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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-01-2021 PRC Minutes Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of September 1, 2021 Page 1 Minutes PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Wednesday, September 1, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission CALL TO ORDER A Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 5:34 p.m. via Teleconference. ROLL CALL Present: Vice Chair Robert Spector, Commissioners Kari Applegate, Rick Blair, Kari Howell Absent: Andrew Weber, Adam Stowe Staff: Parks and Recreation Director Greg Avakian and Administrative Assistant III Lisa Russell, Aleah Bergam, Meghan Burger, Devin Hyfield PUBLIC COMMENT ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Cricket Field Request from Sri - currently playing at Laguna School, but requesting a dedicated ground for Cricket games. More than 30 people are playing in SLO every Saturday and around California for games and practice. They would like to provide free lessons. Vice Chair Spector - requested staff to do some research and follow-up. Director Avakian - Staff has done some research. Damon Garcia Sports Complex would be the only viable city field available. Cricket was not identified in the Master Blueprint for current needs. Will continue to look across all of the sports that are played at Damon Garcia and prioritize. Additional information/research needed and could need to defer to other potential field locations such as school district and county locations. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1) Consideration of Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of August, 2021. ACTION: Approved and seconded motion for August 4, 2021 Minutes. UPON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER (Blair), SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER (Applegate) CARRIED 4-0-1-1 the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the Minutes of the Regular Parks and Commission Meeting of August 4, 2021, as presented. Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of September 1, 2021 Page 2 BUSINESS ITEMS 2) Vice Chair Spector: Need to elect new Chair and Vice Chair based on early resignation of past Chair in August. a. Director Avakian: Move forward with this now in September. It would be a two-year term. b.Commissioner Applegate: I nominate Bob for Chair Position. Seconded by Commissioner Blair. Vice Chair Spector accepted the nomination. c. Commissioner Howell: I nominate myself for Vice Chair. d.Commissioner Applegate: I nominate Kari Howell for Vice Chair. e. Chair Spector: Need someone to call for the vote. Blair, please call for the vote. f. Commissioner Blair: I call for the vote on nominating Robert Spector to be the Chair for 18 months and Kari Howell for Vice Chair. i) Chair Spector: All are in favor, none opposed. ii) Commissioner Howell: All are in favor, none opposed. 3) Review of Sub-Committee Liaison Roles. Presentation by Director Avakian on the following topics: City Park and Rec Facilities Liaison – Role will be eliminated. Instead, information will be updated and presented by P&R staff for each PRC meeting. Tree Committee Liaison – Tree Committee and Staff have recommended update to City Council to remove this liaison within the by-laws. Not a need for a liaison because all information passes through other existing commissions. Parks & Rec has had less involvement over the years. Will go to a September council meeting to inform them of these decisions to leave the position vacant. Chair Spector: Looking at filling four Liaison Roles. Youth Sports Association – Adam Stowe would like to maintain the role. Adult & Senior Center Programming – Chair Spector has been filling the role however would like to know if someone else is interested? Traditionally the Chair does not retain a Liaison role due to conflict of interest. Chair Spector is willing to assist/alternate for the new Liaison. Rick Blair will take on the role as Liaison. Next Monday Sept. 13th at 9:00 a.m. for next board meeting. Director Avakian and Meghan Burger will be joining the next meeting. Jack House – They meet every other month on the second Wednesday. Lots of upcoming issues to work through. Kari Applegate is interested as well as Rick Blair. Chair Spector – Kari Applegate will take on the Jack House Liaison role. Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of September 1, 2021 Page 3 Alternative Transportation – Chair Spector: Is Andrew Weber still interested in the role? Will reach out to him to discuss. Will remain in role until more information and Kari Howell will act as alternate. Director Avakian: Could possibly have an alternate for Alternative Transportation until we confirm with Commissioner Weber to find out if he’s still interested in the role? Could Vice Chair Kari Howell be an alternate and has an interest in assisting as Liaison. UPDATES 4) Directors Report (Greg Avakian – 30 minutes) a. Facility Tours Updates – traditionally happen in the fall. Getting ready to begin them and suggested dates for the Commission – Oct. 22 or 29th as possible dates for the tour. 11:00am -1:00pm, or 1:00pm-3-4 or early morning? Need Commission to provide back input on the time, mornings, or afternoons. Input from Commission preferred October 29th in the afternoon. b. New Commissioner Kris Roudebush will fill the current vacancy. She will be officially sworn in by the City Council in September. We will welcome her at the October meeting. c. Thanks to the committee for the input on the quick build priorities based off of the Blueprint. Last meeting, we did extensive presentation on all the upcoming CIP Projects in the queue as well as the following development opportunities and projects: i. Righetti Ranch Development ii. San Luis Ranch iii. Avila Ranch iv. Froom Ranch v. Dog Parks vi. Enhancing our current park systems, especially our heavily used parks. d. Summary on Fall Programming – Challenging with school starting, City mask mandates and Staff being impacted by COVID cases. Adjust expectations, however we continue with all Outdoor programs are all up and running. e. Summary of CIP Project priorities. Chair Spector: Would be helpful if Staff could provide timetable for the ongoing projects. Just to gauge as to what the projected timeline is. Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of September 1, 2021 Page 4 Director Avakian: Yes, possible for the following active projects which have clearer timelines, and we can report monthly on the progress: CIP Projects 2021-23 • Cheng Park Revitalization • North Broad Street Park • Emerson Park Fitness Replacement • Mitchell Park Enhancement Grant We will do community outreach for the ones that are in “proposal” and conceptual phase and can provide more information on funding and timelines in October and November and in Spring could begin to start working on design phase. • Dog Park at Laguna Lake for example – 18 months • New development piece at Righetti Ranch – 24 plus months Vice Chair Howell: Question on the Blueprint regarding Diamond Fields, seems like long term project. In response to community member inquiry about Cricket field availability. Is there a short-term option? Director Avakian: Explained Sports Complex vs. Diamond Field. Field for Cricket would need to be a large field. Land acquisition questions would be a much larger discussion. Commissioner Blair: Rough schedule would be helpful and what is roughly feasible. Director Avakian: Agree. Will take priorities and define what is feasible based on budget. Commissioner Stowe: Most people have no idea how long projects take, so a broad-brush schedule would help. Support all of the priorities that are in place. Director Avakian: • Staffing Update Meghan Burger new Recreation Manager, continues to retain much of her previous Youth Services role until a replacement is hired. Additionally taking on Public Art role with many upcoming projects. Recreation Supervisor Setterlund (Community Events, Liaison for the Senior Center, Services, Jack House and Community Services) has decided to relocate to Seattle and will be leaving the department and we will be recruiting for the position and beginning the recruitment process. We will also begin the recruitment and interview process for Meghan’s previous role. Lots of movement and opportunity for creativity and a lot of positive momentum. • Mayor and council vacancy. Minimal impact to Parks and Recreation programs and staff and all our programs continue to move forward. A City replacement process will begin in September. City Council is very supportive of Parks and Recreation programs and all of our programs and staff and Blueprint. Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of September 1, 2021 Page 5 Recreation Manager Devin Hyfield Update: Aquatics • Closed thru September 13 to maintain the integrity of the pool. Will return to normal fall programming including Fall private lessons and the return of long course AM lap swimming 3 days per week and short course every Tuesday and Thursday Facilities • Damon-Garcia reopened for tournament play the weekend of August 28. Tournament will continue for the next two weekends concluding on September 11 with the SLO Rugby Tri-Tip 7’s. The following weekend will begin regular uses of Damon-Garcia including AYSO, adult soccer and other Fall Sports • Sinsheimer Stadium closed down mid-august for an irrigation repair to the field. With the project scheduled for a 2-3 month period, this may delay the reopening of the field till February • The remaining fields will begin to close for renovation mid-September through mid- November on a weekly basis • The Emerson Park Fitness Equipment project has received the equipment. A construction date has not been determined but staff will continue to update the advisory body as more information is available. Additional information will be made available on the main parks and recreation page under “Current Projects” • The Parks and Recreation will be hosting a community forum to discuss the addition of passive amenities within Mitchell Park. The community forum will be held on Thursday September 16 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Information has been provided to the Senior Center and information will be provided to the community surrounding Mitchell Park in the upcoming weeks. • The City will be hosting a virtual 9/11 ceremony Saturda y, September 11 at 8:30 am hosted at Fire Station 1. Ceremony will be filmed and provided via the City’s YouTube page the following day. Golf • Golf Course continues to be well utilized through the end of August. • Through the Kids Play Free initiative during summer, around 250 youth played during the months of July and August. • We continue to see around 2500 unique rounds per month with over 85% of the rounds as paid rounds • Irrigation continues to be an issue at the course with 2-3 leaks per week and balancing water use, fixing the leaks and continuing to water the course. In addition, staff are awaiting a new irrigation controller to assist with automatic watering. Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of September 1, 2021 Page 6 • Equipment to assist with the leaks has been purchased but due to global shortages, the equipment has been delayed. • Staff anticipate over the next 2-3 month a return to green fairways, roughs in addition to the always consistent green tees and greens. • Staff will be forming a Golf Ambassador program that will meet with member of the public on a quarterly basis to provide updates to maintenance projects, upcoming events and closures. • A Request For Proposal for a new Pro-shop concessionaire will be made public by the end of the week at the golf course. This new vendor will provide food and alcohol services to the guest of the course and we are anticipating having the vendor in place by November. Recreation Manager Meghan Berger Update: • Community Services • Sports & Classes • Special Events • Senior Center and Jack House • Public Art • Youth Services SUBCOMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS 5) Subcommittee Liaison Reports (15 minutes) a. Adult and Senior Programming: Vice Chair Spector Stressful time for them. City Staff contact Dave Setterlund is leaving, their President has relocated, new mask policy and how they can operate during the ongoing COVID situation. b. City Park and Rec Facilities: Commissioner Applegate Nothing to report, Devin and Meghan covered it all. c. Youth Sports Association: Commissioner Stowe No report. They have not met in a long time. Would be helpful to create something new. Would enjoy becoming more active. d. Active Transportation Committee: Commissioner Webber NA e. Jack House Committee: Vacant f. Tree Committee: Vacant Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of September 1, 2021 Page 7 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:51 p.m. The next Regular Parks and Recreation Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. via teleconference. APPROVED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: 10/06/2021