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2004 09 08 CSC Minutes . . COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MINUTES September 8,2004 I. CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Community Services Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Study Session Room of the La Guinta Civic Center. Commissioner St. Johns presided over the meeting. Commissioner Vaughn led the Pledge of Allegiance. MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioner Victoria St. Johns Commissioner Bob Leidner Commissioner Tom Vaughn MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Mike Cross (resigned) Commissioner Hackney STAFF PRESENT: Dodie Horvitz, Community Services Director Therese Vella-Finorio, Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Kristin Riesgo Robert Ambriz, Jr. Christina Calderon II. PUBLIC COMMENT - Director Horvitz introduced Community Services staff: Kristin Riesgo, Recreation Supervisor; Robert Ambriz, Jr., Recreation Supervisor, and Christina Calderon, Recreation Coordinator. The staff said there are three upcoming events when they'll need a volunteer to play Santa: the Tree Lighting Ceremony, Breakfast with Santa, and a new event, Santa Paws Pet Portraits. Director Horvitz said former Commission Calhoun has stated he would like to be Santa again this year. Commissioner Leidner stated he would be happy to be a back-up Santa as needed. Director Horvitz presented the new Fall Brochure and outlined the new programs and excursions. Commissioner St. Johns congratulated the Community Services staff for the wonderful job they are doing and applauded what they are accomplishing. It is very impressive. . . Community Services Commission Minutes Director Horvitz stated Christina Calderon will inform her of when the next event, the Tiny Tot Halloween Carnival, will be held, and she will relay that information to the Commissioners. III. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of July 12, 2004 Minutes B. Monthly Department Report for June 2004 A. Commissioner St. Johns requested the following corrections to the Minutes of June 12, 2004: 1. Page six, VIII A. paragraph 5 should read: The fields were leveled and we eradicated the gophers... 2. Page seven, VIII A. paragraph 1 should read: Commissioner St. Johns is a member of the Prevent Child Abuse Coalition. 3. Page seven, VIII A, paragraph 4 should read: Commissioner St. Johns also provided information regarding CADPAAC 2004 Legislative Analysis, and more particularly AB 1796 regarding changes in current law to not exclude convicted substance abuse felons from receiving aid under the Food Stamp Program. This group is presently excluded from the Food Stamp Program, and the change would allow the food stamp funds to go to substance abuse programs to help defray their costs. Director Horvitz changes will be made, and submit them for City Council approval as a quorum was unavailable for this meeting. B. It was moved by Commissioners Leidner/Vaughn to approve Monthly Department Report. Unanimous. V. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE VI. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Youth Workshop Program Director Horvitz stated Kristin Riesgo spoke with Daniel Archuletta ASB Advisor. He will be meeting with staff Kristin Riesgo and Christina Calderon on Monday, September 13th to launch the program. The first Workshop will . . . Community Services Commission Minutes probably be held on Monday, September 27th at 11 :45 a.m. Christina Calderon will be handling future Workshops. At the last Commission meeting held on July 12, 2004 Commissioners Leidner and Hackney volunteered to attend these workshops. Director Horvitz explained the background of these workshops for the benefit of Commissioner Vaughn who is new to the Community Services Commission. She explained that although Commissioners Leidner and Hackney will be attending the workshops, other Commissioners are also welcome to attend. B. Skate Park Groundbreaking Event Director Horvitz reported we received another set of plans this afternoon that staff will be submitting to Building and Safety tomorrow morning. The original plans did not have lighting or landscape plans included. That had delayed the project's commencing of construction. The contractor has a "design build" contract for $230,000 with the City, which includes a timeline when the project must be completed. Staff is working hard to keep the relationship healthy in order to get the Skate Park project completed. The Community Services department will be hosting a Skate Park Coalition meeting on Thursday, October 21, at 2:00 p.m. Each city who has a skate park takes turns in hosting this meeting, and it will be our turn in October. The plan is to tour the skate park at Fritz Burns Park, then go to the site at La Guinta Park. We are hoping to have the ground breaking prior to this Coalition meeting. Once the plans are approved Director Horvitz will let the Commissioners know so we can schedule the groundbreaking ceremony. We already have received a number of give-aways for the ceremony. Commissioner Leidner/St. Johns moved to make themselves available to staff for the groundbreaking ceremony. Unanimous. Director Horvitz clarified the skate park at Fritz Burns Park is modular equipment built on what previously was two tennis courts. The skate park at La Guinta Park will be built in a concrete bowl with modular equipment. Also, we are offering a skate board