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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Parks & Recreation Commission 10-21-2008 � CITY OF PALM DESERT /"���� PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION � � MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2008 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Dawson convened the meeting at 8:31 a.m. II. ROLL CALL ; - �; � .�, Present: Absent: � Chairman Gerald Dawson Vice Chair Michael B r r � Commissioner Phill Babcock Commissioner Debor h H II �n Commissioner Roger Dash x Commissioner Randy Guyer � � Commissioner Kim Housken � � Commissioner Julie Munson A �' �, Commissioner Terry Schukart H w � wH Staff Present: A Q , � .� Bob Spiegel, Mayor Pro Tem z �3 Homer Croy, ACM for Development Services at 8:41 a.m. o � Janis Steele, Parks & Recreation Services Manager � � Jay Niemczak, Parks Facilities Manager � w Ryan Stendell, Senior Management Analyst H �? � � Monica Loredo, Administrative Secretary � ` s� a p � A �� .. � w � Guests: v� � H .. .. � � w -� Craig DeWitt, Coachella Valley Recreation & Park District � �, �, � �, � ;� Barb Adair, Coachella Valley Recreation & Park District `� `� �' �' � �'� Laura McGalliard, Coachella Valley Recreation & Park C�is �� � �� � `� Rob Ballew, Family YMCA of the Desert Gina Tenorio, The Desert Sun III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - None IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Ms. Laura McGalliard, Coachella Valley Recreation and Park District (CVRPD), reminded the Commission that Dancing with the Stars is 1 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2008 Saturday, October 25. They have a dancer raising funds for The First Tee program. To contribute, you can go to www.dancingwithourstars.com. V. PRESENTATIONS - None VI. NEW BUSINESS - None VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None VIII. REPORTS AND UPDATES A. CITY OF PALM DESERT PARKS/PLAYGROUNDS Ms. Steele reminded the Commission that the Magnesia Falls City Park dedication will be held on Saturday, October 25, at 10:30 a.m. She noted that everyone should have received an invitation. She mentioned that the new name of the park will be recognized, as well as the fully accessible playground. Chairman Dawson remarked that the Commission should congratulate themselves for finding an excellent name for the park, and thank the City Council for approving it. Ms. Steele commented that Chairman Dawson will not be at the dedication, but Vice Chair Barnard will represent the Commission. Commissioner Guyer inquired if Staff has notified any disabled groups that might utilize the playground. Ms. Steele responded that she is talking to Ms. Cordero from CVRPD. Ms. Steele stated that both University Parks will be opened and dedicated on Saturday, December 13, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. She also mentioned that the Ironwood Park playground replacement contract was approved by the City Council at the last meeting. Staff is hoping to have a dedication for Ironwood Park in January 2009. B. CIVIC CENTER TENNIS PARKING Ms. Steele reported that the Public Works Department assisted in adding additional parking by the tennis courts, and the project is completed. Pictures were provided in the agenda packet. 2 G:IDevServiceslMonica LoredolWord DatalParks&ReclMinutes12008 Minutes11421-08.min.docx PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2008 C. CIVIC CENTER TENNIS STRUCTURES Ms. Steele stated that there were a couple of shade structures getting old and ratty at the Civic Center tennis courts. Staff decided that it was a good time to replace the old structures plus add finro additional structures. This will provide shading between all six courts. Benches will also be added under the structures. She stated that they are going to renovate the old shade structures and take them to Cahuilla Hills. D. PARK INSPECTIONS Ms. Steele communicated that Commissioner Guyer reported that water was needed at Palma Village Park due to dust from the volleyball courts. A hose was installed and referred to the pictures in the agenda packet. She noted that the inspection schedule was updated. A copy was given to the Commission. Commissioner Babcock commented that the inspectors are doing a good job. Chairman Dawson agreed with Commissioner Babcock that the inspectors are doing an excellent job, and the Commissioners are having a hard time finding deficiencies. He stated that their job is to look for ways to improve the park. He asked the Commission to make comments even though there is nothing to report so they know that someone has been out there. Commissioner Guyer inquired if the water from the hose that was installed at Palma Village is potable. Mr. Niemczak replied that he did not know, but would find out. If it is not potable, Staff will install signage. Commissioner Guyer noted that when volleyball sand is installed, that it needs to be the cleaner sand. He noted that Freedom Park has the cleaner sand and there is less of a problem. E. COMMUNITY/AQUATIC CENTER UPDATE (ORAL REPORT) Ms. Steele commented that there is not much to report, but wanted to keep it on the agenda. She reported that Mr. Niemczak and she attended the Integrated Workshop given by gkkworks. The workshop discussed design-build, which the City is looking at doing but does not relate to the community center project. Mr. Niemczak noted that gkkworks needed the measurements for the skate park and date grove area, and he has provided that information. 