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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-16; Parks & Recreation Commission; MinutesMinutes of: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Time of Meeting: 5:30 P.M. Date of Meeting: April 16, 2007 Place of Meeting: City Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Craig called the Regular Meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Chairperson Craig, Commissioners Lyons, Hubbard, and George Absent: Commissioners Pacheco, Cooper and Comstock Staff Members Present: Ken Price, Recreation Director Mark Steyaert, Park Development Manager Sue Spickard, Recreation Services Manager Kyle Lancaster, Parks Superintendent Judi Vincent, Management Analyst Gian Lauro, Recreation Area Manager Liz Ketabian, Park Planner Kevin Granse, Recreation Supervisor Paul Meadows, Public Works Supervisor Michael Bliss, Public Works Supervisor Larry Ferris, Tree Trimmer Lead Worker Joe Garuba, Senior Management Analyst Kathleen Shubin, Senior Office Specialist Debbie Jo McCool, Administrative Secretary ANNOUNCEMENTS None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Lyons, the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on March 19, 2007 were approved. AYES: Chairperson Craig, Commissioners Lyons, Hubbard, Cooper and George NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Comstock and Pacheco INTRODUCTIONS None. [Commissioner Cooper arrived at 5:40 p.m.] Parks and Recreation Commission - 2 - April 16,2007 PRESENTATIONS A. A presentation and acknowledgement of the retirement of Ruth Stark, Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Clerk was given. Chairperson Craig presented her with a certificate in appreciation of her service, and staff gave her flowers and a gift on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Commission and Recreation Department. B. Kevin Granse, Youth Sports Recreation Supervisor, presented the following T.R.U.S.T. sportsmanship awards to the following players: Wesley Aguilar, Troy Forester, Kristin Froyd, Valentine "Junior" Macedo, Christina Nizon, and Coach Bob Fleming. PUBLIC OPEN FORUM Dick Erhardt, 7329 Lindey Terrace, Carlsbad, urged the Parks and Recreation Commission to move forward on the tobacco issue and to include a ban of smoking at the City beaches. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Lyons, the Agenda for April 16, 2007 was approved. AYES: Chairperson Craig, Commissioners Lyons, Hubbard, Cooper and George NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioners Comstock and Pacheco CONSENT CALENDAR 1. AB 0407-1 SUMMARY REPORT To accept, approve and file the March 19, 2007 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Summary Report. 2. AB 0407-2 RECEIPT OF DONATIONS FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF ENCINITAS To accept a cash donation from the Rotary Club of Encinitas in support of the Sportsmanship/T.R.U.S.T. 3. AB # 0407-3 RECEIPT OF DONATIONS FOR 2007 BATTLE OF THE BANDS-TEEN SCENE To accept donations of products in support of the 2007 Battle of the Bands-Teen Scene special event 4. AB # 0407-4 RECEIPT OF DONATION FOR THE 2006 HOLIDAY AT THE RANCHO EVENT To accept a donation of product in support of the December 2006 Holiday at the Rancho event. Parks and Recreation Commission - 3 - April 16,2007 ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Lyons, AB #0407-1, AB #0407-2, AB #0407-03 and AB #0407-4 of the Consent Calendar were approved. AYES: Chairperson Craig, Commissioners Lyons, Hubbard, Cooper and George NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioners Comstock and Pacheco DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS 5. AB # 0407-5 TREE PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE UPDATE Kyle Lancaster, Parks Superintendent, presented the Commission with a report regarding the planting and maintenance practices of municipal trees throughout the City of Carlsbad. The items that were covered are: street, private, park, median, facility, school, and Hosp Grove trees. Extra-curricular work and Arbor Week activities were also included in this report. Mr. Lancaster reported that there was a good deal of work accomplished in the last year on Street Trees. He highlighted that there was an increase of over 200 trees in the inventory as well as approximately 10,000 trees being inspected and pruned. Mr. Lancaster also spoke about the City's Right of Way process which involves property owner's trees and the City's tree inventory. He also spoke about the addition of trees to existing landscaping and the issues that may arise with this process. Mr. Lancaster spoke about the City's process when removing trees. He reported that the process is very extensive and involves several steps which include involving City Park Employees, a Licensed City Arborist, a 30 day posted notice and a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Commission for removal. Mr. Lancaster reported on the accomplishments with the City's Private Trees. He spoke about the Arbor Day tree voucher give-a-ways which adds over 100 trees annually. In addition, Mr. Lancaster talked about Hosp Grove Trees and the significant work that has been done. He reported that there has been 200-400 trees added annually, irrigation systems installed, and trees removed due to insect infestations, accidents, diseases and/or overcrowding. Mr. Lancaster spoke about the extracurricular work that the Parks Department is associated with. He included that they assisted in the selection of the City Golf Course trees and using the department's boom truck at several activities, including