HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC_2011-08-18_AgendaPacketCITY OF A TA SCA DERO
PARKS AND RECREA TION
COMMISSION
AGENDA
Thursday, August 18th, 2011
7:00 P.M.
Regular Meeting
Atascadero City Hall Council Chambers
6907 EI Camino Real
Atascadero, California
REGULAR SESSION: 7:00 P.M.
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ROLL CALL: Chairperson:
Tom Zirk
Vice -Chairperson:
Bill Wachtel
Commissioner:
Barbie Butz
Commissioner:
Susan DeCarli
Commissioner:
Susan Greenaway
Commissioner:
Jerel Seay
Commissioner:
Vacant
Student Representative: Luke Thek
OATH OF OFFICE:
1. Administration of Oath of Office - Newly appointed Commissioner will be sworn
in by City Clerk and Assistant to the City Manager, Marcia Torgerson.
COMMUNITY FORUM: (This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wanting to
address the Commission on any matter not on this agenda and over which the
Commission has jurisdiction. Speakers are limited to three minutes. Please state your
name for the record before making your presentation. Comments made during
Community Forum will not be a subject of discussion. A maximum of 30 minutes will be
allowed for Community Forum, unless changed by the Commission. Any members of
the public who have questions or need information, may contact the Board Secretary
Kris Roudebush who is available during normal business hours at 470-3478, or
kroudebush(a)_atascadero.org)
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Roll Call
COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS: (On their own initiative,
Commission Members may make a brief announcement or a brief report on their own
activities. Commission Members may ask a question for clarification, make a referral to
staff or take action to have staff place a matter of business on a future agenda. The
Commission may take action on items listed on the Agenda.)
A. CONSENT CALENDAR: (All items on the consent calendar are considered to
be routine and non -controversial by City staff and will be approved by one motion
if no member of the Commission or public wishes to comment or ask questions.
If comment or discussion is desired by anyone, the item will be removed from the
consent calendar and will be considered in the listed sequence with an
opportunity for any member of the public to address the Commission concerning
the item before action is taken.)
1. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes — July 21, 2011
■ Staff Recommendation: Commission approve the Parks and
Recreation Commission Special Meeting minutes of the July 21, 2011
Meeting. [Community Services]
B. MANAGEMENT REPORTS:
1. Proaosed Assessment District to suaaort the Charles Paddock Zoo
■ Fiscal Impact: None at this time.
■ Recommendation: Commission reviews the Central Coast Zoological
Society proposal to explore the creation of an Assessment District to
support the Charles Paddock Zoo. [Community Services]
2. Water Conservation Plan for Atascadero Parks
■ Fiscal Impact: None.
■ Recommendation: Informational item only. No action required. [Public
Works]
C. COMMITTEE & LIAISON REPORTS: (The following represent standing
committees. Informative status reports will be given, as felt necessary.):
1. Atascadero Youth Task Force — September 6th, at 7:00 a.m., Atascadero
High School.
D. STAFF COMMENTS/ ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Mark Your Calendar:
■ Friday, August 19th: Cruise Nite takes place at the Sunken Gardens
■ Saturday, August 20th: The Mid State Cruisers Event will take place
at the Atascadero Lake Park
■ Saturday, August 20th: Movie in the Park is playing "Toy Story 3" in
the Sunken Gardens
■ Friday, August 26th: The Alliance for Lupus Research will be
hosting a FREE Ice Cream Social at the Sunken Gardens from
5pm-7pm
■ Saturday, August 27th: The Pacific Horizon and Gold Coast Chorus
will be putting on a free Barbershop Concert at the Atascadero
Lake Park Bandstand from 5pm-7pm
2. Parks Update — Geoff English
E. ADJOURNMENT:
THE NEXT REGULAR PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING IS
TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2011, AT 7:00 P.M.
I, Kris Roudebush, Clerical Assistant 3 of the City of Atascadero, declare under the penalty of perjury
that the foregoing agenda for the August 18, 2011 Regular Session of the Atascadero Parks and
Recreation Commission was posted on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at Atascadero City Hall, 6907 EI
Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422 and was available for public review in the Customer Service
Center at that location.
Signed this 11th day of August, 2011 at Atascadero, California.
Kris Roudebush, Clerical Assistant 3
City of Atascadero
City of Atascadero
WELCOME TO THE ATASCADER0 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
The Parks and Recreation Commission meet in regular session on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m., in the
Atascadero City Hall, located at 6907 El Camino Real, Atascadero. The Parks and Recreation Commission consider
matters in the order of the printed Agenda.
