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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/07/2003 - PB&R CommissionOCTOBER 7, 2003 APPROVED PB &R COMMISSION MINUTES 1. CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting October 7, 2003- 7pm Convened 7pm ROLL CALL Present: Debra Allen Bill Garrett Steve Rosansky Val Skoro Tom Tobin Absent: Roy Englebrecht Greg Ruzicka Staff: Marie Knight, Recreation & Senior Services Director David Niederhaus, General Services Director Andrea McGuire, Recreation Superintendent Teri Craig, Administrative Assistant DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS Director Knight that the two park patrol staff have been hired and will be on board and training the week of October 21'. One is currently a park ranger working at Doheny State • Beach and the other has been with the City in several capacities — worked as an intern in Code Enforcement and is currently working in the Tide Pools program. Staff feels good with the decision and a reminder that training will include time with the Police Department. Director Knight also noted that Matt Lohr has been hired as the Recreation Manager and will begin November 2 from the City of Riverside with a very extensive background in aquatics, contract classes and special events. Director Knight gave an update on the Newport Harbor Community Association request stating that upon further review at the staff level it was decided that the request only entailed a maintenance request for the landscape rather than a true encroachment and commented that this type of request could be approved at the staff level by the City Manager and that it will not need to go to City Council. She also commented that the date for Upper Bayview at the Coastal Commission has not been set but should be scheduled around November 7. Commissioner Skoro commented that he was still frustrated as he feels the Commission is still being kept in the dark. Director Knight reminded him that Dan Trimble did attend the last PB &R meeting with an update. Director Niederhaus updated the Commission on the September 23 Council meeting regarding the Castaways Park and stated that they had decided to use the sedge grass with some irrigation that was discussed at the Commission meeting and staff is on a fast track to get the • project done by March with the bid on the Council agenda in early December and finish project by late March. He also commented that the Council had requested more amenities such as benches in that park, so staff will be looking at donation requests. • Parks, Beaches fx Recreation Commission Regular Meeting October 7, 2003 Page 2 PUBLIC COMMENTS Charles Massingill, Vice President Newport Harbor Baseball Association thanked the Commission and staff on all the hard work that was done for Bonita Canyon Sports Park stating that it was probably the finest sports field that most of these children will ever play on. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes of the September 2, 2003 study session and regular meeting. Waive reading of subject minutes, approve as written and order filed. 2. Item pulled by Chair Allen 3. Recreation ft Senior Services Activity Report. Receive and file monthly Activity Report for activities and upcoming projects. 4. Item pulled by Commissioner Skoro 5. Item pulled by Staff 2. Parks f3 Tree Division Activity Report. Chair Allen questioned the brochure attached to the staff report not be published as work is still going on regarding the G -1 Policy and would like to encourage that staff not make this available to the public and have the Tree Committee review it. Director Niederhaus stated that it would be removed from the web and was confident that it had not been printed. He also commented that a palm tree in the Balboa Village area had been cut down, looked like it was professionally done, but no damage was done to any private property. Commissioner Tobin asked if the BPPA had been notified. Director Niederhaus asked the Commissioners to visit the artificial turf at Cliff Drive Park. 4. Resolutions of Application of State Park Bond Funds. Commissioner Skoro asked if any other restrictions had been placed on the applications that Recreation had applied for. Superintendent McGuire stated no, other than signing the contract with the state and spending the money within eight years. Commissioner Skoro asked if there were any others that staff could apply for. Superintendent McGuire stated that these were the end of Proposition 40 and that there are some competitive grants but the City of Newport Beach has a hard time receiving those. 5. Bench Donation. Director Niederhaus stated that the donors were here tonight and wanted to • acknowledge the very generous donation at the 38`h Street Park by the Babineau Family. He commented that there are no benches located by the tot lot and so this is a welcome addition. Chair Allen thanked the Babineau's for their donation on behalf of the Commission. E Parks, Beaches it Recreation Commission Regular Meeting October 7, 2003 Page 3 Motion by Commissioner Skoro to accept items 1 through 5 of the Consent calendar. Motion carried by acclamation. CONTINUED BUSINESS 6. Committee Appointments Finance - Nothing to report. Park Development - Commissioner Skoro stated that he hoped that the Committee would meet after the Coastal Commission meeting in early November Recreation & Open Space Element - Nothing to report. Recreation Activities - Director Knight stated that the Committee had met to discuss some solutions and or alternative sites for the volleyball courts located at CdM State Beach; she went on to say that with the impending refurbishment of the beach area, staff is looking at losing 4 courts. Based on complaints made by the volleyball players because of the proximity to the fire rings, staff decided to look at alternate sites, realizing that if the courts are removed then they must be placed somewhere else in accordance with the Coastal Commission policy. A initial committee meeting was set up to look at locating them at B Ft C Streets, and others. The committee will meet again after more information is gathered. Seniors - Chair Allen stated that negotiations are currently being discussed about the use of the facility between the City Council Ad Hoc Committee, staff and the Friends of OASIS. Commissioner • Tobin stated that he had met with Senior Services Manager Jardine -Haug for an overview of the facility and the relationship with the staff and the Friends. Director Knight stated that the City is working on a draft cooperative agreement, similar to what the Library Foundation has. A meeting will be scheduled possibly later in November. Community Service Award - Will be placed on the November agenda. Tree Committee - Chair Allen stated that Council has asked the Tree Committee to answer the following questions: a. Should the City Manager be the final decision authority in the removal of Problem Trees and what should the overall appeal process be for any and all tree removal decisions? Answer - Yes the City Manager should have final approval subject to appeal process. b. Should the City have two tree policies: one for view and one for non -view? How would you define a "View Community "? Answer - No. c. Should all tree removals require replacement with a 36" box tree? Is this realistic given space constraints and availability? Answer - A 36" box tree should be used when space constraints and funding and tree type are available; unless it is being reforested for view reasons then it should be replaced with a 24" box tree. Should there be any changes to how removals and additions to the Special Tree list take place, and if so, what is the process? • Answer - PB &R should review with Council as approval authority. ?jarks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting October 7, 2003 • Page 4 e. Should the policy include a goal to establish and maintain appropriate diversity in tree species and age classes to provide a stable and sustainable urban forest with a minimum tree inventory (i.e. 30,000 trees) that the City can reasonably maintain in a healthy and non- hazardous condition and require that in approving any tree removal or reforestation request the PB@R Commission shall find that approval of the request will not adversely impact the overall inventory, diversity and age of the City's Urban Forest. Answer - Yes, so that it wHl have something to measure decisions by. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Limiting of Bench Donations, identify areas where they are needed • Irvine Terrace Park Encroachment — Commissioner Skoro asked that an update is again needed. • Review of Council Policy G -5 possibly requiring approval of HOA where bench will be installed or gage number of benches in parks. • Liability Aspects at MarinaPark ADJOURNMENT - 8:05pm Submitted by: YrLI PAAA Teri Craig, Admin Assista t • 1J