HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/26/2001 PRC MinutesCITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MINUTES OF THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
HEARING BOARD ROOM OF S.C.A.Q.M.D.
21865 E. Copley Drive
JULY 26, 2001
CALL TO ORDER:
Vice Chairman St. Amant called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Vice Chairman St. Amant.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Vice Chairman St. Amant, and Commissioners Anis, Finnerty and
Torres.
Chairman Hull was excused.
Staff: Bob Rose, Director of Community Services; Gary Olivas, Recreation
Superintendent, and Marisa Somenzi, Administrative Secretary.
MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Steve Tye, D.B. resident, thanked the Commission
and staff for the vision and courage to recommend that the Council provide a 4th of July
celebration for the public. All comments have been very positive and the event provided
a real sense of community.
Simon Cohen echoed Mr. Tye's remarks. It was an excellent party and his family and
friends had great fun.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR:
VC/Torres moved, C/Anis seconded, to approve the consent calendar as recorded:
1.1 Minutes of June 28, 2001 Regular Meeting of the Parks & Recreation
Commission as presented with Chair/Hull being absent.
1.2 Minutes of July 16, 2001 Special Meeting of the Parks & Recreation
Commission approved as corrected with C/Finnerty abstaining and Chair/Hull
being absent.
VC/St. Amant requested the following corrections: Second line from the
bottom of Page 9 - change "cannot" to "should not" so that it reads: "The
rules should not be changed." Add the following: "Chair/Hull suggested that
these (tennis court rules) changes be reviewed after a one year period.
VC/St. Amant concurred."
JULY 26, 2001 PAGE 2 PARKS & REC COMMISSION
2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
2.1 Recreation Program Update.
RS/Olivas reported on the following items:
1.
Youth Baseball
2.
Adult Basketball
3.
Adult Volleyball
4.
Adult Softball
5.
Contract Classes
6.
Tiny Tots
7.
Day Camp
8.
Youth Excursions
9.
Volunteen Program
10.
Teen Jam 20001
11.
Knott's Scary Farm's Halloween Haunt
12.
Skate-a-Bration
13.
Winter Snow Fest
14.
Adult Excursions
15.
Concerts In the Park & July 4t" Spectacular Special Event
2.2 Diamond Bar Community Foundation Update - Report by C/Finnerty.
The Foundation has sponsored booths at two concerts in the park in order
to create more community awareness regarding the organization. The
Foundation expects to benefit from the City's hiring of a grant writer. In
addition, the organization will be cooperating with Albertsons in a special
payback program where a percentage of monies from sale of grocery items
can directly benefit the Foundation. Future agenda items include goal
setting. She asked CSD/Rose to provide a wish list of items that relate to the
Parks Master Plan for the Foundation's consideration. Chair/Oaxaca has
indicated he will offer his resignation from the Foundation at the August 16
meeting.
2.3 Parks Report - Response to Commissioners concerns re: park visits -
Report by CSD/Rose.
2.4 Capital Improvement Program - Report by CSD/Rose
Peterson Park Drainage Correction Project
City Council will consider award of contract for this project at its
August 7 meeting. The goal is to have the project completed before
December 31, 2001. Bids were within the engineer's estimates.
Therefore, funding is available to complete the project including
additional sod in the turf area. During closure, it is staff's intent to
request that all recreation programs be moved to Pantera Park.
JULY 26, 2001 PAGE 3 PARKS & REC COMMISSION
2. Community/Senior Center Design Process
At a special July 17 meeting, the City Council discussed the original
cost estimate as compared to projected costs as a result of design
changes, square footage increases and site mitigation. The project
was originally estimated to cost 4.4 million dollars. The project, as
currently configured is estimated to cost about 10 million dollars. City
Council will hold a follow up study session on Tuesday, July 31 to
further consider this project.
3. OLD BUSINESS: None
4. NEW BUSINESS:
4.2 Proposed Table Tennis Program - Establish a site location and determine
all costs involved in conducting a Table Tennis Program in the City of
Diamond Bar.
RS/Olivas presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Parks &
Recreation Commission recommend the Table Tennis Program location at
the Diamond Point Swim & Racquet Club and recommend the financial
expenditures to conduct the program.
Simon Cohen, a 21 year resident, loves table tennis. He feels that two tables
will not be adequate to serve the public interest. In addition, the Diamond
Point Swim & Racquet Club is small and dark and the floor is sticky. He
prefers the Heritage Park Community Center because the facility is capable
of handling three or four tables, it is well -lighted and it has time available. He
recommended purchase of the "Stiga" table which is well -constructed and is
customarily used in tournament play.
Caesar Wu, a six year resident, spoke about the status of table tennis in the
sports world. West Covina has six tables available at their senior center;
Alhambra has six tables at an indoor basketball facility; Orange Coast
College has 14 tables available on Friday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
and Sunday afternoon from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; City of Santa Monica has
14 tables which are available on Friday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
and Sunday afternoon from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. These facilities are
always full with additional people waiting. There are often 30 people waiting
to use the tables in West Covina. With respect to expenses, if clubs are
formed using USTTA designations, sponsors can be found to partially pay
the costs. Manufacturers of tables will contribute tables to official clubs.
