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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark & Rec Commission 2019-02-21 Minutes1 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION APPROVED MINUTES _____________________________________________________________________________________________ San Rafael Community Center – 618 B Street, San Rafael, CA February 21, 2019 – 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER/ Chair Tom Obletz called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Commissioners Present: Chair Tom Obletz, Vice Chair Mark Machado, Stacey Laumann, Kathryn Reisinger, Nicholas Skewes-Cox Commissioners Absent: Mark Bustillos, Cicily Emerson, Jeff Jones Staff Present: Susan Andrade-Wax, Community Services Director, Becky Ordin, Senior Administrative Assistant, Kevin McGowan, Public Works Assistant Director/Civil Engineer, and Theo Sanchez, Associate Civil Engineer AGENDA AMENDMENTS None MINUTES 1. Approve regular meeting minutes of January 17, 2019 A motion was made by Commissioner Skewes-Cox, seconded by Commissioner Machado, to approve the minutes of the January 17, 2019 meeting as corrected. 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 None MATTERS BEFORE THE COMMISSION 4. Approve Replacement of Playground Equipment at Pickleweed Park Mr. Theo Sanchez presented the plans to replace the Pickleweed Park playground. See attachment. Mr. Sanchez added that they are trying to expedite the process, so they can utilize current CDBG grant funding. Commissioner Laumann asked what year the grant was issued. Mr. Sanchez did not know. Mr. Kevin McGowan added that once the equipment is purchased it will be shipped to the City of San Rafael and it will be stored. Public Works will need to coordinate the contractor’s availability to install the equipment and the time needed to demolish the existing playground. The project would be tentatively scheduled for the end of summer and would take approximately 2 weeks to complete including the installation of the surface material, i.e., Fibar. Mr. McGowen would like to move forward in ordering the equipment. Commissioner Reisinger asked if the wood fill was more expensive than the resilient matting? Mr. Sanchez replied that the resilient mating was more expensive. Commissioner Skewes-Cox asked if the wood is wheelchair accessible. Mr. Sanchez replied that yes it does meet ADA standards. Commissioner Laumann noticed there is no fencing around the playground in the plans and asked if it was going to stay that way. Mr. Sanchez replied that no there will not be a fence added. She asked if there was adult seating around the park. Mr. Sanchez replied there is currently seating around the playground, and that will remain in the plans. Commissioner Laumann also asked if tricycle track was going to be re-striped. Mr. McGowan replied that they can look at re-striping the track since it is just paint. Commissioner Laumann commented that she really liked the design of the structure and the shade that is provided. 3 Commissioner Machado asked if the canopies will fade. Mr. McGowan replied that it will most likely fade over time. Ms. Andrade-Wax added that the “life expectancy” for most commercial shade structures is approximately 10 years. Commissioner Laumann asked if Public Works ha d any picnic tables laying around would they consider putting some in the 2-5 yr. area, so the kids can eat their lunch right there. Mr. McGowan replied that there are safety requirements to have clearances around play structures. If they can find a place and it meets the requirements, then yes, they can add a picnic bench. Commissioner Obletz has had an issue for many years regarding the red curb at Sorrento Way. He stated that Pickleweed Park is most used park in the City and parking has continuously been an issue. He asked if there any possibility of revisiting the prohibition of parking on the entire length of Sorrento Way. The decision to paint it red had to do with loitering and other illicit activities in that area and the impact it caused to the adjacent neighborhood. Commissioner Obletz commented that was 20 years ago and asked if there was an opportunity to have the traffic engineer revisit this since there such a demand for parking. Commissioner Reisinger made a motion to approve the prefe rred selection of the proposed playground equipment to replace the current play equipment at Pickleweed Park. Commissioner Machado seconded the motion. AYES: Commissioners: Laumann, Machado, Obletz, Reisinger and Skewes-Cox NOES: Commissioners: None ABSENT: Commissioners: Bustillos, Emerson and Jones The motion passed. Mr. McGowan also requested that the Park and Recreation Commission provide feedback on two other facility related improvements. The first item was regarding an illuminated electronic sign at the front of the Albert J. Boro Community Center. Ms. Andrade -Wax commented that this idea was generated from the City Council’s the goals and objectives regarding increasing community engagement and communication. Specifically, the signage was requested and approved as part of the goals and objectives for the Canal area located at Pickleweed Park. The new sign will be illuminated and will be programmed to turn-off at a specific time. The sign we also be able to be programmed to provide information in multiple languages. Commissioner Machado asked where the sign would be. Ms. Andrade-Wax replied that it will be installed in front of the community center. 4 Commissioner Obletz recommended that the name of the building on the sign also includes the library on it in addition to the community center. He also wanted to make sure there were guidelines as to what the sign displayed. Mr. McGowan’s also provided the Commission with information on increasing the parking in the canal neighborhood at Shoen Park. He shared a conceptual diagram of the additional parking which included approximately 44 parking spaces. Commissioner Skewes-Cox asked if this project would coincide with the Tiscornia project, which is a couple of years down the road. Mr. McGowan replied that the City would be adding the parking as soon as feasible. Commissioner Obletz asked what was the obligation regarding handicap parking? Mr. McGowan replied that since it is street parking it is not required. COMMISSION REPORTS AND COMMENTS 5. Other brief reports on any meetings, conferences, and/or seminars attended by the Commission members. Commissioner Obletz shared that Commissioner Jones attended the presentation for Ralph Mihan at the CPRS District 1 event in Windsor. Commissioner Reisinger announced that the Mill Valley Community Center will be hosting the Surf and Turf Summer Camp training on June 1st. Commissioner Skewes-Cox asked for an update on the Little Free Library at Gerstle Park. Ms. Andrade-Wax replied that staff is waiting on additional information from the Association. The Gerstle Park Neighborhood Association has agreed to pay for the library box. STAFF COMMENTS Ms. Andrade-Wax forwarded Measure A information that was previously requested by the Commission. The 2015 staff report incudes the Commissions recommendations, and work plans to how the money was to be spent that year. A couple of those projects have been or will be completed this year which include; the replacement of the playground at Victor Jones Park, the additional of a restroom unit at Bret Harte Park and the renovation of the playground at Albert Park. The addition of the project to replace the roof of the Falkirk Cultural Center was added to the CIP this past year and is currently in process. 5 6. Schedule of Upcoming Meetings and Events of Interest. Commissioner Obletz noted the Albert Park dedication will be April 28 th. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned 8:12 p.m.