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Home My WebLink About1997-02-26 PRC Regular Meeting Agenda Packetcm rn AGENDA PALM DESERT PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26,1997 8:30 A.M. - COMMUNITY SERVICES CONFERENCE ROOM I. CALL TO ORDER II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 12,1997 III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Any person wishing to discuss any item not otherwise on the agenda may address the commission at this point by stepping to the lectern and giving his/her name and address for the record. Remarks shall be limited to a maximum of five minutes unless additional time is authorized by the commission. This is the time and place for any person who wishes to comment on non -hearing agenda items. It should be noted that at commission discretion, these comments may be discussed. Remarks shall be limited to a maximum of five minutes unless additional time is authorized by the commission. IV. CONTINUED BUSINESS: A. DOG PARK: i) Update on solar lighting and expansion of dog park. ii) Letter from Elisabeth White. B. EAST END REGIONAL PARK: Clarify east end regional park versus Palm Desert Country Club area park site. C. SOCCER FACILITY: Staff to present current plans for soccer facility. V. NEW BUSINESS: A. BUDGET: Review of Actual Parks & Recreation - Special Revenue & Capital Project Funds Fiscal Year 1996-97 AGENDA PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION FEBRUARY 26, 1997 VII. INFORMATION/UPDATES: A. AQUATIC CENTER: Y.M.C.A. Board formed an AD -HOC Committee to provide information on the Board's desired facility lay -out and equipment. The Board is also to provide indication of Y.M.C.A.'s participation level. B. CAL STATE PARK SITE: Committee members to review site plan and make recommendations. C. SKATE PARK SITE: Cost of skate park is approximately $175,000. The area identified for location of skate park is approximately 38,400 square feet in size. D. BASEBALL FIELD PLAQUES: Staff to present sample of blank plaque for columns at civic center park baseball fields. E. CIVIC CENTER PARK RESTROOMS: Area identified for location of restroom at north end of civic center park is potentially available. Cost estimated at $100,000 dependant upon size requirements and utility availability. VII. ADJOURNMENT DECLARATION OF POSTING I, Donna C. Bitter, of the Community Development Department of the City of Palm Desert, do hereby declare that the foregoing agenda for the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting of Wednesday, February 26,1997, was posted on the bulletin board by the outside entry to the Council Chamber, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, on Saturday, February 22, 1997. February 22, 1997 e • 7 (::� 4Z�j DONNA C. BITTER Senior Office Assistant City of Palm Desert, California 2 , C)s kn�I 73-186 Somera Road Palm Desert, California 92260 February 12, 1997 RECEIVED FEB 18 1997 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CITY OF PALM DESERT Parks and Recreation Commission City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, California 92260 Dear Commissioners: In July, 1994, I wrote you a letter to commend the appearance of the new Ironwood park (copy attached). There have been some improvements in the park since that time. Most notably, the grassy area is now green and somewhat better maintained. There are some other changes which are less than desireable. Along the north side of the park and the adjacent wellsite,and to a lesser extent on the southend, there are a number of property owners who have chosen to neglect their property. Some have abundant overgrowths, others have discarded waste on the parksite, a few fences are dilapidated. The most eggregious example is the well site bordering Chia where the landscaping has dead growth, overgrowth and is not at all maintained. We now understand that the City has allowed this same corporation to drill wells along haystack and on the southwest side of the park. This process has been very disruptive, noisy and inconvenient to the otherwise quiet enjoyment of our neighborhood. Can we expect that the same neglectful attitude will prevail with the wellsites as in the past? Concerns which I expressed earlier still exist. Some animal owners have been responsible in keeping their animals s „%WW ''"We on leash and in cleaning their waste. Many others have allowed the