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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-01-07 PRC MinutesParks and Recreation Commission MINUTES Parks & Recreation Department, 1341 Nipomo St. San Luis Obispo, CA Wednesday, August 1, 2007, 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Lemieux called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Chair Jill Lemieux, Vice Chair Bob Wolf, Commissioners: Rick May, Craig Kincaid, David Hensinger, and Don Dollar ABSENT: STAFF: Director Betsy Kiser, Sheridan Bohlken, and Marti Reynolds CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES: The minutes from May 7, 2007 were approved as submitted. The minutes from June 6, 2007 were approved as amended. 1. Public Comment None. 2. Volunteer of the Month There was no Volunteer of the Month for July. 3. 2008-09 Draft Work Program – for information only Director Kiser reviewed the items on the 2008-09 Draft CIP Project Management Plan and Timeline and explained its use as a briefing tool for the Commissioners before the Fall. Specific highlights were as follows: Bids will be reviewed in late October for Golf Course Irrigation repairs. Golf Cart lease will be signed by mid-September with carts in use by the end of the month. The Neighborhood meeting for French Park Playground Equipment Replacement is August 8 at 6:30 pm which will include review of two plans. The subject of camera surveillance to curtail or monitor vandalism will also be brought up at that time. Kiser reiterated that, if the Commissioners attend, Brown Act requires they do not discuss the topic while they are there. The Jack House Fence donation by Rotary was approved by Council last week. The Roller Hockey Rink stakeholder’s meeting will not be able to meet on October 17, as originally planned due to conflicting meetings. A new date will be decided soon. Will plan to expand the rink by 30’ with new fencing and lighting. This proposal will be presented to PRC in February. Parks and Recreation Commission – Minutes August 1, 2007 Page 2 of 5 The Skatepark Needs stakeholder’s meeting will be held in December with the plan coming to the PRC in March and Council March 22. If additional funding is needed based on the results of the meeting, staff is positioned to request additional CIP money during mid-budget discussions. There will be a synthetic turf site visit on August 30th at 8:30am in preparation for the Fall study session requested by Council. Director Kiser presented the idea of installation of synthetic turf at SLO Baseball Stadium rather than Stockton Field. Except for Cal Ripken Youth Baseball, Stockton Field is only large enough to allow other for practice by other sports groups and can’t be used for formal games, whereas SLO Stadium can. The community would benefit more from synthetic turf on SLO Stadium. Commissioner Dollar thought it might be wise to move forward first with the field with the most support (Stockton Field) to generate more appeal for other fields. The Commission will see the parking lot design for the Senior Center in November and approve changes to the Mitchell Park Master Plan to allow for the lot. Director Kiser recapped the controversy of a parking lot within a park setting. When the neighborhood meeting date is set the Commissioners will be informed. A professional facilitator will be utilized at this meeting. The Senior Center Needs Study will be developed later in the Spring and will come to the Parks & Recreation Commission in preparation for the June Council meeting. The Commissioners expressed their appreciation of the timeline spreadsheet and asked that they be updated as changes occur. 4. Selection of PRC Member(s) for Synthetic Turf Site Visits Commissioners Kincaid, Hensinger and Wolf will plan on attending. Commissioners were forewarned, again with reference to the Brown Act, that if greater than four attend, two separate cars will have to be taken. 5. Selection of Recipient for the Wes Conner Award Commissioners reviewed the criteria for the Wes Conner award. Director Kiser listed those names nominated by staff at a recent meeting as follows: John Rosetti, Roller Hockey Lee Hollister, Babe Ruth/Janssen Foundation Jim Neville, Recreation services business for special needs, on PRC 8 years, once chaired Frank Warren, Friday Night Live Richard Kriet, JUC, Girl’s softball Dan Sutton, Cal Ripken, donations for Stockton renovation Barry Karlskint, past PRC member, chair, youth sports Upon reflection, Commissioner Lemieux spoke in opposition to the limitation originally requested by the Conner family that only San Luis Obispo residents be qualified for this honor. Richard Kriet’s original criteria were retrieved and reviewed. Lemieux suggested we discuss nominees the Parks and Recreation Commission – Minutes August 1, 2007 Page 3 of 5 remainder of the meeting and move forward in September to clarify and fine tune the criteria during which more nominations may develop. Commissioner Dollar requested Terry Conner be notified of September’s agenda and the potential changes to the criteria at that time. Commissioner Wolf mentioned that the orientation toward sports is not listed as part of the criteria but perhaps should be in light of the recommendations. Commissioners Lemieux and May spoke in favor