Copies of the staff reports or other documentation relating to each item of business referred to on the Agenda are on
file in the Community Services Department and are available for public inspection during City Hall Annex, 6907 El
Camino Real, during business hours at the Central Receptionist counter and on our website; www.atascadero.org. An
agenda packet is also available for public review at the Atascadero Library, 6850 Morro Road. All documents
submitted by the public during Parks and Recreation Commission meetings that are either read into the record or
referred to in their statement will be noted in the minutes and available for review in the Community Services
Department.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in a City
meeting or other services offered by this City, please contact the Community Services Department at (805) 461-
5000. Notification of at least 48 hours prior to the meeting or time when services are needed, will assist the City staff
in assuring that reasonable arrangements can be made to provide accessibility to the meeting or service.
TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
Members of the audience may speak on any item on the agenda. The Parks and Recreation Chairperson will identify
the subject, staff will give their report, and the Commission will ask questions of staff. The Chairperson will announce
when the public comment period is open and will request anyone interested to address the Commission regarding the
matter being considered to step up to the lectern. If you wish to speak for, against or comment in any way:
• You must approach the lectern and be recognized by the Chairperson
• Give your name and address (not required)
• Make your statement
• All comments should be made to the Chairperson and Commission
• All comments limited to 3 minutes (unless changed by the Commission)
• No one may speak for a second time until everyone wishing to speak has had an opportunity to do so, and
no one may speak more than twice on any item.
The Chairperson will announce when the public comment period is closed, and thereafter, no further public comments
will be heard by the Commission.
TO SPEAK ON SUBJECTS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA
Under Agenda item, "COMMUNITY FORUM", the Chairperson will call for anyone from the audience having
business with the Parks and Recreation Commission to:
Please approach the lectern and be recognized
Give your name and address (not required)
State the nature of your business
This is the time items not on the Agenda may be brought to the Commission's attention. A maximum of 30 minutes
will be allowed for Community Forum (unless changed by the Commission).
TO HAVE ITEMS PLACED ON AGENDA
All business matters to appear on the Agenda must be in the Office of the Community Services Department
14 days preceding the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Should you have a matter you wish to
bring before the Commission, please mail or bring a written communication to the Community Services
Department at City Hall prior to the deadline.
ITEM NUMBER: A - 1
DATE: 08/18/11
SPECIAL MEETING
(This meeting was noticed as a Special Meeting to enable
a majority of the Commission to attend. This is an informational meeting,
and no actions will be taken. )
Atascadero Parks and Recreation
Commission
Thursday, July 21, 2011, 6:00 P.M.
Stadium Park
Atascadero, California
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
PARK AND FACILITIES TOUR
Tour begins at the Colony Park Community Center
Chairperson Zirk called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Chairperson Zirk, Vice -Chairperson Wachtel, Commissioners
DeCarli, Seay, Greenaway, and Butz.
Absent: None.
Others Present: Recording Secretary Kris Roudebush and Atascadero Land
Preservation Society president Bruce Bonifas.
Staff Present: Community Services Director Brady Cherry
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: By Commissioner DeCarli and seconded by Vice- Chairperson
Wachtel to approve the Agenda.
Motion passed 5:0:1 by a roll -call vote, with Commissioner
Greenaway Abstaining
COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS:
Commissioner DeCarli commented the Fire Study Reported on that was presented to
Council. She reported that the area of Stadium has high fire danger, that the Atascadero
Fire Dept. has the ability to close down the park when fire danger is extremely high, and
that funds are being acquired to do brush clearing. As of now, the council is in favor of
continuing the current passive use of the park.
PARK AND FACILITIES TOUR: (The purpose of this special meeting was to update
Commission member of the facilities owned by the city of Atascadero and tour some of
those properties.)
Those present listed above, and one member of the public, met at the Stadium Park
trailhead for a tour of the park and a review of the work done by the Atascadero Land
Preservation Society (ALPS). Community Services Director Brady Cherry and ALPS
President Bruce Bonifas led the tour of the park. Mr. Bonifas talked about the work done
this spring with the help of the California Conservation Corps, the installation of the
metal fence, and other trail projects to be worked on. The group walked up to the bowl
where the group discussed the current and historic uses of the area, including the
effects of fire on the area.
The tour then drove over to the Paloma Creek Park. Community Services Director
Brady Cherry gave the Commissioners some history of the property and the group
walked around the park. The commission admired the new flag pole put in by a local
Boy Scout. The playground was also admired and Community Services Director Cheery
spoke about the city softball teams and fields.
ADJOURNMENT:
The Chairperson Zirk adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m.
MINUTES PREPARED BY:
Kris Roudebush, Clerical Assistant 3
City of Atascadero
ITEM NUMBER: B - 1
DATE: 08/18/11
Atascadero Parks and Recreation Commission
Staff Report — Community Services Department
Proposed Assessment District to support the Charles Paddock Zoo
RECOMMENDATION:
Commission reviews the Central Coast Zoological Society proposal to explore the
creation of an Assessment District to support the Charles Paddock Zoo.
DISCUSSION:
Background: The Central Coast Zoological Society has held discussions with City staff
regarding options to secure the long term future of the Charles Paddock Zoo. The
Central Coast Zoological Society has partnered with the City to support the Zoo since
the organization's incorporation in 1965, originally as the "Children's Zoo Friendship
Society". The primary role and purpose of the Society was and is to provide private
sector support to improve the Zoo, and promote the success of the Charles Paddock
Zoo. To date, the Central Coast Zoological Society has been a crucial partner in
cultivating resources to maintain and develop the Zoo. The Society's efforts to date
demonstrate the value of the collaboration between the City and a non-profit sector
partner.
The unprecedented and historic changes to the economy, both nationally and locally,
have impacted the City and its ability to fund and operate the Charles Paddock Zoo as
well as other city services. The Zoo's long term future is uncertain. Will the City be able
to continue to provide adequate resources to develop the Zoo Master Plan, meet AZA
and USDA standards, and operate a first class zoological facility? The answer is not
fully known, but it is doubtful that there will be adequate tax supported General Fund
revenues available to meet the Zoo's future needs.
The Charles Paddock Zoo is a significant regional asset for tourism, education and
conservation. The Zoo economic impact outside the gates can continue to grow, if the
Zoo is able to develop the Master Plan and continue to make needed improvements.
The Central Coast Zoological Society believes that one way to accomplish that may be
the formation of a regional assessment district that could support the Zoo. This is an
important turning point to begin to explore if there is a model, such as an assessment
district, that can generate adequate financial support for the Charles Paddock Zoo in the
years ahead.
The Central Coast Zoological Society has been working on a plan to determine if an
assessment district would be feasible. The Society's representatives would like to make
a presentation to the Commission to discuss moving forward with the planning stages of
a citizen -based effort to form an assessment district to help secure the long term future
of the Zoo
The Charles Paddock Zoo is an outstanding tourism asset, and educational and
conservation facility. The Zoo touches the lives of thousands of people annually, but it
needs to have stable and secure financial support to meet it's obligations and grow into
the future. It is essential that the Zoo continues to be modernized to meet current and
future needs. We must plan now to maintain and enhance this tremendous regional
community treasure. The Council is being asked to support the investigation into the
formation of an assessment district, and give input as may be appropriate.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None to the City at this time during the Society led planning and exploration stages.
There is potential for long term substantial financial support for the Zoo.
ATTACHMENT:
None.
Name
Paloma Cr. Park
ID
17974
Meter
1567318
Meter
Size
4
Atascadero City Irrigation Use 2011
Jan Feb Mar ..Total
69 0 48 56 621 780
1872
1602
3176
9128
0•
10557
Atascadero Lake Park
19801
1550891
4
8
35
10
10
0
408
972
601
1072
4195
4618
Alvord field
19801
38408245
2
2
6
2
14
306
248
731
396
974
2881
2840
Colony Park - Irrigation
14337
64063217
3
0
8
46
0
251
204
562
299
808
2878
3387
Sunken Gardens
15209
59497269
2
4
8
4
2
11
223
333
220
472
1500
1852
Apple Valley #3
10900
61914307
1
3
6
0
52
121
90
154
149
421
1601
1541
Apple Valley #1
10900
61914357
1
2
6
1
50
121
88
152
147
415
661
809
Las Lomas Park
16844
64061543
1.5
40
21
24
32
51
77
47
87
332
519
1079
Dove Creek Median - South
17145
61914325
1
0
0
0
0
17
17
75
40
74
147
175
Dove Creek Median - North
10274
61914378
1
0
0
0
0
7
28
39
36
71
266
322
Las Lomas Median - Entrance
18892
64061548
1.5
0
0
0
25
29
69
178
19
142
730
711
