LIVERMORE AREA
RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT
4444 EAST
AVENUE
LIVERMORE,
CALIFORNIA 94550-5053
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
REGULAR BOARD
MEETING
Wednesday, September
14, 2005
7:00 p.m.
Robert Livermore Community Center
4444 East
Avenue
Livermore,
California
DIRECTORS
PRESENT: Dale Turner, Maryalice Faltings, Steve
Goodman, and Chair David Furst (4)
DIRECTORS ABSENT: Director Kamena (1)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Barry, Pat Kasberg,
Michael Kyle, Barbara
Kraybill,
Jim Brandenburg, and Felix Errico
1.
CALL TO ORDER-ROLL-PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE
Meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Chair
Furst who led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Director Kamena was absent
from the meeting.
2. PUBLIC FORUM
Chair Furst asked for public comment
for any item not on the agenda.
a)
Cindy Burrow, a
Livermore resident, addressed the Board. Ms. Burrow has been using the RLCC pool for therapeutic reasons and if
the pool closes for the winter she is afraid her
progress will backslide. She urged the Board to keep the pool open year round.
b)
Jim Volponi, a
Livermore resident for 47 years, addressed the Board. Mr. Volponi stated that the RLCC pool is a wonderful complex. Mr.
Volponi gave a history on the swimming
pools in Livermore and the AquaCowboys Swim Team. Mr. Volponi praised the RLCC facility and staff and urged the
Board to keep the RLCC pool open year round.
c) Don
DeSantas from the Livermore Blue Dolphins swim team, addressed the Board. Mr. DeSantas stated that their team
really loves using the RLCC pool and it is advantages
to the swim team to have the pool open year round.
d) Brandon
Chandler, a member of the Blue Dolphin swim team, addressed the Board. Mr. Chandler stated that being a member of the
swim team is very important to him and it is important
that the team is able to use the pool year round.
e)
Leslie Tupper, a native
of Livermore, addressed the Board. Ms. Tupper stated she would like to see the RLCC pool remain open during
the winter so that she can continue her water
polo program.
f) Katie
Paredez, a member of the Granada High School water polo team, addressed the Board and explained the
importance of having the RLCC pool open year round so that the water polo program can continue.
g) A
lady who is a member of the Lab lap swimmer group, addressed the Board and
stated that she is representing the lap
swimmers who use the RLCC pool and has a petition for the Board signed by the lap swimmers who are requesting
that the pool stay open year round.
h) Dana Croghan, addressed the Board. Ms. Croghan stated that she teaches 12 of the 18 water
fitness classes taught at the RLCC pool. She has cancer patients who can only exercise in water. Ms. Croghan
stated several cases where people
have overcome their disabilities due to her water fitness classes. Ms. Croghan urged the Board to keep the pool open year
round so that these individuals can continue
to improve and others can be helped.
i) Margie
Dino, a Livermore resident, addressed the Board. Ms. Dino stated that she has a
group of people practicing synchronized
swimming and would like to continue the program
year round.
j) A
lady who is an LLNL lap swimmer, addressed the Board. She praised the pool and its aesthetics, and stated that she swims laps
year round and would like to be able to use the RLCC pool.
k) Matt Croghan addressed the Board. Mr. Croghan stated he
participates in the water polo program and the RLCC pool is a great deep water facility
and he would like to see it used year round. He would like the Board to at
least give it a try and keep it open
this year and see if it is feasible.
l) Linda
Casey, a Livermore resident, addressed the Board. Ms. Casey stated that she is addressing the Board for two reasons: 1) to
keep the pool open year round; and 2) for the Board
to re-think the fitness center plan. Ms. Casey stated that LARPD should
consider installing fitness equipment
and charge a use fee. She feels that there is a niche market for a fitness center and thinks the District
is overlooking a great opportunity to generate funds.
m) Heidi
Haas, 5330 Desiree Avenue, Livermore, addressed the Board. Ms. Haas stated that
she supports keeping the RLCC
pool open year round for the evening swim program.
n) Jerry
Sweeney, 1137 Alison Circle, Livermore, addressed the Board. Mr. Sweeney stated
that he is a lab employee and
has used the lab pool for 25 years. When the lab pool closed he was able to bike to the RLCC pool and continue lap
swimming. He stated that the RLCC pool
is a great facility and very convenient for lab employees. Mr. Sweeney stated that he would like to see the pool
stay open year round so that he can continue to swim on his lunch hour. The exercise is beneficial to his overall
health and keeps his cholesterol
in check.
o) Kurt
Schallitz, a swim coach for the Blue Dolphins swim team, addressed the Board.
