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Board Meeting Minutes
LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARK
DISTRICT
71 TREVARNO ROAD
LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA 94551-4931
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
9:00 p.m., Council Chambers
3575 Pacific Avenue
Livermore, California
MINUTES
LARPD BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Alice Quinn, Maryalice Summers Faltings, Dale Turner, David Furst and Chair Scott Kamena (5)
LARPD BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None (0)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Barry, Michael Kyle, Ken Craig, Gail Sloane, Barbara Kraybill, Felix Errico
1. CALL TO ORDER—ROLL
CALL—PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m., with all Directors present.
2. SPECIAL ITEM
Julie Hopkins, LARPD site coordinator for the Arroyo Mocho Kid's Zone Program, accepted a donation of funds on behalf of the District in the amount of $2,000 from Alameda County Supervisor, Scott Haggerty.
3. PUBLIC FORUM: No public comment was
received.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
4.1 Board Minutes
4.1.1 Regular meeting of January 14, 2004.
4.1.2 Special meeting of January 28, 2004.
4.2 Communications
4.2.1 Letter from Donna Psarris regarding Letters from Santa Program.
4.3 General Manager’s Monthly Report (#56-7).
4.4 Payroll and Claims.
On motion by Director
Kamena, seconded by Director Turner, approved Consent Agenda items, passing 5-0.
5. CONSENT AGENDA: RESOLUTIONS: None.
6. BIDS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
7. OLD BUSINESS
7.1 facility naming
General Manager Barry presented a recommendation that the
tennis courts at Robert Livermore Community Park be named in honor of Dorothy Svets. General Manager Barry described the process
that had resulted in this recommendation.
The District had received indications of interest from members of the
community regarding an appropriate memorial for Ms. Svets. Public testimony had been received by the
Board at the January 14th meeting in relation to the concept of naming the
tennis courts at Robert Livermore Community Park after her. At that time the item had been remanded to
the Facilities committee for discussion of additional possibilities. Among the
possibilities discussed with interested members of the community was the naming
of a room at the Community Center in her honor. Since it was planned that room-naming would be part of the
fundraising campaign for the Community Center, and that potentially there would
be a cost involved, the citizen group attending the Facilities Committee
meeting determined that they would like to see the tennis courts named for
Dorothy Svets, but that they would also like to pursue fundraising with the
intention of having an additional area at the Community Center named for
her.
On motion by Director Furst, seconded by Director Quinn, named
the tennis courts at Robert Livermore Community Park in honor of Dorothy Svets,
passing 5-0.
7.2 may nissen park tennis
court project
Legal Counsel Kyle reported
that as a follow up to direction received from the Board in March of 2003, a
settlement agreement had been worked out with the MCE Corporation, the
contractor who had performed a rehabilitation project for the May Nissen Tennis
Courts. In order to address a
difference of opinion between the District and the contractor on problems that
had occurred with the asphalting of the courts, an agreement had been developed
that would address the needed repairs and the payment for those repairs. Legal Counsel recommended approval of the
agreement before the Board, which proposed that the District would pay one-half
the cost of the repair, estimated in November of 2002 to be $6,068, as well as
no more than an additional 10% increase to the project cost. Repairs to the
courts would be completed no later than August of 2004.
Resolution: On motion by Director Turner, seconded by Director
Kamena, adopted and approved Resolution No. 1877, a resolution approving a
settlement agreement and mutual release with MCE Corporation for repair of the
May Nissen Tennis Courts, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Directors Quinn, Furst, Kamena, Turner, and Chair Faltings (5)
NOES: None (0)
ABSENT: None (0)
8. NEW BUSINESS
8.1 park improvement projects draft preliminary
design review
Draft preliminary designs for three park
improvement projects, Ravenswood Neighborhood Park, Vista Meadows Neighborhood
Park, and Livermore Downs Neighborhood Park, were presented for Board review
and approval, in preparation for development of construction plans and
specifications. LARPD Parks Project
Coordinator Felix Errico presented background information on the projects
relative to description and scope, public meetings held with neighbors, cost,
and timeline for development, to the Board.
Bruce Jett of Bruce Jett Associates, presented the preliminary park
designs, indicating that the improvement projects generally were concerned with
safety (updating play equipment, improving surfacing, drainage in existing play
areas), and access in compliance with Americans With Disabilities Act
requirements. Multiple proposals for
play equipment configurations were presented for each park design.
Public comment on the proposed design for
Ravenswood Neighborhood Park was received from: a) Mike McGann, Tahoe Court, Livermore; b) Bill Hunt, Tahoe
Drive, Livermore; c) Bill Fortner, Superior Drive, Livermore. Public comment on the proposed design for
Vista Meadows Neighborhood Park was received from: a) Carole Fiore, Livermore; b) Corey Cate, Lambeth Road,
Livermore. Public comment was received
for Livermore Downs from: Carole Fiore,
Livermore.
