Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, May 18, 2017 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Hofmann, McCarthy, McEwen, Menendez-Herbst, Panetta Commissioners Absent: Baldwin, Spangler Staff Members Present: Community Services Director Bui-Burton, Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra, Sports Center Manager Vierra, Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo, NIP Coordinator Krebs, Traffic Engineer Deal, Recording Secretary Nash CALL TO ORDER PRESENTATIONS 1. Highlights of Monterey Sports Center Programs (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Presentation given. Sports Center Manager Vierra provided information on the Sports Center’s upcoming 25th Anniversary Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 1 and showed a video highlighting programs and events. He said there will be activities, entertainment, speakers, and drawings all day with the Grand Prize of Warriors tickets. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2. Thursday, April 20, 2017 Action: Approved as submitted (5-0-2, Baldwin, Spangler absent). 3. Wednesday, April 26, 2017 Action: Approved as submitted (5-0-2, Baldwin, Spangler absent). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None.  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 PUBLIC APPEARANCE 4. Review Park and Recreation Related Proposed Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 for Conformity to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Provide Direction to Staff to Advise City Council (Please see agenda report for project specific Environmental Review) Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the proposed park and recreation-related NIP projects for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 for conformity to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and recommended approval to the City Council (5-0-2, Baldwin, Spangler absent). Community Services Director Bui-Burton noted there was a total NIP budget of $4.15M and $837,000 was recommended for parks and recreation-related projects. She reported the Commission priorities of Wi-Fi at the community centers was approved; but the Dennis the Menace Park and Monterey Youth Center studies were not approved. NIP Coordinator Krebs stated if a cut-off project does not get funded, that project automatically gets submitted for next year. He reviewed the list of park and recreation-related projects including greenbelt fuel reduction projects, ADA barriers on playground projects, tree replacements, and bike racks. Commissioner McCarthy inquired if Project MV-5, Via Paraiso Park Tennis Court Resurfacing, includes any pickleball courts. NIP Coordinator Krebs stated this project is only for the resurfacing of the courts. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo stated after the resurfacing, the courts will be striped for pickleball using muted colors for the lines. Commissioner Hofmann stated that two pickleball courts were previously approved at Via Paraiso Park and only one has been done; she inquired if the remaining funds will go towards this new project. NIP Coordinator Krebs stated yes, and there is about $750 left. Commissioner McCarthy asked about the additional funding for restrooms at Window on the Bay. NIP Coordinator Krebs said we are planning to add a Portland Loo. Sharon Dwight, NIP Alternate Spokesperson, stated the NIP Committee did spend more money this year on greenbelt maintenance to reduce fire fuel near homes. She noted that we have a willing seller and money to purchase the Belden/Drake property; she also noted regarding the Honor Garden that the Police and Fire Departments do not maintain outdoor spaces. Commissioner McCarthy said it is very rewarding to see these projects funded. On a motion by Commissioner McEwen, seconded by Commissioner Menendez-Herbst, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend approval to the City Council the proposed park and recreation-related projects for Fiscal Year 2017-2018: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Hofmann, McCarthy, McEwen, Menendez- Herbst, Panetta NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Baldwin, Spangler Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 5. Receive Report on Pickleball at Via Paraiso Park (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Report received. Community Services Director Bui-Burton noted the Commission held a Study Session on April 26 to discuss pickleball and how to make it work at Via Paraiso Park for both tennis and pickleball. A plan needs to be developed for now and to look at other possible locations for pickleball was discussed. She said we received written communication from both tennis and pickleball players regarding priority days and times; one particular sport can have priority times; if not being used for designated sport anyone can use them. She noted that both groups have requested the same approximate days and times. As part of our Parks and Recreation Master Plan update we heard a lot of requests for pickleball, it is also in our Summer/Fall 2017 Activities Guide and lists days and times and provides an opportunity for anyone to drop in to learn the sport. Staff has determined the best plan at this time will be to have 6 months of priority times for pickleball on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, then switch to tennis in December for those priority days and times. We feel that gives us a trial period to see how priority times work; signage will be installed; times will be monitored but sharing will be expected; this approach will be evaluated over the next 10 months. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst asked for clarification of priority days and times and signage; this seems very well done and is a good start. Commissioner McEwen stated this plan was very hard to negotiate and hopes it will work out. Commissioner Hofmann said she is concerned about the weekend with only one day being set as a priority day and inquired about priority times for Sundays. Director Bui-Burton stated with this plan one group would have a priority weekend day; Sundays would be open to all. Commissioner Hofmann inquired if there will be time limits set. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra said pickleball games are very short; we could put the same time limit on pickleball as we already have on tennis. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst said she has been walking by Via Paraiso Park a lot and watching them play; she has seen more pickleball being played than tennis and feels they will work it out. I have seen a lot of pickleball and they’re having a great time; loves the plan that staff created. Commissioner Panetta asked if the pickleball players can use all the courts or only the striped courts. Manager Vierra stated they can use both; after the courts get resurfaced the muted pickleball lines will be painted on both courts. Commissioner McCarthy said that staff heard the public and heard us and they did a great job of balancing this out and are moving in the right direction. Jay Zwagerman, pickleball ambassador, said he really appreciates the progress to find a fair solution. He said we could potentially have 16 people playing at a time and an hour is not long enough to play. We really need priority times; some people drive a ways to come play. He would prefer we don’t switch priority days and times and feels pickleball will grow once the courts are resurfaced and lined. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 Jerry Holden, president local pickleball club, thanked everybody for your efforts to resolve the issues; the pickleball players are very active and willing to work with the tennis players. He has traveled all over and would like to see Monterey have a pickleball center; Visalia just got 11 more designated courts for pickleball. He encouraged the commission to go visit other communities and talk to them. He thanked the commission and staff for getting us to this point. Sharon Dwight, Monterey resident, noted that NIP did not fund anything for pickleball this year. She said if one of these sports wanted to hold a tournament, it may conflict with the other sports priority times. Switching halfway through the year might be a problem; it’s confusing for people. Commissioner McEwen asked if someone did want to have a large competition, would there be a process to go through to accommodate them. Manager Vierra stated yes, it would follow the same process as we do for other sports; we also post it saying the site is reserved. 6. Receive Report on Recreation Trail Study (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Report received. Community Services Director Bui-Burton reviewed the safety concerns on the Recreation Trail. She said about 9 years after the Recreation Trail opened, a brochure was available; service groups used to hand out information and talk to people about safety on the trail; a sandwich information board was placed in key locations; there were ads in the paper; Public Service Announcements were done; signs were stenciled on the trail; police interns patrolled the trail; and counts were done to see what the peak times were. In 2014, an NIP project was proposed and a study was approved; the Commission will provide comments to go in the Final Study. She also noted staff recently did a trail usage study; on Saturday mornings pedestrians outnumbered bicycles; staff also noted discourteous people blocking the trail. NIP Coordinator Krebs said the study was approved in Fiscal Year 2013-2014. He reviewed the status of the study including signage. A feasibility study was done to widen the trail between the wharf and Coast Guard pier. He said the study recommendation is to widen the trail to 26’ feet; that will give the option of mixed use or separate lanes. Commissioner McEwen inquired if there is any room along Lighthouse Avenue where the trail could be widened. Traffic Engineer Deal said there is about 3 feet of room that we could tuck the trail up to the wall on Lighthouse Curve; it would be very expensive and would also have to go to the Coastal Commission for approval. Traffic Engineer Deal stated with a 6’ wide trail two people can walk comfortably side by side; that will be comfortable and safe. He said with a 26’ mixed use trail, it gives bicyclists more space to recover. Commissioner McCarthy inquired which option does staff feel makes more sense. Traffic Engineer Deal said whichever one you want we will make it work and make it safe. He said what you’re dealing with is the character of the trail; that is the important thing you will need to decide. A mixed use is more leisurely; separate trails create faster riders; the conflicts won’t go away. He stated we’re dealing with a density problem; it’s important to widen the trail through the Cannery Row area and to keep the width consistent. Commissioner McEwen said bicyclists are either riding for the view or they are commuting; she said mixed use is a good idea if the commuters could hit the street safely. NIP Coordinator Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 4  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 Krebs said we are working on an NIP project to create better bike lanes on City streets. Traffic Engineer Deal stated the connection through the Presidio off Laine Street will be a good alternate route for bicyclists. Mike Gunby, cyclist and walker, said he reviewed the study and thinks it would be an ideal situation; most places try to separate users to keep the conflicts to a minimum. He is concerned with the cost of widening and separating the trail. He said he has worked with NIP Coordinator Krebs on how to do some striping and a painted/stained green bike lane to help everyone know where bikes are supposed to be. He suggested that may be an inexpensive experiment until the City finds the money to widen the entire trail. Dennis Duke stated separating the traffic is the safest way to go; I’m the one who submitted the Recreation Trail project for NIP this year. He also stated that the City would need to get Federal funding for a project of this size. Jason Wachs said he submitted this project seven years ago after he had an accident and fell into an 80 year old couple on the Recreation Trail; he started looking at the trail differently and decided the only solution is to give people their own space. He said he is very gratified that the commission is making the Recreation Trail a priority. The study says to keep it as a mixed use path sharing the same space; visitors are totally unaware, they are the most vulnerable. He encouraged the commission to not even consider mixed use; you can’t make a trail wide enough; making it wider is going to make it more dangerous; give it order and separate people from bikes using international signage with a wide rumble strip. He said the cost to widen the trail is a great concern; my proposal is using the existing trail and having separate sides. Sharon Dwight said the cost of this is escalating; she suggested seeing if there is grant money available before you make a decision. She inquired what width is required for the surreys and feels you will have more success if you separate pedestrians from bikes. She said the alternate route of going through the Lower Presidio Historic Park is far less expensive and will give the bicyclist another route. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst stated the safety of the trail is huge and does not feel shared use will work; it’s only going to get worse with more and more people using the trail. The Recreation Trail is one of the most beautiful things we have in Monterey. She also said she will not walk the trail anymore because it’s too congested; and now there are bicyclists coming down the trail at Quarry Park and its extremely dangerous. Commissioner Hofmann thanked staff for putting this all together; she is a huge proponent for separating the trail; and to designate lanes with different ground material. 7. Receive Report on City Council Referral - Forest Volunteers (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Report received. Community Services Director Bui-Burton reviewed the Council referral of having forest volunteers. She said staff wants to determine who would manage the volunteers, what the risk management issues would be, and provide more information at an upcoming meeting. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo stated that Dennis Duke may head this program with guidance from the City’s Urban Forester Steve Morton. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 5  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 Commissioner Panetta inquired if this could ‘be done by the Volunteers In Parks program. Manager Marcuzzo stated it would be better for the volunteers to work with an arborist. Commissioner McEwen says this gives people a sense of pride to do volunteer work in their community. Dennis Duke said he is the biggest proponent for the NIP greenbelt maintenance projects. He said his concern is we’ve had a long period of drought and the forest is not in good condition; the City only has three people in the Forestry Division; the City used to have two full tree crews. He said many trees have fallen and caused damage; with some education we can have volunteers come look at certain trees. Commissioner McCarthy noted the more people you have involved in their community the better. 8. Receive Report on City Budget Process (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Report received. Community Services Director Bui-Burton reviewed the City’s budget process and said staff is presenting a 2-year budget to Council next week. Sharon Dwight said there have been such cuts in the Forestry Division, there has to be a way to get more money for Urban Forestry; street name signs need to be replaced; it’s a two-year budget that you will be tied to. Dennis Duke reiterated that the City Forestry Division really needs some more help. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 9. Monthly Report - Parks Division - April 2017 (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Report received. 10. Monthly Update - Parks and Recreation Work Plan - April 2017 (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Report received. Recreation and Community Services Manager Vierra reported that Art in the Park at Hilltop Park is Saturday, May 20; the fence was repaired on Jessie Street at Hilltop Park Center after being hit by a car; the Skate Jam co-sponsored by On the Beach Surf Shop is Saturday, May 20; staff is getting ready for end of year celebrations at preschool sites; Memorial Day concert with Monterey Pops on Colton Hall Lawn on Monday, May 30; Monterey Community Band spring concert is on Sunday, June 4; the Summer Reading Program Kick-off is Saturday, June 3; opening night of Monterey Amberjacks Baseball is Saturday, June 3; staff is getting ready for summer programs and camps; and there will be a playground program at Montecito Park this year. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo reported the new walkways at Dennis the Menace Park are finished and the park is open; the fence has been repaired and the upgrades to the BBQ area at Ferrante Park is finished; and Montecito Park Phase I is done. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 6  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 Community Services Director Bui-Burton said she is in awe of all the incredible staff we have and their leadership. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Menendez-Herbst said she is always amazed at how much is going on; she hears about pickleball daily; glad the Recreation Trail is back on the table; and that the Forestry Division was brought up. You all do a great job with how much work there is. Commissioner McEwen said there are so many things to be appreciative of; talking about the summer programs and remembering how much fun we had at Camp Quien Sabe last year. She inquired when the Monterey Amberjacks season begins. Manager Vierra stated their first game is Saturday, June 3 and you can buy tickets online or at the gate. Commissioner Hofmann thanked everyone for all the wonderful things they are doing with limited staff; looking forward to what else we can do with what we have. Commissioner Panetta said she liked all the ideas about grants and the information on the budget process. She was in Santa Barbara and went to their Skate Park and they all had helmets on; they have a program every Saturday and wearing a helmet is required. Commissioner McCarthy said staff is doing a great job with limited resources; the work plan is exciting. He said the Recreation Trail needs to be addressed and the subcommittee will give us some ideas. Visit a park! NEXT MEETING Thursday, June 15, 2017 ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair McCarthy adjourned the meeting at 9:21 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kim Bui-Burton Dennis McCarthy, Vice Chair Community Services Director Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 18, 2017 7