LIVERMORE
AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT
MINUTES
REGULAR
MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 12, 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, Jill De Bow-Kirk, Barbara Kraybill,
Michael Kyle, Mike Nicholson, Gretchen Sommers, Brian Tibbetts
Meeting was called to order by President
Goodman at 7:03 p.m. All Directors were present.
2. INTRODUCTION
General Manager Barry introduced Senior
Recreation Supervisor Jill De Bow-Kirk, recently hired to fill the vacancy
which will result from Youth Services Superintendent Barbara Kraybill’s
retirement at the end of the month. Mr. Barry talked about Ms. De Bow-Kirk’s
professional background.
3. PUBLIC
FORUM
President Goodman opened public comment. No
public comment received. President Goodman closed public comment.
4. CONSENT AGENDA:
4.1
BOARD MINUTES
4.1.1 Meeting of November 14, 2007
4.1.2 Meeting of November 28, 2007
4.2
COMMUNICATIONS:
4.2.1 General Manager’s Monthly Report (#61/5)
President Goodman asked if Directors wished to
remove any items from the Consent Agenda. Nothing was removed. On a motion by
Director Faltings, seconded by Director Kamena, approved the consent agenda,
passing5-0.
5. CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS: None.
6. BIDS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
7. OLD BUSINESS: None.
8. NEW
BUSINESS:
8.1
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION
President Goodman stated that the
Board will approve a resolution of appreciation for Youth Services
Superintendent Barbara Kraybill on the occasion of her retirement.
On a motion by Director Faltings, seconded by
Director Kamena, approved Resolution No. 2093, a resolution of appreciation for
Youth Services Superintendent Barbara Kraybill on the occasion of her
retirement, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Director Wilson, Director
Kamena, Director Faltings, Director Furst and President Goodman (5)
NOES: None
(0)
ABSTENTIONS: None
(0)
ABSENT: None (0)
Director Faltings read the resolution of
appreciation. Ms. Kraybill spoke about her history with LARPD and said LARPD is
a great organization and that it has been a privilege to work for the District
and its Boards of Directors, General Managers and staff.
8.2 PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS
President Goodman stated that the
Board will consider approving revisions to the District Personnel Rules and
Regulations.
General Manager Barry stated
that the recent recruitment to fill the Assistant General Manager position prompted
staff to review the Personnel Rules and Regulations and recommend a number of
changes. Mr. Barry reviewed some of the changes. The staff report provided
detailed explanations of changes being recommended in the following categories:
professional attitude and conduct; selection of employees in the competitive
service; employment of relatives; compensation plan; probationary period;
disciplinary or corrective action; work schedule and overtime; year round part
time designated positions; and professional advancement.
Mr. Barry stated that the Personnel Commission
and the Personnel Committee have met and reviewed the suggested changes, and that
many of their comments have been incorporated. He added that the Personnel Commission
has been asked to do a thorough review of the Personnel Rules and Regulations,
which will take place in the spring.
President Goodman invited Directors’
questions. Directors asked for and received information and clarification on
the following items: the opinion of Director Wilson, who is the Chair of the
Personnel Committee; details regarding holiday pay for part-time designated
employees; and extension of the eligibility list generated during employment
recruitments.
President Goodman opened public comment. No
public comment received. President Goodman closed public comment.
President Goodman asked for a motion. On a
motion by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Faltings, approved Resolution
No. 2094, a resolution approving revisions to the District Personnel Rules and
Regulations, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Director Kamena, Director
Faltings, Director Furst, Director Wilson and President Goodman (5)
NOES: None
(0)
ABSTENTIONS: None
(0)
ABSENT: None (0)
8.3 RANGER
STATION CONCEPTURAL DESIGN AND BUDGET
President Goodman stated that the
Board will consider approving the concept design and budget for the Ranger
Station in Sycamore Grove Park.
General Manager Barry summarized the project,
reporting that in April 2006, the Board of Directors provisionally approved the
acceptance of a home built by Robert and Vern Denton for use as a Ranger
Station in Sycamore Grove Park. The home was being donated by Jacquie
Williams-Courtright, along with $25,000 to cover the cost of moving the
structure to the park. After a feasibility study was conducted by Arkin &
Tilt Architects, the Board authorized staff to begin planning the conversion of
the house into a Ranger Station, and approved a budget of $575,000 for the
project, which was later increased to $775,000.
Mr. Barry stated that the District is now in a
position to look at the concept plans, which will be presented tonight by David
Arkin and Dan Johnson of Arkin Tilt Architects. He noted that an updated budget
was distributed to Directors at this meeting.