Director Furst noted that he lived in close
proximity to Ravenswood Neighborhood Park and if park neighbors had comments or
questions on the park, to please contact him.
Director Turner noted that since children would be playing in the parks,
he would like to see a no smoking policy implemented. He additionally noted
that it was important that the designs for the parks address the needs of
children with special challenges.
Regarding the playground configuration for
Ravenswood Neighborhood Park, the Board discussed the options presented
relative to the inclusion of swings, as the neighborhood had expressed a
preference for that type of play equipment. Because the inclusion of swings
into the design needed to be studied in conjunction with the other types of
equipment relative to space requirements and the need to remain within budget,
Bruce Jett recommended that the Board proceed with the approval of the main
design, so that construction drawings could be started. He would return to the Board with a
recommendation that included swings.
A motion was made by Director Turner and
seconded by Director Kamena, to approve the design for Ravenswood Neighborhood
Park, to move forward with the preparation of construction documents and to
return to the Board with a recommendation for play structures for the park,
passing 5-0.
On motion by Director Kamena, seconded by
Director Furst, approved the design for Vista Meadows Park, as recommended by
the consultant (playground configuration Attachment 2, Option 1 and Attachment
2, Option 3), passing 5-0.
On motion by Director Kamena, seconded by Director Furst, approved the design for Livermore Downs Park (Phase 1), as recommended by the consultant (playground configuration Attachment 2, Option 1b), passing 5-0.
8.2 east
bay habitat for humanity request for fee waiver
General Manager Barry
presented a recommendation to the Board for denial of the request made by
Habitat for Humanity for waiver of park dedication fees for its 22 duet homes
project. General Manager Barry’s recommendation was based on the fact that the
District could not afford to lose the $207,000 of park in-lieu fees that would
be received for the project, as the people moving into those homes would be
utilizing park district facilities.
Barry reported that he had met with representatives from Habitat for
Humanity on the issue. He noted that the project was commendable, but it did
not remove the need for the District to collect the fees.
Chair Faltings opened public
comment. Public comment was received from:
a.
Jim
Bergdoll, Project Manager for East Bay Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Bergdoll addressed the Board on the
nature of the project, how Habitat for Humanity financed mortgages for the
buyers, how money is raised for the organization, and the project design. He
explained that fees affected Habitat’s ability to keep the homes affordable and
required that additional money is raised upfront. Mr. Bergdoll further explained that the fees would come in to
LARPD over a 2 ½ year period, so that the impact would not occur at one
time. He asked the Board for
consideration of a full waiver of fees.
b.
T.J.
Gilmartin, Sheffield drive, Livermore, president of Rotary, stated his support
for the project and discussed how loans were structured and how homes were
financed. He indicated that he would
like to see LARPD support the project.
c.
Bob
Hoffman, Mars Road, Livermore, representing Asbury Methodist Church, stated
that Asbury Church had committed to raising $40,000 over the next two years for
the project. He encouraged the Board to support the project.
d. Brian O’Reilly, Emerald Street, Livermore, a volunteer for Habitat
projects, stated that this was a city-wide project, with a lot of community
involvement, and if the Board could waive fees, there would be a good return to
the District in publicity and goodwill.
e.
Ralph
Sherman, Livermore, Rotarian, addressed the Board on the long-term effect of
having the Habitat families in Livermore.
He asked the Board to consider waiving fees.
f.
Michael
Chow, Assistant Manager, East Bay Habitat for Humanity, supported the waiver of
fees, explaining that the burden of the fees directly impacted the home buyers.
After Board discussion, a
motion was made by Director Turner, and seconded by Director Quinn, to deny the
request for waiver of park dedication fees for the Habitat for Humanity
project, passing 5-0.
Director Quinn stated that she would like the District to find another way of assisting with the project.
8.3 robert
livermore community center fee schedule for gymnasium use
General Manager Barry
presented a recommendation for adoption of a gymnasium use fee schedule for the
gymnasium at the new Robert Livermore Community Center. Staff had conducted a survey of like
facilities in the Bay Area, and the proposed rates were inclusive of staffing
and equipment costs for the facility. A rental deposit would be required; the
amount of the deposit would be dependent upon the type of use. The recommended
fees were: a) Non-profit resident group, $30/hour; b) resident group, $40/hour;
c) non-resident/non-profit, $50/hour; d) commercial, $125/hour, plus 10% of
gross.
