HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdditional CommentsNovember 7, 2017, PB&R Agenda Comments
Comments on Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission agenda submitted by:
Jim Mosher ( jimmosher@yahoo.com ), 2210 Private Road, Newport Beach 92660 (949-548-6229)
Item VI.A. Minutes of the September 5, 2017 PB&R Commission Meeting
The following corrections are suggested:
Page 1, last paragraph: “Motion by Commissioner Howard Howald;”
Page 2, Item VI.A, paragraph 1: for consistency with the other items, the statement of the item
under “A. Bench Donation – End of Orange Street,” copied from the agenda, should be in
italics.
Page 2, Item VI.A, paragraph 3 (counting one mentioned in preceding comment): “In response
to Commissioner Anderson and Hayes Chair Hayes’ questions, …”
Page 2, Item VI.B, paragraph 2 (of meeting text): “Manager Sereno addressed Commissioner
Ignatin’s questions that there is a small amount of little damage to the sidewalk, and that the
tree is in moderate condition and. He said that there is policy justification to remove the
Eucalyptus tree.” [I don’t know if this is correct, but as submitted it is impossible to tell where
the Commissioner’s questions end and staff’s response begins – if the last part is a response]
Page 2, paragraph 2 from end: “Jim Mosher emphasized that Policy B-1 G-1 states what is
required in order to request for reforestation.”
[Note: following this sentence the draft minutes switch from past tense (“stated”) to present
tense (“states”), and continues alternating between the two tenses, with no obvious reason
or pattern, for the remainder.]
Page 4, first paragraph: “Commissioner Howald reiterates that he would like to see some legal
documentation in regards to the responsibility of for the maintenance of the trees.”
Page 4, Item VII, first paragraph: “Deputy Director Levin informed the Commission that the new
pickle ball courts at Bonita Canyon Sports Park are almost finished and should be opening at
the beginning of next month.”
Page 5, paragraph 2: “Commission Commissioner Howald informed the Commission that the
40-year anniversary for the OASIS Senior Center is scheduled for November 4th at 2 o’clock
and urged the Commission to be there.”
November 7, 2017, PB&R agenda comments from Jim Mosher Page 2 of 2
Item VI.B. Parks, Trees & Beach Maintenance Divisions Activity Report
The Commission may wish to know that as Item 10 on the City Council Consent Calendar for
October 10, 2017, the Council, at MOD’s urging added $2,006,157.38 to Mariposa Landscape’s
contract to cover the cost of “additional tree planting services” over a six year period.
This appears to be in part to perform new work, not included in the City’s tree contract with Great
Scott, and partly to replace it. The motivation seems to have something to do with Great Scott not
being required, under its current contract if not disturbed, to pay prevailing wages (which Mariposa
will have to).
It appears there will be substantial increases in the cost of tree planting. The Commission may
wish to become informed as to what those costs are, and what controls them.
Item VII.B. Weather Station - Bonita Canyon Sports Park
I fully support staff’s request to add the weather station to Bonita Canyon Sports Park, but I have
these questions:
1. Why is there not a photo showing the visual context within which the station would be
installed?
2. Is Bonita Canyon Sports Park itself watered with recycled water? If not, why not?
3. Wouldn’t the planned fencing configuration make more sense if the higher side of the
proposed fencing was on the side away from the ballfields instead of on the side facing
them? I would think there would be less vertical face for balls to hit, and at least some of
those hitting the “roof” would roll back toward the field, instead of all away from it.
I also find it somewhat ironic that this relatively minor and (hopefully relatively) unobtrusive addition
to the park is being brought to the Commission, whereas the much more (and intentionally)
prominent Ronald Reagan Centennial Memorial was recently removed from this same park and
moved to another, all without being brought to the Commission, or any formal public discussion.