Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, May 16, 2013 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Baldwin, Marotta, McCarthy, McEwen, Perske Commissioners Absent: Canepa, Menendez-Herbst 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, Fitness Manager Bill Rothschild, Facility Coordinator Sara Ziel, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash CALL TO ORDER CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Thursday, April 18, 2013 Action: Approved as submitted (5-0-2, Canepa, Menendez-Herbst absent). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 2. Recommendation to Approve a Request to Use Monterey Beach for a Monterey Bay Beach 7s Rugby Tournament on Saturday, August 10, 2013 Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission approved the request of Monterey Bay “Beach Dog” Rugby Club to use Monterey Beach for a Monterey Bay Beach 7s Rugby Tournament on Saturday, August 10, 2013, subject to meeting the designated Use Conditions for the event (5-0-2, Canepa, Menendez-Herbst absent). Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra presented the agenda report stating this is a very eager and enthusiastic group of rugby players who would like to hold their 1st annual beach rugby tournament on Saturday, August 10 on Monterey Beach. She also reviewed the Use Conditions that apply for this event. Ryan Scott, event coordinator and president of the Beach Dogs, stated there is a long history of rugby in the region and a lot of enthusiasm. He said this event will be sanctioned by the U.S. Rugby organization and that each player be an official member and covered by liability insurance. He said there are about 60 local members and they expect about 300 people for the tournament. They are trying to rebuild rugby in this area.  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 16, 2013 Commissioner Perske inquired how long has the local club been in existence and if they have done events like this before. Ryan Scott stated the club has been around for about 40 years and this is their first time coordinating a tournament, he also stated they have great relationships with other clubs in California to obtain information on running an event. Commissioner Perske inquired if there will be a profit gained on the tournament and what will happen with that profit. Mr. Scott replied that most tournaments charge $500-$700 and they are only going to charge $200, so we do not anticipate much of a profit. The food profits will go to St. Francis High School who will provide the food. Any profits for the club will pay for the use of Monterey Peninsula College’s field for practice. Commissioner Marotta inquired if the beach will need to be leveled. Ryan Scott stated we play on it as is; the biggest attraction is it’s in Monterey and it’s on the beach. Commissioner Marotta said it sounds like a great event and supports the request. Commissioner McEwen asked if this is a mixed gender tournament. Ryan Scott stated they have about 20-30 players on women’s side in their rugby club. On a motion by Commissioner Perske, seconded by Commissioner Baldwin, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the request of Monterey Bay “Beach Dog” Rugby Club to use Monterey Beach for a Monterey Bay Beach 7s Rugby Tournament on Saturday, August 10, 2013, subject to meeting the designated Use Conditions for the event: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Baldwin, Marotta, McCarthy, McEwen, Perske NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Canepa, Menendez-Herbst 3. Parks and Recreation Master Plan Conformity of the Proposed Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Parks and Park-Related Projects for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission approved the proposed park and park/recreation-related Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) projects for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 and that the proposed projects conform to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (5-0-2, Canepa, Menendez-Herbst absent). Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo reviewed the project list and stated all projects listed conform to the Master Plan. Commissioner McEwen said her recollection on Item #31, Recreation Trail Pedestrian Path Study & Signage, was that we would find ways to encourage everyone to get along and share the trail but that the project listed is to add another lane. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo stated this proposed project is to look at a study and possibly add new signage and widen the trail in some places. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton stated if another lane were to be added, then the Parks and Recreation Master Plan would need to be amended. Commissioner McCarthy asked for clarification on the location for the Hilltop Park landscape renovation. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo said it is the upper area between the houses and park and the plan is to replace the old woody shrubs. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 16, 2013 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 16, 2013 Sharon Dwight, NIP Representative, stated the list is in the actual order that projects were approved by the NIP Committee. She said there was $2.7M available this year and that $1.5M went to park projects. She commented on Project #31, Recreation Trail Pedestrian Path Study and Signage, and said the split is $12,000 for signage and $40,000 for a study from the Fisherman’s Wharf area; and Item #24, Sollecito Ball Park Field Renovation - Phase 2, the original request was for $500,000 and it was brought down to $200,000. On a motion by Commissioner McEwen, seconded by Commissioner Marotta, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission approve the slate of proposed park and park/recreation-related Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) projects for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 and find the proposed projects conform to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Baldwin, Marotta, McCarthy, McEwen, Perske NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Canepa, Menendez-Herbst 4. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - Tour of Park Facilities - Thursday, June 20, 2013 Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission agreed upon 4:30 p.m. for their park facilities tour on Thursday, June 20, 2013 (5-0-2, Canepa, Menendez-Herbst absent). Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton informed the Commission they will go on their annual tour of park facilities on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. She said Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo will lead the tour and focus on areas that have approved NIP projects. Director Bui-Burton also reminded the Commission to visit Camp Quien Sabe and Whispering Pines Day Camp if they get a chance this summer. 5. Highlights of Monterey Sports Center Programs Action: Presentation received. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated they are always making changes to keep up with current trends and are planning to bring in a new weight loss program. He introduced Fitness Manager Bill Rothschild and Facility Coordinator Sara Ziel who gave a Power Point presentation and answered questions. Commissioner McCarthy asked how the Sports Center is doing percentage-wise. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated that 75% recovery is required and that they bring in on average 92%. He reviewed the history of the swim-gym and how the Council set the policy. The Sports Center is very successful and we were the first city to build a facility like this, we are the role model for a lot of new facilities opening now. Manager Vierra said he has checked with other cities on their facilities and they are only recovering about 62%. He said he is very proud of the staff and the facility. Commissioner Baldwin said besides outstanding management, what do you contribute to your high percentage recovery. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated it’s the staff; they bring in new programs all the time and keep up with current trends. Director Bui-Burton also stated it’s the consistency of the staff, they are trained really well and keep the facility so clean and so fresh, Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 16, 2013 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 16, 2013 and it’s a safe environment. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated the #1 priority is cleanliness, we hear from our guests daily about how clean the facility is. Commissioner Baldwin stated it’s a family atmosphere and people make the difference. Commissioner Perske asked who cleans the facility. Sports Center Manager Vierra said we have facility attendants who clean during the day and at night. Commissioner Baldwin said that catches on, I see participants cleaning. Commissioner Perske inquired on the trend and number of patrons. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated over the last 7-8 years it has stayed about the same, a lot of our programs are full and the memberships fluctuate up and down. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton stated staying the same for the last 7-8 years is a really big accomplishment. Sharon Dwight, NIP Representative, stated there was a request for repairs to the HVAC system and to fix broken tiles in front of the Sports Center that were not funded this year. She said as the building gets older there will be more repairs to do. She said that NIP has funded many projects and that the City needs to fund capital improvement projects to maintain our facilities. We are all very proud of this facility and need to remind the City Council they need to put money aside for capital improvements. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated the City has a fund for major building repairs and it will fund the HVAC project. Commissioner Baldwin asked if there is a record of charter members. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated our RecTrac software runs reports for that information and we have members participating in programs that have been members since the Sports Center opened. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton reported that the Sports Center Foundation is in place to raise money for equipment replacement. Sports Center Manager Vierra also said they receive donations to purchase certain items. The Commission thanked Jeff, Bill and Sara for their presentation and information. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 6. Monthly Report - Parks Division - April 2013 Action: Report received. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported that the annual “Art in the Park” event will be this Saturday, May 18 at Hilltop Park; plans are moving along for the 4th of July Lawn Party celebration; OMBA will be hosting the parade again and Monterey County Pops! will have a concert much larger than last year at Jacks Park without a laser light show; Preschool graduations are next week; Pee Wee Baseball ends in a couple of weeks and Summer Socko will begin June 3. Manager Vierra said staff has been hired for the summer and training will be in June; we are still in the recruitment process to fill the Recreation Coordinator position at Scholze Park Center; and we just finished interviews for the Recreation Specialist position in the Field Sports Division. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo reported the Sollecito Ball Park turf seems to be playing well; the Scholze Park sidewalk and wall improvements are complete; the improved Don Dahvee Park pathway is about 90% complete and really fits in with the natural landscape; new BBQs have been installed at Casanova Oak Knoll Park; the El Estero BBQ area has been cleaned up; and new landscaping has been installed at the corner of Pacific and Madison streets. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 16, 2013 4  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 16, 2013 Sports Center Manager Vierra reminded the Commission that June 1 is the 21st Anniversary for the Sports Center and there will be events throughout the day. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton reported we had a visitor from our Sister City Dubrovnik, Miho Katicic. Miho visited some of our community centers and was very inspired; the ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Scholze Park last week for the sidewalk and wall; she met with the new Marina City Manager Layne Long today and he asked about the Sports Center; and First Night Monterey is interested in bringing back the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. She also reported that next Tuesday’s Council meeting will include CIP, NIP, Dennis the Menace train, ADA transition plan, first review of the budget; still in the midst of employee negotiations; ordinances regarding unsafe behavior and social policy regarding homelessness; and there will be a Homeless Summit on May 18 at Monterey Peninsula College. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS None. NEXT MEETING Thursday, June 20, 2013 ADJOURNMENT Chair McCarthy adjourned the meeting at 8:12 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, May 16, 2013 5