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Home My WebLink AboutPark & Rec Commission 2024-06-20 Agenda Packet1 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION JUNE 20, 2024 AT 6:00PM In-Person: SAN RAFAEL COMMUNITY CENTER LOUNGE 618 B STREET, SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA Participate Virtually: Watch on Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/PRC-6-20-2024 Listen by phone: (669) 444-9171 ID: 841 0672 5048# AGENDA CALL TO ORDER MINUTES 1. Approve regular meeting minutes of April 18, 2024 Recommended Action – Approve as submitted OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION The public is welcome to address the Commission at this time on matters not on the agenda that are within its jurisdiction. Comments may be no longer than three minutes and should be respectful to the community. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2. Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project OTHER AGENDA ITEMS If necessary to ensure completion of the following items, the Chairperson may establish time limits for the presentations by individual speakers. 3. Other Agenda Items: a. Tennis Court Access Pilot Program Update Recommended Action: Receive and Comment STAFF LIAISON REPORT 4. Schedule of Upcoming Events and Staff Liaison Report COMMISSIONER REPORTS 5. Other brief reports on any meetings, conferences, and/or seminars attended by the Commission members. ADJOURNMENT Any records relating to an agenda item, received by a majority or more of the Commission less than 72 hours before the meeting, shall be available for inspection online and in the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B St., San Rafael, CA 94901 placed with other agenda-related materials on the table in front of the San Rafael Community Center prior to the meeting. Sign Language interpreters may be requested by calling (415) 485-3066 (voice), emailing city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org or using the California Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing “711”, at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Copies of documents are available in accessible formats upon request. To request Spanish language interpretation, please submit an online form at https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/request-for-interpretation/. Page 1 of 4 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 18, 2024 – 6:00 p.m. DRAFT MINUTES __________________________________________________________________ Watch on Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/PRC-4-18-2024 Telephone: (669) 900-9128 Meeting ID: 841 0672 5048 CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Gutierrez called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Cabrales Commissioner Gutierrez Commissioner Pasternak Absent: Commissioner Emerson Commissioner Sandoval Also Present: Craig Veramay, Assistant Library & Recreation Director Catherine Quffa, Library & Recreation Director Becky Ordin, Senior Administrative Assistant Joanna Kwok, Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer AGENDA AMENDMENTS None. MINUTES 1. Approve regular meeting minutes of March 21, 2024 Commissioner Gutierrez moved, and Commissioner Pasternak seconded, to approve the meetings minutes of March 21, 2024. AYES: Commissioners: Cabrales, Gutierrez, Pasternak NOES: Commissioners: None ABSENT: Commissioners: Emerson, Sandoval ABSTAINED: Commissioners: None 2 Minutes approved as submitted. MEETING OPEN FOR PUBLIC EXPRESSION Public Comment from the audience regarding items not listed on the agenda None. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2. Introductions/Awards/Recognitions/Presentations None. OTHER AGENDA ITEMS If necessary, to ensure completion of the following items, the Chairperson may establish time limits for the presentations by individual speakers. 3. Other Agenda Items a. Biannual Parks Project and Maintenance Status Report Mr. Veramay introduced Joanna Kwok who presented the Biannual Parks Project and Maintenance Status Report. Staff responded to questions from the Commission. Public Comment: None Commissioner Gutierrez moved, and Commissioner Pasternak seconded to accept the Biannual Parks Project and Maintenance Report. AYES: Commissioners: Cabrales, Gutierrez, Pasternak NOES: Commissioners: None ABSENT: Commissioners: Emerson, Sandoval ABSTAINED: Commissioners: None Motion passes. 3. Other Agenda Items b. Measure A Work Plan Craig Veramay presented the Measure A Work Plan. Staff responded to questions from the Commission. Public Comment: None 3 Commissioner Pasternak moved, and Commissioner Gutierrez seconded to accept the Measure A Work Plan. AYES: Commissioners: Cabrales, Gutierrez, Pasternak NOES: Commissioners: None ABSENT: Commissioners: Emerson, Sandoval ABSTAINED: Commissioners: None Motion passes. STAFF LIAISON REPORT 4. Staff Liaison Report. Mr. Veramay shared the Public Art Review board had previously approved a mural for the front of the Albert J. Boro Community Center that was approved at the Monday evening City Council meeting. There is some repair of the building that needs to take place before they can get started but hope to have the mural begin this summer. The Public Art Review board met Wednesday night and conditionally approved paintings for five or six utility boxes around the community that is being sponsored by the San Rafael Leadership Institute which is part of the Chamber of Commerce. Sky Arvin is our new Aquatics Program Coordinator for the Terra Linda Community Center. Summer is right around the corner. Summer registration is open and we are focusing on a Summer and camp activity guide this year. Ms. Quffa gave an update on the Library events. Downtown Library renovation is on track to begin in September. The building will be closed and they are looking at a temporary location downtown. On Monday night City Council approved an agreement