Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, January 17, 2013 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Baldwin, Canepa, McCarthy, McEwen, Menendez-Herbst, Perske Commissioners Absent: Marotta Staff Members Present: Community Services and Library Director Kim Bui-Burton, Recreation and Community Services Manager Cindy Vierra, Sports Center Manager Jeff Vierra, Park Operations Manager Louie Marcuzzo, City Engineer Tom Reeves, Recreation Supervisor Shannon Leon, Recreation Coordinator Rachel Deis, Recreation Coordinator Ksenia Berkoff, Recreation Coordinator Nate Cota, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash CALL TO ORDER PRESENTATIONS 1. Introduction of New Commissioner Ellen McEwen Action: Introduction made. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton introduced Ellen McEwen. She said Ellen is a local physician with a Board Certification in Family Medicine and encourages active rehabilitation through physical therapy and appropriate training for recovery. She is a tri-athlete, an active member of the Monterey Sports Center where she swam 100 miles in 2011, and is also a member of the Sports Center’s Medical Advisory Board. Commissioner McEwen said she is looking forward to serving on the Commission. 2. Presentation to Former Chair Mike Marotta Action: Presentation made – Commissioner Marotta was not in attendance – staff will deliver his award plaque. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton, on behalf of the Commission and staff, acknowledged Mike’s excellent year of service as the Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission for 2012. Mike did an outstanding job as Chair by representing the Commission at various City meetings and functions. Commissioner Marotta was not in attendance this evening and staff will make sure he receives his award plaque. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 3. Thursday, November 15, 2012 Action: Approved as submitted 5-1-1, Marotta absent, McEwen abstained. ***End of Consent Agenda***  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, January 17, 2013 PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 4. Rank and Approve Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects for Submittal to NIP for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission approved and recommended to the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Committee eleven (11) City-wide projects in priority order for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 (6-0-1, Marotta absent). Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton reported that the Commission’s NIP Subcommittee met and compiled the projects that were nominated by the Commission at their November 15, 2012 meeting into twelve (12) City-wide projects for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. She said the Council’s criteria are that submitted projects are health, safety or essential maintenance related. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton noted that based on Council’s direction on priority projects, we are removing the Monterey Sports Center project to upgrade internet capability in the Cardio Room from the list. She also noted the deletion of two landscaping projects: Replant and Mulch Medians and Entryways Citywide, and Re-landscape Corner of Pacific and Madison; and the addition of three (3) projects by City Engineer Reeves: Dennis the Menace Playground ADA Walkways, Monterey Youth Center Teen Room Wall Repair, and Monterey Sports Center HVAC System Repair. With these changes there are now eleven (11) projects for the Commission to rank and approve. Below are the results of their combined ranking in priority order: 1. Monterey Sports Center – Replace Surveillance System 2. Monterey Sports Center – Remove Sidewalk Tiles and Replace with Colored Cement 3. Monterey Youth Center – Walkway/Landscape between Parking Lots 4. Monterey Sports Center – HVAC System Repair Above Gymnasium 5. Monterey Sports Center – Automatic Window Openers for Studio I (tied for 5th) 6. El Estero Lake Edge Repair, Phase VI (tied for 5th) 7. Recreation Trail – Replant Between Reeside and Hoffman (tied for 6th) 8. Dennis the Menace Playground – ADA Walkways (tied for 6th) 9. Monterey Youth Center – Teen Room Wall Repair 10. Sollecito Ballpark – Install Artificial Turf in Outfield, Phase II 11. San Carlos Beach Park – New Shower Drain Staff will forward these projects in priority order to the NIP Committee for their review and consideration for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton stated that NIP funding comes from a percentage of the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) monies collected from hotels and this money benefits residents and the city. She said that based on the amount of TOT money the City has collected this year, staff received encouragement to submit all potential projects. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, January 17, 2013 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, January 17, 2013 Commissioner Menendez-Herbst inquired why there are no costs associated with the potential projects this year. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton stated we are not costing projects prior to approval because staff time is charged to NIP to do project estimates. She stated that the Commission should focus on the whether the projects comply with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. City Engineer Reeves stated that consistency with estimates is important and also stated that TOT funding is up significantly this year. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst said having the cost estimates helped to know if you may get one project or more projects potentially funded. Sharon Dwight, NIP Alternate Spokesperson, said the projected dollar amount is an all-time record for NIP money. She said all worthy projects should be submitted and that it’s important that the NIP Committee have choices. She also encouraged the Commission to keep all projects on their list. The Commission ranked their projects and turned in their forms. 5. Highlights of Community Center Programs Action: Presentation received. Recreation Coordinator Ksenia Berkoff gave a Power Point presentation highlighting community center programs and provided the Commission with enrollment statistics and other pertinent program information. Commissioner Perske asked for more detailed numbers on participants. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra explained that the City’s Performance Measurement Program will have that data. It will also rank Monterey against other cities of comparable size who are participating in this program and that the Commission will be able to view it when it is completed by City staff. Commissioner McEwen inquired if a class does not go, do we offer it again or change it. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra stated we look at each class individually to see if we need to change the program, location or date and time to meet the community needs. Recreation Coordinator Cota said that if a program isn’t going at one center, they may try it at another center if it’s a quality program. Recreation Coordinator Deis reported they provide class evaluation forms to get parents comments on classes and programs. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton encouraged the Commissioners to visit each community center. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 6. Parks Division Monthly Report - November 2012 Action: Report received. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, January 17, 2013 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, January 17, 2013 7. Parks Division Monthly Report - December 2012 Action: Report received. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported that summer job recruitment has started; staff is putting together the Summer/Fall 2013 Activities Guide; the Jacks Park lighting project will not be completed by the end of the month. She said they are waiting on two of the electrical panels to arrive. She reported that Maryrose Rinaudo resigned as the full-time Recreation Coordinator at Scholze Park Center and that we will be recruiting for this position soon. Sports Center Manager Vierra reported the Sports Center is offering free events in January that are always very popular and that the gym is full with volleyball and basketball players. He stated their physical therapy program is very popular and that it takes up to 3 weeks to see a therapist and that they are looking for ways to resolve the long wait. He said the saunas are great and we have not received one negative comment about them. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo thanked the center coordinators for training their staff to help keep the parks clean. He reported the Sollecito Ball Park project is going well; the security lights were approved for the Scholze Park project; and the Oak Newton park security lights should be installed within a month. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton reported the Dennis the Menace Playground train consultant group provided general recommendations with no price tag and that report is going to the train subcommittee with a possible recommendation to Council. She said discussions have begun for 4th of July events. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner McEwen said she is glad to be a part of the Commission and it’s fascinating to learn more about our city. She said she has a lot of catching up to do and appreciates the variety. Commissioner Canepa thanked everyone for their prayers for his son Jonathan. He inquired if we mow the Lower Presidio Park. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo stated that’s all we’re allowed to do there. Commissioner Canepa said “Visit a park – all parks in Monterey are beautiful”. NEXT MEETING Thursday, February 21, 2013 ADJOURNMENT Chair McCarthy adjourned the meeting at 8:41 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kim Bui-Burton Dennis McCarthy, Chair Community Services and Library Director Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, January 17, 2013 4