HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-24; Parks & Recreation Commission; ; Parks & Recreation Department ReportMeeting Date: Jan. 24, 2022
To: Parks & Recreation Commission
From: Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director
Staff Contact: Mike Pacheco, Recreation 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 & Recreation Director 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
1 of 1
PARKS & RECREATION
DEPARTMENT REPORT
Jan. 24, 2022
GENERAL & RECREATION
Lifeguard Staffing Shortage Update
On Sept. 13, 2021, weekday hours were temporarily reduced at Monroe Street Pool due to a lifeguard staffing
shortage. Since implementing the temporary reduction of operating hours, staff has pursued the following
measures to increase Lifeguard staffing, and offer other means, to restore regular operating hours with required
patron safety:
•Created four new full-time Recreation Assistant (Senior Lifeguard) positions which increased their
weekly work hours from 35 to 40 to help offset the staff shortages.
•Increased the hourly pay rate of all existing part-time Lifeguards and part-time Senior Lifeguards,
to be competitive with comparable positions within the region and better retain staff.
•Increased the starting hourly pay rate of the part-time Lifeguard and part-time Senior Lifeguard
positions to potentially draw a greater number of candidates to the city’s open recruitments.
•Expanded its Lifeguard Academy offerings in an effort to potentially draw a greater number of
candidates to the city’s open recruitment for Lifeguards.
•Continued to market recruitments for part-time and full-time lifeguards, and to expedite
processing of applications, testing and screening of candidates for employment.
•Received City Council approval on Oct. 12 to execute a memorandum of understanding with the
Carlsbad Unified School District. This memorandum will allow exclusive use of the pool for
Carlsbad High School during the hours which the city is unable to provide lifeguard services and
the district has reserved the pool. The district is required to provide certified lifeguards and to
follow the requirements of the California Health and Safety Code and the Model Aquatic Health
Code during the hours of exclusive use. The district is considering fulfilling the certified lifeguard
requirement by having its’ coaching staff obtain current certifications.
•Received emergency determination from the State of California to have ocean lifeguards deemed
qualified to serve as pool lifeguards.
The city’s efforts to address pool lifeguard shortages has not yielded the necessary number of staff to return to
regular operating hours. The safety of our swimmers is the city’s top priority.
Winter Recreation Activities
Winter registration for recreation activities started on Dec. 8. Winter classes for kids and adults includes
swimming lessons and other aquatic programs, martial arts, dance, fitness, sports, special interest, adults 50+
and more. Classes began in January.
Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park Private Weddings and Events
The wedding and private event season at the Ranch concluded in late December. Typically ending in November,
the wedding season ran long, well into December in 2021, due to COVID-19 pandemic closure make-ups.
Despite the pandemic, 2021 was a successful and popular year to get married. Ranch staff and the contract
service provider, Personal Touch Dining, hosted 79 weddings, most of them taking place every weekend and
some weekdays from mid-June through December. For comparison, the Ranch hosted 80 weddings in 2019, the
last full year of events prior to the pandemic. For these 79 events, the city collected nearly $217,000 in revenue
from park use. 2022 is already turning out to be a busy and popular year – with 100 weddings/private events
reserved and on the books.
Holiday at the Rancho
The Parks & Recreation Department’s Holiday at the Rancho event, held at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park on
Dec. 4, was a festive start to the holiday season. During the course of the evening, more than 1,000 people
attended and helped spread the joy of the season. Many of those in attendance experienced City Manager Scott
Chadwick and his family lighting the 14’ tree…Carlsbad style of course - in the sand, near the cabana’s reflecting
pool. In addition, there were several other fun, holiday-themed activities and points of entertainment - for
families and for individuals. Highlights from the event included a handmade craft boutique, a plush ‘snowballs’
fight, an inflatable ‘snow hill’ slide, and sugar cookie decorating. The cap to the evening was the holiday movie,
Rise of the Guardians, shown on a giant screen under the stars. New this year, staff displayed several holiday
trees in the stable, with decorations in themes of the western history of ‘The Ranch’ and Leo Carrillo. It was a
magical evening. and truly a team effort. The Parks & Recreation Department appreciates all of the staff and
volunteers who helped make the event happen, and thanks everyone who attended.
Upcoming Events
• Pirate Plunge: Saturday, March 26, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Alga Norte Aquatics Center
• EGGstravangza: Saturday, April 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Poinsettia Community Park
• Hot Rods & Cool Treats: Saturday, May 14, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pine Community Park
PARKS
Calavera Hills Community Park Gateway Improvements
Construction commenced in early March 2021 and is expected to be complete in winter 2022. Final tasks
related to the installation of bollard lights and shade structure lights, refinement of drainage devices and
concrete flatwork, and other miscellaneous punch list items are in process.
Poinsettia Community Park Phase IV Dog Park, Parking Lot and Restroom
The construction contract was awarded at the City Council meeting of July 13, 2021. Commencement of work
began with mobilization of the contractor to the site on Sept. 20, 2021. Finish drainage work is progressing
within the dog park area and the parking lot. Construction of the restroom shell is finished. Full project
completion anticipated to be in late spring – early summer 2022.
Veterans Memorial Park Master Plan
The recommended master plan was approved by the City Council on Feb. 23, 2021. This project was presented
to the resource agencies and California Coastal Commission on Thursday Aug. 5, 2021 during the Habitat
Management Plan quarterly meeting. The administrative draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
(IS/MND) was submitted to staff on Aug. 25, 2021. Upon Parks & Recreation staff review of the administrative
draft IS/MND, the screen check draft was submitted to Community Development staff on Sept. 27, 2021, along
with the entitlement applications - including a Conditional Use Permit, a Coastal Development Permit, a Hillside
Development Permit and Habitat Management Plan consistency. Parks Planning staff received an initial
submittal response letter from Community Development staff on Oct. 27, 2021. A second submittal was
delivered to Community Development staff on Dec. 13, 2021. Parks & Recreation staff is currently working to
address the additional comments received from Community Development staff. The final master plan is
anticipated to be presented to the Planning Commission in spring 2022 and to the City Council in summer 2022.
Hub Park – South Shore Agua Hedionda Lagoon Trail
On June 15, 2021, staff provided the City Council with a status report and sought direction on further pursuit of
the project. The City Council adopted a resolution to further pursue the design, public engagement and
development of the trail project within only the Hub Park Lease property, and directed staff to return in the fall
with another status report and answers to questions posed by the City Council Members. On Nov. 16, 2021,
staff provided the City Council with another status report and offered options for either continuing,
discontinuing, or suspending further pursuit of the project. The City Council directed staff to suspend pursuit
of the of the trail project and reengage representatives on the noted stipulations of the applicable
entities, in an effort to gain greater flexibility. Staff subsequently reengaged the representative from SDG&E
(owner of the property) on its stipulations, but has not yet gained greater flexibility.
Trails Volunteers Event
The next trails volunteers event is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022 at the Kelly Trail. The group will meet at
the western terminus of Kelly Drive at 8:30am to commence a morning of various maintenance activities.