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Home My WebLink AboutRP Minutes: 09/13/17 RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, September 13, 2017 RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER — Chairperson Cheung called the meeting to order at 6:00pm in the Recreation Conference Room. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE —Vice Chairperson, Steve Swinney ROLL CALL OF COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Raymond Cheung, Joe Shivan, Steve Swinney and Lyn Tom EXCUSED: Randy Fowler A motion was made by Vice Chairperson Swinney, seconded by Commissioner Tom and unanimously carried on roll call vote to excuse Commissioner Fowler from this meeting. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS - None 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None REPORTS FROM RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Tom thanked Public Works Services Street Superintendent (PWSSS), Dave Thompson for removing the trash bin left in the parking lot of her business in Arcadia. Commissioner Tom inquired as to why the two trees in front of Motel 6 keep dying. PWSSS Thompson reported those trees are an ongoing problem and Public Works isn't sure why they are dying but thinks it could be vandalism or the soil. Vice-Chairperson Swinney reported he recently had a 100 year old Maple tree removed from his property and will be planting a Camphor tree in it's place. Vice-Chairperson Swinney announced in October he will officially be a volunteer with the Arcadia Police Department, known as "The Volunteers In Patrol Support" (VIPS). The VIPS provide additional volunteer support to the Arcadia Police Department operations. Vice- Chairperson Swinney stated he is excited about one of his duties inparticular, parking enforcement. Commissioner Shivan reported he is glad summer is over, the kids are in school and the weather is finally getting better. Chairperson Cheung announced his oldest son is enrolled in soccer and practices at the Civic Center Athletic Field and he is very impressed with the field. Chairperson Cheung mentioned his son plays games at other fields and says there is no comparison. Chairperson Cheung thanked Director of Recreation and Community Services (DRCS) Sara Somogyi for the tour of Newcastle Park and wanted to report the swings were very squeaky. DRCS Somogyi stated PWSSS Thompson is not only a Licensed Arborist but a Certified Playground Safety Inspector as well and will check it out. Chairperson Cheung and his family are proud owners of an eight week old brown lab puppy. REPORT FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER LIAISON Council Member April Verlato mentioned her daughter attended the Kid's Night Out on September 8 and had a great time. Council Member Verlato announced the Santa Anita Inn will be replaced by two separate projects. The first project is Delta by Marriott, a six story, 220 room hotel and will take approximately two years to complete. The second project is a mix use space condo/retail building also six stories with a two year completion date. Council Member Verlato mentioned unfortunately some Sequoia trees that need a lot of water will have to be removed from the property and replaced with more tolerant resistant trees. Council Member Verlato reported the Arcadia City Council will be adopting an ordinance to transition to a district-based voting system to select its City Council Members, replacing its current at-large election system. Arcadia currently utilizes an at-large election system in which electors from the entire city choose each of the five City Council Members. Council Member Verlato stated in a district-based election system the City is divided into separate geographic districts, each with one City Council Member who resides in the district and is chosen by the electors residing in that district. Council Member Verlato explained the process of conversion consists of: two public hearings, the drawing of draft maps, two additional public hearings and finally adoption of an ordinance selecting a district map and establishing the process by which staggered district elections will be implemented. Each district would elect one Council Member to a four-year term. Council Member Verlato anticipates the Arcadia School Board will be next. Council Member Verlato stated the district map will be selected at the next City Council Meeting. 2. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of August 9, 2017 It was moved by Commissioner Swinney, seconded by Commissioner Fowler and unanimously carried on roll call vote to approve Consent Calendar Item 2.a. AYES: Commissioners Cheung, Shivan, Swinney and Tom NOES: None ABSTAIN: Commissioner Fowler 3. REGULAR ITEMS a. Report from Public Works Services Department PWSSS Thompson reported a new landscaping project has already begun outside the Recreation Office which will include drought tolerant plants such as lantana and agapanthus. Landscaping in front of the Community Center and on the sides will be the next phase. PWSSS Thompson reported the medians along Santa Anita Avenue are looking good especially with the new irrigation system. Vice-Chairperson Swinney inquired as to what project is being done on Camino Real Avenue. PWSSS Thompson reported it is a water project and will take approximately two months. Vice-Chairperson Swinney stated the asphalt work done recently on his street, Sixth Avenue, is complete. b. Report of Director of Recreation and Community Services Department Monthly Report DRCS Somogyi presented a video highlighting the 2017 summer programs to the Commission. This year the video was made by a Recreation Activity Leader. Pictures were collected throughout the summer by many staff members and put together for this video. The Commissioners watched the video and were very impressed. DRCS Somogyi stated the exceptional Recreation Staff are noticed throughout the City all year long from participants attending programs and special events. DRCS Somogyi reported on the Senior Services Division activities. Free blood pressure checks are available every second Tuesday of the month from 10-11:15am. This service is provided in collaboration with Arcadia Methodist Hospital. Senior classes including aerobics, line dancing, strength training yoga, and Zumba had over 3,400 participants. Coffee with the Mayor where seniors have the opporunity to listen and chat with the Mayor about City issues had 23 seniors in attendance. The new Walk & Talk program held every Thursday at 10:30am outside the Community Center is very popular with 56 seniors participating. The very popular themed Bunco party on August 18 had 48 participants. DRCS Somogyi reported on the Recreation Services Division. The Summer Fun n' Play Program held at Baldwin Stocker and Longley Way for two weeks in August had 619 and 589 students respectively. The second week of Summer Sports Camp held in August at Dana Middle School for ages 11-15 had 160 enrolled. The third week for ages 5-10 had 470 children enrolled. The last two weeks of Summer Day Camp at Wilderness Park had 1,080 children enrolled. The End of Summer Carnival, "Welcome to the Wild West", held at Eisenhower Memorial Park featuring games, music, snack bar, hot dogs, balloons, a jumper and raffle prizes had over 550 in attendance. The "Summer Splash" Kid's Night Out program held at the Community Center had 38 participants. DRCS Somogyi reported Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) holds monthly Principals Meetings. Once a year in September, Recreation Staff is invited to attend this lunch meeting to discuss concerns, rules, and expectations for the 2017-18 School Year After-School Program held at each elementary school. Recreation staff prepares a brochure for each Principal informing them of the Activity Leader's names and pictures, sports leagues schedules, rules and various activities planned for each site. DRCS Somogyi informed the Commission of the County of Los Angeles, Department of Parks and Recreation's plans to reopen the northern most segment of the Santa Anita Wash Trail and the recently installed trail kiosk sign. The trail kiosk includes a large trail map to help the public visually see the trail before recreating on this trail alignment and is on County property. The County of Los Angeles is requesting the City of Arcadia grant public access to Wilderness Park during hours of operation. The trail is currently open further south of Wilderness Park with trail connectivity to other County regional trails. DRCS Somogyi stated this would mean Wilderness Park Staff would open and close the trail gate at their discretion relating to variable hours of operation. The County would be responsible for maintenance of the trail gate and clear pathway from the trail kiosk. DRCS Somogyi stated one of the City's concerns is homeless emcampments along the trail and the possibility that homeless will enter both the County Sediment Placement Site (SPS) and Wilderness Park. Also, some City residents who live adjacent to the SPS site frequent the site to walk within the site. DRCS Somogyi reported City staff are also concerned that a City resident may park their vehicle within Wilderness Park and walk south on the trail and return to find the trail access gate has been locked. II. Financial Statements DRCS Somogyi referenced the July 2017 Financial Statement. Total expenditures through July 2017 are $217,780 which is 6.6% of the budgeted amount for this fiscal year. The total fiscal year revenue as of July 2017 is $273,966 which is 22.2% of the budgeted amount. DRCS Somogyi referenced the July 2017 Park & Recreation Facilities Fund, with an account balance of $10,000,236. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Cheung adjourned the meeting at 6:55pm to October 11, 2017 at 6:00pm in the Recreation Conference Room located at 375 Campus Drive, Arcadia. kW,/ uo - By: Raymond CheungC47— Sara Somogyi Chairperson Secretary