Youth and Family Action Committee

LA VERNE YOUTH & FAMILY ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of the Regular Meeting March23,2021 L A regular meeting of the Youth & Family Action Committee was called to order by Don Kendrick at 6:30 p.m. 2. Executive Board Members present (virtually): Executive Board Robin Carder, Chair - Mayor Pro Tem Rick Crosby, Vice Chair - Council Member Krista Chakmak, BUSD Board Member Carolyn Cockrell, Roynon Elementary School Counselor Denise Fisher, Resident Don Kendrick, Resident Donna Redman, Resident Mark Rodgers, BUSD Kim Braswell, BUSD Cory Leeper, LVPD Janessa Gonzalez, LVPD Jessica Vozella, American Lung Association Gamaliel Polanco, Tri-City Mental Health Michelle Robinson, Tri-City Mental Health JR Ranells, City of La Verne 3. Review of Minutes Minutes for the February 23,2021, meeting were approved. 4. School Resource Officer School Resource Officer (SRO) Janessa Gonzalez reported that she was back on campus and eagerly anticipating students coming back in the near future. Elementary students would be returning on a hybrid schedule as of April Sth with middle and high school students returning on April 12th. SRO Gonzalez noted that as a follow up to the last meeting regarding tobacco enforcement of a business in old town, an inspection was completed and the business was in compliance with applicable regulations. Vice- Chair Crosby inquired about if there would be an additional police presenc,e at schools the first week similar to previous years and SRO Gonzalez confirmed there would be. It was also noted that the school year would not be extended past the original end date. Youth & Family Action Commiftee Minutes March 23,2021, page 2 5. Youth Mental Health Gamaliel Polanco with Tri-City Mental Health noted some recent staffing changes and introduced Michelle Robinson who is overseeing the School Counseling Program. Michelle shared information about herself as well as a report on the program. Michelle noted that the referrals have involved issues related to COVID-19 such as anxiety, inability to concentrate, not logging in remotely to classes, and confidence in social skills. New this year, the program has been connecting directly with families and this has been a successful transition, providing additional benefits through the program as well as connecting those in need to services. The group also discussed the benefit of the SRO program and the partnership with Tri-City Mental Health as well as the connection to homeless issues in the community. 6. BUSD In-Class Return Mark Rodgers with the Bonita Unified School District (BUSD) shared information on the district plans to open on campus hybrid learning for elementary and other students based on state and county guidelines. Mark detailed the comprehensive planning process that has been taking place in preparation for the transition. Mark also noted the benefits of the BUSD's approach including its flexibility as restrictions change. The group also received information on lessons learned from other school districts that have previously opened. Mark also informed the group about the BUSD's plan to address learning loss at all levels. The group discussed the transition as well as celebrated some of the extracurricular activities returning under the appropriate guidelines. 7. Teen Center JR Ranells with the City of La Veme provided an update on the proposed Teen Center at Las Flores Park. JR provided the group with information on the grant that was submitted to the state as well as information on the opposition to the Las Flores location. Vice Chair Crosby noted that he would like YFAC to put forth a letter of support of the Teen Center because of the benefits to the community. The group discussed the Teen Center and history of identifoing the Las Flores location. Member Cockrell requested additional information and it was agreed to follow up with the specifics of the updated Youth & Family Action Committee Minutes March 23,2021, page 3 location/design features at a future meeting. Member Cockrell also noted her desire to incorporate all sides and address concerns raised with the project. JR shared fu(her information on the final location/design. The Executive Board voted to direct staff to draft a letter of support for the Teen Center and its location at Las Flores Park and send to both the City Council as well as the state division reviewing the grant proposal. 8. Public Comment Peter (no last name given) gave his compliments to YFAC for their efforts with youth mental health. Peter also provided information on the opposition to the Teen Center project at Las Flores Park including but not limited to preserving green space. Peter requested that the City explore other altematives to locating the Teen Center at Las Flores Park. Two emails were received regarding the Teen Center (see attached) Jessica Vozella with the American Lung Association gave compliments to the group and its efforts in the community. Kimberly Braswell with Ramona Middle School shared her appreciation for the teachers, staff, and BUSD for their work with addressing concerns and challenges related to COVID-19 and bringing students back to campus. 