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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PR - 1996.06.20�— MINUTES Burlingame Park and Recreation Commission Thursday, June 20, 1996 The regular meeting of the Burlingame Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Acting Chairman Frank Kelly at 7:33 p.m. in City Hall Conference Room A. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Kelly, Larios, Nilmeyer, Nyhan, Piccetti, and Youth Advisory Commissioner Mau Commissioners Absent: Roberts, Pera and Youth Commissioner Grijalva Staff Present: Recreation Director Williams, Assistant Park Director Richmond, Recreation Manager Schwartz Guests Present: Marjorie Taylor, 701 Burlingame Avenue MINUTES The minutes of the May 15, 1996 meeting of the Commission were approved as presented. OLD BUSINESS 1. Washington Park Tennis Court 'Bumps". Director Williams reported that there is no activity in the matter of the City's lawsuit vs. Interstate Paving on the issue of tennis court bumps. A September trial date has been set. 2. Burlingame Intermediate School Athletic Field Rehab Project. Williams reported that staff met yesterday with the project architect and School District personnel to finalize components of the design. The architect will now prepare final plans and specifications so that the bidding process can begin. It is hoped that heavy construction equipment can be onsite in late August before school resumes for the fall term. The field should be open for play in spring, 1997. Staff reminded the Commissioners that this facility is not planned for game or tournament conditions, but rather to meet the heavy needs in the community for practice space in all sports. Williams was asked how the facility will be maintained after construction is complete. He stated that staff intended to negotiate a landscape maintenance contract with the School District, similar to the one in place for Franklin Field, providing for a commercial landscape firm to do the maintenance. Commissioner Larios noted that City Park Department crews maintain Burlingame parks in a top notch condition, even with the impacts of heavy community use and league play. He proposed that City Park crews maintain both school fields and that Parks be given the funds that the City and District would spend in the future to contract -out maintenance. He stated his belief that City crews would do better quality maintenance work than for - profit low -bid contract firms. Staff noted that the trend in recent years is to contract -out more services, due to the high costs of full time employee salaries and benefits. The City does NOT wish to increase employee staffing levels, unless absolutely necessary. It was also noted that the turf areas belong to the School District and the City does not maintain school facilities and vice - versa. Several Commissioners spoke in favor of having Elementary School District athletic fields maintained by City crews. It was moved by Commissioner Larios, seconded by Commissioner Nyhan and approved 5-0 to recommend that the City explore the possibility of City work crews performing the maintenance of Franklin and Burlingame Intermediate School athletic fields. 3. Recreation Center Remodel. Williams reported that preparation of plans and specifications has fallen behind for the Recreation Center remodel project. Staff still believes that the project should move ahead as rapidly as is possible, but it appears clear that the Recreation Center will be adversely impacted by construction during the fall months. Staff is making alternate plans for some fall classes and activities. 4. Victoria Park Renovation. Assistant Director Richmond reported on the status of the project. It is anticipated that the City Council will award the bid for the park area modifications at its July 1 meeting. Commissioner Larios asked about the condition of the Victoria Park basketball court. Richmond indicated that the court will be scheduled for repaving in the future. He will have the Park Department Safety Committee review the condition of the court at its inspection next week. Ray Park Court Resurfacine. Richmond indicated that base paving was done today. It will take some time yet for the subcontractor to finish -up the tennis court surface, lines, etc. 2 Director Williams presented a letter received from Mr. and Mrs. Dickson Wong, 1434 Cortez Avenuek, asking that the previous basketball court be retained and not turned into �— a roller hockey facility. Staff and Commissioners agreed that multiple use or a return to basketball only use is not precluded by any of the work presently being done. Richmond will investigate the availability of new basketball goals that can be mounted outside of the court and cantilevered to offer basketball play. Williams will respond to Mr. and Mrs. Wong on this matter. 6. Selection of Youth Advisory Commissioners. Two applications for appointment were reviewed by the Commission. Mary "Mickie" Dougherty, 1408 Cabrillo Avenue, will be a senior at Mercy High School and Jeff Cretan will be a junior at Burlingame High School. It was moved by Commissioner Nilmeyer, seconded by Commissioner Larios and approved 5-0 to recommend the appointment of MOW Dougherty and Jeff Cretan as Youth Advisory Commissioners for the 1996-97 year. The City Council will be asked to confirm these appointments at its July 1 meeting. Commissioners and staff expressed their appreciation to Youth Advisory Commissioners Heather Mau and Nick Grijalva for their work during the 1995-96 year. NEW BUSINESS 1. City Council Budget Hearing - Teen Coordinator Request. Director Williams reported that the City Council had reviewed both the Park and Recreation Division budgets at the Budget Hearing session and no changes from the proposed budget were proposed or recommended. Final City Council approval of the budgets will take place at the City Council meeting on July 1. Commissioner Larios reported that the City Council had unanimously stated their intent not to approve the Commission request for a new temporary part