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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2004/01/22City of Chula Vista Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Thursday - 6:30 p.m. PSB Conference Rooms 2 & 3 Meeting called to order by Chair Larry Perondi at 6:30p.m. Staff Present: Buck Martin, Director of Recreation Dave Byers, Director of Public Works Operations Jack Griffin, Director of General Services Shauna Stokes, Assistant Recreation Director Paula Brown, Assistant Library Director Jeri Gulbransen, Community Relations Manager Brian Cox, Principal Recreation Manager Ed Hall, Principal Recreation Manager Mary Hofmockel, Principal Landscape Architect Duane Bazzel, Principal Planner Larry Eliason, Parks and Open Space Manager John Krizan, Landscape Architect Ted Nelson, Recreation Supervisor III Patricia Ferman, Landscape Planner I Krista Reinhart, Landscape Planner I Guests: Susan Watry, Crossroads II Peter Watry, Crossroads II Josh Bell, KOA Property Pamela Bensoussan, CV Heritage Museum John Rilling, School House Bell Proponent Patricia Aguilar, Landmark Park John Parks, School House Bell Proponent Nancy Parks, School House Bell Proponent Nick DeLorenzo, DeLorenzo Incorporated Brandt Maughan, DeLorenzo Incorporated 1. Roll Call /Motion to Excuse January 22, 2004 276 Fourth Ave Members Present: Commissioner Salcido, Commissioner Ramos, Commissioner Perondi, Commissioner Strahl, Commissioner Rios, Commissioner Rude, Commission Weidner 2. Action Items a. Approval of Minutes of November 20, 2003 - MSC (Rios / Salcido Vote 7- 0 -0 -0) to approve the meeting minutes with the following correction: Page, 3 Item 7a - reflect that Mr. Byers answered no ongoing negotiations. b. Approval of the Conceptual Plan for the Mounting and Location of the First Chula Vista Schoolhouse Bell - J: \Parks & Rec \Parks and Recreation Commission \Minutes & Reports \2004 minutes and reports \2004 minutes \PRC Minutes of 1 22 04.doc Prepared 1 /23/04 Parks and Recreation Commission January 22, 2004 Page 2 Ms. Paula Brown (Assistant Library Director) briefly talked about the conceptual plan of mounting and placement of the l It schoolhouse bell in Chula Vista. Ms. Bensoussan, of the Heritage Museum talked about the "F" Street Schoolhouse Bell" Timeline. Points covered include: - Fundraiser in 1893 held at the School to purchase a school bell. $26.30 was raised. The bell signaled the start of each school day until it torn down. - 1915 - The schoolhouse was torn down. The site was purchased from the Chula Vista School District for $800. A new library was built on the site and dedicated in 1917. - 1916 - When the second school was built, the bell was donated to the Community Congregational Church. - Congregational Church kept the bell until 1959, and the old bell was transferred to their church camp, Pilgrim Pines, near Yucaipa in the San Bernardino Forest. - John Rojas, President of the CV Historical Society, discovered the bell's location from Congregational Church officials. - In 1985 Mayor Greg Cox sent a letter to the camp director requesting the bell be returned. - In 2001, County Supervisor, Greg Cox requested the bell be returned once again, and the camp agreed to a bell exchange. The Board of Supervisors approved an allocation of $10,00 to the Chula Vista Heritage Museum. The bell is currently being stored at the Public Works Center. - It is the goal to see the bell on display and evoke character of original building, and would add appeal and keep with historic theme. Chair Perondi asked if the Society would raise all funds to construct the Bell Tower, and what the cost would be for this project. Ms. Bensoussan responded that yes, it was the goal of the Society to raise funds through fundraising, grants, and corporate sponsorship. The total cost is approximately, $100,000. Chair Perondi asked about the cost to the City for this project. Mr. Jack Griffin (Director of General Services) responded that the cost would include, staff time; inspection; issuance of permits, review of plans, etc. In addition stated that it is difficult to quantify the cost. Comments made by commissioners to have the visible so that children could see and touch the bell. Mr. John Rilling (Otay Land Company) stated that he is in full support of the Bell concept in Chula Vista, and offered his support to the City with regards to funding, construction, etc. MSC (Ramos /Salcido Vote: 7- 0 -0 -0) to approve the concept Plan of the Bell