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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRM092506CENTRAL POINT PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES September 25, 2006 I. REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS Members Present: Jim Hazleman, John Beck, Eleanor Holbrook, Richard Halley (Council Liaison), Kerry Bradshaw, Neil Olsen, Patricia Alvarez Staff Present: Katherine Boxer, Executive; Matt Samitore, Development Services Coordinator; Jennifer Boardman, Program Analyst; Dave Jacob, Interim Parks and Recreation Coordinator; Charlene Weston, Recreation Technician; Heidi Johnston, Discovery After School Club Director; Shelly Brown, Secretary; Don Dunn, Parks Maintenance Supervisor; Corey Qualls, Technician I; Mazk Brindle, Utility Worker I; Jedediah Miller, Utility Worker I III. ELECTION OF OFFICER(S) There was no election of avice-chair. To provide the commission with time to consider filling this position, a decision was tabled until the next meeting. It was noted that Mr. Hazleman will be stepping down as Chairman at the end of December and the Vice- Chairman will become Chairperson. • IV. MINUTES The Board reviewed and approved meeting minutes for June 27, 2006. Ms. Holbrook moved that the minutes be approved as submitted and Mr. Bradshaw seconded motion. The motion was approved by all present. V. PUBLIC APPEARANCES VI. BUSINESS A. New Staff Introductions: Ms. Boxer introduced Jennifer Boazdman who has been hired as the Parks and Recreation Analyst and Bambi Powers, Senior Programs Coordinator. B. Presentation -Parks Maintenance Overview and Issues: The presentation provided an overview the importance of pazks, total and future park acreage, scope of park maintenance activities, and concerns related workload and finances. Primary pazks maintenance issues are as follows: Increasing work load; work load impact on safety and quality control; park planning without maintenance staff input; city promises to develop parks and often does not deliver; public perceptions; and, growing budget needs. Additionally, with increasing pazk acreage, there is a need to add staff and to develop a management structure that provides for more effective management. Conclusions: • 1. Several quality pazks in growing community. Additional parks acreage added yearly. 2. Excellent Parks Maintenance Staff Page 1 of 4 3. Inadequate staffing level makes it difficult to maintain parks consistent with standards • and public expectations. 4. Parks receive low priority in overall City budget. 5. Lack of and poorly maintained parks and facilities have major implications for community health and prosperity. 6. Need to identify large funding source for land acquisition, capitol development, staffing and ongoing maintenance. 7. Continue to increase awareness of community members and decision-makers. C. Action Items 1. Mountain View Development Proposal Mr. Samitore reviewed a proposal on behalf of developers, Dale Clark and Jim Clark. The Clarks acquired a parcel adjacent to Don Jones Memorial Park to be used for a development. The tentative proposal, which has not been approved by the Planning Commission or the City Council, provides an access point onto Vilas Road and a proposed second access point onto North Mountain. As originally designed, the access road will displace a gazebo and part of buffer that will be between the street and the open space area of the park. The developers provided a revised plan that would limit impact to the park to approximately 600 square feet. The developers had an appraisal which provide for a cost of $1.25 per square foot. Mr. Samitore stated that the lowest price paid for right of way within the city by a developer • in the past year and a half has been $7.00 per square foot minimum and as high as $25.00 per square foot. Obviously, this issue would need to be resolved before any sale could be considered. Additionally, prior to sale a quiet title action must be done in order to acquire the land before this option can go to City Council. Mr. Samitore requested that the Parks and Recreation Commission make a recommendation to City Council as to whether they agree to the potential sale of a portion of Don Jones Memorial Park to accommodate a street stub for this development. Ms. Boxer recommended the commission consider specific impacts on the park and a fair market value if the property were sold. Ms. Boxer also stated we need to look at what is best for the residents of the City of Central Point in consideration of park development needs. The Parks and Recreation Commission opted not to make a recommendation to City Council. They felt that they needed additional information to make an informed recommendation. Mr. Samitore stated that the issue would more than likely be brought to the City Council prior before the next commission meeting. 