HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 12/11/2023Glendale
A R I Z O N A
MINUTES
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION
GLENDALE CIVIC CENTER
5750 W GLENN DR
GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85301
DECEMBER 11, 2023
6:00 P.M.
Parks and Recreation Mission Statement
A partnership of employees and community working together to create a better quality of life for
Glendale through the provision of excellent parks, recreational programming, special events, tourism,
and neighborhood and community facilities.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Martinez called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Chair Martinez conducted roll call.
Present: Reginald Martinez, Chair
Helena Johnson Bodine, Vice Chair
Kathryn Mawby, Commissioner
Bud Zomok, Commissioner
Tom Traw, Commissioner
Absent: Marie Nesfield, Member
Also Present: Heidi Barriga, Deputy Director
John Kennedy, Interim Director
Robert Gallegos, Park Manager
Diane Williams, Program Manager
David Shaddix, Park Ranger
Glenn Schetter, Park Ranger
Michael Hernandez, Park Ranger
Alex Lerma, Sr. Planner, Planning Department
3. CITIZEN COMMENTS
None.
4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
a. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes of November 13, 2023.
Motioned by Vice Chair Helena Johnson Bodine, seconded by Commissioner Bud
Zomok, to approve the November 13, 2023, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission
Meeting minutes as written. Motion carried 5 — 0.
AYE: Chair Reginald Martinez
Vice Chair Helena Johnson Bodine
Commissioner Kathryn Mawby
Commissioner Bud Zomok
Commissioner Tom Traw
Passed
5. STAFF INTRODUCTIONS
Mr. Gallegos introduced Mr. Shaddix, Mr. Schletter, and Mr. Hernandez, new Park Rangers.
Each shared a brief background of himself.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. INFORMATION: COMMISSION REPORTS
Vice Chair Johnson -Bodine reported that Utopia Park looked fantastic on a recent visit. She
noted that the lights south of the ramada on the walking path were not working and asked
when they would be replaced. Mr. Kennedy will follow up.
Commissioner Zomok asked if the Park Rangers were sworn officers. Mr. Kennedy said they
were not. However, the Park Rangers could enforce Chapter 27, the City Code for Parks and
Recreation. Commissioner Zomok asked if the Park Rangers rotated locations. Mr. Kennedy
said that was correct.
Commissioner Traw reported that construction on the ball fields and soccer fields at Heroes
Regional Park was funded and would begin in January.
b. ACTION: DEDICATION PLAQUE FOR EL BARRIO PARK
Presented by Alex Lerma, Planning Department
Mr. Lerner gave a presentation on the proposed dedication plaque for El Barrio Park. He
shared the history of the project, in regard to meetings between the Planning staff and the
Historical Preservation Commission between late 2016 and mid-2019. He relayed that at the
October 19, 2023, Historical Preservation Commission meeting, the Historical Preservation
Commission unanimously approved and finalized the language for each plaque. His
presentation included the following information:
. El Barrio Park is in the Heart of Glendale Neighborhood.
. Three proposed plaque locations. Site location photos were shown.
. Cerreta's Plaque
.Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Plaque
. Barrio Park Plaque
. Plaque style examples were shown.
Chair Martinez asked why the specific sites were chosen. Mr. Lerner said Cerreta's was a
gateway to the neighborhood and the other two sites had historical significance.
Commissioner Zomok was pleased to see the plaques in south Glendale.
Motioned by Commissioner Bud Zomok, seconded by Commissioner Tom Traw, to
recommend approval of the installation of the dedication plaques at El Barrio Park. Motion
carried 5 — 0.
AYE: Chair Reginald Martinez
Vice Chair Helena Johnson Bodine
Commissioner Kathryn Mawby
Commissioner Bud Zomok
Commissioner Tom Traw
Passed
C. INFORMATION: SURVEY FOR THE NAMING OF THE PARK AT SITE FORMERLY
KNOWN AS GLEN LAKES GOLF COURSE
Ms. Barriga provided an update on the survey for naming of the new park formerly known as
Glen Lakes Golf Course, which included the following information:
. Postcards were mailed to residents within a half -mile radius of the park site. The
Commissioners were provided with the postcard.
. The survey is open from December 1 st to December 20th.
. Survey suggestions can be submitted by scanning the QR code on the postcard, on the
City of Glendale website, and by mail.
. Staff will bring back the survey results to the Commission for recommendation.
Commissioner Traw asked if the Commission would vote on a name. Ms. Barriga said the
Commission will vote on a recommendation that will be taken to Council.
