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Home My WebLink About09-08-2009 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes City of Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission MINUTES DATE: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 TIME: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. LOCATION: Saratoga City Hall Warner Hutton House 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Call to Order – 6:33 p.m. Roll Call Present: Bruno, Goldberg, Johnson, Soukup, Wilson Absent: None Staff: Cauthorn, Morrow Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, this meeting was properly posted on September 3, 2009. Accept Agenda Items: No additional items may be added pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2. Oral & Written Communication: Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not on the agenda for this meeting for up three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter, but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda. ‐ No oral communications Commissioner Announcements ‐ Goldberg announced she will be attending a meeting on September 9, 2009 to discuss plans to hold a historical bike ride through Saratoga. More information will be available soon. ‐ Wilson noted that the Commission has been invited to participate in the Taste of Saratoga City Council booth. Approval of Draft Minutes: Draft Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) Minutes for the July 14, 2009 meeting. ‐ SOUKUP: MOVED TO ACCEPT MINUTES ‐ WILSON: SECOND ‐ APPROVED: 5‐0 Staff Reports: (This section is informational only; no actions will be taken.) 1. Claudia Cauthorn, Interim Recreation and Facilities Director ‐ No report given 2. Crystal Morrow, Staff Liaison ‐ No report given Old Business: 1. Azule Park – Petanque Court Location Issue: The PRC has been asked to recommend a location for a petanque court in Azule Park. Action: PRC will recommend a location for the petanque court. ‐ Soukup recused himself from discussion on the petanque court, since he lives within 500 feet of Azule Park. ‐ Katie Alexander, a Saratoga resident who lives near Azule Park, provided information about the history of the park’s development. ‐ Devin Utter, a Saratoga resident, spoke about Petanque players in the community. ‐ GOLDBERG: MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE LOCATION TO THE EAST OF THE TENNIS COURT ‐ JOHNSON: SECOND ‐ APPROVED: 4‐0 New Business: 2. Children’s Heritage Garden, Farm, and Heritage Trail Issue: Kathryn Mathewson and Betty Peck are leading an effort to purchase a piece of property in Saratoga and hope to turn the site into a City park called the Children’s Heritage Garden, Farm, and Heritage Trail. Doing so will require that the Council formally accept the donation of land and designate it as a City park. Consequently, Mathewson and Peck are seeking a recommendation from the PRC to the Council to accept the land and designate it as park space should the property be obtained. Action: PRC will make a recommendation to the City Council on whether or not to accept and then designate the proposed Children’s Heritage Garden, Farm, and Heritage Trail site as park space, should the property be acquired and donated to the City. ‐ Anna Peck Rainville presented the proposal for the Children’s Heritage Garden, Farm, and Heritage Trail. She indicated that they would like to turn the Buckman’s property on Saratoga Avenue into a City park. ‐ Kathryn Mathewson shared preliminary plans for the site and photos of the property. ‐ Goldberg asked if the group planned to purchase the property. ‐ Mathewson indicated that the group needs the PRC to recommend to Council to accept the property as park space, should the property be acquired and donated to the City. Mathewson added that the group has discussed purchasing the property with the Mid Peninsula Regional Open Space District and the Trust for Public Land. Before moving forward in talks with either organization, they needed to know that the City is interested in adopting the site as park space. ‐ Wilson asked if the City would be responsible for maintenance if the property is donated to the City. ‐ Mathewson explained that they hope to create a nonprofit foundation to operate and maintain the property. ‐ The Commission discussed ideas for the Saratoga Children’s Heritage Garden, Farm, and Heritage Trail. SOUKUP: MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL BE OPEN TO THE PROPOSAL AND AGREE TO ACCEPT AND THEN DESIGNATE THE PROPOSED CHILDREN’S HERITAGE GARDEN, FARM, AND HERITAGE TRAIL SITE AS PARK SPACE, SHOULD THE PROPERTY BE ACQUIRED AND DONATED TO THE CITY ‐ BRUNO: SECOND ‐ APPROVED: 5‐0 3. Amendment to Facility Use Policy and Fee Schedule Issue: With the upcoming completion of the renovations of Fellowship Hall at the North Campus, the City has started drafting a use policy for the North Campus to determine