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Home My WebLink About02-05-1996 Park and Recreation Commission Minutes MINUTES SARATOGA PBRK8 AND RECRF~TION COMMISSION TIME: Monday, February 5, 1996 7:35 p.m. PLACE: Hakone Gardens - Cultural Exchange Center 21000 Big Basin way, Saratoga, California TYPE: Regular Meeting I. ORGANIZATION A. ROLL CALL - Present: Clark, Crotty, Dutra, Miller, Swan, Weiner, Whitney Absent: None Staff: Pisani, Rizzo B. MINUTES Minutes of the January 3, 1996 meeting were approved. Weiner/Swan 7/0 C. POSTING OF THE AGENDA Secretary Rizzo reported that pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 the agenda for this meeting was posted on the City Hall Kiosk on February 1, 1996. III. ~EW BUSINESS (Old Business was moved to the last item) A. Multi-media show presented by the Hakone Foundation, "Artistic Views of Hakone Gardens". Discussion/overview by the Foundation regarding operation, management and future prospects of Hakone. The Foundation presented a 20 minute multi-media slide show with background music showing the unique beauty that is special to Hakone Gardens. Kay Duffy, Hakone Foundation President presented a general overview of the management and the operations of the Foundation's responsibilities at Hakone. President Duffy discussed suggested future projects to improve the operations of Hakone. The Foundation has earmarked a large project for the Commission to consider as part of the park/recreation facilities needs assessment list. (1) 1) Improvement to the Hakone entrance and roadway 2) Replacement of the gardens handrail system IV. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION A. Memorandum regarding the proposed 4th of July Celebration. The Coxuuission discussed its role in the planning process of this event and felt due to their involvement with the Park Task Force, they would be willing to only review plans and schedule activities after they were developed at their regular scheduled meetings. Chairperson Clark will write a letter detailing the Commission's involvement in the 4th of July Celebration to City Council. B. Letter from Paul D. Romero, Director of Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department. Commission agreed to note and file. V. COMMISSIONikND ST~FF REPORTS A. Commissioner's Reports: Chairperson Clark informed the Commission of the quarterly lunch meeting with Mayor Jacobs, Harry Peacock and Bob Rizzo regarding Council overview of the Park Task Force. B. Previous Month Council Meeting Report: (None) C. Recreation Department Status Report - Joan Pisani 1) Informed the Commission regarding Council's Tree Committee, tree grant program application and scheduled tree planting, in front of the Library and Heritage Orchard, scheduled for February 24, 1996 at 9am. 2) Council Youth task force recommendations to increase recreational opportunities for teens. Possibilities are to open Saratoga High School for programs and activities on the weekends and to open the Warner Hutton House for a teen pilot program. 3) Informed the Commission that the recreation staff has discussed with Dave Johnston the Coyote Creek Riparian Station Festival. Staff has informed Mr. Johnston that rental fees for Wildwood Park would not be waived at this time. 4) Informed the Commission of the upcoming California Parks and Recreation Conference to be held in San Diego, to be attended by Commissioners Crotty, Swan, Whitney and Staff Pisani and Rizzo. (2) D. Park Maintenance Division Update - Bob Rizzo Informed the Commission that the Wildwood Park Improvement Project is under way and should be completed by the end of February. II. OLD BUSINESS (Moved to allow for more discussion time) A) Further discussion of park/recreation facilities needs list for the scheduled Joint Meeting with Council on Tuesday, February 27, 1996. Chairperson Clark discussed the make-up of the Task Force and stated that the Task Force should be small, made up of seven members that do not have a special interest or affilated with any special interest groups. Task Force Committee will hear and review from special interest groups such as school districts, youth sports groups and etc. Commissioner Weiner proposed to the Commission an eight (8) step process to accomplish the goals/objectives of the Task Force: 1) City Council appoints a Task Force to supplement the Park and Recreation Commission on the key community issues. The Task Force is to be made up of 2 or 3 commissioners, i council member and 2 or 3 community members. 2) The Task Force will form and solicit applications from the community for membership tothe Task Force, and will conduct interviews. 3) The Task Force will develop 6 to 10 key questions, and the framework to conduct Focus Groups to address these key questions. H~ 4) The Focus Groups will meet on a Saturday. Each Focus Group will be led by a member of the Task Force. A maximum of 25 Saratogans can participate in each Focus Group Session. 5) The Task Force gathers the information and then develops recommendations. 6) The Task Force presents results and recommendations to the Commission. 7) At a Joint Meeting of Council, the Commission and the Task Force, the Task Force will present the final recommendations to City Council. 8) After considering the recommendations of the Task Force, City Council will instruct the Commission to proceed with park developments and improvements. The Commission agreed to present this proposal to Council at the scheduled Joint Meeting. (3) Chairperson Clark reviewed the list of items on the Commission's Park/Recreation Facilities needs list which will be presented to Council in advance of the Joint Meeting. The Commission developed and agreed on the following: 1) Decisions that needed to be made in a timely manner: a) Should Kevin Moran Park and the Azule site be developed into neighborhood or community parks? b) Should the City start negotiations with all school districts in Saratoga on joint use and maintenance of facilities? 2) Assumptions: a) The amount of open space and undeveloped private land is decreasing over time. b) The demands for parks and recreational facilities are increasing over time. c) The community at large should have equal access to all park facilities. d) Citizens of all ages use the parks. e) Residents living adjacent to the parks have concerns with parking, noise, loitering and crime. f) Multiple access routes to facilities (paths, trails, etc) should be considered when planning park improvements. g) Master plan needs to be updated to reflect the current demands on the park system. h) Demographics of City and future projections must be considered in planning parks. i) Negotiations with all school districts early in the process will affect needs list for parks. j) The parks should provide for both "active" and "passive" use. (4) Desired Needs listed by priorirites Hiah Priorities a) Soccer fields b) Baseball/softball fields c) Indoor multipurpose activity space (basketball, volleyball, aerobics, theater, etc. d) Youth Programs (teens, etc.) Secondary Priorirites a) Expand tot lots Community Center Renovation c) Adult Sports Program Lower Priorities a) Hakone Garden improvements (improvements to (1) entrance and roadway, (2) handrail system. b) Swimming pool c) Outdoor basketball courts The next meeting will be Monday, March 4, 1996 at 7:30 p.m. ADJOURNED 9:05 p.m. Swan/Dutra 6/0 ~0b~~iRizzo,~Secretary (5)