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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-04-2017 PBR Minutes CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting April 4, 2016 – 6:00 PM I. CALL MEETING OF THE PARKS, BEACHES & RECREATION COMMISSION TO ORDER – 6:00 pm II. ROLL CALL Present: Marie Marston, Chair Laird Hayes, Vice Chair Tom Anderson, Commissioner Roy Englebrecht, Commissioner Dave Granoff , Commissioner Walt Howald, Commissioner Absent: Ron Cole, Commissioner Staff: Laura Detweiler, Recreation & Senior Services Director Mike Pisani, Municipal Operations Director Sean Levin, Recreation & Senior Services Deputy Director Dan Sereno, Landscape Manager Justin Schmillen, Recreation Manager Teri Craig, Administrative Support Specialist Marie Lindeman, Administrative Support Specialist III. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR None.   V. CONSENT CALENDAR   A. Minutes of the March 7, 2016 PB&R Commission meeting. Waive reading of subject minutes, approve and order filed. B. Parks, Trees & Beach Maintenance Divisions Activities Report. Receive/file Activity Report of past and upcoming projects and events. C. Recreation & Senior Services Activity Report Receive/file Activity Report of past and upcoming projects and events. D. Tree Donation – West Jetty View Park Approve the request to donate three 24” box Myoporum trees by Arbor Real Estate and “Donated by Arbor Real Estate” at West Jetty View Park. The donation will replace three Special Landmark (Myoporum) trees that failed during the recent storm and necessitated an emergency removal. Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Minutes April 4, 2017 Page 2 Motion by Commissioner Hayes, second by Commissioner Howald, to accept Consent Calendar Items V-A through V-D. Motion carried; Cole absent. VI. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Lower Sunset View Park Extension Provide guidance and comments for incorporation into the Lower Sunset View Park Extension to begin the conceptual design process of the site. Senior Civil Engineer Andy Tran said the design team wanted guidance and feedback from the Commission. The scope of the project is to complete the conceptual design and then other phases will be handled at a later date. He introduced the team and presented on the two City owned parcels acquired from Caltrans and the goals of the project. Robert Barton, Design Project Manager from T.Y. Lin International stated that architect Hunter Ruthrauff was unable to attend, but Landscape Architect Kim Rhodes from David Evans & Associates was available tonight as well. He went on to discuss the Mobility and Accessibility Plan and explained the proposed parking garage and pedestrian bridge. Other possibilities noted were a bicycle node, fitness stations, additional parking spots, a trolley stop, and a dog park. Landscape Architect Kim Rhodes stated that the dog park could be 0.8 of an acre and would be large enough to separate large and small dogs. She also mentioned shade shelters, fitness equipment, walkways, seating, views, and connection to the parking structure. She went on to say that should the City move forward with a dog park there would be half the site left to incorporate those other elements mentioned. Project Manager Tran stated that they would incorporate comments received at the meeting into the conceptual design. Design alternatives would be presented to the Commission, City Council, and community for selection of preferred alternatives. Following that staff would look into grant applications for funding. Commissioners voiced their concerns about the cost for a bridge and whether it was a good idea to move forward with the project due to funding. Additional discussions ensued regarding safety improvements for access to Sunset Ridge Park; parking access and use; sight lines; possibility of a tunnel and if staff should contact the Coastal Commission and Caltrans regarding crosswalk removal. Chair Marston also added that an alternative idea would be to put parking underground and that the entire parcel of land be used only for park and recreation space. Pr0ject Manager Tran stated that the Caltrans Director’s Deed (agreement) included a condition that the two parcels can only be used for recreational and public parking purposes. Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Minutes April 4, 2017 Page 3 Chair Marston opened the public comments. Stan Rosenthal disagreed with Commissioner Englebrecht regarding a signalized crosswalk due to safety and argued that a bridge was necessary. He presented the Commission with pedestrian death statistics and that that the intersection of Superior and PCH is the most dangerous one in Newport. George Schroeder explained that the site had previously been considered for a community center, but during the busy season the lot is full and traffic backs up. As President of the West Newport Beach Association he indicated their highest priority is for a pedestrian bridge across Superior and questioned if surface parking counted as open space. He further questioned the safety of dog parks. S. Harris Pinsky, a resident and dog owner, stated that current dog park is inadequate. He visited the proposed site and was disappointed that the lot charges for parking as other dog parks do not. He suggested finding an alternate space for the dog park and using the space in question for sports. Jim Mosher agreed that a tunnel would be better than a bridge. He indicated he did not have a good visualization of the Superior bridge and was confused by the presentation. With respect to the dog park he questioned if it was the best use for this land and suggested the Commission consider alternative uses. Judy Johnson suggested that trash cans be placed downwind because when sitting at Sunset View Park there is a trash can next to the benches and if there is a dog park the waste smell could be an issue. Mark Wiltrain stated that the recreational area should not be used for cars or a dog park, but rather for residents. He questioned the hours of a dog park and asked who would be tasked with keeping it clean. He asked if staff could look into subterranean parking and pedestrian tunnels. He said that he views the cost of the project as an investment and wanted a dedicated lot for the Sunset Ridge Park. He also suggested that the idea of a community center be revisited. Sam Boctor lives at Newport Crest and overlooks the area. He stated that the existing