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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/22/2007 PRC MinutesCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION S.C.A.Q.M.D./HEARING BOARD ROOM 21865 Copley Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 FEBRUARY 22, 2007 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Grundy called the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the SCAQMD/Hearing Board Room, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Chairman Owens led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Lew Herndon, Ruth Low, Vice Chairman Ted Owens and Chairman Dave Grundy. Absent: Commissioner Benny Liang was excused. Staff Present: Bob Rose, Director of Community Services; Anthony Jordan, Parks and Maintenance Superintendent; Sara Somogyi, Recreation Services Manager and Marisa Somenzi, Senior Administrative Assistant. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None Offered. CALENDAR OF EVENTS: As Listed in the Agenda and reported by CSD/Rose. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR 1.1 Approval of Minutes for the January 25, 2007 Regular Meeting. C/Herndon moved, VC/Owens seconded to approve the Consent Calendar as corrected. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Herndon, Low, VC/Owens, Chair/Grundy NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Liang 2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 2.1 Recreation Program Report — RSM/Somogyi 2.2 Parks Report —PMS/Jordan. PMS/Jordan presented staffs report and specifically reported that on February 14 three men in a black truck drove onto the park surface at FEBRUARY 22, 2007 PAGE 2 P&R COMMISSION Heritage Park and attempted to make a big donut in the field near the softball field. The landscape workers witnessed the incident and jumped into their truck and followed the truck catching up with them at DBHS where they were able to get the license plate number. The Sheriff office conducted an investigation and discovered that the tag on the truck was stolen and the registration did not match anyone attending D.B.H.S. As a result, the vehicle was impounded and as of last Friday no one has stepped forward to claim the vehicle. Chair/Grundy felt that the TruGreen employees should be commended for their efforts. C/Herndon wanted to know if the problem of individuals driving their vehicles onto park surfaces was an ongoing problem and what might be done to block them from gaining access. PMS/Jordan said that staff discussed the possibility of installing a fence. However, in orderto fully preclude individuals from driving onto the park it could potentially cause a traffic flow issue. The problem is random and staff is considering measures to prevent that occurrence. CSD/Rose said there was a plan to keep vehicles out of all City parks that involves planting more trees, constructing fences, installing bollards and the Commission earlier recommended installation of a split rail fence at Pantera Park. These proposals were not previously accepted for inclusion in the budget. As frustrating as these incidents are the damage is corrected by expending a few hundred dollars whereas installation of fences, etc. are large ticket items. During discussions later this evening some of these items can be discussed as part of the budget process. C/Low asked if traffic citations were issued for driving on City park property. CSD/Rose responded that park rules are posted that say "No Vehicles Allowed other than in Designated Parking Lots" and violators are cited for an infraction. CSD/Rose said he would have to check to see if the sign indicated the type of violation and citation. The fine is $100 for the first infraction, $200 for the second and $500 the third time if it occurs within a 12 -month period. C/Low commented that it might ultimately be less expensive to fix the grass but if a person were injured there would be no cost comparison to implementing preventative mitigation measures. C/Herndon asked if the City would have any claim against the impounded vehicle. He suggested it might be purchased for the impound amount and sold to pay for the repairs. CSD/Rose said staff expects the owners to surface. PMS/Jordan responded to Chair/Grundy that his understanding was thatthe vehicle was a late model Chevrolet Tahoe or Suburban. FEBRUARY 22, 2007 PAGE 3 P&R COMMISSION 2.3 Community Foundation CSD/Rose reported that the Foundation has received in excess of $1,000 in contributions toward the "Bob Zirbes Sports Park Fund" and donations continue. CSD/Rose said he spoke with the Foundation about possibly sponsoring a DB4 Youth `Battle of the Bands" immediately following the Concerts in the Park series. Chair/Grundy wanted to know if the City Council and others were interested in doing some kind of permanent memorial commemorating Bob Zirbes and CSD/Rose said there was public support for such a memorial but he had not seen anything on the Council agenda yet. C/Herndon asked if there was something the Commissioners could do to support the effort and CSD/Rose responded that they could issue a proclamation or resolution of support. 2.4 Trails Master Plan CSD/Rose met with Jeff Scott, David Evans & Associates about doing graphics for the plan. Mr. Scott has an associate that has experience in making recommendations for trail improvements. CSD/Rose said he expected to have an update for the Commission at its next meeting. C/Low said she read an interesting article in the Orange County Registerthis weekend that indicated that based upon research, seniors tend to walk more when there is a destination such as a restaurant, shop, bank or some kind of business and the fact that there are trails is essentially irrelevant to the amount that seniors actually walk. 2.5 C.I.P. Program Report — CSD/Rose a. Sycamore Canyon Park ADA Retrofit — Phase III — scheduled for completion June 2007 prior to commencement of "Concerts in the Park" series. CSD/Rose updated the Commission on the progress of the project. b. Batting Cages at Peterson and Pantera Parks CSD/Rose reported that at its February 6 meeting, the City Council approved installation of batting cages at both Peterson and Pantera Parks as a single project. Plans and specifications are being prepared and the goal is to complete the work during the summer. C. Slope Repair at Diamond Bar Center — Completed. FEBRUARY 22, 2007 PAGE 4 P&R COMMISSION 3. OLD BUSINESS: None 4. NEW BUSINESS: 4.1 Commission Prioritization of Park Improvements for 2007/08 FY C/Herndon felt that Starshine Park was a rather unfriendly park because it was a big open grassy area and the park lacked a feeling of intimacy. He suggested that shade trees could be added and the shade structure could be eliminated. C/Low agreed and recommended adding park benches under the trees to create a more family -like park atmosphere. Chair/Grundy said he too liked the idea of trees to breakup the "parking lot" feeling. Once the trees matured they would provide shade. He recommended waiting on the shade structure. C/Herndon said he would prefer having a lot of shade trees rather than a shade structure. C/Low felt there should be sufficient in -lieu dollars from projects to pay for trees. C/Low wondered if the "Art in the City" program funds could be used to provide attractive play equipment. Chair/Grundy felt the City would get a good return on resurfacing the basketball courts. He would definitely like to see play equipment at Paul C. Grow. Following Commission discussion, C/Low moved, C/Herndon seconded to recommend inclusion of all of the items in the 2007/08 FY Budget without regard to prioritization. Without objection, the motion was so ordered. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS: C/Herndon attended the Bob Zirbes memorial and felt it was well done. He said he supported moving forwardallocated for construction of a newlibrary be et aside for recommendedorts Park in Bob's name. He alloc that the $4 millionBob Zirbes Sports Park. VC/Owens stated he planned to attend the Little League Opening Day ceremonies on Saturday. Chair/Grundy wished Ryan Wright good luck in his new position with the City of Orange. Next month the Commission will reorganize. The service for Bob Zirbes last week was very well done and very poignant. Bob was a great friend, someone who was upbeat and enthusiastic and very involved in civic affairs. Bob touched many people and it would be very appropriate for the City to memorialize him in some permanent way. FEBRUARY 22, 2007 PAGE 5 P&R COMMISSION ADJOURNMENT: On motion by C/Herndon, seconded by VC/Owens and with no further business before the Parks & Recreation Commission, Chair/Grund adjourned the m at 8:02 p.m. in honor of Bob Zirbes. y meeting Respectfully,S- emitted, M