with Jayson Architecture firm for a small scale remodel for the Pickleweed Library. The library is also ramping up for the summer. There will be a pride celebration on June 15th in partnership with the Marin County Library. Movies in the Park series will begin at Pickleweed park on August 23rd. Next month for the Park and Recreation Commission will be a site visit to a few parks. Former Park and Recreation Commissioner Ralph Mihan recently passed away. Last month Mayor Kate closed the City Council meeting in honor of him. He served on the Commission for 38 years. Public Comment: None 4 COMMISSIONER REPORTS 5. Other brief reports on any meetings, conferences, and/or seminars attended by the Commission members. Commissioner Pasternak attended the Pickleweed Advisory Committee last month. It was their long meeting for the year with their Co-Sponsorship presentations. There was also a sea level rise presentation for the Canal area, and a presentation about the Canal garbage situation and what a challenge it is to keep the area clean. Commissioner Gutierrez commented that she has heard feedback from some tennis players and they like the no key program at the tennis courts. Public Comment: None ADJOURNMENT Chair Cabrales adjourned the meeting at 7:03 p.m. ___________________________________________ BECKY ORDIN, Senior Administrative Assistant APPROVED THIS_____DAY OF___________, 2024 ___________________________________________ CATHERINE QUFFA, Library & Recreation Director PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT June 20, 2024 Item 3a TITLE: ALBERT AND FREITAS PARK TENNIS COURT ACCESS UPDATE RECOMMENDATION That the Park and Recreation Commission receive the report and comment. BACKGROUND The City of San Rafael manages an inventory of eleven (11) outdoor tennis courts at six (6) different park locations. Prior to 2023, the City controlled access to the tennis courts at two of those park locations, Albert Park and Freitas Park, by locking the gates and selling tennis court keys to the public on an annual basis. In 2023, the City adopted a Park and Recreation Master Plan that proposed several near- term policy recommendations, including a recommendation to evaluate the City’s existing tennis court access program and explore alternative approaches. This recommendation was proposed in response to community outreach and City staff concerns regarding challenges with the existing access program at the time. In 2023, staff conducted a survey to collect opinions and feedback about whether the locks should be removed from the tennis courts. Tennis court users were in favor of the City removing the locks to allow free, first-come first-serve access. After receiving support from the Park and Recreation Commission to implement a pilot program, the locks were removed in July 2023, temporarily allowing free use of the Albert and Freitas Park Tennis Courts for a one-year pilot program. DISCUSSION The one-year pilot program was implemented July 1, 2024. Staff have evaluated the impact of the pilot program, and recently conducted a follow-up survey of tennis court users to collect opinions and feedback about how the pilot program was going. The survey was sent to individuals who purchased a tennis key from 2017-2023 and was posted at Albert Park, Freitas Park, Peacock Gap tennis courts, and the San Rafael Community Center with a link to complete the survey. The survey was sent via email to more than 400 community members and received 59 responses. A compilation of the survey results are included as Attachment 1. Forty-four (44) respondents (75%) were in favor of the City adopting the pilot-program model permanently, removing the gate locks and allowing free, first-come first-serve access. Within the group in favor of removing the locks, 7 respondents (12%) were also in favor of implementing an hourly reservation system for the courts. Fifteen (15) respondents (25%) were in favor of bringing back the annual key system. Since implementing the pilot program, staff have noticed a significant decrease in general vandalism, especially to the entry gates. Based on the survey results, the decrease in vandalism and related staff time, and court access being more equitable to all interested users, Staff recommends that the tennis court gates remain unlocked and open for free first-come first-served use on a permanent basis at the Albert and Freitas Park Tennis Courts. As interest from the community in implementing a new hourly court reservation fee was low, staff will continue to monitor this option for potential future implementation but are not recommending that change at this time. In addition to providing feedback about the pilot program, the survey results provided insight on how and when the community uses the courts. Individuals tend to utilize courts on a weekly basis, primarily for tennis, and at all times of the day. The Albert Park Tennis Courts are used the most. 71% of court users indicated they are over the age of 50. The survey also provided an opportunity for respondents to provide general feedback. Some survey comments indicated concern regarding the impact of encampments across the street from the Albert Park Tennis Courts, requested repairs and maintenance, including resurfacing the tennis courts, and some respondents provided comments in favor or against pickleball courts. FISCAL IMPACT As outlined in the June 2023 report to the Park & Recreation Commission, the tennis key program netted approximately $850 in revenue in FY2022-2023. This analysis includes both the fees from key sales and the direct expenses associated with administering the program. However, this does not include personnel expenses and other miscellaneous repairs due to broken gates or vandalism and therefore overestimates the revenue generation potential. Submitted by: Darcie Chellew Recreation Supervisor Attachments: 1. Tennis Court Access Update Community Survey Tennis Court Survey 2024