Mr. Schallitz pointed out to the Board
that there is a lot of enthusiasm for the facility and the user momentum is high. If the pool closes
for 3 months, swim teams will have to seek alternative
places to swim and might not come back to the RLCC pool when it re-opens. This could have a negative impact on future
income for the pool. Mr. Schallitz would like
the Board to take this into consideration when they are making their decision.
p) Stefan
DiScala, a Livermore resident, addressed the Board. Mr. DiScala stated that he
is a LARPD employee who works in
aquatics. Mr. DiScala stated
that it is advantages to him if the pool
is open year round so that he can keep his lifeguard skills up to par and not have to re-train every year.
q) Art
Holding, a Livermore resident, addressed the Board. Mr. Holding stated that he swims at the pool in the early morning
and that when the pool opened last spring it wasn’t
very crowded and now all the lanes are full. He enjoys swimming year round and would like the pool to stay open.
Chair Furst closed public comment.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
3.1 Board
Minutes
3.1.1 Special
meeting of August 31, 2005.
3.2 Communications:
None
3.3 General
Manager’s Monthly Report (#58/2).
3.4 Payroll
and Claims.
3.5 Approval
of Change Order #24 for the Robert Livermore Community Center and approval of the General Manager’s execution
of the settlement agreement and release of claims with C. Overaa & Co.
On a motion
by Director Faltings, seconded by Director Goodman, approved the Consent
Agenda,
passing 4-0. (Director Kamena absent)
4. CONSENT AGENDA:
RESOLUTIONS: None
5. BIDS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None
6. OLD BUSINESS: None
7. NEW BUSINESS
7.1 FOUR PARKS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BY J. W. RILEY
& SON, INC.
The Board received a letter from Mr. John Riley stating that he just
recently learned that this item was on
the agenda for this meeting and he has not had sufficient time to prepare his response. Mr. Riley requested
that the Board postpone discussion of this item until the next Board meeting.
Chair Furst continued this item to
the Special Board meeting of September 28, 2005.
8. ORAL REPORTS
8.1 LEGAL COUNSEL’S
REPORT OF ACTIVITIES
a) Worked with outside counsel
and participated in the Robert Livermore Community Center mediation which was
resolved successfully.
b)
Working on an agreement that will resolve an issued that has been
discussed in executive session.
c)
Working with the City of Livermore staff on Trail Segment N, from the
Del Valle trail to Sycamore Grove Park.
d)
Working with staff on securing outside banking services rather than
being tied to Alameda County.
e)
Working with staff in preparing the District’s response regarding issues
with J. W. Riley and the four parks project.
f)
Researching the issue of whether the second board meeting of the month
is a regular or special meeting.
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Board received reports on the five
committee meetings attended since the Regular Board
meeting of August 10, 2005, as
follows: Program, Community Center,
Alameda County
Special Districts’ Association,
Ravenswood Progress League, and Livermore Cultural Arts
Council.
10. MATTERS
INITIATED BY THE DIRECTORS
a) Director Faltings attended the
re-dedication of the Livermore flag pole at Carnegie Park and it was an excellent ceremony and very well
represented.
b)
Director Turner stated that he has been concerned over the years about
the selection process of contractors
to build our parks. There have been a large number of poor selections and he would like to have a
Board committee discuss the selection process in an effort to improve it.
c)
Director Goodman stated that he is very encouraged by the support shown
by the people wishing to keep the pool
open year round.
d)
Chair Furst requested a timeline from staff on when they expect to hire
a grant writer.
11. MATTERS
INITIATED BY THE GENERAL MANAGER
a) General Manager Barry stated
that staff will be meeting with the Summit Park neighbors on Thursday night to conclude
discussions on the tree selections for the west end of the park.
b) The City Council has
approved the Arroyo Crossing development agreement and the output of that is the developer is
donating a million dollars to LARPD for a sports park or other improvements to facilities that is
capital funding. The District will also
be establishing a playground near this
development at Robertson Park with the developer funding and will also be receiving the regular development
in-lieu fees of approximately $1.7
million from the development over time for LARPD to improve facilities.
c)
The park and recreation master plan requires an amendment to our
existing city contract and it is being
prepared and will be ready for Board review at the next meeting.
d)
On September 26-29, Director Faltings and General Manager Barry will be
attending the California Special
Districts’ Association Conference in Long Beach.
12. ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting
adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
APPROVED,
_______________________________
Chair, Board
of Directors
ATTEST:
__________________________
General
Manager and ex-officio
Clerk
to the Board of Directors