Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING CITY OF MONTEREY Wednesday, April 13, 2022 5:30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, 580 PACIFIC ST., AND ZOOM TELECONFERENCE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Crampton, Gibson, McCarthy, McEwen, Schmidt, Spangler Commissioners Absent: None. Staff Members Present: Parks and Recreation Director, Recreation Manager, Park Operations Manager, Recreation Supervisor, Recreation Coordinator, NCIP Coordinator, Administrative Assistant CALL TO ORDER Chair Gibson called the meeting to order at 5:31p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENTATIONS 1 Presentation on the Status of Pickle ball and Tennis at Via Paraiso Park (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Presentation given. Public Comments John Sovereign was in the mediation, supports the proposal. Jean Rasch thanked the City for support and agreed with the previous comments shared by John Sovereign. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Gibson and Commissioner McEwen thanked the staff for their time and effort in developing this proposal. Commissioner Crampton inquired what the next step is after the pilot program is completed in three months. Recreation Manager Leon clarified that if the pilot program is successful, staff will look into funding sources to make the changes permanent and remove the blended lines and resurface the court with the correct lines. Commissioner Crampton also asked what was not resolved during mediation. Recreation Manager Leon explained that one group wanted to make the changes permanent immediately without a pilot program but that staff needed to receive public comment first before making changes. 2 Presentation on the Status of Disc Golf at Ryan Ranch (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Presentation given. Public Comments Chad Gile, President of the Monterey Stinging Jellies Disc Golf Club, thanked Director Larson for her hard work on this project and looks forward to this partnership.  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 4/13/2022 5:30:00 PM Commissioner Comments Commissioner Spangler thanked the staff and the Disc Golf Club for their support in making this happen. Commissioner McCarthy wanted clarification on the relationship between the Stinging Jellies providing funding and the CIP program funding. Director Larson explained that in order for the City to accept the funds from the Disc Golf Club, the City has to appropriate the funding into the budget and get Council approval to accept the funds for the program. Recreation Manager Leon cited another example of this process which was previously approved. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 3 Wednesday, March 9, 2022 Action: Approved as submitted (6-0). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 4 Review Parks and Recreation Related Submitted Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (NCIP) Project Requests for Fiscal Year 2022-23 (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: The Parks and Recreation Commission voted that the proposed NCIP projects are consistent with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. NCIP Coordinator Harty presented the NCIP Project Requests and answered Commissioner questions. Public Comments Jay Zwagerman, Monterey Pickle Ball Ambassador expressed support for the need for pickle ball courts in the City of Monterey and cited examples of the courts provided for pickle ball in other cities and locations due to the growing popularity of pickle ball. Zwagerman noted that the six courts provided in the proposed Ryan Ranch location may not be sufficient in accommodating the popularity of the sport. Recreation Manager Leon noted that MPC may be opening their courts to the public in the future. Director Larson commented that the City of Monterey did meet with both the disc golf and pickle ball groups a year ago when working on the Ryan Ranch project. Larson noted that due to changes during the pandemic the Pickleball group was unable to follow through with the project. Chair Gibson inquired if there is room for more courts at Ryan Ranch. Harty explained that while the proposed project includes six courts, there would be potential for more courts at that location. Vice Chair McEwen asked if the pickleball association had explored funding sources for the development of courts. Jay Zwagerman explained that no funding sources have been Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 4/13/2022 5:30:00 PM  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 4/13/2022 5:30:00 PM explored yet but noted that he has suggested that the group establish their organization as a non-profit to pursue funding sources. Jean Rasch, NCIP Vice-Chair thanked Harty for his presentation and explained the difficult challenges NCIP has faced. Commissioner Comments Commissioner McCarthy asked about the scope of the pool modernization project at the Monterey Sports Center. Director Larson explained the project encompassed the entire pool area including the slide, saunas and pool deck. Commissioner Spangler asked about the expression swing installation at Dennis the Menace and Via Paraiso and if the project entailed updating an existing swing or installing a new swing. Harty explained that at Via Paraiso it would be a new installation but at Dennis the Menace they will have to determine how it will be installed. Manager Leon explained that in some places a traditional swing could just be replaced by an expression swing. Commissioner Schmidt asked how the public is able to engage in NCIP projects and provide feedback. Harty explained