Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING CITY OF MONTEREY Wednesday, June 14, 2023 5:30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, 580 PACIFIC ST., AND ZOOM TELECONFERENCE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: McEwen, Schmidt, Crampton, Gibson, Ono, Spangler Commissioners Absent: McCarthy Staff Members Present: Parks and Recreation Director, Recreation Manager, Park Operations Manager, Interim Sports Center Manager, Recreation Supervisor, Administrative Assistant CALL TO ORDER Chair McEwen called the meeting to order at 5:31p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENTATIONS 1 Presentation on the Status of the Parks and Recreation Department Operations for April 2023 through May 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 Gibson mentioned that in Via Paraiso Park, there might have been a sign taken down that RV’s are allowed to park overnight. Park Manager Marcuzzo replied that the sign was a no parking from 10 pm - 6 am and it must’ve blown down during the winter storm. He stated it will be put back up once they make a new sign. Commissioner Gibson also mentioned that there were some community concerns that a gender reveal party happened at Via Paraiso Park and they set off confetti which left paper particles in the park. She wanted to know if they were told not to do this or if they would be fined by the City. Recreation Manager Leon said that we have a list of rules and regulations on our permit applications, however, it is not in the City code and cannot be enforced. She stated we do our best to let people know what they can and cannot do at our parks, but it could have been someone without a reservation. Commissioner Gibson also asked if we share our Department statistics with the City Manager's office on how full our programs are and what we are achieving with such little staff. Parks and Recreation Director Larson said we are working together as a team to help tell our story better. She gave examples of how hard Recreation works for the community to enjoy the current programs and events. Chair McEwen reiterated her fellow commissioner comments and was astounded that the budget did not reflect the community request for more programs. She asked what else the Department needs to do to share how overworked staff are and how full our programs are with waitlists. Chair McEwen wanted to know, as a Commission, what can they do to help advocate  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 6/14/2023 5:30:00 PM for Recreation. Recreation Manager Leon replied that advocating including letters and support for the Recreation Division with the City Manager’s office and City Council help tremendously in telling our story. Recreation Manager Leon and Director Larson both reiterated how the entire Department is short-staffed and there is a strong demand to expand services for the community in all aspects. Commissioner Crampton congratulated Park Manager Marcuzzo on the courts at Via Paraiso Park and how much use they are getting since the remodel. Chair McEwen thanked Parks and Recreation for the success of the pickleball and tennis mediation. Recreation Manager Leon said she is thankful we are not hearing from community members regarding pickleball and our new registration system, Amilia, and called it a success. Commissioner Gibson said Recreation should keep track of the program and waitlisted numbers of our participants because she feels as though the City Manager’s office pays close attention to numbers. Commissioner Crampton chimed in with an idea that her fellow Commissioners and herself should start attending Mornings with the City Manager meetings. Vice Chair Schmidt mentioned how he was thankful that he knew the numbers from the budget meeting because he wants to know what Recreation needs going forward, so he can fulfill his role as a Commissioner. Recreation Director Larson said we are trying to do better about numbers but with the pandemic layoffs we lost our financial analyst who helped look at our Division numbers and we are slowly rebuilding that area. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2 Wednesday, April 12, 2023 Action: Approved as submitted (6-0-1 Absent). Commissioner Crampton motioned Commissioner Gibson Second ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS: Lee Whitney, NCIP Representative, spoke about how the Glenwood neighborhood has some great ideas when it comes time to planning for the site. She stated the neighborhood has ideas for an open space and park for everyone and just asks to be a part of the park master plan discussion when it comes time. Jean Rasch, President of the Monterey Vista neighborhood association, thanked Park Manager Marcuzzo and Parks and Recreation Director Larson for the completion and quick turnaround of the pickleball courts at Via Paraiso Park. She commented on the Sports Center seminar and was really surprised there was not more funding for Recreation to bring back programs and staff positions. PUBLIC APPEARANCE Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 6/14/2023 5:30:00 PM  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 6/14/2023 5:30:00 PM 3 Receive Report on Commission Appointment Process and Select Chair and Vice Chair for FY2023-2024 (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Approved the Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 (6-0-1). Public Comments: None On a motion by Commissioner Gibson, seconded by Commissioner Spangler and carried by the following vote, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the appointment of Christian Schmidt as Chair and Cyd Crampton as Vice Chair for July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024: AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: McEwen, Schmidt, Crampton, Gibson, Ono, Spangler NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: McCarthy INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS Parks and Recreation Director Larson updated the commission on the Laguna Grande Park Project and how all three agencies in the JPA have certified the environmental documents. She states the whole project is coming along but it will take up to a year to get everything underway. She also touched on the Old Capitol Site, the Montecito Park event, and the Casanova Oak Knoll town hall meeting. She thanked Ryan Nunez for stepping up as the Interim Sports Center Manager and thanked staff and Commissioners for their undying support regarding all the attended meetings and letters. Recreation Manager Leon thanked the Commissioners for attending study sessions, budget meetings and sending letters. She also thanked the Recreation team for their hard work going into summer and how the staff is splitting their time into so many different roles. She is thankful for our collaborative teamwork but explains how we still need more support. Park Manager Marcuzzo shared how Parks is focusing most of their time on weed removal from the storm damage and the installation of the NCIP Project’s first attempt at a beach mat in front of the beach house. He also spoke about how much help they have received from their volunteer gardeners and how much work they do. Interim Sports Center Manager Ryan Nunez thanked all his coworkers and Commissioners. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Crampton followed up with her comments regarding the Commissioners attending the morning meetings with the City Manager and asked that we give her the most up- to-date statistics on the Divisions program funding needs. Commissioner Gibson agreed with Commissioner Crampton and thought it was time to use their voices more frequently. She shared how shocked she was to find out that Recreation and Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 6/14/2023 5:30:00 PM  Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 6/14/2023 5:30:00 PM Museums were the only two departments that have not fully recovered personnel while all other Departments are almost pre-COVID-19 staffed. She asked about publicity for CQS and how she thought a family article of generations attending CQS would show the importance of the camp. Lastly, she noted that working families need to know that if they are waitlisted it is due to limited staffing and not another reason. Vice Chair Schmidt expressed how much he wants to help the Department with their workload. He commented on how well Recreation holds their own and expressed his thanks. Chair McEwen mentioned to her fellow Commissioners that they should take turns for the morning meetings with the City Manager. She thinks having a Commissioner show their face and say a few words will go a long way. She thanked the Department for her time as Chair and was happy to pass the title along to her fellow Commissioner Schmidt. Commissioner Spangler expressed how Recreation makes this community a great place to live. She mentioned an experience she had at Via Paraiso Park the other week and how beautiful it was to see the community utilize the park together. She thanked Park manager Marcuzzo for his strategic thinking and keeping the parks looking amazing as well as Ryan Nunez for filling in as Interim Sports Center Manager. Commissioner Ono reiterated his fellow Commissioners comments and said how drastic the staff numbers dropped after COVID-19 and seeing it on paper makes it more real. Thanked Recreation for their summer support, Parks Manager Marcuzzo and Interim Sports Center Manager Ryan Nunez for their efforts. NEXT MEETING Wednesday, July 12, 2023. ADJOURNMENT Chair McEwen adjourned the meeting at 6:35 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, ________________________________ Karen Larson Ellen McEwen, Chair Parks and Recreation Director Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 6/14/2023 5:30:00 PM