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Home My WebLink About2011-01-31; Parks & Recreation Commission; 0111-2; DEPARTMENT REPORTPARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION - AGENDA BILL AB#0111-2 MTG. DATE: 01/31/2011 STAFF: SPICKARD DEPARTMENT REPORT INFO x ACTION RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive a presentation from the Parks and Recreation staff. ITEM EXPLANATION: Sue Spickard, Recreation Services Manager, will report on recently completed and upcoming Parks and Recreation activities, donations and grants, as well as other topics of local interest. EXHIBITS: 1. Department Report C.TY OF PARKS & RECREATION CARLSBAD DEPARTMENT REPORT Parks & Recreation January 31, 2011 1. Carrillo Barn Restoration Project - Work continues on schedule for the barn restoration project by Mark Sauer Construction Inc., in spite of heavy rains over the winter months. Work completed for the project over the past few months includes rough electrical work, insulation, HVAC, plumbing and interior wall siding and new exterior steps at the west entrance. The work is expected to be completed by end of April. 2. P&R Department awarded 2 Agency Showcase CPRS State Awards - The department will be receiving two Awards of Excellence at the California Parks and Recreation Society state conference in Sacramento on March llth. The awards recognize the Community Service Guide Summer 2010 issue and the L.I.T.E. teens program brochure. The department competed against agencies across the state with similar populations in order to win. Entries were judged on concept, creativity/content, technical quality, effectiveness/outcomes and alignment with the mission of the parks & recreation industry. 3. Recreation Program Highlights - The Crossings to offer summer camps For the first time The Crossings will be offering summer camps through the department's extensive summer camps program. Instructors from The Crossings will offer 10 weeks of golf camp for ages 8 to 15. The 2011 Summer Camps booklet will be available in mid-February. New citywide trails maps The citywide trails map has been re-designed and improved to make them even easier to read and use. New maps have been created for the north and the south portions of the city. Other improvements include stronger incorporation of city brand elements and improved photography, more distinct markers indicating trail heads and indicating parking locations, and use of more eco- friendly paper. The new maps will be available at all city locations, Visitors Center, lagoon nature centers, Chamber of Commerce and at community events. "Parks & Rec Connection" column on Carlsbad Patch.com The department will be authoring a monthly column on the local news website, CarlsbadPatch.com. The site is owned by AOL, and is one of several community-focused news websites launched last year in San Diego County. The column will feature upcoming classes, activities, programs and events, and will also include video and photos when appropriate. 4. Department Personnel Changes - On December 31, 2010, Don Avery retired from the city after over twenty-six years of dedicated service as a Parks Maintenance Worker II. Effective January 10, 2011, Jason Sugg joined the Parks Maintenance Division as a Maintenance Worker I. Jason has been employed part-time with the city since June 2008 serving as a Ground Maintenance Aide. 5. Completed Events - 11/20/10 - Open House / Class Reunion - Kruger House Preschool 30th Anniversary - The Kruger House Preschool 30th Anniversary was a success. Approximately 30 parents and teachers attended the event. The turnout was less than expected due to poor weather conditions. Participants had the opportunity to interact with current and former preschool instructors. Staff was also on site to answer any questions. Photo albums were on display and guests were treated to light refreshments. °\ 12/4/10 - Holiday at the Rancho - Holiday at the Rancho was a great success with just over 1,000 guests enjoying the beautiful weather and property of Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park. This year's event featured a train ride that took passengers along a route of animated holiday lights, a tree lighting ceremony, crafts, bell ringers, Santa, and an outdoor viewing of Polar Express. The Holiday at the Rancho was also an official collection site for Toys for Tots where over 100 toys were collected. 12/11/10 - Trail Work Event - Trail volunteers worked at the Arroyo Vista and Villagio trails, repainting trail signage posts, repairing trail erosion and replenishing decomposed granite. The morning's work resulted in a productive 30 hours of trail volunteer service 12/16/10 - Quarterly Trail Volunteer Meeting - The Annual Trail Appreciation and was held on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010 at the Carlsbad Senior Center. Trail volunteers were recognized for their contributions. A background slide show of the year's accomplishments ran during the meeting as trail captains and special projects were recognized for their contributions to the City's trails. Door prizes donated by local businesses as well as other incentives were included as part of the festivities including a $25 grand prize from Adventure 16, and $5 Gift certificates from Jamba Juice totaling $25. 1/15/11 -Trail Work Event @ Lake Calavera -The Solana Ranch Service Unit of the Girl Scouts of America partnered with the City of Carlsbad and other trail volunteers to improve the native restoration sites at the city owned Lake Calavera Preserve. In addition the girl scouts donated $250 towards the purchase of native plants for their planting project at the 5 acre native habitat restoration site. Over 300 plants were planted that morning by the scouts and parents who participated in the event. After the planting work was done, scouts also enjoyed a hike to the lake and dam. Another group of volunteers, including students from Carlsbad High School AP Environmental Science class also spent the morning repairing erosion repairs on many of the trails north of the lake and picking up trash. Parks & Recreation maintenance staff supported this large effort with equipment, tools, and manpower to keep the event running smoothly and resulting in approximately 275 hours of volunteer service for the event. Special thanks to Habitat Restoration Sciences (HRS) for their donations; plant delivery, water, hose, training for the scouts, and additional equipment. The in-kind services donated by HRS are estimated at $400 for the morning's work. Special thanks to Markus Spiegelberg of the Center for Natural Lands Management and Rosanne Humphrey, HMP Land Steward for educating and speaking to the group about the importance of the preserve and the protection of native habitats. 1/29/11-Teen Scene-The event had 11 bands competing in the Battle of the Bands competition. Along with the art cafe and film festival, we added a dance room and a mobile game truck that housed 16 video game units. This is the largest teen event organized by the city. 6. Upcoming Events - 2/12/11 -Trail Work Event-@ Ridgeline Trail - Rancho La Costa Preserve, February 12, 2011. Work will include installation of trail signage, vegetation trimming along trails and trail surface improvements to some areas of very rocky steep trails. 3/5/11 - Community Play Date @ Stagecoach Community Park - Community Play Date from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.. Stagecoach Community Center. Come see what is going on at your neighborhood community center. Take a mini-class in dance, martial arts or sports or try one of many other family- friendly activities. Free admission 3/19/11 - Experience the World in the Village @ Carlsbad Village - The city will present a family- friendly international festival in the Village from 1p.m. to 5p.m. Parks & Recreation is providing the fun zone; other activities include storytelling, hand-on art, music and dance performances by local schoolchildren, games from many countries, dining and shopping at Village businesses. Free admission For additional events please visit the City web site @ www.carlsbadca.QOV