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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/14/2011 PRC MinutesCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION STUDY SESSION CONFERENCE ROOM B — CITY HALL 21825 COPLEY DRIVE, DIAMOND BAR, CA 91765 APRIL 14, 2011 STUDY SESSION: 5:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Dave Grundy, Ted Owens, Vice Chairman Lew Herndon and Chairman Dave Roberto. Absent: Commissioner Benny Liang Staff Present: James DeStefano, City Manager; David Doyle, Assistant City Manager; Bob Rose, Community Services Director; Anthony Jordan, Parks and Maintenance Superintendent; Christy Murphey, Recreation Superintendent. PRESENTATION OF NEW CITY HALL PLANS — CM/DeStefano and ACM/Doyle CM/DeStefano provided the Commissioners with background information on how the City came to purchase the New City Hall. ACM/Doyle, New City Hall Project Manager, provided the interior layout and exterior use details of the New City Hall structure. Chair/Roberto asked about Council Chambers and ACM/Doyle and CM/DeStefano reiterated that Council will continue to meet at the AQMD for the foreseeable future. C/Herndon asked if this was coming in at the original budget amount and CM/DeStefano responded that initially, the City was looking at a budget of about $2 million in late 2009/early 2010. The current budget is at about $3.5 million because staff found there were many things that were unknown during the negotiation period that needed to be done to make the space properly designed and useful including the sprinkler system and lighting. ACM/Doyle stated that initially, the budget was for redoing one floor and the current budget includes one floor and a quarter of another floor. The original cost per square foot was quoted at $20 per square foot and staff doubled that to $40 and now the cost per square foot is closer to $70-$80. PRESENTATION OF UPDATED DRAFT PARKS MASTER PLAN — Ron Hagan and Jeff Scott and Monika Robinson, TKE Engineering. C/Herndon said that with the relocation of the library, he heard comments about the accessibility to seniors because of public transportation and wondered if any of that had been taken into consideration. CM/DeStefano said access will be improved at the new APRIL 14, 2011 PAGE 2 P&R COMMISSION library location because there is no bus service on Grand Avenue in front of the current library. The new location is on a regular bus route which will make it more accessible for the kids as well. CSD/Rose explained the current City bus route. After explaining the details of the updated draft plan, Mr. Hagan stated the short-term needs: trail improvements for hiking and exercise, sports field improvements and concessions, lights and restrooms for sports groups, and tot lot improvements to neighborhood parks, particularly the ADA improvements. The long-term need for parks includes: Additional space needs for recreational programming for senior, youth and teen fee-based classes; community meeting rooms, sports gym, fitness and computer classes for the community center, additional lighted baseball, soccer, multi-purpose fields, completion of the trails in the Trails Master Plan, additional picnic facilities, walkways and open space, trail connectors, hardscape sidewalks into the trail system, possible future park acquisitions to preserve open space and park security measures. The short-term trail needs include: trail improvements for Peterson Park Trail, Pantera Park Trail, Sycamore Canyon Trail and the Summitridge Trail system. In the long term, the City should try to go after funding for the view point areas, trailhead improvements with signage, habitat restoration along the trails, shade shelters for the view point areas, connections to the urban walkways and public trail maps (extremely popular). CSD/Rose stated that staff was notified by the State yesterday that D.B. was awarded a grant from the Prop 84 grant funds in the amount of $61,000 to install interpretive panels along the trails in Sycamore Canyon Park and on the Summitridge Trail. The cost of total improvements for this project is $87,000. Mr. Hagan continued explaining about future connections to regional trails and trail standards (how the steps should be built, signage, benches, shelters, etc.) With respect to sports field needs: Peterson Park - infield upgrades, new restrooms and concession stands; Sycamore Canyon Park — new sports field lighting and lighted batting cages; Pantera Park — upgrade concession stand and improve infields; Diamond Ranch High School — new restroom and light the existing batting cages. C/Owens asked about funding for school district sites. Mr. Hagan responded that it has been a year and a lot of the economics throughout the state have changed and school districts are feeling the pinch. However, at the time that he met with the districts, both were extremely supportive of joint -use and joint development agreements. At that time, the voters had just approved the School Improvement Bond Act so they felt they would have matching money which has most likely gone by the wayside due to the budget cuts. From a policy standpoint, things have not changed. 5 CSD/Rose stated that staff met with Pomona officials and as some may know, there has been an almost complete turnover of people involved in the administration. The meeting was very informative for them about how the current Joint Use Agreement with Lorbeer Middle School is written and the officials appeared to be very impressed about how the City works with the school district and maintains their campus facilities. This concept was shared with the current officials and the intent would be to do something similar with WVUSD, however, the City's priority would be to finish with Lorbeer first and then move toward South Point Middle School. APRIL 14, 2011 PAGE 3 P&R COMMISSION ADJOURNMENT: Study Session adjourned at 7:05 p.m. The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this A-M day of wV , 2011. Respectfully S OSE, SECRETARY Attest: (�r DAVE ROBERTO, CHAIRMAN