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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/19/2013IRWINDALE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER 5050 N. IRWINDALE AVENUE IRWINDALE, CALIFORNIA 91706 SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 THURSDAY 6:00 P.M. The Irwindale PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION met in special session at the above time and place. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Erlinda Duran, Marguerite S. Lopez, Belen Zepeda; Vice Chair Paula Fraijo; Chair Dan Diaz Also present: William Tam, Director of Public Works; Dan Grijalva, Recreation Manager; and Armando Hegdahl, Records Technician SPONTANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS There were no speakers. CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION A motion was made by Vice Chair Fraijo, seconded by Commissioner Lopez, to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was unanimously approved. ITEM NO. 1A MINUTES MINUTES The following minutes were approved as presented: 1) Regular meeting held August 7, 2013. RECREATION MANAGER UPDATE RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva presented the following update: MANAGER GRIJALVA 1) Nineteen have registered for the KidZone program. People have seemed to accept the $40 per month charge. The program is operating smoothly. 2) The Tiny Tots program has not started yet. There are seven signups for the program so far. The program will begin soon. 3) A family trip to Citywalk has been scheduled for next Friday; a teen trip to Castle Park has been scheduled for the following day. 4) A teen trip to Knott's Scary Farm has been scheduled for October 4. 5) A family trip to Oak Glen has been scheduled for October 12. 6) The Halloween Spooktacular event has been scheduled for October 27. The annual pumpkin carving contest will be held on October 29. 7) There have been zero signups for the flag football program. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 2 NEW BUSINESS ITEM NO. 3A PARK -PLAZA -GAZEBO IMPROVEMENT PROJECT—VERBAL PARK -PLAZA -GAZEBO REPORT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT — VERBAL REPORT DIRECTOR TAM Director Tam advised that Steven Ormenyi will review the design concepts for the park. He also noted that invitations to tonight's meeting were sent to all residents so that they can provide input. STEVEN ORMENYI Steven Ormenyi, the landscape architect, made a PowerPoint presentation and discussed the following: 1) Existing park conditions 2) The proposed preliminary plan 3) The picnic shelter remodel 4) The removal of the existing tennis courts 5) The proposed trees for the old tennis court area 6) The proposed fountain 7) Fountain trees and lights 8) Grading and drainage 9) The permeable paver 10)Plaza trees 11)Shade trees 12)Site lighting 13)Tree evaluation 14)Falling plaza trees 15)Gazebo COMMISSIONER Commissioner Duran asked whether complaints have been received DURAN on the pavers, to which Mr. Ormenyi indicated that there have not been any complaints at either of the two places where they were installed. DIRECTOR TAM Director Tam noted that the existing storm drain cannot be replaced, so the proposed design will help reduce runoff. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Duran asked whether the proposed lights are motion DURAN activated, to which Mr. Ormenyi advised that the camera will be fitted on top of the fixture to keep track of who is at the park. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo noted that cameras were used at the Skate Park, but that plan did not work out. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva pointed out that the new lighting will MANAGER GRIJALVA provide good visibility. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 PAGE 3 VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo asked whether the lighting strip will be at ground level, to which Mr. Ormenyi responded by saying that the lights will be in the ceiling. There will not be lighting that faces upward. He noted that the light fixtures are dynamic in that the colors will change. Vice Chair Fraijo expressed concern over proper maintenance and irrigation of the landscape, to which Mr. Ormenyi said that the specialist that inspected the existing landscape concluded that the roots of the existing trees make it almost impossible to properly aerate the lawn. Vice Chair Fraijo also noted the need to address water pressure, to which Mr. Ormenyi stated that it is his job to re -do the irrigation. She also asked about the stage area, to which Mr. Ormenyi said that a new, bigger stage will be placed against the Recreation building. He added that there will be 45 feet between the new fountain and the grass area. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Duran asked whether the existing gazebo will be DURAN removed, to which Mr. Ormenyi confirmed that the plan is to remove the gazebo, but that the plan can change if necessary. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Lopez expressed concern over spacing between the LOPEZ booths. STEVEN ORMENYI Steven Ormenyi advised that bollards will be installed at the parks to restrict unauthorized individuals from driving in. As requested by Vice Chair Fraijo, Mr. Ormenyi also discussed the proposed pavers. He added that root barriers will also be installed to prevent the unnecessary spreading of root trees. DIRECTOR TAM Regarding maintenance issues, Director Tam noted that maintenance will improve once additional workers are hired. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo asked whether benches will be placed throughout the park, to which Mr. Ormenyi advised that benches are not part of the plan, but that they can be included. DOLORAS AMADOR Doloras Amador suggested moving the bus stop closer to the tennis court area. She also noted that Myrtle trees are very messy, to which Mr. Ormenyi responded by saying that all flowering trees are messy. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva noted that the tree flowers fall to the MANAGER GRIJALVA ground and stain it. Alternatives to these flowering trees can be considered. STEVEN ORMENYI Mr. Ormenyi showed which trees are being planned for removal and replacement with other trees. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 4 DOLORAS AMADOR Doloras Amador asked if the trees are disease resistant, to which Mr. Ormenyi advised that they are disease-free within reason and are easy to maintain. DIRECTOR TAM Director Tam advised that two existing trees that are damaging the sidewalk will be removed. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo asked if the basketball court that is scheduled to be removed will be replaced, to which Mr. Ormenyi indicated that the basketball court can be replaced if necessary. Vice Chair Fraijo stated her preference in keeping a basketball court. DIRECTOR TAM Regarding the location of the bus stop, Director Tam advised that this matter was researched several years ago. He said that it might be moved closer to the Recreation building on Calle de Paseo. However, that would require the removal of several trees. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Duran said that moving the bus stop to Calle de DURAN Paseo would probably be safer for the children. DIRECTOR TAM Director Tam said that the basketball court would need to be relocated. Also, there will be room for picnic areas. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Lopez asked about shade, to which Mr. Ormenyi LOPEZ advised that the new trees would require between seven to 10 years to provide considerable shade. CHAIR DIAZ Responding to a question by Chair Diaz, Mr. Ormenyi stated that he hopes that construction will begin in January 2014 and that the first of two phases should be done by June. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo suggested focusing on the fountain area first. DIRECTOR TAM Director Tam said that, realistically, the project will begin early 2014, and that the project would be expedited. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Lopez asked about the water feature, to which Mr. LOPEZ Ormenyi advised that the Public Works department can keep it clean with chemicals. COMMISSIONER ITEMS VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Responding to a question by Vice Chair Fraijo, Recreation Manager Grijalva advised that student volunteers generally call at the beginning of October. He said that he anticipates that several students will volunteer this year. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 SPECIAL MEETING PAGE 5 CHAIR DIAZ Chair Diaz asked about a new bingo machine, to which Recreation Manager Grijalva advised that the old machine will be replaced with a new one. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Lopez asked about the pumpkin carving contest, to LOPEZ which Recreation Manager Grijalva stated that it will be handled by the Recreation department. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo expressed her enthusiasm in starting up the Tiny Tots program. CHAIR DIAZ Chair Diaz asked about the flag football program, to which Recreation Manager Grijalva reiterated that no one has enrolled. CITY MANAGER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Armando Hegdahl, Records Technician Approved as presented at the meeting held October 2, 2013.