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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PR - 2001.03.08�. MEETING MINUTES Burlingame Parks & Recreation Commission Thursday, March 8, 2001 The regular meeting of the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairman Ed Larios at 7:03 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Burlingame Recreation Center. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Dittman, Erickson, Heathcote, Larios, Minderman and Muller; Youth Commissioners Martindale and Zhao Commissioners Absent: Lawson Staff Present: Parks & Recreation Director John Williams, Recreation Superintendent Randy Schwartz Others Present: Dan Anderson, 728 Vernon Way; Annamarie Holland Daniels, 575 Howard Avenue; Lynne Herrick, 467 Cumberland Road; Mary Hunt, 725 Vernon Way; Sam & Gloria Malouf, 712 Vernon Way; Frederick & Liesl Morell, 300 Channing Road; Tom & Susan Paine, 728 Concord Way; �- John Parish, 1538 Vancouver Avenue; and Roxanne Cyr, 1033 Shoal Drive, San Mateo MINUTES Due to the fact that the March Commission meeting was moved up one week, minutes of the February 15, 2001 meeting were not available to Commissioners prior to this meeting. Review and approval of the minutes was delayed until the April meeting of the Commission. OLD BUSINESS Report on Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). Youth Advisory Commissioner Martindale reported that the City Council is expected to appoint at least two young people to the Youth Center Study Committee on March 19. YAC members will do some youth center tours of other facilities in the area during the next few weeks. An all -school middle school dance is being planned for the Rec Center in May. Commissioners received flyers for upcoming XFL Football and Sharks games. Recreation Superintendent Schwartz noted that teen trips and other trips have been doing well this winter. 2. Review of 2001-02 Capital Improvement Program and 5 Year Plan. Director Williams reviewed the staffs proposed Capital Improvement Program for the coming fiscal year. $3 Million has �- been suggested in each of the next two fiscal year budgets for the Youth Center. Obviously, no program or budget for a youth center has yet been approved. Williams noted that major expenditures have also been proposed in years 3, 4 and 5 of the plan for rehabilitation of the Recreation Center and the original Bayside Park facilities. He also explained that the next phase of work at Cuernavaca Park (one of three remaining phases) has been deleted from the 2001-02 budget and suggested as the State Prop 12 Bond Fund project for Burlingame in the 2002-03 FY. Commissioner Erickson asked if staff had prioritized the projects proposed for 2001-02. Williams replied that projects are not prioritized at this time. Commissioner Dittman asked if staff could review the existing Rec Center masterplan for newer commissioners at the April meeting of the Commission. Williams will schedule a review of the Rec Center masterplan for the April Commission meeting. It was moved by Commissioner Dittman, seconded by Commissioner Heathcote and approved 6-0-1 (Lawson absent) that the Commission recommend approval of the Parks & Recreation Department 2001-02 Capital Improvement Budget and S Year plan, as proposed by staff. PUBLIC COMMENTS 1. Annamarie Daniels asked if it was appropriate to include a total of $6 Million in the proposed �- C.I.P. budget for the next two years, given the fact that the Youth Center project was now going to committee. Director Williams replied that this was the appropriate time to submit such requests to the Public Works Director and City Manager, but that funding decisions would come later in the budget process. 2. John Parish asked the Commission what programs would be conducted in a new teen center. Chairman Larios noted that, since the Youth Center was not on the agenda for discussion, that question would have to wait for the study committee's review or for another Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. 3. Lynne Herrick stated that she is concerned about any possible changes in Washington park. Her mother's memorial tree is located in Washington Park. Both of her parents' ashes are scattered in the park and any changes in the park will be very upsetting to her. She considers the park sacred ground. 4. Sam Malouf asked if the Commission knew whether there is a schedule and process for further review of the youth center. Director Williams reported that any further schedule and process will be determined by the City Council. Williams stated that he will mail copies of the full packets of information re the Youth Center project from the February 15, 2001 Commission meeting to all persons present in this meeting who did not attend that February meeting. 2 NEW BUSINESS `- There was no new business to come before the Commission. N%� REPORTS I. Capital Project Status. A. Bayside Park. Director Williams reported that golf range use is increasing with the beginning of the golf season and better weather. Staff will be performing the one year performance review with the golf operator in the near future. Commissioners are invited to attend the combined grand openings of the Dog Exercise Park (8:30 a.m.) and the new baseball/softball field (9:00 a.m.) on Saturday, March 24, 2001. Preliminary design work has begun on landscape improvements along Airport Boulevard, behind the DoubleTree Hotel and at the entrance to the Golf and Soccer Centers. Commissioner Dittman asked about the condition of the turf at the Soccer Center. Williams reported that the turf has grown in very well in the past few weeks. The disease reported in the turf last summer appears to have been defeated. B. Cuernavaca Park. Williams