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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-19-2005 Approved PCSC MinutesCITY OFDVBLIN PARKS AND COMMUNITYSERVICES COMMISSION MINUTES OF. SEPTEMBER 19, 2005 The meeting of the Parks and Community Services Commission was called to order at 8:48p.m. at the Dublin Civic Center, Dublin, California, by Chairperson Flores. Roll Call Commissioners Present: Flores, Smith, Jones, Muetterties, Cain and Hart Oral Communications Senior Center Advisory Committee Cm. Cain reported that the September meeting of the Senior Center Advisory Committee was cancelled. He reported that Anna Hudson informed him that the number of volunteers has increased as well as the number of people utilizing the Senior Center. Youth Advisory Committee Brianna Hart stated she has nothing to report. The next meeting of the Youth Advisory Committee is next Wednesday, September 28. Approval of Minutes ON MOTION BY VICE CHAIR JONES, SECONDED BY CM. CAIN AND BY UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE COMMISSION VOTED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 15, 2005 AS PRESENTED. ABSTAIN — CM. MUETTERTIES. Written Communications -None Public Hearinz - None Unfinished Business - None New Business 8.1 Space Component Priorities for Recreation and Aquatic Complex Parks & Community Services Manager Paul McCreary reported in April the Commission and Council participated in a joint study session regarding the Recreation and Aquatic Complex. The Council and Commission selected a preferred option for the facility that includes 62,815 square feet of building space and four pools totaling 25,800 square feet in water surface area. As a comparison the new Senior Center is just over 15,500 square feet and the surface area of the existing Swim Center is 9,800 square feet. The Council directed Staff to conduct a financial feasibility study of the preferred option. The study is almost completed. After an initial review of available funding sources, it is anticipated that the funding shortfall to construct the preferred Recreation and Aquatic Complex could exceed $20 million. Strategies for reducing the amount of the shortfall could include reducing the size of size of some of the facility components and deleting others. McCreary requested that the Commission provide input on the space component priorities for the Recreation and Aquatic Complex. This input will aide Staff in developing options for the Council to consider when determining how to overcome the shortfall. McCreary gave a brief overview of .the following facility components; Casual Activities Lounge, Juice Bar and Deli, Gymnasium, Dance Studio, Group Exercise Room, Fitness Center, Game Room, Babysitting/Tot Activity Room, Special Events Room, Natatorium with Indoor Fitness Pool, Outdoor Competitive Swimming Pool and an Outdoor Leisure Pool and Lazy River. Minutes - September 19, 2005 Page 2 of 4 Di ccucsi nn Cm. Muetterties recalled that there was some discussion about a combination multi -purpose room/gymnasium that would be able to accommodate both functions and sports. McCreary stated that with the traditional wood floor gymnasium we would have to bring in some kind of floor covering to accommodate other types of functions. The preferred option included a wood floor, not the sport court that was discussed. Cm. Guarienti asked where staff would be located. McCreary stated that in this report he did not include any non - revenue generating spaces, however permanent staff will probably be located in the Recreation Center and aquatic staff will have offices by the pool. Cm. Muetterties stated that her first instinct would be to go for those amenities that have heavy revenue gains but questioned how this would compare to what we really need in the City. McCreary stated that the Aquatic Center would carry a large operating gain and is in great need now. From the standpoint of competitive swimming, it is not a big generator of revenue. Currently the existing swim center has an 8 lane 25 yard area, which was built in the 70's. Therefore today's standards do not apply. The depths do not allow for placement of starting blocks in all the lanes. It is fine for recreational programs, but the competitive teams in the area are busting at the seams and would be interested in more space. Parks & Community Services Director Diane Lowart pointed out that the fact that the competitive pool is not by the high school could potentially limit the high schools ability to use it, unless they could develop a transportation program. Cm. Cain asked if there is any reason to expect that the Dublin Unified School District would make any investment that would help offset the costs for these facilities. Lowart replied, no. Cm. Cain stated that we currently play basketball at Stager Gym which is a School District Facility. McCreary stated that Stager Gym is a jointly built facility and that Stager Gym is getting maxed out on space. So there is a need for a second gym. Cm. Cain asked if anyone is really going to lease the Juice Bar and Deli and make a profit from it. McCreary stated that when they toured other facilities, many of them wished they had included a Juice Bar and Deli. Livermore opened one in their new facility and was able to lease it pretty quickly. It is an amenity that would attract a different type of user than a non-resident who commutes here to work and needs a place to work out and catch a bite to eat. It is an amenity would really compliment the workout facility. Lowart stated that this facility would be like no other we have. It would be along the lines of a Club Sport, a recreational and exercise center that would be tailored to meet our community needs. Cm. Guarienti stated that last week Livermore was talking about shutting down their pool operations for 3-5 months due to heating and operational costs. There was a huge protest. This was a facility that was not phased and now they do not have the money to operate or staff it. Cm. Guarienti stated that the two largest costs seem to be the gym and the pool. However even though neither one of them would generate a lot of money, there seems to be a need for them. McCreary stated that the amount of surface area planned for the pool would be close to the National Recreation Parks Association standard, 450 square feet per 1,000 residents, which would