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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-1998 Approved P&CSC Minutes • :T <.:.0 ,.:,::sI,J IB. 1:>:::::;>::<:[>:<: ::>:>':>:>::>::>::>::::::::>:::>:::>:::>::>:>:::>:::<::>:::>[:::>::<::<:::>::::>::;::::>::: >:::> Y T� ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ The February 9, 1998 meeting of the Parks and Community Services Commission was called to order at 7:03 p.m. at the Dublin Civic Center, Dublin, California, by Chairman Cramer. The Commission met jointly with the Heritage Center, Senior-Center, and Youth Advisory Committees. Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chairman Cramer. • Roll Call Commissioners Present: Chapman,Wong-Gillmore, Cramer, Swalwell, Cobb-Adams, and Schmidt Heritage Center Advisory Committee Members Present: Acuff,Hyde, Muetterties &DHPA representative Leopold Senior Center Advisory Committee Members Present: Bielke, Gifford, Silvas Youth Advisory Committee Members Present: Yniguez, Gill, Brown, Kaur, Arcuri, and Ross & Seals, adult advisor. Oral Communications-None Approval of Minutes THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 12, 1998 WERE APPROVED AS SUBMITTED. Written Communications-None Public Hearing-None Unfinished Business-None New Business Parks &Community Services Department Goals &Objectives Director Lowart reported that on March 16, 1998 the City Council will conduct a Goals & Objectives meeting to review the progress made on 1997 Goals & Objectives and to develop goals & objectives for 1998. The Heritage Center, Senior Center, and Youth Advisory Committees are in attendance to provide their input on the preliminary goals & objectives. Staff has prepared a year-end status report for the 1997 Parks & Community Services Department goals & objectives. Of the 22 objectives assigned to the department, nine are complete, one is nearly complete, six are underway, three are pending, and no action has been taken on three. She briefly summarized the 1998 Preliminary Goals &Objectives for the Commission and Committees. Discussion Mr. Silvas asked if the goals that were pending from the 1997 goals &objectives would go back into the mix and be re-evaluated. Director Lowart replied yes, they would be re-evaluated to determine if they would remain a certain priority. Circumstances may change the priority of some goals. Commissioner Wong-Gillmore requested an explanation about the goal of working with U.S. Army to secure a lease for recreational field space at Camp Parks. Director Lowart indicated that due to a shortage of soccer fields and no City land available for more fields, the Soccer League went to Camp Parks and was granted permission to construct fields on Camp Parks property. The City intervened and is assisting the soccer league in obtaining a MINUTES-FEBRUARY 9, 19 9 8 • PAGE TWO long-term lease for the land. However,the City and the Army are now working on a joint project whereby the Army would provide land for parks and the City would build affordable housing. There would be 20 acres for housing and 20 acres for parks. The 20 acres for parks is the same land that the soccer league was hoping to develop for their use. The proposal under consideration is that the park land be conveyed to the City as opposed to leased to the soccer league. Commissioner Wong-Gillmore clarified that this meant that instead of leasing, the land would be secured. Director Lowart replied correct. Ms. Acuff asked who would pay the fees for new public facilities? Director Lowart replied only the new development. Ms.Hyde asked would the City keep the current library and build an additional one in Eastern Dublin? Ms. Leonard replied no, it was not cost effective. It has been determined that only one library can be supported. Ms. Acuff asked about replacing the current Senior Center. Director Lowart indicated it could possibly be replaced with the current Dublin Library. Karen Seals asked if each City was responsible for funding the Iron Horse Trail? Director Lowart replied no, they were working cooperatively with other jurisdictions. Commissioner Wong-Gillmore asked if updating the agreement between City & School District regarding use of school facilities hadn't been number one last year. Director Lowart indicated this goal was listed a high priority but was not necessarily number one. Ms. Acuff asked if something was not on the list, could it still be presented? Commissioner Swalwell asked the status of the new Library. Director Lowart indicated there is a task force studying the issue and they will be making their recommendations to the City Council in May 1998. Commissioner Cramer felt expanding the Special Events Program should be high and lumping the Heritage Fall Festival in it could be harmful. New special events could create a lot of excitement. Director Lowart explained this was done from a budget standpoint. Commissioner Cramer questioned the need for a separate agreement with the school district for the gym. Director Lowart explained that the City was putting in half the money for the gym and would be responsible for controlling the use of the gym. With the other school facilities, the City does not have control of the use. There needs to be a separate use policy for this facility, similar to the use policies for other City facilities. Commissioner Wong-Gillmore felt the agreement between the City and the School District regarding use of school facilities needed to be a high priority. The schools and the City are not coordinating. Director Lowart indicated it was getting better,but an agreement is only as good as the parties in the agreement. Ms. Acuff asked about the agreement for use of Dublin Elementary School vs. Nielsen School and how they differ. Director Lowart responded that under the general agreement with the School District, all the school facilities are available with certain guidelines for use. Individual development agreements are needed if a joint construction project is done on an individual site. Commissioner Cramer felt it was important to get the Dublin Elementary School agreement completed. With the renovation of the Sports Park, the fields will be shut down so the use of the Dublin Elementary fields will become more critical. Director Lowart stated Dublin Elementary will provide two 60 ft baseball diamonds, 1 regular soccer field and 1 small soccer field. It is a half million dollar project. MINUTES-FEBRUARY 9, 1998 • • PAGE THREE Commissioner Wong-Gillmore asked about the attendance at Old Murray School. Ms. Leonard explained the School was open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1 PM to 4 PM. Attendance has been slow depending on the weather. All the third grades in our School District have a tour of the site as part of the school curriculum. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have participated. A group of seniors came on BART. But she felt there is a need to expand to weekend hours. Commissioner Swalwell asked if records were kept of the number of visitors? Ms. Leonard replied yes, we average about 25 people a month. Ms. Acuff stated there are wonderful displays but she felt the hours were bad. Ms. Leonard explained the goal was to have new displays quarterly so people will come back. Ms. Acuff expressed the need for new brochures to promote the place and the need for better hours. Commissioner Swalwell asked what weekend hours would you expand to? Ms. Leonard responded, Sunday afternoons. Commissioner Wong-Gilhnore asked about the request to expand the Senior Lunch Program by adding 2 days. Ms. Rankin explained the current program provided lunches 3 days a week. There has been an increase in lunch attendance and an increase in program attendance because many who come for lunch stay for the program. Ms. Acuff asked if there had been a study in the growth of senior population? Director Lowart responded only through the census. She indicated the type of housing to be built in Eastern Dublin does not specifically identify senior housing but that does not preclude senior housing from being built. Commissioner Wong-Gillmore asked what the cost would be to expand the Senior Lunch Program? Could it be absorbed or would the City need to subsidize? Ms. Rankin replied that to begin with, there would be a need to subsidize. Director Lowart indicated that the current program was subsidized. Commission Wong-Gillmore asked about the Youth Advisory Committee recommendations. Ms. Wierschem explained that YAC felt there were three issues. 1) boredom-no place to go; 2) cost - provide discounts; and 3)provide alternative to drugs &alcohol. Ms. Yniguez explained to overcome boredom some ideas were to establish a dance club, go on camping trips, hiking on the beach, or have classes not provided at school like pottery. Under helping with costs, the thought was to pursue discounts from businesses. With regard to providing an alternative to drugs and alcohol, Ms. Gill explained that it doesn't work to tell kids to stop taking drugs or alcohol, but if places were developed where teens could talk to teens such as coffee houses where no adults were allowed,this may be a deterrent. Ms. Wierschem indicated there was such a place called Fish Bowl already set-up in San Leandro. Ms. Acuff asked about the ski trip planned for this weekend. Ms. Wierschem stated Parks & Community Services Commission had sponsored the trip and 28 teens were going. Ms. Ross felt lots of kids did not have the $58 to go on the ski trip. Commissioner Swalwell asked about the actual cost of the bus and ski trip. Could it be dropped to $25 per person? Ms. Wierschem replied that the trip was designed to cover the cost. Dublin has the cheapest cost for a ski trip around. A smaller bus is used with one less chaperone. There is a 1 to 12 ratio with three staff members going. In the future the YAC will be looking at fund raising to help cut the cost of the trip. Ms. Seals indicated there would be a billiards event in April. Ms. Gill stated YAC was really excited about the event. Ms. Gill asked if the Dublin Library is going to be used as a Senior Center, could it be called Community Center and be used by both? Director Lowart explained that a study was going on to see if the current Library could be MINUTES-FEBRUARY 9, 1998 PAGE FOUR used once it was vacant. The Seniors feel they should be next on the list to be able to use the vacant building. Ms. Leonard explained that the kinds of things and needs for Seniors are not necessarily the same as a Community Center. Director Lowart indicated that the present Senior Center may be used for other needs. Commissioner Schmidt gave a presentation on Random Acts of Kindness which would allow teens to have fun and provide social services to the community. Some ideas were to have a Teddy Bear drive to give to traumatized kids, volunteer in soup kitchens, and read at the library. Director Lowart had the Commission and each of the Committees meet as a group to rank the Preliminary 1998 Goals & Objectives. Mr. Silvas asked if each group should look at items not germane to their group. Director Lowart responded that they should look at all items. The results were then compiled and reviewed. Discussion was held regarding those goals which had a difference in ranking. Staff ranked the completion of the unbuilt portion of Iron Horse Trail as a medium priority. Commissioner Cramer felt it was embarrassing to have the trail stop at our door when it is finished in other communities. If it meant giving up half a small soccer field to get it done, so be it. After some discussion, the Commission and all the Committees ranked it as a high priority. Updating the agreement between the City and School District in regards to use of school facilities was ranked medium by Staff and high by the Commission. Commissioner Swalwell felt it was time to put the School District on the spot. Commissioner Wong-Gillmore wanted to make them accountable for what they had agreed to. She felt it was not a good situation now with who does the scheduling and what facilities were available. The Heritage Center Committee and Senior Advisory Committee changed it to high priority. Working with Dublin Fine Arts Foundation on 1998 Projects, provided funding was available, was given a medium priority by Staff and the Commission. The Heritage Center