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2008 04 14 CSC MinutesCOMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MINUTES April 14, 2008 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Community Services Commission was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chairperson Weber. Commissioner Brodsky led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Commissioner Sheldon Brodsky Commissioner Andrea Gassman Vice-Chairperson Bob Leidner Commissioner E. Howard Long Commissioner Dori Quill Commissioner Robert F. Sylk Chairperson Mark Weber STAFF PRESENT: Edie Hylton, Community Services Director Steve Howlett, Golf & Parks Manager Angela Guereque, Senior Secretary PUBLIC COMMENT None. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA Motion - It was moved by Commissioner Gassman and seconded by Commissioner Long to confirm the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of March 10, 2008 Minutes Commissioner Gassman noted that on page 7, paragraph 5, sentence 2, reads "that it the" should read "that the." On page 7 under Correspondence No. 3 it should be noted that there was no discussion. On page 8, paragraph 1, last Community 5crvices Cornmiseion Minutes 1 ~~~~i i 4, zoos sentence, reads "Commission does not" should read Commission should not." On page 8, paragraph 3 reads "that her and" should read "that she and." Motion - It was moved by Commissioner Long and seconded by Commissioner Sylk to approve the minutes as corrected. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR None. PUBLIC HEARING None. BUSINESS ITEMS 1 . Consideration of Participation for the Multi-Generational Talent Show Director Hylton explained that the Community Services Department is requesting the assistance of two Commissioners to assist staff in the upcoming annual Multi- Generational Talent Show. Staff requests support in emceeing the event which will take place on Friday, April 25, 2008 from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Staff will provide an ,agenda with descriptions of the various acts that will be performing that evening. Commissioners will be introducing the acts as they prepare to perform on the stage/dance floor, ask brief prepared questions to each act after their performance, and present everyone with signed certificates from the Mayor at the end of the show. Motion - It was moved by Commissioner Sylk and seconded by Vice-Chairperson Leidner to assign Commissioner Sylk and Commissioner Gassman to participate as emcees for the Multi-Generational Talent Show. Motion carried unanimously. 2. Consideration of Naming the Centre Pointe Development Park Golf & Parks Manager, Steve Howlett, explained that as part of the Centre Pointe Development, located on the southeast corner of Washington Street and Miles Avenue, a three acre park was constructed by the development contractor. In August 2006, the Community Services Commission began park naming discussions for recommendation to the City Council. Staff advertised the park naming form and criteria in the La Quinta Gem and did not receive any completed forms back. In February 2008, City staff sent a letter and Park Naming Submittal Form to all residents within 500 feet of the park. All forms were to be returned by March 29, 2008. ti,~ u: a~nne 5~;r~~us Cu~7~ns.ssum iJiuttans ftpnl 14, 20Q8 3- Staff has not received any Park Naming Forms back. The Commission may wish to recommend the name "Centre Pointe Park" to be considered by the City Council or suggest another name be considered by the City Council. Commission Sylk likes the name Centre Pointe Park, but would like to suggest naming it after Mayor, Don Adolph. Commissioner Long stated that staff has tried twice with no results and does not think Mayor Adolph would accept the nomination, but would like him to feel appreciated. Vice-Chairperson Leidner suggested Mountain Vista because of the views. Chairperson Weber stated that Centre Pointe makes sense, but doesn't sound real attractive. He suggested Vista del Oro, Vista Alegra, or Mountain Vista. Commissioner Quill asked what the new development is called where the trailer park used to be on Miles Avenue. Commissioner Weber stated it is called Vista Dunes. Director Hylton stated the development is called Vista Dunes Courtyard Homes. Golf & Parks Manager, Steve Howlett, stated that people usually identify parks with their location. Commissioner Long suggested Vista Pointe. Golf & Parks Manager, Steve Howlett, stated that the park is on Seeley Drive. Director Hylton stated that the Commission could call it Seeley Drive Park. After a vote on the suggested names, the Commission concluded that Mountain Vista Park, Vista Pointe Park, and Seeley Park would be recommended to the City Council. Motion - It was moved by Vice-Chairperson Leidner and seconded by Commissioner Long to recommend "Mountain Vista Park," "Vista Pointe Park," and "Seeley Park," with "Mountain Vista Park" being the majority vote, to the City Council for consideration. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Consideration of Compensation to the Community Services Commission for Special Meetings Director Hylton stated that Commissioner Brodsky and Commissioner Long requested that this topic be brought to the Commission for consideration. It was suggested that compensation be given for the park tour and other special meetings :;ornmunity 5nrvu:r„> Coinmiesion MinuUS fipril 14, 2008 held that discuss Community Services business. Director Hylton stated that Chairperson Weber suggested that staff put a report together for the Commission's review. The La Quinta Municipal Code Section 2.06.050 Compensation states "Compensation for boards, commissions, or committees shall be set by resolution of the city council. (Ordinance 287 § 1(partl, 19961." Current compensation for the Community Services Commission and other Boards and Commissions (with the exception of the Planning Commission) are set at 575 a month. The compensation for Boards and Commissions was discussed at the June 5, 2007 City Council Meeting. This includes the Architectural and Landscape Review Committee, Historic Preservation Board, Investment Advisory Board, and the Community Services Commission. Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Indian Wells, Desert Hot Springs, and Indio have Commissions in which the primary function is similar to the Community Services Commission in addressing park and recreation functions. In Fiscal Year 2007-2008 the Community Services Commission has met once beyond a regular scheduled meeting to take a tour of City Art in Public Places and parks. The Community Services Commissioners attend events as ambassadors of the City and to become familiar and make suggestions to the programs and activities provided by the department. Vice-Chairperson Leidner stated that he didn't know this was a paid position when he originally applied and feels that the Commission should not be doing this with the concern of what they will be paid. He does not recommend changing the structure and feels that citizens should not be burdened with having to come up with additional compensation. Commissioner Brodsky stated that he disagrees with Vice-Chairperson Leidner. The 575 was set five years ago and the City Council has given itself at least one raise, if not two. The other cities do not do anything near the amount of events that the City of La Quinta does. On February 23, 2008, Vice-Chairperson Leidner called the meeting to order, Roll Call was done, the Commission performed its services, and adjournment took place. He stated that the Commission should be paid for every meeting. The City can afford to pay 5100 per month and for every meeting. Commissioner Quill stated she agrees with Vice-Chairperson Leidner. She stated that the Planning Commission gets paid 5100 per month and they have to meet twice a month. They work a lot more hours than the Community Services Commission and it is a tough job. She suggested that the Commission could have an optional parks meeting. Cn~u»unrty Servicoe Cornmissio~i Minutes F1pnl 14, 2008 ~~ Commissioner Long stated that he had no idea there was any money involved. He doesn't want to be compared to most of the other cities in the Coachella Valley except Indian Wells. The way the Resolution is written the Commission gets paid every time they have a meeting as long as they do not spend over $75 per month. The Commission did not meet in August and did not get paid. There is a paycheck sitting out there that nobody is getting. The most important thing that the Commission has done in the last couple of years is to go on the art and parks tour. It lets the Commission see what is really going on and what really needs working on and if you don't know those things you can't intelligently make decisions. Every other year the Commission needs to look at the art pieces. Commissioner Long suggested the Commission ask the City Council to allow 14 meetings per year at $75 per meeting. The art and parks tour is very important if the Commission is going to fulfill their obligations to say to the City Council that these are the things that need to be done. Commissioner Gassman stated that serving on the Commission is a privilege and she did not apply to this Commission with any inclination that it would be funded. However, when you have a meeting that has been noticed, roll call is made, there is a call to order, and a group has to abide by the Brown Act, that is a meeting. The Commission needs to make sure that if they ask for the additional sums that it does not