HomeMy WebLinkAbout090325IRWINDALE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
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 Michelle Duran, Justin Kelly, Nathan
Romero; Vice Chair Carmen Roman; Chair Paula Fraijo
Also present: Elizabeth Rodriguez, Public Services Director; Delfina
Osterheim, Recreation Supervisor; Melissa Marez, Recreation
Supervisor; Pedro Rodriguez, Public Works Services Supervisor;
Daniel Grijalva, Aquatics Supervisor; and Armando Hegdahl,
Management Analyst
AB 2449 DISCLOSURES None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION A motion was made by Chair Fraijo, seconded by Commissioner Kelly,
to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was unanimously
approved.
ITEM NO. 6A MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD JULY 2, 2025
MINUTES OF THE
MEETING HELD The minutes of the meeting held July 2, 2025, were approved as
JULY 2, 2025 presented.
ITEM NO. 6B RECREATION SUPERVISOR UPDATE
RECREATION
SUPERVISOR The Recreation Supervisor update was received and filed.
UPDATE
ITEM NO. 6C AQUATICS SUPERVISOR UPDATE
AQUATICS
SUPERVISOR UPDATE The Aquatics Supervisor update was received and filed.
ITEM NO. 6D PUBLIC WORKS MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR UPDATE
PUBLIC WORKS
MAINTENANCE The Public Works Maintenance Supervisor update was received and
SUPERVISOR UPDATE filed.
ITEM NO. 6E MAINTENANCE UPDATE FROMN THE 2025 WALK-THROUGH
MAINTENANCE UPDATE
FROM THE 2025 The maintenance update was received and filed.
WALK-THROUGH
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
REGULAR MEETING PAGE 2
SPONTANEOUS
COMMUNICATIONS There were no speakers.
NEW BUSINESS
ITEM NO. 8A RED, WHITE & YOU POST EVENT REVIEW
RED, WHITE & YOU
POST EVENT REVIEW
COMMISSIONER Responding to a question by Commissioner Romero, Director
ROMERO Rodriguez advised that unused funds are returned to a pool of funds
where the Executive Director of the Irwindale Community Foundation
can redirect them to benefit the community in another way.
CHAIR FRAIJO Chair Fraijo suggested potentially setting tables under shaded areas,
such as is done for the MariachiFest. She thanked staff from all
departments that contributed to the event’s success.
COMMISSIONER Commissioner Kelly asked whether novelty items, such as t-shirts,
KELLY that display the event’s date could be sold to which Director
Rodriguez advised that staff would look into the request.
ITEM NO. 8B DOG PARK AT JARDIN DE ROCA PARK
DOG PARK AT JARDIN
DE ROCA PARK
DIRECTOR RODRIGUEZ Director Rodriguez presented the staff report.
CHAIR FRAIJO Chair Fraijo voiced concern that the noise and odors emanating from
a dog park may bother some in the community, to which Director
Rodriguez advised that these issues could be mitigated by the slope
at the subject site. She also noted issues with homelessness and
vandalism at the site that may be alleviated with the establishment of
a dog park.
VICE CHAIR ROMAN Vice Chair Roman agreed that the subject site may be the best area
to set up a dog park.
COMMISSIONER Commissioner Romero concurred and asked who would clean and
ROMERO maintain the dog park, and on which days. He also asked when dog
owners would be permitted to take their dogs to the park.
DIRECTOR RODRIGUEZ Director Rodriguez responded by indicating that, at this point, the
subject site is merely a potential site for a dog park and advised that
additional details would be provided to the Commission once the dog
park is added to the project list and has funding allocated. She
added that staff would research rules, procedures, and maintenance
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
REGULAR MEETING PAGE 3
for other dog parks, the results of which would also be presented to
the Commission.
COMMISSIONER Commissioner Kelly stated that cameras should also be included
KELLY when considering the dog park.
COMMISSIONER Commissioner Duran suggested that bags be supplied so that
DURAN owners can clean up after their pets.
CHAIR FRAIJO Chair Fraijo noted that many residents have requested a dog park
and expressed her excitement that the request is now being
considered. She asked whether existing trees and/or shrubs would
be removed from the subject site if it is used for a dog park, to which
Director Rodriguez stated that it is likely that only shrubs would be
removed.
ITEM NO. 8C COMMISSION INVITES TO SPECIFIC SPECIAL EVENTS
COMMISSION INVITES
TO SPECIFIC SPECIAL
EVENTS
DIRECTOR RODRIGUEZ Director Rodriguez presented the staff report.
VICE CHAIR ROMAN Vice Chair Roman indicated that she requested that this item be
discussed to determine whether Commissioners should
automatically be invited to attend certain Recreation/Aquatics events
without the need to register.
DISCUSSION HELD Discussion was held regarding dress requirements at the pool when
patrons do not plan on getting into the pool, to which Director
Rodriguez stated that staff would look into how to best address the
concern.
