HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-07 PRC Regular Meeting Minutes
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
January 7, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
Present: Committee Member Randy Guyer, Committee Member Rob
Langford, Committee Member Paul Murphy, Committee Member
David O'Donnell, Vice-Chair Ralph Perry, Committee Member Tim
Skogen, Chair John Maldonado
Staff Present: Assistant City Manager Chris Escobedo, Community Services
Manager Shawn Muir, Senior Project Manager Kevin Swartz,
Landscape Supervisor Brad Chuck, Recording Secretary Michelle
Nance
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Committee was called to order by Chair
Maldonado on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 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
3. NONAGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
Joe Donahue, Palm Desert resident, spoke on the condition of Palm Desert Aquatic
Center due to wind and dust.
4. PRESENTATIONS
4.a 2025 DESERT X PRESENTATION
Management Analyst Powell narrated a PowerPoint presentation and responded
to member inquiries.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by: Vice-Chair Perry
Seconded by: Committee Member Langford
To approve the consent calendar as presented.
Motion Carried (7 to 0)
5.a APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by: Vice-Chair Perry
Seconded by: Committee Member Langford
Approve the Minutes of December 3, 2024.
Motion Carried (7 to 0)
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January 7, 2025
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6. ACTION CALENDAR
6.a DISCUSS NEW DISC GOLF COURSE AT HOMME ADAMS PARK /
SLAUGHTER RECREATION AREA
President of Palm Desert Disc Golf Club, Jon Berg, spoke in support of adding
disc golf course to Homme Adams Park and responded to member inquiries.
Following discussion, feedback to continue with Homme Adams Park as a
location for disc golf was provided, no formal action taken on this item.
6.b PARK NAMING SUBCOMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION FOR NAMING THE
FUTURE COMMUNITY PARK
Senior Project Manager Swartz narrated a PowerPoint presentation and
responded to member inquiries.
Motion by: Chair Maldonado
Seconded by: Committee Member Guyer
Recommend to the City Council approval of naming the future Community Park
in honor of Dave Erwin, the City’s first City Attorney.
NOES (1): Committee Member Skogen
Motion Carried (6 to 1)
6.c DISCUSS BAJA PARK ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
Community Services Manager Muir with Chris Hermann of Hermann Design
Group lead discussion on enhancement of Baja Park with focal points being
lighting, landscape theft and signage. Feedback was provided, no formal action
taken on this item.
7. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
7.a UPDATES FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
7.a.1 Palm Desert Aquatic Center
Palm Desert Aquatic Center Manager, David Keyes, provided a report and
responded to member inquiries.
7.a.2 First Tee Coachella Valley
General Manager of Desert Recreation District, Kevin Kalman, provided a
report and responded to member inquiries.
7.a.3 Friends of the Desert Mountains
Report provided; no action taken on this item.
Docusign Envelope ID: 63CA5A1F-D73F-46C9-848A-28A44663E424
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January 7, 2025
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7.b UPDATES FROM EXOFFICIO MEMBERS
7.b.1 Family YMCA of the Desert
Executive Director of the Family YMCA of the Desert, Paula Simonds,
provided a report and responded to member inquiries.
7.b.2 Desert Recreation District
General Manager of Desert Recreation District, Kevin Kalman, provided a
report and responded to member inquiries.
7.c PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The following items were requested by Committee Members for staff follow-up;
however, they do not necessarily reflect the consensus of the Committee:
• Installation of fencing around playgrounds;
• Updates and timelines for planned new parks; and
• A walkability study, bike safety assessment, and traffic enforcement review
for Portola Avenue between Fairway Drive and Haystack Road.
In response to an inquiry, Assistant City Manager Escobedo provided an update
on the YMCA's management agreement amendment for the Palm Desert Aquatic
Center. The Committee expressed disappointment over the lack of Committee
involvement in the process.
7.d CITY COUNCIL LIAISON
None.
7.e CITY STAFF
Senior Project Manager Swartz shared an update regarding the recent
resignations of Committee Members Flint and Akkerman; reminded the
Committee that interviews for Boards, Committees, and Commissions will take
place May or June 2025, with new members expected to start attending meetings
in July 2025.
Acting Assistant City Clerk Nance provided a reminder about the AB 1234
training session, scheduled for January 30, 2025. The training will be conducted
via Zoom or in person in the Council Chamber at City Hall.
7.f ATTENDANCE REPORT
Report provided; no action taken on this item.
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8.ADJOURNMENT
The Parks and Recreation Committee adjourned at 9:58 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Michelle Nance, Acting Assistant City Clerk
Recording Secretary
_________________________
Kevin Swartz, Sr. Project Manager
Secretary
_02/04/2025________________________
DATE APPROVED BY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
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