preclude them from taking additional tours. The concerns and thoughts should be taken to City Council. Commissioner Gassman suggested having a maximum of 12 to 14 meetings per year. Commissioner Sylk stated that five years ago the Commission was not as responsible of a Commission as they are today. With more responsibilities come more time and more involvement. The Art and Parks tour was originally his idea because he felt it was very important. The tour takes a lot longer than a regular meeting. The Commission volunteers for other items that are within the Commission to go to other places. The Art and Parks tour should be construed as another meeting. Instead of going dark in August, he suggested adjourning the meeting until the Art and Parks Tour. Commissioner Sylk recommended the Commission be allowed full compensation for all Special Meetings. Chairperson Weber stated that the Resolution states a monthly amount, not an annual amount. The Planning Commission spends a lot of time outside of their meetings and they have to adhere to zoning ordinances and California State laws. The comparison to the cities was something that he asked staff for to have some kind of relationship whether the City is comparable or not. The intent from City Council's standpoint is that compensation was used to attract people to serve on the Commission. The intent was to get enough applicants, not to compensate for time. He recommended staff have a conversation with the City Manager or wait and have the Commission speak to the City Council during the annual Joint Meeting. He stated he does not feel this is a pressing item where he would feel comfortable pushing it forward. (;airir~un~ry St:rvicgs Comr-~ission MinuUs 6- ftpril 14, 2008 Director Hylton stated that City Council discussed this during last Fiscal Year's budget and determined to leave the Commission rates at their current rate. Commissioner Long stated that the Commission is missing Commissioner Brodsky's concern. The Commission has 12 meetings per year but gets paid for 11. If there are only 11 meetings, then it is clearly within the scope of the original amount of money to be spent to have one meeting which is allowed sometime in a month that we can use for Parks or Art or whatever they need to do. He stated that he would be happy with being able to have 12 meetings per year at $75 per meeting. The City Council will see that this will not cost them anymore money. Vice-Chairperson Leidner stated that 2 of the last 4 years the Commission did hold August meetings. Commissioner Quill stated that she does not want to limit the Commission to a certain amount of meetings. The reason the Commission was compared to the Planning Commission is because the Planning Commission only makes $50 per meeting. If the Commission gave themselves more money, they would be making more money than the Planning Commission, they meet twice a month, and have 22 meetings per year with earnings of $1,100. The Commission makes $825 per year, which is actually more money than the Planning Commission. Commissioner Long stated that the Commission is not asking for more money. They are asking to expend all the money that the City Council has approved for one year. Commissioner Sylk asked if the Art and Parks Tour is considered a separate meeting. If it is, then it should be on the docket as a separate meeting. If the Commission is allowed to have a meeting in August, then they should be able to adjourn it for a couple of months until they are ready to have the Art and Parks Tour. As of now the Commission is having two meetings during that month and only getting paid for one. Commissioner Sylk suggested selecting the Art and Parks Tour to take place of the August meeting. Commissioner Brodsky stated that statutes are made to be altered. There is no question that the Art and Parks Tour is a meeting. Chairperson Weber stated that the Art and Parks Tour is vital. The parks tour should be held annually and the art tour every other year. Chairperson Weber stated he feels that the Commission is being a little aggressive by pushing this to City Council. Vice-Chairperson Leidner asked if the annual joint meeting with the City Council is in lieu of the normal monthly meeting. Director Hylton stated it is not. Vice- i:r~rcirnurnty Serwcet> Commnsiun (4`linutns f~pnl 14, 2008 -7- Chairperson Leidner asked why that is not an issue. He does not feel that the S75 has anything to do with attracting people to the Commission. Commissioner Gassman stated that she would hate to see the tours precluded because of the extra money. If it is a choice of calling it a meeting for which we receive compensation or taking the tour of the parks and art, she would opt for taking the tour. Vice-Chairperson Leidner suggested the tours become a