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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