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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Parks & Recreation Commission 05-18-2010 � � CITY OF PALM DESERT �����`v MINUTES � � PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING ' � TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Dash convened the meeting at 8:30 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent Chairman Roger Dash Commissioner Michael Barnard Vice Chair Randy Guyer Commissioner Deborah Hall Commissioner Phill Babcock Commissioner Jerry Dawson Commissioner Kim Housken Commissioner Terry Schukart Commissioner Christopher Thomas Staff Present: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works f i Bertha A. Gonzalez, Recording Secretary � � � H. Spencer Knight, Landscape Manager �, Ryan Stendell, Senior Management Analyst John M. Wohlmuth, City Manager , .� A � ;, Guests: z = � : �� Rob Ballew, YMCA of the Desert � o '� , Craig DeWitt, Desert Recreation District � " � � .e Stan Ford, Desert Recreation District z � � `�.;a Robert A. Spiegel, Councilman C '���� Van Tanner, Planning Commission Liaison � ` �� Gina Tenorio, The Desert Sun Q Kelly Emnier, YMCA "� � �.�. �- '. Jeff Ronci, Desert Recreation District V �"Q A �' �: � O � G� C7 , _ ;, �. III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS — NONE U p ? z " � ? � � � ac� �- � < � aw '� � C � � � '� Q � c.�� a � � � � � � � 1 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES Mav 18. 2010 IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2010. Commissioner Housken requested that page 2, paragraph 1 of the minutes reflect that some Commissioners believed a higher cost recovery percentage should be set for the Aquatic Center. Upon a motion by Chairman Dash, second by Commissioner Schukart and 7-0 vote of the Commission Board, the Consent Calendar was approved with the requested addition. V. NEW BUSINESS — NONE VI. OLD BUSINESS A. AQUATIC CENTER Chairman Dash began the discussion by addressing the feelings of dissatisfaction and antagonism he felt were coming from staff members towards the Commission at the previous meeting. He reminded staff of some of the requests the Commission had made and City staff had declined. First, the Commission's request to have the inspectors from the Landscape Services Division attend the meetings periodically to introduce themselves and present a report was denied due to the inspectors' workload. The Commission also asked staff to show the PowerPoint that was presented at the Council-Planning Joint meeting. Staff initially denied the request because the consultant that had given the presentation came from Arizona and no funds were available to have him give the presentation again. On that note, Chairman Dash thanked Mr. Ryan Stendell for locating the PowerPoint and presenting it in this meeting. In addition, staff had originally denied the request to return the Aquatic Center Project to the Commission for discussion because it had already been given preliminary approval and was therefore considered final. When staff agreed to add the item to the agenda, Chairman Dash was informed that it will be presented as an informational item. Upon Chairman Dash's objection, staff listed the project under items of discussion. In his opinion, this series of denials seem to diminish the role of the Commission; therefore, Chairman Dash asked staff and the Commission to move forward with a better communication and working relation. Finally, Chairman Dash requested additional information of the Aquatic Center Steering Committee in order to better understand their duties and how they relate to the Commission. Mr. Mark Greenwood informed the Commission that the Steering Committee met every four to six weeks 2 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES May 18� 2010 and the Parks and Recreation Commission is represented by Commissioner Hall and Commissioner Schukart. The items discussed in these meetings are not subsequent to what has been done by the Commission. The Commission serves as an advisory to the City Council, which is separate from the Steering Committee, who works with the logistics of the Aquatic Center design. The Committee also works on keeping the design on schedule, since it is scheduled to be completed by summer 2010, out to bid by late summer and commence construction by early fall. Mr. Greenwood also stated that minutes of the meetings are available. Mr. Stendell met with the City Clerk in order to better understand the Commission's role and their available avenues in regard to this project. He was informed that the Commission's role was to provide preliminary approval and recommendations to the City Council. Since the Commission gave its approval of the Aquatic Center Project, as reflected in the September 15, 2009, meeting minutes, and City Council has moved the project forward, the Commission has two options: Be actively involved in the Aquatic Center Steering Committee, or reconsider the Parks and Recreation Commission's action of September 15, which could be rescinded. Vice Chair Guyer stated that he believed the Commission's September 15 recommendation was incorrect, especially with the current staff and budget changes. He also noted that the original design included more amenities, but due to the current economy the size of the center was reduced. Another concern was the change of location from College of Desert (GOD) to the Date Grove, to which Commissioner Schukart responded that due to parking and tennis court placement concerns, the project could no longer be constructed at COD. In addition, Vice Chair Guyer was unhappy with the fact that the City had not yet hired a partner to manage the project. Mr. John Wohlmuth responded that a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the management of the pool cannot be issued until the design of the project has been completed. After seeing what other cities have done in their Aquatic Centers, Vice Chair Guyer believes the project is inadequate and the residents deserve more. Mr. Stendell presented the PowerPoint that was shown at the City Council-Planning Joint Meeting as requested by the Committee. Highlights, comments and/or questions regarding the presentation were as follows: • The original design included LEED lighting. But in parking lots, LEED lighting uses twice the energy of standard high pressure sodium bulbs; therefore, it was changed to standard lighting. • The trees that will be removed from the Date Grove will be reused by the landscape services staff. 