HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PR - 2000.05.18MEETING MINUTES
Burlingame Parks & Recreation Commission
Thursday, May 18, 2000
The regular meeting of the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Commission was called to order by
Chairman Ed Larios at 7:01 p.m. in Conference Room A, Burlingame City Hall.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Heathcote, Larios, Minderman, Muller and Youth Advisory
Commissioners Martindale and Warden
Commissioners Absent: Dittman, Lawson
Staff Present: Parks & Recreation Director John Williams, Recreation Superintendent
Randy Schwartz
MINUTES
Minutes of the April 20, 2000 meeting were approved, as presented.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
There were no comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS
Update on Teen Center Discussions. Director Williams reported that three proposals have
been received from apparently qualified design firms for the Teen Center/Lions Hall/
Community Center project. Williams also noted that the City Council had asked that one
Park & Recreation Commissioner and one Youth Advisory Commissioner be appointed to
serve on the architect screening committee. After some discussion, Chairman Larios
appointed Commissioner Minderman and Youth Advisory Commissioner Warden to
represent the Commission on the consultant selection committee.
2. Report on Youth Advisory Committee. Youth Advisory Commissioners Martindale and
Warden reported on Y.A.C. activities. The Y.A.C. group has been planning for its booth at
Art in the Park. They will also be volunteering to support the Police vs. Fire basketball
game fundraiser for Special Olympics.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion of Rental Fees and Policies for Soccer Center. Director Williams indicated that
staff will be preparing a schedule of rental fees and use policies for the new Soccer Center.
Williams asked for any Commissioner input about the way the Soccer Center should be
managed. There was considerable discussion by Commissioners and staff. It was the
consensus of the Commission that the field should be well used and should not be exclusive
for any groups. Williams and Schwartz noted that the Recreation Division is about to begin
an adult soccer league for women. Hopefully, a league for men can be arranged in the
future.
Williams and Schwartz will return to the Commission with proposed use fees and policies.
2. Proposal by Nonprofit Group for Activities in Washingion Park. Williams reported that a
local nonprofit group had proposed to do a free activity for children (puppet show) in
Washington Park if the group was then permitted to pass -out information regarding their
activities or their cause. The City Attorney had specifically asked that the Commission
consider this request in a generic sense, rather than focus on a specific nonprofit group.
Commissioners Muller and Minderman both expressed concerns about controlling these
types of events and it was mentioned that members of the public might erroneously believe
that the activity was, in fact, sponsored by the City of Burlingame. Chairman Larios stated
his concerns that people not get hassled in City parks. Parks should be a place to go and
escape the pressure to sell goods, nonprofit activities, or political campaigns.
Superintendent Schwartz noted that often groups using the park have performances or
special activities for their own group and that these activities should be treated differently
than public performances or events.
It was moved by Commissioner Minderman, seconded by Commissioner Muller and
approved 5-0 (Dittman and Lawson absent) to recommend that no public performance or
public event should be scheduled for City parks unless sponsored by the Parks &
Recreation Department.
3. Selection Process for 2000-01 Youth Advisory Commissioners. Director Williams noted
that staff has begun to recruit for Park & Recreation Youth Advisory Commissioners for
next year. Superintendent Schwartz noted that the young people participating in the Y.A.C.
are a good pool of potential candidates. Staff hopes to have some young people identified
for the Commission by the Commission's June meeting.
Youth Advisory Commissioners Martindale and Warden both noted that they will be unable
to attend the Commission's June meeting due to conflicts with high school graduation
activities. Chairman Larios asked Martindale and Warden to attend the July Commission
meeting so that they can be recognized for their service to the Commission.
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REPORTS
Capital Improvement Project Updates.
A. Director Williams reported that work is progressing on the lower deck improvements
at the landfill site and the ballfield, dog exercise park and Sanchez Lagoon trail are on
target for an August completion date. The 120 day maintenance period will require
that athletic activities at the new ballfield be delayed until Spring. The dog exercise
park and Sanchez Lagoon trail should be ready for use in November.
B. Superintendent Schwartz reported that the Aquatic Center project is moving ahead
nicely. The pool should be available for the City sponsored water polo camp
scheduled to begin on June 5. The dedication ceremony has been delayed until 10:00
a.m., June 17 to insure that the pool is ready for use.
Chairman Larios asked a followup question from the April Commission discussion
regarding Aquatic Center maintenance. Williams and Schwartz reported that they
have been working with High School District staff and that the District is hiring a new
1/2 time permanent employee to assist with Aquatic Center maintenance. City staff
will be doing much of the routine maintenance that District staff did previously on the
old pool: i.e., putting on pool covers, taking pool covers off, taking chemical readings
during the day, setting overnight pool sweeps, etc.
2. Parks Division Report. Parks Superintendent Richmond had prepared a written report for
the Commission. In his report he noted that the current large tree pruning contract is
nearing completion The contractor recently completed the pruning of all the Eucalyptus
trees on Easton from El Camino to Vancouver. The Parks Division is now doing residential
tree planting three times per year. The next planting will occur in July and the ordering
deadline for that planting has passed. 10 elm trees will be bark injected with a pesticide as a
Dutch Elm Disease preventative. This is the first time that City crews have tried this
approach.
Golf greens and the Soccer Center field have been aerated for the first time. All athletic
fields were aerated in the past month. Two summer park workers have been hired and they
will be taking their places on the crew soon.
3. Recreation Division Report. Superintendent Schwartz reminded Commissioners that Art in
the Park is scheduled for Washington Park on June 10 and 11. Staff is currently conducting
summer program registration. The summer Recreation Brochure has been distributed.
4. Commissioner Reports.
a. Commissioner Muller expressed her disappointment that former Commissioners who
worked on the development of the new facilities at the landfill site were not
recognized on the dedicatory plaque to be placed there. She noted that she and other
new Commissioners had little involvement in the planning of the new facilities.
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b. Commissioner Erickson described his experiences with the large group of residents
and their dogs who meet each evening at Washington Park. Director Williams noted
that most members of the group are well behaved and control their dogs and cleanup
after their dogs.
C. Commissioner Heathcote spoke to his interest in the cleanup of the west entrance to
Washington Park. Williams noted that this project is of great interest to City staff as
well, however, it continues to be pushed back as projects of greater urgency come
forward. This project is currently included in the 5 Year CIP Plan and is scheduled for
the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
d. Commissioner Minderman asked about improving the Cortez entrance to Ray Park.
Williams noted that he had asked several staff members in the Parks Division and in
Public Works to review Minderman's previous suggestion. Staff is concerned about
the removal of mature trees that would be required and Williams noted that such a
project does not fit with the current storm drain system work being done on Cortez.
e. Chairman Larios asked if there would be a joint Commission/City Council meeting this
year. Williams reported that Mayor O'Mahony stated that she did not plan to
schedule joint Commission/Council meetings this year.
Larios also noted that Pershing Park neighbors are concerned about the weekend
overuse of Pershing Park, particularly when large groups of San Mateo residents use
the park. Larios noted that many homes near the park in Burlingame and San Mateo
are now occupied by families with small children and he stated that park use has
dramatically increased at Pershing Park in the past year or two. Director Williams
responded that City staff will observe the use of the park, particularly on weekends.
He noted that the Commission can recommend specific park use rules for Pershing
Park, however, park rules must be applied evenly and Burlingame residents and
nonresidents alike could be equally restricted.
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Chairman Larios adjourned the
meeting at 8:26 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jo W. Williams
Parks & Recreation Director
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