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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/25/10MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION, EDUCATION AND YOUTH February 25, 2010 CALL TO ORDER The meeting convened at 5:40 p.m. in the City Hall, Room 831, 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, California. ATTENDANCE Council members Present Michele Martinez (Chair); Vincent Sarmiento, Sal Tinajero Councilmember(s) Absent: None Staff Present: Gerardo Mouet, Executive Director; Ron Ono, Administrative Services Manager; Jenny Rios, Recreation Superintendent; Jose Perez, Recreation Program Coordinator. Public Present Julie Stroud, Tish Leon, Al Amezcua, Jessica Gutierrez, Edgar Vasquez, Jose Meza, Jesus Rodriguez, Pedro Magallon, Richard Sandoval, Alfredo Gomez, Leonel Perez, Jorge Rodriguez. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Minutes of November 10, 2009 accepted as presented 2. FEBRUARY SOCCER ISSUE REPORT Recreation Superintendent Jenny Rios presented a report addressing the various issues requested by city council. One of the issues relates to new leagues wanting a permit to use city soccer fields. The recommendation would be to allow the leagues to have a permit on the 3 available time blocks. • Councilmember Martinez indicated to the audience that City Council is here to listen to the staff report and may not necessarily to make decisions tonight. • Councilmember Tinajero asked for the hours in which other leagues are using the field? Staff referred him to page 27 of the report and indicated the three new leagues are: Continental, Hispano America, and Orange County. • Councilmember Sarmiento' asked what fields do not have sports lighting. Staff responded Centennial field #5 & #6 and DYSC #1. Councilmember Sarmiento' requested information on the amount of hours that would be added if fields #1, #5 and #6 were lighted? Also are park rangers targeting adult leagues for violations? Staff responded to the additional hours if the fields were lit and that rangers are nor targeting adult leagues. • Councilmember Tmajero indicated Park Rangers need to be respectful to our park users. PREY Regular Meeting - MINUTES 1 February 25, 2010 • Councilmember Martinez asked: What is the impact to the agency based on the current budget issue? Staff responded that the adult and youth soccer organizations as well as other sports organization provide a good service to the community that helps the agency and budget for not providing this program. Staff reported that the soccer surcharge was established to fund the installation for a new synthetic turf field and the fee is collected during the time of the field reservation. • Councilmember Martinez indicated the surcharge should not be touched and should be protected for the next synthetic turf field. • Councilmember Tinajero indicated in light of the budget constraints it would be difficult to lower this fee. • Councilmember Sarmiento' also indicated this fee should not be touched due to the budget constraints and the surcharge should also be used to make minor improvements, such as temporary lighting to increase field usage for adult soccer. Staff reported there was a concern by the leagues of too many fees or the fees are too high? Staff's recommendation is for a fee increase to cover field attendants, late cancellations and transfers for all synthetic turf fields. Santa Ana fees are low compared to five Orange County cities as indicated on page 35 of the report. • Councilmember Sarmiento' indicated we service a different public than Newport Beach. We should be respectful to the income level of the community. Staff indicated the composition or role of the Committee of Field Usage (CoFU) is being reviewed since only a few violations are going to CoFU and most of the violations are being handled by staff. The recommendation would be for CoFU to meet one time per year and to review the membership. Councilmember Tinajero asked how long has CoFU been in existence? Staff reported CoFU was established on June 26, 2002 and was originally composed of 22 members and is now reduced to 8 members. • Councilmember Tinajero indicated city council has changed since then and indicated the possibility that CoFU be eliminated and the soccer issues be addressed by staff or the Board of Recreation and Parks for decision. • Councilmember Martinez requested a handout on the staffing of CoFU. Staff reported the need to prohibit leagues from providing vending due to the many illegal vending and health issues. If vending is provided it should be controlled under a permit with regulations to provide health food. • Councilmember Martinez indicated the city requires 50% of the food/beverage in city approved vending machines to serve healthy foodibeverages. PREY Regular Meeting - MINUTES 2 February 25, 2010 PUBLIC COMMENTS: • Tish Leon asked about a question on the vending at DYSC? Staff indicated an RFP was