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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 - Draft Minutes - 09-05-2006CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Parks, Beaches Ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting September 5, 2006 - 7pm Convened 7:09pm ROLL CALL Present: Debra Allen Tim Brown Bill Garrett Phillip Lugar Greg Ruzicka Marie Marston Cristine Trapp Staff: Mark Harmon, General Services Director Andrea McGuire, Recreation Superintendent Dan Sereno, Parks & Tree Superintendent Teri Craig, Administrative Assistant DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS Superintendent McGuire announced that the City is looking for volunteers for the Centennial. Director Knight's last day is September 15 and announced that Wes Morgan had accepted the temporary position of Director and would be attending the meeting in October. •PUBLIC COMMENTS None CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes of the August 1, 2006 regular meeting. Waive reading of subject minutes, approve as written and order filed. 2. Park and Operations Division Activity Report. Receive /file monthly Activity Report for activities and upcoming projects. 3. Recreation i3 Senior Services Activity Report. Receive /file monthly Activity Report for activities and upcoming projects. 4. Request for Temporary Lights at Mariners Park. Approve request by AYSO 97 for temporary lighting from October 1 through December 15, 2006 from dark to 8pm. 5. Facility Inspection Form. Commissioner Ruzicka asked for clarification of what standard is meant on the form. Superintendent McGuire stated that it is nothing special just normal wear and tear. Chair Garrett asked if staff could provide clarification on the standard service required, etc. Superintendent McGuire stated that some brief standards could be put together and sent out to the commissioners but that it was important for new eyes to look at it. • Commissioners Brown and Lugar stated that they appreciated that change in the form. Motion by Commissioner Ruzicka to accept items 1 -5 of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by acclamation. NEW BUSINESS Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting September 5, 2006 - 7pm • Page 2 6. Castaways Project Completion by Eagle Scout. Superintendent Sereno stated that Eagle Scout Austin McCullough would make a PowerPoint presentation on the completion of the Castaways Project. Commissioner Lugar stated that if there were more Eagle Scouts in need of a project that they should look to Back Bay View Park. Chair Garrett stated that a request had been made to reopen item 4 on the Consent Calendar as they did not understand the procedure. Motion by Commissioner Ruzicka to reopen item 4 — Request for Temporary Lights at Mariners Park. Motion carried by acclamation. 4. Request for Temporary Lights at Mariners Park. Dan Whelan stated that he had some concerns about the temporary lights and worried about the foot traffic and noise and understands that it is a park but it is right in the middle of the neighborhood. He wondered why it is Mariners Park every year and not other unlighted parks. He asked that the Commission consider these concerns before voting on the issue. Commissioner Allen asked if anyone from AYSO was still in attendance. Superintendent McGuire • stated that they were still here. Commissioner Allen stated that the first year of this request that there was an extensive hearing on the issue with many residents but it was tried for the last four years with no complaints. She noted that should it become a problem that the Commission would be very sensitive to that and there is the Mayor who lives in that area that is adjacent to the park. Superintendent McGuire stated that lights would be used Monday through Thursday until 8pm. She noted that there is a lack of parks on that side of town. Mr. Whelan just stated that he is concerned that one day the lights will stay. Jeff Braun, AYSO 97 Field Director stated that they do attempt to be sensitive to the needs of the residents in the Mariners community and in the four years that the temporary lights have been used no complaints have been heard. He stated that the school district does not allow temporary lights at the schools. Motion by Commissioner Ruzicka to approve request by AYSO 97 for temporary lighting at Mariners Park from October 1 through December 15, 2006 from dark to 8pm. Motion carried by acclamation. Reforestation Request. Director Harmon stated that this item had been pulled off the agenda as more information was needed before coming to the Commission. 8. Reforestation Request. Superintendent Serena stated that staff had received a reforestation request by Farhad and Farzin Farah of one City Eucalyptus parkway tree adjacent to 20171 Bay View Avenue. • He stated that signatures were verified and that it meets all the requirements of the G -1 Policy and staff recommends approval. Chair Garrett opened the public discussion; seeing none the public discussion was closed. Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting September 5, 2006 - 7pm . Page 3 Chair Garrett stated that the tree appears to be in the yard and not the parkway and asked if it was part of a redevelopment project. Superintendent Sereno stated that it is within the easement of the property and that it is part of a redevelopment project. Motion by Commissioner Ruzicka to approve request by Farhad and Farzin Farah of the reforestation of one City Eucalyptus parkway tree adjacent to 20171 Bay View Avenue. Motion carried by acclamation. COMMITTEE REPORTS - Park Development - Commissioner Allen stated that she had received an update on the Sunset Ridge Park and noted that Council had approved the purchase of the park for $5M and that the California Transportation Commission is set to approve the sale on September 7. She went on to say that Dave Kiff and Council Member Rosansky would attend the meeting in Santa Barbara and that they hoped that the property would belong to the City by years end. Commissioner Allen stated that she was unable to contact Council Member Selich regarding the Newport Center Park but that she knew he was still trying to work with the donor regarding the park to develop the center section of the park and possibly the Council funding the remainder or possibly in phases. Commissioner Ruzicka questioned why there was a need to send two people to the hearing. • Commissioner Allen noted that she would share his concern with Council Member Rosansky. Commissioner Garrett asked for more information on the park property that is being handed over by The Irvine Company. Superintendent McGuire stated that the name of the park is Coastal Peak Park and that the property would be a turn -key park where The Irvine Company builds it and then turn it over to the City and is located at the very top of Ridge Road in Newport Coast and that they give us the courtesy of previewing the park to us and allowing staff to make minor changes. It has two baseball fields with a soccer overlay and 2 basketball courts. She went on to say that the one change that was suggested was to put batting cages instead of the courts and possibly more storage in the bathrooms. Chair Garrett asked if there were any updates to the trails to beach. Director Harmon stated that he has not been given any additional information but if it moves forward public outreach would be needed. Commissioner Lugar asked if there any meetings scheduled. Commissioner Allen stated that no meetings have been held. Commissioner Lugar asked if this would be the appropriate time to discuss Back Bay View Park and the way it looks. Chair Garrett stated that he believed that to be in the hands of the Council and had heard that there • some discussion regarding changes needed at the park Commissioner Lugar stated he was concerned that the Back Bay View Park looks like a weed patch. Parks, Beaches Et Recreation Commission Regular Meeting September 5, 2006 - 7pm • Page 4 Chair Garrett stated that it was probably one of the nicer comments that he had heard to describe the park. He went on to give a short history regarding some turf or grass on the park. Commissioner Allen stated that the Commission had recommended to the Council the need for as much natural but attractive and aesthetically pleasing landscape around the edges as possible. But the Coastal Commission refused to allow the City to put irrigation on the flat part of the site or grading of the bluff. So the Council was asked if the edge could be landscaped with some attractive native plants but requires maintenance but it got tied up with the Senior Housing project and Council denied the recommendation made by the Commission. She went on to say that there is a new Council and possibly talking to the Coastal Commission about some ideas to make it the park more attractive. Recreation /Senior Activities - Commissioner Brown stated that the fences are down at CdM State Beach and since then the 5`" volleyball court cannot be placed at the far end so the alternative is to move it up the beach about 10 yards and be parallel to the wall. Director Harmon stated that the volleyball courts will be in within the next week or so. Commissioner Brown asked why the volleyball nets were being taken down. Superintendent McGuire stated that there had been some miscommunication with the camp director and that all 4 courts should have nets up. • Commissioner Brown stated that he had heard from the volleyball community and that they seem to be very happy. Ad Hoc Committees Budget - Superintendent McGuire stated that the CIP budget would be done in November and hoped to have the facility inspections to help that along. Discussion ensued regarding the budget for the Park Patrol and the need for more hours. Community Service Award - Superintendent McGuire stated that it would be helpful if the Chair were to write a letter to the Daily Pilot asking for nominations. Chair Garrett stated that he would get that to staff next week. Discussion ensued regarding the policy for the award. Youth Sports - Superintendent McGuire stated that the next meeting is scheduled for December. Facility Inspection Committee - Chair Ruzicka stated that the only request he had was that the appointed parks for each commission be situated around where they live. Superintendent McGuire stated that she would try to locate them geographically together but believes there is some advantage to going to parks outside of your area. Chair Garrett agreed. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Brown requested the following: • Fire pit discussion on safety and to regulate what is burned • Reduction of bathroom facilities at Com State Beach and possibly what could be done to increase capacity - Director Harmon stated that the capacity probably has decreased if you look at it from the standpoint of getting rid of the "trough" design but they are not used any longer but would talk to the Public Works Director. Commissioner Lugar agreed that a discussion should be held to discuss the men's room at CdM State Beach. Superintendent McGuire reminded the Commission that the Joint Commission Meeting with Costa Mesa would be held at 5pm on October 3. • ADJOURNMENT- 8:05pm Submitted by: Teri Craig, Admin Assistant