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2007/07/16 Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda Packet ROfiHEP.T I'.1gF. ` PRTMENT;. ROHNERT PARK PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA Monday July 16, 2007 6:30 p.m. 6750 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park To any member of the audience desiring to address the Parks and Recreation Commission: If you wish to speak on an item under discussion by the Parks and Recreation Commission, you may do so upon recognition from the Chairperson. After receiving recognition from the Chairperson, please walk to the rostrum located in the front and center of the room and state your name and address for the record before making your presentation. =Item �i ,o/% ,. opic z ��y .. CALL MEETING TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE • Roll Call: 1,1 Armerding Aronis (i Bird Black F. Griffin • Approval of Minutes—June 18, 2007 • Acknowledgment of Recreation Department staff's report on the posting of the meeting's agenda. Agenda has been posted in three public places: Community Center, Public Safety Building and City Hall, and on the City's Website. • Unscheduled Public Appearances for public comments on items not listed on the agenda, or on agenda items if unable to speak at the scheduled time. Item T Item#1 Skate Park Committee Report: Action if needed The Commission is asked to review the Skate Park Committee Report and comment and/or accept. Item#2 2007 Park Audit: Action if needed The Commission is asked to review the 2007 Park Audit and comment and/or accept as needed. Page 1 of 2 Rohnert Park Parks and Recreation Commission July 16,2007 Committee Reports Matters from 1. Old & New Market. Staff 2. Playground renovations: Phase 2 Matters to/from Commissioners Adjournment. Next meeting:August 20, 2007 6:30 p.m. Disabled Accommodation: If you have a disability which requires an interpreter or other person to assist you while attending this Planning Commission Meeting,please contact the City Offices at (707) 588-2236 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting to insure arrangements for accommodation by the City. Please make sure the Planning Department is notified as soon as possible if you have a visual impairment that requires the meeting materials be produced in another format (Braille,audio-tape,etc.). Page 2 of 2 Rohnert Park Skate Park [•] July 2007 VI. Location From the beginning of our study,the assumption was made that, if a skate park is generally appropriate for Rohnert Park,then it should fit in with the other sports and recreational facilities presently located in the twelve public parks which already exist(not counting mini-parks). These presently cater to the following activities: No. Activity Existing Number 1. Tennis courts 25 2. Playgrounds 20 3. Baseball and softball 14 4. Picnic areas 10 5. Soccer fields 9 6. Basketball courts* 6 7. Swimming pools 5 8. Creek pathways 4 9. Dog park 3 10. Golf course 2 11. Senior Center 1 12. Ceramic workshop 1 13. Lake 1 Note: there is some duplication in the above figures where two sports share a multi-use field. There are also indoor facilities at the Callinan Sports Center for basketball, racquetball, exercise machines and weight-training equipment. Our first step was to establish criteria for evaluating whether a given park is suitable for a skate park. These are: 1. Visibility In order to promote safety and security and to discourage vandalism or other unacceptable behavior, • Ideally,the skateboard course will be located in a park which has a significant number of other users present at the times when the course will be open • A significant portion of the course should be visible from a passing police car • An accompanying parent should be able to see the course from a significant portion of the rest of the park in which the skate park is located 2. Accessibility • A majority of Rohnert Park children must be able to reach the park by bicycle or skateboard via sidewalks • Ideally,the park will have a City bus stop within 2 blocks 15 Rohnert Park Skate Park [•] July 2007 3. Adequate space available • The space available for the skateboard course should be between 15,000 and 25,000 square feet excluding landscaping and parking • The design will take into account whether the space is flat or uneven 4. Parking • There should be adequate parking for the existing park facilities plus a new skateboard course 5. Proximity to a swimming pool • In order to facilitate opening and closing of the skateboard course, ideally it will be located in a park with a swimming pool or some other Parks&Recreation Dept. facility 6. Proximity to houses or apartment buildings • Ideally,the location is separated from the nearest houses by a street rather than just a fence • The fewer houses directly adjacent to the location,the better 7. Conflict with existing sports facilities • Ideally, the location will not require the removal of or conflict with any existing sports facility The next step was to break down the list of parks