appropriate use and hours of operation for the City facility. Additionally, the completion of Kevin Moran Park requires an update to the fee schedule to allow the City to charge for rental of this park. The City Council is currently scheduled to take action on the amendments to the facility use policy and fee schedule at the October 21, 2009 City Council Meeting. Action: PRC will make a recommendation to the City Council on the facility use policy for the North Campus and fee schedule for Kevin Moran Park. ‐ Cauthorn reported on the need for adopting a new facility use policy for the North Campus and fee schedule for rentals at Kevin Moran Park. She requested a recommendation from the PRC on both issues. ‐ The Commission discussed the North Campus facility use policy and results of a community meeting with North Campus neighbors on the facility use policy. ‐ Tom Saari, a Saratoga resident who lives adjacent to the North Campus, said he appreciates the opportunity to discuss the facility use policy with the Commission. He indicated he is concerned about late night and morning use of the site, as it generates noise that disturbs neighbors. ‐ Jamal Haider, a member of the public, noted that he understands concerns over noise. However, he would like the facility to have more flexible hours of operation. He is part of a non‐profit organization currently using the facility, but will be unable to do so if the evening hours are reduced. ‐ Javed Khan, a Saratoga resident, said he is very sensitive to the concerns of neighbors. However, the hours of operation proposed by neighbors are unrealistic. Khan suggested techniques to control noise, rather than hours of use. ‐ William Ford , a Saratoga resident who lives near North Campus, said he is concerned about use of the North Campus and would like to limit hours of operation. ‐ Patty Woolcock, a Saratoga resident who lives next to North Campus, said her primary concern is noise. ‐ GOLDBERG: MOVED THAT THE PRC RECOMMEND A FACILITY USE POLICY THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS: O PARKING LOT AT THE NORTH CAMPUS TO BE EMPTY AT 10:00 P.M. EVERY NIGHT AND BY 11:30 P.M. WITH SPECIAL PERMISSION. O THE 11:30 P.M. CLOSURE WOULD REQUIRE A SECURITY GUARD, EXTRA DEPOSIT, AND EVALUATION FOR FUTURE LATE NIGHT USE. O THE PRC WOULD REVIEW THE FACILITY USE POLICY IN 6 MONTHS TO DETERMINE IF IT IS EFFECTIVE AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED. O IDENTIFICATION BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OF SOUND MITIGATION AND ALTERNATIVE PARKING OPTIONS. O NO OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ALLOWED AFTER DUSK AND NO AMPLIFIED SOUND ALLOWED. ‐ BRUNO: SECOND ‐ SOUKUP REQUESTED A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO REMOVE THE 11:30 P.M CLOSURE OPTION FROM THE RECOMMENDATION. ‐ AMENDMENT ACCEPTED. ‐ AMENDED MOTION APPROVED: 4‐1 WITH BRUNO OPPOSED ‐ SOUKUP: MOVED TO ACCEPT A PROPOSAL FOR KEVIN MORAN PARK FEES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER PARK FEES. ‐ GOLDBERG SECOND ‐ APPROVED: 5‐0 4. Joint Meeting Wrap Up Issue: On September 3, 2009, the City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission held a joint meeting. During the meeting, the PRC members presented ideas for the Commission’s future and received feedback from the Council on these proposals. Action: PRC will review the joint meeting, discuss opportunities for the future, and update the Commission work plan if necessary. Bruno suggested each Commissioner brainstorm 3 events or awards they would like to pursue. ‐ Goldberg concurred. ‐ Johnson suggested the Commission identify locations where trees could be planted on City property. ‐ Wilson suggested inviting Kate Bear and Kevin Meek to a future PRC meeting to discuss tree plantings. ‐ Goldberg asked the Commission to also identify locations to plant trees before the next meeting, in addition to bringing ideas on events or awards to pursue. 5. Park Adoption Plan Issue: At the July meeting, the Commission indicated an interest in creating a plan that would allow Commissioners to adopt City parks and monitor assigned parks for any issues. Action: PRC will develop park adoption plan and make park assignments. ‐ Commissioners volunteered for park assignments and agreed to report on parks during Commission Announcements portion of PRC meetings. Commissioner: Park Assignment: Vita Bruno Blaney Plaza/Historical Park Foothill Park Kevin Moran Park Denise Goldberg Azule Park Brookglen Park Calabazas Creek Picnic Area Mark Johnson Bellgrove Park El Quito Park Wildwood Park Thomas Soukup Beauchamps Park Gardiner Park Ravenwood Park Lerry Wilson Congress Springs Park Heritage Orchard Commissioner Reports ‐ None Agenda Items for Next Meeting ‐ No additional items Adjournment – 9:56 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Crystal Morrow, Administrative Analyst II City of Saratoga – City Manager’s Office