Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, January 15, 2015 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Baldwin, Carnazzo, McCarthy, McEwen, Menendez-Herbst, Perske, Spangler Commissioners Absent: None Staff Members Present: Community Services Director Kim Bui-Burton, Recreation and Community Services Manager Cindy Vierra, Sports Center Manager Jeff Vierra, Park Operations Manager Louie Marcuzzo, Principal Engineer/NIP Coordinator Jeff Krebs, Senior Engineer Laurie Williamson, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash ROLL CALL PRESENTATIONS 1. Presentation to Former Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Louis Perske Action: Presentation made. Community Services Director Bui-Burton thanked Lou for serving as chair for 2014 and noted that at the last Mayor’s meeting he wowed them with his knowledge of our programs. She presented Commissioner Perske with a plaque. Commissioner Baldwin thanked Lou for his leadership and said he is an understanding and compassionate commissioner. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2. Thursday, November 20, 2014 Action: Approved with correction from Commissioner Perske; Page 4, First Paragraph: Remove “in the batting cages.” (7-0). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS Sharon Dwight, NIP representative, said she walked around Laguna Grande Park Lake and that a tremendous amount of undergrowth was removed; which she said is not in conformance with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. She said the neighbors spoke loudly about the layout of the park and to leave some wild land. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Receive Report on FY 2014-2015 Approved Parks and Recreation-related Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects and Open Past NIP Projects Action: Report received. Community Services Director Bui-Burton gave an update on approved parks and recreation- related NIP projects and reviewed the master list of FY 2014-2015 projects, which are listed on the City’s website.  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, January 15, 2015 Commissioner Perske inquired about the total amount spent on the Wyndemere Lower Canyon Drainage project. Principal Engineer/NIP Coordinator Jeff Krebs said we are putting money towards it each year because it is such a large project. Sharon Dwight, NIP Representative, said she was doing an exercise for herself and provided the commission with a list of NIP projects. She reported there are projects that are not on the list including the Presidio path; the Wyndemere project is going to be about $700,000 and funding is requested each year; the Iris Canyon Creek Restoration project would be done in phases and the first phase would be to put up a rail. She said we have stopped planting trees in the Old Town neighborhood due to the cost of water; the Lower Presidio Stable Study is part of the Lower Presidio Historic Park Master Plan and is also in one of the zones of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Commissioner McCarthy asked what the status is on the Skate Park renovation. NIP Coordinator Krebs said they received bids last fall and did not have enough funding; more NIP funding was received and we are rebidding the project, which should be done in the next couple of weeks, with construction to begin in April. Commissioner McCarthy asked what the status is for the Dennis the Menace Park train fencing and access. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo reported the fencing is done. Senior Engineer Laurie Williamson stated they have asked the NIP Committee for additional funds, which was denied. City staff then went back to the consultant and asked them to revise the plans; she said the consultants were finalizing their recommendation before coming back to the City. 4. Rank and Approve Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects for Submittal to NIP for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission approved and recommended to the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Committee six (6) City-wide projects in priority order for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 (7-0). Community Services Director Bui-Burton reported that staff recommend resubmitting six (6) of last year’s projects again because none of them were selected for funding. Commissioner McCarthy inquired about the cost for the awning at the Sports Center. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated this proposed awning will be a permanent one and much lower cost than the retractable one proposed last year. Commissioner Perske inquired if it will be a hard awning or canvas. Sports Center Manager Vierra said it will be canvas, similar to their other awnings. Commissioner Baldwin inquired if this is to replace a current awning. Sports Center Manager stated it will be an extension of the smaller existing awning. Commissioner Spangler asked what the upgrades will be in the Monterey Youth Center’s picnic area. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra stated they will replace the tables and BBQ pit, clean up the area and do some landscaping. She said it is an area that gets a lot of use especially on the weekends. Commissioner McCarthy asked if the climbing structure for Dennis the Menace Park is replacing something else in the park. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo stated it will be a new piece of equipment; we want to have something fun for kids to climb on and take some pressure off not being able to climb on the train. Director Bui-Burton said that Dennis the Menace is a unique park and is heavily used. She said some of the original equipment does not meet playground equipment standards and also there is a need to increase ADA accessibility. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, January 15, 2015 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, January 15, 2015 Sharon Dwight, Alternate NIP Spokesperson, said the Engineering Division is working on a new design for the Recreation Trail; the original request last year was to separate pedestrians and bicyclists, but there is not enough room for that, signage is the answer. She noted that NIP gave funding for the Sollecito Ball Field artificial turf request and that the baseball coach was going to go to the community to get remaining funds; the Via Paraiso Park project to replace hardscape is a general maintenance project and NIP will not fund; the Recreation Trail project should be done in two phases. She said that all prices have been going up and the ADA accessibility is at the federal level and is more stringent and costly. Commissioner Spangler inquired if we have applied for grant money for ADA compliance; she said the City of Seaside received grant money for park walkways. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo said we did receive a grant for the soccer field; he said the ADA grants are hard to get, but staff will keep looking at grant options. Below are the results of the Parks and Recreation Commission’s combined ranking in priority order: 1. San Carlos Beach Park – Repair Declining Walkways 2. Dennis the Menace Park – Purchase Climbing Structure 3. Monterey Youth Center – Replace Picnic Tables/Upgrade BBQ Area 4. Monterey Sports Center – Install Awning on Sun Deck 5. Via Paraiso Park – Replace Hardscape Under Bleachers 6. Monterey Sports Center – Install Signage On a motion by Commissioner Perske, seconded by Commissioner McEwen, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission ranked and approved six (6) proposed projects for submittal to the NIP Committee for Fiscal Year 2015-2016: AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Baldwin, Carnazzo, McCarthy, McEwen, Menendez-Herbst, Perske, Spangler NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 5. Monthly Report - Parks Division - November 2014 Action: Report received. 6. Monthly Report - Parks Division - December 2014 Action: Report received. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported recruitment for summer staff and volunteers has begun; the Flag Football Program will be held at Jacks Ballpark and Sollecito Ballpark the next two Saturdays due to the change in security procedures at the Presidio; staff is working on the summer activities guide; we are preparing a two-year budget; staff is doing extra marketing in the community; the senior luncheon was held Wednesday, February 18; there are several trips available in the play! Monterey Travel Program; and staff is really busy covering for each other due to staff shortage. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, January 15, 2015 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, January 15, 2015 Sports Center Manager Vierra reported the pool bottoms have been cleaned and they are beautiful, it makes it easier for the lifeguards to monitor pools; the pump in the small pool has been out for 3 months and we have lost a lot of revenue because it’s too cold; and the youth basketball program and adult volleyball program are doing well. He said they have facility rentals on most weekends and are adding a mermaid as part of the rental options; she swims with the kids; she purchased her own costume and we are lucky to have someone in our community like this to provide activities for the kids; and the new core zone area is open and it’s been a big hit. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo reminded everyone that the Laguna Grande Park Soccer Field Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is on Friday, January 23 at 3:30 p.m. Community Services Director Bui-Burton commended the Sports Center staff for working on New Year’s Day; she reported the Recreation office is very pleased that the MST tax passed to continue the taxi voucher program for our seniors; the City has been able to keep the program going until the new MST program begins; it is a very well-used and appreciated service. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner McCarthy asked if it’s necessary to power wash Simoneau Plaza so often. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo stated it was a health issue; new benches will go in that won’t require cleaning as often. Commissioner McCarthy asked about the temperature fluctuating in the showers at the Sports Center. Sports Center Manager Vierra stated they have had everyone look at it and cannot find the source without tearing out all the walls; as soon as a customer notifies us staff change out the shower stem and that helps with the fluctuation of pressure. Commissioner Spangler asked about the brush clearing at Laguna Grande Park. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo stated there was a big homeless encampment there, which created health and safety issues. He said they worked with the Audubon Society and left as much of the canopy as possible; it’s known as one of the best birding areas. Commissioner Spangler stated the safety issues have changed over time since the Master Plan was created. Manager Marcuzzo stated the homeless had put up walls and were leaving waste and used needles in the park; it had to be cleaned up. Commissioner McEwen said the swimming pool at the Sports Center looks beautiful after having the bottom cleaned. Commissioner Carnazzo said Laguna Grande Park and the new soccer field look great, and stated there are not enough fields in Monterey. He noted there are locks on the power outlet box at Sollecito Ball Park and they could not plug in a pitching machine. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo said he will check on that. NEXT MEETING Thursday, February 19, 2015 ADJOURNMENT Chair Baldwin adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kim Bui-Burton Vance Baldwin, Chair Community Services Director Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, January 15, 2015 4