into three categories using the above criteria. This yielded the following lists: GROUP A—Good potential; no major changes required 1. Honeybee(central open area) 2. Magnolia(three possible sites(between tennis courts and parking lot) 3. Stadium Area(west side between KRCB and the Water Treatment Plant) 4. Sunrise(southeast corner) GROUP B—Fair potential; some negatives exist or major changes required 1. Benicia(next to Boys&Girls Club) 2. Colegio Vista 3. Community Center Complex(behind Callinan Sports Center) 4. Eagle(southwest corner) 5. Golis(either the southwest corner or the north section) 16 Rohnert Park Skate Park [.] July 2007 XI. Liability & Insurance Section 115800 of the California Health& Safety Code requires cities with public skate parks to require that all users wear helmets, elbow pads and knee pads. In a park which is not regularly supervised,this requirement is satisfied by: 1. Adoption by the city of an ordinance requiring any person riding a skateboard at the facility to wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. 2. The posting of signs at the facility affording reasonable notice that any person riding a skateboard in the facility must wear a helmet,elbow pads,and knee pads,and that any person failing to do so will be subject to citation. The government has still not classified the use of BMX bikes as a Hazardous Recreational Activity under the law and,as a result,all cities in Sonoma County currently ban bicycles from their skate parks. This is also a requirement of our insurance carrier. During the survey reported above,we noted that skate park users do violate these rules and restrictions. The police departments in each city issue numerous citations and sometimes even ban individuals from using the park for some time.At the same time, all of the cities in our survey are aware that injuries do occur in their parks. None of the cities in the survey reported any claims to date. Rohnert Park is a member of the Redwood Empire Municipal Insurance Fund(REMIF) a risk pool established in 1976. The Fund provides • •: property, liability and payroll-related coverage under a Joint Powers Agreement among 15 participating cities in northern California. In return,they require the City to meet certain minimum conditions (please see Appendix F for the full list). Most of the cities in our survey are covered by REMIF. In all the cities that it covers,REMIF has only had two claims related to skate park injuries and both were contested successfully. In fact,football and baseball account for the largest number of their sports injury claims. The skate park will result in additional premiums for property coverage at the rate of about $80 per $100,000 of cost so that a$1,000,000 course would result in annual premiums of about $800. The cost of liability insurance is based on experience so there will be no additional premiums unless there is a claim. Most reputable skate park designers carry Errors and Omissions Insurance which covers the City, the Parks&Recreation Department,and the park designer from litigation based on design and/or construction which fail to meet state safety standards. The insurance will generally cover legal defense fees and final judgment awards, should the designer be proven at fault. The insurance is acquired on a per-park basis and should be included in the Request for Quotations issued by the City at the appropriate time. Conclusion: 25 Rohnert Park Skate Park [•] July 2007 APPENDIX C SITE ASSESSMENT GROUP A—Good potential; no major changes required 1. HONEYBEE(central open area) • Open space not currently used for organized sports • Knoll screens houses on the other side of Hudis • Otherwise,no houses directly adjacent to proposed site • Swimming pool • Outdoor movies will be moved to the Community Center • Bus service 2. MAGNOLIA (between tennis courts and parking lot) • Three potential locations: o East of tennis courts (Tennis Club wants four more courts built there; courts are also used by SSU and Rancho Cotati) o Soccer field at the east end of the park o Soccer field just west of the central parking lot • Lots of people around at all times • Minimal number of houses directly affected • Swimming pool • Easy access for SSU students • Tennis Club wants four more courts built there • Courts are also used by SSU and Rancho Cotati 3. STADIUM AREA(west side between KRCB and the Water Treatment Plant) • Bus service along Labath Ave. • Greenfield site • Next to planned Public Safety satellite office • Close to shopping centers • Poor access for children on bikes or skateboards coming from east side 4. SUNRISE(southeast corner) • Central location with bus service • Existing soccer and baseball fields are not good • Trees can be thinned to improve visibility from Snyder/Expressway • No houses directly affected • Near to the Community Center(staff to open and close) • Near to the Public Safety building 1 Rohnert Park Skate Park [6] July 2007 GROUP B—Fair potential; some negatives exist or major changes required 1. BENICIA (next to Boys & Girls