Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING CITY OF MONTEREY Wednesday, February 8, 2023 5:30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, 580 PACIFIC ST., AND ZOOM TELECONFERENCE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: McEwen, Schmidt, Crampton, McCarthy, Ono, Spangler Commissioners Absent: Gibson Staff Members Present: Parks and Recreation Director, Recreation Manager, Park Operations Manager, Sports Center Manager, Recreation Supervisor, Recreation Coordinator, NCIP Coordinator, Administrative Assistant CALL TO ORDER Chair McEwen called the meeting to order at 5:32p.m. ROLL CALL Commissioner Spangler joined the meeting at 5:36pm. PRESENTATIONS 1 Presentation on the Status of the Parks and Recreation Department Operations for December 2022 through January 2023 (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Presentation given Public Comments: None. Commissioner Comments: Commissioner McCarthy asked about the cafe pop-up at the Sports Center and what the normal hours are. Manager Willer replied that the cafe hours would be from 8am-2:30pm, Saturday and Sunday only. Commissioner McCarthy also questioned Recreation Manager Leon regarding adding more programs and how staff can keep up with this demand. Recreation Manager Leon’s response was Recreation is not adding more programming but expanding on contractual and part-time staff ability to upgrade current programming. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2 Wednesday, December 14, 2022 Action: Approved as submitted (6-0-1 Absent). Commissioner Crampton motioned Commissioner McCarthy Second ***End of Consent Agenda***  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 02/08/2023 5:30:00 PM PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3 Review Proposed Parks and Recreation Related Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (NCIP) Project Requests for Fiscal Year 2023-24 and Provide Guidance to Staff (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Parks and Recreation Commission Voted to approve and submit all nine proposed Parks and Recreation Related Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (NCIP) Project Requests for Fiscal Year 2023-24. Public Comments: None. Commissioner Comments: Commissioner McCarthy questioned whether the Via Paraiso Park basketball court was staying a half court with upgrades or being remodeled into a full court. Recreation Manager Leon explained the project of the Via Paraiso basketball court would be expanding but not being a full regulation size basketball court. Commissioner McCarthy had a follow up question on where community members should turn to regarding helping fund the Via Paraiso project of remodeling the basketball court. As well as explained how non-profit groups have helped fund a new basketball court in the Del Rey Oaks neighborhood and how they are looking to expand along the peninsula. Recreation Manager Leon replied that they could ask Recreation staff for guidance as well as attend NCIP meetings to advocate for funding relief and support of the NCIP proposed project. Recreation Manager Leon also stated that this is how they were able to improve the Sollecito Ballpark via NCIP funding as well as from the Community Foundation. Public comment from Rick Heuer, recording chair for the NCIP, discussed how dual funding for NCIP projects was more likely to pass and get approved than other proposals on the NCIP list. Commissioner McCarthy finished with taking on the task of reaching out to these community members for funding and support of the Via Paraiso basketball court NCIP project. Commissioner Crampton asked whether the Via Paraiso basketball court would be fenced around the entire perimeter or removing the fences all together. Commissioner Crampton also inquired if the Scholze Park center proposal included having an outdoor exercise area for group classes. Recreation Manager Leon replied that she does not think they are fencing in the entire basketball court at Via Paraiso, and the NCIP proposal for Scholze Park may be able to accommodate a low-impact workout area with the new design structure. The design would be the deciding factor. The vision for the space would be similar to Friendly Plaza. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 8/10/2022 5:35:00 PM  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 02/08/2023 5:30:00 PM Chair McEwen asked about the shade structure at El Estero and how that would look. Recreation Manager Leon explained that the shade structure would be going over the picnic tables at El Estero. She added that she thinks this would bring more popularity to El Estero since it’s a prime location for other amenities in the area. Commissioner McCarthy had another comment regarding the recreation trail study and how he was an advocate for the study to determine what would work best with the trail. This should be a priority NCIP Project. He also asked the staff to refresh his memory on what a cutoff project entails, and the status of the Via Paraiso tennis court project. Public comment from Rick Heuer, NCIP, explained what a cutoff project is and how the NCIP handles them regarding funds, dates, and processes. Chair McEwen thanked NCIP staff for being at the meeting and helping to clarify the proposals and processes. Vice Chair Schmidt inquired about the projects and how they get voted on as well as what vote totals are. Tom Harty, NCIP Coordinator, explained the NCIP prioritization process of vote totals and ranking orders for the proposals. Commissioner Ono had a question about the BBQ shade enclosure at El Estero and if it would be like the one at Whispering Pines. Recreation Manager Leon stated it would be a completely different shade structure design and the design would be based on what would look best for the park. On a motion by Commissioner McCarthy, seconded by Chair McEwen and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the nine NCIP projects as submitted: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: McEwen, Schmidt, Crampton, McCarthy, Ono, Spangler NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None. ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Gibson 4 Recommend the City Council Amend and Restate Resolution 22-024, the Master Fee Schedule, to Adjust the Parks and Recreation Department Fee Schedule (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Parks and Recreation Commission recommends the City Council amend and restate Resolution 22-024, the Master Fee Schedule, to adjust the Parks and Recreation Department fee schedule Public Comments: None. Commissioner Crampton asked about the fiscal year date range and if the fee raises were an annual event. Director Larson replied that the City’s fiscal year is July 1-June 30 and in the past fees were on an alternating schedule. Unfortunately, Director Larson stated that in this day and age, there will be yearly evaluations of Parks and Recreation fees. Commissioner Crampton asked about the federal and state requirements, especially with COVID-19 still in effect, and how this is affecting our business. Recreation Manager Leon talked Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 8/10/2022 5:35:00 PM  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 02/08/2023 5:30:00 PM about the state of emergency ending and how this would affect staff, volunteers, and contractual employees regarding wages, vaccines, and time off. Commissioner McCarthy commented on fee raises throughout the last few years (2019-2023) and the concerns he has regarding pricing populations out of being able to afford our programs and events. Director Larson replied with how our staff has evaluated our fees based upon the surrounding areas and that we are not the cheapest in the area but certainly hold ourselves to a higher standard. Commissioner Crampton asked which population of the community is most affected by the fee increases. Recreation Manager Leon discussed the fee schedule and the differences in pricing of our programs, parks, and events. She stated we are not the highest-priced City, but we do have to address our costs including staff pay while still being affordable. Sports Center Manager Willer wanted to add that the Sports Center is different than commercial gyms in the area and that the facility is unique in the programs they offer. She discussed the fees of the Sports Center and how they try and have drop-in fees as low as possible for those who cannot afford a family membership. On a motion by Commissioner Spangler, seconded by Commissioner McCarthy and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommends the City Council amend and restate Resolution 22-024, the Master Fee Schedule, to adjust the Parks and Recreation Department fee schedule effective July 1, 2023 AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: McEwen, Schmidt, Crampton, McCarthy, Ono, Spangler NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None. ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Gibson INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS Director Larson shared the great news of law officials finding the statue of Dennis the Menace and figuring out an alternative space to put the recovered statue, as well as figuring out a new replacement for the actual park to bring joy to the community. Director Larson also touched on the Laguna Grande environmental documents being published to the public and will be certified, hopefully, by the beginning of March. She also thanked the Park and Forestry teams for the storm help, as well as the Recreation Division for being ready to take on community help via the EOC (Emergency Operations Center). Special thank you to Nate Cota for helping to open our centers for people to charge their devices during the storm and power outages. Finally, she commended Recreation and Sports Center staff for their continuous efforts with the new software system, Amilia, and how they should celebrate their hard work and determination. Recreation Manager Leon discussed this upcoming year and how Recreation is not slowing down with less than half of the staff pre-COVID. She celebrates the teams' efforts to cover all areas of recreation when one of the team members is out, as well as what recreation has to offer new employees during their time with us and how employees will take what they learned and apply it to everyday life. Recreation Manager Leon also talked about how easy, Amilia, the new software system is to our clients and how the checkout process for our programs is user- friendly compared to RecTrac. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 8/10/2022 5:35:00 PM  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 02/08/2023 5:30:00 PM Sports Center Manager Willer touched on the same topic via Amilia and the two teams’ collaboration in getting the new software system up and running. She was grateful for the new software's technology and how this is the first time in Sports Center history that clients can purchase memberships online. She wanted to give a special shoutout to her staff and especially the facility attendants who have worked tirelessly to get the Sports Center back to its standards pre-COVID. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner McCarthy asked Sports Center Manager Willer about the employee numbers at the Sports Center, and she replied that they have about 150 part-time and 6 full-time staff on board. Chair McEwen discussed how gracious the Sports Center staff was to her on December 14 during the launch of the new software system and how it was a painless process. Vice Chair Schmidt thanked Parks and Recreation staff. NEXT MEETING Wednesday, March 8, 2023. ADJOURNMENT Chair McEwen adjourned the meeting at 7:07 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Karen Larson Ellen McEwen, Chair Parks and Recreation Director Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 8/10/2022 5:35:00 PM