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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Parks And Recreation Advisory Committee - 11/11/2009 V PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTED RECEIVED Regular Meeting DEC 1 7 201)5 November 11, 2009, 5:00 p.m. Sixth Floor Conference Room, City Hall 1201 Leopard Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78401 CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE Members Present Members Absent Staff Present Rene Gutierrez Carlos Haney Sally Gavlik Jinsun Kim Kendal Keyes Stacie Talbert Rita Padron Lisa Aguilar Carrie Robertson Reba George Sylvia Samaniego K Chute Huxley Smith Lisa Torres Ron Woods Call to Order Chair, Rene Gutierrez called the meeting to order at 5:04 pm. II. Roll Call of Members The recording secretary called roll and announced that a quorum was present. III. Adoption of Minutes Regular meeting, October 14, 2009 Ron Woods made a motion to accept the minutes as submitted. Rita Padron seconded. Motion passed. IV. Public Comment Please be advised that the Open Meetings Act prohibits the committee from responding and discussing your comments at length. The law only authorizes members to make a statement of factual information, recite an existing policy in response to the inquiry, or advise the citizen that this subject will be placed on an agenda at a later date. (Sylvia Samaniego arrived at 5107 pm) V. Business C. New Business for Discussion and Possible Action 1. Gardens at Cole Park Daiquiri Richard of Beautify Corpus Christi Association (BCCA) and chair of the Flint Hills Resources Community Action Council, Environment Committee (FHRCAC) provided a review of the proposed project handout. James Chrobocinski, President of BCCA and chair of the Pride Committee, along with Michael Potter of AgriLife, Texas A&M Extension Program and Robert Gignac, project architect/designer, assisted with questions from the committee. 0 > How did (you) decide to do this project? LLJ Community groups, as listed on the proposal, are seeking ways to beautify tourist areas. Why this park location and specific site? This site is currently used to fly kites, roll down the hill, etc. Daiquiri Richard and James Chrobocinski, as the group representatives took this proposal to U the City Manager where he agreed with their site selection. This site provides the most visibility from Ocean Drive and from the park itself. It is a showcase location. > Concern about vandalism, and sustainability of plants considering pedestrian traffic, strong winds and salt spray 41.0 410 By using the proposed site location, the group hopes to benefit from the skatepark camera(s) to curb vandalism. The group assured they will maintain the plants and replace them as needed. > Cost concerns; cost to connect to the irrigation improvements of the Master Plan cost of ADA walk path to the garden The group stated these were the only costs being asked of the City for this project and confirmed that these City contributions were approved by the City Manager at their meeting. The group could not provide a cost estimate, other to say it would not be expensive. Sally Gavlik was asked to clarify the current Master Plan as it related to these items. She stated the approved Master Plan includes a roadway for maintenance trucks and amphitheater access, along with parking improvements. However, there are no planned walking trails. The committee requested Ms. Gavlik also clarify the process if the project was approved. Ms. Gavlik stated the master plan must be amended by council. This process includes architectural elements of this project being inserted and the Master Plan being reproduced for review by Council, then re-distribution. > Maintenance concern with gift to the City Due to previous experience with gifts, there is concern about no maintenance funding included in the plan. Gifts to the City without appropriate funding only make the City and department look bad. The group stated their group's representatives would maintain the garden itself. The City would maintain the grass around the garden. > What funding is available for this project? The group stated there was no current funding. They anticipate council's approval and will begin the 9-12 month fundraising effort at the BCC Kick-off in February 2010. > What public comment has been received? The group stated their various committee members have provided input and have contributed for the public. It was noted that to this meeting date, here have been no public meetings held. Stacie Talbert expressed appreciation for the beautiful proposed project and the group's willingness to give back to the community. However, she understands the concerns expressed about pedestrians not staying on the walkways, day to day maintenance, and the location adjacent to Kids Place, the Skatepark and the Amphitheater will certainly compound the current lack of adequate parking. She additionally recognized the other side of the park needs an anchor to draw tourist to the less active section. The group re-iterated their requirement of a very visual area for this project, but did agree with its success to add another garden in the northern area of the park sometime in the future. The committee expressed their appreciation for the research and planning that was necessary for this proposal. Sylvia Samaniego made a motion to amend the Cole Park Master Plan to support the garden project. Huxley Smith seconded. Motion passed with one abstention. VI. Business A. Presentation 1. Basic Budget Information Reba George provided a handout and review describing the various