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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/13/73CitS7 Council/Park and Recreation Commission - Joint Budget Study Session - Adjourned regular meeting, Tuesday, March 13, 1973 - 7:30 p.m. (Meeting commenced at 8:05 p.m. following special meeting for personnel session called for 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 13, 1973) Pledge of Allegiance - led by Councilman Doerfling. Present: Councilmen Bigo, Doerfling, Post, Wise, Mayor Valdes Absent:. None Park and Recreation Commissioners present: Bliss, Brubaker, Chenen., Payne, Turner, Tyson. Also present: City Manager Diller, Recreation Director Mott, Superintendent of Public Works Reynolds. At request of Mayor, Recreation Director recapped 1972-73 recreational activities and gave Council and Commissioners report reflecting budget increase requests for fiscal year 1973-74. Stated that decreased enroll- ment in lower grade levels led to increase in age levels requiring more emphasis on summer beach program; night volleyball; team volleyball and badminton program during school year;, corecreational activities; also requested funds for beach patrol. Chairman Turner questioned the use of recreation funds for beach patrol, and Mayor Valdes suggested waiting for CityZManager to return to meeting to give more background information. Recreation Director said beach volleyball specialists were planned for 2nd Street, 22nd Street and north side of Pier to provide seven days of leadership in those areas. Mayor asked for a summary of what the Commission felt is necessary for a successful recreation program to fit the needs of the community. Chairman Turner stated that Commission did a survey — five-hour study session with random sample group of about 35 people - re creative ideas, new philosophies and new approaches. Things in the fine arts area were strongly supported - Craftmobile - participating theatre. (Copy of report re this study given to Council - will get copy from Marty for file) Commissioner Bliss said Commission had instructed Recreation Director to reflect that they needed more money for supplies for arts and crafts program increase for senior citizen program - priority registration for residents -- and Chairman Turner said that Commission's feelings fell fairly close to what= survey mentioned above recommended. Commissioner Chenen pointed out that children are not participating in playground programs and that's why Commission is trying to get night lighting and things geared for the teen-age and older elements. Need parks for family action - arts and crafts in the parks - rather than tot lots. Discussion re Valley Park redevelopment followed - Chairman Turner questioning depth of "bowl" - Public Works Superintendent Reynolds would like members of Council and Commission to stand at "rim" of bowl and then at bottom of area to decide whether they want bottom of bowl lower than plans called for. Councilman Wise stated that he was concerned about the age group for whom city is providing recreation - feels that the key to participation is good leadership - who are we providing the most recreation for, overweight executives who want to play tennis, or teen-agers with nothing to do but smoke pot under the pier? We have a lot of young people at an age that is very difficult to "program" for and it takes very experienced leadership. You can spend all the money in the world on equipment and material things but mithoutpgood .supervision pit' :s�'.wast�edse With oody le�ad�ersh�ipt young 1people �coutdcmtkbigooaeus .�of vacant lot. Recreation Director DeMott said that he would say the 18-25 age group was the most difficult - they have their own car and money in their pocket. Cited Flying Jib inRedondo .as example of place where 18 year olds could go and participate in activities - including alcohol for over 21 - where they felt they were not being treated like children, even though drinks were not served to them. Said the only way this city has been able to attract them is volleyball on the beach during the summer. Added he has been discussing this with Youth Advisory Council. Thought that along with sports city should provide social and cultural programs, too. In reply to question from Mayor Valdes as to whether city is making maximum use of the facilities we now have, DeMott said that he was now working on lighting Clark Stadium at night with "street lighting" which would be less costly than special lighting. Chairman Turner asked if dog obedience classes really took precedence over softball at Clark Stadium, and requested evaluation of some programs. 1 Council/Park and Recreation 3/13/73 -2- DeMott stressed need for lighting at Clark Stadium and on beach, and Councilman Wise felt that recreation leaders should be available more hours. Commissioner Chenen noted that Commission was intheprocess of frequency study on use of all activities to find out which are worthwhile. Chairman Turner suggested that maybe city needed to take a big hire a.recreation street worker. Councilman Wise said he would rather see the kids in the parks lighted - rather than down under the pier. Chairman Turner stated that with lights city could do more about recreation activities down by the pier head - chess, table tennis, etc. - with street workers. Pointed out that itwotkedtvery well last summer and with night lighting could be used in the winter, too. doing a most leap and at night - Councilman Wise said he just felt that we are trying to do too much to satisfy the older people who really do have other things to do - we need more programs with the right kind of leadership to bring the kids out. Councilman Post wondered how we could find out what appeals to kids who aren't participators or interested in community activities, and Commissioner Chenen suggested using the Youth Advisory Council and also to get the recreation leaders together for more input as they had been very helpful in the pest with suggestions as to what city needed to get things going. Councilman Bigo stated that it seemed we were most concerned with organized recreation. Do we have anything a little bit more casual - if recreation programs aresupervised it has tendency to put off people who don't like to be organized. Chairman Turner said that may be in the arena of hiring a couple o special people who know how to deal with kids -. experienced. City Manager Diller entered meeting and Mayor Valdes requested his opinion re need for beach patrol at night. City Manager stated that basically the way he sees the beach is as a park, and that there has to be supervision just to keep order. Commission protested that beach patrol is primarily a policing action and Commissioner Turner stated that she was very much against recreation money :going for that function. Added that city doesn't have that kind of patrol in Valley Park, etc. Councilman Doerfling pointed out that City is still trying to get a County beach patrolprogram for our beach since it is used by entire County. Added that maybe it was a mistake to put beach patrol on park and recreation budget. Mayor Valdes felt that city should not be afraid to advance new ideas re crowd control, whether structured or non -structured. Possibly patrol could be outside of the park and recreation budget. Commissioner Bliss said we were giving beach patrol recreation leaders all of the responsibility and no authority to enforce. Chairman Turner after some discussion said she would approve totally programming the beach with activities, along with low-key patrol funded by another source, but that we need something that will push the positive. Councilman Post pointed out the junior lifeguard program where the kids work out with supervision - felt low=key patrol good for night recreation just so participants would know there was someone there. Commissioner Bliss felt that recreation facilities with night lighting always could solve a loitering problem. City Council/Park and Recreation - 3/13/73 -3- Lengthy discussion re volleyball courts north and south of pier and night lighting for same. Councilman Wise did not want to see popular beach area totally turned into sports area -noted that surfing best on south side of pier and swimming best on north side and should be encouraged also. Commission stated that this was their intention, but they were bearing down on volleyballcourt night lighting status because they had been waiting for this since last September. City Manager explained that there were definite reasons for delay and none of this was on purpose. Also pointed out that there has been considerable citizen protest re volleyball courts and night lighting north of Pier, due to fact that there were bars in that area. Councilman Wise stated that five years ago he proposed and Lifeguards supported encouraging surfing on south side of pier and swimming on north side, and County had agreed to provide lifeguard service until 10 p.m. Council did not approve this program at that time, but he was sure that County's offer still stood if city was willing to participate. 5cl._ Mayor Valdes suggested trying :volleyball courts and temporary night lighting on south side of pier to see if it lives up to our concepts. Councilman Bigo asked if hidden costs to city government were understood on any program the Park and Recreation Department undertakes to expand. Example being at the time the lights are turned off people will leave in added numbers and there will be a need for added traffic control, etc. Mayor stated that group had talked for 45 minutes and we haven't resolved anything. City Manager reminded all that city would be rebuilding Strand on south side and eventually on north side, hopefully all the way up to the Biltmore site. New lighting facilities would be going up then. It was agreed that night lighting would be put up on existing poles at this time and additional volleyball courts put up on south side of pier, all on experimental basis. Councilman Wise asked .that Dick Fitzgerald• and Beach Department be approached further for utilizing some of the funds in his department to help city with this project. (Already ,;okayed:).7 MATTERS TABLED TO THIS DATE: ACTION - to concur with the recommendation of the Recreation Commission that the Hermosa/Manhattan American Youth Soccer Organization be given 4 Clark Stadium field light usage without charge during fiscal year 1973- 1` 74. Valdes, Doerfling. Carried. All, none, none. 4th of July "Clean Air Day" project - Commissioner Chenen stated that rather than negative approach they hoped to come up with positive program that might capture imagination of people in the community and result in a "fain day" - use other forms of activity to take peoples' minds off fireworks - only bikes in certain areas (except for emergency vehicles and tow trucks) - bike parades and races - create focal point for theme of community - signs.- etc. Mayor and Councilman Wise both urged considering crowd reaction and legal problems, and Chairman Turner said Commission itself had negative reaction to barricading streets and felt that a more positive approach would encourage voluntary compliance. Commissioner Chenen suggested that PCH and Ardmore should not be closed, but that bike traffic should be encouraged. west of Ardmore - perhaps donated bikes for pepple to borrow and ride into town as alternate to walking - no traffic in b each area. Set up adtivities - perhaps a band in Valley Park - pleasure fair using streets as mall with focal point -"redirect" the activities of whoever is here on that day. Chairman Turner said people should know ahead of time that it's going to be a "planned" day, and if they don't like old-fashioned things just stay away. City Manager Diller felt that the City would be forced to block south entrances into city after dark, and Chairman Turner said yes, but in an attractive way - not police state impression. Councilman Post wondered how city could come up with something this elaborate by 4th of July - steps must be taken without delay to encourage participation by entire community. Councilman Wise thought blockading streets could cause some serious problems - felt city ought to make arrangements for as many towing companies as j Council/Park and Recreation - 3/13/73 -4- possible to stand by inform all residents by flyer, in advance - this will be a "bike day" - part of overall plan relative to law enforcement - post emergency No Parking signs all over problem areas and "tow away zone" signs, and actively enforce - haul 'em away - spell it out loud and clear in advance. Take away their parking rather than blockades. Chairman Turner added that we must encourage citizens to take positive responsibility for safety in their own city. Mayor Valdes stated that he felt Council had given preliminary nod to basic concept Commission to come back with more detail before formal approval can be given to definite. program. Mayor Valdes stated that by Allocation of .Parks, .Music and Advertising Fund - statutefover X50%r ofvfui d must be spent for advertising - Commission requests that other_49% be spent for park and recreation. At question from Mayor City Manager Diller stated that up tothasyear city has been spending all of this every year. Fund is around $30,000 and something close to $20,000 obligated at thistime. Valdes stated that he believed the•ECommission would like to use all of the monies that are legally available to them. Informed the Commission that they have about $10,000 available in a new fund for capital improvements and acquisition of property only. Added that Council would be interested in an overall five-year projection re how that $10,000 should be spent for capital improvement or acqusition of land for park purposes only, to come to Council in phased program proposal. Commissioner Bliss stated that Commission had formed a subcommittee to investigate possibility of outside funding of park and recreation projects, for added revenue. Youth Theatre ACTION - to approve an allocation of $2,500.00 from the Parks, Music and Advertising Fund for the fiscal year 1972473 for a youth theatre production for the children of Hermosa Beach during the summer of 1973. Motion by Councilman Doerfling —Second by Mayor Valdes. Carried Ayes: Councilmen Doerfling, Post, Mayor Valdes ltok-Y Noes: Councilmen Bigo, Wise Absent: None Mayor Valdes thanked those present for a very productive meeting, and Chairmn Turner concurred and agreed with the Mayor's suggestion that the Commission poll the Council re what their thoughts are about this city's recreation needs. Mayor Valdes felt that the Council and Park and Recreation Commission needed one more budget study session prior to final consideration of 1973-74 budget. Adjournment - Valdes, Doerfling - 10:30 p.m. - to next regular meeting, Tuesday, March 20, 1973 —Council Chamber - 7:30 p.m. 3/14/73 bf CITY COUNCIL - ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, March 13, 1973 - 7:30 p.m. Council Chamber - City Hall PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL 1973-74 MUNICIPAL BUDGET - PARKS ANDDRECREATION--CCityCCouncir/ Park and Recreation Commission/Beach Committee Joint Study Session. ADJOURNMENT City Council - Adjourned Regular Meeting, March 13, 1973 Joint 1973:-74 Budget Study Session - Supplementary Information The following matters have been transmitted to the City Council by the Park and Recreation Commission for their consideration at this meeting: (Copies attached for reference) (a) Appropriation of $7,000.00 for night lighting of volleyball courts north of Municipal Pier. (b) Hermosa/Manhattan AYSO field light usage without fee. (c) Fourth of July as "Clean Air Day"; a: (d) Discussion re allocation of Parks, Music and Advertising Fund. (The above items were held over from regular meeting of February 6, 1973 for discussion at this study session) (e) Allocation of $2,500.00 from fiscal year 1972-73 budget from Parks, Music and Advertising Fund, for a youth theatre production during summer '73. (Received March 8, 1973)