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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/2000 PRC MinutesCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION HEARING BOARD ROOM OF S.C.A.Q.M.D. 21865 Copley Drive NOVEMBER 16, 2000 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Finnerty called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The audience was led in the Pledge of AIlegiance by Commissioner Patty Anis. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Annette Finnerty, Vice Chairman Patty Anis and Commissioners Hull, St. Amant and Torres. Staff: Bob Rose, Director of Community Services; Gary Olivas, Recreation Superintendent, and Marisa Somenzi, Administrative Secretary. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None Offered. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1.1 Minutes of October 26, 2000 Regular Meeting. C/Hull moved, C/St. Amant seconded, to approve the minutes of October 26, 2000 as presented. Motion carried 4-0-1 with C/Torres abstaining. 2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 2.1 Recreation Program Update. RS/Olivas reported on the following items: r. ,,: 1. Youth Basketball 2. Adult Basketball NOVEMBER 16, 2000 PAGE 2 PARKS & REC COMMISSION[ 2.2 3. Adult Softball 4., 2nd Annual Hall of Horrors and Fall Fun Festival 5. Contract Classes 6. Tiny Tots 7. Adult Excursions Capital Improvement Program Update - report by CSD/Rose. 1. Skate Park 2. Pantera Park Ball Field Lighting C/Torres stated that the Pantera Park installation was the cleanest install with heavy equipment that he has ever seen. Chair/Finnerty reported that residents adjacent to Pantera Park like the lights. r 11 11 1 2.3 Trails Master Plan Update - report by CSD/Rose. j I; 2.4 Diamond Bar Community Foundation - Oral Report by Chair/Finnerty. 2.5 Proposed Fireworks Show - July 4,2001 - Status Report by CSD/Rose. 2.6 Soda Machines - Annual Revenue Report. CSD/Rose reported that during the first quarter of this fiscal year (July 1 through September 30, 2000, 13 machines at seven parks produced $5,810.93 net to the City. The annual revenue goal is $14,028. The City pays just under $2,000 for the electricity for the machines on an annual basis. Revenue collected during the last fiscal year from July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000 was $8,281.68. He believes that the machines are beginning to produce revenue at the projected levels. 3. OLD BUSINESS: 4.1 Tennis Court Rules - Staff report by CSD/Rose. This item was carried over from the October 2e Commission Meeting. An Ad Hoc Committee was formed (Commissioners Hull and St. Amant) and it met with staff on October 27, 2000. The Ad Hoc Committee believes that the six -ball limit rule and private instructor issues should be separated to allow residents to use a basket of tennis balls when practicing. Staff believes that it will be virtually impossible to enforce the private instructor rule if the six -ball limit rule is eliminated, without first r , NOVEMBER 16, 2000 PAGE 3 PARKS & REC COMMISSION developing an alternative method for monitoring private instructors. Although the Ad Hoc Committee discussed various methods of enforcing the private instructor rule, at this time a specific method has not been determined. The Ad Hoc Committee recommends elimination of the six -ball limit rule. Mark Dalli, Mad Dog Racquet Sports, 21450 Golden Springs Road, said he believes that the enforcement signs indicating applicable fines will help to mitigate the situation. He wants residents, parents and kids to be able to bring a basket of balls to practice as long as the playing surface is maintained in a safe manner. He is pro -community, concerned about safety and against pirate teachers. Michael Lin said he and his family chose to live in Diamond Bar because the City is very peaceful, the people are friendly, the schools are good and the community is enjoyable. His family has enjoyed playing tennis in the City's parks for several years. Diamond Bar is probably only one of two cities in Los Angeles County that has the six -ball rule. Many times he did not follow the rule and used a basket and even a ball machine to assist with his training as well as, his daughter's training who is currently on the Diamond Bar High School tennis team. He has noticed that many other individuals break the rules. He asked if someone could explain the purpose of the six -ball rule because most people do not follow it which means that it is impractical or unreasonable. He appreciates the concerns regarding safety. However, people play soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, etc. which are more dangerous than tennis. He strongly feels that the six -ball rule is not practical and further, that it is unreasonable. He urged the Commission to eliminate this rule immediately. In addition, he does not believe it is necessary for the City to spend the money putting fencing between the courts. He asked how many teaching instructors have approval from the City. CSD/Rose responded that the City contracts with one company, Tennis Anyone,- which has a number of instructors. Chair/Finnerty and CSD/Rose explained to Mr. Lin that if he wants to hire a private tennis instructor for his children, he needs to use his own private tennis court, or he can obtain an instructor through the City's recreation program for lessons on park/public courts. Parents and friends of parents can instruct their children on the public courts as long as the instructors are not being compensated for their time. Robert Chou moved to Diamond Bar in September. He likes the City very much and congratulated everyone for doing such a good job. One of the features that attracted him to his present location was the proximity to a tennis court. His son is 7 years old and very anxious to learn to play tennis. He noticed the six -ball rule which