Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, July 18, 2013 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Baldwin, Canepa, Marotta, McCarthy, Menendez-Herbst Commissioners Absent: McEwen, Perske Staff Members Present: Recreation and Community Services Manager Cindy Vierra, Sports Center Manager Jeff Vierra, Park Operations Manager Louie Marcuzzo, Deputy City Manager Plans and Public Works Hans Uslar, Property and Housing Manager Rick Marvin, Administrative Analyst Janna Aldrete, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash Others Present: Councilmember Nancy Selfridge, Councilmember Frank Sollecito CALL TO ORDER CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Thursday, May 16, 2013 Action: Approved as submitted (5-0-2, McEwen, Perske absent). 2. Thursday, June 20, 2013 Action: Approved as submitted (5-0-2, McEwen, Perske absent). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Recommend City Manager Approve Addition of Two Swan Pedal Boats at El Estero Boating Concession Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission recommend that the City Manager approve the addition of two (2) Swan Pedal Boats for the El Estero Boating Concession (5-0-2, McEwen, Perske absent). Administrative Analyst Aldrete presented the request from the El Estero Boating concessionaire to add two (2) swan pedal boats to their existing fleet of 28 paddle boats. She said the license agreement allows the City Manager to approve a different number and/or class of boats operated by the lessee, and that the agreement permits the concessionaire to operate a total of forty (40) boats. She said the addition of these new swan boats could be a draw for new clientele, increase activity in and around Lake El Estero, and provide additional rental income to the City.  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, July 18, 2013 Commissioner Canepa asked if the new swan boats are Coast Guard approved and certified. Anthony Giammanco, El Estero Boating Concessionaire, stated the boats are Coast Guard rated and this is basically the same boat as we currently have it’s just a little bigger with a swan head and wings. He said it is mandatory that everyone wears a life jacket, we take liability very seriously. Commissioner McCarthy inquired that if the City Manager has sole discretion on the addition of boats, why are we approving this request. Property and Housing Manager Marvin said we are very sensitive to the lake and entrance to Monterey and felt the Commission’s approval would be good information for the City Manager as he makes his decision. On a motion by Commissioner Canepa, seconded by Commissioner Marotta, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend that the City Manager approve the addition of two (2) Swan Pedal Boats for the El Estero Boating Concession: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Baldwin, Canepa, Marotta, McCarthy, Menendez-Herbst NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: McEwen, Perske 4. Approve Location at San Carlos Beach Park for Ship Anchors Donated by the Nelson William "Bill" Hyler Family Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission approved the location at San Carlos Beach Park for two (2) ship anchors donated from the family of Nelson William “Bill” Hyler (5-0-2, McEwen, Perske absent). Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo said the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the gift of the anchors and asked to install them at San Carlos Beach Park as public art. He said one anchor will be located on the corner of Foam and Reeside Streets by the rock with the seal, and the other anchor will be located by the Coast Guard pier in the landscaped area. Commissioner McCarthy asked how the anchors will be secured. Park Operations Manager stated the anchors will be installed in landscaped areas so they won’t be easily accessible for people to climb on or be moved. On a motion by Commissioner Marotta, seconded by Commissioner Menendez-Herbst, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the locations at San Carlos Beach Park for two (2) ship anchors donated from the family Nelson William “Bill” Hyler: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Baldwin, Canepa, Marotta, McCarthy, Menendez-Herbst NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: McEwen, Perske Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, July 18, 2013 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, July 18, 2013 5. Approve Concept of a Sister City Park - Referral from City Council Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission approved in concept the use of a small portion of Shoreline Park picnic area for a Sister City dedication site (5-0-2, McEwen, Perske absent). Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra introduced Councilmembers Nancy Selfridge and Frank Sollecito who will give a presentation on their concept of a Sister City park. Councilmember Selfridge reported that we currently have four (4) official sister cities; there are seven (7) in total, but three (3) have not had their delegation visit Monterey yet. She said when we get a Sister City we put a plaque up to show our unity; the idea is to have a designated park to put all of the Sister City plaques in one location. She said this is in the concept phase at this time and the layout and types of plaques would be looked at individually. Councilmember Sollecito said his philosophy is we’re all the same and want the basic principles in life: safety, family, and health. A Sister City Park is about thanking the people, their cities and their government, and to work together to solve similar problems. He said it would be nice to walk by the park and read something positive. Commissioner Marotta inquired if the plan is to put up a monument for each sister city. Councilmembers Selfridge and Sollecito stated yes, and that it has to be appropriate to site. Commissioner McCarthy asked if the City would need Coastal Commission approval. Councilmember Selfridge stated we don’t know at this time. Commissioner Canepa stated if you put too much in one spot it may not look very good. Councilmember Selfridge stated that all monuments would have to be approved by the Architectural Review Committee and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst said it’s a beautiful location that does not get used enough; this use would also draw more attention to that park area. Commissioner McCarthy said the concept is great and asked how this idea moves forward from here. Councilmember Selfridge stated the first step we need to take is to see if this project needs approval from the Coastal Commission before we move forward. Deputy City Manager Plans and Public Works Uslar stated staff would look at all aspects and develop a plan and then bring back the vision to the Parks and Recreation Commission for approval. He said we also need to plan ahead to have room to potentially accommodate 7 to 12 sister cities. Commissioner Baldwin inquired what type of working relationship Monterey has with these cities. Councilmember Sollecito stated that we get ideas from each other; for example our Sister City Nanao, Japan got the idea of holding a Jazz Festival from us and that was 20 years ago. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, July 18, 2013 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, July 18, 2013 On a motion by Commissioner Canepa, seconded by Commissioner Marotta, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the concept to use a small portion of Shoreline Park picnic area for a Sister City dedication site: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Baldwin, Canepa, Marotta, McCarthy, Menendez-Herbst NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: McEwen, Perske INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 6. Monthly Report - Parks Division - June 2013 Action: Report received. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported that Director Bui-Burton is visiting our Sister City Dubrovnik, Croatia, and said they had a representative here a couple of months ago and he was anxious to share his city with us. She also reported that she met with Mike Ferry, the new Director for Monterey County Parks, regarding the City’s use of Toro Park for our Camp Quien Sabe program. He was amazed at how much work we have done in the park. There are a lot of projects that still need to be done and we hope the County Park Foundation can help fund some of those projects. She reported Camp Quien Sabe, Whispering Pines Day Camp, the Playground Program, and Family Camp Weekend were huge successes. She also reported that outdoor basketball camp was successful; staff is gearing up for soccer; and there will be an Open House this month at Scholze Park Center. She gave an update on position recruitment for the Recreation Coordinator position at Scholze Park Center, the Field Sports Coordinator position, and said that Kyle Susic has been hired as the new Recreation Specialist in the Field Sports division. She said staff is working really hard marketing our programs and have been to the Navy School, the Farmers Market, and Del Monte Center. She said the Youth Center has a new military family participating in programs and they were told by other military families who had lived in our community to make sure they check out Monterey Recreation. Sports Center Manager Vierra said they also have a lot of military families and we hear the same thing, I’m very proud of that. He reported that programs are full and wishes they could add more swim lessons but there’s not enough room. He said camps are full and feels it’s due to the staff, that’s why the kids come back. He reported they did an RFP for the Weight Loss Program and only received one proposal. The medical advisory committee will look at it next Tuesday; we’ll bring it to Council in August and hope to have it running in September. He said the Sports Center has participated in several parades and they had Olympic athlete Nick Cunningham ride with us in two of the parades. Commissioner Marotta inquired if an RFP is done for the prepared food sold at the Sports Center Café. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated yes and that Bruno’s has contract right now; and that part of the contract is they deliver and if we don’t sell it, we don’t pay for it. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst asked if the Pacific Grove pool affects the Sports Center. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated no and that last summer they asked us if we would be interested in running their pool. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, July 18, 2013 4  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, July 18, 2013 Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo reported the park tour went very well last month and that the Sports Center is so clean and it never ages. He said the 4th of July Lawn Party was the best; people had a great time and the bands and weather were really good. He also reported they removed the chain link fence in the area by Shoreline Park and it looks great; we are working with the new Monterey Marketplace on landscaping to clean up the entire area; and that Bullwackers is also removing their chain link fence and replacing it with a wood fence. Commissioner McCarthy asked when the new marketplace will be opening. Deputy City Manager Plans and Public Works Uslar stated they did a soft opening July and plan to open in August. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Marotta said the 4th of July Parade was really good this year. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst said the new marketplace is new and exciting and looks forward to the opening. Commissioner Canepa said the 4th of July Parade was really fun, it was a nice day in Monterey and all the celebrations were wonderful. He said he had 5 grandkids attending Whispering Pines Day Camp this summer and they had a ball and really liked all the staff. He said one NIP project he is anxious to see done is the split rail fence along the sidewalk on Del Monte Beach. He said there is a lookout/lifeguard chair on Del Monte Beach and inquired if this is the junior lifeguard program and if the lifeguards are City employees. Deputy City Manager Plans and Public Works Uslar stated it’s a joint venture with State Parks. Commissioner Canepa said “Life is good in Monterey – go visit a park!” NEXT MEETING Thursday, August 15, 2013 ADJOURNMENT Chair McCarthy adjourned the meeting at 7:55 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, July 18, 2013 5