HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/22/2009 PRC MinutesCITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MINUTES OF THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
THE GOVERNMENT CENTER
HEARING BOARD ROOM
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
OCTOBER 22, 2009
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Herndon called the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at
7:00 p.m. in the SCAQMD/Government Center Hearing Board Room, 21865 Copley
Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765,
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Owens led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioner Benny Liang, Ruth Low, Ted
Owens, Vice Chairman Dave Grundy, and Chairman
Lew Herndon.
Staff Present: Bob Rose, Community Services Director; Anthony
Jordan, Parks and Maintenance Superintendent;
Christy Murphey, Recreation Supervisor; Lorry Meyer,
Recreation Specialist; and Marcy Hilario, Senior
Administrative Assistant.
MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: As listed in the agenda and reported by CSD/Rose.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
1.1 Approval of Minutes for the September 24, 2009 Regular Meeting.
VC/Grundy moved, C/Owens seconded, to approve the September 24,
2009 regular Meeting Minutes as presented. Motion carried by the
following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Owens, VC/Grundy,
Chair/Herndon
NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Liang, Low
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None
2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
2.1 RECREATION PROGRAM UPDATE — RS/Murphey
RS/Murphey reiterated to C/Owens that youth basketball is held on
Saturday beginning in January and there is a discount for a second child.
Adult basketball is held on Sunday. Games start at 6:00 p.m. and the last
OCTOBER 22, 2009 PAGE 2 P&R COMMISSION
game starts at 9:00 p.m. at South Point. At D.B.H.S., games start at 1:00
p.m. with the last game starting at 8:00 p.m.
VC/Grundy asked if the recent fires affected excursions scheduled in that
area. CSD/Rose responded to VC/Grundy that the Oak Grove fire
stopped at the road before it reached any apple orchards.
C/Owens asked what the criteria was for receiving grant funds from
Proposition 84 Statewide Park Grant Program. CSD/Rose responded that
the primary eligibility issue is the amount of available park space. The
website features a user-friendly map that allows cities to identify locations
of proposed improvements and the map creates a radius of about one-half
mile. If there are any parks or recreational space within that one-half mile
radius, chances of being funded are extremely slim. School sites and
open space areas are eligible.
a) POWER POINT PRESENTATION ON SENIOR PROGRAMS —
CSS/Meyer reported on events, seminars and speakers the City
provides to the seniors.
Chair/Herndon asked what the average age of participants is.
CSS/Meyer responded to Chair/Herndon that the main age for
participants was about 75; however, the program is available to
residents age 55 and over. Last year she lost more 80 and 90 year old
participants than in past years.
VC/Grundy thanked CSS/Meyer and staff for the Power Point
presentation because it is a great way of adding information to the
written reports. As a recipient of these presentations he is learning
much more about the programs the City offers.
Chair/Herndon asked if there was any interest in inter -generational
programs for the seniors. CSS/Meyer said she tried such a program;
however, the seniors that frequent the center are pretty single-minded
in terms of social events.
2.2 PARKS REPORT — PMS/Jordan — Power Point Presentation on Ronald
Reagan Park
Chair/Herndon asked if there was better material than aluminum for the
trash cans and PMS/Jordan explained that aluminum is more economical.
There are better alternatives such as pre -cast concrete and steel;
however, the problem is that these better alternatives are more
susceptible to vandalism.
Chair/Herndon asked how long it takes to make park repairs. PMS/Jordan
responded that as quickly as staff's work plan permits. Chair/Herndon felt
the City would get a lot more use for Starshine Park if it had more trees
and an appearance similar to Ronald Reagan Park. C/Low said she
would like to see more benches.
