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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/25/2021 - Minutes of Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MARCH 25, 2021 CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S LATEST EXECUTIVE ORDER TO STAY AT HOME, AVOID GATHERINGS, AND MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, THIS MEETING WAS CONDUCTED TELEPHONICALLY AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND STAFF PARTICIPATED VIA TELECONFERENCE. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL MEETING LOCATION. CALL TO ORDER: Chair/Salo called the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Orona led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Commissioners Tommy Orona, Raphael Plunkett, Stephen Qiu, Manisha Sulakhe, Chair/Aaron Salo. Staff Present Telephonically: Ryan Wright, Parks and Recreation Director; Anthony Jordan, Maintenance Superintendent; Andee Williams, Recreation Supervisor; Debbie Gonzales, Administrative Coordinator; Robin Crawford, Administrative Assistant SELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR: Commissioner Orona nominated Commission Salo to serve as Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Commissioner Sulakhe seconded the nomination. There were no other nominations offered. Commissioner Salo was unanimously re-elected to serve as Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission by the following Roll Call vote: C/Orona Yes C/Plunkett Yes C/Qiu Yes C/Sulakhe Yes C/Salo Yes Chair/Salo nominated C/Sulakhe to serve as Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Commissioner Orona seconded the nomination. There were no other nominations offered. C/Sulakhe was unanimously elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission by the following Roll Call vote: C/Orona Yes C/Plunkett Yes C/Qiu Yes C/Sulakhe Yes Chair/Salo Yes PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered MARCH 25, 2021 PAGE 2 P&R COMMISSION CALENDAR OF EVENTS: PRD/Wright 1. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1 A Approval of Minutes for the September 24, 2020 Regular Meeting: Chair/Salo moved, C/Orona seconded, to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of September 24th, 2020. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Orona, VC/Sulakhe, Chair/Salo NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Plunkett, Qiu ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None 1.2 Approval of Minutes for the January 28, 2021 Regular Meeting: Chair/Salo moved, VC/Sulakhe seconded, to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of March 25th, 2021. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Plunkett, Qiu, VC/Sulakhe, Chair/Salo NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Orona ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None 2. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 2.1 JANUARY 2021 RECREATION PROGRAM UPDATE - RS/Williams C/Qiu asked if there would be additional instructors offering classes for the summer session and PRD/Wright responded that instructors are beginning to return for outdoor classes as the city awaits county protocols and guidelines for indoor classes. VC/Sulakhe asked if staff had information about when the state would allow indoor events to occur at facilities including the Diamond Bar Center. PRD/Wright responded that the city has no specific dates or timeframes for indoor rentals and activities and continues to monitor the situation and tiers in order to determine what programs and services can be offered. Interest in indoor events such as weddings continues to be high for the Diamond Bar Center and events are being scheduled, rescheduled or refunded on a case -by -case basis. JANUARY 2021 MAINTENANCE REPORT — MS/Jordan C/Qiu stated that during his visit to Diamond Canyon Park last month he noticed that in one of the five gardens all of the plants were dry and MARCH 25, 2021 PAGE 3 P&R COMMISSION dying in the "wetland garden' and asked if the city planned to make improvements. MS/Jordan responded that staff is working with the city's landscape gardener about keeping the gopher population under control because they chew out roots of the plants. In addition, the lack of rain has adversely affected the situation which requires pumping water into the area to provide a proper balance. Once the gopher problem is under control it will be easier to support any newly planted vegetation. C/Plunkett said she can relate to the gopher issue, but did not realize there was an issue with fire ants and wondered if the problem was citywide and where she might find information available for residents so they know how to properly deal with such issues. MS/Jordan explained that fire ants are a citywide problem. Nearly all city parks have fire ants from time -to -time. Within the maintenance staff, there are no licensed applicators to take care of the applications. However, the city's contractors and landscape contractors are supposed to take care of such issues by placing bait around the mounds. He recommended that residents contact pest control applicators to treat mounds or purchase home applicators from garden centers or suppliers such as Home Depot, 3. OLD BUSINESS: None 4. NEW BUSINESS: None 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS: VC/Sulakhe thanked staff for the briefings, welcomed new commissioners and congratulated Chair/Salo on his re-election. She will miss C/Orona and congratulated him on his upcoming wedding. It has been a pleasure working with him and she hoped he would comeback to visit the Commission. C/Orona thanked VC/Sulakhe for her kind words and said it had been a pleasure for him to serve on the Commission and alongside VC/Sulakhe. Today is his last day as a Commissioner for the City of Diamond Bar as he will be getting married and moving out of the city. He thanked staff for their professionalism and great work, and their assistance to Commissioners, and wished the new Commissioners well. C/Plunkett said she was sorry she did not have the opportunity to work with C/Orona but sends him positive thoughts as he moves forward and hopes he will it in on a future meeting. She thanked Chair/Salo and VC/Sulakhe for their service and thanked the Walnut Valley Water District for participating with tote bag goodies during city events. C/Qiu asked that the spelling of his name be corrected in the January minutes. Chair/Salo congratulated C/Orona on his upcoming wedding and said it was great to work with him on the Commission. He thanked VC/Sulakhe for serving as Vice Chair and sharing responsibilities of the Commission. Congratulations to MARCH 25, 2021 PAGE 4 P&R COMMISSION Commissioners Plunkett and Qiu on their appointments and thank -you to staff for the reports and promoting popular community programs and maintaining the city's parks. ADJOURNMENT: With no one objecting and no further business before the Parks and Recreation Commission, Chair/Salo adjourned the meeting at 7:09 p.m. to May 27th, 2021. The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 22 day of 2021. Respectfully Submitted, RYAN WRIGHT, SECRETARY Attest: AARON SALO, CHAIRPERSON