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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/01/1998 - PB&R CommissionCOMMISSION Minutes September 1, 1998 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH • Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting September 1, 1998 — 7pm • • CONVENED AT 7pm I. ROLL CALL Present: Beek, Franklin, Glasgow, Pfaff, Sinclair, Skoro, Tobin Staff Present: LaDonna Kienitz, Community Services Director /City Librarian David E. Niederhaus, General Services Director Steve Hunt, Senior Recreation Manager Celeste Jardine -Haug, Senior Services Manager Teri Craig, Executive Secretary II. III. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Skoro to approve the minutes of August 4, 1998, as amended. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Beek, Franklin, Glasgow, Noes: None Absent: None Abstain: None PUBLIC COMMENTS Pfaff, Sinclair, Skoro, Tobin Shirley Conger, PO Box 111, distributed pictures of the Bayside Park as it looks today and commented on the lack of a barrier between the playground area and the street and noting it as a safety hazard for children. Ms. Conger also noted her view from the other side of the street has changed and believes that additional foliage is needed along with additional trees for shade and benches away from the play area. Because of these changes at Bayside noise has become a significant problems, that if additional trees were added it would help attenuate the noise. Keith Dean, 403 Iris, noted his specific concern of the City using concrete versus asphalt and believes that this decision was improper. Eric Parker, 400 1/2 Iris, also noted his concerns with the changes to the park and would like to see it added to the agenda in October. CONSENT CALENDAR 4. Senior Services 5, Tree Donation 6. Recreation & Senior Services Calendar for FY 1998/99 Items removed from Consent Calendar 1. Correspondence — Correspondence from Philip Arst and Yvonee Houssels, August 7, 1998; Emile Boisseranc, August 10, 1998; Patricia Kingsley, August 14, 1998 were acknowledged. The following letters were added but noted that they were received after agenda was posted: n LJ • Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting September 1, 1998 Page 2 • Janet Rappaport, August 21, 1998. • Keith Dean, August 28, 1998. • Homeowners of Harbor View Hills South Homeowners Association, August 30, 1998. • Jan Vandersloot, August 31, 1998. 2. Park and Tree Division - George Taylor, 1575 Keel Drive, asked if there are any upcoming projects in Harbor View Hills South. Director Niederhaus replied no. Director Neiderhaus also noted that CALTRANS has delayed the reforestation project along East Coast Highway until after Labor Day. 3. Recreation Services - Senior Recreation Manager Hunt introduced new Recreation Coordinator Trenton Veches, from Tucson, Arizona, who started on August 17'. Hunt stated that he would be working with youth sports, the drop -in program and facility rentals. Motion by Commissioner Skoro to accept items 1 — 6 on the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Beek, Franklin, Glasgow, Pfaff, Sinclair, Skoro, Tobin Noes: None Absent: None Abstain: None V. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7. OASIS Orientation — Director Kienitz introduced Celeste Jardine -Haug, Senior Services Manager. Manager Haug stated that OASIS is multi - purpose which means that it tries to fit all the needs of the older citizen. She stated that the Senior Center is owned and operated by the City with help from the 21 member OASIS Board. The OASIS Board's budget is $209,000, funds raised by the membership to cover their costs. Senior Services budget is $396,000 which covers staff costs, maintenance and equipment. Manager Haug noted that there are four divisions within the Center: transportation, recreation and educational services, human services and supportive counseling and special events. The membership fee to be a member of the Friends OASIS is $7, but seniors do not have to be a member to utilize the services. Manager Haug noted that their current membership is 5,500. 8. Joint Meeting with Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commission — Director Kienitz asked for agenda items from Commissioners for the meeting scheduled for September 29. Commissioner Glasgow suggested Irvine Median and Skateboard Park. Discussion ensued regarding the appropriateness of the September date. Motion by Commissioner Sinclair to delay meeting scheduled for September 29 to another date. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Beek, Franklin, Glasgow, Pfaff, Sinclair, Skoro, Tobin Noes: None Absent: None Abstain: None 11 • Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting September 1, 1998 Page 3 9. Facility Inspections— Senior Recreation Manager Hunt noted that this is an annual responsibility that helps the commissioners become acquainted with City parks. Manager Hunt noted that commissioners can make arrangements to have a staff person visit some of the parks with them. 10. Change of Designated Street Tree — Director Niederhaus reviewed staffs recommendations to change the designated street tree on Fourth Avenue in Corona del Mar from the Lemon Gum to the Hong Kong Orchid. He stated that replacement trees would be 24" box trees and that testing would be done throughout the year of the remaining Lemon Gum trees. Chairman Beek opened the public hearing. Jim Trush, 621 Narcissus, asked what is the effect of approval and what if a homeowner requests a different tree at a later date; do they have other choices; what is the timetable; and what happens if some homeowners do not want a tree at all. Director Neiderhaus stated that if the Hong Kong Orchid was approved to replace the Lemon Gum that is would be the designated street tree and that this same process would have to be followed if there was a request for a change at a later date. The timetable to replace these trees will be within the next 30 days and that the trees would be installed based on the contract. Mr. Conway, Urban Forester,, will inspect all the trees before planting is completed. Director Niederhaus state that there is a City Council Policy regarding a homeowner not wanting a tree, and that a tree is not planted if a homeowner will not care for it. Jan Vandersloot, 2221 E. 16th Street, stated his concern regarding any policy about getting rid of all Lemon Gum trees. He stated that it is not necessary to aggressively remove these trees unless they fit the G -1 Policy on removal. He asked the Commission to use caution regarding the removal of these trees. Director Niederhaus stated that the Lemon Gum tree is not an appropriate tree for highly populated areas such as in Corona del Mar. He also stated that staff would be happy to share any information regarding the test boring of the trees. Chairman Beek closed the public hearing. Motion by Commissioner Glasgow to approve the request for change of the designated street tree from the Lemon Gum to Hong Kong Orchid on Fourth Avenue. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Beek, Franklin, Glasgow, Pfaff, Sinclair, Skoro, Tobin Noes: None Absent: None Abstain: None 11, Change of Designated Tree — Director Niederhaus reviewed the request from the Harbor View Hills South Homeowners Association to change the designated parkway tree from the Little Gem Magnolia to St. Mary Magnolia. He stated that he has received correspondence from some homeowners asking that another tree be designated instead of the St. Mary n L_I Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting September 1, 1998 Page 4 Magnolia. He also noted that there seems to be some level of disagreement within the Homeowners Association regarding the selection of the trees. Chairman Beek opened the public hearing. George Parker, 3407 Seabreeze Lane, stated that he is filling in for Yvonne Houssels, President, Harbor View Hills South Homeowners Association, and distributed a memo to the Commission. He noted that members of the Landscape Committee are opposed to the Homeowners Association request but reminded the Board that some of the homeowners have been waiting for over a year. Mr. Parker urged the Commisson to approve the request from the Association regarding the change of the designated stree tree. ]an Vandersloot, 2221 E. 16th Street, stated his concern that by reforesting with only the St Mary's Magnolia that it might become a problem at a later day. He stated that it is premature to approve this request when a controversy exists within the Homeowners Association. Mr. Vandersloot urged the Commission to defer action on Items 11 and 12 until the Association is able to come to an agreement. Director Niedehaus stated that the proposed tree would be trimmed using the same schedule for all trees within the City. He also noted that several of the proposed trees could be located throughout the Community so that all members of the Association would • have a chance to look at the trees in their 24" boxed size. Fred Birnberg, 1436 Key View, stated that he was a board member of the Association and that the Little Gem was picked by a few members and not the community. He also stated that that the Landscape Committee is an open committee. Mr. Birnberg stated that he did vote for the St. Mary's. but at that time was unaware of the controversy within the community. He urged the Commission to defer action until the Association has a chance to have a full vote of the community. Chair Beek reminded the public that this is not the forum for controversy to be resolved; it must be at the Association level. Dr. Birnberg stated that unfortunately this is not the case within this Homeowners Association Board. Commissioner Skoro asked if the Association would allow a community vote. Lloyd Krause stated that the Commission should recognize that the Homeowners Association Board does for the homeowners and that they do not agree with anything that Dr. Birnberg has said tonight. George Taylor, 1525 Keel Drive, noted that he is the Landscape Committee Chairman, a community group which consists of approximately 24 members, which 12 are extremely • active. Mr Taylor urged the Commission Board to defer action on the change of the designated tree and the reforestation of approximately 22 streets. Lizanne Witte, 3632 Blue Key, Landscape committee member, stated that a petition had been done and would be presented to the homeowners. Ms. Witte also noted there has • Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting September 1, 1998 Page 5 been problems with the Homeowners Association. Ms. Witte also urged the Commission to defer action on this item. Katherine Choate, 3900 Sandune Lane, stated that she has watched the deterioration of her community. The Landscape Committee identified other ideas for the community of 445 members, and that action should not take place until another meeting can be called. Chuck Halloran, no address, stated that the Homeowners have not been notified of any of these decisions, and that action should be deferred. Philip Arst, 2601 Lighthouse Lane, noted that these people should use the alternate dispute resolution within the Association, and recommends that the request of the properly elected officials within the Association be respected. Phyllis Wallace, 3701 Inlet Isle Drive, asked that this item be deferred until it can be resolved within their Association. Chairman Beek closed the public hearing, Commissioner Glasgow stated that the Association needs to resolve the problems identified by of their members. • Motion by Commissioner Pfaff to defer the change of designated street for Harbor View Hills South Association until the next meeting of October 6. Ayes: Beek, Franklin, Glasgow, Pfaff, Sinclair, Skoro, Tobin Noes: None Absent: None Abstain: None 12. Request for Initiation of 2d Phase of City Street Tree Reforestation — Chair Beek noted that since action has been deferred on Item 11, that action on this item should also be deferred. Motion by Commissioner Skoro to defer to approve the request for 2d phase of reforestation of Parkway tree of the Harbor View Hills South Homeowners Association. Ayes: Beek, Franklin, Glasgow, Pfaff, Sinclair, Skoro, Tobin Noes: None Absent: None Abstain: None 8. Subcommittee Reports Liaison Committee - Commissioner Skoro stated that the Tri- Lateral Committee met • on August 20. Discussion ensued regarding possible uses for the land above the library. Ideas were discussed for a cultural center. The next meeting is scheduled for September 17. Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting September 1, 1998 • Page 6 Open Space Committee - Chair Beek noted that the Bonita Canyon Park Review will be on the study session agenda scheduled for September 14 at 3pm. Budget — no information Liaison with Oasis - Chair Beek talked with Senior Services Manager Jardine -Haug and invited Commissioners Skoro and Tobin to attend the next OASIS Board Meeting on September 21 at 1:30pm. Naming of Parks - no information Community Services Award - no information. Skateboard — Commissioner Franklin was appointed as Chair. The committee has set up a broad tentative plan for opportunities in the future and look forward to a public meeting. Next meeting is scheduled for October 1, 4pm. VI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Change of Designate Tree for Harbor View Hills South Request for Initiation of 2d Phase of City Street Tree Reforestation Bayside Park VII. ADJOURNMENT - 9:38pm SUBMITTED BY: G� • TERI CRAIG, COMMUNITY SERVICES EXOCUTIVE SECRETARY •