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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 8/14/2006CITY OF GLENDALE,ARIZONA MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION HELD MONDAY,AUGUST 14,2006 GLENDALE MUNICIPAL OFFICE COMPLEX, ROOM B-3 5850 WEST GLENDALE AVENUE The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:00p.m. by Chairperson Hansen with Commissioners Stanley Long, Michael Socaciu, Ruben Gutierrez, Eric Simon, Morris Russell, and Sara Berry. Representing city staff was Becky Benny, Karen Hesser, Shirley Medler, Clyde Brown, and Mike Gregory. I.APPROVAL OF MINUTES—JUNE 12, 2006, MEETING Chairperson Hansen called for approval of the minutes. A motion was made by Commissioner Socaciu to accept the minutes. Commissioner Russell seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. II. PUBLIC COMMENTS Chairperson Hansen read the mission of the Parks and Recreation Commission. The purpose of the Parks and Recreation Commission is to advise the City Council on policies, rules, and regulations referring to planning, acquisition, deposition, operations, use, care and maintenance of parks and recreation facilities. The Commission is also responsible for development of a continuous master plan for the city parks system and its recreation programs. Chairperson Hansen stated there were Citizen Comment Cards and Public Comment Speaker Card located outside. of the door. He asked that anyone wishing to speak or submit comments to please complete the appropriate cards. III. PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION GOALS Ms. Becky Benny, Parks and Recreation Director,provided an update to the Commission. . She said several of the goals have been achieved but suggested the Commission review the goals,provide any updates if necessary, and establish timelines. Chairperson Hansen asked how the `year' should be defined. Ms. Benny stated the city's fiscal year begins in July ending in June. Staff performance goals are based upon this fiscal year. She suggested the Commission's goals follow the fiscal year in order to remain consistent. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes August 14, 2006 Page 2 Commissioner Simon asked who is responsible for #2 (Park Inspections) of the Commission Goals. Ms. Benny stated the Commission provides updates. She added that inspection forms would be provided to the Commissioners, although updates will be accepted at any time. She encouraged the Commissioners to contact staff or provides comments during a meeting if there are concerns regarding the city's parks and facilities. Commissioner Gutierrez asked how often the parks were serviced. Ms. Karen Hesser, Deputy Director, explained there are different levels of service as some parks are utilized more frequently than others. However, each park is visited at least once a week by staff. Commissioner Russell asked for an update on New World Park as he has seen no activity recently. Ms. Hesser stated the park will be officially reopened at a ceremony on August 30, 2006, at 6:00p.m. Ms. Benny added that New World Park is one of the four parks recently remodeled. During the renovation, it was discovered that the security lighting was deficient. It has been replaced thus creating a delay in completion of the renovation. Chairperson Hansen suggested all goals be read for the benefit of the new Commissioners. Ms. Benny began with Goal #1 —At least once per year, tour other parks and/or recreation facilities located inside or outside of Glendale that may be similar to existing or planned parks and facilities. She believes touring the Foothills Recreation Aquatics facility would be appropriate as it is scheduled to open soon. She explained that the Commission had recently toured the North Mountain Preserve in Phoenix. Chairperson Hansen added the Commission recently took a joint tour with the Neighborhood Commission of several city parks. Goal #2 — Provide bi-annual updates regarding park site visits utilizing park inspection forms and standards. Ms. Benny stated that the Commissioners are assisting staff by providing any comments regarding the parks. Staff appreciates a view from a different set of eyes with possibly a different point of view. Goal #3 — Participate in a minimum of one program or event and report experience(s) to the Commission. Staff asks that the Commission attend an event or program that he or she has never attended. The purpose is to experience a new program or event and provide staff with feedback. Goal #4 — Meet with other citizen commissions, such as the Arts Commission to gain understanding of their areas of focus. She stated as Chairperson Hansen mentioned there was a co-commission meeting held on a Saturday between the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Neighborhood Commission. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes August 14, 2006 Page 3 Goal #5 — Conduct a park appreciation activity — hold a park appreciation event while conducting a Commission meeting in a city park. Goal #6 — Conduct a Commission meeting in another park and recreation location. She stated the purpose of this goal was to move the Commission meeting out of city hall and into another location. A meeting could be conducted at a particular facility followed by a tour of the location. Ms. Benna stated she would like to include the Commission's accomplishments in the annual report which will be completed this year. Staff is hoping within the next two years to pursue national agency accreditation, the highest acknowledgement of standards in the parks and recreation profession. Commissioner Long stated he attended a park dedication program conducted by Arrowhead Lakes H.O.A. for Council Member Martinez recently. He said the ceremony was beautiful and well attended. W. PARK AND FACILITY NAMING Ms. Benna stated that staff is attempting to address park and facility naming. She stated there currently is not a formalized policy. Due to the ongoing development of different types of new parks and facilities, staff has developed a proposed written policy for solicitation and criteria for selection of names for the various types of parks and facilities. Previously, a variety of methods have been used to select proposed names for parks and facilities. The public input process has included solicitation of names through public meetings, postal mail, newspaper, and internet solicitations for proposed names. Ms. Benna stated that staff then presents the names solicited through the public input process to the Parks and Recreation Commission for its review and recommendation. The following criteria currently utilized for name selection includes: adjacent street name, predominant physical features of the immediate area, the subdivision in which the property is located, adjacent historic and landmark features. The Commission's recommendation is then forwarded to the City Council for approval. She said due to the on-going development of different types of new parks and facilities, staff have developed a written policy for solicitation and criteria for selection of names for the various types of parks and facilities. The proposed procedures and policy was distributed for the Commission's review and comment. The policy establishes the criteria for name selection, citizen input process, Parks and Recreation Commission review and recommendation as well as City Council approval. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes August 14, 2006 Page 4 She continued by reviewing the proposed criteria for name selection stating that names submitted for consideration should relate to the following criteria: 1) the geographic location of the facility; 2) an outstanding feature of the facility, whether it is natural, geographical or man-made, 3) an adjoining subdivision, street, school, or natural feature, 4) facilities within a park can be named separately from the park and/or facility in which they are located, subject to the general guidelines outlined in this policy, 5) an individual or organization that contributed significantly (typically not less than 50% of the value of the property or improvements) to the acquisition or development of the park or facility; and 6) duplication of other park or facility names located in the city shall not be considered. Commissioner Simon stated that the city had a coach by the name of Enrique Banda. He believed the city should name a park or a field after him as he was a coach for over 45 years. Ms. Benna stated that staff named a scholarship after Mr. Banda rather than a park. Ms. Benny reviewed the procedures for the Commission. Commissioner Socaciu stated he was uneasy about naming parks after living people as they could possibly act inappropriately which would give the park and the city a negative look. He suggested that if a park were named after a person, he suggested a time requirement stating that persons have been deceased for a certain length of time which will allow a fair amount of time for their significance to be evaluated. Commissioner Socaciu said he was also concerned about allowing a company to purchase the name of a park. This could also have a negative effect if there was negative behavior associated with any particular company. Chairperson Hansen felt the criteria didn't differentiate between the different types of parks such as a neighborhood, community and regional park. Commissioner Russell verified that the Commission does not name the park, the Council does. Commissioner Simon asked if once approved would the process be posted for the public's information. Ms. Benny stated it would be posted on the webpage. Commissioner Socaciu suggested that the procedures indicate that parks should not be named the same as a park in an adjacent jurisdiction. Ms. Benny continued reviewing the procedures. Commissioner Simon suggested that #4 read: ... the Parks and Recreation Commission will review and recommend approval..." There was a discussion regarding the different types of Commissions and Boards and Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes August 14, 2006 Page 5 which types of cases or items they had approval authority and where a recommendation would need to be made. The Commission suggested staff make the recommended changes and return before the Commission. Commissioner Socaciu noted there are parks that are being utilized that have yet to be named. Chairperson Hansen stated that he would like this policy in place prior to naming the three unnamed parks V. CITIZEN COMMENTS No citizen comments were received. VI. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Ms. Benny thanked Chairperson Hansen for his presentation at the Northern Horizon Park grand opening on Thursday, August 10, 2006. The grand opening for the youth fields next to the Cardinals' Stadium took place on Friday, August 11, 2006. She thanked Mike Gregory for his hard work and for his coordination of that project. Commissioner Socaciu questioned the official name of the sports fields, the Youth Sports Complex. He asked if it could be renamed. He asked who is responsible for the maintenance costs of the fields. Ms. Benny stated the city is the responsible party. Ms. Benny stated the Parks Department will be receiving two state awards from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. These awards acknowledge the top facilities and programs in the state. The first award is for the Rose Lane Aquatics Center and the second is for the Touch-A-Truck program. Ms. Hesser stated that the older park renovation project will be completed by the end of August. Those parks renovated were Rose Lane, Myrtle, Lawrence, and Delicias parks. Thanks to Mike Gregory for all his work coordinating these renovations. Mr. Randy Spreitzer, Parks Supervisor, retired this past Friday after 30 years of service. The dog park renovation project was completed July 26, 2006, with minor improvements to be completed. The area referred to as the granite area was opened the following Wednesday, with the turf area opening in a couple of weeks. Ms. Hesser said the clean up project has begun at the Thunderbird Park. This includes painting of all the trash cans to a desert sand color, which is more eye-pleasing. The restrooms are next to be painted with the tables and ramadas being addressed next. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes August 14, 2006 Page 6 Ms. Shirley Medler stated the punch list phase has begun at the Foothills Aquatics Facilities which includes inspecting every room. She added the summer programs are coming to end with after school programs beginning. The swimming pools continue to be open with an abbreviated schedule of weekends only at Ironwood and Rose Lane. Ms. Medler responded to a question from Commissioner Socaciu received at the last meeting regarding the AM/PM application. She stated the application has been drastically reduced in the number of pages. Commissioner Socaciu thanked Ms. Medler. Mr. Mike Gregory provided the Commission with an update of the Grand Canal Linear Park. He stated 75th Avenue to 83rd Avenue is currently under construction as a large box culvert is being installed. He stated with the construction of the 95th Avenue bridge and construction of the Cardinals' stadium, irrigation of the park was turned off due to construction. With the irrigation being off for 10 months the landscaping has suffered. A 24" waterline needed to be installed from 75th Avenue to the stadium. The contractor stated the best way was to go through the park rather than around. Staff is now working with the contractor to repair and return the park to its original state, which will be paid for by the contractor. Commissioner Socaciu commented on the Grand Canal Linear Park and agreed the park was in need of some attention. VII. COMMISSION COMMENTS Commissioner Socaciu questioned why fencing has been installed around the Western Area Regional Park. Mr. Gregory stated the fencing is surrounding almost 20 acres for infrastructure improvements on Phase II. Installation of the fencing will take two to three days. Chairperson Hansen commented on the Northern Horizon dog park. He added that he has attended past Touch-A-Truck events. Ms. Benna noted that the originator of that event was Mike Gregory. Chairperson Hansen noted at a recent event at the skate park, the participants of the first event were required to wear helmets while those in the second event were not. He questioned why the rules varied. Ms. Medler stated she would research this concern. Commissioner Socaciu stated that his wife is involved with groups that conduct lure coursing. This is an event, which requires at least 10-acres of space for the dogs to chase after a lure. There are two dogs at a time that cannot be leashed during the event. This type of event is not allowed under the current leash guidelines. He asked if this type of event could be held at a dog park being that there is a leash law in Glendale. Ms. Senna stated for a city-sponsored event, the city could be flexible. She added that dog parks are fairly new to the city. Commissioner Socaciu thanked staff for the information. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes August 14, 2006 Page 7 VIII. NEXT AGENDA ITEMS Ms. Benna stated that the Park and Facility Naming Policy will return in September and Ms. Medler will provide an update of the summer programs outcomes. IX. The next regular meeting will be Monday, September 11, 2006, at 7pm in Room B- 3 of the Municipal Office Complex. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:56p.m. Diana Figueroa, Recording Secretary