Las Lomas - Restoration
20251
66213577
0
0
2
7
8
14
0
18
49
8
895
ECR Median - No. of Traffic Way
14538
69522630
5/8
1
0
0
0
5
10
41
15
31
209
184
Colony Park - Irrigation
20431
32001706
2
22
17
43
18
15
13
16
12
140
183
140
Carlton Irrigation
14789
59464939
1.5
0
0
0
0
3
2
18
10
15
116
124
De Anza Estates
10293
61914390
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
7
4
7
82
225
Traffic Way Parking Lot
14661
44449775
5/8
0
0
0
0
1
3
2
3
7
48
77
Between Dennys & Rabobank
15510
65525717
5/8
0
0
0
0
1
2
4
2
5
56
20
Lake - Memorial Tree Grove
19656
60181994
5/8
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
2
3
32
18
2011 Total
151
107
180
266
1568
2280
5206
3662
8,214
25,240
29,574
2010 Total
185
40
138
535
1515
3883
5206
11,502
Reduction
18%
-168%
-30%
50%
-3%
41%
30%
29%
08-10 3-yr avg
275
120
270
1422
2775
4010
5153
29,580
(6)
Reduction
45%
11%
33%
81%
43%
43%
29%
72%
Savings Ac-Ft
0.38
0.04
0.28
3.55
3.70
5.31
4.58
17.83
Savings 1,000 gals
124
13
90
1156
1207
1730.33
1491
5811
ITEM NUMBER: B - 2
DATE: 08/18/11
Atascadero Parks & Recreation Commission
Staff Report — Public Works Department
Water Conservation Plan for Atascadero Parks
RECOMMENDATION:
Informational item only. No action required.
DISCUSSION:
Background: In response to a 15% water rate increase by the Atascadero Mutual Water
Company (AMWC) Board of Directors, and our desire to conserve water at our park
facilities, City staff proposed and implemented an aggressive water conservation
program. If not addressed, the water rate increase had the potential to increase the
City's expenses approximately $15,500 per year based on the 2010 water use amounts.
In February, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended approval of a
proposed water conservation plan that included the following elements:
• Establish water budgets for turf areas based on a 15% reduction of 2010
amounts. (Water budgets allocate a specific volume of water over a prescribe
time period regardless of turf conditions)
• Irrigation system efficiency improvements.
• "Browning" out certain turf areas.
• Turf removal and replacement with other ground cover options.
• Applying supplemental irrigation charges to facility user groups if the 15% water
savings is not achieved.
• Investigate the feasibility of drilling water wells for future irrigation purposes.
In April, the City Council considered and tabled portions of the proposed water
conservation plan, directing staff to meet with Atascadero Mutual Water Company staff
to explore potential options for the reduction of the City's water rates. These
discussions are ongoing. Several of the elements of the water conservation plan have
been implemented and are generating significant water savings.
According to the most recent AMWC water consumption report ending in mid-July, the
City of Atascadero has achieved a 29% savings based on a three-year average for the
same time -period. The savings in Acre-feet to date is 17.83 Ac. Ft. Atascadero Lake is
approximately 20 Acre feet. (Attachment A)
The water use saving generated have been achieved through the following efforts:
Maximize efficiency of the existing irrigation system. Maintain "green" turf,
regardless of the weather conditions. This is an on-going effort and a variety of
irrigation system efficiency improvements are in progress.
• Maximize efficiency of the existing irrigation system and establish a 15%
reduction water budget based on 2010 irrigation water volumes. Turf stress and
spot "browning" may occur depending on the weather conditions. Water budgets
have been established. Some areas are showing minor browning.
(Supplemental charges to select facility user groups will not be passed along)
• "Brown -out" the turf. Apply only enough irrigation water to keep the grass alive
and to prevent loss of turf. Turf to be primarily irrigated by seasonal rains. —
Brown out area are listed below:
➢ Lake Park - Upper Restroom turf
➢ Lake Park - Boat dock lawn
➢ Paloma Park - Softball Field spectator lawn
➢ Paloma Park LL Field Bleacher area — R. field
➢ Paloma Park LL Field Bleacher area - L Field
➢ Paloma Park - Entry way lawn
➢ Colony Park Community Center- Small lawn
➢ Colony Park Community Center- Large lawn
• Complete turf removal and replacement with an alternative, low water -use
ground cover. A lawn section at Atascadero Lake near the Ranger House has
been removed and replaced with bark mulch.
Periodic water use updates will be provided to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
ATTACHMENTS:
AMWC Water Use report- July