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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-10-17; Parks & Recreation Commission; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF: DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION October 17, 1983 5:00 p.m. Levante Coirmunity Center COMMISSIONERS .— — 1 . CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dahlquist at 5.05 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Present - Chairperson Dahlquist, Commissioners Popovich, McFadden, Conti, Donovan and Wright. (Wright arrived 5:08 p.m.) Absent - Commissioner Cochran. Also Present - Dave Brads treet, Parks & Recreation Director Council Liaison Lewis 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the September 19, 1983, meeting were approved as presented. CHANGE TO THE AGENDA: Chairperson Dahlquist announced a change in the agenda for this meeting, with Item #5, New Business, being taken up first. 5. NEW BUSINESS: B. Request to Speak by Joan Goodwin re: Future of Athletic Fields and what they can do to help Mr. Bob Fenner, the new President of Bobby Sox, was presented to speak on this topic. Mr. Fenner stated there are seventeen teams at the present time and no place to play the games. The Bobby Sox is a non-profit organization and the only place available to play their games is Chase Field. That field does not meet national standards, so they cannot hold tournaments, which would be their only way to make money. He stated the dugouts are dangerous and there have been injuries from girls hitting their heads. The dugout roofs need to be lifted up and the backstops need to be changed. Mr. Fenner asked for the City's support as far as agreeing with the citizens that some improvements need to be made. Mr. George Foster, Umpire and Chief of Bobby Sox, stated that the field at Valley Jr. High is dangerous because of the gopher holes. Also, there is no place to sit that is safe from foul balls. There was a discussion and it was determined that a certain type of backstop is used in multi-purpose fields. Mr. Ken Price, Supervisor of Athletics, Carlsbad, stated they were reviewing the plans submitted by Mr. Foster. They saw no problem with raising the dugouts, but did have to consider Little League. Popovich Donovan McFadden Conti X MINUTES Page 2 October 17, 1983 COMMISSIONERS Mr. Greg Nelson addressed the Commission, stating that multi-purpose fields are really not good for anything. He suggested the City put together a group to study the needs for the children and see if it is possible to meet those needs. No new fields have been built for the many growing activities for the children and Mr. Nelson felt the citizens should get busy and decide what is needed and get the financing privately and get the fields built. He volunteered to serve on such a committee. In answer to a question, Mr. Fenner stated he was seeking direction from the Commission, and he was told the private sector was the only way to go. Commissioner McFadden stated that Buena Vista School has a huge lot, and suggested this could be developed into ballfields. Mrs. Joan Goodwin stated she had pursued that possibility with the school Superintendent and had been told the Coastal Commission would have to approve lights and she listed all the roadblocks she had encountered. Commissioner Conti asked whether mobile devices were allowed for use in such a case, and was told by Superintendent Grignon that they were. Mrs. Goodwin stated a portable had been placed at Valley Jr. High and had been damaged. Commissioner Wright stated with cooperation among the citizens, the school and the City he felt this could be worked out to make usable fields at Buena Vista. Dave Bradstreet reported there had been a plan for Buena Vista, but when it was felt there was no interest in this, the alloted money was used for Jefferson. He added that if the other people using the fields agree, the City would make the proposed changes to the fields. He said it was not possible to provide fields for each group because of the economic climate. Mr. Bradstreet suggested the citizens could go to the developers and make a deal with them for fields. Chairperson Dahlquist stated that Commissioners Wright and Conti and she would meet with the citizens group and someone from the schools to work out something for playing fields. The Commission voted to ask the Parks & Recreation Department to look into developing Buena Vista Field according to the plan they had scheduled for this year. Dave Bradstreet stated the Department will set up a meeting. Popovich Donovan McFadden Conti Wright MINUTES Page 3 October 17, 1983 COMMISSIONERS A. Educational Park Concept Dave Bradstreet gave the presentation on this item, stating that Dr. Grignon would give additional information following his report. Mr. Bradstreet referred to a map showing the new plan for school locations and stated a new concept had been proposed — that of parks adjacent to the schools. He stated the advantage of such a concept