The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About08/05/2015IRWINDALE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER AUGUST 5, 2015 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, Marguerite S. Lopez, Belen Zepeda; Vice Chair Paula Fraijo; Chair Dan Diaz Also present: Dan Grijalva, Recreation Manager; Pedro Rodriguez Jr., Maintenance Lead Worker; and Armando Hegdahl, Records Technician SPONTANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS There were no comments. 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 July 1, 2015. RECREATION MANAGER UPDATE RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva presented the following update: MANAGER GRIJALVA 1) The Irwindale Park Plaza was re -dedicated on July 2"d; he thanked everyone who participated in the project and noted that staff has received only positive comments. 2) The 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular was also very well-received and was attended by a large crowd. 3) The Day Camp program averages about 25 children per trip. 4) Staff found it necessary to cancel the first of the Camp -Out activities; the second one may also be cancelled if there are insufficient participants. This year, it will be held at the northern end of the restrooms, east of the picnic shelter, at the volleyball area. 5) The summer activities are winding down; there is only one more day -camp trip and two more beach trips scheduled. Each of these trips averages between 15 and 25 participants. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 5, 2015 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 2 COMMISSIONER ITEMS COMMISSIONER Commissioner Barbosa stated that she was upset that, although BARBOSA flyers were mailed to all residents pertaining to parking arrangements during the 4th of July celebrations, she only observed two people following the suggestions. She also requested that Recreation Supervisor Zepeda be thanked for the beautiful words she coined on the rock at the park. She then requested that lifeguards be provided water and for staff to check into uniform allowances for the lifeguards, to which Recreation Manager Grijalva indicated that any additional purchases, such as water, would need to be addressed during budget deliberations. She also asked about the integrity of the renovations made at the park plaza, to which Recreation Manager Grijalva indicated that Public Works staff continuously inspects the area for any damages. Commissioner Barbosa then commented that the individuals playing soccer at the park are damaging the grass and requested that this matter be discussed at the next commission meeting. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Lopez suggested that arrangements be made so that LOPEZ the Parks Commission and the City Council could gather at the new park plaza and take a photo for the city archives. She also commended the Recreation Department for holding the anti -bullying sessions with local children and requested that these sessions continue, and that children who utilize the school bus be required to take the anti -bullying session before they are allowed to board the bus. RECREATION Recreation Manager Grijalva indicated that there are bus rules MANAGER GRIJALVA already in place which forbid bullying. He added that the bullying matter has been addressed during the first week of the Music in the Park concert, to which Vice Chair Fraijo stated that parents need to be made aware of the problem and that they should educate their children to help prevent it from reoccurring. Recreation Manager Grijalva advised that disruptive or unruly children on board the bus are issued tickets, but that the school district is responsible for the discipline these children receive. Staff sends a letter to the parents of the unruly children to advise them every time a ticket is issued. After receiving a third warning, children may be banned from the bus. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Lopez asked about cyber -bullying, to which LOPEZ Recreation Manager Grijalva indicated that staff has not yet had an opportunity to address this specific concern. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Barbosa requested discussing cyber -bullying at the BARBOSA next Commission meeting. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 5, 2015 REGULAR MEETING PAGE 3 VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo praised the beautiful park renovations and suggested placing signs forbidding people from stepping onto the fountain. Responding to a question by Vice Chair Fraijo, Recreation Manager Grijalva indicated that the electrical issues with the park lighting still needed to be repaired. Vice Chair Fraijo also asked whether any incidents or injuries had been experienced at the pool, to which Recreation Manager Grijalva advised that there have been none. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Barbosa asked about fountain maintenance, to which BARBOSA Recreation Manager Grijalva advised that Public Works and Recreation Department staff members are learning maintenance procedures for the fountain. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo asked about any issues with landscaping as a result of the drought, to which Maintenance Lead Worker Rodriguez advised that the grass has been drying due to the drought. Staff is following the state's recommendation to water only three days per week. Vice Chair Fraijo suggested placing "please excuse our lawn" signs on the landscaping, to which Maintenance Lead Worker Rodriguez advised that those signs have already been placed on street medians. MAINTENANCE LEAD Maintenance Lead Worker Rodriguez reported on the recent theft of WORKER RODRIGUEZ a backflow device from EI Nido Park. VICE CHAIR FRAIJO Vice Chair Fraijo asked about the timeline to replace the stolen device, to which Maintenance Lead Worker Rodriguez advised that staff is attempting to retrieve the backflow device by next week. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Zepeda reported on a park bench that had been ZEPEDA damaged, to which Maintenance Lead Worker Rodriguez indicated that staff is looking into placing parking blocks in front of it to avoid having vehicles damaging it. MINING PROGRAM Mining Program Manager Rojas advised the tonight is his last MANAGER ROJAS meeting with the Commission and that, from now on, Maintenance Lead Worker Rodriguez would attend in his place. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Barbosa updated the Commission on her family's trip BARBOSA to the Special Olympics. CHAIR DIAZ Chair Diaz reported that copper pipe was stolen from EI Nido Park, to which Vice Chair Fraijo spoke on the need for the police department to be proactive instead of reactive to crime. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 5, 2015 PAGE 4 MAINTENANCE LEAD Maintenance Lead Worker Rodriguez reported that some of the WORKER RODRIGUEZ stolen articles have been recovered, though staff will need to wait to re -use them since they have been admitted into evidence by the police department. The suspects of the crime have already been charged. DENA ZEPEDA Dena Zepeda said that she calls the police when she sees suspicious activity. CHAIR DIAZ Chair Diaz thanked Recreation Manager Grijalva for all his hard work during the summer concerts. COMMISSIONER Commissioner Barbosa requested discussing the patrolling of city BARBOSA parks by the police department at the next commission meeting. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Armando Hegdahl, Records Technician