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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/10/2005 - PB&R CommissionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Parks, Beaches Bt Recreation Commission Regular Meeting November 10, 2005- 7pm Convened 7:11 pm ROLL CALL Present: Debra Allen Tim Brown Allen Doby Bill Garrett Phillip Lugar Greg Ruzicka Val Skoro Tom Tobin Staff: Marie Knight, Recreation Et Senior Services Director Mark Harmon, General Services Director Dan Serreno, Parks Et Tree Superintendent Randy Kearns, Parks a Trees Supervisor Kevin Pekar, Crew Chief Andrea McGuire, Recreation Superintendent Teri Craig, Administrative Assistant DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS Director Knight stated that staff did live through the October 2 kickoff and thanked Mark Harmon and the General Services staff for all their hard work leading up to the event and turned the beach at the Dunes into something remarkable and next is the float for the Rose Parade and asked that the Commission spread the word around that we are looking for volunteers to help decorate the float the week between Christmas and New Years. Director Harmon thanked Director Knight for his comments regarding the General Services staff and noted that the morning after the kickoff there was a thank you email from Director Knight thanking all the staff. Ho noted that eagle scouts Max Moosman and Justin Towers had been recognized at City Council last week for their projects at Castaways and Irvine Terrace. He updated the Commission on the Beach Maintenance crews. PUBLIC COMMENTS None CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes of the August 2, 2005 regular meeting. Waive reading of subject minutes, amended as discussed. 2. Item pulled by Commissioner Lugar 3. Recreation $ Senior Services Activity Report. Receive /file monthly Activity Report for activities and upcoming projects. Motion by Commissioner Brown to accept items 1 and 3 of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by acclamation 2. Park and Tree Division Activity Report. Commissioner Lugar asked staff questions regarding median maintenance specifically along on Jamboree that the Spanish paving accent strip needs some repair and asked if the contract covered these types of repairs. Supervisor Kearns stated that it was not covered by the maintenance contract and that the area discussed would probably be repaired in two years or so. Parks, Beaches i3 Recreation Commission Regular Meeting November 10, 2005- 7pm Page 2 Motion by Chair Ruzicka to accept items 1 as amended and 2 and 3 as provided of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by acclamation. NEW BUSINESS 4. Naming of the Park Site located at Mesa Drive and Birch Street - Director Knight stated that the Commission has an item tonight that requires you to forward suggested names to the City Council for the park that is located in Santa Ana Heights. We brought this to you at the May 3, 2005 Commission meeting staff and presented conceptual plans for a new passive park located in the Santa Ana Heights annexation area on the corner of Mesa Drive and Birch Street. She noted that the park was discussed at the October 18, 2005 Park Development Committee meeting. It was decided that the following names would be forwarded to the Commission to discuss at the November 10, 2005 meeting: Mesa Park Santa Ana Heights Park Tongva Park Upper Bay Park Upper Bayview Park She stated that the Commission may choose any or all of these potential names to forward to the City Council for their consideration or add others to the list as well. Discussion ensued regarding the names but Director Knight noted that we already have a park in the area named Bayview Park. The Commission requested that staff add Bay View Heights to the list and delete Tongva, Mesa and Upper Bayview from the list. Chair Ruzicka opened the public discussion Jan Vandersloot stated that he had distributed some pictures showing a sign naming the park — Bay View Heights. He also noted that the palette did not include some of the natives that are already there. Laura Curran stated that overall the park has a good plant palette but noted that the Commission should consider removing California Pepper tree because it is a Peruvian tree and not part of the palette that has been approved and can cause damage in sidewalks. She also noted that by leaving the current natives there and adding the new ones will give them a better chance of surviving. Chair Ruzicka closed the public discussion Motion by Commissioner Tobin to forward to the City Council for their review — Bay View Heights, Santa Ana Heights and Upper Bay Park. Motion carried by acclamation. 5. Eagle Scout Project at Arroyo Park - Parks bt Tree Supervisor Randy Kearns and Crew Chief Kevin Pekar introduced Eagle Scout Anthony Maralle. Eagle Scout Marelle stated that his project would be Parks, Beaches Ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting November 10, 2005- 7pm Page 3 to restore a portion of the trail at Arroyo Park which would make the surrounding area more accessible and inviting to park visitors. A brief power point was presented to the Commission. Chair Ruzicka opened the public discussion Jan Vandersloot and Laura Curran offered some suggestions. Chair Ruzicka suggested that Mr. Marrelle contact them. Motion by Commission Allen to approve Eagle Scout Anthony Marelle project of restoring apportion of the trail at Arroyo Park. Motion carried by acclamation. 6. General Plan Update - Recreation Element - Director Knight stated that Sharon Wood, Deputy City Manager would be reviewing input that had been made by the Council last week. She noted that the Recreation element had not been updated since 1998 and that there were no new major changes tonight but that some had been moved around and policies had been strengthened. of'+he- Deputy City Manager Wood reviewed each change UMMIh Element that had been made with the Commission. Chair Ruzicka thanked Sharon Wood for the presentation and that they looked forward to the final document. Park Et Street Improvement Donations - Council Policy G -5 - Director Harmon stated that City Council Policy G -5 (Park and Street Improvement Donations) was adopted in July 1992 to delineate the procedures for donations related to City park and street improvements, such as benches and trees. At the October 5, 2004 meeting, the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission directed