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Home My WebLink About09/28/2006 PRC MinutesCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION S.C.A.Q.M.D./THE GOVERNMENT CENTER AUDITORIUM 21865 Copley Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Grundy called the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the SCAQMD/Government Center Building Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Chairman Owens led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Lew Herndon, and Vice Chairman Ted Owens and Chairman Dave Grundy. Absent: Commissioners Benny Liang and Ruth Low were excused. Staff Present: Bob Rose, Director of Community Services; Anthony Jordan, Parks and Maintenance Superintendent; Sara Somogyi West, Recreation Services Manager; Claude Bradley, Parks & Maintenance Supervisor; Margot Suarez, Day Camp Coordinator; Meghan Gorden, Day Camp Coordinator; Alison Meyers, Recreation Specialist; and Marisa Somenzi, Senior Administrative Assistant. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: Day Camp Coordinator Suarez presented Certificates of Completion and Stipends to Summer Volunteen Participants. RECESS: Chair/Grundy recessed the meeting at 7:15 p.m. RECONVENE: Chair/Grundy reconvened the meeting at 7:27 p.m. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None Offered. CALENDAR OF EVENTS: As Listed in the Agenda and reported by CSD/Rose. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR VC/Owens moved, Chair/Grundy seconded to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: VC/Owens, Chair/Grundy NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Herndon ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Liang, Low SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 PAGE 2 P&R COMMISSION 1.1 Approved Minutes for August 24, 2006 — As Presented 2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 2.1 Recreation Program Report — RSM/Somogyi West VC/Owens asked how the D.B. Day at the Fair went and RSM/West responded that it went well and staff received positive feedback. VC/Owens asked if all staff members received CPR training and RSM/Somogyi West responded yes. In addition, two staff members are Certified CPR trainers. Chair/Grundy asked about the net gain of revenue to expenditures on the Youth Day Camp Financial Summary. It appeared that absent the grants there would have been a net loss and wanted to know the conditions of the grant funds. CSD/Rose explained that the City has two grants that help support the Summer Day Camp Program. The Department of Education grant pays for the "Peace Builders" portion. The City pays a fee for two years of service. The Prop A funds pay for the bus transportation. He believed the program was very close to break-even. All grant requirements were met and any overage is credited to the City's General Fund. RSM/Somogyi West responded to VC/Owens that there were 10-15 D.B. booths at the Fair. She indicated that last year there were 25-30 artists for the first event, an excellent response. This year there have been a number of calls and staff expects a good showing for the Sunday at the Center. CSD/Rose said staff's goal was to accommodate 27 artists inside the building and that the City could accommodate 50 or so artists by using the outside areas if needed. Chair/Grundy asked about the special City Council hats used during the Concerts in the Park series. RSM/Somogyi West responded that staff received a lot of positive feedback from attendees who said it was much easier to identify Council Members. In addition, attendees felt it made the Council Members seem much more friendly and approachable. Staff plans to continue use of the hats next year. 2.2 Parks Report — PMS/Jordan. C/Herndon thanked staff for conducting the walkthroughs and what staff has done to prepare parks for the upcoming sports season. 2.3 C.I.P. Program Report — CSD/Rose a. Sycamore Canyon Park ADA Retrofit — Phase III — CSD/Rose reported that staff intends to take this to the City Council on Tuesday, October 3 for award of contract. The bids came in significantly higher than what was budgeted. Bids ranged from 1.3 million to 2 million dollars. The bid being submitted to the City Council includes options to reduce the cost as well as taking $600,000 plus from the Parks Development Fund to fund SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 PAGE 3 P&R COMMISSION the full project. CSD/Rose responded to VC/Grundy that according to the designers and contractors the price of construction continues to increase. b. Slope Repair at Diamond Bar Center CSD/Rose reported that at its last meeting City Council awarded the contract for the slope repair at the Diamond Bar Center. Once the contractor has submitted the necessary documentation a pre - construction meeting will be held and once construction commences, the project should be completed in about 30 days. 2.4 Lorbeer Middle School Design of Football Field/Track Slope Improvements CSD/Rose reported that at its August 15 meeting the City Council awarded the design contract for track and football field improvements to David Evans Associates. CSD/Rose to discuss what needs to be done on would he football field officials andthe design committee Chair/Grundy requested that staff email him a copy of the joint use agreement. 2.5 Art in Public Places — Results of September 12, 2006 subcommittee meeting. C/Herndon reported that the initial meeting was a fact-finding meeting. Subcommittee members received copies of programs in other cities and were reminded about certain restraints placed on the matter by the City Council. He said he looked forward to following this matter through to a satisfactory conclusion. CSD/Rose stated that staff found that Manhattan Beach has a program similar to what has been discussed for D.B. LA City has a program for the developers as well as a program that does not include developer fees. Today staff received a solicitation from Los Angeles County about how they distribute grants for their art programs. There is a significant amount of money available that may in time be available to a non-profit organization that supports art in the City. For example, the Diamond Bar Community Foundation could be an avenue. However, the non-profit must commit at least 51 percent of their resources to art programs. 2.6 Batting Cages at Peterson and Pantera Parks CSD/Rose reported on the progress of the design plan for the project. The project as proposed came in at about $300,000 for a state -of -the art facility. As a result, staff has asked the architect to go back to the drawing board to reduce costs to stay within the $150,000 budget. The next step is to schedule public meetings in October. SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 PAGE 4 P&R COMMISSION C/Herndon said he felt shade was not required. CSD/Rose responded to C/Herndon that it was staff's intent to construct a curb around the decomposed granite to keep it in place. CSD/Rose further responded that the locations would be serviced by the existing ball field lights. 3. OLD BUSINESS: NONE 4. NEW BUSINESS: NONE 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS: C/Herndon said that in his opinion with respect to Concerts in the Park hats for Commissioners were not necessary. He thanked staff for their hard work. VC/Owens also said hats were not necessary for the Commissioners. He thanked staff for their support of the baseball picnic. With respect to batting cages, he felt it was important to make sure the lighting offered a safe environment. Chair/Grundy commented on the opening of Target and CSD/Rose spoke briefly about the soft grand opening ceremonies. Chair/Grundy said that Lorbeer looked "incredibly improved." He said he was very grateful that a joint use agreement was finally reached and thanked those involved. C/Herndon apologized for missing the last meeting and said he would also miss the October meeting. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Parks & Recreation Commission, Chair/Grundy adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m. WBobqe,e�creta bmitted, ry