ITEM NO. 8D SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS AT THE DAN DIAZ RECREATION
SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS CENTER AND IRWINDALE AQUATICS CENTER – VERBAL
AT THE DAN DIAZ
RECREATION CENTER
AND IRWINDALE
AQUATICS CENTER
DIRECTOR RODRIGUEZ Director Rodriguez presented the report and made a PowerPoint
presentation.
PUBLIC SERVICES
DIRECTOR UPDATE
DIRECTOR RODRIGUEZ Director Rodriguez presented the following update:
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
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1) The purchase and installation of a movie screen for the Dive In
program was placed on hold due to the conflicting summer
season. However, now that the summer season is over, staff will
proceed with the purchase and installation of the screen.
2) New doors were installed near the Kidzone area of the Dan Diaz
Recreation Center
3) She provided details on upcoming “Too Toxic to Trash” waste
disposal events.
4) She also welcomed Mariana Quinones as the new Aquatics
Assistant.
5) Ben Garcia will retire on September 8. As a result, Gary Strobehn
has been promoted to Maintenance Worker 2 and Ernie Espino
has been promoted to Maintenance Worker 1.
6) She also provided an update on the Irwindale Public Library
Improvement Project.
7) She also provided details on the Community Development
Department’s Hazard Mitigation Plan.
8) MariachiFest begins tomorrow and will run every Thursday in
September. The Mexican Independence Day Fiesta has been
scheduled for September 11.
COMMISSIONER Commissioner Kelly thanked staff for inviting residents to sign the
KELLY iron beam that will be used in the construction of the new library.
CHAIR FRAIJO Responding to a question by Chair Fraijo, Director Rodriguez
indicated that staff included the replacement of park restroom toilet
paper to the list of concerns brought up by the Commission at its
recent park walk through and noted that the issue has been remedied.
Chair Fraijo also asked whether park visitors continue to clog toilets
with toilet seat covers, which Supervisor Rodriguez stated that he
would check with staff to confirm. Chair Fraijo suggested that staff no
longer offer seat covers if they are being used to vandalize the toilets.
REQUESTS FOR
AGENDA ITEMS
BY COMMISSION
VICE CHAIR ROMAN Vice Chair Roman suggested improved lighting at the horseshoe
pits, to which Commissioner Kelly stated that the angle of the
current lights cast shadows which make it difficult to see the poles.
Vice Chair Roman also suggested installing a cover over the
Margaret Diaz Pavilion to provide shade. She also requested for
staff to install a fan at the gazebo.
COMMISSIONER Commissioner Duran voiced concern over the cleanliness of the
DURAN restrooms during events at the park, to which Director Rodriguez
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
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advised that staff immediately cleans the restrooms once they are
informed of the need to clean them.
VICE CHAIR ROMAN Vice Chair Roman reported individuals inappropriately parking in the
bus turnabout and walking over to the Aquatics Center, to which
Supervisor Grijalva advised that an announcement could be made
and that a message could also be sent out via the app to discourage
the practice.
COMMISSIONER Commissioner Romero thanked staff for installing curtain partitions
ROMERO to the showers.
COMMISSIONER Commissioner Kelly commented that not many individuals use the
KELLY bowl at the Skate Park, to which Director Rodriguez advised that
staff is looking for funding to revitalize the park and remove the
bowl.
COMMISSIONER Commissioner Duran thanked Rize Credit Union for organizing the
DURAN Mad Money event for youth. She then asked whether all Recreation
staff are trained to work with children who have special needs and
asked to agendize the matter for further discussion. She also
requested adding the matter regarding the shade at the Margaret
Diaz Pavilion to the agenda for discussion.
CONSENSUS Consensus was reached to add the Recreation staff training and
REACHED Margaret Diaz Pavilion shade matters to a future agenda.
COMMISSIONER Commissioner Duran then indicated that she reported dogs off
DURAN leashes to a couple of Police Officers, who did not follow up on the
concern. She also asked whether individuals are allowed to
purchase unused tickets for events, to which Director Rodriguez
indicated that the Field Trip Policy would have to be revised to
address the request.
CHAIR FRAIJO Chair Fraijo asked for an update on this request at the next meeting.
She also asked about the ability to sponsor children for participation
in the Tiny Tots program, which Director Rodriguez clarified that the
sponsorship applied to non-residents, though it is no longer
practiced.
Chair Fraijo asked about a sign at the gym prohibiting organized
practices there, to which Supervisor Marez advised that it previously
was allowed, until it became too unruly with too many teams
participating.
Chair Fraijo asked whether a policy prohibits use of the gym for
organized events, to which Director Rodriguez advised that staff
would check to confirm.
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DENA ZEPEDA Dena Zepeda thanked Commissioner Duran for mentioning the
issue with loose dogs at the parks.
VICE CHAIR ROMAN Vice Chair Roman requested prayers for a resident who is currently
experiencing medical issues.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to conduct, the meeting was
adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
_________________________________
Armando Hegdahl, CMC
Management Analyst
Approved as presented at the meeting held October 1, 2025.