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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 10/8/2018-^J-i_IY1_ .-.,'^i_ *\jr ,<.^ MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION GLENDALE COMMUNITY CENTER NORTH 14075 W. 59TH AVE. GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85306 OCTOBER 8, 2018 6:OOP.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL Present: Barbara Cole, Chair Sam McConnell III, Vice Chair Ethan McAffee, Commissioner Monica Lopez, Commissioner Jessica Edgar, Commissioner Absent: Pattie Johnston, Commissioner Gayle Schiavone, Commissioner Aaron Walls, Commissioner Also Present: Jim Burke, Director Tim Barnard, Assistant Director Stephanie Miller, Program Manager Joanne Toms, Environmental Program Manager, Water Services Attendees: Martin Wesolowski 3. CITIZEN COMMENTS If citizens wish to speak on a matter concerning the Giendale Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission that is not on the printed agenda, please complete a Citizen Comments Card and provide it to the designated staff person prior to the beginning of the meeting. Once your name is called by the Commission Chairperson.'please proceed to the podium and state your name and address for the record. Please limit your comments to a period of three minutes or less. 4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes of September 10, 2018. Motioned by Commissioner Ethan McAffee, seconded by Commissioner Jessica Edgar to approve the September 10, 2018 Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting minutes as written. AYE: Chair Barbara Cole Vice Chair Sam McConnell III Commissioner Ethan McAffee Commissioner Jessica Edgar Commissioner Monica Lopez Passed b. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission / Historic Preservation Commission Joint Meeting Minutes of September 10, 2018. Motioned by Vice Chair Sam McConnell I I, seconded by Commissioner Ethan McAffee to approve the September 10, 2018 Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission / Historic Preservation Commission Joint Meeting minutes as written. AYE: Chair Barbara Cole Vice Chair Sam McConnell III Commissioner Ethan McAffee Commissioner Jessica Edgar Commissioner Monica Lopez Passed 5. NEW BUSINESS a. INFORIVIATION: TOUR OF GLENDALE COMIVIUNIP»r CENTER NORTH Mr. Barnard introduced Mr. Wesolowski, who gave a presentation on the Martin Art Center Program. The presentation included the following: . Mr. Wesolowski gave a brief background of himself. .The Martin Art Center is a free afterschool STEaM program:Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematic.The program is held at Glendale Community Center North.This program is part of a national movement call for augmented education.The benefits to the childrenfor this type of program were noted. . The Commissioners were able to view the different activity centers in the STEaM lab. . Various activities include: Computers, Robotics, Art, SD-Printing, Electronics, Circuitry, Music, Poetry Slam, Multimedia, and more. . Various offerings are held at the center when the afterschool program is not in session such as for adults, field trips, and home school programs. Commissioner Edgar inquired as to the minimum age to be a volunteer at the STEaM lab. Mr. Wesolowski replied that a volunteer must be 13 years of age and applications can be completed online. Chair Cole commented that there is a new coding class at Glendale High School and suggested that coding might be a good fit at the STEaM lab. Mr. Wesolowski agreed that coding could be used in the robotics and Arduino offerings. Chair Cole wondered how many children came to the center each day. Mr. Wesolowski stated that the afterschool program is held from 3:00 p,m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and there are approximately five to seven children who attend each day. Mr. Wesolowski noted that over the course of the summer, there were one hundred and fifty children who visited the center. Mr. Wesolowski announced that the Martin Art Center recently received a grant of $1,100.00 for a robot, which will allow the Robotics team to participate in a robotics competition. Mr. Wesolowski noted that there is an extra cost of $150.00 for each child who would like to participate on the team. Chair Cole complimented Mr. Wesolowski on his work at the Center. b. INFORMATION: RAIN GARDEN AT GLENDALE COMMUNITY CENTER NORTH Ms. Toms gave a presentation to the Commission on the Rain Garden at Community Center North. Highlights from the presentation included the following: . The Rain Garden was a joint project by the Water Services Department and the Parks and Recreation Department.Great appreciation was given to Park Superintendent Bryan Wagner and Certified Arborist Codie White, who both helped to make this project possible. The Watershed Management Group, a non-profit, was offering a grant in partnership with the Central Arizona Project.Ms. Toms and the Parks Department staff searched for a site in the City that would be applicable to the grant.Community Center North was deemed the best fit for the grant as far as budget and scope.Also, the Center is highly visible along 59th Avenue and it complements the Center's STEaM-based programming. The grant was awarded. . Before and After pictures of the Rain Garden were displayed. . The landscape design drawings were displayed. Low Impact Development is the concept program for managing rainwater through best practices, such as how to capture and utilize rainwater. . Rainwater is free, fresh, and filling.The landscape design goal is to slow, spread, and sink the water. . The Rain Garden Workday, to construct the Rain Garden, was held on November 18, 2017: . 34 volunteers, including high school students . 157 volunteer hours . 95 plants . 