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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/06/2009IRWINDALE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER MAY 6, 2009 5050 N. IRWINDALE AVENUE WEDNESDAY IRWINDALE, CALIFORNIA 91706 6:00 P.M. The Irwindale PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION met in regular session at the above time and place. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Veronica S. Barbosa-Lara, Carol B. Hernandez, Belen Zepeda; Vice Chair Paula Fraijo, Chair Dan Diaz Also present: Camille Diaz, Assistant City Manager; Mike Rados, Public Works Manager; Dan Grijalva, Recreation Manager; and Becky Romero, Administrative Secretary. SPONTANEOUS There were no speakers. COMMUNICATIONS CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION A motion was made by Vice Chair Fraijo, seconded by Commissioner Lara, to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was unanimously approved. ITEM NO. 1A MINUTES MINUTES 1) Regular meeting held April 1, 2009. The minutes were approved. NEW BUSINESS PROPOSED BUDGET PROPOSED BUDGET IMPACT TO RECREATION PROGRAMS IMPACT TO RECREATION PROGRAMS RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva reviewed the proposed budget MANAGER GRIJALVA changes. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo asked about the summer lunch program. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva replied that there would be a summer MANAGER GRIJALVA lunch program this year. He also reminded the Commission, that all the changes are proposed and will need to be approved by the City Council. He also advised the Commission that one of the changes was to eliminate night swimming. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING MAY 6, 2009 PAGE 2 COMMISSIONER LARA Commissioner Lara questioned that with the skate park closed at dusk, and now with the closing of the pool at night, what are the kids supposed to do. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva responded that the kids using the pool MANAGER GRIJALVA for night swimming are predominantly non-residents. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo stated that the pool should be available at night even if it's only two nights a week. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva advised that night swimming increases MANAGER GRIJALVA the calls for patrol and that non-residents come to our park because we are the only City that offers night swimming. COMMISSIONER ZEPEDA PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER RADOS VICE CHAIR FRAIJO PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER RADOS Commissioner Zepeda commented that kids will now be in the play ground. Public Works Manager Rados stated that vandalism has decreased since the skate park has been closed. Vice Chair Fraijo asked if the skate park has been closed at night during the summer months. Public Works Manager Rados responded that the skate park has been closed during daylight savings time. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva presented the following numbers for MANAGER GRIJALVA night swimming: Adult residents — 53; Child residents — 300; Non- resident adults — 1,000; non-resident children — 3,000. He also advised that night swimming is the most costly, almost double what day time swimming costs. COMMISSIONER LARA Commissioner Lara questioned spending $40,000 a year on 13 children in the Tiny Tots program. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva replied that the Tiny Tots are all MANAGER GRIJALVA residents. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo asked if night swimming is eliminated, would recreation hours also be cut. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva responded that recreation hours will MANAGER GRIJALVA be cut approximately 20 hours a week, and added that the gym will be closed for two hours in the morning. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 6, 2009 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 3 VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo commented that if the City takes away one thing, it may not return, and the City is taking away from the kids and the adults. CHAIR DIAZ Chair Diaz explained that even if all programs are cut, the City will still be in a financial deficit. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva emphasized that this issue needs to MANAGER GRIJALVA be taken care of now. COMMISSIONER LARA Commissioner Lara asked if the commission was an advisory committee. ASSISTANT CITY Assistant City Manager Diaz advised that as residents the MANAGER DIAZ commissioners have a voice and can make a recommendation to the Ad Hoc Finance Committee however, there was not a lot of flexibility and their recommendation may not be followed. COMMISSIONER LARA Commissioner Lara stated that she was objecting to the $40,000 being spent on the 13 Tiny Tots students and three staff persons when there are other programs such as Options at Merwin School that could be taken advantage of. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo spoke about taking away programs and cutting hours but still keeping staff for other programs. She stressed she did not want to see programs eliminated. ASSISTANT CITY Assistant City Manager Diaz stated that no one is guaranteed any MANAGER DIAZ hours. COMMISSIONER LARA Commissioner Lara asked how many summer youth workers would be assigned to Recreation of the 25 in the program. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva answered that Recreation will be MANAGER GRIJALVA assigned eight students but the summer youth program hours are also being cut. Recreation Manager Grijalva further advised that another major change was the fees for banquet room and kitchen rentals. COMMISSIONER LARA Commissioner Lara asked if the non-profit organizations had been advised of no fireworks on the Fourth of July. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva advised that they had been informed MANAGER GRIJALVA and the information will also be on the flyer. He also advised the Commission that there will be two bands both at a minimum cost. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 6, 2009 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 4 VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo asked if soliciting sponsors for next years' fireworks show would be an option. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva responded that sponsors could be an MANAGER GRIJALVA option for next years' Fourth of July and will be seeking sponsors for this year's Music in the Park. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Hernandez asked if Music in the Park was cut down HERNANDEZ to four weeks. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva responded that Music in the Park is for MANAGER GRIJALVA seven weeks. CHAIR DIAZ Chair Diaz advised the Commission of the City Council budget workshop meeting on May 13th and commented that he didn't realize the City's critical financial situation until he began attending the Ad Hoc Committee meetings. ASSISTANT CITY Assistant City Manager Diaz asked the Commission if they wanted MANAGER DIAZ to take a vote on the elimination of the Tiny Tots Program and received a negative response. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Hernandez stated that the budget should be re- HERNANDEZ evaluated. COMMISSIONER LARA Commissioner Lara suggested looking into the ratio of staff to tiny tots. MOTION Vice Chair Fraijo made a motion to recommend that night swimming not be eliminated, seconded by Commissioner Lara. Motion was passed with Chair Diaz opposing. RECREATION MANAGER UPDATE Recreation Manager Grijalva presented the following update: 1. Programs in April went very well, however, the Earth Day event did not have good attendance. 2. Lil Dunkers basketball banquet tonight. 3. Youth basketball banquet on Saturday. COMMISSIONER LARA Commissioner Lara acknowledged Pat Sullivan, City Librarian, on the great job she and her staff did on Earth Day. She also commended the Recreation staff for a job well done for the Earth Day event. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 6, 2009 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 5 COMMISSIONER Commissioner Zepeda asked if the Lil Dunkers have had a separate ZEPEDA basketball banquet before. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva responded that this was the first time MANAGER GRIJALVA they had their own separate banquet because of the large number of kids. COMMISSIONER ITEMS COMMISSIONER LARA Commissioner Lara congratulated the cheerleaders for taking First Place in their recent competition, and gave a special thanks to Elizabeth Rodriguez, Deelesa Herrera and Amanda Orosco who are their coaches. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m. (IN (", �' 61 - Becky Romero, Ad inistrative Secretary