LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT
MINUTES
REGULAR
MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
WEDNESDAY,
NOVEMBER 14, 2007
ROBERT
LIVERMORE COMMUNITY CENTER
4444 EAST
AVENUE, LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA
7:00 P.M.
CRESTA
BLANCA BALLROOM
DIRECTORS PRESENT: Director Faltings, Director Furst, Director Kamena,
Director Wilson and President Goodman
DIRECTORS ABSENT: None
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Barry, Lora Cohen, Barbara Kraybill, Michael Kyle, Gretchen
Sommers, Maureen Gandara Swinbank, Brian Tibbetts
Meeting was called to order by President Goodman
at 7:00 p.m. All Directors were present, except for Director Kamena.
2. PUBLIC FORUM
President Goodman opened
public comment. No public comment received. President Goodman closed public
comment.
3. PRESENTATION
President Goodman stated that the Board will
receive a presentation from a representative of the LARPD Foundation.
Randy Schlientz, President of the LARPD
Foundation spoke to the Board about the Foundation’s goal of raising $1 million
dollars via the “1,000 donors at $1,000 each” campaign. He said that a $1
million endowment could generate $50,000-$100,000 per year, serving as a
continuing gift. Mr. Schlientz explained that donors may give in three ways: 1)
a one-time $1,000 gift; 2) a two- year gift of $500 per year; or 3) a four-year
gift of $250 per year. Mr. Schlientz asked the Directors to consider becoming
members of the endowment, and requested that they each donate $1,000 to the endowment
fund. He asked the Board to ask their friends and business associates to become
members as well. Mr. Schlientz distributed donation envelopes.
General Manager Barry thanked Mr. Schlientz for
raising funds on behalf of LARPD. President Goodman thanked Mr. Schlientz as
well. President Goodman encouraged spreading the word about the LARPD
Foundation’s fund raising efforts.
4. CONSENT AGENDA:
4.1 BOARD
MINUTES
4.1.1 Meeting of October 24, 2007
4.2 COMMUNICATIONS:
4.2.1 General
Manager’s Monthly Report (#61/4)
4.2.2 Memorandum of
Commendation for Aquatics Supervisor Sharon Grant
4.3 CLAIMS AGAINS
THE DISTRICT
4.3.1 A claim against the District has been filed
on behalf of Sherri Wong. Staff recommends denial of the claim.
4.3.2 A claim against the District has been filed
on behalf of Angela Zellmer. Staff recommends denial of the claim.
President Goodman asked if Directors wished to
remove any items from the Consent Agenda. No items removed. On a motion by
Director Faltings, seconded by Director Furst, approved the Consent Agenda,
passing 4-0. Director Kamena was absent.
5. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS: None.
6. BIDS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
7. OLD BUSINESS: None.
8. NEW BUSINESS: None.
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Director Furst reported on his attendance at the November
6 Ravenswood Progress meeting, at which the following items were discussed:
decoration of the main house and the Ravenswood Open House on Sunday, December
9, noon-4:00 p.m. He also reported on today’s Facilities Committee meeting, at
which the following items were discussed: Robertson Park improvements,
including the timeline for the monument sign at Arroyo and Robertson Park Roads,
trail extension, and playground; the Friendship Center status at its current
location; and the Sunken Gardens bicycle stunt course, which is almost open,
and which will be officially dedicated on Saturday, December 1 at 11:00 a.m.
Director Wilson reported on her attendance at the October
30 and November 7 Personnel Committee meetings, at which the following items
were discussed: District succession plan; and a review of the District Personnel
Rules and Regulation. She also reported on her attendance at the ESS Parent
Advisory Committee meeting last evening. Director Wilson said it is a fun group
of people, who are warm and welcoming, as well as creative and full of good
ideas. She said the Committee is beginning to look at parent survey information
gathered from all of the ESS sites. Ms. Wilson reported that, so far, the
surveys indicate that most parents are very positive about the program, with a
few parents wanting the program to open earlier in the morning and stay open
later in the evening. The other discussion topics were the March 2008 staff
appreciation event, on which the volunteer committee has been working for
months and the Adopt-a-Family program that each program site is coordinating.
