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Home My WebLink About06-11-1990 Park and Recreation Commission Minutes MINUTES S~TOGA PARKS AND R~CREATION COMMISSION TIME: Monday, June 11, 1990, 7:30 PM PLACE: SARATOGA COMMUNITY CENTER 19655 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga, California TYPE: Regular Meeting Chairman Ward called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. I. ORGANIZATION A. ROLL CALL - Present: Clemens, Franklin, Gilman, Pierce, Swan, Ward Absent: Saunders Staff: Pisani, Rizzo, Tare, Trinidad B. MINUTES - Approval of Minutes - 5/7/90. Minutes were approved as submitted. Pierce/Swan. Passed 6-0. C. POSTING OF TH~ AGENDA Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on June 6, 1990. II. OLD BUSINESS Due to the lack of a quorum at the regularly scheduled meeting of June 4, 1990, the skateboard public informational meeting was continued to this date. Secretary Trinidad explained to the attendees the events leading up to this meeting, and also reviewed each phase of the staff report. Chairman Ward reiterated the purpose of this meeting and the role of the Parks & Recreation Commission. The attendees, being encouraged to speak, offered the following: Terry Zaccone - relocate skateboard ramp to another location - close down until freeway opens - fees should cover insurance costs Patrick Kwok - Proper procedures not followed, to Planning Department - Presented Cal. Environmental Quality Act to Commissioners - Skateboarding too noisy for residents - Staff report was not technical enough - Sound report was not professional - not conducted at peak use - Supports ramp, but should be relocated JUNE 11, 1990 MINUTES - PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION Page 2 Tom Vargas - Will help quiet ramp and patrol it James Dietz - Put carpet between ramp & base to quiet David Wild - Noise is not as much as freeway, train or traffic - Should not have bought if didn't want noise - "Kwok" dog is always running loose - Children need activities of quality Bill Elhoff - Relocate the ramp - Safety concerns - quoted '65 magazines & several books regarding hazards of skateboarding - Insurance liability of City - Noise measurements in violation of DBA levels Paula Reavis - "Idle hands are the devil's tools" - Need something for children - parks for our youth Bey. Paradis - Unaccustomed to sounds of ramp - need to deaden - Enjoys the sounds of the park activities - Ramp is a joy to the children, gives them pride - Need to wear safety gear & support each other - Can alleviate the problems, keep the ramp C. Kummerer - Can't move the ramp, expensive - Youth built it and are proud of it - Can quiet the ramp, but shouldn't take it away E. Duemmlein - Noises from different activities don't bother him - Thanked City for ramp for the children - Children helped build it, it is their dream - New sport, promotes friendship, place to meet - Try new restrictions, proposal is good place to start W. Simmons - Noise bothers him - Worried about undesirable elements - Fighting, beer cans, trespassers, l:15AM noises MINUTES OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - JUNE 11, 1990 Page 3 D. Bowman - Saratoga residents only should be encouraged to use ramp - Have membership, no extra $$ for each use - Open the ramp, but with proposed restrictions - Should be self-supporting Jeffrey Farr - He is reporter from Saratoga News - Costs to repair for minimizing noise? - Insurance ramifications - who's insuring? - Membership fees cover insurance? - Children sign waiver? - Safety equipment required? The above concerns were addressed by Secretary Trinidad. - Costs to refuce sound should be low, but we need advice - City is insured by ABAG pool, self-funded. Our ramp was evaulated & determined that if safety procedures are followed, we have a liability of very low exposure - Safety gear is required for all skateboarders, and as a part of the recommended membership procedures, waivers of liability will be required. M.Giansiracusa- City uses trial & error, suppositions, ignores others experiences - Should have done a study first - Neighbors have been abused, City should relocate ramp - Palo Alto/Mt. View - community pool should be investigated G. Rishell - Ramp noise is bad. Ramp brings more traffic to area - Relocate ramp - hold hearings & find new place - No assurance that $6K will improve noise - Will receive requests for additional hours than in staff report - What about liability due to railroad crossing? J. Beyere - Type of noise is aggrevating, not just levels of noise - Crime is a concern of neighbors - Commission should appoint 5 people to analyze sites in and outside of City - opposes present ramp site J. McCartney - Commends City for ramp, but noise is issue - Shoop/shoop, slapping, repetitive dropping - Find another location - Causes stress and concern for residents - Noise is heaviest on weekends - Aluminum in proposal is noisier, how attached? MINUTES OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - JUNE 11, 1990 Page 4 Secretary Trinidad addressed the aluminum question by explaining that a series of aluminum sheets would be attached to the ramp with screws. Lois D. - Is a realtor in Saratoga & knows properties close to ramp are devaluated - Limits buyers because of freeway and ramp - Lack of supervision disturbs her, as does insurance liabililty of City J. Frazzini - Commends City for ramp, don't close it - Noise issue is valid, but fix it, don't close the ramp T. Wild - Ramp is great for youth of the area - Noise can be reduced, but don't close ramp - Masonite, concrete, wood ramp discussion regarding injuries Following were concerns of the Commissioners. Clemens - Noise is too loud - What happens when skateboard is not in use? Secretary Trinidad advised that there are foolproof methods of securing the ramp when not in use, which will be incorporated into the renovation. Swan - More research on quieting the ramp - Parents help monitor what's going on Franklin - Hours of usage - Why closed on Wednesday? - Provisions for Easter, Xmas, etc? - Hours not adequate. - Shouldn't charge fees - public park - Closed on rainy days? Secretary Trinidad explained that details still needed to be worked out. Gilman - Concerned about noise level - Location was researched - Youth should not be penalized, need somewhere to go - Liability was checked out prior to opening Pierce - Originally against ramp - Here now, give it a chance, trial period - Experiment, monitor, keep neighbors happy, too - Impressed with youth participation - Need restrictions, additional soundproofing Ward - In agreement with other commissioners. MINUTES OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - JUNE 11, 1990 Page 5 The Commissioners made four motions which passed. 1) If we can meet the noise guidelines and this is confirmed by an acoustical engineer, then we should proceed to modifying the ramp and re-opening it. Pierce/Franklin 2) Staff will be directed to limit the hours of operation. Pierce/Franklin 3) Membership requirements should be established. Pierce/Swan Nae/Franklin 4) Monitor there at all times ramp is open. Pierce/Swan 5) Security in place and no use after hours. Clemens/Pierce III. NEW BUSINESS None IV. STAFF REPORTS None V. COMMUNICATIONS None VI. ADJOURNMENT: Pierce/Swan/9:30. Dan-~dad, Secretary