2015/03/16 Parks and Recreation Commission MinutesPARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
Monday March 16, 2015
The Parks and Recreation Commission of the City of Rohnert Park met this date at Rohnert Park City
Hall, 130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, for a special meeting to commence at 6:00pm.
Call to order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Bird at 6:00 p.m.
Item 1. Roll Call:
Present: Chair Bird, Vice Chair Griffin, Commissioners Black, Tracy
Absent: Commissioner Borr (Excused)
Staff Present: Mitch Austin, Community Services Manager
Tom Kelley, General Services Supervisor
Kimberly Roberts, Part -Time Administrative Assistant
Item 2. Pledge of Allegiance:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chair Bird
Item 3 Acknowledgment of Meeting Agenda Posting:
Community Services Manager Austin acknowledged posting of the regular meeting agenda the
required public places per Brown Act requirements.
Item 4. Public Comment:
None.
Item 5. Approval of Minutes:
Action: Moved/second (Tracy/Black) to approve the February 16, 2015. Motion carried by the
following 3-0-1 vote: AYES: Black, Griffin, Tracy NOS: None, ABSTAINE: Bird, ABSENT: Borr
Item 6. Benicia Pool Improvement Presentation by Ken Moeller from ArchPac Inc:
Ken Moeller was unable to attend this evening, but hopes to attend the next meeting. Manager Austin
led the presentation. The project is out to bid and bids will be presented to City Council shortly.
Construction will likely begin in April. A mailer is being sent out to surrounding neighborhoods
notifying them of construction. The process will take approximately 80 days, if everything goes to
plan. Proposed construction includes a new deck, expanded fence line, an additional bathroom
designed for families, some shade structures, improvements to the bath house and roof, possibly some
new piping, improvements to electrical work, and a new pump, filter, and heater. The heater will be
PG&E efficient and will qualify for some rebates. In preparation for summer classes, Benicia Pool
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programming has been scheduled for Magnolia Pool. Once Benicia Pool is completed a schedule of
programming will be made to open it for the remainder of the summer and into September.
Community Services has made a notation in the Summer Activity Guide requesting individuals to call
May 15, 2015 for more information on the pool schedule for the summer.
Item 7. Proposed Changes to Community Services Department Fee Schedule:
a. Staff Report
Manager Austin presented a draft of the proposed fee schedule for the Community Services
Department via handout and PowerPoint. The goal is to reduce operating costs, provide
incentives for renters to use during non -peak times and days, and to include all fees on the
fee schedule
b. Discuss Proposed Changes
Commissioner Black asked if there were any proposed changes to the youth sports field use
fees. Manager Austin acknowledged that there aren't any youth field use fees noted on the
fee schedule and will look into that. Commissioner Black also shared that sever years ago,
the City offered an incentive that if kids completed a certain level or number of swim
lessons, and they received a discount off the recreations swim fee. She also asked for
clarification on if individuals are still charged if they reserve a facility and then don't use it.
Manager Austin confirm that they are still charged.
Chair Bird asked if the City will be able to put park lighting on a timer. Manager Austin
shared that adding a timer with remote control via computer is an option that has been
discussed. Staff is looking for funding and means to implement this kind of a system.
c. Action: Moved/second (Griffin/Black) to accept the proposed changes to the Community
Services Fee Schedule and advise City Council to do the same. Motion carried by the
following 4-0-1 vote: AYES: Bird, Black, Griffin, Tracy NOS: None, ABSTAINE: None
ABSENT: Borr
Item 8. Review Draft and Recreation Workshop Agenda
a. Discuss and Set the Agenda
Manager Austin presented the draft agenda for the Parks and Recreation Workshop. The
workshop meeting will take place Friday 4/3/15 at 6:OOpm in the Community Center
Garden Room. Commissioner Black would like to add a line min the Agenda for "Other"
incase other items to discuss come up. Commissioner Griffin would like to add discussion
regarding a Park Audit to the Agenda.
Item 9. Finalize Change of Meeting Dates and/or Times:
a. Staff Report
After reviewing the availability of the Council Chamber, the third Thursday of the month is
available. This day also doesn't conflict with any holidays in 2015.
b. Discussion
The Commissioners discussed if this day will work and what times would work best.