Director Faltings reported on her attendance at
an October 22 meeting of the Executive Committee
of the Scottish Games. She said that the first full meeting with all of the volunteer
chairs will meet on December 5. Ms. Faltings said plans are underway for the
2008 event, and there will be a large contingent of Scottish visitors from the
games in Birnam Perthshire, Scotland, with whom LARPD “twins” its games. The
Birnam games will celebrate its 185th anniversary next year; this will
be LARPD’s fifth anniversary. Director Faltings also reported on her attendance
at the November 7 Alameda County Special Districts Association chapter meeting;
the guest speakers were from local law enforcement agencies. Ms. Faltings said
that, following the meeting, there was as a special meeting to elect a
candidate to fill the alternate special district seat on the LAFCo Board of Directors.
She explained what LAFCo is, and reported that Ayn Wieskamp, a Director of the
East Bay Regional Park District, was elected.
President Goodman reported on his attendance at
two meetings on November 7, a community meeting on the Robertson Park Master
Plan and a meeting of the Livermore Cultural Arts Council. He said that LCAC is
trying to work with schools to arrange field trips for elementary school
students to the Bankhead Theater. President Goodman thanked his fellow Directors
for filling in for him at various meetings while he served recently on jury
duty.
10. MATTERS INITIATED/ANNOUNCEMENTS BY
THE DIRECTORS
1) Director Faltings said that she was
approached by a citizen in her neighborhood who asked about the current status
of the Denton House/Ranger Station project. The citizen was concerned that the
project appeared to be delayed.
2) Director Faltings said that she had been reading
through committee meeting minutes, and it seemed to her that there are areas where
the District is not steady on its feet. She said she brought this item up many
years ago, that this District does not have a policy manual. She said she thinks
the District needs a policy manual, and that it would make sense to develop it
concurrently with the master plan process.
3) Director Faltings encouraged people to mark
their calendars for Sunday, December 9, 12-4:00 p.m., to attend the Ravenswood
Victorian Yuletide event. The address is 2647 Arroyo Road, Livermore.
4) Director Wilson announced that the LARPD
Rangers are offering a program that is a walk through Muir Woods this Saturday,
November 17. People can call the Ranger office at 960-2400 to register.
5)Director Wilson invited the public to attend
the 4th annual Livermore Idol show. It will be Saturday, November 17
at 7:00 p.m. at the RLCC. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults. Director
Wilson is one of the judges.
6) President Goodman acknowledged high school students
in the audience tonight from Tom Fletcher’s civics class.
7) President Goodman said that he saw Elsie Holdener
and they talked about Holdener Park. He said she asked about the park and if the
District had held a grand opening yet. General Manager Barry responded that the
opening will be in the spring, as Mrs. Holdener had requested.
8) President Goodman said he had had the good
fortune of being an “odorologist” judge at the Odor Eaters 33rd Annual
Rotten Sneaker Contest, held at the RLCC last evening. He showed a sample of
the shirt and hat that participating contestants received. He noted that
Livermore was selected as the only city in California to participate. There
were eight kids in the fierce competition. The winner received $200 and a gift
basket and is eligible to go to Vermont for another contest. He said the event
will be here next year again.
General Manager Barry stated that LARPD has a
number of policy manuals, and that staff is currently in the process of
compiling a District Policy Manual. Mr. Barry reiterated invitations to the
public to attend Livermore Idol on November 17 and the dedication ceremony of
the Sunken Gardens Bicycle Stunt Course on December 1.
The meeting adjourned to Executive Session at
7:22 p.m.
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION
12.1 REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATIONS
Pursuant
to Section 54956.8 of the Government Code
Property: 14 acres of
land, Robertson Park Rd., Livermore, CA
Agency
Negotiator: District Staff and/or Legal Counsel
Negotiating
Parties: Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District
Under
Negotiation: Terms of Purchase
12.2 REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATIONS
Pursuant
to Section 54956.8 of the Government Code
Property:
Sonoma School, 543 Sonoma Ave., Livermore, CA 94551
Agency
Negotiator: District Staff and/or Legal Counsel
Negotiating
Parties: Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District
Under Negotiation: Lease agreement
Director Kamena arrived at 7:45 p.m.
13. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Meeting reconvened to Open Session
at 8:15 p.m.
14. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE
SESSION
No action to report.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.
APPROVED,
_______________________________
Steve P. Goodman
President, Board of
Directors
ATTEST:
__________________________
General
Manager and ex-officio
Clerk
to the Board of Director