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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/24/1997 PRC MinutesCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION BOARD HEARING ROOM OF S.C.A.Q.M.D. 21855 Copley Drive JULY 24, 1997 t CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Finnerty called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. i - PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by C/Medina. r ROLL CALL: i Present: Chairman Finnerty, Vice -Chairman O'Connor, and Commissioners Holder, Medina and Tye Staff: Community Services Director Bob Rose, Community Services Supervisor Wendy Bowman and Community Services Coordinator Lillian Orejel i MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE - None I CALENDAR OF EVENTS: CSD/Rose presented the Calendar of Events. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR - None 2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 1. Recreation Update. CSS/Bowman presented the Recreation Update. Chair/Finnerty asked if more tennis- classes have been added to the program schedule because of increased interest. CSS/Bowman responded that additional classes have been added to the tennis class F,7 schedule due to the new demand. _= Chair/Finnerty asked why one men's softball team dropped out. I i nur i ri � j U LY 24, 1997 PAGE 2 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION CSS/Bowman responded that the team members apparently were not interested in continuing. C/Tye asked what the maximum number of enrollees the City accepts for Day Camp. CSS/Bowman responded the limit was set at 50. Last week 59 youth participated which required additional staff participation. She stated that the current facility will accommodate a maximum of 60 participants. Chair/Finnerty asked if the Pantera Park facility would assist in accommodating additional participants. CSD/Rose responded that the building under,construction at Pantera Park will be available to a variety of programming options by the City in time for next Summer. CSS/Bowman stated that Sycamore Canyon Park has many worthwhile amenities for the Day Camp participants. She indicated she would prefer to continue the Day Camp program at Sycamore Canyon Park.'` t. C/Medina asked if the problem of youth playing baseball inside the tennis courts. at Maple Hill Park has been stopped. CSD/Rose indicated he has received no complaints and has not witnessed youth playing baseball on the tennis courts since it was referred to the Senior Volunteer Patrol. CSS/Bowman responded to CSD/Rose that the City is currently accepting registrations for Peterson Park evening adult softball leagues. CSD/Rose indicated the City is currently recruiting for a Tiny Tots Pre -School Instructor for the Fall season. CSC/Orejel presented the Park Reservations Report_ for the period July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997. VC/O'Connor asked if youth over the age of 12 may participate in the Youth Excursions. CSS/Bowman responded that 14 year old youth have participated in the program. 0f ,.,'WN •a.,y;"fr-[?s n.�'.;ki._.L'i�d�.�'a,,'� G.'h.�',: �..twCn._.:N JULY -24,1997 PAGE 3 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION 3. NEW BUSINESS - None 4. OLD BUSINESS: 2. Parks Master Plan. CSD/Rose stated the Parks Master Plan is before the Commission tonight for its recommendation to the City Council. The City Council presentation has been delayed beyond August 5, 1997. The Parks Master Plan ad hoc committee provided corrections to the consultants. The corrected version has been provided to the Commission this evening. He noted two additional corrections. Jerry Hamilton, 1429 Copper Mountain Drive, representing the Diamond Bar Senior Club, spoke about the need for a larger facility for the group. He presented figures indicating that approximately 22 percent of the City's population consists of senior citizens which represents 31 percent of the voting public. He suggested Proposition A funds might assist the City in building a larger facility. Chair/Finnerty stated the Parks and Recreation Commission has actively engaged a in discussions which resulted in a recommendation for a facility to better serve senior citizens. Robert Arceo stated that the senior citizens of Diamond Bar have been promised but not provided with a facility large enough to accommodate their needs. Also, the Heritage Park Community Center does not have sufficient parking. Chair/Finnerty explained that Diamond Bar is a new City. The Parks Master Plan addresses the need for a facility to meet the needs of the seniors. C/Tye stated the City needs to do the best that it can with the facilities that are available while it pursues other avenues and methods for funding new facilities. He volunteered that enlarging the Heritage Park Community Center and parking area to accommodate more citizens would have a negative impact on the Park as a whole. He asked the senior citizens to consider ride -sharing and to save spaces in the parking lot for senior citizens who have the greatest need. VC/O'Connor reminded Mr. Arceo that a community center is listed in the Parks Master Plan. She asked the senior citizens to support the Redevelopment Agency m as a funding source for such a facility. i DULY 24, 1997 PAGE 4 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION ',u „Intl CSD/Rose spoke about the concept of a community center which is currently under consideration for Summitridge Park. The City Council has allocated $100,000 in the 1997/98 fiscal year budget for a feasibility study for a community center at the Summitridge Park site. C/Medina pointed out that the Commission has pursued other programs for the senior citizens such as a senior citizens bowling league. The City provides many program opportunities for senior citizens. He indicated that the South Coast Air Quality Management District building on Copley Drive is available for meetings. Charles Lohan, 2086 Peaceful( Hills Road, said many senior citizens do'not wish to attend night meetings or functions. Chair/Finnerty responded to Mr. Lohan that the Commission sponsored a Saturday Parks Master Plan meeting which was well publicized. Dr. Carolyn Haugen, Quail Summit Elementary School Principal, thanked CSD/Rose, the Commission and 'the consultants for their consideration of° recommended improvements for Paul C. Grow Park contained in the Parks Master Plan. She indicated she feels it is a win-win situation for the school's students and the surrounding community. Chair/Finnerty thanked Dr. Haugen for her on-going participation and cooperation. Clyde Hennessee said