Tower and proposed location in Memorial Park subject to flexibility for movement of Bell in the park as required by the City. Parks and Recreation Commission January 22, 2004 C. Approval of Skate Element in Heritage Park Page 3 Ms. Krista Reinhart (Landscape Planer 1) presented the skate park concept element proposed for Heritage Park. Ms. Reinhart stated that the Recreation Department received numerous requests to implement a skateboard park element /facility into Heritage Park. Ms. Reinhart also stated that staff is also working to provide facilities in several locations throughout the City. This proposed concept provides an area for skateboarders and skaters to practice. Furthermore, Ms. Reinhart informed the Commission that it is hoped that by having this area for skating, that staff will see a significant decline in skateboard - related damage to park furniture. Ms. Reinhart informed the commission that the proposed location for the skate facility is in the western portion of Heritage Park next to the two basketball courts. Chair Perondi asked if this would be a lighted element? Mr. Krizan (Landscape Architect) responded that because of budget constraints, specific lighting for this element would not be possible, and spillage lighting from the basketball courts would be used. Commissioner Weidner stated that she is concerned about the noise issue coming from the park and basketball courts. Commissioner Salcido asked if foliage would act as a buffer for noise reduction. Mr. Krizan (Landscape Architect) responded that foliage would not block the noise level, and would only serve as a visual blockage from the noise source. Commissioner Salcido suggested that staff look at placing the Skate Facility in a different location (by the picnic structure), and the pool area could be a noise buffer. Mr. Krizan responded that staff would consider looking into this new proposed location for the skate element, and develop a proposal for this new location. Mr. Hall (Principal Recreation Manager) stated that the further away from the parking lot that the skate facility is placed, the more chance there is for skaters to use the sidewalks, therefore, creating hazardous conditions. Chair Perondi requested from staff for other concepts of the skate element in different locations (with visuals) in Heritage Park be provided to the Commission at the next meeting. Commissioner Rude asked about funding source for this park enhancement, and asked if funding for enhancements to western Chula Vista parks existed with regards to skate elements. Mr. Jack Griffin (Director of General Services) responded that a skate element program exists for the Oxford Street Park, and in addition, the Eucalyptus Park Master Plan could have a skate element. Also, Otay Park could be looked at for Parks and Recreation Commission January 22, 2004 Page 4 a skate element. Funding for these elements are funded through the Financing Program for Western Chula Vista improvements. MSC (Strahl /Salcido Vote 7- 0 -0 -0) approve the skate element concept for Heritage Park, but does not approve a specific location at this time, and request that staff return next month with different placement locations /options (with costs) for this element. d. Approval of a concept of a Landmark Park in the City of Chula Vista - Mr. Bazzel (Principal Planner) briefly talked about the Landmark Park concept and touched on the presentation provided to the Commission in October 2003. Mr. Bazzel stated that the General Plan Update Steering Commission ( GPUSC) is focused on land use alternatives in western and eastern Chula Vista. Ms. Patricia Aguilar requested that the Commission: Support the concept of a Landmark Park in Chula Vista, Communicate via writing to GPUSC and identify potential sites of a Landmark Park Commissioner Salcido stated that the size of a park needs to be addressed before a location could be identified. Mr. Bazzel responded that staff is currently addressing that issue, and that the GPUSC is identifying acreage range, and not specific acreage. Discussion on potential sites and acreage. Commissioner Strahl recommended that the GPUSC explore different areas in conjunction with drafting General Plan policies. In addition expressed concern about weighing the cost of developing a landmark park with funding other parks /park improvements and consider partnerships with other agencies to help fund the project. In addition, the Commission should write a letter to the Steering Committee