HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-17 PRC MINS City of Chula Vista
Parks and Recreation Commission
Minutes
Thursday - 6:30 p.m. November 17, 2011
Public Services Building — 300 B129 276 4th Avenue
Meeting called to order by Chair Jan Buddingh at 6:30 pm.
Staff Present: Buck Martin, Director of Recreation
Matt Little, Assistant Director of Public Works
Joe Gamble, Landscape Planner II
Guests: Mark Twohey, Youth Sports Council
1. Roll Call/Motion to Excuse
Members Present: Chair Buddingh, Commissioner Vogel, Commissioner Garza,
Commissioner Chambers, Commissioner Cien-Mayer
Members Absent: Commissioner Serrano
MSC Vogel/Chambers (6-0-0-0) approve absence
2. Oral Communications - none
3. a. Approval of Minutes of October 20, 201 1 — MSC Garza/Chambers to approve
meeting minutes (Vote 4-0-0-1 with Serrano absent)
b. Approval of Recreation Department Budget Adjustments — Mr. Buck Martin (Director
of Recreation) discussed the fiscal year 2011-2012 budget and noted that
adjustments were needed. He shared that staff has been working on increasing
revenue. Presentation is being made to Council on December 6th to appropriate funds
for additional programming.
Commissioner Garza asked for approximate budget and asked if the Council could
and or would deny the appropriations.
Mr. Martin responded that the estimated budget is between $80K and $1 80K, which
would be utilized to open recreation facilities extra days/hours. Regarding the
Council denying the appropriations, Mr. Martin responded that the staff was being
conservative with the numbers, but could not answer for the Council.
MSC Chambers/Garza (Vote 6-0-0-1 with Serrano absent) to approve and
recommend Recreation Budget Adjustments.
c. Cancel the December 15, 2011 Commission Meeting — MSC Garza/Vogel (Vote 6-
0-0-1 with Serrano absent) to cancel the December 15, 2011 Commission Meeting
and reconvene on January 19, 2012.
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting— November 17, 2011 2
MSC Vogel/Garza (Vote 6-0-0-1 with Serrano absent) to move Item 4b— Update on
upcoming Parks and Recreation Master Plan at the City Council Workshop of
December 1, 2011
4. b. Update on upcoming Parks and Recreation Master Plan at the City Council
workshop on December 1, 2011 — Mr. Joe Gamble (Landscape Planner II) shared
additional information pertaining to the update to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
He shared that the Council continued this item at the July 1 2, 201 1 Council meeting and
requested that staff bring the item back in a workshop setting, which is on December 1,
2011 at 4:00 pm in the Police Department Community Room. Focus topics were added to
the presentation and they include the Landmark Park, Tournament Facility and Western
Chula Vista Park inventory expansion.
• General Plan identifies the concept of establishing a landmark park or parks
within the City. The Landmark Park would be of unique design and include a
significant gather place and the creation of a strong sense of community;
• In response to the General Plan, the Parks and Recreation Master Plan includes
a supporting policy statement to coincide with the General Plan's vision for a
Landmark Park;
• The General Plan identifies candidate Landmark Park site locations (Bayfront,
Rohr Park, SD Country Club Site and Otay Ranch Community Park site (which is
not currently developed), and included the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is
an action item to prepare a feasibility study for a Landmark Park;
• Due to the significant size, and location and views, the Otay Ranch Community
Park Site holds promise as a site as well as, Rohr Park would be enhanced site;
• Staff is currently conducting a preliminary analysis of the Otay Ranch
community park site;
• Being consistent with the General Plan's vision for a Landmark Park, the Otay
Ranch park site would provide a strong sense of place, range of recreational
experience and a public gathering space for the community and celebrate
Chula Vista's Past Present and Future;
• The Landmark park should be place to for Ingenuity, Industry, Innovation and
Instruction;
• Features for the Landmark Park include a great lawn feature and large public
place to accommodate community events, program and celebrations. Future
community outreach events and workshops are recommended for the purpose
of more fully developing the vision and design of the Landmark Park;
• Tournament Facility is a policy contained in the Parks and Recreation Master
Plan and is about the feasibility of locating a tournament facility at the Otay
Ranch community park site as an opportunity for meeting community needs,
enhancing economic development and creating regional and national draw;
• The City's newest park, Mt. San Miguel Park is currently supporting tournament
level programming and in order to expand upon this success, staff is evaluating
future candidate sites;
• In addition to evaluating the Otay Ranch Community park site, two additional
sites are being included in the overall analysis — one east of the Cricket
Amphitheater and the other is in the future Otay Ranch Village 8 east.
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting— November 17, 2011 3
• Selection of a consultant to prepare an Economic Feasibility/Marketing
Analysis is currently underway and is anticipated to be complete in spring
2012.