time Teen Coordinator position. Larios proposed that the Commission restate the request for funding so that the City Council could properly view the Commission's request for what it really is - a request to fund a consultant to help the City design a program for teens. Commissioners Nilmeyer and Youth Advisory Commissioner Mau both expressed frustration with the difficulty that has been experienced in moving ahead with activities for teens. Nilmeyer and Commissioner Kelly both expressed their concern that programs for teens are continually ignored and pushed -off. It was moved by Commissioner Nilmeyer, seconded by Commissioner Larios and passed 5-0 to request that Recreation staff draft a job description and task list for a proposed part time Teen Coordinator position for City Council review and consideration on July 1. The Commission again recommends that the Council authorize the proposed new position. 2. B.I.S.Teen Program. Williams and Recreation Manager Randy Schwartz reported on the summer drop -in program currently being offered at B.I. S. During each of the past two years, the program has been offered as a free drop -in program and been canceled during July due to low attendance. This year a $10.00 registration is being charged and, to date, 33 middle school age young people have registered. Commissioners and staff discussed the differences between the drop -in concept that many adults are familiar with and the 1990's need for parents to have systematic child care for their youngsters. Clearly, $.28 per hour, per child is not enough of a fee to offer a quality program that is perceived by parents as child care. Perhaps a new way of programming needs to be developed. REPORTS Assistant Park Director. Assistant Director Richmond reported that: a. The row of Poplar trees down the 3rd base line at Washington Park has been removed by PG&E. Over the years, these trees have been topped so many times to keep the trees out of the overhead wires that all of the trees were affected by crown rot and were becoming hazardous. The tree removal will offer more flexibility for field layout for small children sports activities and sports camps. b. Considerable asphalt paving overlay activity will occur at Bayside Park this summer. Park pathways will be repaved and 16 new parking spaces will be added to the Bayside lot. Recreation Director. Director Williams and Recreation Manager Schwartz reported that: a. Summer programs are underway. Activity registration and program revenues are high for the summer season. A successful Art in the Park was held June 8 and 9. Music in the Park is scheduled for every Sunday afternoon in July. Schwartz noted that this year's Community Picnic is slated for Sunday, October 6. B. Staff has begun the work to select two new part time coordinator positions which are proposed for the 1996-97 budget. If the Department reorganization receives final Council approval on July 1, the new coordinators will be required when Recreation program assignments are redistributed. 4 3. Commissioners. a. Commissioner Nyhan stated that he was pleased with the color selection for the new playground equipment at Victoria Park. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Marjorie Taylor addressed the Commission regarding Mills Canyon and the Ed Taylor Trail, named in her late husband's memory. She brought several issues and projects to the Commission's attention. In the past, issues regarding the Ed Taylor trail have been under the purview of the Park and Recreation Commission. Landscape and other related issues have come under the purview of the Beautification Commission. The meeting was adjourned by Acting Chairman Kelly at 9:26 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, John W. Williams Recreation Director Burlingame Recreation Department MEMORANDUM June 20, 1996 TO: Park & Recreation Commission FROM: John Williams Ir SUBJECT: San Mateo County Teen PrograYn Budgets Commissioner Larios has asked me to check with some other San Mateo County Parks & Recreation Departments and see what other agencies are currently spending for teen programming. I did not check with Daly City, San Mateo or Redwood City since they are so different because of their size. I believe that all three of those cities have at least one full time benefitted person working almost 100% on teens. Daly City and Redwood have major new teen centers, with a variety of facilities, which are staffed on a regular basis. San Mateo has a major teen wing at MLK Center and the coffee house (currently being relocated). It is always difficult to compare without doing a questionnaire with specific questions that can get specific answers. I spoke with department heads in Millbrae, San Bruno and Belmont, talked to the Recreation Superintendent in Foster City, and spoke to the supervisor who works 1/2-time on teens in San Carlos, since those cities are more comparable with Burlingame in size. None of these cities spends the amount of money Burlingame does on the middle school athletic program ($30,000). Almost all departments have fee classes and activities in which teens participate and almost all agencies support local youth athletic leagues in some way. I specifically asked about drop -in centers, teen dances, trips, midnight basketball -type programs, etc. Some cities receive grant funds because they have low income neighborhoods or high crime statistics. Most of these cities (including Burlingame) do not have a really clear picture of what portion of regular, full time staff is spent on teens. San Carlos dedicates 50% of a full time supervisor to teens, but has no other teen program budget. In small departments, most supervisors and coordinators have several different assignments. Part time staff, dance band contracts, etc. are easier to track. Annual Teen Program Expenditure Estimates: Belmont $405000 Burlingame $1,000 Year-round evening open HS gym Foster City 20,000 1,500 BIS summer drop -in San Bruno 255000 1,000 Support BIS dances @ Rec Center San Carlos 257000 800 Summer open HS weight room Total $4,300