There are several companies that offer tables at substantial discounts for
club play. In order to register a club, a facility, schedule and club name is
necessary. Mr. Wu stated that table tennis is the #2 most popular sport in
the world. Adequate lighting is essential; background is very important;
height is important and the size of the room is important for open play as well
as, tournament play. Local gymnasiums, senior centers and parks are good
JULY 26, 2001 PAGE 4 PARKS & REC COMMISSION
locations.
VC/St. Amant suggested the Alpha Beta location in the Country Hills Towne
Center.
C/Finnerty suggested the large vacant space at the west end of the center.
CSD/Rose pointed out that space in the Country Hills Towne Center requires
tenant improvement and triple net lease costs.
C/Torres volunteered that there may be space in the Government
Center/SCAOMD Building.
Mr. Wu stated that the best time to schedule play is from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00
p.m. In general, five tables could accommodate approximately 30 players
during a four hour period.
Sue Schwaben said she discovered table tennis two years ago. She pays
a $5.00 non-resident fee to a facility in Anaheim where she plays two nights
a week. The facility is open for four hours and has 10 tables which require
double play (four people) per table. She occasionally plays in West Covina.
She would prefer to play in Diamond Bar. She asked the Commission to
take its time in reaching a decision about a table tennis program. She does
not understand how facilities in adjacent communities can operate without
charging participants.
C/Finnerty moved, VC/St. Amant seconded, to refer this matter back to the
ad hoc committee for further consideration. Motion carried by the following
Roll Call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Anis, Finnerty, Torres, VC/St. Amant
NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Chair/Hull
4.1 Proposed Extension of Ball Field Light Use at Pantera Park - Due to the
planned closure of Peterson Park ballfields for renovation, recreation staff is
seeking the extension of ball field light use at Pantera Park per the following
schedule:
1. Lights on until 9:00 p.m. every day except Wednesdays
2. Wednesdays: Light use until 10:00 p.m.
3. Revised lighting schedule to be in place until work is completed at
Peterson Park, or December 31, 2001, whichever is earlier.
VC/St. Amant moved, C/Finnerty seconded, to recommend that the Planning
Commission approve extended ball field light use for Pantera Park as
described. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Anis, Finnerty, Torres, VC/St. Amant
NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None
JULY 26, 2001 PAGE 5 PARKS & REC COMMISSION
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Chair/Hull
4.3 Discussion of Youth Sports Programs - Non -Profit Sports Programs.
CSD/Rose presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Parks &
Recreation Commission form an Ad Hoc Committee to discuss the aspects
of youth sports.
Following extensive discussion about inappropriate behavior of sports
participants, coaches and parents, the Commission requested that staff
obtain information regarding available resources for training programs, the
goal of which is to ultimately provide a resource library to share the
information with the Diamond Bar based non-profit sports organizations.
Staff will provide the Commission with an update on its findings at the next
meeting.
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
C/Finnerty stated that she was told by a Walnut Valley Unified School District board
member that the district wants to build a new 30 million dollar high school with a
swimming pool open to public use. She suggested that the board consider Site D
and was told that the district was more interested in generating income as a result
of commercial use of that site. Perhaps the school district and D.B. could enter into
a cooperative effort. The school board is very aware of the Parks Master Plan and
integrated improvements for school district properties such as lighted tennis courts
and baseball fields, etc.
C/Anis reported that on Thursday, August 2 at 6:30 p.m. in Sycamore Canyon Park,
Friends of the Library will host a historical report on Pio Pico, the last Mexican
governor of California. Last week's presentation was very well received. She is
leaving for New York tomorrow and returning on August 5. The City Birthday Party
subcommittee met last Thursday morning to discuss next year's event. The next
meeting is scheduled for August 23 at 8:30 a.m., Conference Room A, City Hall.
VC/St. Amant suggested the City construct a permanent stage and band shell at
Sycamore Canyon Park for Concerts in the Park and other events. Yesterday he
participated in the "Twist and Shout" excursion to the Orange County Fair. He
commented on the excellent quality, of the recreation staff led by Jennifer. "National
Night Out" will be celebrated at the Concerts in the Park August 8 event. He read
a newspaper article today which reported that the City of Walnut received a $24,000
grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board for a new park using
recycled materials to create playground equipment and access for handicapped
kids.
C/Anis reported on her visit of Ronald Reagan Park and Starshine Park on July 2.
ADJOURNMENT:
C/Finnerty moved, VC/St. Amant seconded, to adjourn the meeting. There being no other
JULY 26, 2001 PAGE 6 PARKS & REC COMNUSSION
business to come before the Commission, Vice Chairman St. Amant adjourned the
meeting at 9:45 p.m.
Attest:
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Vice Chairman Mark St. Amant
1
RespectfutlJSbmitted,
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B ose
Secretary