HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-05-07 PRC Minutes1-1
Parks and Recreation Commission
MINUTES
Council Cambers, 990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA
Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair Wolf called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Vice Chair Bob Wolf, Commissioners: Craig Kincaid, David Hensinger, Don
Dollar and Kylie Hatch
ABSENT: Chair Jill Lemieux, Rick May
STAFF: Director Betsy Kiser, Doug Carscaden and Ashley Lopez
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES:
MOTION: (Kincaid/Hatch) Approve the November 7, 2007 minutes as submitted.
Approved 5 yes: 0 no: 2 absent (Lemieux, May)
1. Public Comment
None.
2. Volunteer of the Month - October
This month’s volunteer of the month is Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers (aka 3CMB). Joe
O’Donnell, a representative for 3CMB, accepted the award. Parks and Recreation receives a great
deal of support from the 3CMB in the open space of the City of San Luis Obispo. 3CMB organizes
trail workdays throughout the Central Coast and contributed to the building and maintenance of the
“M” Trail, Lemon Grove Loop, King, Mariposa, Stenner and Morning Glory trails.
Hours and hours of time are spent flagging, designing, building and maintaining the open space
trails. Each workday draws from 2 to 100 people to assist with the 14 miles of fabulous mountain
bike trails. With 3CMBs help, the Ranger Service trail maintenance workload is alleviated allowing
them to focus on other equally important projects.
3CMB has been formally organized since 1989 to support and encourage local mountain bike trails,
ensuring access and sustainability for those that enjoy the activity.
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December 5, 2007
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3. Johnson Ranch Open Space Conservation Plan – Havlik, Otte
City Biologist Neil Havlik and Freddie Otte delivered a presentation to the Commissioners on the
Johnson Ranch Open Space Conservation Plan. Amendments to the plan based on previous
committee reviews include the development of a formally identified trail system for pedestrians and
bicyclists; recommending to the City Council a policy to encourage or require the ultimate
realignment of an existing access easement benefiting the Miramonte Ranch; placement of
protective fencing, especially along Dry Creek; development of interpretive signage to assist
visitors; retention of seasonal livestock grazing; and a wildfire preparedness plan involving
management of fuel loading.
Commissioners entered into discussion with Havlik and Otte on the existing road, permits that
would be needed to repair or widen it, potential trails, seasonal grazing or potential livestock
removal and resultant resurgence of riparian vegetation, water rights and Dry Creek, easement
between property owners to the west, and pond and creek management. Also discussed was
retaining billboards as a revenue source but staff pointed out it could set a bad precedent and
perhaps lead to open space properties being looked at more for their revenue potential than other
values.
Commissioners then strengthened the following recommendations from the Planning Commission:
1. Manage pond and creek for native aquatic species.
2. Monitor flows in Dry Creek.
3. Remove billboards at conclusion of their leases.
4. The Miramonte Road easement diminishes the value for which the property was acquired by
the public; therefore efforts to relocate and limit it to appropriate uses are warranted.
MOTION: (Dollar/Hatch) Recommend to the City Council that the Johnson Ranch Open Space
Conservation Plan be approved as amended, and changing Item 6 to be read “wildfire” rather than
“wildlife”.
Approved 5 yes: 0 no: 2 absent (Lemieux, May)
4. Staff Report
Ranger Service Supervisor Carscaden provided a presentation on the Ranger Services program and
highlighted recent maintenance projects, such as Damon Garcia creek maintenance, WRF, the Bob
Jones Pathway, Stenner Springs/Railroad, the new Ranger Maintenance Headquarters, Johnson Ranch
Creek Day, Bowden Ranch, the Madonna Trail, Jr. Ranger camp, Irish Hills, Froom Road, winter
preparation and the rangers involvement in the skatepark.
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December 5, 2007
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5. Director’s Report
Director Kiser briefed the Commission on the following projects:
Youth basketball, co-sponsored with the YMCA, started last Saturday with 650 children.
SLO Stadium Use Proposals were received from the SLO Rattlers and the SLO Blues and
reviewed. Both parties resolved past issues and produced a MOA between the organizations
that includes a 4-year agreement on number and distribution of weekend games, weekday
games, sharing equipment, affiliation with CA Collegiate League, banner installation and
both teams playing each other. The one-ye ar agreement goes to Council on December 18 as
a consent agenda item.
CPRS Conference reminder for February 23 – Commissioner Hatch said he would like to
attend
There will be a study session on synthetic turf on February 12 from 12-1:30pm
There is a tentative meeting set for the Roller Hockey Rink expansion January 8
A contract was established with RRM Design for the Skatepark Needs Study which will
begin in January.
Hole #3 should be completed by the end of December – irrigation installed this week. The
irrigation control contract has been signed. The new golf carts are also in.
There was some vandalism on the Johnson Ranch gate recently and also at Damon Garcia
where a truck entered the area and tore up the field.
The public art piece Community Bridge will be in by the holidays with a dedication
sometime in early January
The Court of Flags is near completion, with all the tiles installed; awaiting the plaques
6. Committee Reports
Commissioners provided the following reports:
Tree Committee – Kincaid Joint Use Committee – May
Mayors Youth Task Force – Wolf Jack House Committee – Hatch
Open Space – Dollar Golf – Lemieux
Commissioner Kincaid reported on the status of the Silk Tree at Mission Plaza. The tree removal
application was approved and it was agreed to allow some cloning of the tree to create saplings for
planting around the city. There is still a vacancy on the Committee.
Commissioner Wolf had nothing to report for Mayor’s Youth Task Force; the next meeting will be
in March.
Commissioner Dollar’s comments on the Open Space Committee were already included during
discussion of the Johnson Ranch Open Space Conservation Plan earlier.
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December 5, 2007
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Commissioner May was not present to comment on the Joint Use Committee.
Commissioner Hatch was unable to attend the last Jack House Committee meeting and had nothing
to report.
Director Kiser reported on the Golf Course on behalf of Commissioner Lemieux. A comparison
study shows that overall play and revenues continue to be slower this November than last year. The
biggest decrease seems to be in twilight and student rounds. Staff is currently in the process of
advertising specials through the Mustang Daily and the Tribune to target this group. The 8 new
electric golf carts went into service on November 15. A small fee increase is planned for January
1st. Construction on Hole #3 continues with rough grading and earthmoving completed and golf
course staff are in the process of installing new irrigation lines and sprinkler heads. Final grading
and seed planting is projected for the end of December with opening anticipated for May 2008.
Also, preparations for the hookup to effluent water to irrigate the course continues with hookup
expected to take place around the first of the year. This will be coordinated to occur before the new
paving of LOVR so as to avoid cutting into the pavement.
7. Communications
There were no communications.
8. Adjourned
MOTION: (Kincaid/Wolf) Adjourn to February 6, 2008 with no meeting in January.
Approved 5 yes: 0 no: 2 absent (Lemieux, May)
The meeting adjourned at 9:32 p.m. to the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting on February 6,
2008, in the Council Chambers.
Approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission on February 6, 2008.
/S/
_________________________
Martha M.S. Reynolds
Supervisory Administrative Assistant