9. Next Meeting The next YFAC meeting is scheduled lor April2T , 2021, at 6:30 p.m. 10. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m Respectfully subm itted, JR Ranells Assistant to the City Manager JR Ranells From: Piedmont < piedmont782000@yahoo.com > Sent: Tuesday. March 23,2021 5:52 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Speaking request at LV Student Action Comm Mtg. Hello - My name is Peter I would like to speak in the open forum time at the Youth and Action committee meeting tonight. My number is--D Thank You 1 JR Ranells From: Hans Egholm <hans.egholm@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 23,2021 7:08 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Youth & Family Action Committee Meeting - Comment Dear YFAC, I do not think that we should sacrifice limited green space in Las Flores Park to build the proposed Teen Center. I believe that we can maintain the valuable park space and provide enhanced services to teens by considering another site. Thank you. Hans Egholm La Veme resident 1 JR Ranells From: Friends of Las Flores Park <friendsoflasfloresparklv@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 23,2021 7:51 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Fwd: FW: Las Flores Park this was meant to be read on the Youth & Family Action Committee meeting tonight, if you can please forward: Forwarded message --------- From: tami skahill <lgrn!@SA1dglglAgk.cqp> Date: Tue, Nf,ar 23,2021 at 1:03 PM Subject: FW: Las Flores Park To: <!quir.dAy.!s@gqarl.gq!q>, <fSbinSAder3@Cmgikelq>, <rickcrosbylaveme@qrnail.com>, <wmlau76@Enail.com>, <Ih@gehlgdagls> In considerataon of the meeting tfiat will be held tonight, I ask you gave me 5 minutes of your time, Sincerely, Tami Skahill From: tami skahill [mailto:tami@sanderslock.com] Sent: Friday, February t9, 2O2l l2tl6 PM To:'FriendsOflrsFloresParkLV@gmail.com' Cc:'tamiolives.to@omail.com' Subject: Las Flores Park Dear Friends, I consider myself a la Veme Lifer, even though I have tived in other cities and states. As a current resident in the neighborhood of Las Flores park, I get to see itt beauty and usefulness EVERY day, There ar€ residents that utilize the tennis courts and volleyball couG kids sport teams practicing on the softball fields and the soccer faelds every day. There is atso some sort of group for persons with disabilities that has an organized outing every week and they use that North part of this park. The North end of the park was outfitted with new permanent structures, a few years ago, to accommodate bbqt and outdoor gatherings which happens on a consistent basis. If you Google Map the City of ta Verne you will immediately see that Las Flores park is the biggest one in the caty, WHY WOULD WE AGREE TO REITIOVE ANY OF THAT GREEN SPACE??? The beauty of having such a large outdoor recreation area for the whole town to enjoy, easy to forget how lucky we are!!!! But not for me....,, all of my schooling was within the Bonita Unified School District. 1 I used part of this park in Etementary school white enrotled at Roynon, once in middle schoo! at Ramona (when we were Raidersll ) my b€st friend at the time lived on Lomeit and we went to The Plunge every day it was open!!. While sUtl playing softball in La Verne Little League, we were allowed to use the brand new softball fields for our practices and games, wow that was such a big deal then! Now on to High School at Bonita, us girts would have to lug ALL of our equipment up the hitt, past the varsity filed, across the wash and down the length of the park, As you can see, I have GREAT fondness of this park. Without writing you a book I will try to touch on a few other points of interest. when the shiny new Post Office was built off Durward Way it was an ugly gray building, with open bays on the back side and all the lights and bucks in and out during the day. Now when you look that direction, att you can s€e is the beautiful greenbelt and the mountain backdrop. That greenb€lt is protecting the neighborhood from the lights and noise that comes from that direction, especially during football season! I can stand on my front door step and can hear my atma mater fight song and the glow from the fietd tights cover the whole ar€a. If those trees are gone, you witl have very unhappy resadents. The idea ofspending money on a building for a group of individuals you can't guarantee will use, doesn't sound like a smart use of City Funding. For any of you reading or listing to my story, if you have lived in La Verne since youth, did you eyer want for a place like a 'Teen Center"?? Had there be€n one would you have used it? In this era of everything online, what is a Teen Center going to offer teens they can't already access? What groups are utilizing the Community Center now? Have you seen how many empty commerciat spaces there are in our fine city???? Why not tap into an unused markeq specially if it will beneftt the next generation that is on the way. Wath hopes of saving the city spaces that I X OW ar€ being used, I urge all who are involved in this decision, take a closer look at what you could be tosang, not what you THII{K is a good idea' Sincerely, Tami Skahill BHS Class of '95 2