3 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ` INUTES Mav 18. 2010 • The remaining date palms will be included in the City's palm tree pruning schedule in order to prevent fruit droppings on vehicles. • The turf and sidewalk along the center can be removed, if necessary, to expand the project in the future. • The north facing windows are glassed in order to allow natural sunlight in the building for energy saving purposes. • Solar panels will be installed to offset electricity cost. • The construction materials will be water absorbent in order to prevent prablems with wet soil from the Date Grove. • The center has a capacity of 1,200; staff was unsure if the capacity includes the number of people in the water or throughout the center. Staff will research what is the maximum capacity of the center. • Commissioner Housken inquired if there would be an issue with the current position of the pools, since in the original design the pools were on the opposite sides and now the bleachers are facing the neighborhood. Mr. Greenwood stated that the design consultant was the one that suggested the pools be set in the current position in order to have the competitive pool further away from the neighborhood. • The most significant change was done to the splash area. The Health Department required the splash area to be turned over every 30 minutes and be separated from the swim area, which is turned over every six hours. In addition, a City Council representative requested that the splash area be closer to the slides. Therefore, the design went through a series of revisions in order to accommodate both requests. • Originally, the backwash water that will be used to water the Date Grove was to be contained in a dry stream bed, but due to safety and maintenance concerns, the backwash water will now be contained in an underground container. • At a City Council meeting, the public expressed their concerns with the height of the slide. The City Council asked staff to address the concerns and modify as necessary. After some discussion, staff compromised and the height of the slide roof was reduced. • The concern of closing the center at certain times of the year was addressed with staff's statement that the center will be open 365 days a year. • The diving board ladders will be permanent, but the diving boards can be propped up or removed when not in use. • The design architects are considering using white thermal blankets instead of blue thermal blankets due to the cooling costs. • Motor homes will not be able to park in the center's parking lot. 4 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES Mav 18. 2010 In addition, due to Commissioner Housken's broad research of the Aquatic Center design options, the Commission suggested that she become a member of the Aquatic Center Steering Committee. Chairman Dash will consult with Mr. Stendell to discuss the option of adding Commissioner Housken to the Steering Committee. Although Vice Chair Guyer agreed that the current design for the Aquatic Center is beautiful, he remained discontent due to his previous concerns. He then requested the item be returned to the City Council for reconsideration. In addition, the Commission suggested forming an Aquatic Center study group that will bring recommendations to the Commission. Volunteers for the group included Commissioner Babcock, Vice Chair Guyer and Commissioner Schukart. Mr. Wohlmuth commented that by direction of the City Council, the project needs to be completed on time and within budget. He believes the project is good and satisfies the community's needs; therefore, he will move forward unless directed otherwise by the City Council. Councilman Spiegel commented that the Commission should proceed in the manner they feel is most appropriate. Upon a Motion by Vice Chair Guyer, second by Commissioner Babcock, and a 2-1-4 vote of the Commission Board with Chairman Dash abstaining, the request to resubmit the Commission's September 15 recommendation to the City Council for reconsideration was denied. Upon a motion by Vice Chair Guyer, second by Commissioner Schukart and a 7-0 vote of the Commission, the recommendation to form an Aquatic Center Study Group was approved. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. SUMMER SCHEDULE The summer schedule will be determined in the meeting of June. VIII. PRESENTATIONS AND UPDATES — NONE IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Councilman Spiegel distributed a copy of a letter from Jackie Damron, a Palm Desert resident, which noted her concerns with the vandalism and lack of water for dogs at the University Dog Park. Mr. Greenwood noted that police patrol has been increased and staff is working on a surveillance program. Lighting concerns are also being addressed by directing the lighting towards the turf. Commissioner Babcock requested police to walk 5 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ` MINUTES Mav 18. 2010 through the parks instead of just driving by. Staff will address the lack of water concerns by installing time-release spigots; a photo was distributed. Commissioner Dawson questioned if the Commission had received the actual minutes of the last meeting, since the minutes from previous meetings were more verbatim and these are more summarized. Mr. Greenwood clarified that these were the actual minutes and that they are longer than the City Council's minutes if you look at pages per hour. Commissioner Thomas distributed a flyer regarding Pickleball Proclamation, which he will be presenting to City Council on May 27, 2010. Commissioner Housken inquired about the park-related news articles that used to be distributed at previous meetings. Mr. Stendell stated that the staff member that used to provide the articles is no longer available; therefore, he asked the Commission's assistance in providing articles they found of interest to Commission. Mr. Stendell will resume the distribution of the Park Inspection Reports in the next scheduled meeting. X. ADJOURNMENT With no further business or discussion, and with the Commissioners' unanimous concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 10:19 a.m. � ha A. Gonz ez, Re rding S retary 6