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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/27/2005 PRC MinutesCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION HEARING BOARD ROOM OF S.C.A.Q.M.D./THE GOVERNMENT CENTER 21865 Copley Drive JANUARY 27, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Grundy called the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. in the SCAQMD/Government Center Building Hearing Board Room, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Chair Lyons led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Dave Grundy, Vice Chairman Nancy Lyons and Commissioners Benny Liang, Commissioner Ling -Ling Chang arrived at 7:30 p.m. Commissioner Marty Torres was absent. Staff Present: Bob Rose, Director of Community Services; Jim DeStefano, Assistant City Manager; Sara West, Recreation Supervisor 11; Bryan Petroff, Parks and Maintenance Supervisor; Alison Meyers, Recreation Coordinator and Marisa Somenzi, Administrative Assistant. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None Offered. CALENDAR OF EVENTS: As presented in the agenda. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR 1.1 Minutes for the November 18, 2004 Regular Meeting. VC/Lyons moved, C/Liang seconded to approve the November 18, 2004 minutes as presented. Without objection, the motion was so ordered with C/Chang being absent. 2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 2.1 Economic Development update — ACM/DeStefano ACM/DeStefano reported that JCC Development is in escrow to purchase'a 25 -acre parcel located across the street from South Point Middle School. About seven of the 25 acres closest to Morning Sun are buildable. Lewis Homes of California purchased a seven -acre parcel also adjacent to Morning JANUARY 27, 2005 PAGE -2 P&R COMMISSION Sun. The two companies are working together on a residential development that would potentially incorporate a 2.87 -acre site previously dedicated for a neighborhood park as a substitute for what was intended to be "Larkstone Park." Staff intends to recommend construction of a turnkey three -acre park within the development meeting the standards of Maple Hill Park, for example. The developers, the Walnut Valley Unified School District and the City of Diamond Bar are working out the details and the contract and construction details should be completed by third quarter of 2005. Property to the west of the site is a vacant area known as Sandstone Canyon. The City Council has directed staff to attempt to acquire Sandstone Canyon from the Walnut Valley Unified School District for no specific purpose other than to control its future. ACM/DeStefano responded to Chair/Grundy that the City's General Plan goal calls for applying assets to park and open space for potential future uses. The City is exploring the option of capturing Sandstone Canyon and what it would be used for in the future is unknown at this point. 2.2 Recreation Program Report — RSI I/West 2.3 Diamond Bar Community Foundation Oral Report — CSD/Rose. 2.4 City Birthday Party — Oral Report, 2.5 C.I.P. Program Report — CSD/Rose. a. Diamond Bar Center b. Trail & Trail Head Development at Sycamore Canyon Park C. Summitridge Park Restroom and Tot Lot Development — on hold pending consideration of an aquatics park facility. d. Picnic Shelter at Pantera Park e. Sycamore Canyon Park ADA Retrofit — Phases 11 and IIi Starshine Park ADA Retrofit g. Lorbeer Ball Field — Artificial Turf — negotiating with school district. 3. OLD BUSINESS: 3.1 Youth Master Plan and Selection of Commissioners to serve on the Collaborative. CSD/Rose reported that staff continues to pursue Phase I of the Youth Master Pian and development of a work plan. JANUARY 27, 2005 - - PAGE 3 P&R COMMISSION VC/Lyons said she could not support adoption of the document due to lack of backup documentation and errors contained within the report. Denis Paul, Diamond Bar High School Principal and steering committee member told her that he had not seen the report and also told her that the figures she represented to him as contained in the report were not factual. She felt a study session to review the document would be in order. Chair/Grundy reiterated the Commission's requested to hold a joint study session with the City Council to review the document and convey the Commissioners thoughts and comments. CSD/Rose asked if the Commission would agree to meet with staff to determine the issues. VC/Lyons felt the issues had not changed. When the Commission last discussed this document many concerns were voiced. C/Liang felt the Commission should meet with the City Council to discuss this matter because he was uncomfortable with the report. He would feel irresponsible if he were to recommend the report on its face. C/Chang recommended that the Commission hold a study session to state their concerns and be certain that all Commissioners were on the same page prior to discussing the matter with the City Council. CSD/Rose agreed to schedule a study session for the Commission. 