HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-01 PRC Regular Meeting MinutesCity 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 Vice Chair
Akkerman on Tuesday, August 1, 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 Randy Guyer, Lori Flint, Paul Murphy, David O’Donnell,
Ralph Perry, Vice Chair Gregg Akkerman
Absent: Committee Member John Maldonado and Chair Gerald Dawson
Liaison(s)
Present: Evan Trubee, City Council Liaison
Staff
Present: Todd Hileman, City Manager; Chris Escobedo, Assistant City Manager; Anthony
Mejia, City Clerk; Shawn Muir, Community Services Manager; Kevin Swartz,
Management Analyst II; and Michelle Nance, Recording Secretary
3.ELECTION OF PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON AND VICE
CHAIRPERSON
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PERRY, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
GUYER, CARRIED 6-0, to elect Gregg Akkerman as Chairperson of the Parks and
Recreation Committee.
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER MURPHY, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
GUYER, FAILED 3-3 (COMMITTEE MEMBERS FLINT, PERRY, AKKERMAN VOTING NO),
to elect John Maldonado as Vice Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Committee.
MOTION BY CHAIR AKKERMAN, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER FLINT, FAILED 3-3
(COMMITTEE MEMBERS MURPHY, GUYER, O’DONNELL VOTING NO), to elect Ralph
Perry as Vice Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Tuesday
August 1, 2023 8:30 a.m.
Regular Meeting
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Following discussion, the Committee agreed to continue the election of Vice Chairperson to
the next Regular Meeting.
4.NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT:
None.
5.CONSENT CALENDAR:
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER FLINT, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PERRY,
CARRIED 6-0, to approve the consent calendar.
A.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER FLINT, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
PERRY, CARRIED 6-0, to approve the Parks and Recreation Committee Regular Meeting
minutes of June 6, 2023.
CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER: None.
6.ACTION CALENDAR
A.DISCUSSION FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING AT THE RANDALL HENDERSON
TRAILHEAD
Management Analyst Swartz and Friends of the Desert Mountains Executive Director
Martin presented the staff report and responded to Committee Member inquiries.
Chair Akkerman opened the public comment period.
Alex, a Palm Desert resident, spoke in opposition to additional paved parking spaces.
There being no others desiring to speak, the public comment period was closed.
MOTION BY CHAIR AKKERMAN, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PERRY,
CARRIED 6-0, to recommend that staff pursue non-pavement options for additional
parking at the Randall Henderson Trailhead.
7.INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
A.UPDATES FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
1.Palm Desert Aquatic Center
Ex-Officio Paula Simonds provided a verbal summary of recent activities at the Palm
Desert Aquatic Center.
2.First Tee – Coachella Valley
No report was provided.
3.Friends of the Desert Mountains
Executive Director Tammy Martin provided a written update regarding Friends of the
Desert Mountains.
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4.Palm Desert Library
Branch Manager Jennifer Hernandez provided a written update regarding the Palm
Desert Library and highlighted the success of the summer reading program.
5. Friends of the Library
President Karen Gonzalez provided a verbal report regarding Friends of the Library,
noting recent contributions to local teen programs, and requested that the City assist
with temporary storage needs.
B.UPDATES FROM EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
1.Family YMCA of the Desert
Ex-Officio Member Simonds provided a written update on the Family YMCA of the
Desert, and highlighted peaked interest in middle school programs, collaboration with
local businesses, and successful ratings of local licensed childcare facilities.
2.Desert Recreation District
Community Services Coordinator Nutcher provided a verbal update regarding the
Desert Recreation District.
C.PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS
1.Freedom Park
No report was provided.
2.Joe Mann Park
Committee Member Guyer provided a verbal report on Joe Mann Park, indicating that
the park is in great shape overall but needs attention to small holes in the shade
screens.
3.Library Subcommittee
Library Subcommittee Members Murphy and Perry reported that the Library Taskforce
has formed three subcommittees to related to programming, governance, and
community outreach.
City Manager Hileman responded to Committee Member inquiries regarding library
plan logistics.
D.CITY COUNCIL LIAISON
City Council Liaison Trubee provided comments regarding the plans and timeline for
a new library and commended staff for their work to meet important deadlines.
E.CITY STAFF
1.Community Services Manager Muir provided updates on the following topics and
responded to Committee Member inquiries:
a.Aquatic Center renovations
b.Regional and Community Parks
c.Palma Village Park
d.Cahuilla Hills Park ADA Improvements
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2.Management Analyst Swartz provided information regarding University Park sites,
noting that the Committee will discuss naming the sites at the next Regular Meeting,
and responded to Committee Member inquiries:
F.ATTENDANCE REPORT
The attendance report was provided with the agenda materials. The Committee took no
action on this matter.
8.ADJOURNMENT
Following a brief discussion, by consensus, the Committee requested that staff explore the
possibility of moving the next Regular Meeting to September 12, 2023.
The Parks and Recreation Committee adjourned at 9:47 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monique Lomeli, Senior Deputy Clerk
Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Kevin Swartz, Project Manager
Secretary
APPROVED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE: 09/12/2023
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