise. Vice Chair Regier asked about additional trailhead access at Bishop Peak with new development. Director Stanwyck replied that Bob Hill, Natural Resources Manager, has engaged in preliminary discussions with private land owners to identify future public trail access needs. Commissioner Parolini asked for clarification on total acres included in the maintenance plan. He recommended grammatical corrections, adding links to policy documents referenced and correction of page numbers. Director Stanwyck said that the final maintenance plan will be offered electronically on the City's website to provide users with direct links to all policy documents. Commissioner Parolini suggested that required "Ranger hours" necessary to address the entire plan be added. Commissioner Single asked about park patrol. Director Stanwyck confirmed that patrol of parks is now provided by the Police Department and designated Neighborhood Enforcement Officers. Commissioner Single expressed concern that the reallocation of Ranger staffing resources to open space could have a direct impact on the patrol and safety of our City's neighborhood parks. Commission Updegrove asked about the schedule of implementation. Director Stanwyck responded that implementation would begin immediately upon Council's approval. Commission Baker thanked staff for their efforts in drafting the Open Space Maintenance Plan. Chair Whitener asked about implementation priorities. Director Stanwyck said that staff and the public have identified trailhead amenities are the top priority in this budget cycle. Public Comments: Carol Hall, Highland Drive resident said there is heavy vehicle traffic at Oakridge causing a safety concern. She expressed that she has not received a prompt response from the non - emergency dispatch phone number and asked about the Ranger work schedule. Director Stanwyck responded that the City will be launching a multi- Department effort with the Highland Drive Neighborhood at the beginning of the year to discuss the traffic and fire safety concerns. Staff Carscaden responded that rangers now patrol the open space seven days per week during a wide variety of times. Staff will look into communications between dispatch, Rangers and neighbors. Vice Chair Regier supported multi- department efforts towards resolving this traffic safety issue. Carla Saunders, Oakridge resident, said she has served on many City committees and task forces including the City's open space task force in the 1990s which created the Open Space program. She has been involved in open space issues for the past twenty years. She would like to see consistent enforcement and commitment to Ranger patrol and enforcement of open space. Director Stanwyck acknowledged Ms. Saunders' concerns and noted that six weeks in, to full Ranger Staffing, there has been a marked increased enforcement. . Director Stanwyck shared that staff will return to the Commission after enough time has passed with new staffing in the Ranger program to present data. Commissioners Parolini, Updegrove, and Olson noted increased compliance with open space regulations and comments about it. Motion: (Updegrove /Parolini) Recommendation that the City Council Approve the City of San Luis Obispo 2015 Open Space Maintenance Plan. Approved: 7 yes: Ono: 0 absent Motion: (Regier /Baker) Recommend that the City Council Approve a Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact for the Project. Approved: 7 yes: Ono: 0 absent 3. DIRECTOR'S REPORT ( Stanwyck) Director Stanwyck presented to the Commission a brief overview of Parks and Recreation Programming for December. She shared that staff has communicated with Richard Schmidt, a community member, who expressed his concern about the shortage of parks in the north Broad Street area and she wanted Commissioners to be aware of this neighborhood concern. The Sinshiemer pool replastering work continues on -time. The Thanksgiving "Gobble Wobble" fun -run at the Laguna Lake Golf Course was a huge success in part due to Cal Poly recreational student volunteers. She reminded the Commission about upcoming park closures for annual maintenance. She added that the Reindeer Run will be held this Saturday, December 5`h, at Mitchel Park. The Ranger staff received chainsaw training in preparation of El Nino. Director Stanwyck said she is excited that seven members of the Parks and Recreation Department will be graduating soon from the City's Leadership training programs. She forecasted that the Public Art Master Plan may be ready to present to the Commission in January 2016. 4. SUBCOMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS (all) • Adult and Senior Progranuninx Commissioner Baker reported that adult softball season has concluded. The softball nets at Santa Rosa Park have been installed. Staff Melissa Mudgett updated the Commission about the Pickleball Pilot program and that staff will return to the Commission in March 2016 with updates and recommendations. • Bi cle Advisory Committee (BAC): Vice Chair Regier said that the BAC met to discuss proposed development for Avila Ranch. He said the City of SLO received an award for being a bicycle friendly city. He added that the BAC has been reviewing the DeAnza trail. • City Facilities (Damon Garcia, Golf, Pool & Joint Use Facilities): Commissioner Parolini said the Damon Garcia fields are in very poor condition with numerous bald spots. Parks Maintenance staff will be closing fields for renovation. Parks Maintenance staff has been identified non - permitted users practicing at the fields. • Jack House Committee: Commissioner Updegrove said the Jack House is being decorated for Victorian Christmas. December 201h the house will be closed for annual maintenance. E The Jack House Elevator Removal Project is anticipated to begin construction in January 2016. • Tree Committee: Commissioner Olson reported that Committee did not meet in November. The Tree Committee will be hosting a "Lunch n' Learn" about tree removal processes at the Corporation Yard, 25 Prado, on December 101h Youth Sports: Commissioner Single said that the Youth Sports Association only meets quarterly and there was no report. 5. COMMUNICATIONS Commissioner Parolini said that the State of California for Storm water support is providing reimbursement options for local conservation efforts. Go to stormrewards.org to sign up. Adjourned at 7:34pm to the Regular Meeting on January 6, 2016 at the Council Chambers, 990 Palm Street, at 5:30pm. Approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission on January 6, 2016. Melissa C. Mudgett, Recreation Manager 4