reported that the project to improve the park entrance and add picnic tables has been put on hold. It will be combined with the Cuernavaca playground rehabilitation and Cuernavaca restroom remodel project and funded with State Prop 12 Park Bond funds, hopefully in 2002-03. C. Trenton Park. Williams noted that the schematic plans for the Trenton Park tot lot rehabilitation will be before the City Council for approval within the next month. D. Washington Park Ballfield Improvements. Superintendent Schwartz reported that the engineers have determined that the baseball field outfield light poles are able to carry the weight of new light fixtures. Some structural bracing will be done to the poles. Commissioner Dittman asked about the previous problems with the Washington Park scoreboard. Schwartz said that staff is working on that issue. Chairman Larios asked about safety around the light poles down the foul lines. Schwartz reported that downfield fencing is planned to make play safer and clarify what balls are officially in play for players, umpires and spectators. Larios also asked about the layout of grass areas in the baseball infield. Schwartz described what is being planned. E. Aquatic Center Parking Lot. Williams reported that the new lot, paid for with City funds, is almost complete and is in partial use. Several Commissioners noted that the lot is attractive and a good addition to the school and pool. In response to a question by Commissioner Heathcote, Schwartz replied that the area immediately in front of the Aquatic Center main entrance was left unfinished so that donor bricks can be installed there. It has been a mess and will be temporarily filled until the bricks are installed. 3 Commissioner Erickson inquired about use policies for the new parking lot. Williams explained that no restrictions have been placed upon the lot. City program users or high �- school students are all welcome to park in the lot. The goal for the development of the new lot is simply to get more cars off of the City streets adjacent to the school. ' Erickson asked about the problems with the swim pool heater in recent months. Schwartz described the problems and indicated that staff now believes that there was a design flaw related to some new pool design rules implemented in this pool. The District has pursued the matter diligently and repairs were completed in good time. The issue of responsibility for the problem is now a matter for the attorneys to decide. Schwartz also indicated that the District pool maintenance has been adequate, but that alternative ways to schedule and conduct pool maintenance are presently being discussed. Erickson also asked about aquatic staff hiring and summer program scheduling. Schwartz noted that recruiting, training and retaining good quality pool staff will continue to be difficult. Staff is presently putting the finishing touches on summer program scheduling. Chairman Larios asked about energy conservation activities at the Aquatic Center. Schwartz noted that pool covers are used on a nightly basis and that only the east bank of pool floodlights is being used in the evenings. Larios also asked Schwartz to followup with District staff re energy conservation plans that might affect the pool. F. Artificial Turf at the BHS Football Field. Director Williams reported that the District is in the process of making a proposal for City financial support in the installation of artificial turf at the high school football field. It is Williams' understanding that the City of San Mateo is being offered a similar opportunity to participate in the placing of artificial turf on the San Mateo High School football field. 2. Parks Division Report. Commissioners had received a written report from Parks Superintendent Tim Richmond. 3. Recreation Division Report. Schwartz reported that all youth basketball programs, other than B.I.S. 6`h grade teams, have completed the basketball season. The 2000-01 basketball season was a very successful one with record numbers of young people participating. Senior citizens activities continue to grow. Spring recreation classes have been extremely successful this year. 4. Conunissioner Reports. A. Commissioner Dittman asked about the status of skateboard parks. Williams reported that the San Mateo skateboard park, to be located in the County's Coyote Park, is currently being discussed by officials from the City of San Mateo and San Mateo County. Williams expects information regarding the park to be forwarded to the City of Burlingame at any time. Dittman asked about transportation to the Coyote Park site. Williams stated that transportation will be a difficult issue since no public transportation currently runs in that area. rd Williams also noted that the City of Millbrae has approved the location of a new skateboard park on City land, just north of Mills High School. If the YMCA and City are able to fund the joint project, it can become a reality. B. Commissioner Muller stated that she had received a complaint about the quality of the infield at the new ballfield at Bayside Park. Schwartz stated that staff had reluctantly permitted BYBA teams to use the field for practice at the league's request, even though the field is not in tip-top shape. The field should be in good shape by opening day, March 24. The alternative is to close the field until opening day. Muller also asked staff to review the new seating arrangements for players at women's league basketball games held at BHS. The new arrangement has caused problems. Schwartz will investigate. There being no further business to come before the Commission, Chairman Larios adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, liter J n W. Williams Parks & Recreation Director 5