voluntary event as opposed to a requirement. Chairperson Weber suggested the tour be in lieu of a regular meeting. Commissioner Sylk suggested that we set the meeting in lieu of the August meeting but at a later date. Commissioner Gassman stated that the meeting has to be given proper notice. Director Hylton stated that the intent of the Resolution is that if you don't meet during that month there is no payment. The non payment is not carried to another month. Director Hylton suggested having a light agenda in the month of the tour, meet for a short period of time for the business meeting and take the tour. The tour is an important element of the Commission's knowledge, assessment, and information to staff. Commissioner Quill noted that the City Council never meant the $75 to be per meeting, but per month. Some months the Commission spends half an hour per month, some months they spend 8 hours. She likes the freedom of being able to serve as needed. Chairperson Weber stated that if we don't meet in August, we don't get paid Motion - It was moved by Vice-Chairperson Leidner and seconded by Commissioner Quill to recommend that no changes be brought forth to City Council and that the Commission handle any meetings internally. Motion carried with Commissioner Long, Commissioner Sylk, and Commissioner Brodsky opposing. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIALS 1 . Monthly Department Report for February 2008 Commissioner long noted on page 24, the Library Grand Re-Opening shows a variance of "50" and should show "0." Commissioner Gassman noted on page 29, second paragraph, third sentence, the word "month" should read "month's." ~r~,r•unfly So~+r~c-es Commission Mmuuts /lpril 14, ?_OQ8 8- Commissioner Quill asked about the status of the Interactive Water Feature repair. Golf & Parks Manager, Sieve Howlett, explained that the water feature was closed due to vandalism. The Health Department recommended that staff use a non porous surface. Staff is currently waiting for the Health Department's approval of the two non porous surface submittals. Commissioner Quill asked if there were any updates on the lights for La Quinta Park, shade structure for the skate area, or water fountains. Director Hylton stated that some of the Commission's recommendations were included as part of the next fiscal year preliminary budget. The preliminary budget will be presented to the City Council in June 2008 at which time the budget should be available for public viewing. 2. Calendar of Monthly Events Director Hylton stated that the Museum Grand Opening will be held at 2:00 pm. Director Hylton explained that the City is still using the old City Seal for legal documents, etc., and the new City Logo will be used for promotional items and advertising. Commissioner Quill asked about a banner to advertise for the Birthday picnic. Director Hylton explained that staff is working on bids to do a complete signage program. COMMISSIONER ITEMS 1. Reports from Commissioners Regarding Meetings Attended. None. OPEN DISCUSSION Commissioner Sylk suggested that staff and Commissioner's names be listed in The Gem in the Community Services section. Director Hylton stated that the Chamber of Commerce prints The Gem and she would suggest it to the City Manager's office. In regards to the Cove Trails Plan, Commissioner Gassman stated that her husband suggested color coding the trails with arrows in certain places to help reassure people that they are on the right track. Commissioner Long asked who is in charge of taking down the 25`" Anniversary banners. Director Hylton stated that staff is in the process of designing new {'-~:n^;~~mty 5enna~s Co~nrr;ssion Mirnatcs l~prii 14, "160£3 g banners with the new logo and will be working with the Public Works Department to get the old banners taken down once the new ones arrive. Commissioner Gassman stated that when you are running for public office, there are a certain number of days after the election by which you must have all your signage down, the same thing should apply for the La Quinta Arts Foundation. The sign south of Calle Tampico on Eisenhower Drive was there for weeks after the event. Commissioner Quill suggested having a bowl of candy at the Adult Egg Hunt for people who are not able to get any eggs. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner Long and seconded by Commissioner Sylk to adjourn the Community Services Commission meeting at 7:07 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. NEXT MEETING INFORMATION: A Regular Meeting of the Community Services Commission to be held on May 12, 2008 commencing at 5:30 p.m. at the La Quinta Study Session Room, 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA 92253. Submitted by: Angela Guereque Community Services Senior Secretary