Club) • Boys& Girls Club staff could open/close and provide limited supervision • Space is limited and may be wanted for a community garden • Basketball court may have to be removed to make sufficient space(it is only 5 years old) 2. COLEGIO VISTA • Northwest corner is possible site • Neighbors on that side have not been a problem • Check to see if there is a detention pond in the middle of the open ground • Alternatively,the southeast corner(where the baseball field now stands) could be used 3. COMMUNITY CENTER COMPLEX (west side of Callinan Sports Center) o West of Callinan Sports Center o Triangular space at the corner of Expressway and Snyder • Highly visible • Good access by bus and plenty of parking 4. EAGLE(southwest corner) • Occasionally used by community band • Trees could be thinned to improve visibility • Master plan includes a pool in this corner but it is unlikely to be built • Another possible use is as a group picnic area with pavilion 5. GOLIS • Two possible locations o Southwest corner;recreation center may be built there o Northern section(currently three"under 10"soccer fields but one is not used much) • Immediate neighbors in either location may be a problem 2 Rohnert Park Skate Park [•] July 2007 • Baseball field is mainly used by out-of-town teams(SoCo League plays on Sundays; Babe Ruth(Redwood Empire)uses once a week) • There is demand for a dedicated dog park which could fit with a skateboard park • Gold Ridge Elementary Scheol may be closed 6. RAINBOW • Basketball and tennis courts are in very bad shape and could be replaced by a skate board park • Space is also available at the south end • There is significant potential for NIMBY response GROUP C—Poor or no potential 1. ALICIA • Swimming pool mat be closed • Not enough space in an adequate configuration 2. DOROTEA • May put a community garden in the southeast corner • Poor visibility throughout the park • Only on-street parking available • High NIMBY factor probable 3. FIRE STATION ON SOUTHWEST BLVD. • Limited space • Apartments on west and south sides • Building is to be torn down • Low-income housing has been talked about 4. LADYBUG • Hidden access in the southwest corner presents a danger • Virtually no visibility from parking lot • Detention pond takes up most of the space • Swimming pool may be closed • Space between the park and the school is owned by SoCo Water Agency 3 Pacifica Skatepark Regulations 1. This skatepark is for skateboard and skate use only. All others are prohibited. 2. Helmet, knee pads and elbow pads are required at all times. Failure to wear these items is a violation of Pacifica Municipal Code 4-10.117B and subject to citation as an infraction. 3. Non-skaters must remain outside the fence for safety reasons. 4. No pets allowed inside the skatepark 5. Waxing, altering objects and the use of additional ramps,jumps and obstacles are not allowed in the skatepark. 6. Keep food, glass, gum and drinks out of the skating area. 7. This a drug, alcohol, profanity and smoke-free area. 8. Respect each other and the surrounding neighbors. 9. No amplified music in the skatepark. 10. If the skatepark is vandalized or tagged, the city will close it until the vandalism is repaired. Graffiti and vandalism make it dangerous for skaters. The skatepark is a "skate at your own risk" facility. Please: • Know your ability • Skate within your limits • Look both ways • Watch out for beginners • Call out before entering the bowl • Take turns Section 4-1O.117B. Skatepark (a) The skatepark owned and operated by the City of Pacifica adjacent to the Crespi Community Center is designated as a City skatepark and in-line skate facility. No person shall ride or use a skateboard, roller skates, roller blades, in-line skates or similar device at the City skatepark without wearing a helmet, elbow pads and kneepads. Reasonable notice shall be posted at the skatepark to the effect that any person riding or using a skateboard, roller- blades, roller skates, in-line skates in the skateboard park must wear a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads and that failing to do so is in violation of the Municipal Code and subject to citation as an infraction. (b) The Director may promulgate rules and regulations in writing for the use of the skatepark. It is unlawful for any person to violate such rules and regulations. (c) The hours of operation of the skatepark shall be: (i) Monday through Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to sunset; (ii) Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to sunset; (iii) Notwithstanding the above, the skatepark may be closed at any time by the City. (§ 3, Ordnance 725-C.S., effective March 28, 2005) pttN ERT pARk INTEROFFICE MEMO 19mm Gz From: Guy Miller, Recreation Services Manager fiEPARTM To: Parks &Recreation Commission � ,�� Cc: CALIFOS'01' Date: July 12, 2007 Subject: Skate Park Committee Report r Please remember to review the Skate Park Site Rating matrix that was submitted to you via e-mail last month and come prepared with your input. Thanks