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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/28/2002 PRC MinutesCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION HEARING BOARD ROOM OF S.C.A.Q.M.D.ITHE GOVERNMENT CENTER 21865 E. Copley Drive FEBRUARY 28, 2002 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Hull called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Torres led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Hull, Vice Chairman St. Amant and Commissioners Anis and Torres. Commissioner Finnerty was excused. Staff: Bob Rose, Director of Community Services; Gary Olivas, Recreation Superintendent and Marisa Somenzi, Administrative Secretary. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As Presented. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Roy Wilks, 2702 George Lane, said that a few years back he attended a meeting during which it was revealed that a survey of 500 citizens indicated that the number one facility desired by the residents was an aquatics facility. He left the meeting believing that the powers that be would follow through with this request. Four or five years later nothing has been done. We have a community/senior center in process and a skate park has been completed. Nothing has been done about the aquatics facility and as far as he can tell, very little is in the planning stage. He thinks there should be consideration for what the citizens have requested. Water safety training is essential in this area. Siting of such a facility is critical. He urged the Commission to get serious about pursuing an aquatics facility and to begin contemplating a location for an aquatics facility. Responding to VC/St. Amant, CSD/Rose agreed that a survey during City Birthday Party as well as a telephone survey revealed the number one desire of the community was to have an .aquatic facility. VC/St. Amant agreed with Mr. Wilks that D.B. needs an aquatic facility. D.B. has very little for teenagers and younger kids and he believes it would be a great service to the community, provide recreation and water safety education. C/Torres asked how this matter could be brought back to the forefront of the city's goals. FEBRUARY 28, 2002 PAGE 2 P&R COMMISSION CSD/Rose responded that budget season is approaching and the Commission has the opportunity to recommend capital improvement (C.I.P.) projects to the City Council for fiscal year 2002/2003. C/Anis agreed with VC/St. Amant and C/Torres. This matter has been discussed over the past few years. One of the concerns is a potential location. She believes this matter should be placed on the next meeting agenda. Mr. Wilks said there is 2.7 acres owed to the city by the Walnut Valley Unified School District that he believes would accommodate such a facility. Mr. Wilks responded to C/Anis that the D.B.H.S. facility is a possible location for an aquatic facility. However, it appears that there is a greater desire for a new gym. C/Torres felt that this matter should be included in the C.I.P. rollout rather than a separate agenda item. CALENDAR OF EVENTS: CSD/Rose reported that all events are as scheduled with the exception of the following additions and corrections. Friday, March 8, 2002 — Arbor Day Celebration - Pantera Park —10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 16 — Adult Excursion to Riverdance — Matinee Performance — Orange County Performing Arts Center — Food at T. J. Abbey's — departs City Hall —12:30 p.m. — Return — 8:30 p.m. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Torres moved, VC/St. Amant seconded, to approve the consent- calendar as presented. Without objection, the motion was so ordered with C/Finnerty being absent. 1.1 Minutes of January 24, 2002 Regular Meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission as presented. 1.2 Transmittal of revised edition of Parks and Recreation Commission Handbook. 2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 2.1 Recreational Program Update - Report by RS/Olivas on the following items: a. Youth Basketball b. Youth Indoor Soccer C. 10th Annual Youth Track Meet d. Adult Basketball e. Adult Volleyball FEBRUARY 28, 2002 PAGE 3 P&R COMMISSION f. Adult Softball g. Community Recreation Guide h. Youth Programs i. Special Events j. Teen Programs k. Adult Excursions I. Concerts in the Park CSD/Rose responded to C/Anis that the Excursion to the Descanso Gardens is slated for Saturday, April 6. 