Mr. Arkin made a slide presentation on the
concept design and spoke about the project, explaining its environmentally
friendly, or “green,” features, structural elements, etc. He said that the
original estimated budget was off by $77,000, explaining that some of the
reasons had to do with and a 10% increase in square footage, unanticipated
utility hook-up fees, and a 10% increase in overall costs. Mr. Arkin stated
that some of the elements of the concept design could be removed if necessary.
President Goodman invited Directors’
questions. Directors asked for clarification and had comments on the following
items: serious concern regarding the increased budget estimate; elements of the
project that can be deferred; concern that the secondary purpose of making the
project a green model seems to be becoming the primary purpose; inquiries about
the length of time until the District experiences a payback (in energy savings)
of the costs incurred in making the project green; acknowledgement that the
Ranger staff does, indeed, need new workspace, but there is concern that staff
workspace comfort seems to be a higher priority than necessary; the opinion
that this project needs to be redesigned, making it simpler, and keeping it within
the Board-approved budget; the feeling that LARPD’s environmental program is
very unique and that the Ranger staff need to be in front of the public in
decent working conditions; the feeling that this project can be brought back to
budget, by deferring items and seeking grant funding; and inquiry about whether the Facilities
Committee had seen the project.
President Goodman recommended that staff and
consultants come up with a more manageable plan before going forward with the
project.
General Manager Barry suggested that staff go
back and work with architect regarding the energy saving elements of the
project, in particular determining the cost elements and payback projections.
Director Furst stated he supports the suggestion
to withdraw the item now and take a look at the energy savings, as well as get
a more realistic cost estimate from the utility providers.
8.4 ELECTION OF BOARD OFFICERS FOR 2008
President Goodman stated that the Board will
elect a President and Vice President of the Board of Directors for calendar
year 2008.
President Goodman said he would entertain a nomination
for the office of President of the Board of Directors for calendar year 2008.
Director Faltings nominated President Goodman. President Goodman asked if there
were any other nominations. No other nominations were made. President Goodman
closed the nominations and called for a vote. The vote was unanimous, 5-0, in favor
of President Goodman serving as President of the Board of Directors for
calendar year 2008.
President Goodman opened nominations for the
office of Vice President of the Board of Directors for calendar year 2008.
Director Kamena nominated Director Faltings. President Goodman asked if there
were any other nominations. No other nominations were made. President Goodman
closed the nominations and called for a vote. The vote was unanimous, 5-0, in favor
of Director Faltings serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors for
calendar year 2008.
Director Kamena commended President Goodman
for having done an outstanding job serving as Vice President for the last half
year. He said he feels President Goodman runs the Board meetings well, with humor,
candor and thoughtfulness, and that he is sensitive to Board and staff needs. He
said that Director Faltings has done a fine job as well. President Goodman said
he was happy to step in as President when President Turner retired from the
Board last summer. He said he thinks the Directors get along well and serve the
public well, even though they are not always in agreement. He thanked the Board
for the opportunity to serve as President.
8.5 BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE
FOR 2008
President Goodman stated that the Board will
set the time and place for Board meetings and adopt a Meeting Calendar for 2008.
General Manager Barry said that the proposed
meeting schedule for 2008 is similar to that of 2007, except it includes a second
November meeting. He said it is
challenging for staff to prepare Board packets during holiday weeks, but that
it is not impossible.
President Goodman asked for Directors’ questions.
No questions. Director Kamena suggested that the Board meet on June 4 instead
of June 18 for the first June meeting (Livermore Rodeo events make a Board
meeting the second Wednesday in June inconvenient). Director Kamena recommended
eliminating the second Board meeting in November.
President Goodman asked for a motion. Director
Kamena made a motion, seconded by Director Faltings, that the first June
meeting be held on June 4 and that the second meeting in November be
eliminated.
President Goodman invited Directors’ comments.
Director Kamena stated that June is budget month for the District and that
holding the first meeting on June 4 instead of June 18 will give staff more
time in preparing the District budget. He said that if it turns out that a second
meeting is necessary in November, that a special meeting can be called.
Director Faltings asked if staff had compared the
proposed meeting schedule to the dates of the various conferences that Directors
normally attend, such as CPRS, NRPA, CSDA, etc. General Manager responded that
staff had not.
Director Wilson requested that the October 8 meeting
be moved to October 15, as Yom Kippur is on October 8. Director Wilson made a
motion, seconded by Director Kamena, to amend the original motion to the effect
that the October 8 meeting be rescheduled to October 15.
