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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-20; Parks & Recreation Commission; MinutesMinutes of: Time of Meeting: Date of Meeting: Place of Meeting: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 5:30 P.M. January 20, 1997 City Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Schulberg called the Regular Meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Chairperson Baker, Commissioners Schulberg, Cunningham, Richards, Davidson, and Pieratt Commissioner Cox Staff Members Present: Dave Bradstreet, Director, Community Services Keith Beverly, Senior Management Analyst Ken Price, Recreation Superintendent Doug Duncanson, Park Superintendent Mark Steyeart, Park Development Coordinator ANNOUNCEMENTS None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Davidson, the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on December 16, 1996, were approved as printed. AYES: Chairperson Baker, Commissioners Schulberg, Cunningham, Richards, Davidson, and Pieratt NOES: None . ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioner Cox PRESENTATIONS None. PUBLIC OPEN FORUM None. Parks and Recreation Commission 2 January 20, 1997 APPROVAL OF AGENDA ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Pieratt, the Agenda for January 20, 1997 was approved as printed. AYES: Chairperson Baker, Commissioners Schulberg, Cunningham, Richards, Davidson, and Pieratt NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioner Cox CONSENT CALENDAR 1. AB #197-1 DIRECTOR'S REPORT To accept and file the Director's Report for February 1997. 2. AB #197-2 SUMMARY REPORT To approve, accept and file the Summary Report of the December 1996 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Schulberg, Items AB #197-1 and AB #197-2 of the Consent Calendar for January 20, 1997 were approved. AYES: Chairperson Baker, Commissioners Schulberg, Cunningham, Richards, Davidson, and Pieratt NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioner Cox PUBLIC HEARINGS None. Commissioner Cox arrived at 5:35 p.m. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS 3. AB #197-3 BEACH LIFEGUARD REQUEST Keith Beverly, Senior Management Analyst, gave the staff presentation on this item. He explained that this item was a request to establish lifeguard service at the northern boundaries of the northern Carlsbad city limits. He described the history of the lifeguard request, as contained in the Commissioners' packet for the evening. He mentioned that the latest action taken by the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council on this issue was in 1992. Mr. Beverly reviewed several items in detail including beach ownership along the Carlsbad Coastline, current lifeguard services along the Carlsbad Coastline, history of efforts to provide City sponsored lifeguard services, and the latest proposal to provide State lifeguard services. He summarized by stating that staff still felt the City should continue to pursue a regional involvement regarding lifeguard service at this section of the beach and that staff recommended Parks and Recreation Commission 3 January 20,1997 that if the Parks and Recreation Commission felt the City should sponsor lifeguard services, the Parks and Recreation Commission should recommend that the proposal be submitted to the City Manager's office for review. Questions and discussion included the following issues: • Whether any attempt was made to determine if the State Parks and Recreation Department had an interest in this section of the beach and if there was any response. • Involvement of State legislators. • Issue of private owners. Diane Terrian, 474 Via Arboles, San Marcos, explained that her husband lost his life rescuing a 12 year old girl who was drowning at this section of the beach. She stated that Carlsbad had the responsibility to guard people at the beach, and that according to other lifeguards, if lifeguards were present at the beach when her husband died, he would be alive today. Pete Biltchik, 352 Christiansen Way, Carlsbad, stated that there were no legal steps required for the City of Carlsbad because the City could bring in the State as subcontractor. He stated that Del Mar guarded their beach for over 25 years, even though it was a private beach. He added that Carlsbad was the only coastal city in San Diego without a budget for lifeguards, and that this beach was the busiest unguarded beach in San Diego. Mr. Bilchik pointed out that the liability question was addressed on page 25 and explained why. Questions and discussion included the following: • Whether Mr. Biltchik felt the City had a responsibility to provide lifeguard service throughout the coastline. • Where people were parking when they went to the beach. Hope Wrisley, 2080 Basswood, Carlsbad, explained that she was on the seawall when Mr, Terrian died. She stated that she felt the City should provide lifeguard service since the public had access to it. Ms. Wrisley referred to $39,000 being spent to provide parking at the lower Tamarack Beach parking lot and felt that it would be worthwhile spending $55,000 for safety. Questions and discussion included the following: • Moral responsibility of providing lifeguard service. • Importance of continuing to pursue the situation and put pressure on the legislature of the State to respond back to the City of Carlsbad on this issue. • Problem with placement of lifeguard towers • Concern that the proposal was a "bandaid" solution. • Consequences of adding lifeguard service to the City budget at the expense of other items. Parks and Recreation Commission 4 January 20, 1997 • Urgency of obtaining State funding. • Possibility of adding stronger signs. • Liability issues. Denny Staffer, Chief Lifeguard, San Diego North Coast Division, 219 Loma Alta Drive, Oceanside addressed the Parks and Recreation Commission at their request. He stated that if the City signed a contract with the State, the State, just by entering a contract with the City, would be liable. In response to questions by the Commission, he addressed the following issues: • Location of the towers and level of service compared to service already at Carlsbad State Beach. • Why it was not possible to do it "all." • Requirements for his lifeguards going into the area. • Potential problems with private property owners. • Maintenance of the beach area. • Importance of surfers remaining in the area. • Background of the payment of funds to the State for parking at the Tamarack parking lot. • Issue of responsibility of Carlsbad providing lifeguard service at a private beach if access was enforced from another agency. • Safety at this section of the beach. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Schulberg, Item AB #197-3, to submit a request to the City Manager's Office for consideration during the FY1997-98 Budget Review process to fund a state contracted lifeguard service on the section of the beach from Oak Street North to the Buena Vista Lagoon; and to simultaneously search for more innovative solutions to provide lifeguard services through the regional involvement of various state agencies, seeking the assistance from and influence of State and local legislators, Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, etc. (Vote passed 5-2) AYES: Commissioners Schulberg, Cox, Richards, Davidson, and Pieratt NOES: Chairperson Baker, and Commissioner Cunningham ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None Parks and Recreation Commission 5 January 20, 1997 4. AB 197-4 VETERAN'S MEMORIAL PARK UPDATE Mark Steyeart, Park Development Coordinator, gave the staff presentation on this item. He mentioned that there have been no changes made to the Master Plan since 1989. He reviewed what was currently in the Land Use Plan on this park and updated the Commission on various parts of the property. He mentioned that the EIR's were no longer valid, and that other areas have impact on the park, including the golf course, Kelly Ranch and the Cannon Road mitigation. Mr. Steyeart descried the phases of the park and mentioned that there were a lot of changes impacting the plans. Questions and discussion included the following; • Boating facilities or water recreational facilities. • Clarification of the Master Plan and the boundaries of the park. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Davidson, Item #AB 197-4, to accept the staff update on Veteran's Memorial Park. AYES: Chairperson Baker, Commissioners Schulberg, Cox, Cunningham, Richards, Davidson, and Pieratt NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None 5. AB 197-5 AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON FOUNDATION REQUEST Keith Beverly gave the staff presentation on this item. He explained the history of the item, as contained in the Commissioners' packets for the evening. He stated that at the City Council meeting on January 14, 1997, City Council directed staff to proceed with the study of the south shore of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon but that the study was not limited to open space issues. He mentioned that in addition to the study, City Council directed staff to return with a report outlining the issues that could be addressed as part of a recreational management plan for the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Mr. Beverly mentioned that he will be meeting representatives of the Planning Department to brainstorm some of the issues. He referred to requests made by the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation as very comprehensive, and stated that some of the items addressed by the Foundation were beyond the scope of staff to perform without consulting services. Mr. Beverly said that staff would keep the Parks and Recreation Commission aware of the progress made as the report to City Council is formulated. He added that there was a potential for some workshops and explained what they were. Questions and discussion included the following issue: • Clarification of what was encompassed for the south shore. Bob Wilkinson, 2277 Cameo Road, Carlsbad, spoke on behalf of the letter signed by the Board of Directors of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation. He stated that the Foundation would like the City to look at the Lagoon for recreational use for the citizens and that he supported the request. He also shared some fears that the south shore was being dominated by the golf course and might prohibit boat access to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Parks and Recreation Commission 6 January 20, 1997 Gary Hill, 3289 Donna Drive, Carlsbad, stated that he supported a long term vision for the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and the land around the Lagoon. He said that there was a need for a vision for recreational use of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and that the vision should be looked at for buildout. He added that he liked the concept of a management plan and explained why Questions and discussion included the following issues: • Clarification that the City Council directed the Community Services staff to return with a report together with the Planning Department for the recreational management plan only. • Update on what the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation was doing. ACTION: On motion by Chairperson Baker, Item AB #197-5, to appoint Commissioner Schulberg as the Parks and Recreation liaison to attend future Agua Hedionda Lagoon workshops. AYES: Chairperson Baker, Commissioners Schulberg, Cox, Cunningham, Richards, Davidson, and Pieratt NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None COMMITTEE REPORTS 1. Commissioner Cox gave an update on the Skateboard Committee. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING 1. None. It was decided to cancel the February Commission meeting since it falls on a holiday and there are no agenda items for the February meeting. ADJOURNMENT ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Schulberg to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 7:45 p.m. AYES: Chairperson Baker, Commissioners Schulberg, Cox, Cunningham, Richards, Davidson, and Pieratt NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None Respectfully submitted, *uth Stark Minutes Clerk