HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/02/2007 - PB&R CommissionJANUARY 2, 2007
APPROVED PB &R COMMISSION
MINUTES
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
Parks, Beaches ft Recreation Commission
Regular Meeting
January 2, 2007 - 7pm
Convened 7:09pm
ROLL CALL
Present: Debra Allen
Tim Brown
Bill Garrett
Phillip Lugar
Marie Marston
Greg Ruzicka
Cristine Trapp
Staff: Wes Morgan, RSS Director
Mark Harmon, General Services Director
Andrea McGuire, Recreation Superintendent
Dan Sereno, Parks It Tree Superintendent
Sean Levin, Recreation Manager
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of the December 5, 2006 regular meeting. Waive reading of subject minutes, approve as written and
order filed.
2. Item removed by member of the public
3. Recreation It Senior Services Activity Report. Receive /file monthly Activity Report for activities and upcoming
projects.
4. Bench Donation Request. Approve donation of bench in memory of Newport Beach Police Department Captain Rich
Hamilton to be located at Bob Henry Park by the Hamilton Family.
Motion by Commissioner Ruzicka to accept items 1, 2 and 4 the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by
acclamation.
2. Park and Operations Division Activity Report. Jan Vandersloot complimented staff for their
stewardship of City trees and in particular the relatively low number of tree removals but noted that
he is concerned about the claim related tree removals and wonders if there is something that can be
done on that as a pro active preventative way. He noticed that the City has done extensive root
pruning of 838 trees since July 2004 and said that the City is above the curve as far as root pruning
and asked if that could be part of the claim process before trees are actually removed. He also
noted that the reforestation requests within the vew communities are beginning to taper off as the
majority of the trees that have been problematic have been replaced. He hoped to see less of that
in the future but expect that there will still be a lot of trees that Will be reforested for view
considerations.
Commissioner Ruzicka stated that over the years that the Commission and Mr. Vandersloot have gone
from an adversarial to a collegial relationship.
Chair Garrett asked Superintendent Sereno if had any comments regarding the root pruning.
Superintendent Sereno thanked Mr. Vandersloot for his comments and stated that claim removals are
on a case by case issue and that they are evaluated separately and if the tree caused the problem
Parks, Beaches fx Recreation Commission
Regular Meeting
January 2, 2007 - 7pm
Page 2
that a good example would be of a claim that was settled and the tree remained and root barrier
were installed.
Motion by Commissioner Ruzicka to accept items 2 of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by
acclamation.
5. Tree Donation Request - Director Harmon stated that that at its regular meeting on December 5,
2006, the Commission requested that the item be continued because of its location at CdM State
Beach small grass area. He noted that staff had placed a orange cone at the location to allow
commissioners the opportunity to inspect the proposed donation site and review tree species
selection and that the location is behind the cliff area (which is over 48 feet) and so the tree
would have to grown in excess of 50 feet before it would be visible to those homes in CdM.
Director Harmon stated that staff's recommendation stays the same and recommends approval
of the donation and noted that the tree really believes that it fits because of that gap in that
space.
Commissioner Trapp stated that she had walked down the stairs and noted that the Monterey
Pine would be planted at an elevation of at least five feet higher then the one that has had some
problems so she suggested that right next to that location are some Pine trees and believes that
those wont ever be a height issue and that the same type of tree could be continued in that
same area.
Superintendent Sereno stated that the majority of the trees are Torrey Pines and that there are
two Pinus Pinea trees and that the reason the Monterey Pine was recommended is because
ultimately if you review the horticulture reference that the Italian Stone Pine can reach a height
of 80 feet in optimum condition and the Torrey Pines can reach 60 feet tall but that none of
them have reached the height and that the Stone Pines are younger as well. He reiterated that
the trees will never reach a height of 50 feet as staff will maintain them below that height. He
went on to say that there are not very many Torrey Pines in the City and it gave them the
chance to plant one here.
Commissioner Ruzicka reiterated that it would never be a problem until 2030 anyway.
Commissioner Marston stated that she is ok with the tree selection but noted that it is close to a
drainage area.
Superintend Sereno stated that it would be planted far enough away that it would not be a
problem.
Discussion ensued regarding planting some shrubberies around those big rocks around the
drainage area.
Chair Garrett opened the public discussion
Jan Vandersloot stated that he concurred with staffs recommendation of the Torrey Pine
because it is a native tree.
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Regular Meeting
January 2, 2007 - 7pm
Page 3
Motion by Commissioner Ruzicka to approve the donation of a 24" Torrey Pine tree by Monique
Faure to be planted at CdM State Beach. Motion carried by acclamation.
6. Request by Newport Beach Little League. Recreation Manager Sean Levin stated that staff
recommends that the Commission approve the request by Newport Beach Little League (NBLL) to
install a batting cage between fields 1 and 2 at Bonita Canyon Sports Park. He went on to say that
demands for field use continues to rise with increased pressure on the inventory of the available
fields and that this will provide increased practice opportunities for teams and provide three teams
to practice at the same time while increasing the use of the field by 33%. He went on to say that
Recreation staff met with Parks and Maintenance and NBLL to select the best location. Staff has
notified the public that live within 500 feet of the location by postcard of this meeting and noted
that NBLL will be responsible for all associated costs and that the two trees in the location would be
replaced with a different type of tree within the park.
Chair Garret opened the public discussion.
Keith Banning, NBLL stated that they had raised the money a couple of years ago but that this
batting cage would be extremely helpful with team practice and will free up soccer fields for
their use and urged approval by the Commission.
Jan Vandersloot encouraged staff to transplant those existing trees to another location.
Chair Garret closed the public discussion.
Discussion ensued regarding the nets for the batting cages and was assured by NBLL that they
would be responsible for those.
Motion by Commissioner Ruzicka to approve the installation of a batting cage between fields 1
li 2 at Bonita Canyon Sports Park with all costs covered by NBLL. Motion carried by acclamation.
8. Review of the Newport Center Park Development Plan. Director Morgan stated that at the
December 12 City Council meeting to bring back the Newport Center project and would be discussed
again that the January 23 meeting. He went on to say that at that meeting they would review the
complete plan and specifications would be seeking approval to go on as planned. He stated that as
the discussion moved forward the Council asked for some consideration for soccer fields. He noted
that staff has moved forward and has provided information to all with a 6 year plan of the
development of the site. He stated that it is up to the Commission as to a motion of how to advise
the City Council. He stated that staff are the facilitators and in fairness to all, that it is staff's
intention to study the soccer field component as requested by City Council. He went on to say that
that these minutes would be provided as part of the Public Works staff report to Council.
Commissioner Allen stated that she had walked the site and reviewed the pictures but noted that if
this site were to be a soccer field that it would require a lot of grading off the top and a lot of fill at
the bottom to flatten the site out because it now has a 70 -80 feet grade from the library to the crest
of the hill and would lose the view if it was to be flattened. Director Morgan agreed.
Commissioner Brown agreed that there does seem to be enough room if it were to graded to place a
soccer field but was concerned that the Commission has tried to use active parks as multiple use
Parks, Beaches Ft Recreation Commission
Regular Meeting
January 2, 2007 - 7pm
Page 4
facilities and does not believe that there would be room enough for a soccer field and three Little
League fields and does that address the shortage of fields within the City. Director Morgan agreed.
Director Morgan stated that he does not want to get into design of the park or ruling out specific
activities but that screening and fencing would be required to have a multiple use field. He stated
that City Council has specifically asked staff to look at a soccer field.
Recreation Manager Levin stated that the site is a parcel of land located north of the Newport Beach
Library and south of San Miguel. He reviewed the pictures of the site with the Commission.
Chair Garret opened the public discussion.
Tom Moulson noted that those were great photographs and that the Commission should get a
sense of what a lovely passive park it could be and always imagined that this location would be
that. He stated that the City has a Teflon City Council that has trouble sticking to its decision
and was concerned that he had to keep coming back to discuss the issue over and over again
when he believed that it had been decided. He noted that there are many other people that
could not make it tonight that believe that Newport Center Park should only be used as a passive
park not a sports field. He urged the Commission to convey to City Council that many people do
object to this change in direction.
Jan Vandersloot stated that this location has always been categorized as a passive park. He
stated that the community has been working on this park for over 10 years with that assumption
and that it is time to have closure and recommended that the Commission urge the Council to
approve Newport Center Park as a passive park.