4. NEW BUSINESS: 4.1 DISCUSSION OF TURF DAMAGE TO CITY PARKS BY TRESPASSING VEHICLES. CSD/Rose reported and recommended that the Commission discuss potential and appropriate methods to keep trespassing vehicles off of the turf at the City's public parks. VC/Lyons suggested the City form Neighborhood Watch programs in affected neighborhoods and work to gain the residents' cooperation in reporting offenders. Chair/Grundy asked if motion detectors hooked to an alert system in a central location would work as well as security cameras. C/Liang..asked if staff had contacted the Walnut Valley Unified School District to gather information about possible measures they had undertaken to eliminate this type of vandalism at Chaparral and other schools. CSD/Rose stated that all school campuses are fenced and the parks are wide open. Chair/Grundy suggested that staff evaluate mitigation measures on a cost basis and report back to the Commission. He also suggested a red light JANUARY 27, 2005 PAGE 4 P&R COMMISSION camera at the park entrance to capture the license plate numbers. C/Chang agreed. C/Liang suggested that attention could be brought to the residents via the City's Newsletter asking them to report these types of incidents to the City and/or the Sheriffs Department. CSD/Rose thanked the Commissioners fortheir valuable input and said that staff would take their suggestions under advisement and report back at a future meeting.. 4.2 CONSIDERATION OF CHANGE TO SKATE PARK RULES TO ALLOW RAZOR SCOOTERS. CSD/Rose reported. Anita Loree disagreed that the scooters would cause additional wear and tear to the concrete because skateboards have metal trucks on the bottom. In fact, skateboarders grind on the metal portion. Several area skate parks allow scooters and she transports her children to those parks because her kids enjoy the sport. She disagreed with the concept that the scooters would present an additional liability risk to the City. Riders can hang on to the scooters whereas skateboards can fly out from under the kids and strike individuals and property. Eric Loree said he attends Lorbeer Middle School and a good portion of his life centers around scootering because he loves it so much. He felt scooters were safer and would cause no more damage than skateboards because both skateboards and scooters contain the same metal material. John Radtke, teacher and reserve deputy, said there did not seem to be much of a problem with scooters causing damage and injuries in skateparks in the area. He works in a hospital teaching radiology and has witnessed that most accidents result from skateboard use because when they fall off they usually land on their wrists and end up breaking their wrists. In fact, the skateboarders do not usually wear protective gear. Scooters do wear protective gear. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of activity for teenaged boys in this immediate area and the sport of scootering has been a very positive experience for them and keeps them out of trouble. He hoped the City would reconsider allowing scooterers to use the skate park in D.B. as other cities allow. Claremont, Pomona, LaVeme, Perris, Oceanside, Carlsbad and Bellflower are some of the cities that allow scootering at skate parks. Laurie Illig felt it was important for the City to support kids and to keep the teenagers busy in a positive way. VC/Lyons recommended that RS/Wright investigate this matter with the skate park coalition and speak with the cities of Claremont, Pomona and LaVerne and report back to the Commission before a recommendation was forwarded to the City Council. She agreed that it was important to have JANUARY 27, 2005 - PAGE 5 P&R COMMISSION worthwhile activities available for youth. Chair/Grundy said that he too would like additional information and statistics regarding accidents and damage to consider prior to forwarding a recommendation. He also requested that the City Attorney offer his opinion regarding the liability exposure. CSD/Rose said that this matter would be discussed with the City Attorney and the JPIA, the City's Risk Management Agency. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS: CSD/Rose stated that the next Parks and Recreation meeting was scheduled'for Thursday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. C/Liang asked if other damage had occurred to the D.B. Center during the rainstorms. CSD/Rose said there was some minor damage to the wood in the Oak Room and other areas of the Center. In general there was little damage to the City's parks and public rights of way. C/Chang announced that the Diamond Bar Community Foundation agreed to establish a relief fund collection account for the Minnequa and Sunset Crossing landslide. She invited everyone to attend the Chinese New Year Lunar Festival February 12 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at D.B.H.S. VC/Lyons asked if it would be appropriate for the Commission to send a letter of appreciation to Mt. Calvary thanking them for use of their gym. and how the use had greatly improved the youth basketball program. She said that the Snowfest was wonderful and that she thoroughly enjoyed herself and she could tell that the children enjoyed themselves as well. She felt there should be a punch list item to review the sound system in the Diamond Bar Center ballroom because there have been many complaints from people who were seated at the back of the ballroom and could not hear the speakers and she noticed the problem as well. Chair/Grundy wished everyone a Happy New Year. Since the last meeting several tragedies had occurred in the nation and he felt it was appropriate for people to reflect on the many benefits enjoyed by the citizens of D.B. ADJOURNMENT: Upon motion by C/Chang, seconded by C/Liang and there being no further business before the Parks & Recreation Commission, Chair/Grundy adjourned the meeting at 8:31 p.m. Aes tf ubmitted, se, Secretary