Parks & Recreation 2024/09/25MINUTES
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Ryan Balius, Chair
CarlottaRhea Clark, Vice Chair
James Cook
Tony Flores
Greg Martin
Fred Sigala, Jr.
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
Lynn Cudd
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
DOWNTOWN ANAHEIM COMMUNITY CENTER
250 E. CENTER ST., ANAHEIM, CA 92805
September 25, 2024 — 6:00 p.m.
STAFF PRESENT:
Anaheim Sporn, Community Services Manager
Ana Straabe, Principal Project Planner
Steve Ballard, Parks Services Superintendent
Kamila Rodriguez, Senior Secretary
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Balius called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Chair Clark led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: None.
4. SCHEDULED COMMUNICATION: None.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Chair Balius presented the August 28, 2024 Minutes to the Commissioners for
changes or corrections. Commissioner Sigala made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Commissioner
Martin. The motion was approved with 5 votes in favor and 1 abstention; Chair Balius accepted the minutes.
6. REPORTS:
a) Park Ranger Report —August: Anaheim Sporn presented the report and noted the general decline inmost
occurrence categories which can likely be attributed to a collaboration with the Anaheim Police Department
in the month of August as well as children being back in school.
Anaheim highlighted that public assist occurrences have increased which may be due to newer Park Ranger
staff recording a broad array of interactions with patrons as assists. Anaheim reported that the Ranger
program continues to be fully staffed including evening and weekend positions.
Questions were answered regarding Park Ranger retention and replacement, and the incorporation of park
camera data into future reports.
b) Parks Activity Report — July/August: Steve Ballard presented the report and noted a variety of park
maintenance projects throughout the City including fire clearance and tree planting in the east sectors, as
well as irrigation controller installation, planting, and playground maintenance in the west. Steve also
highlighted the recent special events hosted by the facility scheduling section including an Indian
Independence Day celebration and a Back -to -School Backpack Giveaway.
Questions were answered regarding improvements at Pearson Park and tree planting at Maxwell Park.
c) Parks Capital Project Progress Report: Ana Straabe presented the report and summarized the progress with
the Brookhurst Splash Pad project, including the results of voting polls following a series of community
Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes
September 25, 2024
Page 2
feedback meetings. Ana also updated the Commission on the start of construction at Little Pine Park and
Paul Revere Park. Finally, she highlighted the selection of a contractor for the Rio Vista Park project, which
will be brought to the City Council in October for approval.
Questions were answered regarding progress on the Canyon Rim play area, the location of the Brookhurst
Splash Pad.
7. NEW BUSINESS: None.
8. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: Randall Oliver, a representative from the UC Statewide IPM program, delivered an
informational presentation on the topic of Gold -spotted Oak Borers and how their organization is combating the
spread of this invasive pest in Southern California.
Anaheim Sporn presented an update on the City Ordinance amendments that will be proposed at the upcoming
City Council meeting on October 8th, 2024. Should these amendments be approved, Anaheim explained that the
City's Park Ordinances would then be brought to the Commission for amendment recommendations which would
then also be presented for approval to the City Council.
Anaheim announced the Center Greens Grand Opening event on September 28th and encouraged
Commissioners to attend.
Anaheim also provided Commissioners with executive summaries of the Needs Assessment Survey results from
the community forum that took place on September 18th. Commissioner Sigala requested that a future agenda
include a summary of park -related data that was collected from the survey.
9. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Balius adjourned the meeting at 7:27 p.m.