President Goodman invited Director discussion.
No discussion. President Goodman called the motion. The amending motion that
the first June meeting be held on June 4 and that the second meeting in
November be eliminated and that the October 8 meeting be rescheduled to October
15, passed 5-0.
8.6
BOARD POLICY MANUAL CHANGES
President Goodman stated that the Board will discuss
suggested changes to the Board Policy Manual.
President Goodman asked if Directors had
questions. Director Wilson asked about Board Policy section 2000, wherein
District Legal Counsel is referred to as an employee, as her understanding is
that he is not an employee. Legal Counsel Michael Kyle said that he holds a
unique position in that he is employed by, and answers exclusively to, the Board.
He said he is not an employee in the same sense as, for example, Brian Tibbetts
or Mike Nicholson. He said the reference to him as an employee might be a loose
usage of the term. President Goodman
asked for further questions. No further questions.
General Manager Barry called attention to Policy
number 4090, regarding the Board having to approve any expense for conferences
or training in excess of the budgeted amount. Discussion ensued explaining
that, currently, the annual budget for Board conference and training expenses
is divided evenly among the five Directors. The Policy Manual states that
spending in excess of the budget must be approved by the Board of Directors.
Historically, this has been interpreted as meaning that individual Directors
must seek the approval of the Board if they wish to exceed their individual
budget, even if it does not result in the total conference/training budget
being exceeded. Directors agreed that a more appropriate interpretation is that
Board approval be required only if it is expected that the entire budget will
be exceeded. President Goodman suggested that the conference/training budget be
kept as a line item in the District budget, but that the sum not be divided among
individual Directors. He asked that Directors submit expense estimates of conferences
they wish to attend during the fiscal year, and this will be considered. He
noted that some Directors are able to attend more conferences than others, and
that he feels it is the will of the Board that Directors do participate in
conferences and trainings in the park and recreation profession.
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Director Wilson reported on her
attendance at the December 5 Livermore Cultural Arts Council Meeting. Director
Faltings reported on her and Director Furst’s attendance at a December 6 Naming
Committee meeting, which is a joint committee of LARPD and the City of
Livermore to set policy for naming facilities and trails.
10. MATTERS INITIATED/ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE
DIRECTORS
1) Director Faltings announced that the
Ravenswood Progress League held a very successful Victorian Yuletide event on
December 9. About 900 people attended.
2) Director Faltings announced that the ESS/KZ
administrative staff is happily relocated at LARPD’s 71 Trevarno Road office.
3) Director Faltings announced that she and
the General Manager attended a retirement event for Eric Willyerd of H.A.R.D.
She said that Mr. Willyerd will be missed in the park and recreation field.
4) Director Wilson announced that she attended
the Ravenswood Yuletide event and that it was a really lovely and fun event.
5) President Goodman spoke about the Senior
Services trip program and that there was recently a gathering where photos were
shared of a senior trip to the Rhine. He said that former LARPD employee Pat
Kasberg and her husband went on this trip and that Ms. Kasberg made a quilt in
commemoration of it.
6) President Goodman announced that the state
budget is not in good shape, and that it is possible the state will raid LARPD’s
property tax revenues once again, as it has been doing since 1992 via ERAF
(Education Revenue Augmentation Fund). He explained that the state can take
special district funds to balance its own budget shortfalls. He added that the
public had voted on not permitting the state to do it again unless there is a
fiscal emergency and that, if the state took the districts’ money, it would have
to pay it back this time. However, the measure did not specify a date by which the
state would have to pay it back. President Goodman said LARPD may ask the
public to write letters on its behalf if the state again takes the special districts’
tax revenue. He invited the public to contact LARPD or him for information. He
said that another tax shift will hurt LARPD’s ability to continue to provide
quality services.
7) President Goodman asked Directors to review
the Board committee assignments list and to put in their requests for 2008
committee assignments.
1) General Manager Barry wished the Board happy
holidays.
2) General Manager Barry invited the public to
participate in the “Polar Bear Slide” event at the RLCC Aquatic Center on
January 5, 2008.
Meeting
adjourned to Executive Session at 9:00 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
13. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Meeting reconvened to Open Session at
10:00 p.m.
14. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE
SESSION
No action to report.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 10:01 p.m.
APPROVED,
_______________________________
Steve P. Goodman
President, Board of
Directors
ATTEST:
__________________________
General
Manager and ex-officio
Clerk
to the Board of Director