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2004 12 13 CSC Minutes ~ of ~ (J.ulJttt COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MINUTES December 13, 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 Quinta Civic Center. Commissioner Hackney presided over the meeting until the arrival of Commissioner St. Johns at 7: 1 0 p.m. Commissioner Leidner led the Pledge of Allegiance. MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioner Victoria St. Johns Commissioner Ed Hackney Commissioner Bob Leidner Commissioner Jack Fleck Commissioner Tom Vaughn (excused) Director Horvitz announced Commissioner Vaughn had notified the City Clerk he regrets he must resign his commission because he is moving out of the area. STAFF PRESENT: Dodie Horvitz, Community Services Director Therese Vella-Finorio, Secretary II. PUBLIC COMMENT -None III. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of November 8, 2004 Minutes B. Monthly Department Report for October 2004 Lengthy discussion took place regarding Commissioner Hackney's request to make changes to the minutes of November 8, 2004. Commissioner Hackney expressed his concern that the minutes of the November 8, 2004 meeting did not adequately reflect what was said at the meeting. Commissioner Community Services Commission Minutes Hackney disagreed with several topics that were provided in the November 8 minutes and wanted to listen to the tape. The rest of the Commission wanted to approve the minutes with one change: to remove "and he had to tal[{ to the Director" from page 5, paragraph 1, line 4 and move forward. After a lengthy discussion, it was moved by Commissioner Leidner/Fleck to approve the minutes as amended, by a vote of 3-1-0 with Commissioner Hackney opposing. V. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE VI. BUSINESS ITEMS A. CPRS Conference Director Horvitz stated the City Council had approved one Community Service Commissioner to attend the March 10, 2005 conference. Commissioner Leider asked what the Commission would like to see brought back for consideration. Commissioner St. Johns stated the objective would be to share the information with the Commission. Commissioner St. Johns asked for a volunteer to attend the conference. Commissioner Leider said he would be available to attend. It was moved by Commissioner Hackney/Leidner to send Commissioner Leidner to the Conference. Unanimous. Director Horvitz stated the conference runs from Thursday, March 10th through the evening of Saturday, March 12, 2005. Staff will contact Commissioner Leidner to make his travel arrangements. Commissioners Leidner/Hackney moved to have Commissioner Fleck as back- up in the event Commissioner Leidner cannot attend. Unanimous. B. La Ouinta Park Skate Park Grand Opening - Director Horvitz stated the grand opening for the La Ouinta Park Skate Park will be on Friday, December 17th. She asked if any of the Commissioners would be able to attend. She indicated she would need a firm commitment because it is difficult to assign tasks without knowing who will be attending. They would need to help set up at 5:00 p.m., and assist with serving and clean-up. Commissioners St. Johns and Hackney stated they would be available at the beginning of the event, and Commissioners Leidner and Fleck would be available for the entire time. Director Horvitz said we've come a long way from the first public meeting in October 2000 when a new skate park at La Ouinta Park was discussed, and now it is completed in December 2004. It was moved by Commissioner Leidner/Hackney for Commissioners who are willing to participate will assist staff in setting up the Skate Park grand opening to help make it a success. Unanimous. Community Services Commission Minutes C. Youth Workshop - Commissioner St. Johns commended Director Horvitz on the background information that was provided to the Commissioners for this meeting. Director Horvitz stated she went through the archives to obtain the information, and felt it would be helpful for the Commissioners to understand what had been done in the past. We had a very successful format, and then when we changed the format to go to the high school, which wasn't as successful as we wanted it to be. Director Horvitz asked for consideration if the Commission would like to go back to the successful format we had, or modify it in some way. Once we determine the exact details, we will be able to get the notices out to the different groups. Commissioner St. Johns said she liked the idea that was discussed last month which was to conduct the Youth Workshop here. However she also liked that things that were happening this year with the Community Service staff going to the high school and middle school and have a face on campus with the students. She would hate to see it us stop doing one or the other. Director Horvitz said we will continue that format at the schools because it has been very successful for us to get our programs known. Commissioner St. Johns also liked the idea of the students coming to City Hall and getting a taste of that so that they hopefully will continue that in their adult life. Commissioner Leidner agreed and also liked the idea of the students coming to City Hall and felt it would be very productive. Director Horvitz stated our goal is to determine whether to host the Youth Workshop in Council Chambers or at the Senior Center. When a round table format was used, the Commissioners sat and dialogued with the students and had a review at the end. The Council Chambers would be more of a lecture - Question/Answer type of format. In the past when we had a round table format, each Commissioner or an elected official sat at a table with seven or nine students and discussed things. Then we did a review at the end. That format opened the dialog and connected well with the students. Commissioner St. Johns remarked that that format the students' brainstorming went well. Commissioner Fleck asked how many students would be participating in the Youth Workshop? Director Horvitz said we are planning to invite every special interest group on campus at both the middle and high school. John Glenn is more protective of their groups as they have never worked with us before. The last time we had a round table format Community Services Commission Minutes 200 students attended. Commissioner St. Johns added it is an incredible community coming together as well. Because people from the YMCA, banks, Red Cross, school principals, police and fire department attended as well as the students. "You had all these representatives all in one space that the students could have access to. There was a Sun bus representative there who was able to get a bus for the students - it was pretty spectacular." Commissioner Hackney asked in terms of the program does someone set the premise in the background for the whole group and then break them up into groups? Commissioner St. Johns said one time the City printed up a report card about things that were accomplished for Youth Workshop (picnics, sex education, etc.) We asked everyone to break into