Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2002/01/17City of Chula Vista Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday — 6:30 p.m. Mercy Building January 17, 2002 276 Fourth Avenue Vice -Chair Perondi asked that everyone introduce themselves before the commencement of tonight's meeting. 1. Roll Call Radcliffe P, Rude P Salcido P, Weidner P Ramos A and Perondi P 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MSUC Rude /Salcido to review and approve the October and November 2001 minutes at the February 21, 2002 meeting due to no quorum (Vote 4- 0 -0 -2) 3. Information Items — Introduction of Buck Martin, Recreation Director City Manager Rowlands discussed the changes that occurred in the Parks and Recreation Department. He stated that there that are two parts to the changes that occurred. Director Martin was hired to focus on recreational services, and provide the highest quality recreational services in the City of Chula Vista. City Manager Rowlands also stated that Director Martin has extensive experience in marketing, enterpenuer, providing customer service, everything that a Recreation program. City Manager Rowlands stated that he has received positive feedback on Director Martin, and also stated that Director Martin has brought new energy to the Recreation Department. City Manager Rowlands also discussed the role of the Building and Parks Construction Department, which will be under the direction of Andy Campbell, former Director of Parks and Recreation. Director Campbell has the mission to develop parks, building construction such as fire houses, libraries, and recreation centers. In addition, the Landscape Architecture Division of the Parks and Recreation Department have been transferred to Building and Parks Construction Department. Their function is service - oriented and provides advice on landscape architecture and design to the many departments in the City. City Manager Rowlands discussed that the park maintenance portion of the parks department, is under the direction of David Byers, Deputy Director of Public Works Operations. City Manager Rowlands stated that parks maintenance staff have done a great job under the direction of Deputy Director Byers, and Jerry Foncerrada, Deputy Director of Parks. Deputy Director of Parks Foncerrada has done a great job in parks maintenance, and the quality of the parks maintenance, and the number of staff that has been added in the function has been positive. Deputy Director Palmer discussed the strategic plan for recreation services, and also discussed the purpose of the strategic plan. He stated that this process can take up -to 9 months, and would involve members of the Parks and Recreation Commission, and also include a variety of members of the community, that the department services. It would be to develop a mission statement in recreation and also to develop goals and objectives, based on community input and fact - finding involved in process. Director Martin provided his background, thoughts, and vision that he has for the Recreation Department. Director Martin stated that he has been in the community of Chula Vista for 3 years. He worked for the Great Western Forum for many years and was vice - president of Sports and Entertainment, and his duties included negotiating contracts, and marketing. He then went to work for Universal Concerts at Coors Amphitheater, had interaction with Chula Vista City Manager and worked with different municipalities. He stated that he was approached by the City manager, and was given the opportunity to be more involved in the community of Chula Vista. Director Martin stated that the City of Chula Vista has excellent staff, and has read the Master Plan. Director Martin stated that his focus is giving the existing staff the ability to provide the services to the community. In addition, another vision to seek and create new revenue sources, such as non - profit organizations or marketing, and bringing in outside corporate resources to help defer expenses. Director Martin stated that he had an opportunity to spend time with staff. Recreation staff is a great group to work with, and Assistant Recreation Director Sunny Shy, has been teaching Director Martin everything she knows about the Department. Director Martin stated that he would like to take an opportunity to meet with each of the Commissioners. 4. Unfinished Business —None 5. NEW BUSINESS — None 6. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS — None 7. COMMISSION COMMENTS Commissioner Perondi inquired if the Parks and Recreation Master Plan going to drive the strategic plan for Recreation or is there going to be input. Director Campbell responded the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is as good as the budget. In addition, yearly updates will need to be made to the Master Plan, due to the recreational requirements of the Strategic Plan. Chair Weidner commented that the version of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan that she had was two years old. Director Campbell responded that with the input that his office received from Chair Weidner and incorporated those changes. The financial section will be left out, and move forward and approve Chapters 1 -4 with the City Council. The Financial Section (Chapter 5) is not complete because my office has been working with the Finance Department to develop a PDIF, on the balance of the homes that are not built yet on the eastern side, because PAD Fees do not build recreation centers and pools. Chair Weidner inquired when Chapters 1 -4 of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan would be placed on the City Council agenda. Director Campbell responded that is anticipated that the Master Plan would be placed on the Council Agenda for approval in the spring of this year. In addition, a 30 -day public noticing period is required before the Master Plan can be presented to the City Council. Commissioner Salcido inquired if a community such as EastLake Greens develops a golf course or swimming pool, do they get credit for park land? Deputy Director Byers responded that in the past some groups may have received partial credit for private land. Per the City Attorney, if a community such as EastLake develops amenities on their private land, then they will not receive credit for park land. Commissioner Salcido inquired if the high school district would swap lands with the City, has anything happened on this? Director Campbell responded that the school district hired an outside firm to conduct an assessment of their district office and corporate yard. The City has very little if no contact in this process. Commissioner Salcido inquired about the plan when the Coors Amphitheater was developed, there was area on the north side parking section that could be used for soccer fields when not being used by the facility. This has never occurred. Director Martin responded that the facility was built before he started with the Coors Amphitheater, and that there was another General Manager, and that he has read the CUP Agreement. Yes there is that statement of utilizing that parking lot, doesn't know how feasible it is. Principal Landscape Architect Hofmockel also responded that a feasibility study was conducted on this area, and that this area was identified as a possible site for joint -use for sports field, and was not designed with the intent to facilitate the sport field. It is designed now with irrigation with naturalized grass material not playable for soccer. To make this a joint -use situation and playable for soccer would have a significant cost. Commissioner Salcido stated that an allocation process for spring season of sports in the City, and there are not enough fields for the existing usage requested. The high school and elementary schools allow us to use their fields. There is a lessening of facilities for youth and adult sports, and even though Coors Amphitheater is expensive it is a viable idea or usage, because there aren't enough sport fields. Chair Weidner stated that she is requesting that staff review costs involved in a joint -use with Coors, and also staff make inquiries with the high school district regarding where they are regarding where they are in the process in the land with school district. Commissioner Rude inquired if there is any land that has not been developed that is owned by House Of Blues now or the water park, between the water park and Coors Amphitheater. Director Campbell responded that the water park is currently in the process of developing a destination hotel on that property. Commissioner Rude inquired if Coors had land that was not being used. Director Martin responded that Coors is utilizing all of their property. Commissioner Perondi stated that in terms of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is the City looking at all synthetic surfaces for high density play. Director Campbell responded that with the monies available in the PDIF Fund there are not enough monies available to purchase the synthetic surface. The City is entertaining an agreement with an individual who has approached the City that wants to develop the piece of property that is owned by the City and place artificial turf soccer fields and an indoor soccer arena, and the City is going to have a final meeting with the owner of the KOA Camp Ground to have them work with the City to gain access to the property behind their property. 8. STAFF COMMENTS - None 9. Other — None Adjournment at 7:45 p.m. to the regularly scheduled meeting on February 21, 2002. Respectfully submitted Margarita Cellano, Administrative Secretary Parks and Recreation Department