HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-09 PRC Special 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 Special Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Committee was called to order by Chair
Akkerman on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 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 Gerald Dawson, Lori Flint, Randy Guyer, Paul Murphy, David
O’Donnell, Ralph Perry, Vice Chair John Maldonado, and Chair Gregg Akkerman
Absent: None
Liaison(s)
Present: Evan Trubee, City Council Liaison
Staff
Present: Todd Hileman, City Manager; Chris Escobedo, Assistant City Manager; Shawn
Muir, Community Services Manager; Kevin Swartz, Project Manager;
Nick Melloni, Principal Planner; and Monique Lomeli, Recording Secretary
3. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT:
None.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER O’DONNELL, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
GUYER, CARRIED 7-0-1 (DAWSON ABSTAINED), to approve the consent calendar.
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER O’DONNELL, SECOND BY COMMITTEE
MEMBER GUYER, CARRIED 7-0-1 (DAWSON ABSTAINED), to approve the Parks and
Recreation Committee Regular Meeting minutes of December 5, 2023.
CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER: None.
Tuesday
January 9, 2024
8:30 a.m.
Special Meeting
Parks and Recreation Committee Minutes January 9, 2024
City of Palm Desert Page 2
5. ACTION CALENDAR
A. DEDICATION / NAMING OF THE FIVE POCKET PARKS WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY
PARK (NORTH SPHERE)
Project Manager Swartz presented staff’s recommendation regarding the naming of the
five pocket parks within the University Park.
Following discussion, MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER MURPHY, SECOND BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER O’DONNELL, CARRIED 8-0 to continue the item to a date
uncertain.
6. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
A. UPDATES FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
1. Palm Desert Aquatic Center
David Keyes provided a written report and a verbal summary of upcoming activities at
the Palm Desert Aquatic Center.
2. First Tee – Coachella Valley
Recreation Specialist Chris Baluga provided a verbal report regarding the
programming offered by First Tee.
3. Friends of the Desert Mountains
Executive Director Tammy Martin provided a written report that was included with the
agenda materials and responded to Committee inquiries.
4. Palm Desert Library
Deputy Director Sue Duran provided a written report and a verbal summary of
successful library events and upcoming programming.
5. Friends of the Library
President Karen Gonzalez provided a written that was included with the agenda
materials.
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 expressed appreciation for the City Council’s attendance of
recent events.
2. Desert Recreation District
Executive Director Kevin Kalman provided a written report that was included with the
agenda materials and announced the new Board of Directors President Luis Espinoza
and Vice President Natalia Gutierrez.
C. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Committee Member Dawson provided written suggestions for revised park review
guidelines. A copy of the document is available in the supplemental agenda packet linked
HERE.
Parks and Recreation Committee Minutes January 9, 2024
City of Palm Desert Page 3
Committee Member O’Donnell commented on the mixed-use trail system and opined that
the trails are suitable for hikers but will need maintenance to become suitable for biking.
D. CITY COUNCIL LIAISON
City Council Liaison Trubee reported there was no reportable activity by the City Council.
E. CITY STAFF
1. Palma Village Park Design
Community Services Manager Muir provided an update on the Palma Village Park
design and responded to Committee inquiries.
2. Update on Bike Trail with Coachella Valley Water District and Coachella Valley
Association of Governments
Principal Planner Nick Melloni narrated a PowerPoint presentation as an update
on the connector bike trail between Painters Path and Homme Adams Park. Staff
members responded to Committee inquiries and Committee Members O’Donnell
and Guyer volunteered to serve on a subcommittee to explore the possibility of
connecting trailheads for a family friendly mountain bike route.
3. Parks Programs Reports
Project Manager Swartz provided an update on the intent to revise the Parks
Program reporting schedule and responded to Committee inquiries.
4. Update on February 2024 Parks & Recreation Committee Goals Session
Project Manager Swartz reported that the Committee will hold a goal setting
session at the next Regular meeting and requested that individual committee
members submit their ideas and suggestions by January 19, 2024.
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 9:58 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monique Lomeli, Senior Deputy Clerk
Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Kevin Swartz, Project Manager
Secretary
APPROVED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE: __/__/2024