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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/02/2003IRWINDALE COUNCIL CHAMBER 5050 N. IRWINDALE AVENUE IRWINDALE, CALIFORNIA 91706 APRIL 2, 2003 WEDNESDAY 6:00 P.M. The Irwindale PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION met in regular session at the above time and place. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Carol B. Hernandez, Paula Fraijo; Erlinda Duran; Vice Chair Belen Zepeda; Chair Dan Diaz Also present: Rosemary M. Ramirez, Mayor Pro Tem; Dan Grijalva, Recreation Manager; Mike Rados, Public Works Manager; and Armando Hegdahl, Records Clerk APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION A motion was made by Commissioner Duran, seconded by Commissioner Fraijo, to approve the minutes of the meeting held March 5, 2003. The motion was unanimously approved; Chair Diaz abstaining. NEW BUSINESS COMMISSION CONSIDERATION OF ADDITION OF TWO FULL - COMMISSION VOTING YOUTHS TO THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION CONSIDERATION OF ADDITION OF TWO FULL -VOTING YOUTHS TO THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MAYOR PRO TEM Mayor Pro Tem Ramirez made a verbal presentation to request RAMIREZ Commission consideration of the addition of two full -voting youths to the Parks & Recreation Commission, citing the need for participation by the youth in local government processes. She advised that several cities throughout Southern California have formed youth Commissions and that the League of California Cities supports such programs by tailoring their annual conferences to include younger representatives. She also indicated that she has previously proposed the expansion of the Parks & Recreation Commission by two members at a prior Council meeting. However, the Council directed staff to research the creation of a new Youth Commission consisting of five members. Mayor Pro Tem Ramirez advised that, after further consideration, she believes that it would be in the best interest of the community to expand the Parks & Recreation Commission by two members so that more experienced Commissioners could educate younger Commissioners on the functions and processes of local government. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING APRIL 2, 2003 PAGE 2 COMMISSIONER In response to a question by Commissioner Fraijo, Mayor Pro Tem FRAIJO Ramirez advised that other cities, such as Norwalk, have young voting members on their Parks & Recreation Commissions, with rights and privileges equal to those of elder Commissioners. They also receive school credits and stipends for their work and attend conferences. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Fraijo expressed her opinion that a five -member FRAIJO Youth Commission will be more capable than younger Parks & Recreation Commissioners of relaying the needs and concerns of Irwindale's youth to the Council as relate to their day to day lives. CHAIR DIAZ Chair Diaz expressed his opinion that a five -member Youth Commission would also allow for more youth participation. MAYOR PRO TEM Mayor Pro Tem Ramirez indicated that the education young RAMIREZ Commissioners would receive by interacting with more experienced Commissioners, who would serve as guides and mentors, would empower their thoughts and opinions. COMMISSIONER In response to a question by Commissioner Fraijo, Mayor Pro Tem FRAIJO Ramirez advised that her intention is to allow Youth Commissioners to receive stipends for their duties. She then indicated that the addition of youth to the current Commission does not reflect a deficiency in concern or abilities to address the needs of Irwindale youth by the current five member Parks & Recreation Commission. COMMISSIONER In response to another question by Commissioner Fraijo, Mayor Pro FRAIJO Tem Ramirez advised that, if the current Commission were expanded, youthful members would carry out their duties exactly as all other Commissioners do. However, if a new Commission is formed, research would need to be conducted to determine its full range of responsibilities. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Duran suggested creating a five -member Youth DURAN Commission with two of the Commissioners acting as liaisons to the Parks & Recreation Commission. MAYOR PRO TEM Mayor Pro Tem Ramirez advised that it is her goal to grant the young RAMIREZ Commissioners the exact same duties and privileges as all other Commissioners, such as the opportunity to attend conferences. CHAIR DIAZ Chair Diaz advised that Parks & Recreation Commissioners are only allowed enough funding to attend one conference per year. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 2, 2003 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 3 COMMISSION Commission consensus was reached to recommend establishing a CONSENSUS five -member Youth Commission rather than expanding the current Parks & Recreation Commission. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Fraijo commended Mayor Pro Tem Ramirez for her FRAIJO involvement with and concern for Irwindale's youth. MAYOR PRO TEM Mayor Pro Tem Ramirez commended the Commission as well as all RAMIREZ Recreation staff members for implementing and conducting excellent programs and activities for the community. RECREATION MANAGER UPDATE RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva presented the following update: MANAGER GRIJALVA 1. The Easter Activities program will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2003, at the gym, with entertainment to be provided from a magician and the Tiny Tots. A raffle contest and a candy hunting contest will also be held. 2. He indicated that the park pool will be open from April 13 through 19, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., but will be closed Easter Sunday. 3. The After School program has seen an increase in participation: from eight children when the program began, to 30 currently enrolled. 4. The Arts & Crafts class is averaging about 30 children a week. 5. The EI Monte Unified School District will serve as a vendor for Irwindale's Summer Lunch Program. 6. A site has yet to be found to hold the 4th of July Fireworks Show. Recreation Manager Grijalva advised that a radius of 600 feet around the launching point would be required in order to launch the fireworks 600 feet into the sky, COMMISSIONER In response to a question by Commissioner Fraijo, Recreation FRAIJO Manager Grijalva advised that representatives from Merwin School did not approve the use of the school to hold the 4th of July Fireworks celebration due to construction being conducted at the site. COMMISSIONER In response to a question by Commissioner Hernandez, Recreation HERNANDEZ Manager Grijalva advised that, in order to implement a program similar to the After School program during the summer months, he would need to hire extra staff. However, a request for this type of summer program has yet to be made. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 2, 2003 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 4 COMMISSIONER Commissioner Fraijo suggested researching the possibility of FRAIJO obtaining state funding for subsidized childcare for working parents. COMMISSIONER In response to a question by Commissioner Fraijo, Recreation FRAIJO Manager Grijalva advised that the After School program guidelines does not require the parents of participating children to work during program hours. COMMISSIONER ITEMS CHAIR DIAZ Chair Diaz requested the following: 1) Check-up and maintenance of the sprinkler system at Irwindale Park. 2) Park benches should be bolted down to the concrete. 3) Maintain a high level of litter removal practices at the Parks COMMISSIONER In response to a question by Commissioner Fraijo, Recreation FRAIJO Manager Grijalva advised that the Music in the Park concert series has been scheduled to begin in June. He also indicated that the concert series will benefit from funding from Target Stores, for example, and an increased budget. CHAIR DIAZ In response to a question by Chair Diaz, Recreation Manager Grijalva advised that the start date for construction of the new park and improvements to the current park has not yet been scheduled. However, he did indicate that work is to begin concurrently at both parks. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Fraijo suggested recommending to Council to delay FRAIJO construction on Irwindale Park until September to prevent interference from work onto summer recreational activities. PUBLIC WORKS Public Works Manager Rados advised that there might be MANAGER RADOS contractual obligations that would require the architect to move forward with the project before September. CHAIR DIAZ Chair Diaz suggested to focus workload efforts on the construction of the new park during the summer months in order to allow summer activities and programs to remain as scheduled for Irwindale Park. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Duran suggested the possibility of moving the DURAN Summer Lunch Program to another location within Irwindale Park to accommodate construction efforts. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING APRIL 2, 2003 PAGE 5 RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva advised that if the Summer Lunch MANAGER GRIJALVA Program was moved to another location, he would need to complete another application and a state representative would need to inspect the new lunch site. COMMISSIONER In response to a question by Commissioner Fraijo, Vice Chair FRAIJO Zepeda advised that the snack bar is only generating enough revenues to purchase snacks for an additional week and is not making a profit. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva indicated that the methods used for the MANAGER GRIJALVA Snack Bar need to be reviewed to attempt to generate more revenues. SPONTANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS There were no speakers. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m. Dan Diaz, Chair ATTEST: Armando Hegdahl, Records Clerk