2.2 Capital Improvement Program (C.I.P.) Report by CSD/Rose on the following: a. Community/Senior Center Project b. Sycamore Canyon Park ADA Retrofit Project VC/St. Amant asked if the city plans to do anything with the flat lot at the back end of Sycamore Canyon to which CSD/Rose responded that the City will be applying for grant monies. The current plan is to use that area as a trailhead and to improve the trail from the flat pad down to the v -ditches. The Hal Sturim memorial bench will be installed on the flat pad overlooking the park. 3. OLD BUSINESS — None 4. NEW BUSINESS: 4.1 Proposed Flag Pole at Pantera Park — Report by CSD/Rose Staff recommends that the Commission recommend approval of the installation of the flagpole at Pantera Park to the City Council. C/Anis suggested that if the trees cannot be replanted at Pantera, staff might consider replanting them at Sycamore Canyon Park. VC/St. Amant moved, C/Anis seconded, to recommend approval of the installation of the flagpole at Pantera Park to the City Council. Without objection, the motion was so ordered with C/Finnerty being absent. 4.2 Priority of Community Events — Report by CSD/Rose Staff recommends that the Parks and Recreation Commission review staffs recommendation of priority and operation costs for community events and recommend to the City Council the priority of events deemed appropriate by the Commission. VC/St. Amant recommended scaling down the Veterans' Day event. Further, the Skate-a-Bration is a very difficult event for the Sheriff's Department with respect to compliance and he recommended against subsidizing the event. C/Anis concurred. FEBRUARY 28, 2002 PAGE 4 P&R COMMISSION Chair/Hull felt that Concerts in the Park is an important community function. He believed that the number could be reduced to eight. He felt the 4th of July event should be maintained as a high priority unless attendance falls off. Number 7 (4th of July fireworks) is too low of a priority for it. The other Commissioners agreed with Chair/Hull C/Torres moved, VC/St. Amant seconded to recommend approval of the following priority list. 1) City Birthday Party 2) Summer Concerts (8) 3) 4th of July Fireworks 4) East Egg Hunt 5) Fall Fun Festival 6) Haunted House 7) Winter Snowfest 8) Youth Track Meet 9) Veterans Day (or combined with the 4th of July Fireworks) 10) Skate-A-Bration (no City subsidy — private provider) Without objection, the motion was so ordered. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS: C/Anis reported on her tour of Heritage Park. The Lions Club sponsored a student speaker contest two weeks ago. Two students from D.B.H.S. competed. Matt Valencia was the winner. Nearly 70 Chaparral Middle School students are Leo members. Several meetings have been held and the group is progressing. The Lions Club expects to have several of the students helping with the Easter Egg Hunt. She thanked everyone for the opportunity to serve as Commissioner for the Parks and Recreation Commission. She wished her fellow Commissioners -the best and thanked Marisa for her support. VC/St. Amant reported that last evening he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the D.B. Improvement Association. It has been a pleasure serving on the Parks and Recreation Commission. He hopes that the Commission will make its best effort to secure more park space for D.B. It is deplorable that this city has such a small number of park acres for its population. He wished the best to those remaining on the Commission and to the new Commissioners. He thanked staff for their support. C/Torres reported on his tour of Ronald Reagan Park tour. He thanked C/Anis for her support and VC/St. Amant for his humor. He is a high profile park user. The Pantera Park reseeding was an embarrassment to the city. In some places the grass looks worse than it did before the reseeding. Closing of the park deprived users of the facility for six to eight weeks. He commended staff and Sara West for a job well done with the basketball leagues. He is very impressed with the youth volunteers. FEBRUARY 28, 2002 PAGE 5 P&R COMMISSION Chair/Hull told C/Anis and VC/St. Amant that it has been his pleasure to work with them for the past two years. He looks forward to continuing to work with C/Torres and the new Commissioners. He reported on his park visits. He agreed that the Pantera Park reseeding was bad. With respect to Peterson Park, there were two-inch gaps in the sod in some places. He asked what happened to the Youth Action Committee discussed a few months ago. CSD/Rose responded to Chair/Hull that this program will be presented as a decision package during next year's budget process. ADJOURNMENT: Upon motion by VC/St. Amant, seconded by C/Anis and there being no other business to come before the Commission, Chair/Hull adjourned the meeting at 8:24 p.m. in memory of Dr. Ron Hockwalt, Superintendent of Schools, Walnut Valley Unified School District. Respectfully Submitted, kie__�� Bob Rose Secretary Attest: