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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-12-2016 Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes City of Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes DATE: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 TIME: 6:30 p.m. LOCATION: Administrative Conference Room 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Call to Order - 6:37 p.m. Present: Li, Pearce, Ward Absent: Paquier, Sharma Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, this meeting was properly posted on July 5, 2016. Accept Agenda Items: No items added. Oral & Written Communication No communications from the public Approval of Draft May 10, 2016 Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) Minutes: • Commissioner Ward motioned to approve May 10 Minutes. • Li seconded motion. • Motion passed 3-0. New Business: 1. Parks and Recreation Commission tri-panel pamphlet Issue: At the previous meeting, the PRC expressed interest in creating a tri-panel pamphlet to inform and promote the PRC, its sponsored events (i.e., Movie Nights, Let’s Work!), and information about city parks. Action: Work with Recreation Intern Edgardo Lopez to incorporate as many of the Commission’s ideas into the tri-pamphlet and figure out how to effectively distribute it (e.g., real estate agent’s welcome packets) The tri-panel brochure will be designed by the Recreation Department’s summer intern, Edgardo Lopez. Lopez inquired about content, layout, and contact person from the commission. All three commissioners agreed that Paquier would be the contact since she had expressed prior interest. Commissioners explained that they want the brochure to be used to primarily focused on the city’s parks as well as include information about the Commission and its sponsored events (e.g., Movie Night and Let’s Work!) For the parks, commissioners were interested in using symbols to denote the amenities each park offered (e.g., tennis racquet would mean there are tennis courts or a picnic bench to infer that there are picnic tables). They would also like to include a map of the city with references to the parks location. Also, commissioners would like to highlight a few of the city’s parks such as Hakone Gardens, Quarry Park, and Historical Park. There should be information about how to reserve the parks too. On the backside, there 1 will be information about the PRC (i.e., names of current commission, meeting time and location) and its sponsored events. As for targeted audiences, Chair Pearce would like to see it included in the “Welcome Packets” for new residents as well as to have them available at PRC events and the community center. Pearce and Commissioners Ward and Li inquired about printing costs. Staff Liasion Henig mentioned that a similar brochure with a print run of 250 costs more than $400. Pearce and Ward inquired about sponsors. Henig responded that he would follow-up. Lopez will make contact with Paquier and begin working on the brochure. Old Business: 1. Community Feedback/ survey Issue: Commissioners conducted community surveys at Movie Night. Action: Chair Pearce and Commissioner Sharma will present the survey data and analysis to the commission and will discuss next steps. Since Sharma was absent and Pearce informed the group that a paid upgrade was necessary in order to obtain the data from SurveyMonkey, there was no formal analysis presented. However, Pearce was able to conduct a cursory review of the data and presented the following (see Exhibit A). Movie Night had added an additional 20 to 30 surveys for a total of 142 responses. Pearce reported that PRC events need more visibility. Ward suggested having articles included in the Saratoga News. Pearce also informed the Commission about that there several respondents cited a lack of restrooms at city parks, not enough shade, and more access to dog poop bags. Li recommended median banners be used for Let’s Work too since they were effective in promoting Movie Night. Also, the commission believes the tri-panel brochure will be effective too in getting the word out. The Commission would like to have the results, an analysis and a draft of the executive summary to present to the Council at their next meeting. 2. Volunteer Work at Quarry Issue: Commissioner Ping Li will report back about the June 4 Let’s Work! outing. Action: Create a schedule following the summer hiatus and establish a plan for moving forward to improve community outreach such as creating a street median banner and using social media. Li reported that five volunteers showed up at the June 4 Let’s Work! event, which was a lot more than the previous outing when no one showed up. She mentioned they were a “hard working and handy” group of volunteers. They worked on two trails. Next time she would like to have a method of collecting their names and emails so she can reach out to them again for future Let’s Work outings, which is on hiatus until October. At the next meeting, the Commission will formalize future dates (1st Saturdays) and outreach methods to expand the number of volunteers who can help out. The Commission would like to invest in a street median banner to promote Let’s Work as well as reach out to high school clubs, civic organizations and West Valley College students (Parks Management). Also, the Commission would like to look into getting sponsors. 3. Movie Night Issue: The Commission should evaluate the June 17 Movie Night and ways to be better prepared for the next two:  July 15 Star Wars (Terry) 2  August 19 Good Dinosaur (Renee) Action: PRC to discuss the logistics (who’s doing what) for the next two Movie Nights. Henig mentioned that many of the details for the next Movie Night have been taken care of. However, food pickup is still needed. Ward has offered to pickup doughnut holes from Rose’s while Li will pick up Starbuck’s and Gene’s. Pierce offered to send out reminders to the vendors. There will be professional costumers at this Movie Night, dressed up in Star Wars themed outfits. Also, the Mayor plans to attend. 4. Phase 2, Park Signage, & Reservation Policy at Quarry Park Issue: Commissioners requested more information about the status of park signage and reservation policy at Quarry Park. Commissioners Li and Paquier were scheduled to meet with Councilmember Miller to discuss Phase 2 of Quarry Park. Action: Staff will present an update to the Commission about phase 2 of Quarry Park and the reservation policy. Commissioners Li and Paquier will update the Commission about their meeting with Councilmember Miller. Henig met with Public Works Director John Cherbone and received an update about Phase II of Quarry Park: See Exhibit B. A low-cost trail extension is in the works. Cherbone is hoping to gather a group of volunteers (e.g., boy scouts, PRC, etc.) along with his own crew to make an existing trail that is currently closed off to the public more habitable. Along with the clearing of brush, Cherbone is hoping to add picnic tables, benches, and stairs, in hopes of offering sweeping views of Saratoga and the Santa Clara Valley. Also, Cherbone said that the City has secured funding ($250k) for additional ADA accessibility to reach the upper portion of Quarry Park. There is no funding for the additional trail improvements ($250k) and restoration of a pond ($100k, which will be implemented Spring 2017. Recreation Director Taylor informed Henig that the park does have rental fees attached to it yet, but will soon once City Council approves the fees. Li was asked about her meeting with Miller, which has not happened yet. She will continue to reach out. Li inquired if more tools will be need for future Let’s Work projects. 5. Update on Work Plan Issue: At the last meeting, the PRC requested an update about the West Valley College partnership with the Park Management department’s nesting boxes project. The last correspondence occurred in January 2016. Henig explained he had not heard back from WVC Park Management. He will inquire again before the next PRC meeting. Commission would like to get Park Management students involved in Phase II of Quarry Park. Action: Staff will provide an update. Commissioner & Staff Reports 3 Commissioner Park Li Wildwood, Foothill – Parks looks good, stage is fixed. Paquier El Quito, Gardner Pearce Bell Grove, Congress Springs, Ravenwood - Everything looks good; No more construction done at Bell Grove Sharma Beauchamp, Brookglen Ward Azule, Kevin Moran - Everything looks good Agenda Items for Next Meeting September 13, 2016 • Li motioned to adjourn. • Ward seconded motion. • 3-0 to adjourn at 8:44 p.m. Minutes completed by Adam Henig, Recreation Supervisor 4 EXHIBIT A COMMUNITY SURVEY -- REVIEW OF RESPONSES 7-12-16 Note: 83% of respondents either read the Saratogan (70%) or want to read it (13%)…we have reached the “active/engaged segment”. Q1. Usage: Top 6 = Kevin Moran, Wildwood, Congress Springs, Hakone Gardens, Blaney, El Quito Bottom 3 = Ravenwood, Bellgrove, Beauchamps Q2. Improvement recommendations for Parks: Restrooms, trees, dog poop bags INCREASE VISIBILITY – many were unaware of several Saratoga parks Q3. Activity attendance More movie participants relative to other PRC activities Q4. Info Sources Top 3 = Neighborhood email lists, median banners, Saratoga News Q5 . Improvement Recommendations for PRC Activities: More advertising (Neighborhood lists/Nextdoor.com, social media, Farmers’ Market, etc.) ALSO: Need to follow up with certain respondents…. 5 EXHIBIT B (next 4 documents) 6 7 8 9