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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2002/05/16City of Chula Vista Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday - 6:30 p.m. May 16, 2002 Mercy Building 430 F Street CV Director Martin introduced Commissioner Bob Strahl to the Commission. Roll Call Radcliffe P, Rude P Salcido P, Weidner P Ramos A and Perondi P, Strahl P Commissioner Ramos requested to be excused from tonight's meeting. Chair Weidner stated that with the majority of the commissioners that are present at tonight's meeting, that she is inclined to go forward and approve the minutes out of necessity and feels that there is sufficient urgency in the approval of those minutes. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of March 27, 2002 - MSUC (Weidner /Rude) (Ramos Absent) 4 -0 -1 -1 to approve the minutes with the correction of removing the last sentence from the 3,d to last paragraph on page 3. Future Commission Workshop - Director Martin talked about holding a commission workshop to develop and prepare a Parks and Recreation Comrnission Mission, Purpose, Goals and Objectives for the future. Staff will meet with the City's Organizational and Development Team Office and discuss this process so that they can serve as facilitators. Director Martin also stated that a request from the Growth Management Oversight Commission (GMOC) was received, and they have requested a workshop with the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss each commission's respective role in regards to recreation planning, park development, and emphasizing how these roles are complimentary. In addition, to provide an opportunity to discuss shared expectations and have a better understanding of the Parks Master Plan. 2. Information Items - a. Park Development Process Principal Landscape Architect Hofmockel talked about the process and progress that has been made as it pertains to park development, and also discuss future community workshops. Ms. Hofmockel introduced Landscape Architect, John Krizan of her staff, and asked him to provide information on the park development process of tonight's presentation. Landscape Architect Krizan stated that architects from KTU +A and Van Dyke and Associates would be talking about the park development process on two parks ( Sunbow and Eastlake Trails). Van Dyke and Associates will be presenting Sunbow Park, and KTU + A will be presenting Eastlake Trails Park. Mr. Krizan explained that two public workshops had been held with the community. Mr. Krizan explained that at the first public workshop, staff explained the preliminary program elements of the parks. In addition, Mr. Krizan explained that a recreational needs analysis was conducted, which projected the recreational needs over the future parks coming on -line through the year 2020. This helped staff identify programming elements for parks. Mr. Krizan explained the process of the second workshop. In addition, Mr. Krizan stated that staff would return to the Commission with a recommendation and explain the concerns raised by the community, and explain how staff addressed those concerns. Van Dyke and Associates talked about the neighborhood analysis conducted. He further explained that the public workshops were conducted to develop and gather information from the community to personalize the park, refine the programming of the park, prioritize program elements, and suggest possible names for the park. This analysis identified the opportunities and constraints of the neighborhood, community landmarks, architectural landmarks, barriers, and views, and compiled it into a graphic and written analysis of the opportunities of the park site. He further explained that the City identified preliminary park programs based on the Recreational Needs Analysis for 2020. This information was categorized into a chart to figure out how much use each program element would take. This program chart was presented to the community and their input was requested to identify additional program elements for the park. Discussion held on program elements, which were categorized as: required elements, high ranked additional elements, and low ranked additional elements. Three concept scenarios were presented at the second workshop. Discussion held on the three park concepts presented. Commissioner Radcliffe stated that she likes the play equipment in Voyager Park, and also likes the play equipment in Pepper Grove Park by Balboa Park. Assistant Director of Recreation Shy stated that some play equipment is not created or designed for the older aged child. There are good companies that develop play equipment such as rock - climbing walls. Ms. Shy stated that the Department has asked and challenged the developers to create a balance of play equipment for older and younger children. Discussion held on fund - raising for commemorative brick for the Hero's Walk. KTU + A talked about EastLake Trails Park that is located by Hunte Parkway on North Creekside Drive. Discussion held on site analysis, and how elements are laid out. In addition, discussion held on having the gymnasium element serving as a focal point to the park. Three park options discussed and were categorized as: Olympic Sports Park, Ranch Theme, and Meadow theme. Park program elements were provided based on all the facilities and infrastructures throughout the community. Elements include, parking for 200 cars, 20,000 sq. ft. facility, teen annex with storage, and an informal skate facility, basketball, tot -lots, etc. Discussion held on each park theme, and their program elements. Discussion held on the