HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-01-1999 Park and Recreation Commission Minutes Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Administrative Offices, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga
February 1, 1999
7:30 p.m.
Action Minutes
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Commissioners Present: Alberts, Clabeaux, Friedrich, Ioannou, Olsen, Swan,
Whitney
Commissioners Absent: None
Others Pt~sent: Joan Pisani, Irene Jacobs ( various members of the community ~
seventy-one chairs were set out for the public; all were filled and there were
individuals standing).
Ill. Report on Posting of the Minutes: Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 the
agenda was properly posted on January 27, 1999.
IV. Approval of Minutes of November 2, 1998 and January 4, 1999 Meetings:
Commissioner Whitney made a motion that the approval of both sets of minutes
until the next Commission meeting. Commissioner Alberts seconded the motion
and the motion carried. (6/0)
Administration:
Staff reminded the Commission that the CPRS Conference would be taking
place February I $~2I at the Santa Clara Convention Center. If any of the
Commissioners had any questions, they should contact staff for clarification.
Oral & Written Communication: Commissioner Friedrich recommended to the
chair that since there were so many members of the public who wanted to speak
under oral communications, they should limit the amount of speaking time to a
three minute maximum per speaker and a total limit to ninety minutes. It was
agreed upon and the oral communications portion of the meeting was opened.
Forty members of the public addressed the Parks and Recreation on the Playfield
Project Issue and more specifically the recommendation that had been proposed
by the Playfield Task Force. Some adamantly supported the project and others
adamantly opposed the project. The Commission thanked the public for their
ideas, concerns and shared opinions and the oral communications portion of the
meeting was closed at 9 p.m..
VI. Old Business: None
VII. New Business: Jaye Beals of the Beals Group, whose services were retained by the
City to serve as the project manager, presented the Task Force's recommendation to
the Parks and Recreation Commission. The Task Force had identified ten possible
sites within the city limits for playfield development and recommended to the Parks
and Recreation Commission that four of those ten sites be developed. Those
proposed sites are: Congress Springs Park, Blue Hills/Azule site, Marshall Lane
School site and the Foothill School site.
Mter the consultant finished his presentation, the chair opened discussion among
the Commission regarding the issue before them; the recommendation from the
Task Force.
City staff reminded the Commission that the City Council had directed the
Commission to resolve the maintenance issue first regarding the playfield project
before they would give any further consideration to building more playfields. Thus,
the Task Force was established for the ultimate goal of trying to resolve the
maintenance issue for without this, the playfield project would not proceed. The
Task Force had met for nine months and after a lot of work and compromise, they
were able to come to an agreement where the school districts where committing
their land, the city was committing development funds and the user groups were
committing maintenance funding. They were now presenting a proposal to the
Commission for initial consideration.
The role of the Commission tonight was to discuss the proposal and how it fit into
the priority list that the Commission had established for the Park Development Fund
from the public meeting that had been taken place in 1996. Staff also reminded
the Commission that it would be their job to clean up the situation before it went to
the City Council for approval. The project has too many unresolved issues that need
to be addressed before it can come before the City Council for approval.
There was general discussion among the Commissioners about the issue.
Commissioner Friedrich made a motion to proceed immediately with a
recommendation to council to make improvements to Congress Springs Parks and to
Foothill immediately and then to explore the possibilities of expanding the other
sites at a later date. Commissioner laonou seconded the motion. There was
discussion among Commissioners and this motion was withdrawn.
Commission Whitney expressed that she was committed to the process that had
been started in 1996 at that Community meeting where those individuals who had
been present at that meeting had come up with possibilities for the entire
community. She said that the Commission needed to continue with the process to
create more play fields; where or how had not yet been determined for sure but the
Commission should move forward with this process. She made a motion that the
Commission host four meetings, one per proposed site consisting of representatives
from the Commission (2), the appropriate user groups, representatives from the
surrounding neighborhoods, the appropriate school district and staff. After these
meetings were held and a resolution or some recommendation had come from the
meeting, then the Commission would regroup and the reconsider the plan.
Commissioner Clabeaux seconded the motion and the motion carried. (5/1)
Blue Hills: Elaine
Marianne
Marshall Lane: Frank
Shiela
Foothill Judy
Barabara
Congress Springs: Kay Whitney
These meetings would be scheduled as soon as was possible and the logistics of the
meetings would be discussed at the next scheduled meeting on February 22, 1999
in the administrative offices at City Hall. This meeting was scheduled in order to
discuss all those other projects that the Commission is working on besides the
Playfield project.
VIII. Reports:
Commissioner Reports: none
City Hall Upda~: none
Recreation Department Status Report: none
IX. Adjournment
Commissioner Whitney made a motion to adjourn the meeting and
Commissioner Alberts seconded the motion. The motion carried and the
meeting was adjourned at 11:55 p.m. (6/0)
Prepared By: