The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2011-08-03MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION, EDUCATION AND YOUTH August 3, 2011 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting convened at 4:40 p.m. in the City Hall, Room 831 , 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, California. ATTENDANCE Council members Present Michele Martinez (Chair); Sal Tinajero (Arrived at 4:55pm) Vincent Sarmiento Staff Present: Gerardo Mouet, Executive Director; Joe Straka, Interim City Attorney; Ron Ono, Administrative Services Manager; Jose Perez, Community Services Supervisor; Heather Folmar, Library Operations Manager; Cheryl Eberly, Senior Librarian; Hiram Uribe, Graphic Designer I. Public Present Andrew Galvin, O.C. Register Alex Vega, S.A_S & B_A C.C.M.O.c. Edgar Vazquez, SA Soccer & Business Association Manual Quintana, Golden Baseball • APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Minutes of May 31 , 2011 accepted as presented. • PUBLIC COMMENTS: • Alex Vega -expressed appreciation to Gerardo and staff for their efforts in resolving various soccer ssues. He also indicated Santa Ana Soccer and Business Association is now Santa Ana Sports and Business Association and will include other sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, and football. He is also working with the city on the 4th of July & Parade Event. • Edgar Vasquez -Thanked Parks, Recreation & Community Services for their support. PREY Regular Meeting -MINUTES 1 August 3, 20'1'1 REVIEW OF LIBRARY HOURS • Staff presented the current Library hours of Operation, the Library budget and the public request to open on Sundays. Staff indicated the Libraries are open when the children most need the library. • Gerardo Mouet indicated given the expected budget challenges, staff will address the concerns on library hours in a future budget analysis. • Councilmember Sarmiento requested the item be left on the agenda as they look into the overall city budget issues. o Requested staff to look at the peak hours and can they be adjusted, but not add additional hours. • Gerardo Mouet indicated an alternative would be to open Library Study Areas in Recreation Centers when centers are open. • Councilmember Sarmiento asked if the goal is to provide study areas and not check out books. Requested staff to provide cost estimates on 1) to open libraries on Sunday and 2) to open recreation centers on Sunday. • Councilmember Martinez asked staff to look into the possiblility of a foundation to help support the library. The City of Stanton has a foundation that provides funding to support library services. SEEDS TO TREES DIGITAL ACADEMY • Staff indicated this is an annual grant in the amount of $150,000 in partnership with Rancho Santiago College to provide a 5 level program. Level 1 is a 5 week introductory program on digital media, On-the-job experience, mentoring and tutoring. Level 2 is a 16 week program on Vocational Training, On-the-job experience, Leadership and Life Skill Training. Level 3 is an 8 week program which will include college skills work shop, life skills training, career/job search workshops and entrepreneur training. Level 4 is a 1 2 week program for the 12 top performing participants. The program will include marketing courses and training, mentoring, job searching college assistance and digital portfolio development. Level 5 includes monthly follow ups for 12 months to provide academic/job retention support, coaching and college transition assistance. • Councilmember Martinez indicated businesses are also asking training for teens in the social media area. • Councilmember Tinajero indicated he was very pleased with comments from the public that the library is a safe place to go. • Councilmember Sarmiento requested staff share their success stories with our PIO staff. • FIVE ON FIVE RULE IN PARKS • Jose Perez presented an update on the Five on Five Rule. He indicated the Community Services Supervisors and the Park Rangers are working together to incorporate the rule in their training manual, working with leagues to understnd the definition of open space areas, and incorporating aspects of the rule into the municipal code. PREY Regular Meeting -MINUTES 2 August 3, 20'1'1 Gerardo Mouet indicated the intent of the rule is to allow small groups/families and friends to play games in open park areas without making a reservation. Currently Section 31-2.8d states "No person in the park shall play except in areas set for such use. This section needs to be amended to allow family games in other areas of the park. Councilmember Tinajero requested staff look into a Seven on Seven rule as long as it does not allow organized play and to also remove the flying of kites from the code. Councilmember also commended staff on doing a great job on keeping the fields green. RECOMMENDATION: Staff to work with the City Attorney to re-draft sections of the municipal code and submit to the city council for approval. A draft of the amended code to be submitted to City Council in October. ADULT SOCCER SURCHARGE OPTIONS • Staff indicated the City Council directive for a one year surcharge moratorium ended on June 30, 2011. Since FY 2002/03 the adult soccer surcharge generated $417,322 in revenue. Various capital improvement options were presented on the use of the monies to address the soccer demand from installation of synthetic turf on DYSC Field #3, lighting of DYSC Field #1 natural turf field, lighting on Centennial Field #5 & #6, installation of 3 fields on Centennial 5 & 6 and a speed soccer field in Centennial Nursery. All the options were over the current surcharge balance and staff recommends preserving the funds to match any future grants. • Edgar Vasquez suggested a permanant restroom for field #4 or incorporate 3 smaller fields on Centennial 5 & 6. • Councilmember Sarmiento requested the soccer leagues discuss the options and communicate with Little League & softball leagues. • Edgar Vasquez recommended the surcharge be re-established only during the spring and summer season. RECOMMENDATION: Staff work with sports organizations to get additional ideas on the soccer surcharge and to look into re-establishing the surcharge during the spring and summer season. • STAFF COMMENTS • Gerardo Mouet indicated: o The 4th/French Plaza cost is approx. $1 .1 million and indicated an alternative concept was prepared by a well known architect for their review. o He is working with MX Live on the September 16 & 17 Street Fair and the Parade that will begin on Sunday at 4:OOpm. o The Film Festival will have a Zorro Theme and one of the films will be a Vietnamese film. PREY Regular Meeting -MINUTES 3 August 3, 2011 COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS • Councilmember Tinajero asked staff to look into the Godinez baseball field use and fencing. The high school varsity baseball teams are playing year round- Can staff talk to the Athletic Director at Godinez to see if one of the fences should stay up year round? Requested Godinez High School Fence be on the next agenda. • Councilmember Sarmiento requested 1) Privatizing the SA Zoo and 2) the 4th/French Plaza be on the next agenda. Requested staff look into the LA Zoo proposal. • Next Regular meeting: October 5, 2011 . • Agenda Items: o Godinez High School Fence o Privatizing the SA Zoo 0 4th/French Plaza ADJOURNED: 6:12 p.m. Gerardo Mouet Executive Director, PR SA PREY Regular Meeting -MINUTES 4 August 3, 20'1'1