Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, April 18, 2013 7:00 PM SCHOLZE PARK CENTER, 280 DICKMAN AVENUE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Baldwin, Canepa, Marotta, Menendez-Herbst, Perske Commissioners Absent: McCarthy, McEwen Staff Members Present: Community Services and Library Director Kim Bui-Burton, Recreation and Community Services Manager Cindy Vierra, Sports Center Manager Jeff Vierra, Deputy City Manager Plans and Public Works Hans Uslar, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash CALL TO ORDER CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Thursday, March 21, 2013 Action: Approved as submitted (5-0-2, McCarthy, McEwen absent). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 2. Approve Installation of a Permanent Metal Fence Surrounding the Train Engine at Dennis the Menace Park and Forward Recommendation to the City Council Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission recommend approval to the City Council the replacement of the existing permanent four-foot fence at Dennis the Menace Park with a permanent five-foot, black, metal, decorative fence with an option to look at different designs for the fence to include a picket fence (5-0-2, McCarthy, McEwen absent). Deputy City Manager Plans and Public Works Uslar reviewed the City’s course of action up to this point regarding the train at Dennis the Menace Park. He noted this proposed fence was previously approved by the Commission in June of 2012. Based on the amount of public input to keep the train in the park, the City Council appointed a subcommittee to look at options to retain the train. The subcommittee consists of Parks and Recreation Commission members Baldwin and Canepa, City Councilmembers Sollecito and Downey, “Save the Train” members Clayton Payton and Bryan Flores, and other City staff. He stated the subcommittee has looked at many options and there is nothing that would allow us to preserve the train in its current configuration or to modify the engine to allow its use as active play equipment. In early November, the City hired the consulting team of MIG, a company specialized in planning, designing and sustaining playgrounds, to do an inspection of the train. The MIG report states the train cannot be used as playground equipment and that extreme modifications would have to be made to prevent climbing and removal of all safety hazards and to include ADA access to  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, April 18, 2013 the engine compartment. Another option discussed is to treat the train as a historical interpretive display with access to specific train components. The subcommittee met with Senator Bill Monning in January to explore legislative options that would relieve the City from legal and financial liabilities. Senator Monning politely declined, stating he could not support legislative action that knowingly endangers the health and welfare of children playing on the train. Deputy City Manager Uslar said two additional subcommittee meetings were held and they came up with a three-step approach: 1) Parks and Recreation Commission forward a recommendation to City Council to approve the installation of a five-foot high fence around the train to allow for better visibility; 2) the NIP Committee will hear a project proposal to fund a study to address the issue of achieving access to the engine compartment including ADA access; and 3) in Fiscal Year 2014-2015, the City and NIP will be asked to fund the improvements based on the analysis of the study and Council’s direction. This will give the City Council some time and the opportunity to approve these recommendations. Commissioner Canepa inquired if there were any consideration to a flat top picket fence of iron to resemble the fence around “Mr. Wilson’s Garden,” and if there was an estimate on what the retrofit would cost. Deputy City Manager Uslar stated he would need to check with the City’s Risk Manager regarding a picket fence. He said he would estimate the study cost to be $10,000-$20,000, and the actual cost for a ramp would be a guess at this time. He said staff looked all over California and found no trains that are used as play equipment to use as an example. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst inquired if the $16,858 for the fence and the study for access through the train cabin comes from NIP funds. Deputy City Manager Uslar stated the money for the fence comes from the General Fund budget and the study will be funded through NIP. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst said that would be a wonderful option to be able to see the engine compartment. Deputy City Manager Uslar stated the concept is rough right now and we will work with the “Save the Train” group to create an area for people to take photos. Commissioner Marotta asked for confirmation that funding for all but the fence will come from NIP. Deputy City Manager Uslar stated yes. Community Services and Library Director Bui- Burton also stated that staff may seek grant money. Mr. Uslar also stated that Southern Pacific would like to be more involved in this process. Deputy City Manager Uslar introduced Clayton Payton, key member of the “Save the Train” group. He said Mr. Payton has contributed a lot of his time and skills for the design and drawings and will continue to be involved in the process. He suggested the Commission check out their Facebook page. He said this was a very controversial issue in the beginning, but working together has changed the general opinion and they now understand the concerns of the City. Mr. Uslar thanked Clayton and said their group has helped to guide the process and helped all of us. Commissioner Canepa said the staff report states “permanent” fence and inquired if the recommendation has to be exactly as stated in the report. Deputy City Manager Uslar said the recommendation could be what staff is asking in the staff report with an amendment to look at a different design for the fence. Commissioner Canepa stated he just didn’t want to be boxed in to a specific design. