AGENDA
REGULAR
MEETING
WEDNESDAY,
JULY 12, 2006
ROBERT
LIVERMORE COMMUNITY CENTER
4444 EAST
AVENUE, LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA
7:00 P.M.
CRESTA
BLANCA BALLROOM
DIRECTORS PRESENT: Director
Faltings, Director Furst, Director Turner and President Kamena
DIRECTORS
ABSENT: Director
Goodman (1)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Barry, Jim
Brandenburg, Michael Kyle, Gretchen Sommers, Brian Tibbetts
CITY STAFF PRESENT: Fred Osborn, Assistant Planning
Manager, Susan Frost, Principal Planner
Meeting was called to order at 7:11 p.m. by President Kamena. Roll was taken and all Directors were present except Director Goodman.
2. PRESENTATIONS
2.1 Robbie Teruya of the
City of Livermore Commission for the Arts gave a presentation regarding the
development of a Cultural Arts Master Plan. She explained that the Commission
has been in existence for two years. The Commission is currently in the
community outreach phase, Ms. Teruya explained, and it is conducting public meetings
to gather input on what Livermore citizens see as important. Ms. Teruya
suggested that the Commission and LARPD share the information gathered in
building their respective master plans. The Commission hopes to have a plan in
place by the end of this year.
2.2 General Manager
Barry stated that LARPD has engaged the City of Livermore to assist the
District in developing a Master Plan. He introduced Alice Chan and Brian Godbe
of Godbe Research, and Susan Frost of the City of Livermore. LARPD contracted
with Godbe Research to conduct a telephone survey of Livermore citizens; the
survey was designed to get a sense of what Livermore residents think is
important in Livermore. Ms. Chan gave a slide presentation and explained the
survey findings.
Ms. Chan covered the following items: Overview and Research
Objectives; Methodology Overview; Key Findings (favorite leisure activities;
top importance; importance of sports and recreational activities; importance of
recreational facilities or sites; importance of recreational programs and
classes; top usage/attendance; sporting and recreational activity
participation; local parks and recreational facility usage; recreational
program and class participation; top satisfaction; satisfaction with sports and
recreational activities; satisfaction with local parks and recreational
facilities; satisfaction with recreational programs and classes; reasons for
not using parks and recreational facilities; other important sports and
recreational programs and facilities; satisfaction with customer service;
facility rentals; specific rental facilities; reasons for not using local
recreational facilities; visiting Sycamore Grove Park; reasons for not visiting
Sycamore Grove Park; sports park development; funding for sports park and
information sources); Conclusions; and Additional Demographic Information.
Ms. Chan’s explanation concluded that outside facilities, open
space parks, trails, walking, swimming, exercise and health, children’s pay
areas and the community center are of highest importance to those surveyed.
President Kamena opened public comment.
1) Beth Wilson, 1503 Bluebell Drive, Livermore,
stated she was pleased that the results seem to validate her own feelings about
the importance of open space in Livermore. She stated she feels a lot of the
outdoor enthusiasts are a silent majority, as opposed to some of the more vocal
niche groups who muster forces to come to the board meetings. She thanked the Directors
for having this survey done.
2) Robbie Teruya noted that the Arts Commission
seems to get the most interest and participation from older people, as was
suggested with LARPD. She suggests taking the meetings to where the other,
younger groups are, where they hang out.
3. PUBLIC FORUM
President Kamena asked for public comment on any
item not on the agenda. No public comment was received.
4. CONSENT AGENDA:
4.1 BOARD MINUTES
4.1.1 Meeting of June 28, 2006.
4.2 COMMUNICATIONS
4.3
General Manager’s Monthly Report (#58/12).
4.4
Claims.
On a motion by Director Turner, seconded by
Director Faltings, approved the Consent Agenda, passing 4-0.
5. CONSENT AGENDA: RESOLUTION:
5.1 Resolution No. 2026, a resolution accepting
the May Nissen Park 2004 landscape improvements by Gordon N. Ball, Inc. as
complete.
