HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-29-2001 Park and Recreation Commission Minutes{
Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission
Special Public Input Meeting for EI Quito Park
Adult Daycare Center, City of Saratoga
19655 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga
August 29, 2001
7:30 p.m.
Meeting Minutes
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Commissioners Present: Fronczak, Ioannou, Dodge, Seroff
Commissioners Absent: Alberts, Olsen, Clabeaux
Others Present: Council members Nick Streit and Stan Bogosian, City
Manager Dave Anderson, Public Works Director John Cherbone, Saratoga
Residents: Keith Simon, Robert Black, David Welch, Chuck Guzzetta, Hilda
Guzzetta, Deborah Bryce, Terry Hickman, Joe Martino, Karen Murphy, Amy
Thomson, Chris Keller, Kevin Compton, Annie Feller, Justus M. Decher,
David Tomini, Dean H. Ecke, Diane & Stefan Peck, Gary Angel, Mike
Whalen, Lori Twombly, Earl Charles, Emma Wyckoff, Gregory Gates, Laura
Watkins, Roy Lagemann, Bob Joyce, Vida Kenk, David Mighdoll, Gene
Hellar, Mike Leonardi, Steve Vidlock, Phil Thoren and Staff Liaison Cary
Bloomquist
III. Reuort on Posting of the Agenda:
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 the agenda was properly posted on
August 24, 2001.
IV. El Quito Park Public Input Session
Input was received from residents and representatives from user groups. The
meeting was conducted as an informal public input session, with each member
of the audience invited to speak for up to 3 minutes regarding El Quito Park.
Letters from those not in attendance at the meeting were permitted to be read
as time permitted. Parks and Recreation Commissioner Nick Seroff was the
official timekeeper of the meeting. Parks and Recreation Commission Chair
Norbert Fronczak facilitated and directed the meeting.
Individual responses from each person are captured on meeting notes. Listed
below is a summary of responses:
Citizen Concerns:
o Regarding "Hidden Agenda" by City
^ Loitering, Vandalism, Irrigation
^ Over utilization of Park, Poor Maintenance, Drug Usage at Park, Trash
^ Non-permit users, Traffic issues, Parking issues, Profanity
^ High noise levels, Speeding, Blocked Driveways, Poor
Communication with City
^ Park usage bynon-Saratoga Citizens
^ Usage by organized sports groups' means limited usage opportunities
for neighborhood.
^ Illegal drinking is occurring
^ Indecent exposure
^ Maintenance crews too small
User Group Concerns:
o Pony League BasebalUC.Y.S.A. was promised a place to play due to
displacement at Congress Springs Park.
^ City is not honoring promise
^ Youth have no places to practice /play games
^ Youth in early teens have no place to go in Saratoga, organized sports
gives them something to do.
^ Being treated unfairly by the City
^ El Quito is a community park and should be available for usage by all
groups, both organized and casual.
^ Improved communication needed with City and other groups.
^ City turns its back on teenagers.
Common Goals and potential benefits of improving park:
^ Play equipment upgrades with more swings, upgraded picnic areas,
new drinking fountains and overall beautification.
^ Repair poor irrigation of fields /improve existing turf areas
o Restore sand volleyball area.
^ Improve parking
^ Keep community gardens, create walking path, new par course, more
police /code enforcement.
^ Balance park usage-keep non-Saratoga's out.
^ Increase maintenance of park
^ Form a task force to address issues with members from community,
user groups and City Staff
^ Further define park: Neighborhood vs. Community Park?
^ Find a place for Pony League Baseball to practice and play games.
^ Find a place for C.Y.S.A. soccer to practice.
^ Conduct a traffic study of neighborhood around park.
o If Pony is allowed to practice on field, must be open to Saratoga
residents.
^ Organized sports keeps youth out of trouble.
^ Organized sports keeps "bad elements" out of park.
^ Youth who participate in sports get better grades
^ Want tennis court
o Less horseshoe pits
^ Need more benches
.-
City Manager Dave Anderson indicated he will meet with residents near home
plate on the softball field at El Quito Park at 10:00 a.m. on August 30, 2001 to
listen to neighborhood concerns regarding park facilities.
V. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.m.
Prepared
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C/ary Bloomquist, Staff Liaison