Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-01-28 PRC MINSCity of Chula Vista Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday - 6:30 p.m. January 28, 2010 Civic Center Bldg 300 Cnf Rm B129 276 Fourth Avenue Meeting called to order by Co- Chair Cien -Mayer at 6:30 p.m. Staff Present: Buck Martin, Director of Recreation & Nature Center Matt Little, Assistant Director of Public Works Mary Radley, Landscape Architect Garry Williams, Landscape Planner Guests: Raoul Rudy Moreno, CV resident. Brandon Payne, Chula Vista resident Kevin Shields, San Diego resident Stewart Payne, Chula Vista resident 1. Roll Call/Motion to Excuse Members Present: Commissioner Cien- Mayer, Commissioner Rios, Commissioner Scott, Commissioner Garza, Commissioner Serrano (arrived at 6:35 pm) Members Absent: Commissioner Chambers and Commissioner Vogel MSC Cien -Mayer /Garza to excuse Commissioner Chambers (5- 0 -0 -2) MSC Rios /Scott to excuse Commissioner Vogel (5- 0 -0 -2) 2. Oral Communications — Mr. Stewart Payne of 19 Sports and a Chula Vista resident addressed the commission regarding the current field allocation processes in place. He informed the Commission that the current system under the auspices of the Youth Sports Council (YSC) excludes certain athletic groups from utilizing available fields throughout the City. He also noted that additional allocation of fields is needed. Mr. Payne explained that he was specifically referring to Montevalle and /or Salt Creel-, fields /park on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. 1:00 pm. He also wanted to make the Commission aware that there is a moratorium on joining the YSC, therefore, it makes it that much more difficult to utilize open fields. Mr. Payne noted that he would like to be part of the solution on field allocation and not just be a problem for the YSC /City. Mr. Martin (Director of Recreation) responded that on weekends these parks /fields are open for community use because during the week they are allocated to athletic groups. He also informed the Commission and Mr. Payne, that while he understands the concern being presented at tonight's meetings, fields must be made available to the community on the weekends to meet a needed balance for field use between youth athletic programs and community use. With regards to the moratorium on joining the YSC, this moratorium Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting — January 28, 2010 2 has been in place for the past 2- years, because of lack of fields. A lot of athletic groups are turned away frorn joining the YSC, and is not just being directed at I9 Sports. Mr. Payne noted that his organization is willing to pay for the use of the fields /park. Commissioner Rios informed Mr. Payne and the Commission that 19 Sports is not the only organization that is turned away from field allocation. Other organizations that come forward to the YSC requesting fields are also turned away. Commissioner Garza asked Mr. Payne if 19 Sports was a franchise. Mr. Payne responded that 19 Sports is a franchise and that they are involved in over 800 communities across the United States. 19 rents facilities from cities and offers athletic programs for youth. 19 offers scholarships /grants to children so that they are able to participate in their athletic programs. Last season, 5 scholarships /grants were given to participants that otherwise would not have been able to participate in their athletic programs. I9 functions just like any other athletic organization where parents pay ai registration fee, and 19 organizes leagues and teams. Commissioner Garza asked Mr. Payne if he was a volunteer or a paid representative for 19 Sports. Mr. Payne responded that lie is a Program Manager and is a paid employee of 19 Sports. Mr. Payne asked Commissioner Garza why the motivation for his question on whether he is paid or not, or how his position with I9 Sports was relevant to field allocation concerns or field availability for his organization. Commissioner Rios responded to Mr. Payne that his position with 19 Sports has nothing to do with field allocation and that: Commissioner Garza was just inquiring. Mr. Payne reiterated that he understands that there are fees that are required for field use and that 19 Sports is willing to pay those fees, however, when fields are not allocated; Ills organization is not given access to the unused fields. He fw ther voiced his concern that it appeared that there was an unwillingness by City staff to give him access to open fields. Commissioner Scott asked if participants from his group were Chula Vista residents or if they were from other areas in San Diego County. Mr. Payne responded that 99% of participants are from the community and that he would be more than happy to produce zip code information. Commissioner Scott asked Mr. Payne why he felt that he was being excluded or shutout from using the fields at Montevalle or Salt Creek. Mr. Payne responded that staff in:fonned him that "fields are not available for Saturday use" and that they don't provide any other reason. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting — January 28, 2010 Commissioner Rios responded that those fields are not available to anyone (including YSC members) because those fields are open for community use on weekends. Mr. Payne responded that he understood. that the fields are not open to groups and are only open for community use, but did not understand why the City wouldn't approve allocating them, when there is revenue to made. . Mr. Martin explained that the City has a responsibility to find a balance that meets the needs of the community and youth groups (or field use. He also explained that there are Feld maintenance concerns if fields are over used, and that with a reduction in park staff, this becomes a liability concern/issue. He noted that the City is not purposely ignoring field use requests from 19 Sports or from any other youth organization; the City has to meet the field use needs for the surrounding community and youth organizations. He also explained the City is looking forward to the opening of San Miguel Ranch Park and 70 -Acre park, which would hopefully add fields and help with the field allocation process. Mr. Martin reported that a community meeting was held between the school districts, city staff, and youth sports organizations to discuss access to fields and problem solving of lack of fields. Suggestions and alternatives were brought up, and as a result of this community meeting, it was recommended and suggested that a sub - committee be developed. Additional information would be provided at a later date. Commissioner Cien -Mayer thanked Mr. Payne for attending tonight's commission 1T1ceting. 3. a. Approval of Minutes of July 19, 2009 — Table to the next meeting. b. Approval of Minutes of November 19, 2009 — Table to the next meeting. Approval of SDG &E South Chula Vista Park Master Plan (Mary Radley) - Ms. Radley (Landscape Architect) provided an update on the South Chula Vista Library Park Master Plan: • Previous design presented in November 2009 identified a budget of $1,775,000 for the park which was a basic design with minimal grading, no restroom facility; • City is applying for grant funding through Proposition 84 (funding for new parks) and staff broadened the scope of park design; • New improvements include: restroom facility, retaining walls, grading fill operations, trash enclosures, artificial turf option and parking for the potential future fire station; • New park design budget is estimated at $4,567,311 which includes total construction costs and 15% contingencies (design fees for the preparation of construction documents and all park improvements); • Grading and import fill to site significantly implicates the cost of the park; • Terraces on slopes of park for seating; Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting January 28, 2010 4 • Off -leash area for dogs instead of community garden; • Picnic shelters through -out park; • Low- maintenance - water conserving landscape design; • Decomposed granite pathways; • No lighting due to the constraints placed by SDG &E; • Restroom located close to users of the park and picnic seating structures; and • Multi- purpose field, half -court for basketball, children and tot play area. Ms. Radlcy discussed the use of artificial turf vs. natural turf on the multi- purpose field. Ms. Radley reported that reports received on artificial turf were not favorable in the context of tills park: high maintenance costs, the artificial turf has the capability of harboring bacteria, irrigation is required to cool down turf' during summer months, artificial turf has a short life span of 10- years, and that at this site the risk of vandalism of the turf is greater than at some potential locations in the City. It was the Consensus of the Commission to not use artificial turf in the park and recommended using low -water use natural turf on the sports field. Ms. Radley explained that this would reduce the cost of the park. significantly. Ms. Radley also explained to the Commission that if staff were not successful in obtaining Proposition 84 Grant funds, that staff would revisit the park construction costs and work with the available funding and develop a revised design of the park. Ms. Radley also explained that if the Commission approved of the Master Plan tonight along with a name, that the Master Plan would be presented at the City Council meeting of February 23, 2010. Commissioner Serrano asked about the maintenance cost associated with natural turf. Mr. Little (Assistant Director of Public Works) responded that the City utilizes Bermuda grass, which is a low water and low cost natural turf. Citywide park maintenance costs averages 512,500 per year per acre and noted that this 3.9 -acre park: would be approximately $50K per year for operation and maintenance. Ms. Radley presented several suggested names for the park: They include: • Montgomery Field Park • Orange Park • Charles Lindbergh Park • SEMPRA Park • International Library Park • international Friendship Park • South Bay Peace Part: • Chula Vista La. Paz Park; and • International Gateway Park Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting — January 28, 2010 5 The suggestions came from both staff and local community member, Terry Thomas. Discussion held arnongst the Commission on the various suggested names of the park. Commissioner Serrano suggested that the park name should be a representation of the community. MSUC (Rios /Scott 5 -0 -0 -2 with Vogel and Chambers absent) to approve the proposed Draft Park .Master Plan for the 3.9 -acre public neighborhood park sited located along the east side of Fourth Avenue and south of the existing Orange Avenue Library building and not use artificial turf on the sports field. MSUC (Rios /Scott Vote 5 -0 -0 -2 with Vogel and Chambers absent) that the park name should represent the community and is recommending that a contest be held locally to select the park name; and provide an opportunity for a sponsor to be part of the name to generate revenue to offset ongoing maintenance costs associated with the new park. It was recommended that staff seek legal advice on the use of a sponsor's name in for a City Park. 4. Unfinished Business — None 5. New Business — None 6. Written Communications - None 7. Staff Comments - a. Recreation — Mr. Martin reviewed the monthly Parks and Recreation Commission report. b. Public Works — Mr. Little reported that his department is looking into developing a volunteer park ranger program to supplement the current Park Ranger program (similar to the Senior Patrol Volunteer Program); is also working on updating the Adopt -A -Park Program, and that the Field Management Report would be updated in February. 8. Commissioner Comments — Commissioner Cien -Mayer welcomed Commissioner Serrano. Commissioner Scott welcomed Commissioner Serrano to the Commission and also talked about Relay for Life event in May and asked about utilizing the screen from the Recreation Department. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - January 28, 2010 6 Commissioner Rios welcomed Commissioner Serrano to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Commissioner Garza welcomed Commissioner Serrano to tonight's commission meeting and to the Commission. He also requested from Margarita Cellano the dates of the upcoming Parks and Recreation Commission meetings. Commissioner Garza talked about the Community Meeting held regarding the field allocation process and noted that it was a successful meeting, and also wanted to make the commission aware that without the YSC, field allocation process would be chaos. 9. Other Meeting Adjournment at 8:00 p.m. to the regularly scheduled meeting of March 18, 2010. ,V-6 J-