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Home My WebLink AboutMin - PR - 1996.08.29 Special MeetingSPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Burlingame Park and Recreation Commission Thursday, August 29, 1996 The regular meeting of the Burlingame Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairman Don Roberts at 7:39 p.m. in the Art Room of the Burlingame Recreation Center. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Kelly, Larios, Nilmeyer, Nyhan, Piccetti, Roberts and Youth Advisory Commissioners Cretan & Dougherty Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Pera Staff Present: Parks & Recreation Director Williams, Recreation Superintendent Schwartz Guests Present: None SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA ITEM - TEEN PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES Teen programs and activities were the only item on this special meeting agenda. It was agreed that Director Williams would assist Chairman Roberts and Vice Chairman Kelly in the preparation of an informational document to be given to the City Council in advance of the Joint Council/Commission Study Session to facilitate discussion. The City Council will set the date for the Study Session at its September 3 meeting. (Note: Meeting was set for Tuesday, September 17.) The Commission identified several issues relating to teens in Burlingame. The Commission also reviewed some of the constraints on programs for teens in the community and developed several possible actions to recommend to the City Council. (Note: (formational memo is attached to minutes as Exhibit "A. ') PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Roberts at 9:49 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, CGea'— Jc�, W. Williams Parks & Recreation Director Exhibit A: Informational Memo Exhibit A September 12, 1996 TO: City Council FROM: Parks & Recreation Commission SUBJECT: Information for Joint Council/Commission Study Session The Parks and Recreation Commission believes that the City of Burlingame offers an outstanding recreation program for the community. For several years the Recreation Department budget has reflected seven (7) target population groups for recreation services. High school students are one of the groups targeted in the budget document. The Commission has observed that Recreation Division programs for the pre school and youth age groups are very strong. City support of the Elementary School District and community youth groups and leagues leverages even more programs for young people in Burlingame. With the addition of the new Senior Citizens Coordinator, City programs for seniors should be strengthened and improved. Adult fee classes and programs in Burlingame are the envy of many other communities. The City currently has no programs for the disabled, although we are fortunate to have several human service agencies in Burlingame. However, the Commission feels that teens are a segment of the City's population that is underserved with recreation programs. Although there are many fee class activities open to teenagers, most teens have little contact with City or volunteer programs after they have passed -through B.I.S. and the various youth sports programs. We do believe there is a need to serve this group, as do others in the community. After several years of discussion public meetings surveying students and interaction with our Youth Advisory Commissioners the Commission has identified several issues and problems related to teens in Burlingame: Teens "hanging out" in public locations leads to public nuisance concerns; public health and safety problems; and, quite frankly, intimidates many adults, particularly our senior citizens. Business people express concerns about loitering teens driving away customers and shoppers. There are health and safety issues when young peoples main source of recreational activities are "kegger" parties and lying on the grass in the park. • There are traffic congestion and safety issues on the streets and sidewalks caused by teens loitering. • Loitering and free unstructured time are a breeding ground for pre -gang activities for gang "wannabes." • The City of Burlingame is not providing programs for young people over the age of 13 at the same level that other age groups in the community are served. In trying to develop some program ideas that might serve Burlingame teens. the Commission has focussed on some of the constraints that face us: • Financial issues - starting new programs requires new funding. Many teen programs are not self supporting. • Teens complain that there is "no place to go." Several parents and teens have come before us to ask for the development of a teen center. The Commission has no new ideas about where and how to develop a teen center now. Although we believe there is a great deal of merit in the idea, the Commission is not proposing the development of a teen center at this time. • There is a tremendous diversity of interest among the teens who live in Burlingame. The issues of different racial groups; different interests in academics, music, sports and other areas; non resident students at Burlingame and Mercy High Schools; and many Burlingame young people who attend school outside of Burlingame impact potential programs and activities that the City might provide or support. The Commission found it extremely difficult to determine common teen interests two years ago when the Commission spent considerable time meeting with students, parents and community members. Teens have a natural wish to avoid established programs setup by adults. • No one seems to have the answers to programming for teens. A focal place, such as a teen center, seems to help and diverse program opportunities are more attractive than fewer offerings. • It is difficult to communicate with teens who are so diverse and scattered. Face- to-face discussions are probably the best. Targeted promotional pieces are better than assuming that teens will carefully read through the Recreation Brochure three times each year. • The Recreation Division currently has no staff members whose assignments would permit them to become immersed in teen activities at present. Current staff would have to be diverted from other programs (probably revenue generating) in order to focus on teen activities. la The Commission has discussed some of the following possible courses of action to develop teen programs in Burlingame: Short Range • Work closely with Burlingame Together subcommittees, especially "Teen Mentoring" programs and "Teens Working with Teens." (Ongoing - Aln • Survey young people and parents at Back to School Nights during the month of September. (Commissioners and parent volunteers) • Hire a Teen Activity Coordinator capable of working one-on-one with teens in the community to gather an idea of what programs might be attractive to young people. This person should be considered a "consultant," advising the City Council, Commission and staff on possible program ideas, just as consultants advise on capital projects, special programs, etc. in other City departments. The Coordinator should focus especially on the teen groups most responsible for the problem behaviors discussed above. (City staff) • Although it is probably appropriate to subsidize teen activities, much as senior citizens programs are now subsidized, we should all get creative and suggest some ways of raising funds for teen programs. The Commission has suggested such ideas as surcharges on other Recreation Division program participants; increases on non-resident fees for classes and activities; seeking grant funds; and conducting fund-raisers. (Aln Long Range • Consider issues and alternatives re the development of a teen center in the community. The four action items above should be implemented before more extensive discussions about a Burlingame Teen Center are undertaken. (All) PARK & RECREATION COMMISSIONERS: Frank Kelly Ed Larios Mike Nilmeyer Tom Nyhan Mike Pera Nicole Picetti Don Roberts Jeff Cretan, Youth Advisory Commissioner Mickie Dougherty, Youth Advisory Commisisoner 3