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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PR - 2022.09.15CITY 0 Raoawteo PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION APPROVED Meeting Minutes Regular Meeting on Thursday, September 15, 2022 1. CALL TO ORDER The duly noticed regular meeting of the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Holzman at 7:00 pm via Zoom meeting. 2. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Milne, Brunello, Pappajohn, Holzman, Wettan, and Chang (arrived 7:25) COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Ardito STAFF PRESENT: Parks & Recreation Director Glomstad, Manager Recreation Manager Acquisti, Parks Supervisor Holtz & Recording Secretary Helley OTHERS PRESENT: Linda Hower, Kathy Battat, Juanita Lucero 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Holzman noted that she chaired the July meeting. Commissioner Brunello made a motion to approve the July minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Milne, and the motion was approved. 5-0-2. (Ardito & Chang absent) 4. CORRESPONDENCE None 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS None 6. OLD BUSINESS 1 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes September 15, 2022 None 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Pickleball Update and Discussion Manager Recreation Manager Acquisti provided background via a PowerPoint presentation and noted the three items for Commission to discuss and consider. 1. Striping pickleball courts on Washington and Ray Tennis Courts. 2. Shared court rules. 3. The continuation of the $5 drop -in fee program. Over the past two months, the Parks and Recreation Commission has approved purchasing four portable pickleball nets to remain on Washington Court #1. On September 1, 2022, Washington Court #1 became dedicated for drop -in use for tennis and pickleball, and reservations for this court are no longer available. Despite the additional space for pickleball, Department staff has continued to receive requests for more pickleball play options. Recreation Manager Acquisti noted that any potential changes made tonight or in the future would impact the Tennis Use Policy. Therefore, this policy would need to be updated to be consistent with the addition of pickleball. Chair Holzman thanked Recreation Manager for the background of the content under discussion tonight. Commissioner Milne noted that they could line both Washington and Ray or just one of the locations. Milne asked if there is any user data to determine how often the courts are used during the week outside of drop -in times. Staff noted the data is based on reservations only. Commissioner Pappajohn asked if the five -dollar drop in fee was working and if there was another way to collect the fee. Staff noted a Pickleball punch pass could be purchased for $20. Chair Holzman asked if staff had heard any members from the pickleball community talking about being willing to set up the nets. Staff has heard two sides, one being, "we are taxpayers, and staff should set up the nets," and the other side, "yes, we will set up the nets, show us where they are." The one part that is always consistent as a complaint from the players is the cleaning of the courts. Staff believes this to be a staff duty and notes the courts are on a regular cleaning rotation by the Parks Division staff. Milne asked if enough people would be willing to continue paying the fee to have the time reserved. Staff noted that those who choose to talk during public comments might answer that inquiry. Milne also noted that it might be a good idea to revisit the Tennis Court policy at some point; however, at this time, he does not believe there is anything in the policy that negates the use of the courts for pickleball use. 2 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes September 15, 2022 Holzman inquired if the striping of Ray Park could potentially alleviate the pressure on the Washington courts. Staff noted that they did not believe striping Ray would make a difference in the use at Washington. It would, however, provide additional opportunities to play in another location in the City. Holzman also wondered if having other priority times outside of Monday/Wednesday would alleviate the Washington Court pressure. Staff noted that it seemed Monday/Wednesday drop -in times are popular and don't know if it would help reduce the impact on Monday/Wednesday. Chair Holzman opened public comments. Staff received the following emails from the public: Adrienne Leigh writes: "We pickleball players were hoping we could still reserve court 1 as we like to have social events on it. Short of court 1 being permanently made pickleball only; and it'd be great if you could separate the pickleball courts on the computer reservation system. Court IA, B, C and D. We'd like to be able to reserve designated pickleball Courts IA, 1B, 1C, and/or 1D for $6-8 per hour. Pickle can accommodate 16 people on one tennis court compared to 2 or 4. This price will help free up the basketball court for other purposes. I've witnessed a huge demand for pickleball courts and hope Burlingame will be able to help the situation. And that I enjoy drop in pickleball on Monday and Wednesdays." Jack Elward writes: "I have been hearing several complaints as well as suggestions about pickleball and tennis access at Washington Park. I hope my comments will be worthwhile. As a quick summary in response to Nicole's email of August 31 regarding the priorities of the tennis courts 2-4 and multi -use court 1. First, the addition of the high quality rolling nets has made a huge impact on the availability and access for pickleball players. We are still assessing the need for oversight on the courts but am very encouraged with the sharing at this time. I agree with the three exceptions noting that reservations in general are working very well. In preparing for tonight's