On a motion by Director Furst, seconded by
Director Faltings, approved the Consent Agenda Resolution, by the following
roll call vote:
AYES: Director Faltings, Director
Furst, Director Turner and President Kamena (4)
NOES: None (0)
ABSENT: Director
Goodman (1)
6. BIDS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
7. OLD BUSINESS: None.
7.1 ROBERTSON
PARK PLAYGROUND
President Kamena gave background information on
the Robertson Park playground project, explaining that the O’Brien Group is a
developer that is constructing a housing development next to Robertson Park.
Part of the project involves the O’Brien Group constructing a playground. The
initial plans for the playground were for it to be located just north of the housing
development, near Arroyo Road, in Robertson Park. At the June 28 meeting of the
LARPD Board of Directors, staff was directed to investigate the possibility of
relocating the playground closer to the soccer fields in Robertson Park, due to
concerns expressed by the public about safety, as well as the opinion that a
playground in the originally proposed location would diminish the sylvan atmosphere
of the park.
President Kamena asked Fred Osborn, City of
Livermore Assistant Planning Manager, what the process would involve if LARPD
wished to request a change in location for the playground. Mr. Osborn responded
that the process would be for LARPD to request an amendment to the conditions
for approval of the development process. He noted this could potentially take
up to four months.
President Kamena explained to the meeting
attendees that the City of Livermore cannot tell LARPD to put a playground in its
own park. However, since a developer is building the playground, the City can
tell the developer where to locate it. LARPD has input into the notion, if LARPD
asks the City to reconsider the location. If LARPD succeeds in having the
playground moved, it could affect the responsibility of the maintenance of the
playground. In addition, the proximity of the playground to the
soon-to-be-built housing development determines, in part, whether it is truly
an amenity to those living in the development.
Right now, said President Kamena, the developer is responsible for the
maintenance of the playground, even though LARPD will own it and it will be on LARPD
property. The Landscape Maintenance District, put into place by the developer,
will pay for the maintenance right now.
President Kamena stated that the O’Brien group
will pay up to $300,000 for construction of a playground, will give the
District approximately $1.7 million in Quimby Funds and about $1 million in
cash to be used toward development of a sports park. Ms. Faltings asked whether
the $1.7 million could be used to put an additional playground in Robertson
Park.
General Manager Barry stated that an attractive
element to him was the developer offering to put the playground in Robertson Park
rather than the development, which would make it available to non-development
dwellers.
Director Furst pointed out that the current
design of the playground is closer to $500,000, for which LARPD would need to
use some of the Quimby Funds. President Kamena stated that Phase I of the
playground, which would cost less, is complete as is. Director Furst stated that
his understanding is that Phase I did not actually have that many amenities. General
Manager Barry clarified what Phase I of the playground included.
Director Turner stated he was concerned that the
fact that the playground design includes phases not be taken to imply that LARPD
is obligated to install the remaining phases, which will cost the District more
money. Mr. Turner noted that there will be 150-156 homes in the development. He
said that the playground is really for the benefit of those living in the
development, with a side benefit that others may use it. Director Faltings
stated that she agrees, and feels the District should not pay anything over the
$300,000. General Manager Barry explained that he permitted the landscape
architect to make a plan for a larger park, costing more than $300,000. The
reasoning, said Mr. Barry, was that the estimate provided by Beals Alliance,
the architect, was based on a public contract; however, it is possible that the
O’Brien Group could build it for less than that because it is a developer. In
summary, what something costs a public entity could cost a private sector
developer much less.
President Kamena opened public comment.
1) Dorothy Chappell, 2375 Chateau Way, asked if
the Directors are still considering placing the playground next to the bridge
by the creek. She asked if LARPD is
able to build a playground in a flood zone. Mr. Osborn responded that, yes, LARPD
can build a playground in a flood zone.
2)
Valerie Thomey stated that she visited the area near the soccer fields
in the park and she feels it is approachable with a stroller, though it might
be difficult in the wet weather. She
inquired if there was any chance of considering an area in the rodeo parking
lot. There is a raised area in the lot, behind trees. She wondered about asking
the architect to remove the paved parking lot. It is not paved now, and people
do fine, she stated. Ms. Thomey also asked about considering adding more money to
the project now, to achieve economies of scale, rather than bringing the developer
back for a Phase II. She asked for a fence in the tot lot, no matter where the
playground is located.
President Kamena closed public comment.
President Kamena stated his preference is to
move the playground closer to the soccer fields. He feels two playgrounds would
be redundant. He said he feels it would be unused in its current proposed site
near Arroyo Road. Neighbors he spoke to were universally concerned about having
the park near a creek. They felt it is unsafe. President Kamena stated he feels
it’s not much further to the soccer fields, is much safer, and won’t disturb
the rural nature of the current proposed site. He said he feels it makes sense
to put the playground near LARPD’s other facilities. He would be amenable to
paving the area from the bridge to the soccer field area. He stated he feels it
would be good to tie together the three current trails that currently abruptly
end at the park. People might be more interested in having the playground moved
if we pave the trail, he said.
Director Turner asked who would pay to pave the
trail and how much it would cost. General Manager Barry stated that LARPD would
probably have to receive the money from the development. Park Supervisor Jim Brandenburg
stated he did not know the cost at this time. He said it would depend on where the
trail runs, where the connections come in, etc. He estimated it could cost close
to $200,000, perhaps a little more. Director Turner stated that the O’Brien
group benefits from the playground being installed in Robertson Park, in that
by not putting it in its housing development allows the developer to put in
more housing and thus make more money. Director Turner feels moving the
playground would be safer and would be of benefit to soccer families who bring
small children to the games. He stated he feels we have many legitimate reasons
for requesting this change, and apologizes for delays this may cause. Mr.
Osborn stated that, as the developer is not required to complete the playground
until completion of the 75th house, moving the playground may not
cause a delay at all.
General Manager Barry said that LARPD might have
to accept responsibility for maintenance of the playground if it is moved.
Director Faltings stated that she has never
liked the original site, and does not feel it would be a detriment to those
living in the development to move the playground. She noted that the new site
is just a little bit further away, and it makes more sense to put it in a more
open, highly visible, more highly used area of the park. Ms. Faltings said she
would like swings moved from Phase II to Phase I. General Manager Barry noted
that LARPD is looking at an area by the field house, also. He stated that the playground
area is quite large and there might not be enough room for extra swings, etc. LARPD
would have to make amendments to the plan to fit it in the proposed new area. LARPD’s
request would be for the developer to
put the playground in a range of new areas, said Mr. Barry.
On a motion by President Kamena, seconded by
Director Faltings, approved directing staff to request from the City of
Livermore an amendment to the development agreement to allow the developer to
build a playground at a location of LARPD’s choosing within the boundaries of
Robertson Park., passing 4-0.
Mr. Osborn said he anticipates the O’Brien Group
will be willing to agree to a change, that it was more concerned with the
delay.
8. NEW
BUSINESS: None.
9. MATTERS INITIATED/ANNOUNCEMENTS BY
THE DIRECTORS:
1) Director Turner stated that the sound system
in the Cresta Blanca is terrible, that people were having trouble hearing. He
said he cannot ear some of the speakers and at the podium.
2) Director Turner stated that staff should
provide items as backup to the topics, such as schematics of the playground
this evening. This would be for the benefit of the directors and the audience.
3) Director Turner mentioned the fire that
occurred in Holdener Park on July 2. The Malakoff family could not get onto its
property to rescue its animals and Ranger Nicholson went and rescued the
animals. Director Turner wished to publicly acknowledge Mr. Nicholson’s
efforts.
4) Director Faltings stated she had difficulty
hearing staff and speakers at the podium.
1) General Manger Barry announced the public workshop on Trails, Regional Parks and Opens Space on July 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center. He announced that there will also be workshops on September 20 with a topic of Parks, Special Use and Historic Resource Facilities, and on Oct. 10 with a topic of Recreation Programs. These workshops are part of the development of a new LARPD Master Plan. He invited the public to attend.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
APPROVED,
_______________________________
President,
Board of Directors
ATTEST:
__________________________
General Manager and ex-officio
Clerk to the Board of Director