2. City Parks Ordinances Mr. Jacob presented new city park ordinance to the commission which would replace the very limited existing ordinances. Due to increasing problems with vandalism and potential illegal behavior in city parks, the Central Point Police Department has requested that ordinances be moved to City Council as emergency ordinances which means that they would be enacted immediately upon city council approval without a second reading. • Mr. Jacob brought forward two specific issues for Commission review: Hours of Page 2 of 4 4~ Operation and Animal Options. • Concerning hours of operation, the Police Department requested that pazk closure hours be from sunset to sundown. Commission member were concerned that these hours would severely limit access by law-abiding citizens. During winter hours, the parks would be closed by 4:45 p.m. which would impact those citizens who run in pazks in the evening or aze simply passing through. After discussion of appropriate closure hours, the Commission recommended that pazks be closed from 10 p.m. to sunrise. Mr. Jacob said that this recommendation would go to City Council with the Police Department recommendation and they would make the final decision. Mr. Jacob stated that the second issue which required Commission input was whether dogs should be allowed in the parks. Currently, no dogs were allowed. Ms. Boxer suggested that a potential approach to the issue would be to allow dogs in only certain pazks and reminded members that there had been discussions concerning building a dog park on Boes property. After discussion, the Commission recommended that dogs on leash be allowed in all parks but that strong language be added to ensure that dog owners pick up all animal waste. Commission member provided additional suggestions for other ordinances and Ms. Holbrook moved the new city ordinances be approved with these recommendations. Ms. Alvazez seconded and the motion was approved by all present. • 3. Park Fee Increase Resolution: Mr. Jacob reminded the Commission that they had discussed raising fees at their June Meeting. Mr. Jacob had developed a draft resolution which would chazge both city residents and nonresidents who would be chagged slight more. Specifically, residents would be chagged $10 per hour for use of tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, meeting rooms and classrooms. Non-residents would be charged $15 per hour for the same facilities. Robert Pfaff Pazk stage areas would be chagged at a rate of $15 per hour for residents, $20 per hour for non-residents. Mr. Jacob stated that there had been concerns expressed by staff that cleaning deposits were too low to meet pazk maintenance expenses. Ms. Boxer suggested that staff look more closely at actual costs for cleaning the pazks by working with our maintenance staff and at how other communities handle this issue. Mr. Hazleman stated that if we aze to charge fees for usage of the parks, pazk users will pay the fee and be less likely to clean up after themselves, relying on parks maintenance to do this since they have paid a usage fee. Mr. Hazleman mentioned that the ordinance for pazks reservations needs to reflect the correct park closure hours. The resolution will be tabled until the next Commission meeting to allow for developing a more effective strategy related to cleaning deposits. 4. Parks and City Facilities Naming Resolution: Mr. Jacob reported that several years ago there had been an attempt to develop a consistent process for naming city parks, but since it had not been done in the form of a . resolution it had not been implemented. The Pazks and City Facility Naming Resolution Page 3 of 4 ~2 provides for a process for bringing a name forward through the appropriate committee or commission and for City Council and public review of any suggested names. The mayor also supports developing a method for naming the parks. The resolution goes beyond naming only parks and city facilities as well. In discussions with Mr. Harleman, he had expressed a concern that as written the resolution does not provide enough flexibility in selecting names. Mr. Jacob offered to do additional research to find appropriate language to meet this need. The resolution will be brought back to the Commission in December. Ms. Boxer informed the Commission that the department will begin developing policies for assigning a cost for naming parks and park features. D. Discussion Items: 1. Gymnasium /Community Center Planning: Mr. Samitore reported that the City Council had approved demolition of the gymnasium at their last meeting. An advertisement for bids will go out shortly and the structure will probably be demolished prior to Thanksgiving. Commission members expressed the concern that effort be made to salvage portions of the structure that have historical value. Mr. Samitore said that at the very least a portion of the flooring would saved but other opportunities, if economically feasible, would be examined as well. Ms. Boxer reported that planning for a Community Center and/or gymnasium will start in January, hopefully in conjunction the City-wide strategic planning process. It will take about 6 months to get the community's input on what they would like to see in the new • facilities so we can proceed with the design and, potentially, developing a bond measure. 2. Boes Park Planning: Ms. Boxer reported that as with the community center, planning for Boes Park will begin early next year; the planning process will be discussed in more detail at the next meeting. Mr. Samitore reported that amid-year budget adjustment will be made since more building permits have submitted than initially expected which will provide for more system development charge fees. This will provide for additional funds that can be use community forums and to bring in a landscape architect to assist with planning process. VII. MISCELLANEOUS VIII. NEXT MEETING DATE The next Central Point Parks and Recreation Commission meeting will be December 21, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. VX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned without objection at 9:30 p.m. • Page 4 of 4 ~3