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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/02/2007 - PB&R CommissionOCTOBER 2, 2007 APPROVED PB &R COMMISSION MINUTES n • • CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Parks, Beaches it Recreation Commission Regular Meeting October 2, 2007 - 7pm Convened 7:14pm ROLL CALL Present: Debra Allen Tim Brown Phillip Lugar Marie Marston Greg Ruzicka Absent Cristine Trapp BiU Garrett Staff: Wes Morgan, RSS Director Mark Harmon, General Services Director Dan Sereno, Parks ft Tree Superintendent Teri Craig, Admin Asst DIRECTOR COMMENTS Director Morgan stated that the grand opening for Newport Coast on September 15/16 went extremely well and reminded the Commission of the OASIS Senior Center picnic on October 6 to unveil the plans for the new center. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes of the September 4, 2007 regular meeting. Waive reading of subject minutes, approve and order filed. 2. Item removed by member of the public 3. Recreation Et Senior Services Activity Report. Receive /file monthly Activity Report for activities and upcoming projects. Motion by Commissioner Ruzicka to accept items 1 and 3 of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by acclamation. 2. Park and Operations Division Activity Report. Jan Vandersloot commended the City for the extensive root pruning of 882 trees to date. He also asked if the approved reforestation requests from July should count in the total of tree removals. Director Harmon agreed and would make the changes in the tally sheet. Motion by Commissioner Allen to accept Item 2 of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by acclamation. DISCUSSION /ACTION ITEMS 6. Tree Donation. Superintendent Sereno stated that staff had received this donation request by Doris Talbot for one Coast Live Oak tree to be located at Castaways Park. He stated that staff is asking the Commission to consider the request and provide direction for future additional donations at that park. He noted that this donation would be the 181h donated tree at Castaways and that there has been some discussion about the number of dedicated trees and noted that it Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting October 2, 2007 - 7pm . Page 2 is one of the most populated parks with dedicated trees. He noted that Mariners had 11 or 12; he stated that this tree would be a replacement of one that had died and would not be a new location for a tree but would include a dedicatory plaque. Commissioner Allen stated that she knew that there was a coincidence of meetings and wondered why the Commission had approved the location of the 1/1 Marine Memorial and then afterwards the HOA had met and took the other position and wondered why they did not show up at the meeting since there was such a tremendous outreach and wondered if there was a problem with that location becoming somewhat of a cemetery environment. Director Morgan stated that he did not want to speak for the gentleman that staff was in contact with regarding the location for the statue before during and after the selection of Castaways but noted that Council Member Curry was in contact with a Mr. Baugh and prior to the Commission meeting last month it did not appear that the Marine Memorial would be an issue but that the number of trees and monuments that went with it and some of the different kind of memorial type traffic that went with it particularly at one location was a concern. He went on to say that Mr. Baugh did not feel at that time that the Marine Memorial was an issue but the trees. But after that Council Member Curry contacted them and they are now ok with the Memorial being located there but that they want to be heard on the number of trees and plaques that are located there. Director Harmon stated that it is not the number of trees but the number of trees with a • dedicatory plaque and that the concern is that the park is beginning to look like a cemetery because of those. He went on to say that there are 18 trees with plaques at Castaways. He noted that staff believes that the park has reached the capacity of donated trees. Director Harmon stated that he had spoken to Mr. Baugh on 9/11 the day of the Council meeting and had stated that he would just watch it on TV. Commissioner Lugar stated that he has concern on mementoes being left at the trees and how can we control that and should something be added to the Council policy. Director Harmon stated that B -17 does not clearly state that mementoes cannot be left and honestly there is only on location where items are being left. He suggested that we could request an amendment to the policy and that staff does clean up. Chair Brown opened the public discussion Doris Talbott stated that she has visited the park many times and that there is only one tree where items are left around the tree and had talked to the women and that someone else was taking care of it for while she was on vacation. She noted that the one tree seems to be the only one that anyone leaves mementoes. She stated that she was very aware that the park is not to be used as a cemetery. Jan Vandersloot stated that he is leery of putting limits on the number of trees at Castaways since that is not the only location for a tree and recommended that they begin to plant them in • the ravine and suggested that the Oak trees be planted there. He reminded the Commission that the original plan had more trees and that many of those that have died have not been replaced and suggested that staff look into that issue. Chair Brown closed the public discussion El Cl • Parks, Beaches Fc Recreation Commission Regular Meeting October 2, 2007 - 7pm Page 3 Commissioner Ruzicka noted that we do not want to ban future trees but that we need to be circumspect about it when approving future tree donations for Castaways. Director Harmon stated that this is not a huge problem just of one tree and that staff is not saying that Castaways has enough trees all but staff is trying to be respective of the neighbors and limit the number of plaques and awaiting direction on accepting any more plaques for that area and as trees die or other space is available City will replace them. Discussion ensued regarding amending B -17; the limiting of plaques and that staff should review the $1000 fee and that it possibly should be adjusted for inflation; and that possibly staff should suggest to donors the possibility of donating without the plaque and possibly having a central location that donor names are listed. Motion by Commissioner Lugar to approve donation of one Coast Live Oak tree to be planted at Castaways Park. Motion carried by acclamation 5. Sunset Ridge Park. Director Morgan stated that in your packet is the information about the hiring of the consultant; the action regarding the purchase of the land and information on active space. He stated that Park Development meetings would be set up and noted that a draft agenda had been distributed and hoped to have 6 months of outreach. Sunset Ridge is a beautiful piece of ground and reminded the Commission that it cannot have lights. COMMITTEE REPORTS - Parks - Director Morgan stated an outreach meeting for Sunset Ridge will be held sometime in October and that the Committee will set a date when they meet on October 8 at 8:30am. Superintendent Levin stated that construction began October 1 at Mariners and that it will reopen for Little League Baseball opening in March. RSS - Chair Brown asked if the Committee could be engaged on what is going on with the OASIS Senior Center. Director Morgan said yes. Budget - Director Morgan stated that a meeting would be convened sometime in January. AD - Hoc —Youth Sports Liaison - Nothing to report — Community Services Award - Superintendent Levin stated that he had completed the revision of the policy and distributed copies to the Commission. Other —Santa Ana River Vision Plan- Nothing to report. —T/ 1 Marine Memorial Committee- Next meeting October 9. — MarinaPark - Nothing to report. Director Harmon stated that City Attorney Clauson had met with Commissioners Allen and Lugar and that many of the G -1 issues have been resolved and that the City Attorney will put together a memo outlining the discussion and will be presented at the November/ December meeting. Chair Brown was concerned that a Study Session had not been set up with the City Attorney and that it is important the entire Commission talk about the G -1 and not just one or two. Director Harmon stated that a discussion was held with Commissioner Allen and the City Attorney and the issues were discussed and that the memo will be brought back to the Commission either at a Study Session or a regular agenda item. Commissioner Allen noted that the City Attorney would also be here. Director Harmon stated that he would confer with the City Attorney regarding the date for the meeting. • 11 • Parks, Beaches Et Recreation Commission Regular Meeting October 2, 2007 - 7pm Page 4 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The following are new or ongoing items to be discussed: • Fire pit discussion - safety; regulate what is burned • Possible implementation of Parks Et Rec Foundation- G-1 Policy Discussion • Tree Applications - Add information regarding perjury when signing the form • City Council Policy B -17 - Jan /Feb 2008 ADJOURNMENT- 7:53pm Submitted by: Teri Craig, Admin As istant • Parking Signage at Back Bay View Park • Dog Park • Updates on Parks