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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 9/15/2014 CITY OF GLENDALE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING SAHUARO RANCH HISTORICAL AREA—PARK FRUIT PACKING SHED 9802 N. 59TH, GLENDALE 85302 SEPTEMBER 15,2014 6:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: John Krystek, Chair Barbara R. Cole,Vice Chair David Moreno Robert Irons John Faris Manuel Padia MEMBERS ABSENT: Manuel S.Padia, Jr. Chase Mackay OTHERS PRESENT: Lori Bye,Recreation Manager Paul King,Recreation Manager Michelle Yates, Senior Recreation Coordinator Gwen Benoit,Management Aide I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Krystek called the meeting to order at 6:11 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Chair Krystek took roll. It was noted that Commissioners Padia Jr. and Mackay was absent. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Cole motioned,seconded by Commissioner Moreno,to approve the June 8,2014 and August 2,2014 meeting minutes as written. Motion carried 6—0. IV. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR Ms. Jessica Koory, of the Glendale Arizona Historical Society, thanked the Commission for its recommendation to City Council to approve the installation of the Marty Robbins memorial plaque in Murphy Park. Ms. Koory gave special appreciation to Mr. King, Mr. Strunk and Mr. Gregory for their extra efforts and guidance. Ms. Koory invited all to the dedication of the memorial plaque on September 26th at 1:00 p.m. at the site of the plaque in Murphy Park. Ms. Koory noted that September 26th is Mr. Marty Robbins' birthday. Ms. Koory stated that Mr. Ron Short asked for Chair Krystek to say a few words on behalf of the Commission at the dedication. Chair Krystek agreed to do so. V. FY14-15 COMMISSION WORK PLAN 1 Ms.Bye facilitated discussion on the Commission FY14-15 Work Plan. Discussion was held on Goal #1 in regards to the previous month's change to visit all parks in a Commissioner's respective district. Due to the scope and amount of goals, it was agreed that Goal #1 would be kept to visiting one park per quarter. Ms. Yates provided the Commission with a list of non-profits to visit in regards to Goal #3. Commissioner Cole asked Ms. Yates to provide sample questions to be used on the tours of the non- profits. The Commission agreed by consensus to adopt the FY14-15 Work Plan as follows: 1. The Commission to conduct one park visit per quarter and provide comprehensive input on what they believe to be the: a. Strengths b. Weaknesses c. Suggested Improvements d. Amenities or infrastructure that should be removed or replaced 2. Visit and tour a facility that is operated and programmed by a non-profit organization. Prior to the tour develop a list of questions that might be pertinent to the operation. 3. The Commission attends one other City of Glendale commission meetings. The commissions include: Arts Commission * Aviation Advisory Commission * Board of Adjustment * Citizens Transportation Oversight Commission * Citizens Bicycle Advisory Committee * Commission on Neighborhoods * Commission on Persons with Disabilities* Community Development Advisory Committee * Glendale Municipal Property Corporation MPC * Historic Preservation Commission * Industrial Development Authority * Judicial Selection Advisory Board * Library Advisory Board * Personnel Board * Planning Commission 4. The Commission conducts one public event and contributes all proceeds to the Gifting For Glendale non-profit—Glendale's Initiative for Tomorrow. 5. Conduct a focus group for those groups who participate in the Department's tournament allocation program. Sports and Health will assist with the discussion. 6.The Commission to take the lead role in developing a youth master plan for Glendale residents. The combined effort should establish a shared vision for youth in a community and identify the strategies needed to achieve desired outcomes for youth.Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services staff will provide guidance and assistance in the process. 7. The Commission to participate in one or more phases of the KaBOOM! playground build. The playground build is broken into three areas; 1) Design Day;2)Preparation Day; and 3)Build Day. VI. CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PLAYGROUND IN BONSALL PARK NORTH Ms. Yates gave an overview of the project and partnership with KaBOOM! for the construction of a new playground build at Bonsall Park North. Highlights of the presentation included the following: 2 KaBOOM! • A child-serving non-profit with the focus to solve a problem: The Play Deficit. • Partners with corporate sponsors and foundations nationwide matches funding partners with organizations such as the City of Glendale. • Since its founding in 1996, KaBOOM! has worked with community benefactors and partners to build, improve and open more than 15,000 playgrounds, engage more than 1,000,000 volunteers and serve more than 6,600,000 children. KaBOOM! selected Bonsall Park North to construct a new playground. Selection criteria included: • Serve a low-income and/or special needs community • Have no playground or need to replace an existing unsafe or outdated playground • Complete any needed site preparation on at least 2,500 square feet of flat, dirt surface • Capacity and willingness to engage community members in planning and building the playground • Capacity to generate fundraising contribution • Demonstrated enthusiasm for this project and commitment to fulfill requirements Ms. Yates noted that the value of the new playground is $85,000 and KaBOOM! is funding this project through a donation from the Arizona Coyotes Foundation. Role of the Community Partner-City of Glendale • Community Partner will need to own, or attain permission to build on, available land • Complete necessary site preparation, including soil testing • Assume insurance, maintenance and liability of the playground • Attain any necessary permits required locally to build a playground (when applicable) • Contribute a cash contribution towards the cost of equipment($8,500) • Host Design Day and Build Week • Form a Planning Committee who will work together to execute a successful Build Day Ms. Yates noted that the $8,500 City match would come from the General Fund. Commissioner Cole asked if the $8,500 includes the cost of soil testing. Ms. Yates replied in the negative but added that the soil testing cost was minimal. Ms. Bye announced that the soil testing results were received today and were negative. Design Day—3 Stages • Site Walk o Project Manager from KaBOOM! will assess the site for the new playground • Youth Session(1 Hour) o Minimum of 20 children will be present to draw and represent their dream playground • Adult Session(2—3 Hours) o Minimum of 20 adults will assist with planning committees, selection of play equipment, layout, design and site enhancement projects Ms. Yates explained that site enhancement projects can include projects such as new paint for the restrooms, fence repairs, and new/improved roofing for the ramada and restrooms. 3 Commissioner Cole inquired as to how children will be found for the Youth Session. Ms. Yates explained that she will recruit from the neighboring communities and will reach out to youth non-profits near the park. Commissioner Faris motioned, seconded by Commissioner Cole, to recommend that Council approve the playground installation via partnership with KaBOOM! at Bonsall Park North. Motion carried 6—0. Planning Committees • Community Engagement Chair • Youth Engagement Chair • Recruitment Team • Food Team • Music&Media Team • Logistics Team • Green Team • Construction Team Ms. Yates commented that KaBOOM! asks that half of the committee volunteers come from City staff and half from the community. Commissioner Irons inquired about any school partners. Ms. Yates stated that she has a relationship with Smith Elementary. Commissioner Faris suggested reaching out to various local service clubs such as Kiwanis. Build Week&Day • Prep Days 1 and 2 o 7 a.m.—2:00 p.m. with 30 volunteers. Tasks include unloading equipment, cutting lumber, priming walls, etc. • Build Day o 8 a.m.—3:00 p.m. with 200 volunteers to participate in a one day installation event ending with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Ms. Yates noted that the community funder, the Arizona Coyotes Foundation, is required to bring 125 volunteers to the Build events and the City to bring 75. Commissioner Cole inquired about logos at the park and the colors of the equipment. Ms. Yates stated that the only logos posted at the park will be the City of Glendale, KaBOOM! and the Arizona Coyotes. Ms. Yates was unsure of the color choices at this time. Commissioner Cole suggested a community pot luck for the Build events. Ms. Yates stated that the project is estimated to begin in December. Ms. Yates noted that this would be the second KaBOOM! playground project. The first was at Bonsall South in 2005. Commissioner Faris asked if there would be some sort of recognition for participants, such as a plaque. Ms. Yates replied that this would depend on budget,but some sort of recognition would be made. 4 Commissioner Cole stated that the Interact group at her high school is very interested in participating on the project. Commissioner Moreno asked for an update on the Sonorita Park improvements. Mr. King explained that the landscape design and the irrigation trenching has been done, however, the recent storm has caused some delay to the schedule. Once the area has dried out,the irrigation will be put in, plants will be placed and then the sidewalks will be done. VII.ARCHERY RANGE UPDATE Ms.Bye gave a high level background of the Archery Range at Heroes Park for the new Commissioners: • The project started via Council direction. • Research,public meetings, surveys and archery demonstrations were held. • Information was provided back to Council. • Council directed staff to move forward with the project at no cost to the City via funding grants from partners. Ms.Bye stated that staff is moving forward on the following: • Pursuing a grant from Arizona Game and Fish for assistance with construction costs • Pursuing a grant from Easton for archery equipment • Drafting a rough draft of the RFP to take over operations of the range • Soliciting funding partners Ms. Bye estimated that construction of the range could begin by September 2015. Commissioner Faris inquired as to the identity of a potential range operator and if the safety aspect has been fully vetted. Ms. Bye stated that one potential operator could be the Arizona Archery Association. Ms. Bye stated