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c. Action (if necessary)
Moved/second (Black/Tracy) to change the meeting day and time of the regularly scheduled
meetings of the Parks and Recreation Commission to be the third Thursday of the month at
6:OOpm. Motion carried by the following 4-0-1 vote: AYES: Bird, Black, Griffin, Tracy
NOS: None, ABSTAINE: None ABSENT: Borr
Item 10. Matters to/from Commissioners:
a. Sports Center Updates
Manager Austin shared that the locker room project is coming along nicely. They're almost
at 90% drawings. Construction is set to begin June or July. There is some trouble with the
Weight Room floor; it's starting to lift in places. This is being taken into consideration
while the budget process as well as new equipment.
b. Facility Maintenance and Development Updates
Supervisor Kelley shared an updated on parks and facility maintenance. Public Works
received some concerned sparked by the update in Eagle Park play equipment. Members of
the public wanted to see other play structures updated and repaired. In response, Public
Works made some repairs and updates to Golis Park. They put in a new slide, cleaned up
overgrown foliage, and ordered a new standalone piece of equipment to install. With the
lack of rain, Public Works has had a greater opportunity to clean up Magnolia Park and
Benicia Park, getting them ready for the opening day for Cal Ripken and girls' softball.
Public Works is working to get some irrigation issues repaired at Sunrise Park. Several
drinking fountains in the different parks have been fixed. There is also plans to update some
park lighting to LED fixtures. Also, a fix to the basketball court at Dorotea Park is planned.
c. Eagle Park Community Day May 2"d
Manager Austin informed the Commission that the ribbon cutting ceremony for Eagle Park
will be Saturday May 2°d, 2015.
d. Summer Brochure
Manager Austin informed the Commission that the Summer Activity Guide is set to come
out in April. He also shared that staff is looking into revamping the format and style of the
Guide.
Manager Austin shared that the year round Farmer's Market will be starting on Sunday April 19th,
2015. It will be held at the City Center Plaza from 10:00am-2:OOpm. California Parks and Recreation
Society (CPRS) has a matching grant for play equipment, which is something Community Services
plans to look into. CPRS is also looking into lobbying for another per capita grant.
The Rohnert Park Senior Advisory Committee has a quorum again. They meet quarterly and the next
meeting will be in June.
Commissioner Tracy thanked Tom Kelley and the Public Works crew for their efforts in maintaining
Rohnert Park.
Commissioner Black wanted to give a congratulatory message to Darren Patterson for being
recognized at CPRS for their efforts in the drought garden at the Sports and Fitness Center. She also
wanted to recognize Community Services Specialist Jessica Schieberl for her achievement on being
named one of the winners of the North Bay Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Award.
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Commissioner Black also requested Public Works seeing if they can fix the port -o -potty at Eagle Park.
It's currently crooked. She also wanted to bring to attention tagging on garbage cans at G Park, and
perhaps other parks. She wanted to know if the agencies that maintain the garbage cans can do their
part in assisting with this matter.
Commissioner Griffin shared that he recently attended a meeting of concerned citizens for Alicia Park
on Monday March 91h at 1:00pm. Supervisor Kelley was also present and he shared some more details.
There are some fixes that Public Works can help with right away, something will need some time and
planning. Right away, the gentlemen at the meeting were able to move a dumpster that was in the way
of the entry path. There were some potholes the Public Works was able to patch up the following day.
The rules sign was broken, and Public Works was able to put a new sign in place. An old park bench
that was part of a previous play structure was removed and a path was renovated. There are also a few
recycle cans that were donated by Conservation Corps North Bay with graffiti on them. The group of
concerned citizens are still deciding if they want to do Adopt -a -Park or a project day. As of right now,
the group is working with Public Works to do a project day on Earth Day (4/22/15) to: pressure wash
and repaint benches, repaint the fence, pull weeds, and rake the park. The group would also like to
work with Public Works to transform the sight of the former Alicia Pool into a picnic area or perhaps a
rose garden.
Commissioner Griffin shared that there will be another meeting of the concerned citizens for Alicia
Park on March 23, 2015 at 1:00pm.
Manager Austin reported that the main circulation pump at Honeybee Pool just broke. A new part is
bringing ordered and the pool should be operational in about a week. Ken Moeller was able to look at
Honeybee Pool and there have been discussions of a long term fixes for Honeybee Pool.
Commissioner Bird asked about how the drought garden/rain tank at the Sports & Fitness Center
worked out during the rainy moments. Supervisor Kelley shared that it worked the way it was expected
to. There was some minor flooding due to rain catching and pooling on the skylights, but Public Works
was able to make some adjustments and remedy this.
Adjournment- There being no further business, Chair Bird adjourned the regular meeting of the Parks
and Recreation Commission at 7:19 p.m.
Kimberly Roberts, Recording Secretary
Ir
Michael Bird, C air