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Parks and Recreation 2017/02/22PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 W. Crescent Avenue, Anaheim, California February 22, 2017 MINUTES COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Manes, and Commissioners Anderson, Jensen, Farrow, Levy, and Balius COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Vice Chairman Navarro STAFF PRESENT: Brent Dennis, Community Services Director, Larry Pasco — Deputy Community Services Director, Sjany Larson -Cash — Community Services Manager, Wendy Solorio, Community Services Supervisor, Eleanor Granflor —Sr. Secretary CALL TO ORDER — Chairman Manes called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Chairman Manes led the Pledge of Allegiance. INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS AND COMMUNICATION FROM OTHERS A. Written Communication — None. B. Unscheduled Oral Communication from the Public — None. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES — Chairman Manes presented the January 25, 2017 Minutes to the Commissioners for changes or corrections. Commissioner Levy made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Commissioner Jensen. There being no further additions or corrections, Chairman Manes accepted the Minutes with two abstentions by Commissioner Anderson. REPORTS A. Recreation, Human and Neighborhood Services Activity Report — December 2016/January 2017 — Sjany Larson -Cash presented the report and highlighted the Adult Soccer Finals, Youth Winter Basketball League, Camp Venture Day Camp, Fun on Wheels, Center Art Gallery, Tree Lighting Ceremony, "Oak Canyon Nature Center Goes to the Dogs" event, Employee Giving Campaign activities, Tiny Tots Academy, Senior meal program at Brookhurst Community Center, Active Older Adult Program, Downtown Anaheim Community Center — Family Fitness Class and Toys for Tots Holiday Program, Miraloma Park Family Resource Center — Dance Therapy Group and Kids Cafe, Ponderosa Park Family Resource Center Winter Program, Project S.A.Y. Program, WAND Holiday Magic Christmas Tree Lighting at Twila Reid Park. Larry Pasco clarified the photo from the last Parks Activity Report for the Tree Lighting was found on an Anaheim blog website, and was not a photo of the actual tree lighting. Chairman Manes questioned if the Fun on Wheels program is popular. Sjany Larson -Cash stated the areas where Fun on Wheels provides programs are in high density areas and the program is very well attended by neighborhood youth and families. Chairman Manes asked for information regarding the annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon. Sjany Larson -Cash stated the event will be on March 15th at the City National Grove of Anaheim and the Commission should have received invitations in the mail. Commissioner Balius had questions regarding facility scheduling - How are fields programmed; and do Park Rangers have access to who is scheduled for field use? Commissioner Balius stated the groups who are utilizing the fields all seem to get along and practice in an organized manner, but at times the fields may over used and cannot be maintained properly. Sjany Larson -Cash stated field allocation is permitted on a bi-annual basis. There is a recurring user policy in which re -occurring users from the past two years get the first right of refusal for a field. This policy allows an organization to continue their program. Sjany Larson -Cash stated staff allocates fields based on space and organizations may use one field for multiple teams at the same time as long as there is no safety risk. The Park Rangers are responsible for monitoring the usage of fields and there is one Facility Attendant staffed to work with organizations on field and lighting issues. Sjany Larson -Cash stated staff schedules groups on a rotating field schedule to ensure fields are not overused. Larry Pasco stated Park Field Supervisors and Maintenance Worker IIs evaluate fields and relay information to Recreation staff. New signs have been made to be placed when fields are closed due to weather. There may be an ordinance change in the future to reduce the number of patrons to require a permit. Brent Dennis stated Parks and Recreation staff is in communication to determine if fields are playable. The mudline is updated daily for organizations to call and receive the field condition updates. B. Park Ranger Patrol Statistics Report — January — Sjany Larson -Cash presented the report and highlighted the number of patrols, patrons, and public contacts made. There has been an increase of curfew contacts. Staff has encountered various situations in January that include coyote sightings, fallen trees/tree branches, syringes found in parks/ rest rooms, fireworks, go cart driving, vandalism at the Miraloma Family Resource Center, and a large group of homeless at Schweitzer Park. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes February 22, 2017 Commissioner Levy questioned if the City will be repealing the camping laws of the homeless. Brent Dennis stated he does not see the City in favor of this. Commissioner Anderson stated he attended the ARA Forum. Safe zones that were opened in other cities, Seattle and Portland, were not a success and have been closed. Brent Dennis stated the City relies on CityNet and the Homeless Collaborative to help improve with the homeless issues. C. Parks Capital Project Progress Report — Larry Pasco presented the report and answered questions on following projects: • Anaheim Coves Northern Extension — City Council and OCWD Board approved the project. Construction should begin in summer 2017. • Ball Road Basin — Staff within different departments will discuss the purchase or lease of this property to build a sports complex. • East Anaheim Skatezone — a sign has been installed to advertise the fundraising to build the project. • Imperial Park — Build Day will be on 2/25. Registration begins at 7:30am and the ribbon cutting will be at 2:30pm. Lunch will be provided for the volunteers. • Julianna Park — A community meeting will be on March 9th at 5pm at Horace Mann Elementary. Staff will begin the Master Plan process. • La Palma Park — applied for a grant to install a synthetic turf field. • Olive Hills Slope Repair — repair is almost complete. • Pioneer Park — Construction continues and project is scheduled to be complete in summer 2017. • Ponderosa Park and Family Resource Center — Construction continues despite the rain. Installation of walls has begun for the Family Resource Center. Commissioner Balius questioned the status of the camera installation in the parks project. Larry Pasco stated it has been delayed due to the rain. Project will hopefully be completed in April. Commissioner Balius questioned if the trees were trimmed at Maxwell Park for the camera installation. Larry Pasco is not aware of the tree trimming and it may be possibly due to the recent rain storm. Commissioner Balius also stated the grass is overgrown on the ballfield and needs to be cut at Twila Reid Park. Larry Pasco stated quick grass growth is possibly due to the rain and will notify staff to look into it. D. Senior Citizen Sub -Committee Report —Commissioner Jensen shared copies of the Courier with the Commission. OLD BUSINESS A. 2017 Meeting Schedule — the item will be tabled due to the changes of the City Boards and Commissions. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Brent Dennis reported the following: • City Boards and Commissions will be making some changes. Commissioners will be notified by the City Clerk with information of the changes. The new ordinance will be installed possibly in April. Brent Dennis thanked the Commission for their service. • The Budget Office has approved three packages that total approximately $830,000 in improvements which include park restroom renovations, field renovations, and the completion of a parks assessment • The Miraloma project will be receiving an award at the California Parks and Recreation Society Conference next week. • The Department is getting a new Fun on Wheels van. • A meeting was held with staff from Access California Services on a new and improved plan. A community meeting will be held, and then a presentation given to the Commission of the proposed project. • The Spencer House has been evaluated at Maxwell Park. Staff will be recommending the building to be demolished and create additional park space. Chairman Manes reported the following: • There will be an Anaheim Historical Society speaker, David John Marley, at the Skipper Stories: True Tales of the Disney Jungle Cruise on February 25th. • The MUZEO has a new exhibit, The Downtown Abbey. • There is Compost Giveaway at the Honda Center on March 181h. • The annual Mystery Author Lunch hosted by the Library Foundation will be on March 19th. ADJOURNMENT — Chairman Manes adjourned the meeting at 6:57 p.m.