Advisory Committee ranked it as high. Ms. Leopard,the Dublin Heritage Preservation Association representative, stated that without City funding there would not be an executive director for DFA. Ms. Acuff felt it was important that Dublin be identified with cultural as well as pioneering efforts. Increase open hours at Murray Schoolhouse Museum was ranked medium by Staff and low by the Commission. Both the Heritage Center Advisory Committee and the Senior Advisory Committee ranked it high. Commissioner Cramer asked who would be there on the weekend? Director Lowart replied a part-time person would be hired. After some discussion,the Commission changed their ranking to medium. Contracting for concessions at the Dublin Swim Center Snack Bar was ranked medium by Staff and low by the Commission. Commissioner Wong-Gillmore felt if the parents were not willing to man the snack bar, it should be low. Ms. Seals explained that parents were not just responsible for the snack bar during their swimming meets, but were also responsible for manning the snack bar whenever the pool was open. No change was made to the ranking. Improving the quality and scope of the quarterly activity guide was ranked high by Staff and medium by the Commission. Updating the cultural/leisure services and facility promotional brochures was ranked medium by Staff and High by the Commission. Director Lowart explained that Staff wanted the ability to do more than two colors and more space was needed in the quarterly activity guide. If more pages were added, it would have to be 8 pages at a time. Ms. Ross would like to have teens improve the teen section. Ms. Muetterties indicated when her family moved to this community, the quarterly activity guide helped introduce her family to the Dublin community. Ms. Acuff indicated there were two different products involved. One was a color brochure which could be used in tourist racks to promote the Senior Center and the Heritage Center. The other was a quarterly activity guide which would change each quarter. Ms. Leopold stated as a community one looks at the facilities and MINUTES-FEBRUARY 9, 199 8 • PAGE FIVE programs. A committee can't get the people in the door. Both a color brochure and the quarterly activity guide would help promote the community. Commissioner Swalwell changed his ranking to a high for the quarterly activity guide to change the Commission's ranking to high. The Commission directed Staff to present their rankings to the City Council at the Goals & Objectives meeting scheduled for March 16, 1998. Other Business Brief INFORMATIONAL ONLY Reports from Parks &Community Services Commissioners and/or Staff As a follow-up to the last meeting, Chairman Cramer asked whether Commissioner Wong-Gillmore had asked Commissioner Cobb-Adams if she could serve as liaison to the Senior Center Advisory Committee in her place. Commissioner Cobb-Adams indicated that she could not but that she would still serve as liaison to the Heritage Center Advisory Committee. Given that none of the Commissioners have the flexibility to meet during the day, the possibility of having each Commissioner rotate as liaison to the Senior Center Advisory Committee was discussed. Chairman Cramer asked Staff to place this item on the next agenda for discussion. Commissioner Chapman reported that he had attended the St. Patrick's Day Liaison Committee meeting and that the planning for the event was going along "swimmingly". He indicated that there is still opportunities for volunteer organizations to assist with the event. He also reported on his attendance at the Youth Sports Advisory Committee meeting and advised the Commission that Dublin Youth Football may be disbanding due to lack of players. Commissioner Chapman then broached the subject of the perceived athletic crisis in Dublin, i.e. Dublin youth athletics leaving town to play high school sports at schools other than Dublin High School. He indicated that he is interested in arranging a meeting with high school and middle school coaches and administrators as well as representatives from youth sports organizations to discuss the potential problem. Commissioner Swalwell indicated that he had been unable to attend the Senior Center Advisory Committee meeting in place of Commissioner Wong-Gillmore. Commissioner Wong-Gillmore relayed a recent incident regarding miscommunication between the City and the District on school scheduling. She stated that a resident called the City to schedule the library at Nielsen School and was told that the School is responsible for scheduling the library. When said resident called the School they were told the opposite. Director Lowart stated that she has followed up on the incident and believes that it has been clarified. Commissioner Cobb-Adams reported that she too had had a problem with scheduling. She had submitted a permit to the City for use of the High School fields and never heard back. Consequently, she went directly to the District and was granted use. Director Lowart indicated that she would look into the matter. Commissioner Cobb-Adams also reported on her involvement with the Library Planning Task Force. They are about one-half through and the consensus of the group is that the City should only have one library and that the Civic Center may be a logical location for the library. Chairman Cramer reminded the Commission of the Team Building Workshop with the City Council on February 21, 1998 and the special meeting of the Commission on February 26, 1998 to review the preliminary City Park Master Plan. Commissioner Wong-Gillmore stated that she would be unable to attend the February 21 workshop. Director Lowart informed the Commission that the March 16, 1998 meeting of the Commission would need to be canceled as the City Council will be having their Goals and Objectives Study Session that evening. The Commission agreed to reschedule the meeting for Monday, March 23, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. MINUTES-FEBRUARY 9, 1998 PAGE SIX Adjournment Being no further business,the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sandie Hart, Secretary APPROVED: I Chai 1 an F:\MISC\2-9MINU.DOC