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Parks & Recreation 2022/07/27MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION DOWNTOWN ANAHEIM COMMUNITY CENTER 250 E CENTER ST., ANAHEIM, CA 92805 July 27, 2022 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT: Lynn Cudd, Chair Sjany Larson -Cash, Director Nichole Rupp, Vice Chair Anaheim Sporn, Community Services Manager Ryan Balius JJ Jimenez, Parks Manager James Cook Ana Straabe, Principal Project Planner Tony Flores Eleanor Granflor, Senior Secretary Yogesh Shah AGENDA ACTION TAKEN CALL TO ORDER: Chair Cudd called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Cook led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: None. 4. SCHEDULED COMMUNICATION: None. 5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Chair Cudd presented the May 25, 2022 minutes to the Commissioners for changes or corrections. Vice Chair Rupp made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Commissioner Cook. The motion was approved with 4 votes in favor and 1 abstention by Commissioner Balius; Chair Cudd accepted the minutes. 6. REPORTS: a) Parks Activity Report — May/June: JJ Jimenez presented the report and highlighted the park improvements completed by the Public Utilities Department volunteers at Little Peoples Park on May 14th, the opening of the new basketball court and art mural at Pearson Park on May 18t, the volunteer events partnered with Love Anaheim, fire clearance completed is east Anaheim, and the TreePower shade tree program offered to residents. JJ Jimenez also reported the increase of homelessness within city parks. Sjany Larson -Cash reported staff is working to continue to prohibit overnight stays in city parks, encouraged the Commission to report any illegal activity that occurs in the parks during the day, and reminded the Commission that city parks are public parks and are open to everyone. Sjany also reported that city departments are working together to assist with homelessness — city staff will be visiting parks overnight to communicate with homeless that are in parks during closed hours, the city will be hiring a city attorney to specialize in the minor citations, and various resources will be enforced to help solve homeless issues and offer shelter availability. Questions were answered regarding the new basketball surface material at Pearson Park, mainline break repairs, splash pad areas at Ponderosa and Miraloma parks, and a homicide incident that occurred at Ponderosa Park and that is currently under investigation. b) Park Ranger Report — June: Anaheim Sporn presented the report and highlighted the contacts made by Park Rangers. There was a decrease in park patrols due to low staffing and the additional assistance Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes July 27, 2022 Page 2 provided at special events. Anaheim reminded the Commission that Park Rangers prioritize patrols in areas where previous activity occurred or where there are any neighborhood needs. There was in increase in curfew contacts, there were no coyote sightings, and a decrease in alcohol contacts. Staff will continue to advertise using creative ways to assist in hiring Park Rangers. c) Parks Capital Project Progress Report: JJ Jimenez reported $10 million has been allocated to the state budget towards the upgrades at Boysen Park and staff will finalize the process for the grant funding. Ana Straabe presented the report and highlighted the following projects: Brookhurst Teen Center, Center Greens including the KABOOM! playground Design and Build Day, Rio Vista playground and restroom, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for River Park. Questions were answered regarding state funding to improve Boysen Park, the playground area at Riverdale Park, and the OC River Walk. NEW BUSINESS: a) Selection of Chair: Nominations for Chair were made: Vice Chair Rupp nominated Chair Cudd to remain as Chair and Commissioner Balius nominated Commissioner Flores. Chair Cudd received four votes in favor and abstentions by Commissioners Balius and Flores; Commissioner Flores received two votes in favor and abstentions by Chair Cudd, Vice Chair Rupp and Commissioners Cook and Shah. Chair Cudd will remain as Chair. b) Selection of Vice Chair: Nominations for Vice Chair were made: Chair Cudd nominated Vice Chair Rupp to remain as Vice Chair and Commissioner Balius nominated Commissioner Cook. Vice Chair Rupp received three votes in favor and abstentions were made by Commissioners Balius, Cook and Flores; Commissioner Cook received three votes in favor and abstentions were made by Chair Cudd, Vice Chair Rupp and Commissioner Shah. The vote ended with a tie between the two nominations. A second round of nominations for Vice Chair were made: Chair Cudd nominated Vice Chair Rupp to remain as Vice Chair and Commissioner Balius nominated Commissioner Cook. Vice Chair Rupp received three votes in favor and abstentions were made by Commissioners Balius, Cook and Flores; Commissioner Cook received three votes in favor and abstentions were made by Chair Cudd, Vice Chair Rupp and Commissioner Shah. The vote again ended with a tie between the two nominations. Commissioner Balius made a motion to postpone the Selection of Vice Chair to the next meeting due to a tie vote, seconded by Commissioner Flores. A discussion was held by the Commission. The motion was approved with 5 votes in favor and one abstention by Chair Cudd; this agenda item will be tabled and will resume at the August Commission meeting. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: Anaheim Sporn reported Concerts to the Max will be held at Maxwell Park on August 4th and 11th, the Concerts in the Canyon series will host the last concert at Ronald Reagan Park on July 28th, the Summer Nights Series continues on Saturdays at Pearson Park Amphitheatre, and Symphony & Cinema on September 1st. 9. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Cudd adjourned the meeting at 7:12 p.m.