puts a damper on his effort to teach his son. NOVEMBER 16, 2000 PAGE 4 PARKS & REC CO1I�MISSION: He would refer that the six -ball rule be lifted. He believes that the Cit having a six -ball rule just P Y g J to make it easy to spot illegal teaching is unfair to residents and that there are other rules that could be enforced that would eliminate illegal teaching, which he favors. He asked if the City's liability insurance coverage would increase significantly if the six -ball rule was eliminated. None of the 13 neighboring cities contacted by staff have the six -ball rule. Chair/Finnerty indicated to Mr. Chou that the City's liability costs would not increase with the elimination of the six -ball rule. He recommended that the six -ball rule be eliminated. Vib Verma also spoke against the six -ball rule. Wei Wei Cheng reiterated her opposition to the six -ball rule. Mark Dalli again spoke in favor of signage. He believes people can monitor themselves and choose a qualified tennis instructor. Mary Su, Diamond Bar business owner, said that she moved to Diamond Bar because it is a family- oriented community. As a parent she likes to spend time playing tennis with her childlren and the six ball rule severely hinders their play. She has played tennis for 15 years and in all of that time has never seen anyone injured by a tennis ball. Residents should not be penalized for the illegal acts of a few people. Chair/Finnerty explained to the speakers that the six -ball rule was initiated by Los Angeles County prior to Diamond Bar cityhood. Adjacent communities under the jurisdiction of L.A. County still have the rule - Diamond Bar is the only City that still has this rule. C/Hull and C/St. Amant presented their Ad Hoc Committee reports. C/Hull read the committee's proposal which states the following: 1. Rule No. 5 should be abolished. 2. An absolute 30 minute time limit prevails when other players are waiting. 3. Impose fines for unauthorized instructors. 4. Additional signage stating harsher restrictions on illegal instructors Other suggestions for court usage would be an electronic keypad that would time -stamp when a person entered the court; a metal box by the court entrance where a player fills out a sheet with their name and time of court usage, a copy of which goes into a metal box that can be opened by a sheriff or park ranger; some type of sign -in outside the courts where court time can be documented and p; people waiting can add their name for next in line. It is also recommended that the City of Diamond NOVEMBER 16, 2000 PAGE 5 PARKS & REC COMMISSION Bar consider hiring a park ranger. He explained the proposed signage. C/St. Amant explained that Rule No. 5 was to make it easy to spot illegal instructors and to have a violation with which to charge illegal instructors. Deputy Tom Lanning and Deputy Brian Walker discussed enforcement issues and concerns with the Commission. Kay Dalli spoke about the use of public courts. C/Hull moved, C/St. Amant seconded, to recommend that City Council: 1. That Rule No. 5 (six -ball limit) be abolished. 2. That an absolute 30 -minute time limit prevails when other players are waiting. 3. That fines for unauthorized instructors be imposed. 4. That the City post additional signage stating harsher restrictions on unauthorized instructors (List fine amounts on these new signs and state that the City may seek a _ restraining order for repeat offenders.) Without objection, the motion was so ordered. CSD/Rose stated that prior to this matter being placed on a future City Council agenda, residents who spoke on this matter will be notified by staff that item is scheduled to go before the City Council for disposition. He cautioned everyone that the Commission's recommendation does not change the current six -ball rule which remains in effect pending further action that may or may not be taken by the City Council. 4. NEW BUSINESS: None 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS: C/Torres said he looks forward to coaching in the Diamond Bar Basketball Recreation program this year. C/Hull reported on his walk-through of Pantera Park. He concurred with C/Torres that Pantera Park is absolutely the cleanest park he has visited in light of all of the work that has occurred. Greg Andrews of True Green seems eager to make certain that the City is pleased with the parks. C/St. Amant stated that there are bushes near the front of Maple Hill Park which need to be trimmed. He pointed out that in crime prevention there is a 3 in 7 rule where no hedge should be higher than 3 feet and -�' no tree should hang down below 7 feet for visibility purposes. NOVEMBER 16, 2000 PAGE 6 PARKS & REC COMMISSION'S �# C/Anis wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. There are rocks in the street near the curb on the ridge by Summitridge Park that need to be removed. Chair/Finnerty reported on her tour of Peterson Park which looks better than it has for some time. There are some holes in the skate park concrete which need repair. CSD/Rose indicated that the indentations in the skate park are caused by bicycle axle pegs. When the bicycle falls over it knocks chunks out of the concrete. 4 -Con Engineering has provided staff with the specifications for a material that is designed to fill in these types of holes. Chair/Finnerty asked for an update on the riparian habitat. CSD/Rose responded that Standard Pacific is suppose to import clay to pack the lining in the water basin area to trap the water and replant shrubs and water -born trees. The Commissioners thanked Mayor O'Connor for bringing cookies to the meeting. ADJOURNMENT: C/Torres moved, C/Hull seconded, to adjourn the meeting. There being no other business to come jbefore the Commission, Chairman Finnerty adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m. Respe tful Su miffed, 9f ose Secretary Attest: Chaijan nette Finngrty ;