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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPC Min 2013-09-25 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE SEAL BEACH RECREATION & PARKS COMMISSION HELD September 25, 2013 I. CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Seal Beach Recreation & Parks Commission was called to order at 6.00p.m. by Chair Sustarsic in the City Council Chambers, 211 8th Street, Seal Beach. II. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Sustarsic, Bennett, Watson, Sosenko, and Powell Also present: Patrick Gallegos, Administrative Manager Tim Kelsey, Recreation Manager Dana Engstrom, Community Services Coordinator III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as submitted. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Seth Eaker, thanked Tim Kelsey and Dana Engstrom for their help with the business community in regards to community events and class offerings. Mr. Eaker shared that a drop box folder has been created that members of the community can access correspondence regarding whether dogs, cats, and bikes should be permitted on the beach. This information discussed has been presented to staff. V. CONSENT CALENDAR Commissioner Bennett moved, Commissioner Watson seconded, and the motion carried unanimously, that the Commission approve the Consent Calendar. 1 . Meeting Minutes of June 26, 2013. VI. SCHEDULED MATTERS 2. Benches on the Public Beach- Staff Report Tim Kelsey reported that the City received a complaint regarding private benches that are placed on the public beach. During City Council meetings a number of residents voiced concern about the proposed ordinance. Do to the concerns of residents the City Council moved to send the issue to the The City of Seal Beach complies with Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. If you need assistance to attend this meeting, please telephone the City Clerk's Office at(562)431-2527 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Thank you. Recreation and Parks Commission for increased study, public in-put and to provide a recommendation to the Council. Chair Sustarsic opened up oral communications: Don Raines, resident at 1401 Seal Way, enjoys using the benches and feels the benches provide a sense of community. He stated that if a bench is available then people are free to use it. He thanked staff for their consideration of this matter and feels the City and the owners can come to a positive conclusion. Mr. Raines suggested that guidelines be established and that owners should be notified when benches were in need of repair. He hopes the City will be mindful of removing some of the characteristics of the town that Seal Beach residents love. Pete Arnold, resident at 1613 Seal Way, would like to see quality benches on the beach. He personally had a bench and recently removed it because it became a hazard. He believes the owner should be responsible for replacing or removal of the bench if it becomes a hazard and is willing to start a committee if needed. He stated that his bench was available for the public to use. Mr. Arnold also was concerned with the council member's comment regarding cleaning the beach. He informed the commission that the owners on that end of the beach clean the beach and the ice plant on their own. In his opinion, additional staff is not needed to clean this area as it is the cleanest area of the beach. Mark Bumanglag, resident at 1617 Seal Way #B, always recalls benches and tables on the beach and it has always been understood that they're available for the public to use. He said he can't control the way the wind blows and the trash that accumulates on that end of the beach. The residents in his neighborhood pick up their own trash and do the best they can to keep their area of the beach clean. Ron McMahan, resident at 1213 Seal Way, feels the benches are part of the beach ambiance and are a public enhancement of the beach. Mr. McMahan would like to see the residents and City meet in the middle with a reasonable solution. He suggested that the benches should be maintained by the City and have a standardized color. Seth Eaker, resident at 201 11 t" Street #6, said the Seal Beach he knows is welcoming, exciting, and welcomes visitors to shop and surf. He believes the benches are an enhancement and feels Coastal Commission would support them. Mr. Eaker likes that the City is getting feedback from the community and the Commission prior to making any decisions. On behalf of the Run Seal Beach Committee, Chamber of Commerce, and Lions Club, Mr. Eaker offered to help in collaborating with the facilitation of coming up with a solution and enforcement of the benches. The City of Seal Beach complies with Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. If you need assistance to attend this meeting, please telephone the City Clerk's Office at(562)431-2527 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Thank you. Mike Haley, resident at 305 8t" Street, spoke in favor of the benches and volunteered to chair a committee to make sure benches are in proper working order. He sees that the benches are used all the time and feels it would be a shame if they were taken away. Mr. Haley said this is one of the little things about Seal Beach he loves so much. Stan Hartford, resident at 1421 Seal Way, spoke in favor of the benches and noted that although the benches may not be used 24-7 they are still used on a regular basis. His recommendation would be to charge a $25 admin fee for decals that would help pay for staff to make sure benches are in good working order. The decals would read "Public Access Bench". Mr. Hartford also recommends wooden benches over concrete so the benches can be painted and easily relocated. In regards to the cleanliness of the beach, he stated that since the sweeper is unable to reach their area of the beach he cleans up on his own every 2 weeks. Margene Walz, resident at 1401 Seal Way #C, feels the concerns in the letters were legitimate but nothing guidelines set by the city can't fix. The sweeper is unable to come into the corner of the beach so the residents pick up what the sweeper is unable reach. Liability is everywhere and the City shouldn't get scared away by some benches. Nobody she has known has ever told the public they couldn't use the benches and sincerely apologizes to whoever was told that they had to leave. Ms. Walz offered her assistance if needed in the future. Darin Denos, resident at 1515 Seal Way, has always had a bench on the beach, in fact, he purchased his home with the bench included and welcomes anyone to use his bench. Lots of elderly walk on the boardwalk and often need a place to sit. He doesn't recall that liability has ever been an issue with the benches and is willing to do what it takes to allow benches to continue to be part of the community for public use. Mr. Denos picks up trash about once a week to do his part in keeping the beach clean. Joe Kalmick, resident at 1603 Seal Way, feels the community should come up with an encroachment permit and standardize the benches. The City would then be responsible for enforcement. Mr. Kalmick said Councilwoman Deaton has even mentioned how she appreciates the benches while walking with her husband so they can stop to take breaks. Barbara Arnold, residents at 1613 Seal Way, recalls that the City used to supply the benches on the beach but once they started falling apart were removed. The residents missed those benches so they started bringing out their own. Lots of memories were created on those benches; proposals, a place for kids to do homework, and celebrations. People have been asking what happened to the bench since they removed theirs two weeks ago. Chairperson Sustarsic closed public comment. The City of Seal Beach complies with Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. If you need assistance to attend this meeting, please telephone the City Clerk's Office at(562)431-2527 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Thank you. Commissioner Bennett requested that the City do analysis of the cost for the City to maintain the benches and the possibility of an encroachment permit. Tim Kelsey said he would do a study and bring it back to the commission for review. Commissioner Sustarsic inquired whether the City knows the history of City maintained benches. Commissioner Sosenko inquired whether the Volleyball courts are in question in addition to the benches. Tim Kelsey said that they are both in question however; the City maintaining the volleyball court isn't an issue. Commissioner Watson previously lived on Seal Way and never used the benches or ever felt she was welcome to use the benches. Commissioner Watson has also lived across the street from Corsair Park but the thought never crossed her mind to put a bench out. She feels this is a problem that needs to be addressed if people are being mistreated and agrees with the idea of forming a committee to ensure enforcement. She feels in a situation like this it would be hard for someone to come forward and voice their concern. She would like to see a study on encroachment policies brought back to the Commission for consideration. Commissioner Powell inquired how benches on the beach would be different then already established encroachment laws. He agrees with the resident who suggested the placement of decals on the benches and would also like a cost estimate to sustain benches before making a decision. Tim Kelsey reported staff will do an analysis of encroachment permits as well as the cost of benches purchased by the City and bring the report back to the next Commission meeting if time is permitting. 3. Edison Park Community Garden Expansion — Oral Report Tim Kelsey updated the commission on the status of the Edison Park Community Garden Expansion. A proposal to Edison suggesting the expansion of the gardens by 100 plots was denied. Chair Sustarsic has agreed to send a letter of appeal on behalf of the Commission showing their support of the expansion to California Edison. The commission feels that if the City is in good standings with the current 125 plots we currently have why wouldn't an expansion be granted. Public Works estimates the project to be a onetime $10,000 cost to the City. Tim Kelsey informed the commission that an Eagle Scout Project was just completed on September 23, 2013 at the gardens. The project consisted of a work bench and a vegetable/ fruit donation area for the gardeners. The City of Seal Beach complies with Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. If you need assistance to attend this meeting, please telephone the City Clerk's Office at(562)431-2527 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Thank you. Commissioner Sustarsic inquired about the signage at the gardens. Dana Engstrom informed her that the signs have been ordered and will be posted once the order is received. VII. COMMISSION CONCERNS There were no commission concerns. VIII. STAFF CONCERNS Dana Engstrom gave a tentative schedule update on the Electric Ave Greenbelt Fitness Stations- Pre-Bid Meeting: 10/22/13 Bid Opening: 10/31/13 Award Contract: 11/12/13 (City Council Meeting) Start Construction: December 2013 IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at the Council Chambers, 6:00 p.m. The City of Seal Beach complies with Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. If you need assistance to attend this meeting, please telephone the City Clerk's Office at(562)431-2527 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Thank you.