Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, September 19, 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, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash CALL TO ORDER CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Thursday, July 18, 2013 Approved as submitted (6-0-1, Marotta absent). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS Michael Payan, Monterey resident, presented the Commission with the idea of playing Pickleball on one of the tennis courts at Via Paraiso Park two mornings per week. He said it is an easy sport to learn and play and that he has all the equipment needed, so there would be no cost to the City. He said he lives nearby and has noticed that the Via Paraiso Park tennis courts are not used very often and would be a perfect location for Pickleball and asked for the Commissions consideration of this request. Commissioner McCarthy stated we’re here to encourage recreational activities and the next step for this proposal would be for staff to review it in detail and bring it back to the Commission for their review and possible approval. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst also noted those tennis courts are not used very often and it would be great to see more activity there. Sports Center Manager Vierra said Pickleball is growing tremendously and that the participants in Sports Camp play, it’s similar to ping pong and badminton.  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, September 19, 2013 PUBLIC APPEARANCE 2. Highlights of Summer Programs Action: Presentation made. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra gave a Power Point presentation highlighting the summer’s programs and activities. Commissioner Perske asked if we were at capacity in the programs and what is the age of the camp counselors. Manager Vierra stated the Playground Program had huge waitlists and that our average weekly attendance was higher this summer than in the past for our summer camps. She said our counselors are of high school and college age and we had a lot of returning staff this summer. The Commission thanked staff for all their hard work. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 3. Monthly Report - Parks Division - July 2013 Action: Report received. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst inquired about the “No Smoking” signs that were recently installed behind the Library. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo stated this was a request by the Monterey Police Department. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported that Field Sports is very busy with soccer, socko, and baseball. She said that soccer parents have been having some difficulty gaining access to the Presidio and we hope it is now resolved. She noted that the community center fall programs are going well, preschool has started, Hilltop Park Center is having their Kids Flea Market on September 28, and some of the upcoming Golden 55 trips are the Wizard of Oz, Beach Blanket Babylon, Holiday Shopping in San Francisco, and Dickens Faire. She announced that Recreation Coordinator Ksenia Berkoff of Hilltop Park Center is on maternity leave with her newborn son and that the Sports Coordinator position is still vacant and hopes that Human Resources will start recruitment soon. She said that she is really proud of staff for helping each other out. Sports Center Manager Vierra reported the homeless issue of using the Sports Center for showering is not going to happen. He said it’s unfortunate that this proposal was even suggested because members are concerned with the possibility and have said they will leave if it is allowed. He said it’s been tough responding to the guests with their concerns and it’s disappointing for all the hard work that staff does. He stated that minimum wage is going up and that will have a tremendous impact for the Recreation Division with the number of part-time employees we have. He said with the reorganization of staff at the Sports Center, we have two Facility Coordinator positions vacant and hope to start recruitment soon. He noted that with the reorganization of staff, we have over $50,000 in salary savings. He also noted that new high- tech equipment will be arriving soon Commissioner Menendez-Herbst inquired if the group exercise classes are still full. Sports Center Manager Vierra said they are packed and there is no room for expansion at this time. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 19, 2013 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, September 19, 2013 Commissioner McCarthy inquired if the homeless shower issue was raised by a Councilmember. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton stated yes and that Council took action that this proposal will not happen. Commissioner Baldwin inquired if all of the new equipment is from one manufacturer. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated that we had to go to bid and the manufacturers had to meet certain specifications requested by us. Commissioner Baldwin asked what happens to the old machines. Manager Vierra said some goes to the Fire Department and some are used for parts to repair other machines. Commissioner McCarthy inquired how the Sports Center staff was reorganized. Manager Vierra stated the vacant Operations Manager position was downgraded, a vacant Control Cashier position was downgraded to a part-time position, and 10 hours per week were added to the Recreation Specialist/Facility position and the title of that position was changed to Facility Coordinator. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo reported the fence is up around the train engine at Dennis the Menace Park and that we have $35,000 from NIP for a study to design a ramping system for entry to the train. Commissioner McCarthy inquired what is going on at the PG&E site next to the Sports Center. Commissioner Canepa said they are repairing transmission gas line leaks and the work should be completed by the end of October. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton reported on her trip to our Sister City Dubrovnik in July. She said the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting for Thursday, October 17 is going to be canceled; the City Council will hold a special meeting that evening called “For the Love of Monterey” and that all commissions and boards will be invited and are encouraged to attend. She said another summer season has finished and what a great team of employees, they all work together and show good leadership and are good role models. She reported the recruitment for a new City Manager is scheduled to begin soon and that Fred Meurer will be leaving at end of December. She also reported that the Finance Director recruitment was not successful and will have to be done again; and that our new Fire Chief, Gaudenz Panholzer comes to us from the San Jose Fire Department, but is from Carmel Valley. She said this is a time of transition and uncertainty for the City. Commissioner Baldwin inquired about the rugby tournament that was approved by the Commission. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra said the organizers canceled two weeks prior to event because they didn’t feel like they had everything organized. Commissioner Perske inquired about the beach volleyball tournament that was also approved by the Commission. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra stated it was very successful and they want to add another tournament next year in October. She said that Misty May is tentatively coming to do a youth workshop and the organizers really want to build the youth volleyball in the area. Commissioner Perske reported there is a sunflower seed problem with the artificial turf at Sollecito Ball Park and suggested that the concessionaire does not sell sunflower seeds. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 19, 2013 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, September 19, 2013 4. Monthly Report - Parks Division - August 2013 Action: Report received. 5. Kids Flea Market Action: Report received. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Canepa said the fence around the train at Dennis the Menace Park looks nice and suggested it could be moved closer to the train to make the entrance to the park more open. He said when crossing the Pearl Street bridges he has noticed campers staying long- term in the parking lots adjacent to the cemetery and said it makes him leery to see the same vehicle in an area long-term when there are kids in the parks. He inquired why the fencing at Del Monte Beach is not going up. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo reported there are Blue Butterflies in the Buckwheat plants and is an environmental issue, so the project is on hold. Commissioner Canepa said with the beach volleyball tournament coming again we need to push for the replacement of the bathrooms by Wharf. Parks in Monterey look beautiful, go visit a park! NEXT MEETING Thursday, November 21, 2013 ADJOURNMENT Chair McCarthy adjourned the meeting at 8:15 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, September 19, 2013 4