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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 th 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 = Development Department. Ms. Ginsberg will be responsible for overseeing the departments CIP projects = 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 t 6:00 p.m., he Pony League onMarch 6 and the Bobby Sock League on March 27. All events are being heldat . 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. = 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 = 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. . 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 nd 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.