09/15/2015 Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Adopted 10/20/2015CITY OF GILROY
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
6:00 P.M.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
CALL ORDER
The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair
Garcia at 6:02 p.m.
SECRETARY'S REPORT
Commissioners present: Commissioners Almash (6:07 p.m.), Berry, Garcia, Lehman,
McHenry, Puente and Scheel
Commissioners Absent: None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion made by Commissioner Puente to approve the minutes of July 21, 2015, with stated
corrections. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lehman.
Motion passed unanimously (6-0-1, Commissioner Almash was late).
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion made by Commissioner McHenry to approve the agenda for September 15, 2015.
Motion was seconded by Commissioner Puente.
Motion passed unanimously (6-0-1, Commissioner Almash was late).
INTRODUCTIONS
Chair Garcia introduced Mayor Gage. Mayor Gage was asked about the following:
Question: What is the process going to be to hire a new city administrator? Answer: The
Mayor stated that Human Resources Director/Risk Services Manager LeeAnn McPhillips will be
in charge until an Interim City Administrator is appointed. They are looking at some retired
Sana Clara County Directors for that position. Then a nationwide search will be conducted to fill
that position.
Question: What is the status of the 720 acres? Answer: "Yes, Council wants to bring it in." It
will be completed at the Council level in January. Then it goes to LAFCO and environmental
which is all up to the developer to handle. The Mayor said this development is at least 20 years
out.
Question: What is the plan for Thomas Road being widened over the levee as there is some
citizen concern about the safety of walking to the Levee? Answer: There will be a walking
pathibike path on the side of the bridge.
Question: What is happening with the Red Barn? Answer: The Committee wants to restore it.
They have been given 3 years to raise the $3 million dollars needed to do that. Right now they
plan to cover it to protect the roof, etc. from further deterioration. At one time, the City was
looking to make it into an Education Center.
Question: What is happening with the upgrade of the Downtown? Answer: There are 21
unreinforced masonry buildings, all but 2 are in the process of being done - the Old Water Store
and the Creamery. Criminal charges were filed against the owners of those 2 buildings. The
City sent 51 letters out. Their Broker said to send them to him which the City did. The Owners
were never informed. There is now a buyer for the Water Store who plans on retrofitting the
building.
Question: Building where marijuana was being grown? Answer: It is being dealt with and the
matter is now in the courts.
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
OLD BUSINESS
A. Official Vote on Hosting the California Association of Parks & Recreation
Commissioners and Board Members' 2015 Fall Workshop
Motion made by Commissioner Berry that the City of Gilroy Parks & Recreation
Commission host the California Association of Parks & Recreation Commissioners
and Board Members' 2015 Fall Workshop. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Scheel.
Motion passed unanimously (7-0-0).
B. Wrap -Up Discussion on Fro-Yo Fever Fundraiser (see attached letter)
Chair Garcia reported that only 11 people participated in the fundraiser. There also
wasn't much participation in the Yogh Art fundraiser held earlier this year. She
questioned whether it was worth doing any more.
The consensus was the Commission would no longer sponsor these types of fundraisers.
Commissioner Berry thanked Chair Garcia and Commissioner Scheel for spearheading
the yogurt fundraisers.
C. Wrap -Up Discussion of Annual Staff Appreciation Breakfast — September 10, 2015
The breakfast was very successful. The food was excellent. Only snag was no coffee or
juice.
Commissioner Scheel volunteered to do a reminder call to the Commissioners next year
for the breakfast the night before. She also suggested starting the breakfast at 8:30 a.m.
rather than 8:00 a.m. No decision was made.
D. Update/Plans for Area in Rainbow Park Where Tree Stump was Removed
David Stubchaer reminded the Commission that 3 Oak trees will be planted in that area
as well as an irrigation system. Planting should begin around November.
Commissioner Scheel was concerned about the area being roped off and how long the
rope would be up. The ropes will be up until the trees have matured, however long that
takes.
Mr. Stubchaer stated that the ropes aide in park users not tripping on the uneven ground.
As far as the size of the trees, they have not been purchased yet so size is not known.
Commissioner Scheel stated she would be monitoring the progress of this project.
E. Quarterly Report on Youth Scholarship Funds & Distribution (Apr, July, Oct., Jan)
None.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Update on Red Barn
Maria De Leon stated that there will be a presentation at the October meeting. The
Commission stated they would like a Red Barn representative to attend and give a
presentation as well. David Stubchaer stated that he reached out to the Red Barn
Committee to get an update on what they were doing and no one responded.
Motion was made by Commissioner Scheel that she invite a Red Barn Committee
member to attend the October 20, 2015 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting
and give a presentation. The motion was seconded by Vice Chair Puente.
Motion passed unanimously (7-0-0).
B. Removal of the Gilroy Sports Park Fencing
Vice Chair Puente stated he was wondering what happened to the fence that was put up at
the sports park (it was about 1,000 feet long). Where did the fence go? It was expensive.
Was the fence put in the correct place — did the surveyors do their job correctly?
David Stubchaer stated that it needed to be replaced. The developers took it down and
put up a much nicer wrought iron fence, as this was a requirement of the development
agreement.
C. Parks & Recreation Commission Annual Meeting in the Park
Chair Garcia moved that this agenda item be moved to the 2016 Retreat agenda.
The motion was seconded by Vice Chair Puente.
Motion passed unanimously (7-0-0).