categories of revenues received by the Parks & Recreation Department. Ms. George also agreed to provide a similar presentation of the department expenditures at a future meeting. (Jinsun Kim arrived at 6 pm) 2. Volunteer Programs Rita Padron presentedlfiformation about established VolunteePrograms of other cities. Her research included the City of San Francisco that started their volunteer program in 1986, currently have 225 parks, with volunteers providing over sixty thousand work hours in 2006 and 2007. Their school programs give participants credits. Volunteers must take a safety course and sign a release of liability. Ms. Padron suggested starting a youth stewardship program that would expand to parents for a family experience. A brief discussion was held regarding the need for a program coordinator. The committee supports the concept and requests the program be developed. B. Old Business for Discussion and Possible Action 1. Bay Trail Safety from BeKindToCyclists Presentation Rene Gutierrez continued the discussion. The committee supports safety of the Bay Trail. Carrie Robertson made a motion to support the BeKindToCyclists campaign by aligning the bike lane portion of the Bay Trail with the 2006 Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices which governs the signage and pavement markers used for bike lanes, and the enforcement of Corpus Christi Municipal Code 53-97 that prohibits vehicles parking in the bike lane portion of the Bay Trail. Sylvia Samaniego seconded. Motion passed. 2. City's Renaming Ordinance Lisa Aguilar reviewed the ordinance originally composed by the committee and now revised for the City's use, to prohibit renaming of a park or facility already named for a person, group, or event. After a brief discussion, Lisa Torres made a motion to accept the Ordinance as presented. Rita Padron seconded. Motion passed. Sally Gavlik stated she received notification from the Carl Lewis family that they were withdrawing the request to rename the State School Park Property for Carl Lewis. They hope to have a school named after him. The Parks & Recreation Department respects the wishes of the family and has discussed their request with Cefe Valenzuela who made the nomination. Mr. Valenzuela has officially withdrawn the request. D. New Business for Discussion and Possible Action 2. Adopt A Park Ordinance Lisa Aguilar reviewed the ordinance draft providing citizens the opportunity to assist the City with improvements and routine maintenance of park property. The ordinance will be in the next council packet. If approved, the process will be completed through the Parks& Recreation Department. Forms for application and the activity agreement are currently in draft form, but will soon be finalized. Lisa Torres made a motion to accept the Adopt A Park Ordinance and plan as presented. Rita Padron seconded. Motion passed. 3. Carrie Robertson, PRAC representative to Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee of the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). Rene Gutierrez and Ms. Robertson reviewed the trail of events to the committee. Ms. Robertson was attending the meetings, then noted as being a PRAC representative. Ms. Robertson is now asking to be the PRAC liaison. Questions were asked about the process of having representation on other committees both affiliated and not affiliated with the City. Staff will research this situation and report to the committee at their December meeting. 4. Park Renaming Policy and Procedure Process Rene Gutierrez brings a suggestion to the committee for consideration; compose guidelines to assist the committee when decided to approve or decline a renaming request. Staff will contact other cities for their guidelines and process. A report will be provided to the committee. Rita Padron made a motion to table this agenda item. Lisa Torres seconded. Motion passed. VII. Committee, Liaison/Staff Reports it v Finance/Marketing —Rene Gutierrez reported there was no meeting. Planning Development—There was no meeting but there is a staff report in the meeting packet. Program Development—Members reported there was no meeting. Special Projects—There is a staff report in the meeting packet. Greens Committee—There was no meeting but a report was provided by Ron Woods. Watershore & Beach Advisory Committee —Carrie Robertson reported no October meeting. The November meeting included reviews of previous agenda items and discussion about the no swimming in the Packery Channel signs requested, and the TIF. Interim Director 1. Report of upcoming Administration and Council Agenda items Adopt A Park Ordinance Oso Wetlands and Learning Center grants The Renaming Ordinance to prohibit renaming of a park or facility already named for a specific person, group, or event A continuing report on these items will be provided. 2. New member process Stacie Talbert introduced new member Art Norman. The committee welcomed him. Stacie Talbert and Rene Gutierrez requested this item be tabled. Members agreed. VIII. Identify items to be placed on next agenda Sub-Committee review and appointments New Member Process PRAC Question &Answer form process; if a member wants to pursue item/issue PRAC representative attending training or educational events to bring information back to the committee Status of the Tree City USA designation for the City Update on Bond 2008 funds spent IX. Adjournment As there was no further business, Sylvia Samaniego made a motion to adjourn. Lisa Torres seconded. Chair, Rene Gutierrez adjourned the meeting at 7:07 pm. Stacie Talbert, Interim Director, Parks & Recreation Department