1998/03/16 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes""
ROHNERT PARK PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES
March 16, 1998
The Rohnert Park Parks and Recreation Commission met this date at 7:30 p.m. for a regular meeting at
the Rohnert Park city offices, 6750 Commerce Boulevard, Rohnert Park. The meeting was called to
order at 7:30 p.m. with Chair Stevens presiding and leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL Present: (5) Commissioners Allred, Carlson, Griffin, and Stevens
Late: (1) Commissioner Tatman
Absent: (0)
Also present for the entire meeting was Interim Director of Recreation, Ron
Mikalis.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES Upon motion by Commissioner Griffin and second by Commissioner Allred, the
minutes of the adjourned meeting of February 23, 1998, were unanimously
approved as submitted.
COMMISSION
COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS Chair Stevens reviewed the present committee assignments (a copy of which is
attached to the original of these minutes).
TATMAN
ARRIVES At 7:33 p.m. Commissioner Tatman arrived for the meeting
COMMISSION
COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS -
Continued After discussion, all committee assignments stayed the same except Commissioners
Tatman and Griffin were added to the Skate Park Committee.
Commissioner Griffin asked if any other commissioner would like to be the liaison
to the Bicycle Committee since he is unable to attend the meetings which are
scheduled at 3 p.m. because he is at work. None of the other commissioners were
available to attend.
REPORTS FROM
THE DIRECTOR
OF RECREATION
Monthly Reports Interim Director Mikalis said he had nothing outstanding to add to the monthly
reports for the Community Center, Sports Center, or Senior Center.
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Chairman Stevens asked about the Community Center Monthly Report and where
the money for the scholarship fund comes from and what types of scholarships are
applied. Staff explained that people registering for recreation programs donate to
the fund and Rohnert Park residents can receive scholarships for any program the
department offers.
Commissioner Griffin asked if the last order of engraved memorial bricks had
arrived, and staff advised most of the bricks are here and will be installed when the
ground dries out.
1997 Swim Pool
Summary The Director asked if there were any questions about the report. The report was
accepted as presented.
Art in the Community
Center Lobby Director Mikalis reported on the proposal made by the Rohnert Park Association
For The Arts (AFTA) to display art in the Community Center lobby. He advised
this matter went before the Cultural Arts Commission at their meeting today and
received their endorsement. The Director outlined the proposal to display the art
and advised that AFTA will be covering all costs for installation of additional
lighting and hardware to hang the art. This matter will now go to the City
Council.
Recruitment for
Recreation Director Director Mikalis reported that as of March 9th, over one hundred inquiries had
been received regarding the Recreation Director opening and three applications
have been submitted. He stated many applicants will wait until the deadline before
submitting an application. Some discussion followed on who might apply.
Recreation Department
Update The Director referred the commission to their copy of the Inter -Office
Memorandum dated March 3rd regarding the update of Recreation Department
programs and activities. A copy of the memo is attached to the original copy of
the minutes. He advised the report will be done on a regular basis and will be sent
to the City Manager, the City Council and the Park and Recreation Commission.
M-Park Update The Director reported the project to add four tennis courts and a soccer field has
been delayed by the weather. He stated the tennis courts may be finished by fall,
but the soccer field will not be done in time for fall of 1998.
Organizational
Review The Director reported that Dynamic Leadership Associates (DLA) the company
that was preparing an organizational review on the Recreation Department gave
their report to the City Council last Tuesday. The Recreation Department will be
receiving a copy of the final report and copies will be provided for the
Commission.
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The Director said the report indicated the department is healthy but did mention
that marketing is one area that could be improved. It also recommended updating
the Community Center since it was built in the 70's. Staff will be looking into this
matter.
Honeybee Pool Director Mikalis referred the Commission to the Statement of Revenues and
Expenditures for Honeybee Pool for the period October 1997 through February
1998 which was included in their packet. A copy of the report is attached to the
original copy of these minutes.
The report indicated that the City lost about $17,000 during this period mostly due
to the cost of energy. Commission Griffin asked about December pool rental
which is on the report. The Director referred him to the note below the statistics.
