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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-28; Parks & Recreation Commission; ; 0119-3 PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT REPORT Meeting Date: January 28, 2019 To: Parks & Recreation Commission From: Chris Hazeltine, Parks & Recreation Director Staff Contact: Mike Pacheco, Recreation Services Manager Kyle Lancaster, Parks Services Manager Subject: Parks & Recreation Department Report Recommended Action Receive a presentation from the Parks & Recreation staff. Executive Summary Mike Pacheco, Recreation Services Manager and Kyle Lancaster, Parks 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 7 of 17 (i) PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION · Staff Report . PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT REPORT January 28, 2019 GENERAL & RECREATION Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon The Parks & Recreation Department permitted the annual Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon and Surf Sun Run 5K, which took place on Sunday, Jan. 20. The event attracts more than 9,000 runners and includes a two-day Health & Lifestyle Expo on Friday and Saturday, and the Kids Marathon Mile on Saturday. Pine Avenue Community Center Intergenerational Programs The Parks & Recreation Department is hosting intergenerational programming at Pine Avenue Community Center, with the new Painting with Polly art class. Polly is a volunteer Senior Center artist, sharing her passion for art. She instructs teens how to unleash their creativity through the fine art of acrylic painting. A major benefit of having intergenerational programs is bringing together diverse groups to help eliminate stereotypes, so older adults and youth may develop enriching relationships. Building relationships between teens and seniors, provides an opportunity to create a sense of personal and community identity while encouraging tolerance and mutual understanding. More intergenerational programs are on the horizon with the Kindness Project, Farm to Fork Gardening, and homework mentoring. Tech Talk with Teens The new year delivered new skills for Carlsbad’s Seniors with Tech Talk with Teens, an intergenerational program instructed by Sage Creek High School students at Pine Avenue Community Center. Teens taught the latest skills to master smart phones. On Jan. 5, photo management was covered and twelve seniors attended and enjoyed tuning up their technology while connecting with the teens. The other Saturdays in January will cover apps, Gmail, and cyber safety for Seniors. Teens took the time to individually work with each Senior and answer specific questions about their devices and features. At the end of the first class, one gentleman stated, "Well, now I know how to take a selfie!” Senior Center Flooding On Dec. 6, thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall to Carlsbad, causing flooding at the Senior Center. In a short period of time, water pooled deeply outside the building and flooded the rooms on the east side of the building. Public Works and Parks & Recreation staff responded within minutes and prevented damage that could have been much worse. Due to the flood, the computer room and TV/library room were closed along with other rooms on the east side of the building. A flood restoration company was hired for reconstruction efforts. The IT Department installed three computers and one printer in the resource room due to the computer room closure. On Jan. 11, the restoration project was completed and results from mold testing determined there was no mold present. Teen Programs On Dec. 18, City of Carlsbad staff members, Kevin Gohres and Jessica Padilla-Bowen were interviewed on CHS-TV by Carlsbad High School student, Shayla Eslampour. They spoke about exciting new teen programming opportunities in the Parks & Recreation and Cultural Arts Departments. Kevin highlighted teen programs offered at Pine Avenue Community Center, as well as volunteer and job opportunities. Jessica spoke about the creative activities the library offers and invited teen input for future program planning. {city of Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Be a Santa to a Senior On Dec. 18, Christmas arrived early at the Carlsbad Senior Center, with a special holiday performance from Jefferson Elementary School second grade students. The Kids for Peace club presented gifts and more than 75 homemade cards for the homebound senior program, “Be a Santa to a Senior.” It was a festive and meaningful afternoon for the seniors and second graders alike! Adopt-A-Family Project On Dec. 8, the Parks & Recreation Department permitted the Carlsbad Christmas Bureau’s Adopt-A-Family Project event. Approximately 500 low income families are adopted by businesses, organizations and individuals who donate food and gifts to brighten and celebrate the holiday season. Holiday at the Rancho Thanks to a break in the rain, and the amazing parks staff who