class for the first time in the Fall Recreation Brochure. The response has been very good. VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIALS t' . . Community Services Commission Minutes A. Joint Meeting with the City Council Director Horvitz announced the annual Joint Meeting with the City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at 6:45 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the work plan with the Commissioners, as well as time for the Commissioners to bring up anything they would like to ask. Although it is an informal half hour meeting, it follows the Brown Act mandates. One of the requests mentioned by the City Council was an evaluation of classes offered in the Recreation Brochure. If you would like to attend one of the classes, staff will provide you with the dates of the classes and evaluation forms. VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS A. Reports from Commissioners Regarding Meetings Attended: Commissioner Leidner attended the ground breaking ceremony for the La Guinta Library on August 18th. He also attended the Chamber of Commerce mixer at Trump 29 Casino. It was one of the largest and most successful mixers they have held. He attended the Mayor's State of the City on September 2nd. At that event, Commissioner Leidner received comments he wanted to share with the Commissioners. He was approached by one of the Fall instructors, Deborah Schramede. Her first question was why we will not take credit card registrations and only accept cash/check by mail or in person? Her second question was instructors who teach daytime classes at the Senior Center advertise their flyers; can evening instructors do the same? Director Horvitz responded in regards to credit card payment, it is a City policy for all departments, not just Community Services. This issue was brought up three or four years ago with the City Council. It was decided the service fee we would charge would remain the same even when we had to cancel a class or excursion. It does not provide good customer service. (We now a new software program which would enable us to make class reservations on line, but we would have to charge a convenience fee.) It would be hard for us to determine the percentage of refunds we do because it is determined by the interest people have in our classes or excursions. Commissioner Leidner asked if this could be addressed again. Director Horvitz responded he could bring this item before the City Council at the upcoming Joint Council ~ u . . Community Services Commission Minutes meeting. In regards to instructors using flyers to advertise their classes, they only need to present it to staff for approval. This requirement is stated in the contract the instructors sign with the City. Commissioner Vaughn asked if registration can take place at the first class. Director Horvitz stated our part-time staff cannot collect the money, nor would they have access to bring it back to the City Hall that night. In the past when we have had a class that we expected a large turnout, one of our staff went to the class, took the registrations, and before they went home, they came back to the City and secured the money. Commissioner Leidner also was approached by someone who wanted to know if the City was going to give people information on the West Nile Virus. Director Horvitz indicated Vector Control has attended the City Council meetings, and the City is very pro-active. They have an office in Indio and have a great educational program. Commissioner St. Johns asked if we could invite Vector Control to address the Commissioners. Commissioner Leidner stated it would be important for the community to know this information, and Commissioner St. Johns said we could ask them how to get the word out when they come to the meeting. Director Horvitz said she will contact Vector Control to set up an appointment with them. Commissioner St. Johns attended a Riverside County Drug and Alcohol meeting on August 20th. She learned Riverside County's Meth Lab seizures was second highest after San Bernardino She also attended Drug Court which has a very high success rate in rehabilitation of substance abuse individuals. She also spoke provided information on feeder schools that provide classes to students in Culinary, Health, Police, Public Services and Pre-Med. Commissioner Leidner said he was asked a question why there was another school being built near John Adams. Commissioner St. Johns stated the population has grown so much at the Cove the need for an additional school was necessary, however no date has been established for when it will open. She added there are 1,000 new students coming into the district every year. Commissioner Vaughn is new to the Community Services Commission and has not attended any meetings yet. He will be retiring as Warden at the State facility in Blythe soon, and looks forward to being active with the Commission. u . . Community Services Commission Minutes B. Upcoming Events Director Horvitz asked everyone to review the calendar which was provided in the packet. She also thanked the Commissioners for changing the meeting date for this month. IX. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioners Leidner/Vaughn to adjourn the Community Services Commission meeting at 7:50 PM. Unanimous. NEXT MEETING INFORMATION Monday, October 11, 2004 @7:00 PM La Guinta Civic Center - Study Session Room Submitted by: Therese Vella-Finorio, Community Services Secretary