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 18, 2013 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, April 18, 2013 On a motion by Commissioner Marotta, seconded by Commissioner Canepa, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend approval for the train engine at Dennis the Menace Park to the City Council: 1) replacement of the existing four-foot fence with a permanent five-foot, black, metal, decorative fence with an option to look at different designs for the fence to include a picket fence; 2) NIP project for a study to address the issue of achieving access to the engine compartment including ADA access; and 3) submit improvements based on the study and Council’s direction in Fiscal Year 2014-2015 to the NIP Committee: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Baldwin, Canepa, Marotta, Menendez-Herbst, Perske NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: McCarthy, McEwen INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 3. Monthly Report - Parks Division - March 2013 Action: Report received. Deputy City Manager Plans and Public Works Uslar reported a Ribbon Cutting event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7 at 2:30 p.m. for the NIP sidewalk and park wall improvements at Scholze Park and that staff will send out invitations. 4. Art in the Park Action: Report received. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra said that Art in the Park is an event that brings the community together. Staff sets up a variety of craft booths for youth ages 2-12. She said it is a very popular free event and serves 400-500 families. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported staff is gearing up for summer programs; Scholze Park Center held their monthly luncheon, and the Golden 55 Travelers just visited Filoli Gardens and will be attending the musical show “Jersey Boys;” the Pee Wee Baseball program at Larkin Park has begun; and staff is doing interviews for summer jobs. She also reported our first day for summer registration was on Wednesday, May 3 and we collected over $108,000 and that approximately 60% registered online; Camp Quien Sabe Family Camp filled in 15 minutes; the Playground Programs are filling up fast; and we are in the recruitment process to fill the vacant Recreation Coordinator position at Scholze Park Center. She and Director Bui-Burton met with new County Parks Director Mike Ferry regarding the Camp Quien Sabe program at Toro Park and he is anxious to visit our camp program this summer. Sports Center Manager Vierra reported they just finished life guard training courses; they are in the process of hiring staff for summer programs; and they will begin their Summer Promotion program in May - people who purchase a membership will receive one month free. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst reported that the bicycle decals on the Recreation Trail are very faded and should be repainted before summer. Deputy City Manager Uslar said staff will check the decals/stencils. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 18, 2013 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, April 18, 2013 Commissioner Perske followed up stating the pedestrian and bicycle stencils look like they’re running into each other. Deputy City Manager Uslar said those signs are read by people from all over the world and that staff is looking at different options to improve this. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton also said there is an article in the current City Focus reminding residents about courtesy on the multi-use trail. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton reported that Finance Director Don Rhoads is leaving the City and going to work for the City of Beverly Hills; the City has hired an interim Finance Director and hope to fill this position within 4-6 months. She also reported the City Manager recruitment is ongoing. She reminded the Commission that the NIP voting night is Thursday, April 25; on Wednesday, April 24, the City Council will have a study session on Capital projects and the homeless issues in Monterey. She said staff received a lot of community comments on aggressive panhandling and will look at what other municipalities are doing. Staff will present a report to Council laying out some possible solutions. She also reported there will be a Homeless Symposium on May 18 at Monterey Peninsula College. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Canepa said where the Cypress tree came down on the Recreation Trail really opened up a nice view. He said a lot of the Cypress trees along the trail are greenery heavy and suggested having them thinned out. He reported the “no mow” grass at San Carlos Beach Park has a lot of weeds. Deputy City Manager Uslar reported they are no longer using Roundup and that area also has a heavy gopher issue. Commissioner Canepa said Paul Perez from the Parks Division was on the beach with the tractor where the old volleyball court used to be and he exposed a lot of the nice timber steps – he inquired if the rest of the sand can be removed from the timbers. Deputy City Manager Uslar said staff will look into this. Commissioner Canepa inquired about the project that was approved at Monterey Bay Park with a wedding gazebo and said this project has been sitting on the shelf for a long time. Deputy City Manager Uslar said this is part of the Waterfront Plan and is on hold until this plan is completed and approved by City Council. NEXT MEETING Thursday, May 16, 2013 ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Perske adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kim Bui-Burton Louis Perske, Vice Chair Community Services and Library Director Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 18, 2013 4