worked miracles to repair erosion damage from the storm this past weekend, the Parks & Recreation Department hosted their last special event for the 2018, Holiday at the Rancho. On Dec. 1, over 600 people gathered at Carrillo Ranch, which was the perfect site for a holiday celebration. The event included a tree lighting, performances by local children’s’ choirs, an outdoor viewing of The Muppets Christmas Carol, crafts, cookie decorating, and a Carlsbad style snowball fight (with plush snowballs). The newly renovated stables at Carrillo Ranch were a festive setting for photos with our very special visitor, Santa Claus. This event was truly a team effort and we thank everyone who helped make it happen. De-escalation Training On Nov. 28, the Carlsbad Police Department introduced their first de-escalation training for Parks & Recreation Department staff at the Pine Avenue Community Center. Police Sergeant Richard Beronda and Police Corporal George Zavala, presented the training, offering strategies and tactics to avoid confrontations and dangerous situations that may arise while serving the public. The skills taught will empower part-time staff to provide top quality service at community centers with safety first as a priority. Crafter’s Showcase The Parks & Recreation Department permitted the Crafter’s Showcase hosted by the Carlsbad Village Association. The event was held on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Roosevelt Street north parking lot and featured numerous specialty booths with unique handcrafted creations by local and regional artisans, live music, giveaways and special discounts for Village eateries. Carlsbad Senior Center Honors Military On Nov. 9, the Carlsbad Senior Center and United States Marine Squadron Vipers 169 celebrated Veterans Day and the Marine Corps Birthday at lunch. The luncheon, attended by more than 155 people, featured the “missing man table”, patriotic music, and Marine Corps birthday cake. The Marine Corps’ birthday was Nov. 10 and was established 1775. The birthday tradition includes a flag cake which is presented, then sliced with a sword. The oldest Marine present cuts the first slice, then passes the sword to the youngest Marine present, which symbolizes the transfer of experience from Marine to Marine. Marines celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday no matter where they are stationed or in what conditions they are currently living. By tradition, they celebrate this day regardless of whether they are at home or in some inhospitable climate, halfway around the world. Luckily for the Vipers 169, they were in Carlsbad. The City of Carlsbad adopted Marine Squadron Vipers 169 in December 2016 and the Senior Center regularly collaborates with them on special projects such as the Viper baby booties being knitted by the Senior Knitting Club as gifts for service families’ little ones that will be given as gifts over the holidays. The oldest Marine present was Carlsbad’s finest, 94-year-old Walt Travis who served in World War II. The youngest Marine at the luncheon was 19-year-old Nick. The luncheon was an intergenerational experience with active service men and women with Senior Veterans honored together. Epic Tween Night On Nov. 3, the Parks & Recreation Department hosted the Epic Tween Night for the first time at the new Pine Avenue Community Center. The event was open to youth 10-14 years old and was a huge success! Leadership in Training and Education (LITE) program teens hosted a snack bar and the event featured a black light photo booth, face painting, nerf battles, video games, virtual reality, bounce house, and DJ for dancing as well as an outdoor movie on the upstairs patio. With the great success, Pine Center staff will be offering more program options for teen fun at the Pine Avenue Community Center. Stay tuned! Dia de los Muertos The Parks & Recreation and Library & Cultural Arts Departments, and dozens of community volunteers joined forces to celebrate Dia de los Muertos at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park. On Oct. 27, more than 100 guests were treated to a candlelit hacienda tour, featuring elaborately decorated oferendas honoring the Carrillo family, followed by dinner on the patio. On Oct. 28, more than 400 adults and children joined the family oriented cultural celebration. Activities included Family Open Studios art projects, story time, face painting, sugar skull decorating, strolling mariachi performers, and colorful ballet folklorico dancers. Pumpkin Plunge On Oct. 20, Pumpkin Plunge at Alga Norte Community Park was a fun splash. Over 250 people joined in celebrating the Halloween season complete with a pumpkin themed bounce house, floating pumpkin patch, Halloween themed pool games and races, floating obstacles, and an outdoor presentation of The Boxtrolls. Every child left the event with fun prizes and their very own pumpkin harvested from the Floating Pumpkin Patch. Upcoming Events • Epic Teen Night: Saturday, Feb. 23, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Pine Avenue Community Center • Pirate Plunge: Saturday, March 23, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Alga Norte Aquatics Center • EGGstravangza: Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Poinsettia Community Park • Hot Rods & Cool Treats: Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pine Community Park Leo Carrillo Ranch Donation Revenue From July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 the Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Department received and deposited a total of $16,241 in donation revenue to the Carrillo Ranch Trust Fund. Joan Kindle’s craft sale at the Visitor Center continues to be very popular with park guests. Sales of her handmade items and donated ranch related merchandise raised $3,343 to benefit the Carrillo Ranch Trust Fund. Additional contributions were made by: • Active Care at Bressi Ranch • Brian Pack • Catherine Morley • Chris Sherrod • Christine McAuliffe School • CSU San Marcos • Fallbrook Homeschool Group • Good Times Travel • Happy Trail Tours • Jack Roper • Pacific Beach Walking Group • St. Francis of Assisi School • Valley Christian School • Women on the Go Donations were generated by private contributions and by docent led historic park tours. No single donation exceeded $1,000. PARKS Alga Norte Park Owl Box Installation In June 2018, Aviara Oaks 8th grader, Peter Livingston contacted the Parks & Recreation Department inquiring about a potential Eagle Scout project in one of the parks. Working with the Parks maintenance staff Peter decided on the idea to build and install three owl boxes at Alga Norte Community Park. Promoting the use of the habitat by owls could benefit the park by helping to naturally manage the rodent population. Peter designed the project from start to finish, procured the materials and solicited help from volunteers to construct and install the boxes. Peter completed his project in late August, and there were signs of owl activity in and around the park within a few months. Ocean Street Beach Access Improvements Project The Ocean St. Beach Access Improvements Project encompassed seven beach accesses along Ocean Street, specifically near the western terminus of each of the following streets: Oak Ave., Carlsbad Village Dr., Grand Ave., Christiansen Ave., Beech Ave., Cypress Ave. and Rue Des Chateaux. The conceptual designs incorporated elements of the downtown village streetscapes, and include enhanced street crossings, improved disabled accessibility, new stairs and paving, handrails, seating areas, trash/recycling receptacles, lighting, and landscaping. The project construction has been substantially completed, and its goals/objectives have been met. The improved accesses have been met with great receptivity from the public. Aviara Community Park Ph. II & Poinsettia Community Park Ph. III Construction Projects In September 2017, the City Council rejected all bids received for the Aviara Community Park Ph. II and Poinsettia Community Park Ph. III Construction Projects and directed staff to revise the plans and specifications to remove the dog park from the previously planned location and project scope at Poinsettia Community Park. At that time, the City Council also directed staff to explore relocating the dog park to the area in Poinsettia Community Park previously envisioned for a multigenerational community center. In November 2017, city staff requested community input on this possible relocation of the dog park at Poinsettia Community Park. Park users and neighbors provided input through an online survey, emails, social media and temporary on-site information centers. City staff completed review of the community's input on this topic, and found it to be overwhelmingly supportive of a dog park at the alternate location. In February, the City Council approved staff’s recommendation to pursue plans to place the dog park at the alternate location, as a separate project. At that time, the City Council also approved the revised plans/specifications and authorized staff to advertise for bids on the remaining planned improvements to both Aviara Community Park and Poinsettia Community Park. The projects were then advertised to the public, with a bid opening in April. The award of a construction contract to the lowest responsive was approved by the City Council at the meeting of June 26, 2018. Construction commenced at both park projects in mid-August. Although recent efforts have been hampered by rain, steady progress is continuing at both parks. The projects remain on schedule to open each of the amenities to the public this summer. Veterans Memorial Park Master Plan On Aug. 13, 2018, staff released a Request for Qualifications and Price Proposal for Design Services on Veterans Memorial Park. The request included a scope of work divided into five phases typically associated with such professional design services. All design firms submitting responses to the