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2008 05 12 CSC MinutesCOMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MINUTES May 12, 2008 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Community Services Commission was called to order at 5:32 p.m. by Chairperson Weber. Commissioner Gassman 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 Sylk to confirm the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. PRESENTATIONS: 1. Presentation by David Archer, Interim Chief Executive Officer, of the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Archer presented the current activities of the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber promotes businesses inside and outside of La Quinta. The Chamber puts on events that the members can attend and use as a networking opportunity to enhance their businesses. The Chamber produces The Gem which is sent to every resident of La Quinta and all members. New members get a 200 word write up in The Gem. The Chamber has initiated an outbound call program where each Community Services Commission Minutes May 12, 20Q8 2- team member calls five businesses to say "Hello" and see what's going on with their business. This is a way to touch the community to find out how the Chamber can help these businesses. Bi-monthly potlucks are held to help strengthen the membership relationships, with the next one being held in July. Commissioner Brodsky complemented the Chamber on the map in The Gem. Vice-Chairperson Leidner asked what the time frame is for the five calls. Mr. Archer stated that staff is calling five members daily and the Board of Directors are calling one member per day. Commissioner Gassman commended the Chamber for The Gem and feels it is a wonderful piece of writing. Commissioner Gassman suggested a section be devoted to new businesses for information purposes. Chairperson Weber stated that The Gem is very professional and a good marketing piece. Commissioner Quill asked if the Chamber was planning on staying in the offices at the Library. Mr. Archer stated that the Chamber is going to try to extend their lease on the facility. The Chamber is trying to keep all of their options open for a permanent home. Mr. Archer stated that as of April 2008, 52% of the 681 Members are La Quinta businesses. From April 2007 to March 2008, 151 members dropped with 49% of those being in the Real Estate/Financial industries. From April 2007 to March 2008, 176 Members were added with 34% of those being in the Real Estate/Financial industry. Mr. Archer stated that the 2"d Annual Rod and Custom Car Show will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. There are over 70 vendors and cars signed up and the Chamber is anticipating over 100. The Chamber would like to make this a family event not just for car enthusiasts. Half of Calle Tampico will be blocked oft for this event. Commissioner Sylk suggested that the Chamber approach SilverRock Resort for the Mayors Golf Challenge in September 2008. Mr. Archer supplied an Announcement and Calendar of Events packet to each Commissioner for the remainder of 2008. Commissioner Quill asked if the Chamber works as a Visitor's Center. She suggested signs be placed off Highway 111 to direct people to the Chamber. Mr. Archer stated that there are signs, but the Chamber wants to be more visible. Community Services Commission Minutes May 12, 2008 -3- Commissioner Long asked what percentage of people that could be members are members. Mr. Archer stated that membership is 10% to 20% of La Quinta businesses. Commissioner Sylk stated that two years ago membership was at 750 and now it is at 681, it should be at 900. Mr. Archer stated that the Chamber has brought in 90 new members in a two week period with the new sales staff. Commissioner Sylk congratulated Mr. Archer for stepping up to fill the Interim Chief Executive Officer position. Chairperson Weber asked staff if staff had checked on Commissioner Sylk's suggestion of putting staff and Commissioner's names in The Gem. Director Hylton stated that she did speak to the City Manager's Office and the City does not place staff or Commissioner's in The Gem. Mr. Archer stated that the Chamber is interested in partnering with the City for the Annual Car Show. Chairperson Weber suggested the Chamber communicate with Public Works and the Police to plan for the Car Show. Mr. Archer stated that part of his job is to make, create, and maintain a relationship with the City. Commissioner Sylk suggested that a Commissioner should attend a Chamber Board meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of April 14, 2008 Minutes Commissioner Gassman stated that on Page 10, second paragraph, second sentence, an apostrophe should be added to "Commissioners." On Page 10, first paragraph under Open Discussion, first sentence, an apostrophe should be added to "Commissioners." Commissioner Long stated that on Page 11, a sentence should be added to the first paragraph explaining that the old banners didn't come down because the City was designing a new seal. Motion - It was moved by Commissioner Sylk and seconded by Commissioner Long to approve the minutes as corrected. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR None. PUBLIC HEARING Community Services Commission Minutes May 12, 2008 -4- None. BUSINESS ITEMS None. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIALS 1. Report on California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights Director Hylton spoke about the report on California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights which lists a number of items that every child should participate in by the age of 14. The City will promote this through the activities guide. The California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights provides that every child should have the opportunity to: -Discover California's Past -Splash in the water -Play in a safe place -Camp under the start -Explore nature -Learn to swim -Play on a team -Follow a trail -Catch a fish -Celebrate their heritage. Chairperson Weber stated that this is a great program. Commissioner Sylk stated that this is a wonderful program. Commissioner Long stated he read the report with great interest and cautions staff to be careful including some of the research that is included with this report. Director Hylton stated that the Community Services Department is more interested in promoting the message than using the research information. Commissioner Quill stated that this challenges us to make sure we are doing these things and suggested a fishing event. Director Hylton stated that Lake Cahuilla will run and operate a fishing derby so that the City does not have to do it. Vice-Chairperson Leidner stated this is a wonderful program and suggested a method of getting this message out with a series of events promoting these activities. Community Services Commission Minutes May 12, 2008 -5- Commissioner Brodsky stated this is a wonderful document. Commissioner Gassman stated that the concept is very good, but the language in the research documents was not very good. She is proud of La Quinta because we already do so much of these activities. Director Hylton stated that the Department has limited staff and would like to see the City work with other agencies in the community to promote and offer some of these programs. 2. Monthly Department Report for March 2008 Commissioner Quill stated that the number for the Children's Annual Egg Hunt went down and she felt it was because some people just chose not to go due to the large numbers last year. , Commissioner Long suggested putting the two Adobe class reports together. 3. Calendar of Monthly Events Commissioner Sylk asked how the May 10, 2008 Catalina Excursion went. Director Hylton stated there were approximately 30 attendees. Commissioner Gassman asked if any Commissioners would be attending the Athletic Honors. Chairperson Weber and Commissioner Long stated they would be there. Commissioner Gassman asked about the June 3, 2008 City Council Meeting. Director Hylton stated that the City Council meeting has been changed to June 2, 2008. Commissioner Quill asked who is going to present the May 17, 2008 Fred Wolff Nature Preserve Master Plan. Director Hylton stated that Steve Howlett, Golf & Parks Manager, will be presenting the plan at Calle Ensenada and Avenida Montezuma at 7:30 a.m. Vice-Chairperson Leidner suggested staff contact Vector Control to supply mosquito wipes for the Open Air Cinema events. COMMISSIONER ITEMS 1. Reports from Commissioners Regarding Meetings Attended. OPEN DISCUSSION Commissioner Gassman asked about the posting of Commission agendas. Staff .informed the Commission that agendas are posted 48 hours in advance and placed Community Services Commission Minutes May 12, 2008 -6- at Stater Bros. in North La Quinta, the Village Post Office, and the interior and exterior of City Hall. Commissioner Gassman suggested the Library be added as one of the posting places. Chairperson Weber stated that the Commission posts agendas in the same places as the City Council. Chairperson Weber suggested enhanced signage for the Study Session Room. Commissioner Quill stated she has a friend that went to Centre Pointe Dog Park last night around 6:30pm and there were about 8 people and 10 dogs there. Several people she spoke to said they are regulars and often times there are 15 people there. She gave Commissioner Quill her comments that there possibly needs to be more benches because there is only one bench. She said the gate between the two dog parks has been pad locked. Mr. Howlett stated that the gate was locked to keep the small and large dogs separated. Commissioner Quill suggested a gate be installed so that children can access the play area from the dog park. Mr. Howlett stated that there needs to be double gated system for that to occur because dogs might get out. Commissioner Quill asked about access to nearby homes. Chairperson Weber stated there is not a viable access point. Commissioner Quill stated there is no lighting at the park. In the Winter it gets dark early and in the Summer the only time it is pleasant to go is once the sun goes down. Suggested a couple simple lights would help people enjoy the park more. Director Hylton stated that the City generally does not light neighborhood parks, but staff will look into it. Vice Chairperson Leidner asked if the Commission Work Plan was a consent item to the City Council. Director Hylton stated that the City Council reviewed the Work Plan as a business item. Commissioner Gassman stated that the City Council minutes for the Work Plan were well written and thanked staff for sending them. Director Hylton stated that the City Council minutes come from the City Clerk's office. Chairperson Weber stated that The Coachella Valley Community Trails Alliance forwarded an article on Mammoth Lakes and the trails. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner Gassman and seconded by Commissioner Sylk to adjourn the Community Services Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. NEXT MEETING INFORMATION: A Regular Meeting of the Community Services Commission to be held on June 9, 2008 commencing at 5:30 p.m. at the La Quinta Study Session Room, 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA 92253. Comrnunity Services Commission Minutes May 12, 2008 -~- S mitted by: ~~~~ Ange a Guereque Community Services Senior Secretary