Bernie Svalstad stated that in March 2005 he was the chair of a committee tasked to raise $1.2 M
for this park site with at least 16 people on the committee and City staff and no one ever
mentioned anything about this site being used as an active park. He stated that since then
because of procrastinations and problems that a $600,000 donation was lost and noted that if
something does not happen soon that he believes that will be lost also. He stated that the park
estimates have risen from $1.2 M to $2.2M and possibly more and that costs continue to go up as
procrastination continues. He went on to say that the City has spent a lot of money on plans as
they changed and so urged the Commission to recommend to City Council that Newport Center
Park be used as a passive park.
MaryAnn Soden stated that this park should only be a passive park and that there is no synergy
between the library and the possibility of a soccer field and would undermine what is a jewel in
the community. She went on to say that a soccer field would not be very useful to the Newport
Center community and that the money should be raised to make it a beautiful passive park.
Hugh Logan from Seaview Community and stated that when this item came before the City
Council it was between a City Hall and a park and the Council spoke unequivocally that it would
be a park site and the sense of that meeting was that it would be a passive park. He stated that
there should be a balance between natural, active and passive parks. He stated that because of
the unique view and vista from this location is perfect as a passive park. It would be nice to
have more active parks but this location would be difficult to make it a multi sports site. He
stated that since 2000 this park has always been a passive park. He urged the Commission to
convey to the Council that it remain a passive park.
Parks, Beaches ft Recreation Commission
Regular Meeting
January 2, 2007 - 7pm
Page 5
Chair Garret closed the Dublic discussion.
Commissioner Trapp stated that traffic and parking is an issue now and noted that anything such
as an active park would make that even worse.
Commissioner Lugar stated that after reading the City Council minutes he was astounded that
there would be such a plan to make it an active park after all this time.
Commissioner Brown added that whenever possible that active parks should be located in
neighborhoods. He noted that he is still excited about the amphitheater to be used by the library
as a readers' theater which is part of the plan for that location.
Motion by Commissioner Allen to urge approval by City Council to move forward as soon as
possible to develop the Newport Center Park site as a passive park. Motion carried by unanimous
vote.
Chair Garrett thanked staff for bringing this to the Commission in such a short time span.
COMMITTEE REPORTS -
Parks- Will look forward to meeting to get the Newport Center Park going and following that the
committee will be actively working on Sunset Ridge, MarinaPark and Newport Coast Park but hopes that
there will be money allocated by City Council to move forward on Newport Center Park sooner then
later. Chair Garrett asked about MarinaPark. Director Morgan stated that Council has reviewed a concept
plan and included that in the October 3 packet. He noted that it would address a variety of needs in the
community but the project has its own timeline because of the residents that still live there and such.
He did not that Council will be scheduling a meeting with the Commission to discuss park priorities
sometime soon.
RSS- Nothing to report.
Budeet- Director Morgan stated that a committee meeting will be set for the middle of March with a
meeting.
AD - Hoc
—Youth Snorts Liaison - Nothing to report
— Community Services Award - Superintendent McGuire stated that staff had received a submission
from the OASIS Travel Group and a one for Hannah Dean. Chair Garrett stated that he sees no
problem with awarding two awards on the same night. Superintendent McGuire stated that we have
not done the formal recommendation of these submissions yet - which will be brought forward at the
next meeting. Discussion ensued regarding the criteria for nominations.
Commission directed staff to agendize the criteria for nominations of a Community Service Award
and the nominations for approval at the next meeting.
Other
—Santa Ana River Vision Plan- Commissioner Lugar asked to be removed from that Committee. Chair
Garrett asked to be listed as an alternate.
— Memorial Committee- Director Morgan stated that Council Member Curry is setting up a meeting.
DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS -
• Director Morgan - Nothing to report.
• Director Harmon - Thanked the Commission for the Facility Inspections and that it was a bit help
to Maintenance Division.
Parks, Beaches Et Recreation Commission
Regular Meeting
January 2, 2007 - 7pm
Page 6
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
The following are new or ongoing items to be discussed:
• Fire pit discussion on safety and to regulate what is burned
• Discussion of possible implementation of Parks ft Rec Foundation.
• Community Service Award Criteria
ADJOURNMENT. 8:17pm
Submitted by D
Teri Craig, Adm' sistan