request for Design Services on Veterans Memorial Park were asked to include a two-item Price Proposal: [1] a detailed cost of services through the first phase of design services, and [2] an hourly billing rates sheet for team members of the disciplines related to the subsequent four phases of design services. RJM Design Group’s detailed cost of services through the first phase was the lowest of the three finalist design firms, and its hourly billing rates were competitive with that of the other two finalist design firms. On November 27, 2018, the City Council awarded a professional services contract to RJM Design Group for Design Services at Veterans Memorial Park. On Dec. 13, 2018, staff held a master planning kick-off meeting with RJM Design Group, its applicable subconsultants, and interdepartmental city staff. On Jan. 16, 2018, staff followed-up with an outreach focused meeting with RJM Design Group and city Communications staff. The public outreach program will be developed over the next several weeks, with commencement expected in early spring. The full master planning process for the park is expected to need approximately two years to complete. Citywide Trails Volunteers Oct. 20, 2018 – Harbor Dr Event On Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, approximately 20 volunteers, including local high school students, put in 45 hours of service by spending the morning cleaning up the beautiful Harbor Dr. Trail located on the north shore of Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Amongst the spectacular views of the lagoon and the Pacific Ocean, the group collectively removed and repositioned trail edging and stakes, repair erosion, cleaned up debris and trimmed vegetation along the trail. Their hard work left an instant improvement on the trail for all patrons to enjoy. Dec. 6, 2018 - Appreciation Dinner On Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, approximately 30 trail volunteers and city staff joined together at the Pine Avenue Community Center to celebrate the past year’s collective successes and their dedicated work in improving the City of Carlsbad’s trail network. Guests enjoyed dinner, desserts and a cup of a hot cider. Volunteers were recognized for their long-standing commitment to the trails program, and for over 1,300 hours of volunteer service for the 2018 calendar year. Dec. 8, 2018 – Old Rancho Santa Fe Event On Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, approximately 35 volunteers, including Trail Captains, first time volunteers, local high school students and city staff, put in about 90 hours of volunteer service spending the morning cleaning up the beautiful Old Rancho Santa Fe Trail. Volunteers worked hard to repair the erosion at the entrance of the Bobcat Trail, collect trash, trim vegetation, and replace the rope fencing along the trail. Jan. 5, 2019 – La Costa Glen Event On Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 city staff and 20 volunteers, including Trail Captains and first-time volunteers, dedicated 45 hours of volunteer service to maintain the La Costa Glen Trail located in South Carlsbad. A cloudy day made a perfect aura for trail work and the group collectively repaired erosion, added several water bars, raked leaves, and trimmed overgrown vegetation. This successful event would not happen without the passion and commitment of people who came out and eagerly worked side by side with fellow community members. Promotion of Tim Selke to Parks Superintendent Tim Selke was promoted to the position of Parks Superintendent on Oct. 22. Tim competed in an open recruitment with 70 other applicants, and proved he was the best person to assume the asociated duties. Tim joined the City of Carlsbad in February 2017, as one of our Parks/Trees Supervisors, with primary oversight of the maintenance of community parks, passive parks, school fields, and facility landscapes. His scope of responsibilities as Parks Superintendent will include secondary oversight of the above maintenance areas, plus secondary oversight of the maintenance of trees, medians/streetscapes, coastal parks, historic parks, trails and community gardens. His new duties will also include strategic planning/budgeting, maintenance contract solicitation/management, and capital replacement/refurbishment projects. Tim has over 20 years of progressively responsible supervisory experience in the parks and landscapes maintenance industry, in both the public and private sectors. Hiring of Temujin Matsubara to Parks/Trees Supervisor Temujin Matsubara joined the Parks Division as a Parks/Trees Supervisor on Dec. 31. He will have primary oversight of the maintenance of our community parks, passive parks, school athletic fields and facilities landscapes. Temujin comes to us from the City of Vista, where he worked in parks and landscape maintenance for more than twenty years. He began working for the city as a Maintenance Worker I and most recently served as a Parks/Landscape Inspection Supervisor.