that there will be a series of public meetings for public participation. Chair Gibson recommended that at least one Commissioner participate in the meetings. Vice Chair McEwen said she could participate in the advocacy meeting. Harty suggested that the Commission share their priorities at the start of the public meeting process. Chair Gibson asked to update and share the priority list the commission developed in 2020 with the NCIP Committee. Harty also recommended reviewing the projects that were approved and defunded. Recreation Manager Leon asked the Commission to vote at this meeting if they support that the submitted projects are consistent with the Park and Recreation Master Plan and to nominate two Commissioners to participate in the NCIP process. Commissioner McCarthy asked if the staff has studied the projects to ensure they comply with the Master Plan. Recreation Manager Leon stated the projects do comply with the Master Plan. Commissioner McCarthy confirmed that this part of the process has been done since they have the knowledge of the projects. Commissioner, McEwen, Gibson, Spangler and McCarthy expressed concerns about a couple of the projects including the Disc Golf project at Oak Newton Park and asked if they could eliminate that project in their motion. Staff confirmed that the Commission could still vote that all of the projects are consistent with the Master Plan but would not have to support that specific project. Commissioner Spangler asked about the Ferrante Park upgrades specifically the replacement of wood chips with rubber. Spangler also inquired if the City was planning on replacing wood chips in parks going forward. Parks Operations Manager Marcuzzo explained the City does not use unhealthy wood chips and uses chips that are safe for playgrounds. Marcuzzo also suggested voting that the projects are consistent with the Master Plan and then letting the project be vetted later on through the NCIP process. Commissioner McCarthy commented that he is not comfortable voting that the projects are consistent with the Master Plan without looking at the Master Plan. Commissioner Crampton added that the Commissioners attending the meeting will need to know if the projects are consistent with the Master Plan. Marcuzzo explained that Commissioners could discuss this at Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 4/13/2022 5:30:00 PM  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 4/13/2022 5:30:00 PM the advocacy meetings prior to the voting meetings. Recreation Manager Leon also added that projects can be changed during the NCIP process and explained that the PRC has vetted the projects previously so the purpose is to state that the projects are still consistent with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Commissioners Gibson, McEwen and Schmidt agreed to represent PRC at the advocacy meetings in May and June. Harty confirmed the meeting schedule with the Commission. On a motion by Commissioner Schmidt, seconded by Commissioner Spangler, and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted that the proposed NCIP projects are consistent with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan: AYES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Gibson, McEwen, Schmidt, Spangler NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Crampton ABSTAIN: 1 COMMISSIONERS: McCarthy INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS Director Larson announced that Administrative Assistant Diane Tanahill is moving to another department and thanked her for her hard work and support. Larson also introduced the new Administrative Assistant for the Recreation Division. Larson wanted to also recognize Commissioner Panetta and thanked her for the time she served on the PRC. Manager Leon thanked Diane Tanahill for her service and recognized the new Administrative Assistant. She also thanked the Recreation staff for their hard work on the 2nd Annual Bunny Hop Photo Op and shared that it was a huge success and that staff would like to expand the event next year. Leon explained that Recreation is still recruiting for summer staff and that staffing will be a determining factor on what programs will be offered this summer. Lastly, Leon announced that summer registration will open at the end of April. Director Larson shared an update about the Monterey Sports Center and programs being offered. Larson also explained that there will be maintenance repairs coming to the Sports Center soon. Manager Marcuzzo shared that the Parks Department is starting the greenbelt fuel reduction project and that the Cutting Day event was a huge success. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner McEwen and Commissioner McCarthy thanked the staff for their hard work through a difficult time and hoped that staff will get support they need soon. Commissioners Schmidt, Spangler and Crampton echoed those comments and support for the staff. Chair Gibson inquired if Parks and Recreation will be receiving more staff and expressed concerns about staff being overworked. Director Larson stated that all areas of the Parks and Recreation Department have requested more staff and are waiting to see how the budget process moves forward. NEXT MEETING Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 4/13/2022 5:30:00 PM  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 4/13/2022 5:30:00 PM Wednesday, May 11, 2022. ADJOURNMENT Chair Gibson adjourned the meeting at 7:14p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Karen Larson Donna Gibson, Chair Parks and Recreation Director Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 4/13/2022 5:30:00 PM