SR-303-011 (4)
REGULAR MEETING OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION
Virginia Avenue Park
2200 Virginia Avenue ,Thelma Terry Center
Santa Monica, California
Thursday, February 18, 1999
Minutes
The meeting of the Recreation and ParksCommission was held at the above named place and time. The
meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m.
Roll Call
Present
: Chairperson Frank Schwengel
Commissioner Lupe Castro
Commissioner Susan Cloke
Commissioner Steven Mount
Commissioner Terri Walsh
Commissioner Susan Wilson
Council member Kevin McKeown
Also Present
: Barbara Stinchfield - Director
Karen Ginsberg - Assistant Director
Julie Rusk - Human Services Manager
Brett Horner- Senior Administrative Analyst
Linda Steed - Staff Assistant
Approval of Minutes of the Regular meeting of January 21, 1999.
Commissioner Lupe Castro moved
to approve the minutes and Commissioner Steven Mount seconded. It was unanimously approved.
Correspondence and Announcements
- Director Stinchfield reviewed information in the packets. The
Shamrock Bowl, sponsored by the Westside Special Olympics, will be held on March 14 from 1:00- 4:00
p.m. at the Bayshore Bowl. The Commissioners requested from staff the total budget and the amount
fundraised by the Westside Special Olympics . Director Stinchfield gave a brief update on Capital
Improvement Projects: 1) Muni Pool construction is to begin in July or August with completion by summer
2000; 2) Douglas Park/Playgrounds construction will begin late summer 1999 being completed by
summer 2000; 3) B.I.G. Project - new trees, paving, seat walls, and different amenities are going in at the
South Beach area. The City Council approved a change in the restroom location in Palisades Park now to
be located north of the Craftsman Arches. Removal of one eucalyptus tree is necessary and will be replaced
with a specimen tree donated by the Oceana Hotel at another location in the park. The Oceana Hotel is
paying the full cost of relocating the restrooms. The park should be completed by late June or July except
for the restrooms which will be completed by late summer; 4) Muscle Beach and Chess Park will be
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completed by the 4 of July 1999. A special grant has been received for widening the bike path from the
Pier to Bay Street. The county requirements of the grant require that the existing path be demolished and a
new wider seamless path be constructed. A temporary asphalt path will be laid until completion of the
permanent path.
Introduction of Karen Ginsberg, Assistant Director of Community and Cultural Services
. Director
Stinchfield introduced Karen Ginsberg, formerly Planning Manager in the Citys Planning and Community
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Development Department. Ms. Ginsberg will be responsible for overseeing the departments CIP projects
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and overseeing the Administrative Division. The Commission welcomed her.
F:staffreport\VAPConceptDesign-3
Subcommittee Reports
Childcare Task Force( Commissioners Castro, Cloke)
1. - No report.
2.Budget Committee (Commissioner Schwengel). The Commissioners are attending the California Parks and
Recreation Society Conference this week end and will report at the March meeting.
(Commissioner Wilson, Cloke) -
3.Virginia Avenue Park Advisory Board (VAPAB) Topics will be discussed later
on agenda.
4.Community Forest Committee (Commissioner Mount, Walsh) - No report.
5.
Fields Committee (Commissioners Mount, Castro)- No report.
6.Sports Advisory Council (SAC) Commissioners Cloke, Wilson) - Commissioner Mount reported the Santa Monica
Little League will have an opening game on Friday, March 12 at
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6:00 p.m., he Pony League onMarch 6 and the Bobby Sock League on March 27. All events are being heldat
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Memorial Park
7.
Program Development Committee (Commissioner Wilson) - No report.
8.S.M.M.U.S.D. ( Commissioners Schwengel, Castro) - Chairperson Schwengel stated the District is currently
planning for the use of school facility bond funds. This will be discussed later on the agenda.
9.415 Pacific Coast Highway Working Group( Commissioner Wilson) - No report.
10.
Veterans Memorial Dedication (Commissioners Mount, Walsh) - No report.
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11.Pico Neighborhood Committee Advisory Committee (Commissioner Castro)
Commissioner Castro reported on the survey conducted in the Pico Neighborhood on
February 6, 1999. The survey results will be finalized and presented at a later date.
New Business
8A.Discussion of Commission Input to the Pico Neighborhood Community Advisory Committee
Regarding the Needs of At-Risk-Youth
. Julie Rusk, Human Services Division Manager, gave an
overview of the Committee and their work. The group consists of an interdepartmental group of staff
working with twenty three members of the community. There are three subcommittees: 1)Youth, 2)
Physical Characteristics of the Community (trees and parks); and 3) Public Safety. On March18, the
Committee will discuss recommendations to present to the City Council by April or May. Staff is
requesting Commissioners input to pass on to the Committee. Members of the public Oscar de la Torre
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and Josephina Santigo spoke. Discussion followed.
Old Business
9A.Discussion and Formal Recommendations on the Initial Concept Design for the Expansion of
Virginia Avenue Park and Recommendation to Initiate a Community Design Process for the
Integration of Two Recently Purchased Parcels Adjacent to the Park by establishing the Virginia
Avenue Park Expansion Working Group and Appointing Three Members of the Commission to
this Working Group
. Brett Horner gave an update on the design, integration of the two recently
purchased property and key aspects of the concept plan. Staff recommendation is to have a working group
consisting of three Recreation & Parks Commissioners, three Virginia Avenue Advisory Board members,
two youth representatives and one Planning Commissioner. Staff recommended formal action on the
current concept design and initiation of a community design process for the two new Pico Boulevard
properties to be integrated into the larger park expansion project. Discussion followed.
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Member of the public Irene Zivi spoke The Virginia Avenue Park Advisory Board recommendations of
February 1, 1999 for the VAP Park Expansion Project were reviewed by the Commission. The items for
further discussion included: 1) #3 Police Activities League (PAL) Gym; Julie Rusk will review issues
and topics and present a plan for outreach and membership in the next several months; 2) #6
Barbeques: The Commission has reviewed guidelines for the siting of barbeques and requested that these
be considered in designing the park; 3) #10 Hand Ball Courts: Staff will bring final design and layouts to
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Commissioner; 4) #14 Crosswalk at 22 Street. Staff will revisit the need once the renovation is
completed to see if a crosswalk is justified.Member of the public George Hickey spoke. Commissioner
Susan Wilson moved to accept staff recommendations on the initial design including the above items.
Commissioner Cloke seconded. 5-Ayes Chairperson Schwengel, Commissioner Wilson, Commissioner
Mount, Commissioner W alsh, Commissioner Cloke and
1 -Abstain Commissioner Castro. Commissioner Mount moved to form the Virginia Avenue Park
Expansion Working Group. Commissioner Walsh seconded. It was unanimously approved. Working
Group members will be Chairperson Schwengel, Commissioner Castro and Commissioner Wilson.
Commissioner Susan Cloke moved that this appointments be approved and Commissioner Mount
seconded. It was unanimously approved. Staff will post and make recommendations to the Commission
for youth representatives at the March meeting.
B.Recommendation to Request Approval from the City Council for Commission and Sports
Advisory Council Involvement in and Advocacy for SMMUSD Proposition X Recreation
Amenities on School Sites
. Commissioner Steven Mount moved that the City Council approve the
involvement of Commission and Sports Advisory Council be involved in advocacy for SMMUSD for
Proposition X. Commissioner Susan Cloke seconded. It was unanimously approved.
C.Discussion of Skate Park Needs and Issues
- Julie Rusk reviewed the status of the current skatepark
and issues related to funding a permanent location. The Commission has sent a request to Superintendent
Neil Schmidt .requesting assistance in finding a location for the skatepark. The Commissioners will look
at California Parks and Recreation Conference for ideas. Discussion followed.
D.Status Report on Outreach Activities for VAPAB Membership Recruitment and Consideration
by the VAPAB to establish Four Year Terms Rather than Two Year Terms as Currently
Approved in the VAPAB By-Laws
. Julie Rusk reviewed the outreach being done, including flyers,
announcements and meetings in the neighborhood. The standard application for City Boards and
Commissions with specific questions is being used for the recruitment. The request by the Virginia
Avenue Park Advisory Board to establish four year terms rather than two year terms as currently
approved in the VAPAB By-Law was discussed. Commissioner Steven Mount moved to amend the by-
laws to have a single limit of four year term with reapplication after year of non-membership.
Commissioner Susan Wilson seconded. It was unanimously approved.
10.Public Input - Member of the public Joanne Leavitt spoke.
Adjournment:
Commissioner Mount moved to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner
Wilson seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.