Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, October 18, 2018 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Hofmann, McCarthy, McEwen, Menendez-Herbst, Spangler Commissioners Absent: Gibson, Panetta Staff Members Present: Interim Recreation and Community Services Manager, Sports Center Manager, Park Operations Manager, Administrative Assistant II CALL TO ORDER Chair McCarthy called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. ROLL CALL PRESENTATIONS 1. Highlights of Summer Programs (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received presentation. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2. Thursday, September 20, 2018 Action: Continued to November 15, 2018. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Approve Proposed Design for Shade Structure at Spray Avenue Tot Lot (Exempt from CEQA Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1) Action: Approved (5-0-2, Gibson, Panetta absent) Interim Recreation and Community Services Manager Leon introduced Jeff Krebs, Principal Engineer, NIP Staff Coordinator. Proposed relocating shade structure and table to front of park’s grass area, within lot setbacks. Provides a square shade structure, which will require an exception from ARC, but also submitting proposal for compliant triangular shade structure.  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 Commissioner Spangler asked Krebs if the NIP Representative that had attended the September 20, 2018 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting has seen this new proposal, and Krebs said yes, and she approves. On a motion by Commissioner Spangler, seconded by Commissioner McEwen, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommends to approve proposed design for shade structure at Spray Avenue Tot Lot: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Hofmann, McCarthy, McEwen, Menendez- Herbst, Spangler NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Gibson, Panetta 4. Approve Proposed Design for Scholze Park Improvements (Exempt from CEQA Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1) Action: Approved (5-0-2, Gibson, Panetta absent) Principal Engineer, NIP Staff Coordinator Krebs reviewed the proposed changes from what was presented at the September 20, 2018 PRC Meeting. Revised the extended seating area in to the park to a round wall; will have a 1” inset in the seating wall for future art or plaques; fence/barrier will be a metal, open picket fence to include columns at the walkway openings; recommends altered colored pavers at the walkways into the park. Krebs said the 42” high black aluminum picket fence is the same as the one recently installed around the play structure at Hilltop Park. Presented options for columns as found on other buildings along Lighthouse Avenue. Commission Menendez-Herbst is thrilled to see the open fence versus the solid wall. Loves the changes. Commissioner Spangler likes that the seating area is rounded-out and likes the fencing. Concerned about the columns fitting the scale of the building. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo stated he likes the columns and thinks they are the appropriate size. Commissioner Hofmann stated concern about the size of the columns being too big and stated her preference from the photos shown during the presentation. Commissioner McCarthy asked if the only access to the rounded seating area is from the sidewalk. Krebs said yes. A New Monterey resident expressed his concern about replacing the existing solid wall with a metal picket fence and asked why the City is replacing the wall, which is only a few years old. Principal Engineer Krebs stated that the wall is original to the park and is rotting and needs to be replaced. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 2  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 On a motion by Commissioner Hofmann, seconded by Commissioner McEwen, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommends to approve proposed design for Scholze Park improvements: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Hofmann, McCarthy, McEwen, Menendez- Herbst, Spangler NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Gibson, Panetta 5. Recommend that the City Council Adopt an Ordinance Amending Monterey City Code Section 23-8 to Permit Dogs On-Leash in City Parks with Exceptions and to Add Section 23-8.5 Excluding Other Animals in Recreation Areas (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Continued to November 15, 2018. Interim Recreation and Community Services Manager Leon read the current city code Section 23-8 that prohibits dogs in parks. Proposing to amend the ordinance to allow dogs on-leash in City Parks with several exceptions to include: all park playground areas, sports courts (basketball, volleyball, tennis or other sport court), El Estero picnic area, Skate Park, Dennis the Menace Playground, Whispering Pines Park, Larkin Park, Jacks Ballpark, Sollecito Ballpark, Ferrante Ballpark, Spray Avenue Tot Lot, any area of a park with artificial turf and any City park at which a City-approved and permitted special event is taking place. Manager Leon reviewed the recommended added section 23-8.5 Other Animals in Recreation Areas, which prohibits any animal, bird, or reptile besides a dog in any park or recreation area. Horses and ponies are prohibited in parks and recreation areas except for the beach located east of Wharf No. 2. Animal shows will be allowed in City recreation areas as part of a City Parks and Recreation program. Major goal of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is to make Monterey more dog friendly. Commissioner Spangler asked about enforcement in parks and if citations are issued. Manager Leon said the only way to enforce it would be to call 9-1-1. Most complaints we receive are about dogs being off-leash. Will be placing more mutt mitt stations in all parks that allow dogs. Commissioner Hofmann inquired if we have looked into sponsorship for the mutt mitt stations. Park Operations Manager Marcuzzo said there have been sponsors in the past, but currently we do not have any. Commissioner Hofmann expressed her concern of the mutt mitt stations having a fiscal impact on residents, especially for those that do not have dogs. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst said the cost is minimal. Commissioner Spangler asked if there would be a lot of cost incurred for all the new signage that will have to be put into the parks. Managers Leon and Marcuzzo stated the cost would be minimal and can done in-house. Commissioner Spangler said that part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is to present a more positive focus on signage. Manager Leon said she saw affordable options when she recently attended the NRPA Conference. June Stein, Oak Newton Park neighbor, many dogs in that park and lots of responsible dog owners, but also many irresponsible dog owners that let dogs run off-leash. Has witnessed dogs kill squirrels and deer. Enforcement is a huge issue. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 3  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 Stephanie, an 18-year homeowner on English Avenue overlooking Laguna Grande Park, stated that off-leash dogs have become a huge problem; lots of dogfights and excrement. Two large signs at the entrance of the park do not deter the irresponsible dog owners from allowing their dogs to run around off-leash on the artificial turf field. Aurora, resident of Monterey overlooking Oak Newton Park, supports on-leash parks but is concerned about enforcement of those that do not have their dogs on-leash. Amel, lives on Oak Street, has lived here for 15 years. Enforcement is a concern. She and her two young children are constantly navigating around the poop in the park and she is concerned if this ordinance passes, it will just make matters worse. Enforcement of the rules is paramount. Chris, longtime resident, supports the new ordinance. This will allow responsible dog owners to walk their dogs on-leash in parks and not make them outlaws for doing so. Monterey resident that has lived next to Oak Newton Park for 48 years. Only recently has this become an issue. Neighborhood parks are wonderful. It is hard to enforce this issue and she hopes that good community spirit can help resolve this issue. Monterey resident stated that enforcement is the issue. Likes the idea of allowing them in some parks but not others. We need to get creative with enforcing these issues, maybe adding security cameras or issuing a few citations to bring awareness that a violation could be sited. We can be creative about the rules but if they are not enforced, we are not accomplishing much. Commissioner McEwen understands there are irresponsible dog owners. Feels that enforcement is an issue in itself, and we should agendize this issue separately in the future. Trying to make our City more dog friendly for those responsible people, does not think it will increase the number of irresponsible dog owners, only legitimize the responsible ones. Commissioner Spangler thanked those who spoke and said she appreciates the community input. Agrees with Commissioner McEwen that we need to address enforcement in depth. Hoping we can work with the Police Department, to get more surveillance at Laguna Grande and Oak Newton. Commissioner Hofmann thanked the public for their input and as a member of the Dogs in Parks Sub-Committee, it was enlightening to hear how individuals feel about dogs in our community. Better that we are moving towards positive language and legitimize responsible dog owners keeping their dogs on leashes and picking up after them. Enforcement, excrement and off-leash need to be addressed. Commissioner Menendez-Herbst has an issue with the lack of enforcement and feels the problem is going to get worse. There are plenty of places you can walk your dog in the City. Does not support the change, there are already so many wonderful places in the city that you can walk your dogs, keep the parks for the families. Commissioner McCarthy said enforcement is an issue, does not think this ordinance will solve that issue. Need to have dialog with the Police Department or animal control and get their input on how to resolve the enforcement issue. Tonight’s vote is strictly allowing responsible dog owners to not be criminals in our parks anymore. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 4  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 Commissioner Menendez-Herbst believes the excrement problem will double or triple if you allow dogs on-leash in parks. Commissioner Spangler suggested looking at other cities that have made this transition to see how it worked for them. Manager Leon said adding additional mutt mitt stations have helped. On a motion by Commissioner Hofmann, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance amending Monterey City Code Section 23-8 to permit dogs on-leash in City parks with exceptions and to add Section 23-8.5 excluding other animals in recreation areas. The motion died due to a lack of a second. Commissioner McCarthy would like staff to report back at the next meeting with input from the Police Department, or whichever department would enforce dogs at parks. The public has spoken and the main concern is lack of enforcement of the rules, so we must come up with a solution. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 6. Monthly Report - Parks Division - September 2018 (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received report. 7. Monthly Update - Parks and Recreation Work Plan - October 2018 (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received report. Interim Recreation and Community Services Manager Leon reported the Winter/Spring guide will be out to the public on Monday and registration begins on Wednesday. No announcement about the Parks and Recreation Director yet. Flag Football registration is going on now. Friday, November 30 is the Tree Lighting on Colton Hall Lawn. Sports Center Manager Willer reported the Sports Center and Recreation have teamed up for the first ever Great Floating Pumpkin Patch on Sunday, October 28 with floating pumpkins in the pool and a variety of activities out on the sun deck. Will be doing a Turkey Hunt in November giving away donated turkeys prior to Thanksgiving. Park Operations Manager reported staff has been working on the downtown beautification project, added stationary pots and hanging baskets on Alvarado Street and planted roughly 50 street trees in the downtown area. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Menendez-Herbst said it was a good meeting, so great to have the community come to speak. Commissioner Hofmann thanked the public for voicing their concerns and coming to the meeting. Commissioner Spangler thanked Commissioner McCarthy for helping to clarify the issue with Dogs in Parks. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 5  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 Commissioner McEwen said it was great to be back after missing a couple of meetings. She appreciates good tough issues, always nice to know there are so many level-heads and people thinking many different ways. Commissioner McCarthy asked if any of the commissioners attended the second round of interviews for the Parks and Recreation Director. Manager Leon stated that Commissioner Panetta had. NEXT MEETING Thursday, November 15, 2018 ADJOURNMENT Chair McCarthy adjourned the meeting 8:40pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Shannon Leon Dennis McCarthy, Chair Interim Recreation and Community Services Manager Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 6