of a broad spectrum of interests and differing levels of participation being supported by the award. No action was taken. Criteria and nominee profiles will be brought back to the September meeting, at which time additional nominations will also be accepted. In the meantime, Commissioners are to reflect on the criteria and, if nominating in September, as suggested by Commissioner Kincaid, accompany the nomination with a biography. Commissioner Dollar requested a nomination sheet as a reference be provided for the next meeting as well. 6. Staff Reports Recreation Coordinator Sheridan Bohlken introduced herself to Commissioners and briefed them on the Teens, Seniors and Boomers programs she supervises within the department. Of the various programs, Bohlken focused in particular on the recent success of the 2007 Teen Idol contest. Video excerpts from the contest were shown to the Commissioners. The contest, which began several years ago more informally at Farmer’s Market, has grown to eight participants this year with over 200 audience members. Recreation Coordinator Bohlken commended the volunteer assistance of Andy Morris; master of ceremonies, and Vance Fahie; musical director, whose donated time were crucial to the program’s success. Programs such as Teen Idol promote local youth interested in the professional entertainment industry by giving them a vehicle to gain experience and become more comfortable in front of an audience. Commissioner Kincaid suggested future contests have a public interest story follow-up printed in the SLO City News or other periodicals. 7. Director’s Report Director Kiser briefed the Commission on the following projects: The SLO Triathlon, held on July 22, was once again a great success with over 900 participants. August 19th marks this year’s Art in the Garden at the Jack House. Proceeds from this event go to Art After Dark. Invitations were very recently mailed but provided to Commissioners at the meeting as well. The Fall Registration Fair for Children’s Services programs and classes is August 4th at the Ludwick Community Center from 10am to 12pm. The Volunteer Appreciation Banquet will be September 19th, also at the Ludwick Center. Parks and Recreation Commission – Minutes August 1, 2007 Page 4 of 5 Council approved the Rotary fence donation, as well as the Hole #3 design proposal. The Therapy Pool & Public Art dedication July 26th went well. Programs for physical therapy treatment and exercise will be available to the public soon. The French Park Neighborhood Meeting will be August 8th at 6:30pm. The Synthetic Turf field visit will be August 30th at 8:30 am. The Park Tour on July 11 was a success (Commissioner Dollar thanked the staff and particularly commended Rich Ogden and Director Kiser). The Joint Use Subcommittee has been meeting with staff to discuss recommendations for 2008 SLO Stadium use. The next meeting of the Joint Use Committee will be August 28th. Recommendations will go before PRC in September and Council in October. The Beeson Art piece “Bee Bee Works His Magic” proposed for the Little Theatre site was selected by the jury and reviewed and approved by the ARC. The art will go before Council August 24. 8. Committee Reports Commissioners provided the following reports:  Tree Committee – Kincaid  Joint Use Committee – May  Mayors Youth Task Force – no report  Jack House Committee – Wolf  Open Space – Dollar  Golf – Lemieux Commissioner Kincaid was unable to attend the last Tree Committee meeting and, although he had nothing to report, expressed interest in the outcome of the Mission Plaza Silk Tree. Commissioner Dollar had no report on Open Space. Commissioner May reported there was no Joint Use Committee meeting in July due to the Park Tour, however; commented on the weekly subcommittee meetings in that they are looking at solutions to such issues as cost and maintenance of the stadium, field use, and compartmentalizing of rules. A final subcommittee meeting will occur on August 10th. Both the SLO Blues and the SLO Rattlers are expected to be at the August 28th Joint Use Committee Meeting. Commissioner Wolf reported on the Jack House Committee meeting of June 13 during which the fence donation was discussed as well as the Fire Department’s resolution regarding maximum capacity during tours. Commissioner Wolf also noted that the Mother’s Day event was slightly more successful than Family Fun Day. Commissioner Lemieux reported on the Golf Course and recommended those who did not attend the Park Tour visit the Hole #3 and bridge sites at the course. Director Kiser clarified for the Commissioners the question of Holes #6 & 7 revitalization and Hole #5 renovation in process. Parks and Recreation Commission – Minutes August 1, 2007 Page 5 of 5 9. Communications Commissioner Wolf’s son will be playing at Linnea’s on August 16th and on August 24th Commissioner Wolf will be performing “Nickel and Dimed” at the Little Theatre. 10. Adjourned The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. to the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting on September 5, 2007, at the Council Chambers. Approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission on September 5, 2007. /S/ _________________________ Martha M.S. Reynolds Supervisory Administrative Assistant