that they could hold private classes at the range. Ms. Bye explained that the range could also be used by the general public, but the public would have to bring their own equipment to the range if not enrolled in a private class. Ms. Bye stated that participants in the sport of archery are very responsible and staff could not find any reported incidents at other archery ranges. Commissioner Cole suggested that due to the location of the park, staff should check with the cities of Peoria and Phoenix for potential partnerships/funding. Commissioner Padia suggested contacting Corner Archery. Ms. Bye indicated that staff had done so. Commissioner Padia stated that he participates in archery and volunteered to assist with the project. Commissioner Padia noted that his family has taken archery classes and archers do respect the sport and the safety aspects necessary. VIII.PARK MAINTENANCE STORM DAMAGE PROCEDURES Mr. King briefed the Commission on the recent severe rainstorms in the valley on August 19th and September 8th and the departmental procedures during those storms. Storm Activity Protocol 1. Staff alerted by Local Weather Stations, Accu-weather and The Weather Channel of potential heavy rains and downpours. 5 2. Supervisors notify staff that heavy rain and flash flooding is moving into our area. 3. Staff load extra barricades, pumps, caution tape, stakes, cones and signs to distribute out to areas along trails,retentions and other"usual suspects"where extra signage is normally required. 4. Staff distribute barricades at locations within their own "work zones" and communicate on other isolated closures observed. 5. Supervisor is notified to prepare press release information to Marketing Department. 6. Areas of moving water are closely monitored. 7. Closure areas are prioritized once safely accessible by staff Photos of Trail Stationary Signage and Thunderbird Paseo Linear Park Trail Closure Signs were displayed. Aerial maps of highly impacted areas at Grand Canal Linear Park, Thunderbird Paseo Linear Park, Skunk Creek Linear Park and Thunderbird Conservation Park were displayed. Photos of flooding at the parks were shown as well as at the same flooded areas two days after. Typical Equipment Used for Storm Clean Up ✓ We rented a Tractor with rotary broom to sweep sand, mud, dirt, rocks and debris off the trails ✓ Gannon Tractors ✓ Small units with rotary brooms ✓ Pressure washers ✓ Chain saws and blowers Photos of staff and equipment used at various locations were displayed. Summary of 8-19-14 Rain Event 1. Staff—two weeks of clean up 2. Tree Crew had to remove seven downed trees along all trails and numerous branches. 3. Mow Crews had to mow areas of turf 2-3 times due to the height of grass and having to wait for areas to dry out. 4. Staff have already started and are scheduling for repairs to washouts and erosions areas. Storm photos of the Brown Street retention area, berm damage at Sahuaro Ranch Park and many other flooded areas were displayed as well as two days after. Summary of 9-8-14 Rain Event as of 9-15-14 1. Staff—One week of clean up completed 2. Tree Crew had to remove fourteen downed trees along all trails and numerous branches. 3. Engineering was consulted on heavily damaged locations. 4. All areas open to public except for: — Thunderbird Conservation Park — some sections of trails; Grand Canal Linear trail and Park;Thunderbird Paseo lighted fields Mr. King praised the great job done by all of the parks staff during the storms. Mr. King noted that out of 92 facilities, only three were closed. Mr. King displayed pictures of damage from the floods, such as exposed irrigation pipes due to eroded dirt and ground cover. Mr. King is waiting for direction from Risk Management and Engineering regarding how to proceed with the repairs. Chair Krystek thanked Mr.King for the excellent staff performance during the storms. DC. STAFF UPDATE 6 Ms. Yates reported the following: • October 18th from 10 a.m.to 1 p.m.: Touch a Truck at Westgate. • October 24th: Wild West Festival at Sahuaro Ranch Park. • October 25th: Rock N Roll Paint-a-Thon • The new website for the Glendale Youth Project will be up and live this Friday. Ms. Bye announced that Mr. Kyle White will be hired on as permanent staff in the position of Aquatic Recreation Coordinator beginning September 20th. Ms. Bye stated that Mr. White was previously with staff in a temporary capacity. Ms Bye noted that Ms. Benoit has been promoted to another department and her position will be filled next month. Ms. Bye updated the Commissioner on the following aquatics grant sources as requested at last month's meeting: • 2014 o Arizona Drowning Prevention Coalition $ 500 o FAST Foundation $1,000 o Anthony Holly Foundation $1,000 • 2012 and 2013 o Arizona Drowning Prevention Coalition $ 420 o Southwest Ambulance Grant $5,000 • 2011 o Councilmember Lieberman Council Funds Donated to Swim Lessons $1,000 o Southwest Ambulance Grant $5,000 X. COMMISSION COMMENTS Commissioner Irons congratulated the crew on the successful handling of the parks during the rains. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. by consensus. The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, October 20, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. with the location to be determined. Respectfully submitted, Denise Kazmierczak 7