the City's Citizen Academy and the Public Works Faire. The Commission was invited to participate in Arbor Week Activities. These include attending the presentation of the Arbor Week Proclamation from the City Council to the Public Works Director on Tuesday, April 24th, at 6:00pm and attending the Arbor Day Celebration Event to be held at Pine Avenue Community Park on Saturday, April 28th, from 8:30 am-11:00 am. Parks and Recreation Commission - 4 - April 16,2007 Commissioner George posed the question of how trees are inventoried. Mr. Lancaster responded that the trees are checked and tracked by category. She also asked if insecticides are used for the trees that the Parks Department maintains. Mr. Lancaster said that if insecticides are needed the City uses the most environmentally friendly type where available and that signage at schools and Parks are posted well in advance when insecticides are used. He indicated that only qualified pest control individuals are allowed to spray. Commissioner Hubbard asked Mr. Lancaster which section of the Planting and Maintenance Practices have the largest amount of trees. Kyle responded with the following: 1) Streets; 2) Parks; 3) Medians; 4) Facilities and 5) Schools. Commissioner Lyons posed the question of who gets the Department of Forestry involved and if they are involved in the selection of trees? Mr. Lancaster responded the City gets the Dept. of Forestry involved and has them work with the City's Parks and Fire Department. The City's Parks Department does not work with the Dept. of Forestry in the selection of trees, but rather with the Fire Department. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Cooper, AB #0407-5, to accept the report from staff on the planning and maintenance practices of municipal trees throughout Carlsbad. AYES: Chairperson Craig, Commissioners Lyons, Hubbard, Cooper and George NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioners Comstock and Pacheco 6. AB #0407-6 TOBACCO CONTROL Judi Vincent, Management Analyst, and Joe Garuba, Senior Management Analyst, made the staff presentation on this item. Ms. Vincent referred to the February presentation on tobacco control, and commented on the question brought up during Mr. Ehrhardt's comments that the City did not have jurisdiction at the beaches since the beaches were under State jurisdiction. She mentioned that the City has been approached in the past by various groups on this topic including the Carlsbad High School Environmental Club, Teens for Tomorrow, and Vista Community Clinic-Tobacco Control Program and that the requests that have been made regarding Smoking Control included limiting availability of cigarettes to minors and eliminating smoking in outdoor areas for Health and Safety reasons. Ms. Vincent stated that the City is currently in compliance with all state laws. She pointed out that the current request to the Commission is to consider a recommendation to the City Council to ban smoking within City Parks and on local Beaches due to health impacts from second hand smoke and litter caused by cigarette butts and provided several options for the Commission to consider. Candice Porter, 1713 Kennington Road, Carlsbad, explained that she spoke in February on the topic and added that she was in full support of moving forward with the recommendation to ban smoking in parks and on the beaches. She said that in all cities that have banned smoking Parks and Recreation Commission - 5 - April 16,2007 along the coast of California (and inland in parks), there has never been a problem with enforcement. She distributed a report to the commissioners for their review. Debra Kelly, 2750 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, emphasized that secondhand smoking was very hazardous. She added that she hoped that the City of Carlsbad would be added to the list of smoking stars. In response to a query from Commissioner Hubbard, she explained that a general ban was much easier for the public to understand than a seasonal ban. Commissioner George questioned whether their own values were being imposed on the general public as the health aspect was a small piece of the package and wanted to know if there had been any backlash from civil liberties organizations. Ms. Kelly explained smoking was not a constitutional right and there had not been any backlash to date. Michael Caraglio, 1310 Savannah Lane, Carlsbad, explained that he was a freshman at Carlsbad High School and had made a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Commission in February. He asked the Parks and Recreation Commission to make the parks and recreation areas smoke-free so that everyone could enjoy a healthy environment. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Cooper, AB #0407-5, to receive a report on Tobacco Control options and recommend to City Council to consider a complete ban of smoking in all City parks and City Trails and possibly City beaches. AYES: Chairperson Craig, Commissioners Lyons, Hubbard, Cooper and George NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioners Comstock and Pacheco AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE COMMISSION MEETING None. ADJOURNMENT ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Lyons to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 7:30 p.m. to the City Council Meeting on April 24, 2007 to receive "Arbor Day" proclamation from the City Council. AYES: Chairperson Craig, Commissioners Lyons, Hubbard, Cooper and George NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioners Comstock and Pacheco KEN PRICE Recreation Director Kathleen Shubin Minutes Clerk