HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-05-1995 Park and Recreation Commission Minutes MINUTES
SA~TOGA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
TIME: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1995 7:35 PM
PLACE: ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM - CITY HALL
13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE, SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA
TYPE: REGULAR MEETING
I. ORGANIZATION
A. ~ - Present: Clark, Crotty, Dutra,
Miller, Swan, Weiner
Absent: Barnard
Staff: Pisani, Rizzo
B. MINUTES
Minutes of the August 7, 1995 meeting were approved.
Swan/Weiner 5/0 (Dutra arrived after the vote.)
C. POSTING OF THE AGENDA
Pursuant of Government Code 54954.2 the agenda for
this meeting was posted on the City Hall Kiosk
on August 31, 1995.
II. OLD BUSINESS
A) Proposed composting demonstration station at E1
Quito Park. Chairperson Clark briefly described the
history of this item. Barbara Mansfield, Master
Composter with the Santa Clara County Home
Composting Education Program of the University of
California Cooperative Extension, explained her
proposed layout of the composting demonstration
area in E1 Quito Park, showing the location of the
different techniques for home tomposting. She also
explained no funds are necessary from the City.
All materials and labor are to be donated. The
Commissioners questioned Ms. Mansfield regarding
the layout and then questions and comments were
taken from the audience. The audience expressed a
mix of concern and support for the project. The
concerns were:
- Not enough local residents were notified of
this topic being considered at this Park and
Recreation Commission meeting;
- Rats will be attracted;
- It will increase traffic near the Community
Garden Plots and vandalism of the plots;
- The drawing does not show enough of
surrounding area and therefore the plan does
not consider the impacts on the nearby
entities (houses, day-care facility, PAR
course, etc.)
- Frequent trucking in of materials is
inappropriate with children in and near park;
- Generation of spores (including Aspergilus)
and the affect on nearby residents, especially
those with respiratory problems;
- Prefer focus on having city trash collection
contractor provide access to free compost of
the collections within the City of Saratoga,
as in some nearby communities;
- Why locate this in Quito Park? What other
locations have been considered (e.g., schools,
etc.)?
- Who will bear the cost of dismantling and
clearing this area?
- Why not form the committee to support and
operate the demonstration site before the City
approves use of a site?
- Will this site be expanded in the future?
- Is an environmental impact statement needed
before approving?
- Are there any liability issues for the City?
Ms. Mansfield responded to each concern. In
conclusion, the Commission decided to table this
issue. The Commission also asked Ms. Mansfield to
prepare a presentation on her plan that addressed
the concerns expressed during the meeting. The
Commission suggested she bring her updated
presentation back to the Commission at a future
meeting, perhaps the November meeting. When Ms.
Mansfield notifies the Commission she is ready to
return, the City will notify the neighbors and
schools that are within approximately two blocks of
the proposed E1 Quito Park site with the date and
time of the Co-mission meeting.
Secretary Rizzo agreed to mail copies of Ms.
Mansfield's health reports regarding the safety of
composting to the audience members who provided
their names and addresses.
III. NEW BUSINESS
A) Report of vandalism at Congress Springs Park - play
structure replacement:
Secretary Rizzo described the situation and the
recommended replacement equipment. The
Commissioners discussed the alternatives and where
similar equipment is in use.
The Commission approved the replacement play
equipment as presented. Swan/Crotty 6/0
IV. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
None
V. COMMISSION AND STAFF R~PORT$
A) Commissioner's Reports:
Commissioner Swan described her six visits in the
last month to E1 Quito Park. She observed no
significant problems with the behavior of the
people in the Park or nearby. She described a
Monday evening visit when she observed the police
present, and she observed a small amount of alcohol
consumption but nothing excessive, nor any
gambling.
Commissioner Dutra described several visits to E1
Quito Park in the last month, including a Monday
visit. She did not observe any excessive problems.
Commissioner Miller reported that the Bicycle
Advisory Committee will present their plan for bike
trails in the City to the City Council during the
September 20, 1995 meeting.
Commissioner Crotty reported that the Saratoga
Creek at Wildwood Park cleanup on August 26 was
very successful. She also reported the same site
is scheduled for cleanup on September 23 as part of
the Coastal Cleanup Program.
B) Previous Month Council Meetin~ Report:
Commissioner Dutra reported that the City Council
meetings since the last Commission meeting did not
address any topics relevant to the Parks and
Recreation Commission.
C. Recreation Department Status Report - Joan Pisani:
Ms. Pisani reported on the recent efforts of the
part-time employee to market the indoor and outdoor
rentals of City facilities. She described her
efforts to reorganize her staff with the new
staffing levels and efforts to expand the youth
activity programs. She informed the Commission of
the upcoming Celebrate Saratoga events.
She reported that the City staff are compiling data
on all the area schools and parks regarding the
facilities available and the current activities
using them. This information will be provided to
the focus groups who will consider issues related
to the Saratoga parks. Commissioner Weiner
volunteered to provide to the City Council her
experience with focus groups.
Ms. Pisani described her visit to E1 Quito Park on
Labor Day and she observed some consumption of
alcohol, but not excessive, just a few people.
D. Park Maintenance Division Update - Bob Rizzo:
Mr. Rizzo reported that the Mid-Peninsula Open
Space representatives will be present at the next
Commission meeting.
The next meeting will be October 2.
;~)JOURNED 9:05 p.m. Crotty/Weiner 6/0/.~~~f~
Bob Rizzo,/S~d'retary
Minutee prepared by Bill Weller
Volunteer Recording Secretary