*Director John Kennedy amended the meeting minutes to reflect the corrected naming policy
was sent to the commissioners in a follow-up email in December.
d. INFORMATION: RECREATION UPDATE
Mr. Padia gave the Recreation Update, which included information on the following:
. Jingle Bell Hike: Saturday, December 9th
. Santa's Workshop at Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center: Saturday, December
9th
. Holiday Luncheon at Glendale Adult Center: December 13th, sold out.
. Winter Camps at the Community Centers
. Camps held during winter break - participants primarily from schools.
. All camps are full.
. Rose Lane: 75 participants registered.
*Glendale Community Center: 65 participants registered.
.O'Neil: 65 participants registered.
. The new spring edition of the Glendale@Play magazine was distributed to the
Commissioners and is now available in print and on the Parks and Recreation website.
e. INFORMATION: UPDATE ON BONSALL PARK MASTER PLAN
Ms. Barriga gave an update on the Bonsall Park Master Plan, which included the following
information:
. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission provided a recommendation to move
forward with the Master Plan.
. City Council approved the Master Plan.
. A charter meeting was held with the Glendale Engineering Department.
. J2 Engineering and Environmental Design was selected as the design company.
. Currently working on selecting a company for construction.
Commissioner Zomok asked if Council approved the Commission's recommendation as -is or
if Council made any changes. Ms. Barriga said Council approved the recommendation
without changes.
Chair Martinez asked if the pickleball courts would be open for use during construction. Ms.
Barriga said that once a construction company was chosen, more information would be
known. Mr. Kennedy said staff would do what it could to keep the pickleball courts open,
while keeping in line with safety.
f. INFORMATION: BALANCED SCORECARD
Mr. Kennedy gave an overview on the Balanced Scorecard, which included information on
the following:
. Overview/History
. Our Organization
. Our Processes
.Our Finances
. Our Community
. Why we use a Balanced Scorecard
. Communicate the business vision and strategy
. Share objectives that support the business vision and strategy
. Show how these strategic objectives impact long-term goals and budgets
. Create goal -based budgeting, tracking, and reward systems
. Facilitate organizational changes at the operational level
. Tighten up gaps in terms of strategy and performance
. Tier I development
. Tier II development
Commissioner Zomok asked if one department was leading the initiative. Mr. Kennedy said
it was overseen by the Department of Organizational Development.
Commissioner Zomok asked if the data was for internal use and if the public would see it.
Mr. Kennedy said the KPI's will be developed and will be part of the open portal.
Vice Chair Johnson -Bodine asked if it was an actual scorecard and how the process was
facilitated. Mr. Kennedy explained as staff drills down on the KPI's, some are reported
quarterly and some annually. He said the development of Tier II was just beginning and KPI's
were being developed.
Commissioner Zomok asked who created the Balanced Scorecard. Mr. Kennedy relayed that
it was a national program, the City Manager brought it to Glendale, and Council approved
moving forward with implementation.
7. STAFF UPDATES
Mr. Kennedy gave the Staff Update, and said that tomorrow, staff was giving a presentation
at the City Council Workshop on:
. Thunderbird Conservation Park Master Plan Update
. Sahuaro Ranch Park Master Plan Update
. Chapter 27 Revisions to the Glendale City Code
8. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Commissioner Mawby complimented the use of the survey for the renaming of Glendale
Lakes. She said there was a lot of bitterness when the golf course was sold and hoped the
public involvement in the re -naming might soothe some of the feelings.
Vice Chair Johnson -Bodine said she had also heard the issue got quite bitter, which could
happen with drastic changes. She hoped people would respond to the survey to provide
their input.
Commissioner Zomok said there were a lot of projects going on and asked if there was a
timeline of all occurring in the department for tracking purposes that staff could provide to the
Commission. Mr. Kennedy said staff could share some of its internal tracking.
Commissioner Traw asked if Glen Lakes had a lake. Mr. Kennedy recalled there were lakes
at the former golf course, but said they were removed when the golf course was removed.
Chair Martinez asked if there was a place to view timelines on the Sahuaro Ranch Park
projects. Mr. Kennedy will provide a tracking similar to Commissioner Zomok's request.
9. NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission will be held on
January 8, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., at the Glendale Civic Center, 5750 W. Glenn Dr., Glendale,
Arizona, 85301.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Motioned by Vice Chair Helena Johnson Bodine, seconded by Commissioner Bud
Zomok, to adjourn the meeting at 6:43 p.m. Motion carried 5 — 0.
AYE: Chair Reginald Martinez
Vice Chair Helena Johnson Bodine
Commissioner Kathryn Mawby
Commissioner Bud Zomok
Commissioner Tom Traw
Passed
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting minutes of December 11, 2023, were
submitted and approved this 8th day of January, 2024.
Gwen Benoit
Management Assistant
Denise Kazmierczak
Recording Secretary