• Citywide park ratio is projected to be 3.03 per thousand by 2030, the west
would be 1.94 per thousand, and for the area between 1-5 and 1-805 the
ratio would be 1.38;
• An opportunity exists to expand parkland in a manner similar to the proposed
Orange Avenue Library Park site; approximately 75 additional acres of utility
right-of-way is anticipated and depicted in the Master Plan;
• Over time, if all 75-acreas could be acquired for park and recreation use, the
west could realize an overall park ratio of approximately 2.50;
• Based on today's park development rates, development of the 75-ares is
estimated at nearly $35 million dollars ($461 K per acre).
Commissioner Garza was concerned about accessibility to the Otay Ranch Community
Park site, and noted that he prefers the Rohr Park site as it is already developed and
is easily accessible.
Commissioner Vogel concurred with Commissioner Garza's concern about accessibility
to the Otay Ranch Community Park site.
Mr. Gamble responded that future east/west road connection to the Otay Ranch
Community park site (70-acre park) and access from SR 1-25 was being considered.
Commissioner Chambers inquired how far in the future for development or Phase I of
the Otay Ranch Park Site/70-acre park, and also noted that he likes the concept of
having two Landmark park sites (Otay Ranch Community park site and Rohr Park).
Mr. Gamble responded that the tentative map is approximately 5-years out, with
neighborhood development projected to be in 2015.
Mr. Martin (Director of Recreation) shared that Mt. Miguel Community Park is being
utilized as a tournament site, and that to date, 40 tournaments have been held there.
He shared that he would like to hold a community event at this park site.
Commissioner Garza noted that having a tournament facility in Chula Vista is very
important.
Mr. Gamble talked briefly about the two additional tournament sites being proposed
and shared that both landmasses are disturbed sites, and that these sites are being
envisioned as a recreation component. Further environmental review is required, and
the market analysis currently being conducted would provide the environmental
concerns that are there.
Commissioner Vogel asked why no park is planned in the Hilltop area of Chula Vista.
Mr. Gamble responded that that area is tightly developed already, and there's no
room for future park development.
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting— November 17, 2011 4
Commissioner Vogel asked about the status of Fire Station #4 moving, and asked if
that site could be developed as a future park site and connect to the Lauderbach
Park.
Commissioner Garza asked about the KOA site and on-going cost of maintaining new
park sites.
Mr. Gamble responded that the developer chose not to pursue this site.
Mr. Martin also responded that access to that area was a huge issue, and that
perhaps future public/private partnership could be formed.
Mr. Little (Assistant Director of Public Works) responded that park maintenance costs
are a big concern for his department due to lack of staff. Adding new park acreage
adds additional strain on an already thin park crew. Mr. Little further added that his
department and Recreation Department staff are committed to being very honest
about programming and maintenance costs of facilities and park acreage.
Mr. Martin shared that the 1 3-acre Rios Property being depicted on the power point
presentation is being considered for public/private partnership for development of a
park for physically challenged individuals.
The Commission thanked Mr. Gamble for his presentation.
a. Update regarding Youth Sports Council — Mr. Buck Martin shared the City Council
Report that was presented to the City Council at their November 15, 2011 meeting
regarding the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Youth Sports
Council for the provision of enhance parks maintenance services.
Mr. Martin noted that the MOU would be evaluated in June 201 2.
Mr. Twohey from the Youth Sports Council thanked the Commission for their
recommendation and noted that the Youth Sports Council was very supportive of the
MOU with the City of Chula Vista. They are working with STIPLOT for field
evaluations.
Commissioner Chambers inquired when donations would be received.
Mr. Little (Assistant Director of Public Works) responded that it would be after the
allocation process.
Commissioner Chambers asked that staff and the YSC hold quarterly meetings to
discuss the progress of the work and the progress of the MOU.
Mr. Twohey and Mr. Little both responded that they would, and also noted that the
Park Maintenance Report would be used in their meetings.
Mr. Twohey also shared that 4 organizations are being invited to attend the YSC
meetings (Bonita Buccaneers; Bonita baseball and (2) soccer organizations).
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting—November 17, 2011 5
4. c. City of Chula Vista News Release regarding Thanksgiving Weekend Closures —
Mr. Martin reviewed the News Release with the Commission.
5. Unfinished Business - None
b. New Business — None
7. Written Communications — None
8. Staff Comments -
Recreation (Buck Martin) — Mr. Martin referenced the monthly report.
Public Works — None.
Commissioner Garza asked if staff had met with SUSHD regarding the Joint-Use-
Ag reement.
Mr. Martin responded that they had met about concerns, and that their next
meeting is Friday December 2 and every month thereafter to develop a new JUA.
9. Commissioner Comments — Chair Buddingh asked that he would like to see similar
facilities meetings with CVESD and asked if a representative from the CVESD could attend
the next meeting scheduled in January 201 2.
Mr. Martin responded that he would invite a representative to the January 201 2
commission meeting or thereafter.
10. Other - None
Adjournment at 8:1 5 pm. to the regularly scheduled meeting of January 1 9, 201 2
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