OCTOBER 22, 2009 PAGE 3 P&R COMMISSION
b) SCHEDULE PARK WALK-THROUGHS
VC/Grundy suggested the schedule resume in January. C/Low felt the
trails should be included. Chair/Herndon said Monday and Friday
mornings are preferable. C/Owens said that mid-morning any day of the
week is good for him and he would like to visit Pantera and Peterson
Parks. C/Liang said he would like to visit Sycamore Canyon Park on
Friday. VC/Grundy said he would be happy to visit any remaining parks
on a day that he could fit into his schedule in January. C/Low said she
would be available on alternative Fridays and she would visit any park(s).
2.3 C I P Projects — CSD/Rose
a) Sycamore Canyon Trail — Phase III — Under construction.
b) Sycamore Canyon Park Trail — Phase IV — Building and Safety has
revised the plans; the geotechnical engineer is still going through
the plans and as soon as he completes his work the project will go
out to bid with completion slated for June 30, 2010.
c) Sycamore Canyon Park Building ADA Retro -fit — Phase IV — Work
commenced the week of October 12. The official timeframe should
take the project into January 2010 but the contractor has a goal to
complete the work prior to the Christmas Holiday.
d) Washington Street Mini -Park Design — The neighborhood meeting
was held at the mini park last Saturday with about 35 neighborhood
residents in attendance. The meeting lasted about two hours and
staff was presented with some very, very good ideas. Discussion
included a tot lot, walking path with benches, fencing between the
park and the two streets (Lincoln and Washington), something to
block the driveway into the condominium complex, turf, security
lights, installation of a call box, a circular basketball court, trees and
replacement of the fully grown pecan tree that was removed when
the City took ownership (it was found to have structural damage),
and renaming the park. There is an easement that belongs to LA
County Flood Control that runs between the park and the
residences that has to have a maintained access which requires
mitigation.
2.4 Parks Master Plan Update — CSD/Rose reported that staff met with
CM/DeStefano to discuss the financial summary and recommendations.
The consultants will take the information received from CM/DeStefano and
tighten the recommendations and add the maintenance and operation
costs. The total cost of the number one priority items is about $12 million
and the total cost of all listed improvements is approximately $85 million.
The financial plan will be structured to fund the $12 million in one phase, if
possible. Staff should have a working document in about three weeks at
which time CM/DeStefano will again review the document and the
financial summary after which the document will be reviewed with the
Commission.
OCTOBER 22, 2009 PAGE 4 P&R COMMISSION
2.5 Trails Master Plan Update — CSD/Rose stated the subcommittee finished
its work at its last meeting. Staff intended to have Jeff Scott present the
finished document this evening. However, due to a serious family illness
the presentation is continued to the next meeting planned for November
19.
3. OLD BUSINESS: None
4. NEW BUSINESS: None
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS: C/Liang said he received a lot of positive
feedback about the senior programs and commended CSS/Meyer for her
leadership, as well as staff's support.
C/Low expressed the senior program is great. She asked if there was any
interest in having a senior community garden to which CSS/Meyer responded
that no mention has been made of having one. She commended PMS/Jordan
for his care of the parks.
VC/Grundy asked for a follow-up on chalk walls. RS/Murphey said that
CSC/Batson planned to follow up on that item. She offered to provide an update
at the next meeting. VC/Grundy echoed his colleagues that the parks and
facilities look great and said he appreciated tonight's presentations.
C/Owens reiterated that the Power Point presentations were well done. He
attended the mini -park meeting and felt there was good participation by the
residents. He asked where future meetings would be held. CSD/Rose said that,
as he mentioned at the end of the neighborhood meeting, the next meeting
would likely be in The Government Center in December.
Chair/Herndon said he appreciated everything staff does to make the
Commission's job easy. The Governor apparently signed off on the last
remaining obstacle to the NFL Stadium which could mean that exciting things will
be happening in the next few years.
ADJOURNMENT: C/Low moved, C/Owens seconded to adjourn the meeting.
With no further business before the Parks & Recreation Commission, Chair/Herndon
adjourned the meeting at 8:11 p.m.
CHAIRMAN LEW HERNDON