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2007 03 12 CSC Minutes COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MINUTES March 12. 2007 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Community Services Commission was called to order at 5:40 p.m. in the La Quinta Library. Chairperson Weber presided over the meeting and led the Pledge of Allegiance. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Mark Weber Vice-Chairperson Hobert F. Sylk Commissioner Bob Leidner Commissioner Andrea Gassman Commissioner E. Howard Long STAFF PRESENT: Edie Hylton, Community Services Director Steve Howlett, Golf & Parks Manager Christina Calderon, Recreation Supervisor Angela Guereque, Community Services Secretary GUESTS PRESENT: Karon Badalamenti, Principal, GreenPlay LLC PUBLIC COMMENT None. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA Motion - It was moved by Commissioner Leidner and seconded by Commissioner Gassman to confirm the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. PRESENTATIONS - Karon Badalamenti, Principal, GreenPlay LLC, presented the Community Services Master Plan Analysis and Draft Recommendations including Analysis, Geocoded Survey Maps, GRASP Perspectives, Draft Recommendations, and the Next Steps. Commissioner Gassman suggested alphabetizing the Acknowledgement and Forward pages. Community Snrvicf~s CommissIon MirlutAs Mmch 12, 2001 . :>. Ms. Badalamenti explained that GreenPlay looked through funding strategies and financial planning as it relates to how things are being done now and funding mechanisms such as Taxes, Art in Public Places Funds, Capital Development Funds, Equipment Replacement, Fees and Charges, Fee Waiver and Reduction Policy, Alternative Funding Methods, Service and Surcharge Fees, Contractual Services, Permitting, Partnerships, and Grants. Commissioner Leidner asked about funding opportunities. Commissioner Leidner is concerned about Special Tax Assessments. Ms. Badalamenti stated that there are a number of different funding mechanisms available to the City. The Analysis portion of the Master Plan includes Financial Planning and Funding Strategies; Staffing and IT Issues; Expanded Programming and Marketing; Top Priorities Currently Being Addressed; Survey Comparisons; Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED); Facility, Field & Park Maintenance; Impact Fee Review; and Geocoded Survey Responses and GRASP. Commissioner Leidner asked if GreenPlay compared the City of La Quinta's fees to other areas for services. Ms. Badalamenti stated that GreenPlay looked at those fees in the Master Plan. Ms. Badalamenti explained that the areas on the Geocoded maps are coded by area. Area 1 is the area north of Highway 111 that is non-gated. Area 2 is the Cove and South La Quinta. Area 3 is the gated communities. The Geocoded Survey responses listed the top priorities for facilities as Performing/Cultural Arts; Walking and Biking Trails; Indoor Fitness and Exercise; Nature Trails/Nature Center; Off Leash Dog Park; Natural and Wildlife Areas; and Small Neighborhood Parks. The Geocoded Survey responses listed the top priorities for programs as Adult Fitness and Wellness Programs; Community Special Events; Music Programs; Adult Education; Adult Golf Programs and Tournaments; Adult Art, Dance, Performing Arts; and Trips (day trips and extended trips). The Geocoded Survey responses listed the reasons for our programs/facilities not being used is due to insufficient security; residents don't know what's being offered; and they don't know the location of facilities. An analysis was done of the CPTED which gives an opportunity to continue to look at designing projects to reduce crime and vandalism. Bus routes are an issue with the children coming and going to the Boys & Girls Club due to bus transportation not going to that area. Director Hylton stated that staff has been asked to look at the coordination of school buses with small mini parks in the Cove. Community Serviens Comrnission Minutes Mmch 12, 2001 .:3 . Ms. Badalamenti explained the scoring of the components/elements. Each component is given a score from 1 to 3. 1 is in really bad shape and needs to be taken out, 2 is working for its intended function, and 3 is brand new. Then the score is multiplied by a modifier value (things of comfort and convenience). The cumulative score is what causes the gradation on the maps. The base score is made up of a minimum Level of Service (LOS) that residents should get within 1 mile of their home. The minimum component within a mile should be 2 active components (courts, fields, pool, etc.) and 2 passive components (shelter, trail, open turf, etc.). This base score is 19.2 for 1 mile. In order to get walkability, which is 1/3 mile, the base score is doubled to get a target score of 38.4. This is a minimum goal. Area 1, North La Quinta, has 1,300 acres with a LOS of 100% and an average score of 164.21. Area 2, Cove and South La Quinta, also has 100% coverage with an average score of 228.01. Area 2 has a number of large parks; good access to open space and trails, but the southern tip does not have these accesses. Area 3, Gated Communities, assumes that most of the needs are met by private providers. The score of 54.05 is only reflective of those components and services provided by the City not the private providers. The LOS capacity projects the number of components that should be added to achieve the current ratio at a projected population of 52,736 to be 1 outdoor pool; 3 ball fields; 1 basketball court; 1 dog park; 1 fitness course; 2 loop walks; 2 multi- use fields-large; 5 open turf areas; 6 shade shelters-small; 2 picnic shelters-large; 5 playgrounds; 1 skate park/wheel park; and 2 tennis courts. There are some inequities that need to be addressed within the system. Looking at indoor facilities as a group and looking at the priorities in the matrix, there should be more partnerships; addition to the Senior Center, and addition to the Boys & Girls Club. Collaborate with Coral Mountain Interpretive Center for a nature center. According to the survey, ball fields rank low, with over 25% of the kids using the fields not being from La Quinta. One way of dealing with the field issue is to change the ratio and build more fields at the City's expense. Another way is to institute player fees or fees for field use permitting. Try to deal with the field issues as a regional issue and work with the surrounding communities to come up with some solutions. Director Hylton stated that staff has talked about the use of Middle Schools starting this Summer for soccer camps and then in the Fall move some activity to Colonel Paige Middle School on Saturdays. Continue to look for land and other methods with joint use agreements, etc. According to the findings, Golf Courses are not an issue. The new park at SilverRock Resort will help with the Natural Facilities. Consider the Whitewater Channel in North La Quinta which could create a 3 mile loop, a nice natural facility on the North. For other natural areas, development in the Sphere of Influence should be preserved as much as possible. Commllnity Servil:os Commission Minutes MmGI1 12, ?OO I .4. For Trails, as you develop you want to use the washes, utility corridors, canals, and any other linear connectivity to create greenway corridors, creating loops wherever possible. Trails around the Silver Rock Resort will form a loop that will connect to the neighborhoods by using Avenue 54, Avenue 56, and Avenue 58. A future link is also planned that will connect these trails with Lake Cahuilla along Avenue 58. A difficult connection being suggested is the connection from Avenue 58 to SilverRock Resort through Lake Cahuilla along the canal. Trails are absent from North La Quinta. The City should look at acquisition of home sites in the Cove for pocket parks or combine them together to create a larger park. Director Hylton stated that the City has some land disbursed throughout the Cove and staff would need to look at what would link best with school bus stops and Sun Line bus stops. Commissioner Leidner asked if there are any local County parks. Director Hylton stated that Lake Cahuilla is the only County park area in the City. The analysis is broke down into five guiding themes: Maintain Current LOS with Population Growth; Improve and Best Management Practices. Community Connectivity; LOS; Impact Fee Review; The draft recommendations for Community Connectivity are to implement a Trail System Plan and to coordinate public transportation routes with community service access. The draft recommendation to maintain a current LOS as the population grows is to maintain current LOS throughout the park system. The draft recommendations for LOS Improvements are: Special Facility Feasibility Study - Open Space Park along the Whitewater Channel in North La Quinta; Special Facility Feasibility Study - Open Space and Park along the drainage ways; Special Facility Feasibility Study and Land Acquisition - New Sports Complex; Site Master Plan for the Old Town Corridor; Open Space and Natural Facilities Plan; Add Lighting at Colonel Page Middle School Field; Reconfigure or repurpose the La Quinta Ball Field; Add Fitness and Wellness Program Space; and Increase the Amount of Land Per Capita. The draft recommendation for land dedication and Impact Fee Study revisions is to review land dedication and Impact Fee requirements. Community Services Commission Minuws MmcI112,2()()1 .5 The draft recommendations for best management practices are to examine policies (partnership & fee reduction); track labor hours and equipment use for parks' and athletic fields' maintenance tasks; encourage, enhance, and maximize relationships and partnership opportunities; establish life cycle costing assessments; implement a 5-year master planning schedule as well as annual updates to the plan; establish a 501 (c)3 Park and Recreation Foundation; pursue grant opportunities; institute volunteer opportunities; continue review of park maintenance privatization; increase marketing efforts; and design and renovate with CPTED principles. The next steps for GreenPlay are to present the Findings and Analysis to the Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission and Community Services Commission on March 13, 2007; present the Final Master Plan to the City Council on May 15, 2007; and ask the City Council to adopt the Master Plan. Commissioner Leidner asked if there is any County land that butts up the City of La Quinta on the north or east side to build a sports complex. Chairperson Weber stated that Bermuda Dunes is an unincorporated area on the north and Vista Santa Rosa is an unincorporated area on the east. The Community Services Commission recessed to and until 7:25 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of February 12, 2007 Minutes Motion - It was moved by Vice-Chairperson Sylk and seconded by Commissioner Long to approve the minutes as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR None. PUBLIC HEARING None. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Consideration for Commission participation in the April 28th Events. Director Hylton stated that there will be booths at both the picnic and the fireworks show to hopefully be staffed by staff and Commissioners. Director Hylton asked the Commissioners to let staff know what works best for each of them. Commissioner Gassman would like to help out with the picnic. Commissioner Leidner will help out at both events. Chairperson Weber will help out at the picnic. Cornrnunity ServlcAs Commission Minutes Mmch 1?, 2001 6. Motion - It was moved by Commissioner Long and seconded by Commissioner Gassman for the Community Services Commission to participate in the Community Events on April 28, 2007. Motion carried unanimously. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIALS 1. Recent Grant Recipients Director Hylton explained that staff will be taking an item to City Council recommending the involvement of the Commission in the grant process. 2. Monthly Department Report for January 2007 3. Calendar of Monthly Events Commissioner Gassman volunteered for the Easter Egg Hunt on April 7, 2007. Director Hylton added an event on April 25, 2007 for the Tours of St. Francis of Assisi Church from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. COMMISSIONER ITEMS 1. Reports from Commissioners Regarding Meetings Attended. Chairperson Weber, Commissioner Gassman, and Commissioner Long were present at the Community Concert. OPEN DISCUSSION Commissioner Long presented information regarding the "File for Life" program and suggested implementation of the same. Commissioner Gassman stated that she would like to do a presentation at the April 16, 2007 meeting regarding the California Park & Recreation Society Conference. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner Gassman and seconded by Vice-Chairperson Sylk to adjourn the Community Services Commission meeting at 7:55 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Cornrnunitv Se:rvicns Cornrnisslllfl MInutes Mmch 12, 200/ .7 NEXT MEETING INFORMATION: A Regular Meeting of the Community Services Commission to be held on April 16, 2007 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the La Quinta Senior Center, 78-450 Avenida La Fonda, La Quinta, CA 92253. Submitted by: G Ang Guereque Community Services Secretary