Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2011 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Canepa, Cooney, Federico, Marotta, Menendez-Herbst, McCarthy, Woodward Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Recreation and Community Services Director Kay Russo, Community Services and Library Director Kim Bui-Burton, Recreation and Community Services Manager Cindy Vierra, Chief of Planning, Engineering and Environmental Compliance Chip Rerig, Parks and Maintenance Superintendent Doug Stafford, Recreation Supervisor Shannon Beltran, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash CALL TO ORDER CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Thursday, March 17, 2011 Action: Approved as submitted (7-0-0). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS Sharon Dwight, New Monterey resident, said she drives by Hilltop Park Center daily and stated there has been old vegetation removed from the Devisadero Street side of the park and asked if there were plans to install new plants in this area. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 2. Recommendation to City Council Regarding Shared Use of Hilltop Park Center with Bay View Academy Charter School Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission received direction from Recreation and Community Services Director Russo that this item has been withdrawn by Bay View Academy and they are now requesting the use of Archer Park and Archer Park Center. Director Russo stated that due to the Brown Act, the Commission cannot act on this new request tonight since this request was not on the Parks and Recreation Commission agenda. A special meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Hilltop Park Center to hear Bay View Academy’s new proposal to use Archer Park and Archer Park Center for their charter school. Recreation and Community Services Director Russo stated that late this afternoon, Bay View Academy (BVA) emailed a letter to the Parks and Recreation Commission withdrawing their request for shared use of Hilltop Park Center. She said that due to the Brown Act, the Commission can’t act on BVA’s new request this evening since that is not the item on tonight’s agenda. City staff will also need more time to explore their new request. There will need to be  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, April 21, 2011 an in-house discussion and analysis before staff can respond on BVA’s new request to use Archer Park and Archer Park Center. We also need to notify the public so they can have input on the matter. Director Russo asked the Parks and Recreation Commission to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. to act on their new request. The Parks and Recreation Commission needs to respond to the City Council on this conceptual use of Archer Park and Archer Park Center. She said that Bill Shaw, BVA President, will make a short presentation on their new proposal and that due to the Brown Act, neither the Commission nor the public can comment or ask any questions tonight in regards to their new request, you will have that opportunity next Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Hilltop Park Center. Bill Shaw, BVA President, read their letter into the record that was submitted to the Commission earlier today regarding their withdrawal of their request of shared use of Hilltop Park Center with Bay View Academy Charter School, stating that BVA is no longer pursuing shared use of Hilltop Park Center and that they would now like to pursue the use of Archer Park Center and Archer Park for their charter school. Mr. Shaw said he looks forward to Tuesday’s meeting regarding their new request. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 3. Monthly Report - Recreation and Community Services Department - March 2011 4. Monthly Report - Parks Division - March 2011 5. Art in the Park 6. Spring Music Recital at Hilltop Park Center Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported the Summer/Fall 2011 Activities Guide will be available on Monday, April 25 and registration begins on Wednesday, April 27. She said we need additional funding for our summer programs for Camp Quien Sabe camperships for financially disadvantaged youth and for special needs children to attend Whispering Pines Day Camp. She reported on several items: Pee Wee Baseball is going very well; the community centers have many ongoing classes, programs and events; the Golden 55 Traveler trips have been very well attended, and the Senior Luncheon theme this month was “Spring Fling.” She stated that final interviews for summer staff will be held in May and that there were 132 applicants this year and 13 positions that need to be filled. She also reported that staff is busy marketing programs and events through the Farmer’s Market downtown and at Del Monte Center. Parks and Maintenance Superintendent Stafford reported that the City Council heard a budget presentation last Tuesday and that he will bring information to the next regular Commission meeting so they can have all the details. He said the Council will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, April 27 regarding the budget reductions. Recreation and Community Services Director Russo also reported on the Council budget meeting and said that each Department Head presented their budget and reductions. She had the opportunity to remind the Council of all the eliminations that the Recreation and Community Services Department has already made. She stated that the City is looking at a $5 Million deficit and that 38 employees received potential layoff notices, six of which were Recreation employees. She said the Council will meet on Wednesday, April 27 for more budget discussion. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 21, 2011 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, April 21, 2011 Community Services/Library Director Bui-Burton said that she and Chief of Planning, Engineering and Environmental Compliance Chip Rerig really enjoyed the Senior Luncheon at Scholze Park Center yesterday. She thanked the Commission for coming together for this meeting and really appreciates them having a special meeting for Bay View Academy Charter School next week so we can provide a recommendation to City Council. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Cooney stated that she will not be able to attend the Special Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2011 due to a prior commitment. Commissioner Woodward asked Recreation and Community Services Director Russo and Parks and Maintenance Supervisor Stafford if they had a chance to look at the email she sent regarding "KaBoom Playful City" program and included a link to their website. Director Russo stated they have not had a chance to review this information yet. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst stated that she loves Quarry Park and thanked the Parks Division for always cleaning up broken branches on the trails so quickly. NEXT MEETING Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - Thursday, May 19, 2011  The Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Hilltop Park Center, 871 Jessie Street, regarding “Recommendation to City Council Regarding Use of Archer Park Center and Archer Park by Bay View Academy (BVA) Charter School.  The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission is Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 7:00 p.m., City Council Chambers. ADJOURNMENT Chair Menendez-Herbst adjourned the meeting at 7:21 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kay Russo Suzanne Menendez-Herbst, Chair Recreation and Community Services Director Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 21, 2011 3