HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-06 PRC Regular Meeting Minutes
City of Palm Desert Page 1
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Committee was called to order by Chair
Akkerman on Tuesday, February 6, 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, Vice Chair John Maldonado, and Chair Gregg Akkerman
Absent: Committee Member Ralph Perry
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:
Maetal Saban, Palm Desert resident, urged the city to consider adding misters and better
lighting in public park play areas.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER DAWSON, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
GUYER, CARRIED 7-0, to approve the consent calendar.
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER DAWSON, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
GUYER, CARRIED 7-0, to approve the Parks and Recreation Committee Special Meeting
minutes of January 9, 2023.
CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER: None.
Tuesday
February 6, 2024
8:30 a.m.
Regular Meeting
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5. ACTION CALENDAR
A. APPROVAL OF 2024 PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE WORKPLAN
Project Manager Swartz narrated a PowerPoint presentation detailing the proposed 2024
Parks & Recreation Committee Workplan based on the goals and priorities submitted by
each Committee Member and responded to Committee inquiries.
Following discussion, MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER MURPHY, SECOND BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER FLINT, CARRIED 7-0 to approve the 2024 Parks & Recreation
Committee Workplan as presented.
6. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
A. UPDATES FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
1. Palm Desert Aquatic Center
Ex-Officio Member Paula Simonds provided a verbal summary of recent and
upcoming activities at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center.
2. First Tee – Coachella Valley
Executive Director Kyle Nguyen provided a written and verbal report regarding the
programming offered by First Tee and reported on recent and upcoming events.
3. Friends of the Desert Mountains
Executive Director Tammy Martin provided a written report that was included with the
agenda materials; suggested the City consider adding an educational element to any
future signs in recreational spaces; and responded to Committee inquiries.
4. Palm Desert Library
Deputy Director Jennifer Hernandez provided a written report and a verbal summary
of successful library events and upcoming programming.
5. Friends of the Library
No report was provided.
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 announced that she has been invited to represent the YMCA at
the State Capitol in presenting Congressman Ruiz with recognition of his support and
advocacy for reducing childhood obesity.
2. Desert Recreation District
Executive Director Kevin Kalman provided a summary of the written report that was
included with the agenda materials and provided an update on the renovation of the
Desert Recreation District building.
C. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS
1. Update from the Aquatic Center (PDAC) Subcommittee Members
Committee Member Guyer and City Manager Hileman provided an update on the
recent Palm Desert Aquatic Center Committee meeting and reported that staff will be
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evaluating key performance indicators and strategic marketing to determine the
appropriate programming and budget allocations.
2. University Park East Report
Committee Member Murphy provided a written report with the agenda materials,
advised that there are community garden spaces within the park that have not been
maintained and suggested the City look into recovering the functionality of the garden
spaces.
D. CITY COUNCIL LIAISON
City Council Liaison Trubee provided comments regarding the Palm Desert Aquatic
Center and local trails and requested an update on the cleanup of Freedom Park.
E. CITY STAFF
1. Update on Bike Trail with Coachella Valley Water District and Coachella Valley
Association of Governments
Community Services Manager Shawn Muir provided an update on recent
meetings with the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission and stakeholders
regarding the coordination of an additional bike trail and requested two volunteers
to participate as a subcommittee on the matter.
Chair Akkerman and Committee Member O’Donnell volunteered to serve as a
subcommittee.
Committee Member Guyer suggested staff provide a list of local bike trails and
respective owners to aide future discussions.
2. Parks Programs Reports
Project Manager Swartz advised that Members Akkerman, Maldonado, and
Murphy are due to provide park reports at the March meeting.
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 10:11 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