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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMins 2009 05 May_FINAL Board of Recreation and Parks Minutes of May 20, 2009 Meeting Page 1 of 5 BOARD OF RECREATION AND PARKS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING May 20, 2009 CALL TO ORDER El Salvador Recreation Center 1825 W. Civic Center Drive Santa Ana, CA 5:39 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE D. Orea ROLL CALL BOARD OF RECREATION AND PARKS MEMBERS/STUDENT REPS PRESENT Tish Leon, Max Madrid, Ken Nguyen, David Orea, Julie Stroud, Wendy Tobiska STAFF PRESENT: Gerardo Mouet, Executive Director Ron Ono, Administrative Services Manager Jenny Rios, Recreation Superintendent Mike Lopez, Parks Superintendent Athena Martinez, Board Secretary PRESENTATIONS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH – JUNE, 2009 Kevin Eaton was present to accept this award SPECIAL SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY – MAY 2009 Steve Carpenter was present to accept this award on behalf of Rebuilding Together Orange County. CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION: W. Tobiska SECOND: K. Nguyen VOTE: AYES: Leon, Nguyen, Orea, Stroud, Tobiska (5) NOES: None (0) ABSENT: (at voting) Acosta, Hills, Madrid (3) 1. MINUTES Approve Minutes of Regular Meeting held on April 22, 2009. 2. ABSENCES Frank Acosta Jerry Hills ** END OF CONSENT CALENDAR ** Board of Recreation and Parks Minutes of May 20, 2009 Meeting Page 2 of 5 BUSINESS CALENDAR NEW BUSINESS 1. HECTOR GODINEZ HIGH SCHOOL HOMERUN FENCE Public Comments: Jesus Nieto – Pacific Baseball Appreciate the fact this item is on the agenda. Has brought this issue to the attention of CoFU in the past. Not only will someone be injured running through the bushes to catch a ball, but this would lead directly onto the road, which is very busy on weekends. The homerun fence would not need to be completely closed, the main problem is on the east side of the field, but all around would be great. One player has already been hit by a car; their foot was caught under the wheel. Not badly injured, only badly bruised. Discussion ensued regarding the fence being “stacked” or “staggered” so as not to completely close off the fields or limit public access. Motion to recommend the installation of a stacked or staggered homerun fence on the two Hector Godinez baseball fields. MOTION: K. Nguyen SECOND: W. Tobiska VOTE: AYES: Leon, Nguyen, Orea, Tobiska (4) NOES: Stroud (1) ABSENT: (at voting) Acosta, Hills, Madrid (3) 2. INSTALLATION OF T-MOBILE CELL TOWER AT ROSITA PARK Board was advised that T-Mobile has refused to install a block wall at Rosita Park as part of their agreement to install a cell tower at this park. While conducting presentations to the Riverview Neighborhood Association on this project, the association had approved the cell tower installation under the condition that a block wall was built. Public Comments: Martha Sanchez, resident neighboring Rosita Park Has been asking for this block wall since 1996 due to the lewd activity and noise that occurs in the parking lot that butts up against the back yards of residents along the park’s edge. In the past, has been told that the City would build the wall if the residents could pay a portion of the cost. Residents are also concerned about health issues regarding cell towers. A private homeowner received a bid to do the work at a cost of $50,000-60,000, so why did T-Mobile get another quote that came in higher? Could the cost of the wall be split between T-Mobile, the City and the homeowners? M. Madrid arrived at 6:30 p.m. Discussion ensued regarding opposition of the cell tower installation. Board of Recreation and Parks Minutes of May 20, 2009 Meeting Page 3 of 5 Motion to recommend to City Council to approve a lease agreement with Omnipoint Communications (T-Mobile) for cellular equipment building and a monosports lighting monopole cell tower at Rosita Park MOTION: J. Stroud SECOND: No second, motion died VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: (at voting) Acosta, Hills Motion to deny recommendation to City Council to approve a lease agreement with Omnipoint Communications (T-Mobile) for cellular equipment building and a monosports lighting monopole cell tower at Rosita Park MOTION: W. Tobiska SECOND: M. Madrid VOTE: AYES: Leon, Madrid, Nguyen, Orea, Tobiska (5) NOES: Stroud (1) ABSENT: (at voting) Acosta, Hills (2) 3. THE GRAIN PROJECT Item tabled to June meeting. 