9 tons of rip rap Plant donations . Mountain States Nursery . Arid Zone Trees . Home Depot . Educational, interpretive signage was installed.Information on the signage includes the following: . What is a rain garden? . Why install native plants? . Arizona-Friendly Plants . Rain Gardens are a Green Solution to Storm Water Pollution . Project Background . A video of a rainy date at the Center was played, which showed how the rain water collects in the rain garden, instead of running off onto sidewalks and the street. . The new rain garden will conserve water, promote healthier plants, attract wildlife, and reduce storm water pollution. Commissioner McAffee wondered how weed prevention was handled in the rain garden. Ms. Toms stated that the Parks Department maintains the site. Mr. Wesolowski commented that he has seen Park staff take care of the weeds and he also pulls weeds himself. ACTION: RECREATIONAL DRONE ORDINANCE Mr. Barnard gave a presentation on the Drones in Parks and the Recreational Drone Ordinance. Highlights of the presentation included the following: . Follow up to Commission presentations in 2017. . Previously discussed: . Compliance with state statute . Selecting potential park location . Worked with Glendale Police Department to draft ordinance Selection of Park For Drone Flying . Based on Criteria, the recommendation is:Thunderbird Park at 67th Avenue . An aerial map of proposed site was displayed. . Review draft ordinance change . Provide comments . Next Steps . Discuss with City Council . Public outreach . Return to City Council for final approval Mr. Barnard presented the required City ordinance amendment to the Commission for review discussion, and action by the Commission. The amendment was modeled after the City of Phoenix's efforts in creating an ordinance to allow for recreational drone use in designated parks. Any location allowing recreational drone flying needs to comply with state and federal requirements and must not directly impact critical infrastructure and facilities. Chair Cole wondered if drone-flyers need to inform anyone they will be flying a drone at the park or if the drones need to be registered. Commissioner McAffee asked if there were regulations for filming from drones in the park. Mr. Barnard relayed that the drone flying in the park would be for recreational use only. Mr. Barnard added that filming would not be allowed in the park. Vice Chair McConnell stated that there is a level of drone flight below a certain height whereby the drone does not have to be registered, such as a toy drone for use by children. Mr. Barnard relayed that to fly a drone at the park, all FAA requirements must be met. Mr. Burke stated that staff will clarify all FAA regulations and any requirements for FAA registration. Commissioner Edgar read aloud that drones over .55 pounds require registry. Mr. Burke stated that staff will perform further research on all drone registry requirements. Commissioner Edgar stated that although the proposed site is minimally used, there are people who run through the area. Mr. Barnard stated that there will be appropriate signage at the site. Mr. Barnard announced that this item will be tabled, and staff will come back with the requested clarification. 6. INFORMATION: LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES Mr. Burke reported that Parks and Recreation is responsible for the care of municipal landscapes, turf, trees, and shrubs. As part of training and education, staff works with professional organizations such as the Arizona Landscape Contractors' Association (ALCA). Mr Burke showed a short video which demonstrated the need for proper shrub and tree trimming techniques. Mr. Burke announced that he is looking at the potential for some of the crew to receive ALCA training. STAFF UPDATES 7. a. Mr. Barnard gave a report on the Sands Park Playground project, which included the following information: .A public meeting was held in September, at which Chair Cole and Vice Chair McConnell were in attendance.Two playground vendors were present to provide their proposed designs.Approximately twenty to twenty-five residents were present and voted for the design they liked best. . Mr. Barnard displayed the diagram for the winning design for the two- to five-year old playground as well as the winning design for the five- to twelve-year old playground. . Funding has been obtained through a CDBG grant.The playground equipment will be purchased, and a community build will be held in late January/early February 2019. . The park is located near 55th Avenue and Orangewood. Chair Cole announced that her term on the Commission will be expired, but she would still like to be informed of the dates of the community build in order to participate. Vice Chair McConnell stated that the public meeting was very interesting. Vice Chair McConnell questioned the members of the public at the meeting and no one had anything negative to say about the Parks Department. Mr. Barnard noted that the Elsie Mccarthy Sensory Garden, which is geared toward the visually impaired, is adjacent to Sands Park. Mr. Barnard announced that Council recommended moving forward with the O'Neil Park improvements, with the use of CDBG funds. The project would include the following: . Remove the pool and bath house . Clear blight . Install picnic benches and a ramada Mr. Barnard relayed that staff is preparing to put out an RFI (Request for Information) on the Park Master Plan and Commissioners could participate on the panel. Vice Chair McConnell volunteered to assist with the process. Commissioner Edgar inquired as to when a Commissioner would have to be available to participate. Mr. Barnard stated that once a volunteer is selected to participate, they would need to be available to meet during the day on weekdays, and there may be some evening meetings. Mr. Barnard added that further in the Master Plan process, public input meetings will be held, and a city-wide survey will be conducted. Mr. Burke noted that the entire Master Plan process could take from one to two years. Vice Chair McConnell asked if only one overall Master Plan would be done, or separate plans, such as for Sahuaro Ranch Park and more. Mr. Burke replied that staff is looking at just one Master Plan. Commissioner Edgar relayed that she might be available to assist. Vice Chair McConnell wondered if the Commission would have any interaction regarding the city golf courses or would this just be a Council decision. Mr. Burke stated that staff will be going to a Council workshop to ask for direction on Glen Lakes. Mr. Burke commented that Council may direct staff to come back to the Commission or Council may provide specific direction. Mr. Burke noted that the workshop is not a formal voting meeting and there will not be opportunity for public comment, however, the public can attend the workshop or watch it on live broadcast. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS 8. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission will be held on November 19, 2018 at 6:00 p.m, at the Fruit Packing Shed at Sahuaro Ranch Park, located at 9802 N 59th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85302. 9. ADJOURNMENT The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting minutes of October 8, 2018 were submitted and approved this 10th day of December, 2018. Denise Kazmierczak Recording Secretary Gwen Benoit Administrative Support Specialist ^<^LJ ^TL^^