exceed what you will find in Pleasanton and San Ramon. We want to build based on our operating budget not our capital budget. Cm. Guarienti stated that that a deli located on East Avenue in Livermore, physically closed down their operation to operate the juice bar and deli for L.A.R.P.D. Cm. Cain asked if people would really use the juice bar and deli. McCreary stated that it can be designed to serve both the pool and park area. Commissions and contracts can be structured so that the vendors and City are both successful. Minutes—, September 19, 2005 Page 3 of 4 ' ' Chair Flores asked if the lazy river and leisure pool would be closed during the winter and if the Natatorium would stay open. McCreary replied yes. Cm. Guarienti stated that he is not a strong supporter of the lazy river. He would prefer to have the indoor pool instead of the lazy river. From a senior standpoint, having the indoor pool would be a great benefit. Cm. Cain stated that he is opposed to the lazy river and doesn't think this is something the city should get involved in. Lowart stated that she passed out a form that she would like the Commission to use as a worksheet. It is the intent that the Commission rank their priorities from 1-13, with 1 being the highest ranking. McCreary stated that what we are looking at is to see if there are areas where we can resize things that will meet the priorities of the Commission and Council. Vice Chair Jones asked where Staff came up with 1400 square feet for the lounge. McCreary stated that it is what the consultant thought would be a good size. Cm. Guarienti felt that we can also add some chairs to the juice bar and deli and make a little lounge out of it. Vice Chair Jones asked does the city really want to get into a fitness center business? McCreary stated that it would meet the needs of someone who would not join a private gym, but who would want fitness opportunities available. If we were looking at a monthly pass, we would probably charge about $30 to use the gym, pool etc. Cm. Cain stated that in order to satisfy the needs of the community, these facilities are going to have to be opened for long hours. It is not a day -time operation anymore. McCreary stated that the operational schedule would start at 5:30am for the fitness and competitive pool and going as late as 10:00pm. Vice Chair Jones stated that he can see that there will be a lot of time during the middle of the day that there will be no one around. McCreary stated that we will also be offering classes during the middle of the day, so parents will probably use the gym to work out. Chair Flores stated that she feels we are under estimating the stay-at-home Mom and toddler population in the city. These are starter families who are not Club Sport people. So she felt that we would be serving the community in a way that none of the other cities do. This would be a standout facility and will attract people from other cities. Vice Chair Jones stated that he just does not like the idea of an outdoor leisure pool and lazy river. Cm. Guarienti stated that he would like to voice positive things for the fitness center. He has talked with people from Douglas County, Nevada and L.A.R.P.D. and there is a different audience and they really do appreciate not having to go to Club Sport or 24 Hour Fitness. They can do it on a drop -in basis, there's no high cost, and there are other things they can do while they are there. He stressed the fitness aspect and felt that as a community, we should be striving to get people to get fit. The Commission prioritized the facilities as follows (ranking in the order of importance/benefit to the community, the most important being #1 and the least important #13). 1 — Gymnasium 2 — Natatorium/Indoor Fitness Pool 3 — Fitness Center 4 — Competitive Pool 5 — Babysitting/Tot Activity Room 6 — Juice Bar and Deli 7 — Leisure Pool Minutes,— September 19, 2005 Page 4 of 4 8 — Group Exercise Room 9 — Game Room 10 - Casual Activities Lounge (Tie) 10 — Special Events Room (Tie) 12 — Lazy River 13 — Dance Studio Lowart stated that the Dance Studio is ranked #12 and the Group Exercise Room #8. She asked, if there was any thought from the Commission that these are duplicate spaces and could be combined. Chair Flores stated that Livermore has a large room with partitions that can be divided to accommodate different activities. Maybe we need something like that. Vice Chair Jones felt that the Babysitting/Tot Activity Room must remain in the top five as it is a very important part of the facility in order for it to work. The Commission concurred. Cm. Cain felt that perhaps we can combine the casual activities and the juice bar deli. The Commission concurred. Cm. Guarienti stated that the Livermore Library has a coffee shop which opens before the library. People go early to have a cup of coffee before the library opens. Other Business BriefINFORMATIONAL ONLYRgRorts from Parks & Community Services Commissioners and/or Staff Cm. Guarienti stated that he attended the Day on the Glen and had a good time. He pointed out that the waterslide, fast pitch and basketball activities were not in an area that was in easy view of the public. He brought this to John's attention. Unfortunately he did not the chance to attend the bird show, but it looked like there were a lot of people there enjoying the show. Vice Chair Jones stated that he attended the Day on the Glen on Saturday. He liked the way it was spread out and there seemed to be a good turn out. Last Sunday he attended the Safety Memorial Dedication which was very well done. The Lions Club conducted a barbecue at Alamo Creek Park with a good turn out and raised a little money. He was happy to report that they signed the lease papers for the senior housing for his Mother. Chair Flores stated that she and her family attend the Day on the Glen on Sunday. They had a very nice time. She thanked the Commission and Staff for their support during her husband's illness. He is doing as well as is expected at this time. McCreary reported that Frank Luna, who replaced Bonnie Leonard, came on board on September 26. Starting in October, the public window at the Library Annex will be open to accept program registration. Adiournment Being no further' business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:41p.m. Respectfully submitted, Char J. Young Administrative Techni /an