HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Parks and Recreation Commission June 7, 2011CITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Rachelle D. Klassen, City Clerk
FROM: Bertha A. Gonzalez, Senior Office Assistant
DATE: July 19, 2011
SUBJECT: Submission of Minutes for the Parks and Recreation
Commission
Attached for your records are the approved Minutes of the Parks and Recreation
Commission Meeting of June 7, 2011.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information. Thank you.
Attachment (as noted)
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
APPROVED DENIED
RECEIVED OTIII;R
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AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT: Le -
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Original on File with City Clc"rlk's 011ice
CITY OF PALM DESERT
MINUTES
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, J U N E 7, 2011 — 8:30 a.m.
Administrative Conference Room — Palm Desert Civic Center
73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California 92260
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Guyer convened the meeting at 8:30 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Absent
Chairman Randy Guyer Commissioner Raymond Rodriguez
Vice Chair Jerry Dawson
Commissioner Michael Barnard
Commissioner Dean Dowty
Commissioner Deborah Hall
Commissioner Kim Housken
Commissioner Mary Helen Kelly
Commissioner Christopher Thomas
Staff Present:
Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works
Bertha Gonzalez, Recording Secretary
H. Spencer Knight, Landscape Manager
Ryan Stendell, Senior Management Analyst
John M. Wohlmuth, City Manager
Guests:
Barb Adair, Desert Recreation District
Rob Ballew, YMCA of the Desert
Craig DeWitt, Desert Recreation District
Jeff Ronci, Desert Recreation District
Cindy Finerty, Councilman
Van Tanner, Planning Commission Liaison
Sherry Barkas, The Desert Sun
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
APPROVED MINUTES JUNE 7, 2011
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
NONE
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, MAY 3,
2011
Approve as presented
Upon a motion by Chairman Guyer, second by Commissioner Kelly, and
8-0 vote of the Commission Board, the Consent Calendar was approved as
presented.
V. NEW BUSINESS
NONE
VI. CONTINUED BUSINESS
A. CAHUILLA HILLS PARK POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS
As requested at a previous meeting, Mr. Stendell presented a
PowerPoint highlighting the basic concepts of the trail use from
Beginner to Intermediate to Advance. Currently, the City of Palm
Desert accommodates mostly for the intermediate to advance users
(i.e. Cross -Country Bicycling). A beginners trail should have a slope of
eight to ten percent and more width than the current trails. The
proposed improvements include adding a beginner and intermediate
trail with a lower slope and gentler walking path. According to Mr.
Stendell, the cost to develop the initial trail loops would be minimal;
primarily staff time. He also introduced the concept of a mountain bike
skills park, which tends to cross over to trail bicycling. At this point,
staff is unaware of the cost and maintenance issues this type of park
will involve since there is no other park of this nature in the valley.
Following a brief discussion, the Commission concurred that there
seems to be a need for more trails since hiking trails are being created
by the hikers. In addition, further research should be done on the
mountain bike skills park.
Upon a motion from Commissioner Hall, second by Commissioner Kelly
and an 8-0 vote of the Commission, staff was asked to move forward with the
development of the beginner and intermediate loops and create a cost estimate
for the development of a mountain bike skills park.
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PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
APPROVED MINUTES JUNE 7, 2011
VII. OLD BUSINESS
NONE
VIII. PRESENTATIONS AND UPDATES
A. AQUATIC CENTER
Staff presented some photographs that showed the progress of the
construction of the Aquatics Center. According to staff, it took
approximately three days to fill the pool with water and will take 14
days to turn the water. The official opening date is Saturday, June 25,
2011, with a ribbon -cutting ceremony during the first hour, followed by
exhibitions of the different uses of the facility. The YMCA is planning
to include a First -In Celebration that will allow a representative of a
special group in the pool first (i.e. DRD, YMCA, City of Palm Desert,
oldest person, etc.). The YMCA is also planning a $1 entry day in
order to attract users and help establish their residency. Bracelets will
be distributed to the visitors in order to identify their designated pool.
According to Mr. Ballew, they have a great group of instructors, guards
and programs. In addition, the College of the Desert has their classes
scheduled to start in the fall. Staff is unable to estimate the number of
attendees at the opening, but they believe it will be high.
