Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, May 21, 2015 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Baldwin, McCarthy, McEwen, Menendez-Herbst, Perske Commissioners Absent: Carnazzo, Spangler Staff Members Present: Community Services Director Kim Bui-Burton, Recreation and Community Services Manager Cindy Vierra, Sports Center Manager Jeff Vierra, Principal Engineer/NIP Coordinator Jeff Krebs, Facility Coordinator Rachael Zalan, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash CALL TO ORDER CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Thursday, March 19, 2015 Action: Approved as corrected (5-0-2, Carnazzo, Spangler absent). 2. Monday, March 23, 2015 Action: Approved as submitted (5-0-2, Carnazzo, Spangler absent). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Approve Finding of Conformity of Proposed FY 2015-2016 Parks and Recreation-Related Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission approved the finding of conformity of proposed Fiscal Year 2015-2016 parks and recreation-related Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) projects with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (5-0-2, Carnazzo, Spangler absent). Community Services Director Bui-Burton reviewed the proposed projects selected for funding by the NIP Committee and noted the projects that had changes or corrections to title or description. Commissioner Baldwin said the cost of $22,000 seems very high for project DT-2, Jacks Park Entrance Baseball Statue to be moved. NIP Coordinator Krebs stated that power needs to be installed for the up lighting and a pedestal to make the statue more visible. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst inquired why the statue is being moved. NIP Coordinator Krebs stated this will make it an eye catcher to bring people to the park. Community Services Director Bui-Burton said that Councilmember Downey asked about park standards for park land, and whether these proposed projects met the park standards. Director Bui-Burton said the park standards adopted were from the 1960’s and need to be updated as  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 21, 2015 part of the upcoming Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP) Update. She noted that staff and the commission sometimes struggle with saying that projects conform to the PRMP due to outdated information and conflicts with other plans; the new PRMP will be clearer and make the review process easier. She said that staff finds all proposed NIP projects in conformance with the PRMP and subsequent updates. Commissioner McCarthy noted the outdoor basketball courts were originally proposed to be located on the waterfront and inquired why we are now looking for another location. NIP Coordinator Krebs stated there was a lot of concern about the location from surrounding businesses so the proponents changed the scope to see where the best location would be for this project; the NIP Committee selected this project for funding with a 12-month time limit to find a suitable location. Rick Heuer, NIP Spokesperson, noted the New Monterey neighborhood is deficient in overall park land. In the past, the City had an Opportunity Buying Fund; that’s how Casanova Oak Knoll Park Center was purchased; if a proposed project to purchase property were funded by the NIP Fund and then the property is not purchased, the money would go into this fund. He stated the Outdoor Basketball Courts project was changed due to opposition from businesses in the area; and it probably would also need the Coastal Commission’s approval at the original proposed location. Sharon Dwight, NIP Alternate Spokesperson, said the New Monterey Neighborhood is in Park Zone 1 and the park acreage is short; she reminded staff that when redoing the PRMP to consider that half of the neighborhood's park land included the Presidio. She commented on VDM-1, Ferrante Park BBQ Picnic Upgrade and said they are adding potable water which added to the cost; VDM-2, Montecito Park Improvements, security lighting is what they want to add and that it be turned off at 10:00 p.m.; CW-22, Outdoor Basketball Courts with Lights, we’re expecting the Parks and Recreation Commission to have a subcommittee to find a location, similar to finding a location for the skate park; and CW-29A, Lower Presidio Historic Park Improvement to Allow Public Use, this is proposing a walkway to go around the Serra monument. On a motion by Commissioner McEwen, seconded by Commissioner McCarthy, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission approve the finding that the slate of proposed parks and recreation-related Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) projects for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 conform to the 1986 City of Monterey Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP), and 1995, 2000, 2006 and 2011 Updates, and the 1992 Final Beach Master Plan: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Baldwin, McCarthy, McEwen, Menendez- Herbst, Perske NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Carnazzo, Spangler 4. Skateboard Park Renovation Update Action: Report received. NIP Coordinator Krebs gave a presentation on the evolution of the Skateboard Park Renovation project. He said they plan to go to City Council for approval to award the contract and hope to begin construction at the end of the summer. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 21, 2015 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 21, 2015 Commissioner Baldwin stated that this construction is so specialized that not all construction companies could do the project. NIP Coordinator Krebs stated they must have 3 years of experience in constructing skateboard parks; there is a local contractor in Watsonville who is very experienced. Commissioner McEwen thanked Jeff Krebs and staff for the effort put into this project and for being so creative. 5. Highlights of Monterey Sports Center Programs Action: Presentation made. Facility Coordinator Zalan gave a presentation on classes and programs at the Monterey Sports Center and noted that they were voted best health club by Monterey County readers two years in a row, and were also voted best senior hangout and best yoga; we are here to serve the community. Community Services Director Bui-Burton also noted a story was done by a Sports Center member on KION on what businesses are doing to conserve water; she couldn’t believe the Sports Center was a City owned facility. Commissioner Baldwin said it was a very professional presentation and thanked staff for their hard work. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 6. Tour of Park Facilities for July 2015 Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission will do their annual park tour on Thursday, July 16, 2015. Community Services Director Bui-Burton informed the commission they will receive a presentation on the Draft Waterfront Master Plan by Principal Planner Elizabeth Caraker at their June 18 meeting. She said on the park tour we will visit some possible locations for the proposed outdoor basketball courts that were approved for NIP funding. 7. Monthly Report - Parks Division - March 2015 Action: Report received. 8. Monthly Report - Parks Division - April 2015 Action: Report received. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported she met with the Garrison Commander and Assistant Garrison Commander at the Presidio and we have worked out a process to allow us to continue to use the fields for youth sports. She said staff is getting ready for summer, new staff is hired, and we are adding diabetic training for staff this year; along with social media and child abuse training. Staff is working with Monterey County Parks to get Toro Park ready for Camp Quien Sabe. Sports Center Manager Vierra reported they are participating in several parades and even have a theme song; they will have a big unit in the 4th of July parade this year. He said the new marketing idea of having car magnets on City vehicles advertising recreation programs is getting positive comments; over 30 City vehicles will have signs to start with. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 21, 2015 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 21, 2015 Community Services Director Bui-Burton reported staff is looking forward to updating the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and are working with the Planning Department to go through the RFP process to select a company to develop the Plan. She said the City is looking at ways to save water; the Parks Division is looking at ways to save on watering grass and may brown-out some areas. There will be a budget study session for Council next Tuesday, then a community budget meeting on June 4, and they will be asked to adopt the two year budget at the June 16 meeting. She reported that Measure P funds are starting to be expended with projects throughout the City; we received $44M in bonds for the Monterey Conference Center and will provide a schedule for closures during construction. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner McCarthy thanked staff for their hard work and for keeping things moving. Commissioner McEwen said it’s great to see so many wonderful projects are getting off the ground and going. Commissioner Perske said staff is amazing. Commissioner Baldwin inquired about events that are held on the Recreation Trail and wanted to know if they have to pay a fee and do they have monitors. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra stated yes and they are required to have an Event Permit, pay a permit fee and are required to provide monitors. Commissioner Baldwin said the SPCA’s Wag’n Walk event held at Shoreline Park blocks the Trail because they have too many people and dogs and don’t pay attention to other Trail users; there was an ugly confrontation this year. He suggested moving them back and putting up plastic fencing to keep them more confined. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst agreed the Trail is very busy and we need some kind of control during these types of events; it’s so beautiful and gets used by so many people. She suggested putting more signs up; it’s not safe. Commissioner McEwen said she bicycles on the Trail all the time and there is nowhere else to ride to get through that area by Shoreline Park. NEXT MEETING Thursday, June 18, 2015 ADJOURNMENT Chair Baldwin adjourned the meeting at 8:38 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, May 21, 2015 4