3 G:IDevServiceslMonica LoredolWo�d DatalParks&ReclMinu[es12008 Minutes11421-08_min.docx PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2008 Commissioner Schukart stated that gkkworks is meeting with the President of College of the Desert (COD) and him on November 3. They are meeting to layout what the plan looks like, and to see how it interacts with COD property and to see to what extent the college becomes a financial partner. Ms. Steele asked Commissioner Schukart if he needs her at the meeting. He responded that they would love to have her there. The meeting is November 3, at 11:30 a.m. in the boardroom across the hall from the president's office. Commissioner Guyer inquired about the massing study. Ms. Steele responded that gkkworks is still working on the study. F. NEWS ARTICLES (ORAL REPORT) Ms. Steele mentioned that there was a trails meeting with the Riverside County Master Planning. She noted that Commissioner Housken and Mr. Ryan Stendell attended the meeting. Mr. Stendell communicated that his concern after attending the meeting, was that he heard someone say that they anticipate drawing the lines and laying them out for the cities to construct. He was surprised that there were no funding sources that were being looked at, but noted that they are at a very preliminary stage. Commissioner Guyer asked if the Riverside County group is a separate group that met in Indio. Mr. Stendell replied yes. Commissioner Guyer inquired if both groups are working together. Ms. Steele responded yes. She noted that the Dangermond Group (consultant) was at the meeting in Indio. She explained that Riverside County is updating the master plan for trails in the Coachella Valley. A piece of that plan is a study of the Whitewater Channel and Dillon Road projects, which the Dangermond Group, overseen by the Coachella Valley Recreation and Park District, is completing. Commissioner Guyer asked if both groups are aware of Palm Desert's attempt for the Interstate 10 trail. Ms. Steele responded yes. Mr. Stendell indicated that at the meeting he attended, they asked the cities to draw anything that was not on the list. He noted that fortunately, Palm Desert has an advanced GIS Department and have already cataloged all of the City's existing biking and hiking trails. The only trail 4 G:IDevServiceslMonica LoredolWord DatalParks6ReclMinutes12008 Minutes110.21-08.min.docx PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2008 that Staff needs to add is the I-10 corridor trail. He stated that the County is trying to get this type of information from every city onto one map. Commissioner Babcock commented that he attended the meeting with the Dangermond Group, and it was done quite well. Ms. Steele commented that once the Dangermond Group completes the study, she believes everyone will have an opportunity to view it. She mentioned that Palm Desert's Planning and Public Works Department are being included. Commissioner Guyer commented that the meeting he attended, which was the same meeting Commissioner Babcock attended, the group was recommending the wash as the trail but offered one or two other recommendations if they could not go through the wash. He found it very interesting since there will be places along the wash that will not be able to be used. Ms. Steele mentioned that City Staff met with the Dangermond Group, and they recommended that the group meet with the City's Public Works Department as well. There will be some areas that would involve Public Works. Commissioner Guyer stated that the group did not identify the Palm Desert area as a problem. It was identified that Thunderbird Country Club, Tamarisk Country Club, and Indian Wells as a problem. Mayor Pro Tem Spiegel commented that the Mike Schuler Trail turnouts are on the next City Council agenda and looks like they are going to be approved. Ms. Steele commented that the City of Coachella is renovating some of their parks, and noted that their skate park looks quite nice and large. She hopes that it will take some pressure off of Palm Desert's park. It seems that several cities in the Coachella Valley are doing the same. She commented that with the economy being bad, more people are staying home and looking for things to do. So it is more important than ever that they have good parks and places for people to play and have family activities. Mr. Rob Ballew, YMCA of the Desert, announced that the Golf Cart Parade is on Sunday, October 26, at 1:00 p.m. He mentioned that they have an area called the Senior VIP Area for seniors. They are going to provide transportation, shade, and seating. They expect 100 seniors for 5 G:IDevServiceslMonica Lo�edolWord DatalPa�ks&ReclMinutes12008 Minutes110-21-08.min.docx PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2008 the first year. He noted that they will have lunch in the VIP tent for $30 a seat. Mayor Pro Tem Spiegel announced that the Rotary Club has a pancake breakfast at 7:00 a.m. He also noted that the route is a little different this year due to the construction on EI Paseo. IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Chairman Dawson commented that the next Commission meeting will be in the Community Services Conference Room (Planning Department) due to voting being done in the Administrative Conference Room. He noted that there is an absentee voting box located in the Administrative Building Lobby. X. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Commissioner Schukart, seconded by Commissioner Guyer, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m. �,r� v 1` - Monica Loredo, Recording Secretary 6 G:IDevServiceslMonica LoredolWord DatalParks&ReclMinutes12008 Minutes110.21-08_min.docx