B. VANDALISM AT THE UNIVERSITY DOG PARK
Several weeks ago, the University Dog Park was vandalized and
sustained an extensive amount of damage to the park's infrastructure
and underground wiring and conduit, which caused the closure of the
park (Photos were presented). Staff believes the perpetrators were
scared off since not a lot items were taken. The City has notified its
insurance company and the initial cost estimate of the damages has
been set at $33,000. The cost of the repairs is likely to increase as
workers discover additional underground damage. Proceeding with the
repairs was held due to insurance issues, but most of the work has
been completed; therefore, staff hopes to reopen the park by the end
of the week.
In an effort to deter continued vandalism the patrolling of police and
COPS has been increased. Security cameras are difficult to monitor
and are not effective in dark; therefore, staff opted to not install them.
The installation of an alarm system is also not possible.
Mr. Knight reported that the turf in the park is in great condition since
its closure. He will present photographs of the turf to the dog users in
order to dispel some of their complaints. Staff will present scenarios to
replace the turf with boulders in the next meeting.
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PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
APPROVED MINUTES JUNE 7, 2011
C. FAMILY YMCA OF THE DESERT
Mr. Rob Ballew stated that it was a pleasure to host the graduating
class of Jean Benson Preschool that included 40 children. Programs
of the YMCA include: How to be a kid, Jedi Training, Camp Oaks,
Racing Camp, Project Runway, Explorer's, Lego's and Survivor Camp,
Movie, Best of Summer, Road Trip, Harry Potter, Reality TV, You
Tube, Basketball, Earn Your Way to Camp, School Age Child Care at
Carter Elementary, and College Tour for High School children that
would like to see different colleges and universities throughout
California.
D. DESERT RECREATION DISTRICT
Mr. Jeff Ronci stated that although attendance decreased due to the
summer, it remains steady compared to last year. There are 303
participants registered in Summer Camp and 25 people registered in
the Leadership and Training program. New programs include the
Stroller Mommas, Golf Stretch, Fitness, Country Line Dancing classes.
On Friday, May 27, 2011, the Hood Pizza donated 20 pizzas for the
first Family Skate Night and on October 22, 2011, the Coachella Valley
Cycling Festival will be held. The skate park usage is still divided
between skate and BMX. He noted that the BMX riders are taking
good advantage of their park hours.
Mr. Jeff Ronci presented the monthly facilities and programming
reports as follows:
Program / Activity
Residents
Non -Residents
Total
Participation
Zumba
4
1
5
Salsaerobics
5
0
5
Ballroom Dancing
16
0
16
Bill Miller
2
0
2
May Special
21
0
21
Yoga
3
0
3
After -School Club
32
0
32
Basketball 1
2
1
3
Basketball II
2
0
2
Basketball III
0
1
1
Tiny Tots
30
1 2
32
Membership/
Facilities
Attendance
Reservations
Rentals
Tennis
1967
Skate Park
328
BMX
324
Ball Fields
188
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PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
APPROVED MINUTES JUNE 7, 2011
Soccer Fields
78
Pavilion 1
2
Pavilion 2
4
Pavilion 3
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VIII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
- Mr. Stendell reported that the drinking fountains at Freedom Park have
been repaired, and the repairs to the signs at Homme-Adams Park are
in process.
- The Commission agreed to hold the next meeting the third Tuesday of
July at the Aquatics Center Meeting Room and cancel the meeting in
August.
- Palm Valley Country Club will host a dinner to honor City staff,
including Mr. Mark Greenwood, who is being presented with the Award
of Excellence.
- Commissioner Housken asked to omit the distribution of a hardcopy of
the agenda in the meetings in an effort to conserve paper. A hardcopy
of the agenda will be made available to only to those that request it.
- Commissioner Thomas stated that the gate latch at Cahuilla Hills Park
has been broken for a few weeks and requested a cloth shade for the
"A -Frame" shade structure.
- The construction of the restroom in Cahuilla Hills Park has been
budgeted and it will commence in the fall.
- The Commission requested to be notified when major issues occur (i.e.
Vandalism at University Park).
IX. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business or discussion, and with the Commissioners'
unanimous concurrence, the meeting was adjourned at 9:43 a.m.
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