HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-01-1998 Park and Recreation Commission Minutes Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Administrative Offices, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga
June 1, 1998
7:30 p.m.
Action Minutes
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Commissioners Present: Clabeaux, Crotty, Friedrich, Ioannou, Olsen, Swan,
Whitney
Commissioners Absent: None
Others Present: James & Terri Baron, Patrick Burns, Sandy Nichols, Joan Pisani,
Irene Jacobs,
III. Report on Posting of the Minutes: Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 the
agenda was properly posted on May 27, 1998.
IV. Approval of Minutes of May 4. 1998 Meeting:
Commissioner Swan made a motion to approve the minutes of May 4, 1998.
Commissioner seconded the motion and the motion carded. (6/0)
V. Administration:
1. Task Force Representative-The Commission appointed the following members
of the Commission to serve on the Playfield Task Force:
Barbara Olsen
Elaine Clabeaux
Jennie Crotty
Marianne Swan (alternate)
Frank Friedrich (alternate)
The Commission Co-Chair, Kay Whitney, asked the group if anyone was opposed
to reversing the order of Old Business with New Business in order to better
accommodate members of the Public who had come to speak to the Commission
regarding issues listed under New Business. There was no opposition from the
Commission.
VI. New Busjn. es s:
A) Skateboard park
The Commission heard from Patrick Bums, a Redwood Middle School student
who had approached the City Council requesting that a skateboard park be
established for Saratoga youth. The issue had been heard by the Youth
Commission and was now being addressed by the Parks and Recreation
Commission. Patrick shared with the Commission his reasons for wanting a skate
park in Saratoga. There was discussion regarding those concems that would arise
from undertaking such an endeavor.
After the conclusion of the discussion, Barbara Olsen, Co-Chair to the
Commissioner closed the hearing for the Public and opened discussion among the
Commission. Commissioner Swan made a motion to recommend to the
Council that in light of the current priority list that had been established by
the Commission and approved by Council, this issue should be reconsidered
once some priority listed projects had been completed. Commissioner
Clabeaux seconded the motion and the motion carried. (5/1)
The Commission felt that this project was worth further consideration at a later
date, but right now there were too many projects that needed to be addressed and
completed before any new projects were undertaken.
B) Trial Grant Proem
Sandy Nichols of the Trail Center based in Palo Alto had been contacted by
residents of Parker Ranch subdivision regarding the condition of certain trails in
the area. Mr. Nichols had contacted the City Manager directly and was present
that evening to discuss what had been proposed. Mr. Nichols outlined for the
Commission the improvements that he had proposed to Mr. Perlin focusing on an
area that he described as a public safety hazard located south of Prospect, west of
Parker Ranch Court. The Commission thanked him for his report and informed
Mr. Nichols that the Commission was scheduled to address the format of the
proposed Trail Grant Program that evening and that the Commission would
respond to his request the following month when they had more information.
At this point in the meeting there was general discussion about trails and the need
to address various issues related to trails. Commissioner Swan had repeatedly
raised the concern that some attention needed to be given to assessing the trail
map situation in the city. Her concern arose from the encroachments that have
occurred on existing trails by new developments. Commissioner Swan made a
motion that of the $100,000 that had been earmarked for trails from the Park
Development Fund, up to $10,000 be allocated to the assessment and creation
of a trail map or supplementation of the information currently available and
the remaining $90,000 be dedicated to grants and educational needs relating
to trails and the public. Commissioner Clabeaux seconded the motion and
the motion carried. (6/0)
Effie Adamson Foun~lation Grant Re. quest:
lames and Terri Baron attended this meeting to supply further information about
the proposal that they had submitted earlier this month to the Commission
requesting funds to make improvements to trails throughout Saratoga. The
Barons grant revolved mainly around three areas of focus; 1) educating the Public
to trials and what is available to them in Saratoga, 2) cataloguing the problems
and issues that need to be addressed regarding trails in various areas throughout
the city 3) cleaning and maintaining the existing trails.
Commissioner Swan made a motion to accept the Baron's intent to submit a
grant proposal to the City via the Commission and asked the Barons to come
back in two months time when the Commission had addressed the format of
the proposed Trail Grant Program. Commissioner Clabeaux seconded the
motion and the motion carried. (6/0)
C) Trail Improvela!.ents @, 13636 Deer Trail Court
The Commission had received a memorandum from Community Development
Director, James Walgren, requesting that the Commission consider the proposal
submitted for development at 13636 Deer Trail Court. Mr. Walgren had asked the
Commission to assess whether trail improvements would be needed at this
property site. Their was discussion among Commissioners about trail easements
and the process that is suppose to occur when new developments encroach on
existing trail easements. Commissioner Swan made a motion to 1) request that
improvements be made to the portion of the trail affected by the development
at 13636 Deer Trail Court and 2) work with the Planning Commission,
Community Development Department and other homeowners around Via
Regina and Vista Regina to rectify the encroachment the has occurred with
this portion of the trail. Commissioner Whitney seconded the motion and the
motion carried. (6/0)
The Commission discussed the internal planning process relating to trails and new
development in addition to the condition of existing trails. The consensus of the
Commission was to plan a time when members of the Planning and Parks and
Recreation Commissions could meet to discuss 1) concerns of the Parks and
Recreation Commission regarding trails and new developments and 2) to educate
members of the Parks and Recreation Commission to the planning process as it
involves trails and encroaching on existing trails.
Commissioner Whitney made a motion to table the discussion of item V.B.
(Trails Grant Program - Establish Format ) until the following meeting. The
earlier items on the agenda had taken the majority of the scheduled meeting
time and the Trails Grant Program would require more discussion time than
would be devoted to it that evening. Commissioner Olsen seconded the
motion and the motion carried. (6/0)
VII. Old Business:
Parks and Recreatign Development Fund Projects Update
1. Heritage Orchard - Commissioner Friedrich will work with staff to
contact additional contractors who might be interested in bidding for
maintenance and care of the Heritage Orchard. Additional
maintenance options for the Heritage Orchard were discussed with
Council at their joint meeting with the Parks and Recreation
Commission.
2, Community Center Improvements- Recreation Director, Joan Pisani
introduced Pamela Bmlle who had come to address the Commission
about the Community Center feasibility study. She proposed that she
prepare a report that would provide a menu approach to the project
allowing the city to pick and choose those items that they wanted to
include in the study depending on how much the city wanted to spend.
The proposed program document would also help define the Request for
Qualification. The Commission asked Ms. Pisani to move forward with
the proposal so that the Commission might be able to provide the City
Council with the information they had requested regarding the costs
associated with a feasibility study of improvements to the Community
Center.
VIII. Reports:
Commissioner Reports:
Commissioner Crotty informed the Commission that fifty people had attended
the National River Clean-Up Day on May 16a.
Commissioner Whitney recommended, that in light of the many issues that were
being addressed by the Commission, sub-committees be formed to better focus on
the issues that required more attention than what could be discussed during a
regularly scheduled Commission meeting. She suggested that, when appropriate,
educational sessions be planned so as to better educate Commissioners to the
issues that come before them. It was suggested that prior to the next Commission
meeting, arrangements be made to walk certain trails and that members of the
Community Development Department be invited to come along to answer
questions about trails and trail easements.
City Hall Update: No report at this time
Recreation Dep_ ~ent Status Re?ort: No report at this time
Park Maintenance Division Update: No report at this time.
IX. Ad|ournment
Commissioner Whitney made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner
Friedrich seconded the motion. The motion carded and the meeting was
adjourned at 10:30 p.m. (6/0)
Prepared By:
City StaffRepre{ejtative