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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-10 PRC Minutes1-1 Parks and Recreation Commission MINUTES Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Jill Lemieux called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Craig Kincaid, Gary Havas, David Hensinger, Ron Regier, Kylie Hatch and Steve Davis ABSENT: STAFF: Director Betsy Kiser, Marti Reynolds, Christine Wallace, Bridget Fraser CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES: MOTION: (Lemieux/Havas) Approve the December 2, 2009 minutes as amended. Approved: 5 yes: 0 no: 2 absent (Hatch, Kincaid) Note: Commissioner Kincaid arrived before Public Comment. 1. Public Comment Doug Carroll, San Luis Obispo, feels the need for an accessible path at Sinsheimer Park. Currently no access for wheelchair to get into park which he enters enroute to the therapy pool. Uses existing dirt trail which is also used by bicycles and is difficult to maneuver particularly when it rains. Would like to see proposal to make the trail a boardwalk or have paved. Barbara Furia, San Luis Obispo, demonstrated on full-size plan of park. Reiterated the small pebbles in the path are difficult when using a walker as well as dangerous. Requests it be put on a future agenda. Stated would be happy to talk to Kiwanis or Rotary or others to raise funds. Director Kiser mentioned Peggy Mandeville’s presentation on upgrades to the Sinsheimer bike path to the Joint Use Committee last month and that changes may already be planned. Will check further. Note Commissioner Hatch arrived before Volunteer of the Month. 2. Volunteer(s) of the Month The Parks and Recreation Commission is proud to recognize Addie Virta and Missy Sparks as the January Volunteers of the Month. Addie and Missy are members of the LOOK club from Cal Poly. LOOK is comprised of students who have an interest in other cultures and languages from around the world. Members volunteer to teach an hour long lesson once a week at one of the five Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes January 6, 2010 Page 2 of 6 1-2 Sun ‘n Fun sites. The lessons not only teach basics about other countries, cultures and languages but also serve as an excellent catalyst for teaching an appreciation for diversity. Both Addie and Missy have been members of LOOK for two years. Addie, originally from Danville, is a Junior majoring in Nutrition with a minor in French. She is also a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, plays Lacrosse for the Mustangs and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Addie hopes to join the Peace Corps after graduating and her term long goal is to work with international organizations on health care issues. Missy, originally from Sacramento, also a Junior, is majoring in Environmental Management and Protection. She is a member of the Cal Poly Chapter of the Association of Environmental Professionals and plays intramural soccer. After graduation Missy would like to become an environmental planner to work on ecosystem management, conservation and restoration. 3. Community Garden Design – Kiser Director Kiser provided background information to Commissioners. On September 1, 2009, based on a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC), the City Council entered into an agreement with the three Rotary Clubs of San Luis Obispo to accept a donation to provide funding and labor to plan and build a community garden in Meadow Park. Upon acceptance of the donation, staff was directed to work with representatives from the Rotary Clubs to prepare a garden design for final approval by the PRC. In seeking approval of the conceptual garden design, several elements of the plan warrant further discussion and specific input from the PRC: Fencing, Garden Entry, and Public Art Project. A memorandum from Public Works Deputy Director Barbara Lynch was distributed to Commissioners which included staff suggestions resulting from review of the Concept Plan. These suggestions were to designate a compost/vegetation disposal area and a tool storage area; a bin for compost or wood chip delivery in front of the gardens (and a subsequent change in plot layout); a readily-accessed area for future public art including possibly incorporating into fencing. Fencing concept is supported with the notation that split rail fence is not installed due to maintenance complications. Deputy Director Lynch was present to answer questions for Commissioners. Design team members Architect Garth Kornreich and Landscaper Pat Connelly were available to field questions. Discussion ensued. Regarding fencing, although parks maintenance likes the concept, programming staff feel it closes off the open design. As to garden design, felt could use entryway as piece of public art and supplement funding in that way. Landscaper Connelly demonstrated fence post design and construction which would both send a Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes January 6, 2010 Page 3 of 6 1-3 visual message to leave alone to those with other intentions, be strong enough to keep animals out and yet be of a light enough gauge so as not to be unsightly. Discussed portal entry and entry trellis and possibility of public art incorporation. Architect Kornreich answered Commissioners inquiries about total fence height, color choices, types of wood, gates, pathway material, and hose connections. Recreation Supervisor Christine Wallace answered Commissioners questions regarding fencing and construction of other community gardens within the City as well as experience with using composting bins in the other gardens. MOTION: (Regier/Hatch) Approve conceptual design and incorporation with the strong suggestion that a 3’ rather than 4’ fence be explored. Approved: 7 yes: 0 no: 0 absent Chair Lemieux emphasized desire that the spirit of community gardens is kept and that, in the planning process, a means of fencing that does not give the feeling of keeping people out be explored. Commissioner Hensinger cemented consensus that a 4’ fence and gates sends a different message than desired. Added that a closed design would encourage use of fencing to lean tools which could be unsightly. 4. Meadow Park Playground – Fraser, McKay Project Engineer Bridget Fraser and RRM Landscape Architect for the project, Leif McKay, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Meadow Park playground equipment replacement plan to the Commissioners. Illustrated were two different choices in design layout, both traditional and non-traditional (considered more challenging). A project website was created to help inform the over 1400 neighborhood residents who were notified of the project and subsequent neighborhood meeting held November 18, 2009. The non-traditional layout (Option 2) is similar to what was chosen last month for the Laguna Lake Playground. Option 2 was the obvious favorite of neighbors polled during the meeting. A tot swing was added to the belt swings as a solution to the split of older and younger children’s use and supervision areas. Benches were requested to be placed in shade and perhaps the provision for a shade structure. Discussed 4” railing space meeting building code but preferring only a 3-1/2” gap. Illustrated grade design in relation to ADA access and DOJ compliance report of 2004. Curbing and planters will be removed. Stated possibility of using ADA improvement fund if over $141K. As far as color themes, the green, gold, black, silver theme was voted most popular. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes January 6, 2010 Page 4 of 6 1-4 Upon approval by the Parks and Recreation Commission and after subsequent architectural review, the project will be presented to the City Council for approval to proceed with bid and construction. Commissioner Havas inquired about disposal of old materials, the possibility of considering planting a tree for shade. Fraser will discuss with Parks Maintenance staff and depending on soil condition, this may be feasible. Commissioner Davis expressed concern about construction timing while school is out in summer, however; that is as soon as documents can be prepared. Chair Lemieux inquired more as to online responses. Fraser felt the website was used more as a pre-meeting study tool but with good results. Lemieux also inquired about the possibility of the memorial bench program assisting to fund benches and canopies. MOTION: (Hatch/Kincaid) Recommend Council approve the proposed improvements to the Meadow Park Playground Equipment Replacement project after architectural review and construction documents prepared. Approved: 7 yes: 0 no: 0 absent 5. Staff Report – Wallace Recreation Supervisor Christine Wallace gave a PowerPoint presentation and a brief synopsis of the skate park replacement program and status highlighting marketing techniques such as Facebook which now has over 700 fans. A great tool to supply fans with grant award updates, photos, etc. Will be recruiting recreation administration students for senior project and will be bringing on an intern. Tony Hawk foundation feedback discussed. Director Kiser explained that Tony Hawk grant funding must be returned if facility is not open in two years. Added the Plus 3 fundraising met its first goal and is now on skate park funding goal. Commissioners inquired about bike ordinance in respect to BMX use. 6. Director’s Report– Kiser Director Kiser briefed the Commission on the following projects: • We received notice that we were awarded a $25,000 Tony Hawk Foundation Grant for the Skate Park. We were the only organization awarded the full grant amount and have two years to have the skate park open or lose the funding. Staff will stay in close contact with the organization as the skate park proceeds. • Fundraising program with Running Warehouse and Plus 3 Network continues. We’ve raised $3,254.40 so far. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes January 6, 2010 Page 5 of 6 1-5 • Council approved the Babe Ruth donation of turf infield to Stockton Field without the need to find an off-setting park to remove irrigation. • Council approved the golf course revenue enhancement recommendations forwarded to them from the PRC. • City Manager approved the bid proposal for the Roller Hockey Rink renovation project and awarded the construction bid to Maino Construction for not only the base bid (demo and construction), but also for Alternate #1 - the team benches/penalty boxes/scorekeepers area. Construction to begin the latter part of January. Three month project. • Commissioner Training February 27 at Hearst Castle. Flyers will be forthcoming. • CPRS State Conference in Palm Springs is March 9 through 12. Room to send one or two Commissioners if interested. Will discuss further next month. 7. Committee Reports Commissioners provided the following reports: Tree Committee – Kincaid Joint Use Committee – Hensinger Youth Sports Association - Davis Jack House Committee – Hatch Open Space – Havas Golf – Regier Bicycle Committee – Havas Commissioner Kincaid stated there was no recent meeting of the Tree Committee. Commissioner Davis reported there was no recent meeting of the Youth Sports Association. Commissioner Havas met with Natural Resources Manager Neil Havlik regarding Open Space issues: Froom Ranch is within $100K of goal, north loop of Johnson Ranch to be open by end of month, reconfigured trail into South Hills is up and flagged, Stenner Springs plan regarding making trail through Camp SLO discussed with FASTA, the City and Camp SLO., San Luis & Irish Hills bootleg trail issues discussed, Bowden Ranch loop trail through private land, PG&E powerline replacement on ridgeline. Commissioner Havas reported there was no meeting of the Bicycle Advisory Committee. Commissioner Hensinger reported there was no meeting of the Joint Use Committee. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes January 6, 2010 Page 6 of 6 1-6 Commissioner Hatch reported on the last meeting of the Jack House Committee and the recent Open House. Commissioner Regier reported on the Laguna Lake Golf Course, stating rounds are down 25 percent from last December most likely due to wet weather and that the year to date numbers do not compare well. Greens are back to normal standard, still meeting with Utilities regarding recycled water use. Equipment storage and barbecue area upgrades by AT&T are underway as part of cell site installation; pleased to see endorsement and anxious to go forward. The food vendor has ended contract; feels future vendor’s ability to sell alcohol as well as not having snack competition from the golf shack will greatly aid to success. 8. Communications None. 9. Adjourned The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m. to the February 3, 2010 meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission. Approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission on February 3, 2010. /Sgd/ ___________________________________________ Martha M.S. Reynolds, Supervising Administrative Assistant