would be to save money. He stated the Commission could either support this concept or not. The second part of the report involved the Calavera Hills Community Park concept. Mr. Bradstreet referred to the Calavera Hills Master Plan and stated the City needed 20 acres of land for parks plus four acres for special uses. There were several small parcels, most of which were passive park areas, and the City negotiated with the developer and now has eight acres and a possibility of another eight acres adjacent to that. The proposal was to join with the school and develop the 16 acres, with approximately three acres to be used by the school district. There were four plans on the wall. A, B, C and D, showing the proposed uses for the two eight-acre parcels. Dr. Grignon, Superintendent of Schools, addressed the Commission, restating the concept, and stating that Carlsbad is already using this school/park concept, but they are asking that the plan be reversed, with the City owning the land rather than the school district. He stated the school district is a state function, and they can condemn land and purchase it at appraised value. Dr. Grignon stated that school sites are identified on master plans, but the developers do not have to give them the land — they must pay the appraised price for that land. Land is dedicated for Parks & Recreation by the developers. Dr. Grignon stated if Parks & Recreation had twenty acres, the school district could purchase three or four acres. This would be a reversal of the equation that now exists, where the school district owns the majority of the land. The school district could free funds that would have been used for the purchase of land and use that money for educational programs. There was a discussion about land that is dedicated to Parks & Recreation and the possibility of the school district purchasing that land. It was stated that in order for the school district to buy such lands, it would have to go through the park abandonment process. Dr. Grignon stated that the parks are not used until after 3:00 p.m. and the schools don't use the land after 3:00 p.m. He concluded, stating that it would make sense to work together for the best use of the land and the taxpayers' money. MINUTES Page 4 October 17, 1983 COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Donovan stated it was a waste of money to conduct studies. There has been a study on the parks and 20 acres are needed in the Calavera area. If Parks & Recreation had 16 acres and gave four acres away, this would only add to the existing problem. She saw no reason to give any park land away. Mr. Bradstreet stated this was merely a proposal. He added there were two other sites close to the 16-acre parcel that might be available for a school. Dr. Grignon stated he had come before the Commission tonight to show the advantage of working together. He stated he didn't see this proposal as "giving up land", but dual use of the land. Commissioner Donovan asked whether the school board could condemn the use of the school land by the City, and Dr. Grignon stated that was possible, but it would certainly not be an intelligent approach to the problem. Bill Hofmlan used a wall map to explain the process of giving up the small parcels of land in the Calavera Hills area in order to have the large parcel. He stated this plan would go before the City Council the last meeting in November. The second stage of this plan would be a master plan amendment. Commissioner Wright asked whether a new agreement would have to be entered into on each school site and Dr. Grignon stated it would. Commissioner Conti suggested that it should be possible to have a standing agreement for all sites. The Commissioners discussed the use of parks and the consensus of opinion was that the parks are for all people and are used all day long, and the statement that parks are used only after 3:00 p.m. was not true. The Commissioners also discussed the shortage of park land at the present time. The suggestion was made that if the schools can't develop playground areas, then outsiders should be allowed to develop those areas. Commissioner Wright left the meeting at 6:47 p.m. Staff reiterated the fact that the smaller parcels had been given up in the Calavera Hills area in order to have a larger parcel to have a community park. The Commission voted to work with the school district as a joint concept for future community parks. Popovich Donovan McFadden Conti X X X X MINUTES Page 5 October 17, 1983 COMMISSIONERS The Commission voted to reconmend to the City Council to deny the proposal that would allow the City and the Schools to oo-roingle on the proposed 16-acre park site in Calavera Hills. Chairperson Dahlquist moved to approve the further concept of intermingling the schools and parks, with the developers helping to put ball fields adjacent to school sites in other areas. RECESS; Chairperson Dahlquist declared a recess at 7:05 p.m. and the Commission reconvened at 7:15 p.m., with Commissioners Dahlquist, Popovich, Conti, McFadden and Donovan present. Commissioner Donovan stated she would like to add an item to the Agenda under Additional Business. She stated she would like to discuss what is going to happen to Levante Field. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS; E. Endorsement of Public Safety Center Ron Beckman, Assistant City Manager, Developmental Services, gave a short report on the Public Safety Center, reviewing what had been shown in the slide presentation to the Commission at the last meeting. He added there is now a video tape presentation. The endorsement of the Police Department was discussed, with Mr. Beckman stating the booklet indicating what was going to be built had been in print before the Police Department voiced their objections. He stated the only item not included in the proposed facility was a firing range, and a temporary range was being planned in another area. There was a discussion about the price of the proposed facility and the possibility of the cost exceeding $15.2 million dollars. Council Member Lewis stated that the Council in office at that time would have the prerogative to ask for more funds if they were needed. Commissioner Conti inquired whether the prices quoted included furniture and equipment, and Mr. Beckman answered it did. The Commission endorsed the Public Safety Center Proposition E, as proposed. A. Letter to State Parks & Recreation Department Attention was called to the letters written regarding life guards on the beaches and one response received, stating the City could enter into a contract to provide lifeguards. Popovich Donovan McFadden Conti Popovich Donovan McFadden Conti Dahlquist Popovich Donovan McFadden Conti MINUTES Page 6 October 17, 1983 COMMISSIONERS The Commission decided to delay action on this item until a future meeting, to have time to discuss this and pursue options before the next summer season. Council Member Lewis suggested the Commission get usage numbers for a discussion on this problem and have facts and figures to present, in case the City decides it must spend money for this. The State should have those figures available. B. Analysis and Recommendation on the Facility Use Regulations The Commission voted to continue this item to the mext meeting, to give the Commissioners time to read the report. C. Letter from San Marcos Regarding Regional Commission Concept Chairperson Dahlquist stated she would call San Marcus and clarify this Commission's position. D. Recommendation on Future Use of Chamber Building Chairperson Dahlquist reported she had talked with staff and Council Member Kulchin regarding Parks & Recreation taking over the Chamber Building. She felt the building could be used for meetings and Parks & Recreation could make a considerable amount of money from the rent. There was a discussion regarding the Chamber maintaining a space for one person in the building. It was felt that instead of leasing the station to the Chamber for $1 per year, it would be much more profitable for Parks & Recreation to control the renting of the space. The comment was made that the Chamber would rather not control the renting of the building, but just keep space for one person to satisfy the downtown merchants. Dave Bradstreet stated it was logical that Parks & Recreation take over the station, since they maintain it, and could use the income from the rents received. The Commission voted to present to Council that Parks & Recreation would like the train station to be under the auspices of their department. F. State Lands Commission Minutes This was an information item. Popovich Donovan McFadden Conti Popovich Donovan McFadden Conti MINUTES Page 7 October 17, 1983 COMMISSIONERS 7. COMMITTEE REPORT; Special Committee on Re-Location for Senior Citizen Center There was a brief discussion about the Committee and the possible sites the Senior Citizens were interested in, with Harding Street Center their first choice. 9. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS; A. Schedule/Election of New Chairperson Chairperson Dahlquist announced the election would be scheduled to allow the new Chairperson to take office for the January meeting. B. Street Trees Committee Commissioner Donovan announced the Street Trees Committee would meet sometime prior to the November meeting. C. Levante Center Commissioner Donovan stated her concern regarding the plan to build an elementary school on this site. The Boys and Girls Club building would be moved and some of the fields. Staff stated they knew the Boys and Girls Club building would be moved and did not believe the fields at Levante would be affected. Dave Bradstreet stated he would check into this. D. Outer City Tour There was a discussion about the Outer City Tour, with Commissioner Conti stating he would prefer this tour be taken on a Saturday. Commissioner McFadden asked for a map of the proposed parks. ADJOURNMENT; By proper motion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Harriett Babbitt, Minutes Clerk