staff to forward the proposed changes to Council Policy G -5 to the City Council. Staff presented the policy to City Council at their December 14, 2004 meeting. In response to the policy recommendations, Councilmember Webb provided his comments to the draft Policy. At that meeting, the Council recommended that the PBftR Commission review Councilmember Webb's suggestions, and to return to the Council with the Commission's recommendations. Due to staff changes, it was shelved, but tonight staff recommends the following: • To reestablish an ad hoc committee to review Council Policy G -5 (Park and Street Improvement Donations); and • Allow the General Services Director to accept tree and bench donations under the current Policy while the ad hoc committee develops recommendations for changes. Chair Ruzicka stated that what they really wanted was the list included tonight where benches could be placed throughout the City where the Commission. Commissioner Garrett stated that a lot of the numbered streets on the Peninsula had been forgotten. Director Harmon stated that the list included tonight was just the beginning and would continue to be worked on with other items included such as water fountains. He stated that it would be a couple of months before staff would bring the final recommendations to the Commission. Parks, Beaches it Recreation Commission Regular Meeting November 10, 2005- 7pm Page 4 Chair Ruzicka stated that he is looking forward to some other creative ideas other that just plaques that could be used as recognition. He also asked that the following wording be added that "the Arts Commission shall when requested and is able to provide design, review and assistance. Director Knight stated that as Director Harmon had requested they are asking that the Commission establish an Ad Hoc Committee to discuss that and other suggestions before making a complete report to the Commission. Chair Ruzicka asked that we table this item until staff is ready to bring it back in several months. Commissioner Tobin stated that the Peninsula Association had put a moratorium on all new benches in the area because of the influx of them. Director Harmon stated that all bench requests go through the Associations before coming to the Commission for approval. Director Knight stated that we will need to assign members to the committees when we get to that item. Motion by Commissioner Garrett to reestablish an ad hoc committee to review Council Policy G -5 (Park and Street Improvement Donations); and allow the General Services Director to accept tree and bench donations under the current Policy while the ad hoc committee develops recommendations for changes. Motion carried by acclamation. 8. Beach Volleyball Status Report - Director Knight stated that on June 24, 2005, staff and the Recreation Activities Committee met with the community members from the surrounding areas between 14`h - 16`h Street where the 3 beach volleyball courts were proposed for placement. The meeting was held on site so all interested parties could get a better understanding of what was being proposed. She noted that at this meeting, residents were able to express their opposition or support for the additional courts which would be used as a beach volleyball teaching center. Overwhelmingly, the residents were against the additional courts being added, objections included parking, congestion, noise and additional activity on an already crowded area of the beach. Director Knight stated that staff and members of the Recreation Activities Committee discussed further options available but recognizing that community support would be essential to have this plan approved, it was decided to table the item indefinitely. As the Commission may recall, staff has attempted to place additional volleyball courts in other locations along the beach in the past and have been met with similar resistance. Director Knight stated that staff recommends that further discussions be tabled regarding the relocation of volleyball courts until plans for beach amenities at CdM State Beach have been finalized with respect to the current renovation project there. Staff anticipates the community outreach on the CdM beach amenities will begin in December or January. Parks, Beaches Ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting November 10, 2005- 7pm Page 5 COMMITTEE REPORTS - Discussion of consolidation of committees/appointments Chair Ruzicka stated that we need consolidate the committees. Discussion ensued and it was decided that the following would be appointed; if needed others could be established at a later date: Finance - eliminated Park Development - Commissioners Allen, Brown and Doby appointed. Rec it Open Space Element - eliminated. Recreation /Senior Activities - Would include senior activities and Commissioner Brown, Doby and Lugar would be appointed. Seniors - eliminated. Beach Activities - eliminated with the caveat that those activities would be included in the activity report each month. Ad Hoc Community Service Award - Nothing to report but that staff would forward names at the next meeting. Chair Ruzicka and Commissioner Garrett appointed. Special Tree Committee - eliminated Youth Sports Liaison - Chair Ruzicka appointed. Donation - Chair Ruzicka, Garrett and Tobin appointed. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Ruzicka stated that he believed since the Park Patrol and the other Maintenance Worker had been hired that it seemed that the Commission did not need to do the annual Park Facility review. Director Knight stated that the reason behind this was two fold - 1) is to actually get the Commissioners out to the park with a new set of eyes; and 2) and to give the Commissioners a greater knowledge of the parks that are under your purview. Commissioner Tobin stated that he does not believe that he has ever gotten feedback on any of the issues that he has provided in the past and believes that with the added staff members that he would rather not do it. Director Knight stated that since this is not on the agenda the Commissioners can decided to do it or not and it will be discussed at a future meeting. Director Knight stated that a report is made available every year. Director Knight stated that the next meeting in December will have to be changed as the General Plan Update Committee will meet on December 6, 2005. Chair Ruzicka suggested that the Commission go dark in December. ADJOURNMENT- 8:26pm Submitted by: Te—MCraig, Admin Ass t