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Home My WebLink About1990-01-15; Parks & Recreation Commission; 190-2; Carlsbad Journal News article 12/20/89PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION - AGENDA BILL AB# 1 MTG. V DEPT. ^O-^\5~Wo (X-R- TITLE: CARLSBAD JOURNAL NEWS ARTICLE nETf^CUDCD 1ft 1 OOOutttMobK d(j, iyay (INFO) DEPT. HD. CITY ATTY CITY MGR. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Review, accept, and file. ITEM EXPLANATION As a result of the December 20, 1989 news article appearing in the Carlsbad Journal entitled, "Recreation panel rejects attempt to combat gangs" (Exhibit 1), the Commission Chairperson responded with a letter to the Editor (Exhibit 2) for clarification of Commission action regarding this issue. RECOMMENDATION FISCAL IMPACT EXHIBITS 1. Carlsbad Journal News Article (December 20, 1989) 2. Letter to Editor (Carlsbad Journal January 3, 1990) 008 Recreation panel rejects attempt to combat gangs r By Kevin L Featherly Staff Writer Gang problems in Carlsbad aren't serious enough to warrant free city-funded recreational programs to discourage their growth, the city's Parks and Recreation Commission decided Monday. With one member absent, the commission voted 6-0 not to recommend free after-school recreational programs intended to deter gang involvement. Carlsbad resident Thelma Hayes last month asked commis- sioners to consider recommending free recreational programs for low-income youths as a means of preventing gang presence in Carlsbad. Free programs are needed, she said, to give those most at-risk for gang involvement something to do besides "hang out.'! Hayes said that most programs currently offered by the city charge fees that keep them out of reach of those most susceptible to gang influence. Lynn Chase, superintendent of recreation for the Parks and Recreation Department, said recent police comments that gangs in Carlsbad are a small problem suggest that the free programs are unnecessary. She also said there are enough "; programs, both publicly and ; privately sponsored, to fulfill the needs Hayes expressed. ' "We are offering the types of programs Mrs. Hayes is suggest- ing," said Chase. She said free, supervised playground activities in sports in arts and crafts would result in duplication of existing services. Some of the community services ; provided in the city include the : Boys and Girls Club, Little League baseball, Pop Warner j football, North Coast Aquatics } See OANGS/Page A7 ' GANGS/No backing for free programs Continued from Page A1 nd the Boy and Girl Scouts. Dnvid Bradstreet, director of the department, pointed out that the city once offered free after- school recreational programs. He said two things killed them — Proposition 13, which cut funding, and a lack of participation. He said he has no sense that city's current crop of programs is failing to meet the city's needs. "My office has never received a complaint, except for that by Thel- ma Hayes," he said. Commissioner John Strayer was concerned with the costs of free programs. He said a program similar to one now in place in Oceatisidc;, serving 30 children at a cost of nearly $57,000, would be a waste in Carlsbad. "It's nice to have these small programs; it's nice to put them out there," Strayer said. "1 just don't think a program is successful if it only has 30 people in it." - Hayes suggested the city may e taking the danger of gangs too lightly, however. Paraphrasing a stall' report to the Oceanside City Council, she told the commission lhat vandalism and graffiti are the signs of burgeoning gang activity. Hayes told the commission she did not know that the city could help fund such activities, and added she suspected most of the city's residents are also unaware of the available funding. "This is news, you know," she said. "I don't think this is anything that's well-publicized. If you could educate the public more, I think you'd have a lot more involvement." The commission did allow the programs a slim chance for survi- val by referring the issue to a subcommittee for further study. In directing staff to review the programs, the commission suggested that a pamphlet containing information on all of the city's publicly- and privately- sponsored recreational programs should be made available to the public. It should also research activities for older teens, the commission suggested. "The graffiti is around," she said. "Gralliti and vandalism — the report says those are the first signs." Commission President Shirley Dahlquist-Bursvold said that the city already provides help to low- income families to pay fees for most of the city's recreational programs. They only need to ask, she said. - 009 EXHIBIT 1 Letters to the Editor I take exception to the headlines in the December 20th edition of the Carlsbad Journal, "Recreation panel rejects attempt to combat gangs." It smacks of sensationalism and does not reflect the true actions or intentions of the Commission. The entire article appeared to be quite negative and the headlines an overreaction to the coverage. It has not been established that Carlsbad has a gang problem. As for youth not being able to participate in activities, the private community youth organizations have established funding mechanisms to assure that anyone who wants to participate in their groups activities can do so regardless of ability to pay. The public recreation programs are somewhat limited in this approach, but Carlsbad does have the ability to provide, to a lesser degree, some sponsorships from donations through community groups and corporate entities. The Parks and Recreation Commission did not deny any possibilities this agenda item presented. We felt a more focused area, perhaps targeted at teenagers, might be a better approach, if it is established that we do have a need for additional recreation programs. The entire matter was referred back to staff for further research. Upon completion of staff review, this issue will then be given to a Commission subcommittee for study and further analysis. The subcommittee will make a recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and if necessary, will be presented to the City Council for ultimate consideration. At that point, the decision will be made as to what is the most successful approach for Carlsbad youth. It's an open case -- nothing has been rejected. Shirley Dahlquist-Bursvold Chairperson Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Commission *SB&?"WF*: Rejection not given to proposal I take exception to the head- V ^*df rf*<*c< ~: •'..'; ^'y'* :: "" T7 | lines in the Dec. 20 edition of the '• Erfd.ll?Mj I I '' v'-••;''• ' A\ Carlsbad Journal, "Recreation^^^^^^^^^^^^^. * __ "Vft F | panel rejects attempt to combatV^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^* |,-'.?'.^ «/ 1 gangs." It smacks of sensational-;, { r presented. We felt a more focused I ism and does not reflect the true = area, perhaps targeted at teen- actions or intentions of the,' agers, might be a better approach, .commission. The entire article fr if it is established that we do have appeared to be quite negative and'; a need for additional recreation the headlines an overreaction to programs. ; ^the coverage^? «>' '' . i(C The entire matter was referred • - It has not been established that;; back to staff for further research. Carlsbad has a gang problem. As for youth not being able to partici-, pate in activities, the private community; youth organizations have established funding . mechanisms to assure that .anyone who wants to participate .- in their group's activities can do so regardless of ability to pay. The public recreation programs are somewhat limited in this approach, but Carlsbad does have the ability to provide, to a lesser degree, some sponsorships from donations through community, groups and corporate entities. The Parks and Recreation Commission did not deny any, possibilities this agenda item Upon completion of staff review, this issue will then be given to a commission subcommittee for study and further analysis. The subcommittee will make a recom- mendation to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and if necessary, will be presented to the City Council for ultimate consid- eration. At that point, the decision will be made as to what is the most I successful approach for Carlsbad . youth/ It's an open case — nothing has been rejected. ' Shirley Dahlquist-Bursvold ' Chairwoman Carlsbad Parks and Recrea- ' tion Commission Oil .?>.:•l<nr*t- l-ltJtJLMW -• ^js-i'W irt^/v>f •.j^r~A<«1^!S«a»C,.,**x,|%if.,,, .. i .£• .arispaiFoiiicials s<;^^UXv:.'|i$^<n';• ">•":'''• '•••^':•-'•-• • • ':lirograyms for; teen-ager^ I; wvCarlsbad * teen-agers ' need some-; - deter youths from Joining gangs. ' wt&ng more to do than hang around I Similar programs provided in local movie houses and pin-£ Carlsbad before Proposition 13, ai-t Carlsbad .f3Bll"parlors, city parks and recre-','statewide tax-cutting measure, cut ,3tion commissioners said Monday. ;^'uShirley Dahlquistj; retiring com-j ^mission chairman;1 said teen-agers; > we asking for a.center of their own. ! •^'Commissioner John Strayer cited ,f$: student-written article titled "All jessed Up And No Place To Go" inr,,*Qle San Dieguito High School news-: the number of free offerings the city could afford, Chase said. She said a number of private pro- grams, such as the Boys and Girls Club, are available to elementary- age children. : But Strayer said children drop out of those programs in their teens. He said his 12-year-old daughter is the oldest member of the La Costa branch of the club. -Chase said, "A Jot of times what we set up for teens is not what they want to set up for themselves." /'Maybe we need to invent even tbetter programs,". Strayer said. ; iWilliam Saylor, director of the Boys and Girls Club, said its new, program for teens at the downtown , ..., ., center is attracting about 35 youths, .':.-'l;iTheauthor,>sJana;'Dowler, wrote|; 'most of whom live close enough to *\|jjat there are no local skating rinks, 1 walk. ; i 'ori dance clubs," sol';" Saylor said he is working with the 3 turn to' kegs! of beer or the;; school district to put portable build- lights of downtown Tijuana;; fogs on every campus for more activ- -f ftfr;: their' entertainment' on • Friday \. v ities within the neighborhood. £$d Saturday nights.'^' v:'; k '"••' - : He also said the club is trying to Chase,J recreation' superin-1>' handle more transportation requests, for the cityrsajd/a Valen-" / Saylor said the club surveyed (teens at the malls as well as at su-, ','pervised activities and found they i prefer special events — ski trips and ; even weight-loss clinics — to regu- [ '•', larly scheduled programs. ; The commission voted unanimous- ly not to add the after-school pro- r^ _ _. ._ I . t A. - __* it._ _t«_ _ j _ *P . William S&ylpr, director --^ '•7^0f, the Boys and Girls '. "•iS Club, said its new • . n; :*£program for. teens at the ? .'//,'f downtown center is i-, ^ ,?/;, attracting about 35 ,- ,^ • ; 'Jn, youths, most of whom £ live close enough to walk>>•>:• •'?•»••—.••-•' ••;•«: !••••':•-• •• ••}'>••• j,, "•• •'>" tme's Day dance for'junior high stu-1 . fJSents was well-attended last yearf so-; ;4iBfir staff will plan another one.' • : "•''•Ei*However, Chase said,'the numbers .; * at" the' dance,-' lOO^till is only a! :jgjjratch of the surface5of 885 (junior; •**riirhstiidentsV'"i:- ''^ ^! '; > • •" tjRgh students). "-^w-Chase was responding to a'requestj:; ,3&st.'/month" by JThelma" Hayes, of the audience, to consider- what's available and what needs to recreation programs, tol ? be provided/ '•V f'-^wy''* *' .-'!•" : ""• :'"'/ i : grams now but to ask the city staff a'' for a more detailed inquiry into