HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-12-05 PRC Regular Meeting Minutes
City of Palm Desert Page 1
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
MINUTES
Click HERE to review meeting audio.
Click HERE to access the meeting agenda packet.
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Committee was called to order by Chair
Akkerman on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 8:30 a.m., in the Administrative Conference
Room, City Hall, located at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Committee Members Lori Flint, Randy Guyer, Paul Murphy, David O’Donnell,
Ralph Perry, Vice Chair John Maldonado, and Chair Gregg Akkerman
Absent: Committee Member Gerald Dawson
Liaison(s)
Present: Evan Trubee, City Council Liaison
Staff
Present: Chris Escobedo, Assistant City Manager; Shawn Muir, Community Services
Manager; Kevin Swartz, Project Manager; Randy Chavez, Deputy Director of
Public Works; and Monique Lomeli, Recording Secretary
3. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT:
None.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER MURPHY, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
PERRY, CARRIED 7-0, to approve the Parks and Recreation Committee Regular Meeting
minutes of November 7, 2023, as amended.
CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER: None.
Tuesday
December 5, 2023
8:30 a.m.
Regular Meeting
DocuSign Envelope ID: 845A6DF2-4A3A-4DD8-830B-3336739813FD
Parks and Recreation Committee Minutes December 5, 2023
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5. ACTION CALENDAR
A. SELECT A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE 40-ACRE REGIONAL PARK DESIGN
Project Manager Swartz invited the Committee to appoint two Committee Members to
serve on a subcommittee concerning the design of a 40-acre regional park.
MOTION BY CHAIR AKKERMAN, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER GUYER,
CARRIED 7-0 to appoint Vice Chair Maldonado and Committee Member Murphy as
representatives on the 40-acre Regional Park Design Subcommittee.
B. SELECT A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE PALM DESERT AQUATIC CENTER (PDAC)
Project Manager Swartz invited the Committee to appoint two Committee Members to
serve on a subcommittee concerning the Palm Desert Aquatic Center.
MOTION BY CHAIR AKKERMAN, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER GUYER,
CARRIED 7-0 to appoint Committee Members Guyer and O’Donnell as representatives
on the PDAC Subcommittee.
C. JANUARY MEETING SCHEDULE
Project Manager Swartz presented a verbal report and responded to Committee inquiries.
MOTION BY CHAIR AKKERMAN, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER GUYER,
CARRIED 7-0, to reschedule the Regular Meeting of January 2, 2024, to Tuesday,
January 9, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.
6. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
A. UPDATES FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
1. Palm Desert Aquatic Center
Ex-Officio Member Simonds provided a verbal summary of current activities at the
Palm Desert Aquatic Center.
2. First Tee – Coachella Valley
Ex-Officio Member Kalman provided a written report and verbal summary of recent
activities and upcoming events.
3. Friends of the Desert Mountains
Executive Director Tammy Martin provided a written report that was included with the
agenda materials and provided information regarding upcoming events.
4. Palm Desert Library
Branch Manager Jennifer Hernandez provided a written report that was included with
the agenda materials.
5. Friends of the Library
President Karen Gonzalez provided a verbal summary of the written report that was
included in the agenda materials, encouraged Committee Members to become
members of Friends of the Library, and responded to Committee Member inquiries.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 845A6DF2-4A3A-4DD8-830B-3336739813FD
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B. UPDATES FROM EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
1. Family YMCA of the Desert
Ex-Officio Member Simonds provided a written report that was included with the
agenda materials and requested information regarding the availability of public
restrooms near the YMCA facility.
2. Desert Recreation District
Executive Director Kevin Kalman provided a written report that was included with the
agenda materials, distributed a copy of the Desert Recreation Stewardship Report for
Fiscal Year 2023.
C. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS
1. Hovley Soccer Park
Chair Akkerman provided a written report and verbal summary regarding the condition
of Hovley Soccer Park and encouraged Committee Members and residents to use the
Palm Desert In Touch app to report park maintenance issues.
2. Joe Mann Park
Committee Member Murphy provided a written report and verbal summary of the
condition of Joe Mann Park; and expressed appreciation for the landscape and
maintenance workers.
Committee Member Guyer requested an update on the bike trail.
D. CITY COUNCIL LIAISON
City Council Liaison Trubee reported the Palm Desert Library will be closed May 1 – June
30, 2024, in preparation for the change of ownership.
In response to City Council Liaison Trubee’s inquiry, Landscape Supervisor Brad Chuck
provided a verbal update on the Freedom Park cleanup.
E. CITY STAFF
Project Manager Swartz provided information regarding an upcoming work plan session
and encouraged the Committee members to begin thinking about goals and focus points
to consider during the discussion.
In response to Committee inquiries, Assistant City Manager Escobedo and Project
Manager Swartz provided information regarding the potential availability of land for City
parks and affordable housing.
F. ATTENDANCE REPORT
The attendance report was provided with the agenda materials. The Committee took no
action on this matter.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The Parks and Recreation Committee adjourned at 9:26 a.m.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 845A6DF2-4A3A-4DD8-830B-3336739813FD
Parks and Recreation Committee Minutes December 5, 2023
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Respectfully submitted,
Monique Lomeli, Senior Deputy Clerk
Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Kevin Swartz, Project Manager
Secretary
APPROVED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE: 01/09/2024
DocuSign Envelope ID: 845A6DF2-4A3A-4DD8-830B-3336739813FD