He also noted that the Dive Center rents the pool in the winter.
The Director informed the commission that some cities put a cover on their pool
so that they can keep it open in the winter. Discussed followed. The Director
stated that some of the costs are for maintenance of the pool, such as circulation
pumps, are in the upcoming budget. He mentioned that as the pools age, the costs
will keep increasing.
Following discussion, Commissioner Griffin made a motion to request that
Honeybee Pool be closed in December, January and February, but be heated for
the week in December when the Rohnert Park Swim Club uses it. The motion
died for lack of a second.
Discussion followed and Director Mikalis suggested that perhaps the swim team
could reimburse the city for the direct costs to heat the pool for that week in
December.
Commissioner Allred made a motion to close the pool October 1 st and reopen it in
February in time for the high school swim team's use. The motion died for lack of
a second.
After further discussion, Commissioner Allred made a new motion to close the
pool October 1 st until the swim club's use in December with the Rohnert Park
Swim Club paying the actual costs incurred to open the pool and then closing the
pool again until February 15. Commissioner Griffin seconded the motion.
Commissioner Tatman said he felt the motion should be amended to include
opening the pool for any group willing to pay the costs for their period of use.
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March 16, 1998
The motion was amended to recommend that Honeybee Pool would close October
1 st through February 15th but could be opened for any group willing to pay the
costs. The amended motion was seconded by Commissioner Carlson.
The Commission unanimously approved the amendment, and after some
discussion, the amended motion was unanimously approved.
MATTERS FROM OR FOR
COMMISSIONERS
CPRS Conference Each of the commissioners who attended the recent California Park and Recreation
Society's Conference in Long Beach gave a brief summary of the work sessions
they had attended.
Some of the topics covered were dog waste in parks, safety and lighting in parks,
premise liability and safety, aquatics and the design of pools, "dive -in" movies at
the pool, gangs, youth challenges, skate parks, youth and technology, and working
with seniors.
All of the commissioners felt the conference was beneficial and they had gotten
some good information which will be helpful to the community. Next year's
conference will be in Santa Clara.
Commission Goals After some clarification, this matter was tabled until the Commission's April
meeting.
Facility Priority
List Chair Stevens also requested that the Facility Priority List be added to the April
agenda.
Brick Memorial Commissioner Griffin made a motion that the city install an engraved brick at the
city's cost for any Rohnert Park child under 18 years of age who passes away.
Commissioner Allred seconded the motion. After some discussion, the motion
was unanimously approved.
M-Park Tennis
Courts Commission Griffin said he has been approached by the Rohnert Park Tennis Club
to name the Magnolia Park tennis courts in honor of former Recreation Director,
James Pekkain. Discussion followed and the chair requested that this matter be
added to the Commission's April agenda for further discussion.
Commissioner Griffin stated the club has offered to cover any costs for the plaque
that would be placed at the courts.
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RCHS Tennis
Courts Chair Stevens announced that the tennis courts at the high school are going to be
removed and will be covered over by structures.
Pool Design Chair Stevens asked that pool design be added to the April agenda for discussion
and requested that Recreation Supervisor, Guy Miller, attend the meeting to give
his input on pool design.
Park Buildings Commissioner Tatman said that there are many buildings in city parks that need to
be repaired. He stated he would like to see a fund started to take care of these
buildings. Director Mikalis said the groups using the building need to let the city
know the condition of the buildings since they are the ones using them.
Commissioner Allred suggested that the groups using the buildings could report on
the condition of the buildings when they are first starting their use and then again
at the end of their use. Some discussion followed.
Brenda Scally Director Mikalis introduced Brenda Scally, a Sonoma State student, who is doing
field work for the Recreation Department looking into getting a masters degree in
recreation. She has attended many department activities to learn about the
department.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. to a regular
meeting to be held on Monday, April 20, 1998, at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall
council chambers, 6750 Commerce Boulevard.
Chairman
E
Secreta
Interim Director of Recreation
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