4. NOMINATIONS FOR SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD TO THE YOUTH AND COMMUNTIY OF SANTA ANA Motion to nominate Darlene Glenn of Mother’s of Floral Park for her efforts toward the successful playground build at Fisher Park. MOTION: K. Nguyen SECOND: J. Stroud VOTE: AYES: Leon, Madrid, Nguyen, Orea, Stroud, Tobiska (6) NOES: None (0) ABSENT: (at voting) Acosta, Hills (2) UPCOMING EVENTS Calendars for June 2009 reviewed and discussed. Note there will not be a Juneteenth event this year due to budget issues. STATUS/UPDATES 1. COMMITTEE ON FIELD USE (CoFU) – Met today. Budget and staff cuts presented to the committee. Leagues discussed possibly adopting parks to provide maintenance assistance, etc. Violations reviewed and discussed. 2. COMMUNITY CONTACT REPORTS AND UPDATES – Reviewed. 3. PENDING ITEMS/ACTION ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS Zoo presentation Friends of Santa Ana Zoo presentation Board of Recreation and Parks Minutes of May 20, 2009 Meeting Page 4 of 5 COMMENTS PUBLIC COMMENTS Made during New Business Calendar. STAFF/CONSULTANT COMMENTS G. Mouet Landscape contract to take on remaining 14 park sites denied at May 18th council meeting, no park maintenance lay-off rescinded. As of July 1, those 14 sites will not be maintained. R. Ono Very busy month with the relocation of staff. All done and settled. Fisher Park playground build went smoothly. Great job by all. Cost savings of approximately $200,000 thanks to efforts of Darlene Glenn and the Mother’s of Floral Park. J. Rios Still living out of boxes and working out technical issues. The Southwest Senior Center is very loud, and staff is making adjustments to their new locations. Gearing up for a very busy summer. All full time staff layed-off effective July 1 and accepting part-time positions for the summer will be placed on emergency appointment. All staff that received a lay-off notice are still doing their best and what they must to make summer a success. M. Lopez Was very shocked about the failure of the landscape contract. Some good news was received - five general maintenance workers were advised that their lay-off notices were rescinded. BOARD/STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COMMENTS M. Madrid Inquired if staff utilizes the services of the Orange County Conservation Corps. Staff responded that had in the past, and revisiting their services as well as other non- profit agencies. K. Nguyen How will the City be affected with the failure of the State’s recent special elections? Staff responded that is unknown at this time, but the Agency has already been cut to the limit, no more to give. W. Tobiska The loss of all the jobs and program coordinators has really hit home and is a very hard and sad thing to take in. Board of Recreation and Parks Minutes of May 20, 2009 Meeting Page 5 of 5 OCHSA will be performing at El Salvador Center on May 27th. Would like to suggest a thespian student as a Special Service to the Community Award recipient. J. Stroud Will be without internet until next week. If you begin to have problems in the parks that will not be serviced effective July 1, do not call staff. Call your Mayor and councilmember. D. Orea Remains hopeful that something can be done during this budget situation. T. Leon Suggested that Commissioners contribute something monthly to purchase snacks for meetings. Encouraged everyone to attend Sunsets at the Zoo, lots of fun and is a great family event. NEXT MEETING Wednesday, July 22, 2009 on the second floor of the red barn in the Crean Family Farm of the Santa Ana Zoo, located at 1801 E. Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, CA, 92701. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:42 P.M. _____________________________ Athena Martinez Recording Secretary