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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark & Rec Commission 2019-10-17 Minutes1 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION APPROVED MINUTES _____________________________________________________________________________________________ San Rafael Community Center – 618 B Street, San Rafael, CA October 17, 2019 – 6:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Chair Tom Obletz called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Commissioners Present: Chair Tom Obletz, Vice Chair Mark Machado, Jeff Jones, Stacey Laumann, Kathryn Reisinger, Cecily Emerson Commissioners Absent: Mark Bustillos Staff Present: Susan Andrade-Wax, Library & Recreation Director, Becky Ordin, Senior Administrative Assistant, Catherine Quffa, Management Analyst, and Hunter Young, Assistant Public Works Director AGENDA AMENDMENTS None MINUTES 1. Approve regular meeting minutes of September 19, 2019 A motion was made by Commissioner Jones, seconded by Commissioner Machado, to approve the minutes of the September 19, 2019 meeting. The motion was approved unanimously. 2 MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 2. Introductions/Awards/Recognitions/Presentations None 3. Public Comment from the audience regarding items not listed on the agenda MATTERS BEFORE THE COMMISSION 4. Park Projects Quarterly Status Report for July – September 2019 Ms. Andrade-Wax introduced Hunter Young, Assistant Public Works Director. Mr. Young gave a brief overview of his work with the City over the past 8 ½ years. He stated that he predominately worked in traffic, roadways, and storm drains. Mr. Young presented the park projects quarterly status report. Commissioner Jones asked if there was existing plumbing where the Shoreline Park restroom site is. Mr. Young answered yes there is plumbing, and it will be included in the renovation of the project. Commissioner Laumann asked if the restroom needed to be in the location that it is currently in. Mr. Young replied that there will be further discussion with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development District (BCDC), who has jurisdiction over the area. By moving it to a different location would increase the costs if plumbing needed to be brought in to a new area. Commissioner Laumann inquired if the restrooms after the remodel at the San Rafael Community Center were going to be gender neutral. Ms. Andrade-Wax explained that the current law for gender neutral restrooms are only if they are single stall. If there are multiple stalls there is not a current requirement for them to be gender neutral. Commissioner Obletz asked if there was concern with the San Rafael Community Center restrooms handicap access, the condition of the restrooms or plumbing issues. Ms. Andrade- Wax replied that the restrooms at SRCC are ADA compliant and that it is a renovation project due to the condition of the restroom facility and fixtures. Portable restrooms will be brought in and made available for the public to use. Additionally, no reservations for large parties and/or weddings were taken for the project time period. 3 Commissioner Reisinger asked if the City has been amiable to the revenue changes regarding not having the big events during the time of construction. Ms. Andrade-Wax replied that yes, they knew it was going to happen. Mr. Young and his staff was able to make the project happen during the short timeline they had to work with to get the project started. Commissioner Laumann wanted to know if people using the park had access to the restrooms in the Community Center during open during business hours. Ms. Andrade-W ax replied that yes, we allow use of the restrooms unless there is a private rental. Commissioner Obletz commented that the Gerstle park restroom seems like it is a minor project and has been in poor condition for a long time. With respect to Peacock gap tennis courts he would recommend resurfacing for pickleball. Ms. Andrade-Wax clarified that the Peacock gap tennis courts will be repaired, because one of the courts has several cracks. She stated the Gerstle park restrooms are on the CIP list to be renovated but will be done later, since there are other park projects that require immediate attention due to health and safety, or legal requirements. 5. Park Maintenance Quarterly Status Report for July – September 2019 Ms. Andrade-Wax noted that Mark Wright provided the park maintenance Quarterly Status Report, but he was not able to present it. Commissioner Laumann asked how well attended were the Park-A-Month events. Ms. Andrade-Wax stated that they were not well attended. They are publicized, but they are trying to figure out how to gain more volunteers. Commissioner Reisinger asked if there were measurable metrics that the Park-A-Month events are required to meet. Ms. Andrade-Wax replied that no there is not, however she is able to get the number of attendees. The Parks Department is always looking for feedback to improve the event. Commissioner Jones asked if the Lock Lomond restroom had not been accepted. Ms. Andrade-Wax clarified that project has not been formally accepted. There are still things that need to be addressed. The restroom can be utilized it just doesn’t have the gender-neutral sign up. Commissioner Jones asked if the park still floods. Ms. Andrade-Wax did not know but will find out. Commission Reports and Comments 6. Other brief reports on any meetings, conferences, and/or seminars attended by the Commission members. 4 Commissioner Laumann attended the October 7th City Council meeting regarding the library facility’s plan. There was a lot of sensitivity around what to do with the Carnegie building. Staff’s recommendation was to proceed with more investigating on how to use the facility with the library. She wanted the Commission to be aware of the sensitivity of the community about not pursuing the Carnegie location. The idea is that the Carnegie will be reused for something else as a publicly accessible amenity in the community. Commissioner Jones attended the General Plan committee meeting on October 9th. They discussed the downtown options report. The report is starting to come together and is starting to upset people. The parklets and parking was brought up, as well as changing some of the one-way streets to two-way streets. The bicycle priority network downtown was discussed. They are proposing to remove all the parking on 5th Avenue to make a bike lane going both directions. Although not the committee’s favorite option, the consultant recommended it due to several factors which include but are not limited to two-way traffic versus one-way (2nd & 3rd Streets) and 4th Street is a major business corridor which already has a limited amount of parking to support it. The committee was trying to figure out where they could possibly put it, but it is decided there really isn’t another option. Commissioner Jones also noted that on the City’s website under the General Plan there is a neighborhood element where people can log in and provide feedback for their neighborhood. Staff Comments 7. Schedule of Upcoming Meetings and Events of Interest Ms. Andrade-Wax shared that the Arbor Day event will be on Tuesday, October 22nd at 11:00am at Oleander Park. Ms. Andrade-Wax was asked by Ashley Howe from Falkirk to share with the Commission that the dedication of the Falkirk Greenhouse in recognition with the former mayor Mulryan and the Master Gardeners will be Friday, November 8th at 4:00pm. Ms. Andrade-Wax stated that the following items will be presented at the next Commission meeting in November: Commission meeting schedule for 2020, selection of Chair, Vice Chair, an appointment to the Pickleweed Advisory Committee, and an update from Aquatics program. November 4th will be the City Council meeting where Mark Bustillos will be recognized by the City Council for his 11 years on the Park & Recreation Commission. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned 7:22 p.m. 5 ____________________________________________ BECKY ORDIN, Senior Administrative Assistant APPROVED THIS_____DAY OF___________, 2019 ____________________________________________ SUSAN ANDRADE-WAX, Library & Recreation Director