Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, November 19, 2015 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Baldwin, McCarthy, McEwen, Spangler Commissioners Absent: Carnazzo, Menendez-Herbst Staff Members Present: Community Services Director Kim Bui-Burton, Recreation and Community Services Manager Cindy Vierra, Park Operations Manager Louie Marcuzzo, Principal Engineer/NIP Coordinator Jeff Krebs, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash CALL TO ORDER CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Thursday, October 15, 2015 (Joint Study Session with Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Committee) Action: Approved as submitted (4-0-2, Carnazzo, Menendez-Herbst absent). 2. Wednesday, October 21, 2015 Action: Approved as submitted (4-0-2, Carnazzo, Menendez-Herbst absent). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE (Due to public interest and attendance, Item #5 was presented as first public appearance item.) 5. Receive Report on Possible Locations for 1-2 Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Funded Outdoor Basketball Court(s) with Lighting and Provide Direction to Staff Action: Report received with direction to continue to pursue the site near Shoreline Park and the possible use of the lighted basketball courts at the Coast Guard station. Community Services Director Bui-Burton noted that during the 2015-2016 NIP project submittal period, a request was submitted for 1-2 outdoor lighted basketball courts; a stipulation for the project was that a location must be identified and construction completed within a 12-month period, which began in June 2015. She reviewed the following possible locations for outdoor lighted basketball courts to include the gravel parking area off Figueroa between Del Monte  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 19, 2015 Avenue and the boat storage yard; the gravel parking area alongside Monterey Bay Kayaks; the grassy area and/or the second sand volleyball court area in Monterey Bay Park; the parking lot next to the El Estero Park group picnic area/Skate Park; and the grassy area between the Recreation Trail and Foam Street/Lighthouse Avenue curve near Shoreline Park. She said some concerns are having access to restrooms, parking, and compatibility with other uses. Principal Engineer/NIP Coordinator Krebs noted that staff also looked at existing basketball courts, but those are located in residential neighborhoods. He said he called the Coast Guard to discuss possible joint use because they already have an outdoor lighted basketball court off of Foam Street. He showed proposed plans for courts by the dry boat storage area, the area east of the Monterey Bay Kayak building, the volleyball courts in Window on the Bay Park, next to the Skate Park, and by Shoreline Park. He noted each proposed location has challenges and will also have to go to the Coastal Commission for their approval if it’s near the waterfront. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo said the area by Figueroa Street would be easiest to maintain, the challenges are the dry boat storage area and traffic; the second best spot would be the parking lot area on the east side of the Monterey Bay Kayak building, the entrance and exit to the parking lot would have to be changed, and it is close to the Recreation Trail to hook into lighting. NIP Coordinator Krebs stated he was putting the final touches on the drawings at 6:00 p.m. tonight, so he hasn’t had a chance to check with all constituents. He said this project has to be done by June or the money goes away; there are a lot of things that still need to be worked out including any Coastal Commission reviews. Commissioner Spangler inquired when the boat storage redesign will be done. Community Services Director Bui-Burton stated it has to go back to Council and the Architectural Review Committee for fence design and is hoped to begin in 2016. Commissioner McEwen suggested we copy the dry boat storage fence for the basketball courts. Sharon Dwight, NIP Representative, stated when this project was approved by the NIP Committee, it had a very unusual stipulation in the funding that stated a location must be identified and construction to begin by July 1 or the money goes back to NIP. She said there’s enough money for one basketball court; and all the sites proposed are within the coastal zone, which will delay the project. She stated the NIP Committee was not going to give money if the basketball court is located at the corner of Figueroa Street or anywhere by Monterey Bay Park; “we won’t fund it because we don’t want a lighted court in Window on the Bay.” She also stated the El Estero Park parking lot already has an NIP funded restroom for that area; the Skate Park area would be too much lighting and we need the parking there; the location by the Coast Guard has a parking lot and lighting would be contained and not spoil the coastal setting, there is good security, and there are restrooms on the breakwater and at San Carlos Beach Park. David Pollaci, Monterey Beach House, said they are opposed to having basketball courts by their business; noting their guests pay for parking. He said “this will not be a safe area for youngsters, there are more homeless with drinking and drugs; it would not be a good mix, please don’t put it there.” Pete Gugialamo, owner of pump house station on Wharf 2, stated they stage the semi-trucks in that area to off-load the boats; we unload 25 truckloads per day, 36 million pounds per year, and if we lose that parking area we cannot maintain the quality of the fish. He noted they use this area 360 days a year and it would create a very big issue for their operation. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 19, 2015 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 19, 2015 Cass Shrock, Monterey Bay Kayaks, stated she has concerns about the parking from Figueroa Street to their building; that entrance is really busy with commercial trucks and other vehicles. She said if the basketball courts were on the east side of the building it would displace the outrigger canoe club, they are very established, a water dependent use and have been there for over 25 years. She noted there are a lot of safety issues at night in that area. Commissioner Spangler asked if lighting exists in the area near the Skate Park and how many parking spaces would be lost. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo stated there is lighting in the parking lot and at the ball field. NIP Coordinator Krebs stated 15-18 parking spaces would be eliminated. Commissioner Spangler inquired if that parking lot is used a lot. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra stated that parents park there for their kids to use the Skate Park and for the group BBQ area. Community Services Director Bui-Burton also noted that the Skate Park is in the process of being expanded. Commissioner Baldwin asked for clarification of the area by the Shoreline Park and if any cost analysis has been done yet. NIP Coordinator Krebs showed a Google map of the proposed area and stated there would need to be a major cutout and installation of a retaining wall. Commissioner McEwen inquired if a basketball court would fit in the parking lot at Shoreline Park; it’s pretty flat there from the parking lot into the park. NIP Coordinator Krebs stated there were issues with hitting the trees. Commissioner McCarthy suggested the City continue to talk to the Coast Guard regarding use of their lighted basketball court. Community Services Director Bui-Burton noted there is still a lot of technical review work to be done and time is of the essence. Staff wanted to get a sense from the Commission which direction they would like to go; and said we’re hearing the preferred site would be the Coast Guard existing court or the area along the Recreation Trail by Shoreline Park. Commissioner McEwen stated we should have it as close to the parking lot as possible or even use some of the parking lot. 3. Receive Report on Parks and Recreation Master Plan Process Action: Report received. Community Services Director Bui-Burton reported the consultants are still reviewing the survey results and talking with stakeholders; beginning in January they will work with the Commission subcommittee. Commissioner Baldwin said he attended the public workshop at the Monterey Youth Center and it was well done, but wished there had been more folks there. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported the focus group meetings with sports groups and high school students were well attended and the students were very involved. Director Bui-Burton said she went to the business association focus group meeting; they were very engaged and understood the dynamics of neighborhoods. Sharon Dwight, New Monterey Neighborhood Association President, inquired how the community will be notified of upcoming workshops. She said her neighborhood association will meet at the end of January; so we will need to know by the end of December to get that information out. Director Bui-Burton noted there are Survey Kits available for all neighborhoods associations to use. Ms. Dwight also said that Hilltop Park is more of a regional park because people come from all over the peninsula to use the park. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 19, 2015 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 19, 2015 4. Discuss Potential Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects for Fiscal Year 2016–2017 and Provide Guidance to Staff Action: Discussion and provided guidance to staff. Community Services Director Bui-Burton reported Council has not given any direction regarding priorities for proposed NIP projects for Fiscal Year 2016-2017. She said the NIP Committee said they want to hear ideas from the Commission; the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is in the process of being updated so staff will not submit any projects this year. Commissioner McEwen reported she has a couple of potential projects that she is planning to submit. One idea is an app for a Smart Phone that would show how an area or building looked 100 years ago. The second idea is to create a Task Force that would address the homeless in our parks and help them with safety and hygiene issues. Commissioner Spangler inquired if there are organizations looking at the homelessness in our parks. Director Bui-Burton said she is working with the Police Chief and noted that the Police Department meets with social service providers on a monthly basis to help individuals and that is working well. She said the City is also working on a safe parking program and social service providers are working together more. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra asked the Commission to consider upgrades and maintenance that need to be done at our community centers; with the last rain we had several leaks. She said one is a very old school site and we have been looking at other cities to see how they have converted a school into a community center. The Youth Center has a lot of water damage; they have already replaced the back wall and windows. Director Bui- Burton noted we had facility assessments done a year ago and will bring that information to the Commission. Commissioner McCarthy said that Ryan Ranch Community Park is a resource that’s not being utilized; he inquired what’s out there that is developable and if there is an area that could be used now. Manager Vierra stated that is one piece of property we asked the Parks and Recreation Master Plan consultants to really look at what uses could be developed there. Sharon Dwight, NIP representative, said the NIP Committee is looking for new ideas or upgrades to fund, we don’t fund maintenance projects. She suggested they look at facilities, if rewiring or new lights would bring the City’s cost down, we don’t consider that maintenance, it’s an upgrade. We also take on big projects and do them in phases. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 6. Commission Appointment Process and Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for 2016 Action: Report received. 7. Hosting of Annual Christmas Party 2015 Action: Report received. 8. Parks and Recreation Commission Schedule for 2016 Action: Report received. 9. Monthly Report - Parks Division - October 2015 Action: Report received. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 19, 2015 4  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, November 19, 2015 Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo reported the Council approved the Sollecito Ball Field artificial turf outfield; another plaque has been added to the Sister City Park; and the Skate Park renovation is underway. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported that we have started a new Ultimate Frisbee League at Jacks Park and have over 120 players registered; the Socko and Adult Baseball leagues have just finished; staff is getting ready for holiday programs; the play! Monterey Travel Program trips are full; and staff is working on summer/fall programs. She also noted that the Recreation Administration office and community centers will be closed the week of December 21-25 and on Monday, December 28. Community Services Director Bui-Burton reported work is being done on the Sports Center Snack Bar area; the Council approved the contract for the Monterey Conference Center construction; there will be a temporary pavilion set up in Custom House Plaza; the Cooper Molera building is also being worked on; and the Council approved the Special Events Grants. Sharon Dwight inquired if there has been any talk about reinstating La Posada; it was a wonderful and historical event. Director Bui-Burton said a couple of churches have talked about it the last couple of years. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Spangler said that Nichole at Hilltop Park Center was very helpful and the ballet teacher, Cameron, is great; she feels this facility is underutilized and inquired if we could provide a discount for programs and classes for people who live close by in Pacific Grove. Commissioner McCarthy said thanks for the work you do and for keeping us informed. Visit a park! Commissioner McEwen said she hopes the updated Parks and Recreation Master Plan includes an expansion of the Monterey Sports Center. NEXT MEETING Thursday, January 21, 2016 ADJOURNMENT Chair Baldwin adjourned the meeting at 8:45 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, November 19, 2015 5