that Diamond Bar is a relatively new City. The citizens are demanding things that older cities still do not have. There is only so much money to go around and the City must prioritize its needs. He asked about the City's plans for construction of a park' at the western end of Sunset Crossing Load. Curtis Postell, 531 North Deep Hill Road, asked if the Commission has recommended construction of a park at the western end of Sunset Crossing Road that includes a skateboard facility. He asked for a copy of the Parks Master Pian. CSD/Rose indicated copies of the Parks Master Plan are available to be checked out at the following locations: Suites 100 and 190 at City Hall, Heritage Park Community Center -and the City Library. C/Tye explained to Mr. Postell' that there are three proposals currently under consideration for a park facility at the western cul-de-sac of Sunset Crossing Road. A skateboard/roller hockey element is included in two of the conceptual plans. ri JULY 24, 1997 PAGE 5 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION CSD/Rose explained that proposed park facilities require a Conditional Use Permit and a.Public Hearing by the Planning Commission before they can be constructed. Steve Rose, Purkiss Rose RSI, reported on the results of the July 10, 1997 workshop. He thanked the Commission and ad hoc committee members Chair/Finnerty and VC/O'Connor for their assistance with the document preparation and proofing. The ad hoc committee concurred to meet with the consultant on Tuesday, July 29 for final proof reading of the document. CSD/Rose responded to C/Tye that the Parks Master Plan document will be i updated with new information as it becomes available prior to adoption by the City Council in September. Steve Rose responded to VC/O'Connor that the document is being revised to incorporate references to conformance to the City's General Plan prior to the City ,l Council presentation. Dr. Haugen responded to Chair/Finnerty that the school district student population appears to be holding at its current level. There are no new portable buildings proposed for the Walnut Valley School District schools that are not already under construction. CSD/Rose responded to C/Medina that a Youth Advisory Committee would be a subcommittee or ad hoc committee of the Parks and Recreation Commission or a separate commission dealing, with parks and recreation issues. A cultural arts commission deals with a separate arena of programming and services that normally do not fall within the purview of parks and recreation. Jim Picked, Purkiss Rose RSI, thanked the Commission and staff for their assistance in the preparation of the Parks Master Plan document. Chair/Finnerty moved, VC/O'Connor seconded, to recommend adoption of the Parks Master Plan, with corrections, to the City Council. The motion was approved with the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Chair/Finnerty, VC/O'Connor, Holder, Medina, Tye _ NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None R ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None JULY 24, 1997 PAGE 6 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION 3. Cost for Cougar Installation and Dedication. CSD/Rose presented staff's report. C/Tye stated that he was originally opposed to this project. He indicated that he is now very satisfied with the monument as installed. $5,600 is not "free" and is not a "gift". He reiterated the fact that this was a problem for him 'from the beginning of the,process and that $5,600 may be the hard costs for the City, but there is no doubt that additional costs will eventually be incurred. He further stated that in his opinion, he believes the organization that raised the funds for "Ode to Diamond Bar" owe the City $5,600. ANNOUNCEMENTS: C/Medina thanked Chair/Finnerty and VC/O'Connor for their assistance with the Parks Master Plan. C/Holder stated she spoke with a representative of the Rotary Club regarding additional trees for? Ronald Reagan Park. � lr C/Tye requested the matter of planting a tree and placing a park bench at Heritage Park in honor of former Commissioner Oscar Law be agendized for the August 28, 1997 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. C/Holder recommended that small, unused parcels in the City such as the area on thel southeast corner of Goldrush Drive at Diamond Bar Boulevard and other similar areas be used for pocket parks. CSD/Rose responded that the location cited is private property. C/Tye thanked the City Council for its unanimous confirmation and support of the' Parks and Recreation Commission's recommendation regarding the Ranch Festival's request for use of Peterson Park. Chair/Finnerty and VC/O'Connor requested that staff respond in writing to individuals who wrote or called the City and the Commission regarding consideration of holding the Ranch Festival at Peterson Park. The Commission concurred. C/Tye asked if additional letters or calls have been received by staff since the Commission rJ received the Ranch Festival proposal. -- j, JULY 24, 1997 PAGE 7 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION CSD/Rose responded that additional responses were received as recently as the day before the City Council meeting at which the Ranch Festival proposal and the Commission's recommendation were considered. VC/O'Connor cited a La Habra lournal "Park Report Received" article referencing the City of La Habra Parks Master Plan. I VC/O'Connor stated she is planning to take her Brownie Scout Troop 212 to the Quakes game. She strongly recommended Diamond Bar residents to consider attending the Quakes game in support of Diamond Bar Night. VC/O'Connor thanked CSD/Rose for his guidance during the Parks Master Plan development process. She thanked Chair/Finnerty for her input and attention to the report's details. C/Tye pointed out that Diamond Bar will be used by Purkiss Rose RSI as an example of how a Parks Master Plan should be developed which is a testimonial to the dedication of the ad hoc committee and the high standard to which the Commission and the City held the consultant team. Chair/Finnerty thanked the Parks and Recreation Commission and staff for their participation with the Parks Master Plan. She spoke about the fairness and equal treatment the plan offers all of Diamond Bar's residents and organizations. ADJOURNMENT: There being no other business to come before the Commission, VC/O'Connor moved, C/Holder seconded, to adjourn the meeting. Chair/Finnerty adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m. Respectful) bmitted, Bo o Secretary Attest: Annette Finrierty� Chairman'