Director Quinn inquired
about gymnasium use by residents on a drop-in basis relative to the requirement
for a reservation and deposit. General Manager Barry explained that times would
be set-aside for open gym time for basketball and volleyball.
On motion by Director Turner, seconded by Director Furst, approved the Robert Livermore Community Center gymnasium fee schedule, passing 5-0.
8.4 vasco
road trail acceptance from pacific union homes
Parks Project Coordinator
Felix Errico reported to the Board that the trail segment being proposed for
acceptance had neither been developed by Pacific Union Homes to LARPD
standards, nor had it undergone inspection by LARPD. Construction drawings that had been approved by the District
stated that LARPD would perform inspections, but the work had been undertaken
without LARPD being called. Testing had
been performed on the trail to determine its composition and construction; the
testing had revealed that the trail had not been constructed to the proper
depth and was missing weed control fabric.
The decomposed granite depth averaged 2” instead of 4”. Because repair would require removal and
replacement of the trail and would compromise some of the other project
improvements, Pacific Union Homes had agreed to an extended two-year
maintenance period for the trail, as well as providing the District with a
$10,000 certificate of deposit to ensure that any necessary trail repairs would
be made during the two year maintenance period. Errico recommended acceptance of the trail improvements under the
conditions proposed by staff.
Board discussed the proposal
in relation to project inspection procedures, the increased trail maintenance
burden to the District after the maintenance period had expired, lack of trail
durability, and adequacy of punitive measures for Pacific Union Homes.
Resolution: On motion by Director Turner, seconded by Director
Kamena, adopted and approved Resolution No. 1878, a resolution accepting Vasco
Road trail improvements from Pacific Union Homes, by the following roll call
vote:
AYES: Directors Furst, Kamena, and Turner (3)
NOES: Director Quinn and Chair Faltings (2)
ABSENT: None (0)
8.5 ballot
initiative—the local taxpayers and public safety protection act
General
Manager Barry addressed the Board on a request for support from the California
Special Districts Association (CSDA) for the Local Taxpayers and Public Safety
Protection Act. CSDA was involved in
the effort to place this measure on the November, 2004, ballot. Barry explained that LARPD lost $4 million
dollars each year through the Education Revenue Augmentation Fund, which shifted local property taxes to the State’s
general fund which was then used to meet the State’s education
obligations. Under the proposed ballot
initiative, a public vote would be required before local tax revenues could be
appropriated and it required reimbursement for local governments for mandated
program costs. General Manager Barry
recommended passage of the resolution on the agenda in support of the measure, and
a contribution to the CSDA of $500 to assist in the development of the measure.
Resolution: On motion by Director Kamena, seconded by Director
Furst, adopted and approved Resolution No. 1879, a resolution supporting the
“Local Taxpayers and Public Safety Protection Act”, by the following roll call
vote:
AYES: Directors Quinn, Furst, Kamena, Turner, and Chair Faltings (5)
NOES: None (0)
ABSENT: None (0)
On motion by Director Kamena, seconded by Chair Faltings, approved a contribution to the California Special Districts Association of $500 in support of the Local Taxpayers and Public Safety Protection Act, passing 5-0.
9. ORAL REPORTS
9.1 robert livermore community center project
status report:
Superintendent of Planning and Parks Craig reported to the
Board on the issue of the time extension proposal made by Overaa Construction.
The issue was being addressed through the District’s project management firm,
with involvement by staff and Legal Counsel.
The project continues to move forward, with an estimated early June
completion date.
10.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Board received reports on
the nine committees attended since the Regular Meeting of January 14, 2004, as
follows: Facilities, Program, Budget,
Intergovernmental, Community Gardens, ESS Parent Advisory Committee, City of
Livermore Growth Review, Livermore Cultural Arts Council, and Scottish Games.
11. MATTERS INITIATED BY
THE DIRECTORS
a. Chair Faltings thanked staff for providing current financial
reports in the Board packets.
12. MATTERS INITIATED BY THE GENERAL MANAGER
a.
General
Manager Barry reported on the beginning of the budget development process for
the upcoming fiscal year.
b.
General
Manager distributed an updated Board calendar.
13. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 10:10 p.m.
14. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION: Meeting reconvened to Open
Session at 10:26 p.m.
15. REPORT OF ACTION TAKEN IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Chair Faltings reported that
no action had been taken in Executive Session.
16.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 10:26
p.m.
APPROVED:
_____________________________________
Chair,
Board of Directors
ATTEST:
______________________________________
General Manager and
ex-officio
Clerk to the Board
of Directors
Livermore
Area Recreation and Park District
71 Trevarno Road
Livermore, California 94551-4931
(925) 373-5700
Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays
E-mail: info@larpd.dst.ca.us
© 2001