supporting designating potential site options with the drafting of the General Plan policies. MSC (Weidner /Ramos Vote: 7- 0 -0 -0) to approve the concept of a Landmark Park in Chula Vista. e. Approval of Mountainhawk Park Master Plan - Mr. Krizan (Landscape Architect) informed the commission that tonight's master plan presentation was a result of a design competition from 2003. The firm selected for this project is DeLorenzo Incorporated. Mr. Nick DeLorenzo of DeLorenzo Incorporated presented the Mountainhawk Park Master Plan. Points covered by Mr. DeLorenzo include: - Park concept involved the creation of a children's story titled "Mountain Hawk" that is a tale of a rabbit that befriends a native hawk who in -turn save the life of the rabbit. Parks and Recreation Commission January 22, 2004 Page 5 - The story is translated into the design them of the park that encourages discovering, exploring, learning and playing. - The park has the Mountain Hawk story painted onto ceramic tiles and set into interpretive columns throughout the park. - The proposed Master Plan is a 12 -acre site - Basketball Court (lighted) - Series of pathways looping the entire park that accommodates pedestrian and emergency vehicles - Story Place (Amphitheater area) set into the slope and overlook to the lake - Mountain spring - a pop -up interactive water feature - Multi- purpose fields - 150 x 300 feet (FIFA) for soccer, etc. - Trail connection to the Otay Reservoir - pedestrian connection to trails surrounding the Otay Reservoir. Commissioner Salcido inquired about grading and size of fields. Mr. Krizan responded that the grading is 1 '/2/O (doesn't cause ponding) and size of fields measure 300' x 150'. Commissioner Weidner asked that there be sufficient number of swings. Chair Perondi stated that he likes the shade structures near the tot lot. MSC (Salcido /Weinder Vote 7- 0 -0 -0) approve the Draft Park Master Plan for the 12 -acre public neighborhood park site in the Eastlake Vista subdivision. MSC (Perondi /Ramos Vote 7- 0 -0 -0) approve Mountainhawk Park as the name for the 12- acre public neighborhood park site 3. Information Items a. Lower Sweetwater Valley - tournament soccer /KOA proposal - Mr. Martin (Director of Recreation) discussed the status of the KOA proposal. In addition he informed the Commission that discussion of the project from a land use /zoning perspective would be deferred until after completion of the General Plan Update. In addition, during this period, he would work with the City consultant Andy Campbell, the KOA owners and local recreation groups to determine appropriate public benefits and local usage of the soccer facility. Mr. Josh Bell stated that he supports the Tournament soccer facility. 4. Unfinished Business - a. Commission field trip (February or March) - Move to February meeting and provide Margarita dates that each Commissioner would be available in April or May. New Business - None 6. Written Communications - None 7. Commission Comments - Parks and Recreation Commission January 22, 2004 Page 6 a. Commissioner Strahl requested from staff a copy of the Jim Allen golf report. In addition, thanked the Mayor, City Council, and staff for the Commission Banquet, and requested that the banquet be held at the South Bay Banquet facility. In addition, requested the Commission have a dedicated table to them for this event. b. Commissioner Salcido asked if a skate element was needed at Harvest Park because of the skate element at Heritage Park. In addition, asked for a copy of the proposed layout for Oxford Park. Staff responded that a skate element was not needed at Harvest Park. C. Commissioner Rude commented that she was informed that a tot lot was being installed at Friendship Park. Staff responded that it was not. 8. Staff Comments - a. Mr. Martin (Director of Recreation) discussed the monthly Recreation report with the Commission. In addition, recognized Mr. Ted Nelson, Recreation Supervisor III as the Employee of Year for Recreation Department, and Employee of the Month for the City. b. Public Works Operations - No report. C. General Services - Mr. Griffin (Director of General Services) informed the Commission that the Engineering Department was merged with Public Works and General Services Departments. 9. Public Comments - 10. Other - None Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. to February 19, 2004 at the Public Works Center Lunch Room. Submitted by: Margari a C Ilano, Recording Secretary