park to become an unflushed toilet with free roaming and obnoxious animals. The solutions that I suggested previously should be given serious consideration. Either a prohibition of domestic animals (which tend to disturb not only the human park patrons, but the wild fauna as well) or a fenced area strictly for dogs with receptacles for sanitary disposal, would seem to be appropriate. Moreover, the unused parking lot should certainly be converted to a useable space for the patrons.) The pea gravel is still messy and should be removed. The substance placed on the pathways is not utilitarian. Ironwood Park still remains an asset to the city. However, we would encourage the commission and city staff to keep a watchful eye on the situation. The addition of some more large native trees would make the area even more inviting. We look forward to many years of enjoyment. Sincerely, Elisabeth A. White P.S. Is there a valid reason for the city to allow the east end of the haystack strip park to be used as a fenced dump? cc: City Council Ali ";i'l h("r kI A " WTI G L( 73-186 Somera Road Palm Desert, California 92260 July 11, 1994 Parks and Recreation Commission City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, California 92260 Dear Commissioners: I would like to commend you on the installation of Ironwood Park. When it was opened last winter, there was a tranquil aspect to this desert sanctuary. The tot lot and small area of grass lent an aura of just the right amount of activity to the passive park. The pathways and bridge are attractive and useful (though some hardpacking would be nice). Notwithstanding the small signs recommending common decency, it is evident that there are a number of dog owners who have chosen to allow their animals free reign to relieve themselves in the park, without regard to sanitation or appearance. Two possible solutions spring to the mind: a) prohibiting domestic animals in the park, or b) a fenced area strictly for dogs with receptacles for sanitary disposal. Some other concerns have been expressed by many users. The foremost of these is the present (and longstanding) lack of a green grassy area. For several weeks, the small grassy area has been an ugly, dead brown. If anything, this area should be somewhat leveled and expanded for the use of the neighborhood. The overwhelming size of the rarely -used parking lot (which should be primarily grass with blocks) seems rather wasteful. The use of pea gravel rather than river rock is also messy. on the whole, with its conforming landscaping and sweeping vistas, the park is a pleasant, open and inviting area. If some more large desert trees were planted, it might even approach the ambiance of the Living Desert Reserve. Sincerely, Elisabeth A. White cc: city council %VAr cm CITY OF PALM DESERT ACTUAL PARKS & REC - SPECIAL REVENUE & CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS AS OF MONTH ENDING JANUARY, 1997 FISCAL YEAR 1996-97 agf\fdbalsched\parksrec FUND 233 FUND 430 PROJECT Parks & Rec PARKS PROJECT # TOTALS' Facilities BEGINNING FUND BAL AVAILABLE, JULY 1. 1996 1,755,148.48 2,925,064.32 TOTAL ENCUMBRANCES AS OF JAN. 31, 1997 2,970.64 17,156.45 SUB -TOTAL 1,758,119.12 I I 2,942,220.77 REVENUES " Estimated Interest -5%: actual calculated at year-end 87,905.96 147,111.04 SUB -TOTAL = ESTIMATED REVENUES I 87,905.96 I 147,111.04 ACTUAL EXPENDITURES 'D 4664 -Cvc Ctr Prk Site:Playground Equipment 7,255.99 7,255.99 ' 04665 Hovley Park Soccer Complex-PY $100K, total of $1.2 MIL 11,879.36 11,879.36 'D4669 Cahuilla Hills Park 1 13,080.00 13,080.00 'D4674 Civic Center Park Adtl Improv, includesTot Lot Shading 14,989.09 14,989.09 UNENCUMBERED BUDGET BALANCE PROJECTS: PARKS ' 04611 Civic Center Fountain 304,337.00 304,337.00 '04661 Aquatic Center 15,675.00 15,675.00 1 31,350.00 'D 4664 -Cvc Ctr Prk Site:Playground Equipment 135,744.01 135,744.01 ' D4665 Hovley Park Soccer Complex-PY $100K, total of $1.2 MIL 1,285,150.00 100,000.00 1,385,150.00 ' Palm Desert Country Club Park - will be budgeted in the future ' D4671 Ironwood Park Upgrade, total of $35K 1 22,000.00 13,000.00 35,000.00 'D4674 FD 233Civic Center Park - Roller Hockey 175,000.00 175,000.00 "D4674 FD 430 Civic Center Park- Dog Park 26,000.00 26,000.00 SUB -TOTAL = PROJECT COSTS 1,829,030.45 I 310,755.00 2,139,785.45 ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE. JANUARY 31. 1997 16,994.63 I 12,778,576.81