D. Commission Message in Activity Guide
Chair Garcia stated she would like to see the PRC message in every Activity Guide. The
other Commissioners agreed. Judy Mireles-Janisch said every effort would be made to
include a message from the Commission in every Activity Guide.
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Motion was made by Chair Garcia that the Parks & Recreation Commission would
like to have a Commission message in every seasonal Active Guide. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Scheel.
Motion passed unanimously (7-0-0).
E. Dog Park Operations & Use of $600 Donation from Gilroy Foundation
David Stubchaer informed the Commission that the monies donated by the Gilroy
Foundation are used for the doggie bags (The $600 is about a third of the cost of bags for
one year).
F. Planning for Great Garlic 5K Fun Run — October 24, 2015
Judy Mireles-Janisch reported that staff has been working on this event. The flyer,
postcards and sponsor letters have already been mailed out. Summer interns have been a
huge help working on this event and therefore, tasks for this project are way ahead of
schedule.
Volunteers have been asked to dress as scarecrows. There will be a $50 gift card for the
best scarecrow costume.
Commissioner Berry asked if the Commissioners would dress up as Commissioner
McHenry's favorite thing — cowboys and cowgirls. She also asked if each Commissioner
would donate a gift card for prizes.
Also, Commissioner Berry mentioned Gilroy Gardens' Scary Boo contest - you create a
scarecrow and set it up on the bridge. She suggested that if the Commission did this, it
could be free advertisement for the 5K event.
Motion was made by Commissioner Lehman to participate in Gilroy Gardens'
Scary Boo contest. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McHenry.
Motion passed unanimously (7-0-0).
If not chosen as the winner, staff will bring the scarecrow to the Great Garlic 5K event on
the 24th.
Commissioner Scheel mentioned that the Beer Crawl is the same day as the 5K from
2:00-6:00 p.m. downtown. Commissioners can encourage their friends to participate in
the 5K and then go downtown to the Beer Crawl. She will send the flyer to Sondra
Banks who will send it out to the Commission.
G. Numbering of Light Poles in All City Parks
Vice Chair Puente feels that the numbering of all the light poles in City parks is
extremely important. It makes it easy to identify the lights that are out in the parks.
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David Stubchaer stated that he is not opposed to the idea. He said he doesn't believe it is
a budget issue but could be a manpower issue. He suggested it might be a good intern
project. Right now staff is unable to take on this project, but they are in the process of
hiring additional staff. Commissioner Almash suggested using volunteers to take on this
project. Commissioner McHenry suggested it could be an Eagle Scout project.
H. Night Inspection of Signs for Reflection
Vice Chair Puente stated that on a yearly basis the County checks signs to make sure that
they are reflecting and replace the ones that no longer reflect. David Stubchaer stated
that it is being worked on in the Streets section. A database is being created which will
include those inspections.
I. Proposed Miller Park Replacement Restroom
David Stubchaer reviewed the staff report that Commissioners received in their Agenda
packet. Mr. Stubchaer stated that the monies for this project have to be used by March of
2016.
Motion made by Commissioner McHenry to approve the proposed Miller Park
bathroom renovations and recommend same to Council. The motion was seconded
by Commissioner Puente.
Motion passed unanimously (7-0-0).
PROGRAM UPDATES
Recreation (Recreation Supervisor Judy Mireles-Janisch): See attached report.
Operations (Senior Engineer/Operations Manager David Stubchaer): See attached report.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Bicycle Pedestrian Commission
None.
Gang Task Force
None.
GPAC
Commissioner Scheel reported that the Parks & Recreation element was discussed at their last
meeting. The biggest surprise was that in the definition restrooms were not considered. Most of
the Committee felt that restrooms should be in neighborhood parks and better lighting so that
portion is being rewritten.
The other thing that changed in the text was the timing for the next Master Plan. The Committee
voted to have it between 2018 and 2022.
A reminder was given that all these proposed changes have to be approved by City Council.
The Recreation Activity Guide was discussed. Minimum of two (2) Guides was agreed on.
Public Art was also discussed. Quite a few of the Art group members were in attendance and
spoke. It may come up again as some of the Art's community felt a couple of items were
overlooked.
Bicycle Pedestrian Commission
None.
Library Commission
None.
Youth Commission
None.
Senior Advisory Board
Not meeting until the 21st. She attended the anti -graffiti meeting and Bill Headley spoke. They
are really trying hard to keep the graffiti down.
COMMISSION PARK REPORTS & COMMENTS
Vice Chair Puente —San Ysidro Park — looks pretty good. Urinating on the handball court on the
back side is still going on. We will probably never be able to stop that.
Commissioner McHenry — Christmas Hill Park — looked good. The lawn is coming back from
the Garlic Festival. The scorer's shack on the ranch side is finished. He will be out of town for
the CAPRCBM workshop and the October 20th Commission meeting.
Commissioner Scheel — Rainbow Park — there was some graffiti, which she reported, and it was
taken care of.
Chair Garcia — El Roble Park — looked good. Chair Garcia also thanked Judy Mireles-Janisch
for her work on the City Council Annual Presentation PowerPoint.
STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Garcia adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m.
FUTURE MEETING
The next regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission will be held on Tuesday,
Octob 5 600 in. at 7351 Rosanna Street, Gilroy, CA 95020.
Sondra Banks, Administrative Secretary
Recreation Department