parking is empty 10 months of the year except for the summer and holidays. He opposed the idea of a parking structure for cost reasons and questioned if there really is a need for bridges as he feels safe crossing there. He also brought up the issue of homeless people and hours of the park restrooms. Chair Marston closed the public comments. Additional discussion ensued regarding leagues or teams utilizing Sunset Ridge Park with a better plan for parking and if there was potential for growth. Deputy Director Levin stated that the park is underutilized and explained that the use has dwindled because of parking and difficult access. Additional input on Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Minutes April 4, 2017 Page 4 recreational activities in the red area were recommended including picnic benches, bike node and a dog park. B. Back Bay Signage Program Back Bay Signage Program – Presentation by Newport Bay Conservancy. Howard Cork, Newport Bay Conservancy, explained there was a consensus that updated signage is needed in the Back Bay, and now that they have funding sources the project will move ahead. Mr. Cork provided background on the Newport Bay Conservancy and the bay itself. Heather Cieslak, Newport Bay Conservancy, stated the goals of the project and discussed the different purposes of signage and the desire to make signage consistent across the Bay. She noted that OC Parks spent $50,000 on signage for the west side of the bay and should be completed in mid-2017. Commissioner Anderson said he runs into people all the time who are lost and suggested they put signs up in the neighborhood and talk to local hotels about wayfinding. Mr. Cork explained they are producing a sign with an overview of the bay showing different access points, hot spots, parking, etc. to go on the website and in the parking lots. Ms. Cieslak said the plan encompasses the entire bay and took into consideration all the multi-use trails. Chair Marston opened the public comments. Jim Mosher said he lives near the Back Bay and that there are buoys that stand out in a natural area and requested that they be toned down. He asked about the Use Pass and if it would be required. Chair Marston closed the public comments. Chair Marston stated that no action was needed, and moved to the next item on the agenda. C. Bench Donation – Street End of the 300 Block of Jasmine Avenue Consider the request to donate a bench from Donna Bussey for “Andrew ‘AJAX’ Jacks” at the street end of the 300 block of Jasmine Avenue. Landscape Manager Sereno explained that the street end of the 300 block of Jasmine Ave. was going to be re-landscaped and the Bussey family approached the City regarding a bench donation. He stated that the bench is backless to preserve views and discourage sleeping and noted that staff recommends approval of the proposal. Commissioners noted their support of the project. Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Minutes April 4, 2017 Page 5 Chair Marston opened the public comments seeing none the public comments were closed. Motion by Commissioner Granoff, second by Commissioner Howald, to approve a bench donation from Donna Bussey for “Andrew ‘AJAX’ Jacks” at the street end of the 300 block of Jasmine Avenue Motion carried unanimously; Commissioner Cole absent. D. Tree Reforestation – 1961 Port Provence Place Consider the request for reforestation of a City Pyrus kawakamii (Evergreen Pear) tree by Pamela Conner at 1961 Port Provence Place. If approved, the replacement tree would be a 36” box Arbutus unedo (Strawberry) tree, installed at homeowner’s cost. Manager Sereno presented the reforestation request to replace an Evergreen Pear with a Strawberry tree. He noted that requirements had been met and that the homeowner’s association had accepted the request as well. Discussion ensued regarding approval and the value of the tree. Manager Sereno stated that the replacement cost was approximately $1,000 to $1,200 and would be borne by the requestor. Commissioner Englebrecht stated he did not support the reforestation. Chair Marston opened the public comments. Jim Mosher agreed with Commissioner Englebrecht. Additionally he questioned the noticing on this type of matter whereby a single Council Member was notified. He commented that these notices should be brought to the attention of the full Council. Chair Marston closed the public comments. Motion by Commissioner Englebrecht, second by Commissioner Hayes, to deny request for reforestation of a City Pyrus kawakamii (Evergreen Pear) tree by Pamela Conner at 1961 Port Provence Place. Motion carried as follows: Ayes: Englebrecht, Granoff, Hayes, Howald, Marston Absent: Cole Nay: Anderson VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS / FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Director Detweiler announced that the Finding Dory Movie in the Park was Friday, April 7 and the 3rd Annual Mayor’s Egg Roll at the Civic Center on Saturday, April 8. She also reported that the Newport Beach Film Festival opens on April 20. Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Minutes April 4, 2017 Page 6 Director Pisani announced the Arbor Day Celebration would take place at Anderson Elementary on April 27 at 8:45am with Chair Marston representing the Commission. Discussion ensued regarding the replacement trees at West Jetty View Park and the mulch giveaway at the OASIS Senior Center back parking lot this past weekend. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Jim Mosher commented on the City Council discussion regarding the renaming of a park in honor of John Wayne and moving the Ronald Reagan statue to the Civic Center Park. He reminded the Commission that about 13-14 years ago the Commission decided that parks should not be named after people except in truly extraordinary circumstances; i.e. Bob Henry Park, which is a policy he supports. Mr. Mosher also commented on Mariner’s Park baseball field that he believes, was rededicated without Commission approval. He thinks this was due to the PB&R Commission approving a donation plaque for the batting cage last year, but it appears now that the field has now been renamed. Commissioner Howald stated that he was hopeful to learn more about Poppy Avenue in a meeting with Engineer Mike Sinacori and that a discussion would be held regarding tree issues. IX. ADJOURNMENT - 7:54 p.m. Submitted by: ________ Teri Craig, Admin Assistant Approved by: _____ Marie Marston, Chair g VÜt|z `tÜ|x `tÜáàÉÇ