groups, so many adults with each group, and then they were asked to come up with a few things that were important to them. At the end, each groups' comments were then recorded on sheets along the wall. The information was brought back, compiled, and sent out to everyone at a later date. Director Horvitz said we have done it both ways. Historically, the Commission has always led this group in saying this is what we would like to hear from you tonight - a short three minute introduction, break into groups and discuss whatever they would like. We had one group assigned - housing, shopping, transportation - we did it that way one year, and the next year it was just open discussion coming up with ideas. One of the concerns we had was a lot of the students that participated were seniors and they moved on. We'd then get a whole new group of students who would ask for the same things, or didn't realize what had been asked fo' previously had been accomplished. That was why we put the report card together so they could see some continuation of the ideas from groups before them. Director Horvitz said we have our senior dance once a month and we have a group of high school students who come over and are dates for seniors. The students have been calling to ask when are we going to do that again. Commissioner Leidner stated if one of the formats proved to be more successful than the other, he would suggest we go with that. Commissioner St. Johns felt she would love to have the students be heard because that is what she believes is the purpose of the Youth Workshop. Their input is so Community Services Commission Minutes valuable, and their energy in the room is incredible. Director Horvitz stated perhaps we could hold it at the Senior Center and invite them back in May having it at the Council Chambers when we would make a report of the outcome. Director Horvitz included a list of businesses we could invite with the packet of information. Commissioner Leidner/Fleck moved to adopt the resolution to host the Youth Workshop at the Senior Center on January 10, 2005, and have invitations sent to those that attend to the May meeting with the Commissioners leading the event. Unanimous. In the past the Commission has taken the list to call individuals we haven't heard from. If the Commission would like to do that, staff can divide up the list of persons we haven't heard from among the Commissioners then e-mail the list to them. Staff stated that If there was anyone the Commission would like to add to the list, staff will be happy to take their names. Director Horvitz will have the letters ready for Commissioner St. Johns signature Tuesday morning. Commissioner St. Johns said she will return the signed letters in the afternoon. Director Horvitz stated the letters will then be hand delivered to the school. VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIALS VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS A. Reports from Commissioners Regarding Meetings Attended: Commissioner Leidner attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony, which he said was wonderful. He also attended the Santa Paws but was disappointed with the turnout. He understood there were a lot of conflicting events going on throughout the entire valley that day. He hoped we would try it again next year and have more involvement. Commissioner Hackney also attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony. He was impressed with the all the activities. His concern was that Santa Claus was offstage and wondered if people didn't hear the announcement would they have gone to see him. Commissioner Fleck said that as we are always trying to attract young people, he had recently been at Hobby Town talking with Robert Barrett regarding radio-controlled model cars. Mr. Barrett indicated the age groups that are represented in radio-controlled model cars are 10 - 13 age group; Community Services Commission Minutes 14 - 18; then adults. The area needed to conduct these races is approximately 60' x 60' with a surface of dirt, asphalt or concrete. Hobby Town would supply the computer timing system, and put their banner up. They use hay bales for safety barriers. Hobby Town sponsors 35 races a year at an area they have behind their store at Desert Crossing. The races are always sold out. The entry fee they charge is $10 per car. Commissioner Fleck wondered if there was any interest on the part of the City in considering this type of activity. Hobby Town is looking for a location to host this. Director Horvitz asked if they supply everything they need. Commissioner Fleck said he didn't get in to the details of what they would need or provide. Commissioner St. Johns said we have a lot of children from La Quinta that go to the race, and they love it. Commissioner Fleck said Hobby Town would outline for us how it works, and how they would set-up the race. Director Horvitz stated she will have staff call Hobby Town to get more details to report back to the Commission in February of what they are specifically looking for. Commissioner Fleck said the VFW is sponsoring Vietnam Veteran's recognition week May 1 to 7, 2005, to recognize more than 3.4 million veterans who served during the Vietnam War. Included with this is a certificate which could be awarded to the Vietnam Veterans in the community. There are a number of other items in the packet including a sample speech, a proclamation from a public official, press release information for the news media, promote Vietnam Veterans in the schools, and other items of interest. 2.1 million members of the VFW will be backing this recognition week. Commission Fleck said this may be worthwhile for the City, as they have always been very gracious and accommodating to the VFW in the past. Director Horvitz asked if she could have the packet of information to incorporate it into the report. Commissioner Fleck said he received comments from Don Moulin regarding the November 11th Veteran's ceremony. Mr. Moulin seemed to be unhappy about the general tenor of the event: there was some mispronunciation of names. Director Horvitz stated that we can have them written out phonetically next time. Commissioner Fleck said that Mr. Moulin basic frost was the people being honored deserved more than just a name; they should have a short sentence about when they served. Also if they wanted to make any comments in a short sentence as far as the recognition, or if someone Community Services Commission Minutes wanted to get up and make a comment in recognition of the person being honored. Commissioner Fleck felt it was important for the City to communicate and make a positive image upon specific segments of the community. IX. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioners Leidner/Hackney to adjourn the Community Services Commission meeting at 8:40 PM. Unanimous. NEXT MEETING INFORMATION Monday, January 10, 2004 @7:00 PM La Ouinta Senior Center - Multipurpose Room Submitted by: "_' I L.... ~~ r.:. i.' ". ":1-' ~ 'l~ L:!-C.,I - .,. {"1l ~t.(.-o- Therese Vella-Finorio, Community Services Secretary