released. • Pedro Magallon asked if the vending concessionaire will be providing healthy food. • Al Amezcua reported on the evolution of CoFU and concurred that the Board of Recreation and Parks can fit this role. He also indicated the city needs to maximize the joint use of school sites to provide recreational facilities to the community. • Edgar Vasquez asked about the synthetic field warranty and indicated the DYSC youth field is the oldest field and needs repair. • Jorge Rodriguez indicated the sprinkler system is creating mud on the youth field and needs to be reviewed. • Councilmember Sarmiento' indicated the leagues do provide service to the community. Staff appreciates this service and the report is not meant to criticize the operation. 3. COMPARISION OF SANTA ANA PARKS AND RECREATION WITH COMPARABLE CITIES • The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Executive Director indicated the agency is now restructured to four divisions: Administration, Recreation, Library and Zoo. The Executive Director explained our staff reduction journey and the per capita comparison with other cities. Santa Ana is the lowest. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Tish Leon expressed concern over the reduction of full time zoo staff. Indicated the animals needed to be properly maintained and feed. Peter Magallon indicated fees imposed on soccer are passed on to the players. Players are leaving and without proper activity for youth they will get into gangs. 4. UPDATE ON LACY PARK The Executive Director indicated we are working with the Community Development Agency on the possibility of a new park at Garfield School. A site plan and concept was shared with the committee. Staff explained as part of Santa Ana Unified School District modernization program the district will be constructing a 2 story classroom building on Garfield School. The city will also be partnering with the district to construct a community center on Garfield School. PUBLIC COMMENTS: • Al Amezcua indicated this was not the best location for a park and the community is working on identifying another location. PREY Regular Meeting - MINUTES 3 February 25, 2010 • Tish Leon indicated she appreciates the city listening to the community. Use of the community center should be available to the public at all times, not only when school is not in cession. 5. UPDATE ON GODINEZ HOMERUN FENCE • The Executive Director provided a status on the Districts request for a homerun fence at Godinez High School. After various meetings with the district, neighborhood associations, and the Joint District/City Policy meeting the city and district staff will be proposing: o No more Centennial carnivals on the northeast corner of the park o SAUSD to install parking structure directional signs in Centennial Park. o City will no longer pay to the District reservation fees and light fees for use of Godinez Joint Use recreational facilities. o District will no longer pay to the City reservation fees when using Godinez Joint Use recreational facilities. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Peter Magallon indicated the Godinez ball fields also include (3) soccer fields and expressed concern that the soccer fields are not impacted by the fence. The Executive Director explained the ball fields are not programmed for soccer and fields #5 & #6 were available for soccer. Sal Tinajero excused himself and needed to leave at 7:20pm. 6. UPDATE ON SANTA ANA BUILDING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY INITIATIVE • Staff provided a timeline of committee schedules and objectives. The schedule indicated the Final Report will be submitted to the California Endowment on May 15th. A recommended draft of the report will be shared with City Council. 7. CITY OF BELL EXERCISE PARK A news article on the City of Bell Exercise Park was shared with the committee and discussed as a possible element in the McFadden/Orange site. • Councilmember Martinez requested an update on the McFadden/Orange site. PREY Regular Meeting - MINUTES 4 February 25, 2010 8. UPDATE ON YMCA AQUATICS CENTER Councilmember Sarmiento' reported that the YMCA will be breaking ground on March 16th. Improvements will include a swimming pool, indoor soccer field and classrooms. To date the YMCA raised $18 million and needs a $22 million budget for this program. 9. COMMENTS • PUBLIC COMMENTS: o Tish Leon indicated Latino Health Access has a free Diabetes & Obesity Program that is available to the public. • STAFF COMMENTS: o None at this time. • COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: o Councilmember Martinez indicated the Mayor appointed her to the Health & Wellness Program and a tour was provided in which she was not made aware. The Executive Director indicated he will send her a link to the Healthy Communities calendar. ADJOURNED: 7:29 p.m. Gerardo Mouet Executive Director, PRCSA PREY Regular Meeting - MINUTES 5 February 25, 2010