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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06-2019 PRC MinutesCity of San Luis Obispo, Agenda, Planning Commission Minutes PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Wednesday, March 6, 2019 5:30 p.m. SPECIAL MEETING Parks and Recreation Council Chambers 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA CALL TO ORDER Chair Greg Avakian called meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. ROLL CALL : Commissioners Kari Applegate, Keri Schwab, Robert Spector, Vice Chair Rodney Thurman, and Chair Greg Avakian ABSENT: Susan Olson PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, people may address the Committee about items not on the agenda. Persons wishing to speak should come forward and state their name and address. Comments are limited to three minutes per person. Items raised at this time are generally referred to staff and, if action by the Committee is necessary, may be scheduled for a future meeting. Public Comment CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Committee of February 6, 2019. ACTION: APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR FEBRUARY 6, 2019. CARRIED 4:0:0:2 to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Body for the regular meeting of 02/06/19 as motioned by Thurman and second by Applegate. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 6, 2019 2 | P a g e AYES: AVAKIAN, SPECTOR, APPLEGATE, THURMAN, NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: OLSON, SCHWAB BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Further Public Input on Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan Project (Stanwyck/Scott - 60 minutes) Senior Planner, Shawna Scott and Parks and Recreation staff presented an update on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element including summarization of the stages of the plan so far and existing and future ideas for Youth Services and Programs, Community Centers, and Fields and Facilities in relation to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update. Staff gave an update on the future steps and workshops for 2019. Recommendation: Receive staff presentation, receive public comments and testimony, and discuss the Youth Services and Programs, Community Centers, and Fields and Facilities in relation to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update. Youth Services and Programs Commission Staff Questions: Commissioner Applegate: How you heard from Community want to expand Sun ‘n Fun. Do you have waiting lists? Commissioner Spector: Capacity, Vision and Dream; if there was a blank check what would you want or need for the youth. Commissioner Thurman: Would a Teen Center mean a new facility or a repurpose of existing. Youth Services and Programs Public Comment Brandi Andrews, SLO Resident, I have 3 young sons, I appreciate the youth programs and the afterschool care. I am here to talk about older children and teen programming, I feel as the children get older pre-teen and teen is very important. I would like to see a space for older children to go and hang out together. Samantha Lalush, SLO Resident, I love Sun ‘n Fun as a working parent. My son loves it and my daughter spends more time there than her Kinder class. My son learned Chess in Sun ‘n Fun. PRC Youth Services and Programs Discussion: Commissioner Applegate: Summertime is important especially for youth ages 3-5 years old, more specifically camps. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 6, 2019 3 | P a g e Commissioner Thurman: Concern about limited space and the need for more space. The focus is finding the space and funding. Possible alternative spaces. Cannot continue to serve all (capacity) with programs in place. Commissioner Spector: Do you work with the faith community, they seem to have possible spaces available. And they have huge amounts of volunteers who could help with the programming. Commissioner Applegate: How many school sites are utilized. Is your ratio per inside space and/or outside space. Is outdoor space utilized. Commissioner Avakian: Can you explain the registration process and how does that impact the waitlist. I assume the waitlist is 5 people or 25 people. Community Centers Commission Staff Questions: None Community Centers Public Comment Cathy Marvier, SLO Resident, VP of SLO Senior Center, in charge of activities. Day trips are a big attraction, the cost of the bus for a longer trip is $1,800. The City funds the Senior Center $3,000 for operational costs. I would ask for additional $5,000 funded by the City, to enhance the bus field trip program. Mary Vandenberg, SLO Resident, Publicity Chair, I would like to talk about the facility. We are looking for a true community center that is multi-generational, we are trying to expand our programming and as volunteers we are stretched, and it is a small space. We would like to expand programming and more activities, we would like to expand beyond the older ages in the Senior Community. PRC Community Centers Discussion: Commissioner Thurman, the Ludwick Center, seems to be fairly non-descript we need to make the facility an engaging, exciting place. The southern end of town seems to not have many amenities and wondering if we can set aside funds collected from developers to augment that area of town. Think about cool uses, a multi-use facility: a nature center and education center which includes a community room. Commissioner Spector, I understand the repurposing of facilities, but have we considered a multi-generational center where youth and seniors join each other in activities. A place for the community with a focal point for all ages, and at locations near other facilities. And we need to look at the over 55 age group. Commissioner Applegate, I support the idea of a Teen Center, and Ludwick seems logical as it is close to the bus stop. I was just at Leroy’s at The Kinney, there were neat games, Skee Ball, Shuffleboard, outdoor activies, for different ages and abilities. I think it is important to have night use available. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 6, 2019 4 | P a g e Commissioner Schwab, have we considered Jack House for other programming and facility use. Commissioner Avakian, how do other communities fund for new community centers and facility repurposing. And I would like to explore the vacant store fronts for possible usage. Community Centers can offer different spaces, breakout rooms for conferences, or large spaces or ballrooms, multi-generational. think much bigger and figure out funding later. Fields and Facilities Commission Staff Questions: NONE Fields and Facilities Public Comment: SOCCER Heather Billing, AYSO Commissioner, Over 1,000 kids with over 100 teams. Advocating for more field space especially practice space at the fields. We would love synthetic fields. More practice fields for all. Appreciates staff from Parks and Recreation and Public Works. Tim Townley, SLO Resident, CC Soccer, we put on the SLO Friendly Tournament and we contribute back by buying nets and goals and we love our partnership with the City. We cannot play between May and August. We hope to play year-round and maybe that it is time to consider synthetic fields and more fields for practice. We have cut our participation with the City to help with the new grass on the turf, we had a waiting list this season. Steve Sampson, SLO Resident, Cal Poly Men’s Soccer Coach and United Soccer Club, we have a great community of soccer in SLO. Although we do not have enough facilities, we believe they have deteriorated or safety issue, potholes, that’s a concern. We have 300 families as part of our Club, we do not know where to put them. There is a lack of fields, and we are down to even using a ¼ of the fields available. Jacob (no speaker slip), new resident; 11-month son, Central Coast Soccer Club; usability limited; can’t use Damon Garcia for training; can’t use facilities during other times, huge issue; need for synthetic surfaces; technology has improved; built for now and the future. Hugh Payne, Director of Operations Central Coast Soccer Club: multi-sports facilities create more income for City; tourism impact from youth and adult sports. Sarah Flickinger, SLO Resident, I grew up playing soccer for over 30 years now. I am now a Coach, I see a shortage of practice fields and turf availability. The schools have restricted use and now we are forced to look elsewhere. Part of Laguna Lake would be great, as well as Islay Park area. J. Morrison, SLO Resident, Central Coast United Club, lack of utilizing Damon Garcia at certain times. I am suggesting synthetic fields are what is needed in the community. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 6, 2019 5 | P a g e YOUTH BASEBALL Ryan Miller. SLO Resident, President of Youth Baseball (ages 4-16): very happy to represent youth side of baseball, very vibrant with HS, SLO Blues, Cal Poly; City has great history of baseball; congrats to Devin, thank you; quite a few baseball fields in area but spread out and big variance; not every field is available to all youth ranges; there are 500 players this year, over the last five years 20% growth; as City continues to focus on affordable housing and younger families, greater stress on registration and availability of fields; baseball is a large community event; forecasting accelerated growth rates, maybe up to 1,000 kids in the next few years; ideas include Sinsheimer complex; wants greater control over fields (outside of schools); consider a smart use of fields or additional infrastructure development for certain organizations that open up opportunities for other organizations. Austin, Baseball Player, I have been playing baseball for five years. The fields have a lot of puddles, I would like to see drainage in the fields or covered mats on the fields. Bill Isaman, SLO Resident, Your outreach has been amazing. I have two boys and they play youth baseball. Our baseball fields in San Luis Obispo, are less than adequate. We lack safe playing conditions, safe dugouts, proper pitching mounds, and outfield fences. When you go outside the community their fields are superior, including score booths and adequate lighting and parking. Sybill Haley, SLO Resident, SLO Girls Softball, I have four children. I am here tonight because I feel like we need more multi use facilities and more lighted facilities. Girls Softball can only play at Laguna, appreciates the 3 nice fields, but time limited due to lack of lighting; thinking about 20-year plan, as City grows, younger age groups are busting at the seams; youth sports fields if very important in 20-year plan. Sarah Kelley, Girls Softball, only one field for girls softball at Laguna. We need more fields for girls softball. David Kelley, SLO Resident, Thank you to all here tonight. The twenty-year vision is a new complex, what is the dream, needs to discuss more of a vision for the next 20 years. Bill Mott, SLO Resident, 3rd Generation in San Luis Obispo, when you consider the 20- year vision we hope you consider a baseball complex similar to Damon Garcia. I think Laguna Lake is the perfect neighborhood and has plenty of space. We should definitely look at synthetic fields and multi-use. Greg Stork, SLO Resident, Youth Baseball, the fields have not changed since I grew up here. They have not changed and are essentially sand lots. The baseball season is close to year-round now. The way baseball has grown it is time to create a central baseball complex. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 6, 2019 6 | P a g e MISCELLANEOUS Michael Freeman, SLO Resident, AYSO, CC Soccer, Youth Hockey, I am here to talk limited facilities and limited space. Keep up the new turf at Damon. We need an aquatic center. As far as hockey, kids are getting hurt the stick gets stuck in the boards. We need better lights and possibly a roof over the hockey center, safety is a concern. Cynthia Perrine, SLO Resident, CC Soccer and Youth Softball, I am here tonight to talk about youth softball and there is not enough space for pitching and girls who want to practice. Bill Wolman, SLO Resident, I lobbied for Damon Garcia many years ago. San Luis Obispo wants to stay green and soccer tournaments bring in money to the City. This is good tourism for the City. Youth Sports are taking on incredible schedules and travel all over the State, this is a revenue maker. Reggie Greenwood, SLO Resident, SLO Rugby Club, we have 50 teams coming from all over the country to our Fall tournament. We hope to expand Damon Garcia and expand parking. It is definitely a field use issue at Damon Garcia. Oliver Andrews, SLO Resident, I play 3 sports and I am here to talk about the fields and how wet they have been. I think we should install turf, fake grass fields. DISC GOLF Adam Scott, SLO Resident, I am a disc golf player and ask for allocating funds for maintenance of the course. It is very inexpensive and for all ages and great social interaction. Great use of public lands and help with our volunteers. Sklyar Shipley, SLO Resident, I am a disc golf player and it is a great passive use for park usage. New courses would be great in SLO and areas that are wooded or hilly are fine, and the cost is relatively low. Volunteers maintain course; studies show that vagrancy and graffiti and litter reduced by the placement of disc golf; least cost, most bang for your buck; more funding for adding more courses. Jay Hanson, SLO Resident, I love Sinsheimer and Laguna Disc Golf and SLO Throwers. I would like to advocate for funds for SLO Throwers for maintenance for the courses. Disc Golf along with Pickleball is a fast-growing sport. Our courses are not a destination but if we had more amenities it would attract more players. Greg Vine, SLO Resident, Disc Golf, We maintain 50-100 members a year and all the folks who use as drop in. We maintain with volunteer hours as our contract with the City, and all our members care for the courses. We are asking for funds for this effort. Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 6, 2019 7 | P a g e Adam Stowe, SLO Blues, I am disc golfer too. I am here for SLO Blues, and 50 years ago the Stadium was built it is now in total disrepair. The restrooms, parking, the stadium seating. Improving the facility could help with other user groups year-round. Fields and Facilities PRC Discussions: Commissioner Applegate, All the field use, can you explain the practice field use with the schools and lack of availability. Commissioner Avakian, field overuse has been mentioned and the continued lack of availability at school sites. We need multi-use, indoor/outdoor, more lighting, repurposing and new indoor spaces, warehouse type uses. We hope to obtain short term wins that can be accomplished in reviewing the past workshops. Commissioner Spector, I appreciate all the kids attending and speaking tonight. The tournaments mentioned and the amount of people coming to the City, what does that mean as far as dollars back to the City. The message coming across is more capacity and increased safety. Commissioner Schwab, can you explain and address the safety issues mentioned at the facilities. Commissioner Thurman, advocacy for synthetic fields, have you done a cost comparison to natural grass or a comparison study. SUBCOMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS 1. Subcommittee Liaison Reports (Chair Avakian – 15 minutes) a. Adult and Senior Programming: Commissioner Spector spoke about the Senior Center; the group feels more in sync with the City. b. Active Transportation Committee: Commissioner Olson Absent. c. City Facilities (Damon Garcia, Golf, Pool & Joint Use Facilities): Commissioner Applegate spoke about Aquatics, staff will be having lifeguard training, it is the last year of the 100 Mile Club, all participants will get a water bottle; new hydration station has saved over 1,600 bottles. Facilities, fields have been closed for over a month because of the rain. New PA System will be installed in March, Golf Course purchased new push carts and received a ride-on greens mower. YSA Quarterly meeting next month, this is the last week of Youth Basketball, Futsal will begin in April. Adult Softball teams are low for upcoming season, but there is a new women’s softball league beginning on Fridays. MLBPAA free clinic on April 6th. d. Jack House Committee. Commissioner Schwab, no report (JHC did not meet). Next meeting will be March 13th. They are looking at the Community Survey for Operations of a historic home. e. Tree Committee: Vice Chair Thurman, Public Works has been updating the Tree Ordinance. They are trying to streamline the tree removal process with Community Development Department. A new local group Carbon Free SLO applied for a $30,000 grant to plant trees in the City, now just waiting to plant the trees within Parks and Recreation Committee Agenda for March 6, 2019 8 | P a g e the City limits. Arbor Day in May. I will be talking at Beda’s Biergarten for Urban Forestry, March 13 at 6:00 p.m. f. Youth Sports Association: Not represented. 2. Director’s Report. Upcoming event highlights were provided. 3. Communication: There are two vacancies on the Commission and the Clerk has extended the application process. We hope to fill these positions by the time we meet next in April. ADJOURNMENT at 8:09 p.m. To the rescheduled Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Committee as approved by the PRC to Wednesday, April 3 , at 5:30 p.m., at the Parks and Recreation Office, 1341 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, California APPROVED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: 04/03/2019 The City of San Luis Obispo wishes to make all of its public meetings accessible to the public. Upon request, this agenda will be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with disabilities. Any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting should direct such request to the Parks and Recreation Department at (805) 781-7300 at least 48 hours before the meeting, if possible. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (805) 781-7107. Meeting audio recordings can be found at the following web address: http://opengov.slocity.org/WebLink/1/fol/61014/Row1.aspx