Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, March 15, 2012 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Canepa, Federico, Marotta, Menendez-Herbst, Woodward Commissioners Absent: McCarthy, Perske Staff Members Present: 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 (Retired), Park Maintenance Supervisor Louie Marcuzzo, Assistant Urban Forester Stephen Morton, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash CALL TO ORDER PRESENTATIONS 1. Presentation to Commissioner Debra Federico for Fifteen (15) Years of Service to the City of Monterey On behalf of the City Council, Commissioners and City staff, Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton thanked Debra for her participation and contributions towards promoting and improving parks and recreation services and serving as a Park and Recreation Commissioner during the past fifteen years. Chair Marotta presented Commissioner Federico with a plaque, an Orchid, and a box of See’s Candy. Commissioner Federico said she will miss everyone and that she loves Monterey. She said she doesn’t want to step down from the Commission, but they are moving out of Monterey and that she can no longer serve as a Commissioner. Debra thanked the Commissioners and staff and stated “I do what I do because of this position on the Commission and will miss being a part of it.” CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2. Thursday, February 16, 2012 Action: Approved as submitted (5-0-2, McCarthy absent; Perske absent). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None.  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, March 15, 2012 PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Review and Comment on Park and Recreation Related Proposed Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Action: The Commission reviewed the proposed NIP projects for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 and provided comments for the NIP Committee. Retired Parks and Maintenance Superintendant Stafford reviewed the list of proposed NIP projects for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 and answered Commissioners questions. He said staff is working on the costs of submitted projects and that the projects must also conform to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Sharon Dwight, Alternate NIP Spokesperson, provided information and asked for the Parks and Recreation Commission’s comments on some specific proposed projects. Project AM-01/Don Dahvee to Del Monte Center Path Improvements; Project AM-02/Iris Canyon Parking Area – The Jacks Family put restrictions on the deed; do you want to encourage parking in that area? The neighbors are not happy with the proposed location on Via Mirada; Project COK-01/CONA Park Center Radio Room The proposed project is to build an addition/small closet size room where a radio operator would have access to the radio. She said if we can’t do that we’re fine with having a portable radio in a lock box outside the center; NM-18/Recreation Trail Crossings – Cannery Row Business District – several intersections proposed to improve the pedestrian/bicycle street crossings and make them more visibly prominent and safer; CW- 02/Sollecito Ball Park Infield Artificial Turf – After 20 years of use it becomes hazardous material and is costly to dispose of; CW-11/Dog Park Improvements - What parts of this project are you interested in?; CW-19/Jacks Park Ball Field Lighting Upgrade – If we’re changing the lights – maybe we should do it now as this project will coincide with the upgrading of the power panels at Jacks Park. Ms. Dwight stated that the NIP Committee does not like repetitive requests for ongoing maintenance projects. The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed and commented on the following proposed projects: AM-01/Don Dahvee to DMC Path Improvements - Commissioner Marotta said the Jacks Family has restrictions on the property deed that no structures are allowed. Retired Parks and Maintenance Superintendent Stafford stated the only structure allowed would be a caretaker’s house – the deed does not mention lighting. Commissioner Woodward said it is a safety issue with more MPC students and residents walking through Don Dahvee Park. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst said we need to find out what the neighbors think and if the Neighborhood Association supports this project. Commissioner Canepa stated that installing power won’t be cheap and the neighbors may not want lighting next to their house; AM-02/ Iris Canyon Parking Area – Commissioner Marotta stated that parking is going on there now. Commissioner Woodward said you would also have to add handicap parking; COK-01/CONA Park Center Radio Room – Commissioner Woodward said that Sharon Dwight asked if the Commission would support a portable radio in a locked box outside of the community center. Commissioner Marotta inquired why the radio can’t be in the center. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra said that staff is working with the Fire Department to see if we can come up with a solution for this proposed project; NM-18/Recreation Trail Crossings – Commissioner Marotta inquired how many crossings are being proposed. Sharon Dwight stated the request is for 15 crossings and on Cannery Row some intersections could have three crossings. Commissioner Marotta stated that safety crossings on the Recreation Trail is something we all support; CW-02/Sollecito Ball Park Infield Artificial Turf – Retired Parks and Maintenance Superintendent Stafford answered questions about artificial turf and the required maintenance. Commissioner Marotta stated the field is getting torn up and the City could save money in the long run on maintenance costs; CW-11/Dog Park Improvements – Commissioner Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 15, 2012 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, March 15, 2012 Woodward said she agrees with some of the proposed project, but not the addition of a windscreen or expanding the dog park. Commissioner Federico wishes it was bigger because it’s used all the time. Commissioner Woodward also inquired about the installation of a drinking system for the dogs. Retired Superintendent Stafford stated there is a water spigot available and the park users provide their own bowls. He said he spoke to a veterinary office and they recommended not using community water bowls for the health safety of the dogs; CW-19/Jacks Park Ball Field Light Upgrade – Commissioner Menendez-Herbst inquired if the existing lights work. Retired Superintendent Stafford stated the fixtures are falling apart and new lighting would be more energy and cost efficient. Commissioner Canepa supports it and said as close to the ocean as they are, they’ve lasted a long time. Retired Superintendent Stafford stated that we’re replacing the power panel at Jacks Park because it’s deteriorating and isn’t large enough to support everything in the Jacks Park complex. Sharon Dwight stated the power panel replacement didn’t get done for the Bronco World Series this past year and could be done in conjunction with installing new light fixtures. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 4. Monthly Report - Recreation Division - February 2012 5. Monthly Report - Parks Division - February 2012 Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported that staff is wrapping up recruitment for summer jobs and that Friday is the deadline to apply. The Summer/Fall 2012 Activities Guide will be out on April 2 and registration starts on Wednesday, April 4. She said we are advertising at the Century Cinema and doing different types of marketing to get our information out to the public. She reported that the Golden 55 Travel Program is going very well. She said summer is coming up quickly and that Camp Directors Susie Klinefelter & Amy Reed will direct Camp Quien Sabe again this year and we will be hiring a new director at Whispering Pines Day Camp. She also said there will be no field trips this summer because we have no transportation. For CQS we will use Salinas Unified School District buses and drivers this year. She reported that she’s going to the CPRS conference this month and will be attending a workshop on artificial turf. Park Maintenance Superintendent Marcuzzo reported they received a lot of donations from local nurseries for this year’s Cutting Day to be held on Saturday, March 17, 2012 in Friendly Plaza. Assistant Urban Forester Morton reported they are working with DLI on Earth/Arbor Day activities and the City will participate in tree planting. Retired Parks and Maintenance Superintendent Stafford reported they just finished the Dennis the Menace Park lights; they have ordered 3 light fixtures for Griffin Plaza: Sollecito Ball Park Scoreboard is being installed; John Wilkes has been selected to replace Jim Maxon at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Commissioner Woodward asked about the attendance numbers and money collected at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Retired Superintendent Stafford stated we collect about $200,000 each year. Commissioner Woodward inquired what is happening with the train at Dennis the Menace Park. Retired Superintendent Stafford stated that until we come up with a solution, we have fenced the train off. He said we have posted the train as a historical structure not play equipment. The City’s Risk Manager says posting it is not enough to cover the City, she feels we are defenseless if someone were to get seriously injured. We are trying to keep the train there for historical purposes. Commissioner Federico inquired how many years has the train been like this. Retired Superintendent Stafford stated the train was installed Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 15, 2012 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, March 15, 2012 there in 1964. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst suggested roping it off, but to have it set up to allow photos. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton reported that the Sports Center slide is repaired and scheduled to open tonight at 7:00 p.m. and that the building has been repaired where a car went through on the Del Monte Avenue side. She said staff is working on the Wedding Permits for Friendly Plaza and the Colton Hall Lawn Area. She said she has not received any news regarding the 4th of July Parade. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Federico said she loves the parks and the City of Monterey – thank you so much for everything you’ve taught me. Commissioner Canepa stated there are no moving parts on the DTM train, just like all the other play equipment. He said a kid could also fall from the climbing wall or other play equipment. He said it’s sad that the train is fenced off and wishes it was open for the kids to climb – I climbed it as a kid. Life in Monterey is really good. NEXT MEETING Thursday, April 19, 2012  The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission is Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 7:00 p.m., City Council Chamber. ADJOURNMENT Chair Marotta adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kim Bui-Burton Mike Marotta, Chair Community Services and Library Director Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 15, 2012 4