main concern of the community, which is parking issues with the little league fields. Ms. Hofmockel talked about parking issue /element, and stated that staff provided information (on Sunbow Park), on the parking situation on the maximum parking spaces needed at parks. From the information provided, it was concluded that 400 parking spaces were needed, which amounts to be 2/3 of the 10 -acre park site that would be converted to a parking lot. This would mean that certain park elements would be removed. Ms. Hofmockel stated that it was decided at a Policy Group Meeting that she attended, that the City would use the parking standards that the City of San Diego uses, which are 200 parking spaces is the minimum at parks. Ms. Hofmockel stated that she wanted to clarify the park development process. A while back, the Commission notified staff that the Commission wanted to be involved in the process of the park development /alternative. Ms. Hofmockel stated that the concern that she had was providing the Commission with the proper park alternative. If the Commission feels that it is beneficial having the consultants provide a presentation on park alternatives, then it needs to be done outside of a public meeting, because then this would be labeled as a particular park approval. Discussion held on scheduling a commission workshop that is open only to the commission, staff and consultants to assist in understanding the park development process. Deputy Director Byers stated that that route is not recommended because the Commission cannot meet and exclude the public, but the Commission can still have a workshop. Commissioner Radcliffe stated that she prefers the workshops to review a park alternative and provide comments. Commissioner Perondi stated that he prefers a commission meeting type of a forum such as tonight's meeting. Chair Weidener stated that it's important to have community imput. However, Chair Weidner stated that she wants to be involved in the planning process before a final plan is chosen, and also stated that she would like to see the hard copies of the plans. Chair Weidner also stated that she found it a bit frustrating this evening that the Commission could not choose a park alternative because of the forum. In addition, Chair Weidner stated that she understands that staff is going to review the process, and that staff will return with a preferred park alternative, which will only be one plan. Ms. Hofmockel responded that when staff returns to the Commission in the future, they will return with one preferred alternative with staff recommendation. Ms. Hofmockel also stated the consultant will prepare the preferred park alternative for recommendation to the City Council. In addition, Ms. Hofmockel stated that she did not present this as "Sunbow Park" or "Eastlake Trails Park" Workshop because it wasn't clear if this forum would be a public workshop. She also stated that she wanted to make the Commission aware of issues that the community brought up. Commissioner Radcliffe stated that it is important to have Commission imput at this level. Commissioner Rude stated that she would likes this type of forum, and then . participating in a public workshop with the community. Ms. Hofmockel responded that staff already held public workshops whereby information was gathered. Staff notifies the community that staff will return to the second workshop with conceptual ideas of how their comments layout. Commissioner Strahl stated that he would like to see staff's recommendation on a park alternative for recommendation to the Council. In addition, Commissioner Strahl stated that he wants to see staff's recommendation, and explain why a _ particular alternative was chosen, and explain why certain elements are laid out the way they are. He also stated that he relies on staff's expertise to provide information to the Commission. Ms. Hofmockel reiterated that staff would return to the Commission with the preferred alternative that would be presented to the Council Commissioner Perondi stated that he would like to see three concepts prior to the meeting; and would like to have explanation on why staff has picked a particular alternative. Commissioner Salcido would like to see the final park plan or alternative with explanation on why this alternative is being recommended. Commissioner Radcliffe stated that she wants to be involved in the planning process. Consensus to meet on June 10, 2002 for a special meeting to review the planning process. b. Chula Vista General Plan - Move to June 2002 meeting c. Dangerous Conditions at Parks - Deputy Director of Public Works Operations Byers distributed Dangerous Conditions at Parks Report provided by the Police Department. Discussion held on the information provided. d. Life Options - Assistant Recreation Director Shy talked about Life Options and stated that the City has received grant funding to start -up the establishment of this program and annex at Norman Park Center. This program is a welcoming place for participants to get resource information about volunteer opportunities, share ideas about community enhancement programs and create learning events for citizens. This program is geared for participants 50 -65 years of age who are entering retirement. 3. Unfinished Business -None 4. NEW BUSINESS - None 5. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None 6. COMMISSION COMMENTS 7. STAFF COMMENTS - None 8. Other - None Adjournment at 9:00 p.m. to the scheduled workshop of June 10, 2002 at 6:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted Margarita Cellano, Administrative Secretary Recreation Department