meeting, I have a few thoughts to share: Both the tennis and pickleball communities are in reasonably happy state of mind; for pickleball — expanding from the Monday and Wednesday three hours slots to virtually unlimited hours of play is a fantastic achievement. Painting additional pickleball courts on tennis courts 2-4 will create an unreasonable situation for the tennis community. The lack of fencing across the courts 2-4 would only create more chaos thus raising the ire of many. It is common knowledge that having multiple lines leads to confusion and creates unnecessarily back calls for the players. Would like to note that Exhibit B in the staff report is incorrect, the widths of courts 2-4 is approximately 53 feet and only court 1 has 60 feet to support safe distances side to side in painting the new stripes. I understand the rules regarding the reservation system and feels that the pickleball on Monday and Wednesday fits into that. Opening the reservation free times makes charging the five dollars seem unnecessary. The use of signage is important and will eliminate many confrontations. I applaud the energy and cooperation of the recreation staff." Chair Holzman opened public comments to those in the audience who would like to speak. Linda Hower thanked the Commission for their time. She noted that she would like to have permanent pickleball courts. She said that she wants the new nets to be made permanent on Washington Court 1. She said having more availability will alleviate overcrowding on Monday Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes September 15, 2022 & Wednesday because people know they can go on Saturday, Friday, or whatever. She said adding a 30-minute time limit to the rules isn't needed. When a game ends, and people are waiting, she said you let them go on the court. She said she added Washington Park to the playtime scheduler, a way for people to find people to play with. She stated that if all these things are in place, there will not be a need for the Monday & Wednesday five -dollar drop -in fee. Kathy Battat noted there is no fee for tennis. She stated she hoped there would be equal treatment for pickleball. She also asked if the lights were on only on certain nights. She thinks the five -dollar fee is a hassle. Juanita Lucero noted that Foster City resurfaced its courts, and they have six dedicated pickleball courts. She stated she is an avid pickleball player, and she played in the previous Recreation Center. She noted that she is saddened by all the disgruntled complaints you hear. She played on Wednesday, and there was an instructor teaching on the sports court, and he was taking up one court with only three players, and then people couldn't play there. She wants the process streamlined in Burlingame. She said that the courts should be cleaned. Being no more public comment, Chair Holzman closed public comments and opened Commission discussion. Commissioner Brunello noted that he feels he has read all the information provided. However, he noted that there were a couple of ways to move forward. He feels uncertain he has enough knowledge about the topics and the concerns to vote on all three points tonight. Milne noted that in his discussions with the pickleball community, he had not heard a demand from the community for additional striping. There appears to be a pretty good balance between tennis and pickleball. He is leaning away from adding stripes to Washington Courts. He noted that he would support adding stripes to Ray's court. Pappajohn noted that after listening to the comments, it does not appear that striping more Washington courts 2, 3 & 4 was a priority. However, she is open to striping Ray courts. Commission made the following motions: Striping of additional courts at Washington and Ray Parks: MOTION by Milne to add striping to one court at Ray to make two pickleball courts and provide two nets. Motion seconded by Wettan. Motion approved 5-0-2. (Chang abstained & Ardito absent). Shared Court Rules: MOTION by Pappajohn to make Washington Court 1 a priority for pickleball play and add rules as stated by staff, effective September 22, 2022. Motion seconded by Milne. Motion approved 5-0-2. (Chang abstained & Ardito absent). Continuation of $5 Drop in Fee: 4 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes September 15, 2022 MOTION by Pappajohn to eliminate the drop -in pickleball fee for the sports court and have the players set up the nets, which are available at the community center offices, on Mondays & Wednesdays with priority for pickleball play from 10 am to 1 pm on those days effective as of September 22, 2022. Motion seconded by Wettan. Motion approved 5- 0-2. (Chang abstained & Ardito absent). 1. STAFF AND COMMISSIONER REPORTS a. Parks & Recreation Department Reports Director Glomstad reported that Friday, October 23, is the Family Camp Out, Saturday, October 1, is the Muddy Mile, Sunday, October 9, is the Foundation Pickleball Palooza Tournament, Saturday, October 15, is the Commissioner Training at the Community Center, and on Saturday, September 17 is the Pet Parade. If any commissioners would like to volunteer for any of these events, please contact Manager Recreation Manager Acquisti. b. Commissioners Reports Commission Holzman — No Report Commissioner Ardito — No Report Commissioner Milne — No Report Commissioner Pappajohn — Mentioned she would like a follow-up on the yellow dog flag program. Commissioner Wettan — No Report Chair Brunello — No Report 2. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 3. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 pm. The next meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission is scheduled to be held on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 7:00 pm via zoom webinar. Respectfully submitted, Joleen Helley Recording Secretary 5 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes September 15, 2022