LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARK
DISTRICT
71 TREVARNO ROAD
LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA 94551-4931
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
5:45 p.m.
Robert Livermore Community Center
4444 East Avenue
Livermore, California
MINUTES
BOARD
MEMBERS PRESENT: Dale
Turner, Scott Kamena, Steve Goodman, and Chair David Furst (4)
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Maryalice
Faltings (1)
(Attending CSDA Conference in Long Beach)
STAFF
MEMBERS PRESENT: Barbara
Kraybill, Michael Kyle, Pat Kasberg, Gretchen Sommers, Jim Carlson, and Sharon
Grant
1.
CALL TO ORDER – ROLL CALL – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Meeting
was called to order at 5:50 p.m. by Chair Furst, who led the group in the
Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was taken and all Directors were present except for
Directors Faltings and Kamena.
2. CONSENT
AGENDA
2.1 Board Minutes
2.1.1 Regular meeting of September 14, 2005.
On a motion by Director Turner, seconded by Director Goodman,
approved the Consent
Agenda, passing 3-0.
(Directors Faltings and Kamena absent)
3. CONSENT
AGENDA: RESOLUTIONS
3.1 Resolution No. 1973, a resolution
supporting the City of Livermore’s grant application for funding from the California River Parkways Grant Program
under Proposition 50.
On a motion by
Director Goodman, seconded by Director Turner, approved Consent
Agenda Resolution No.1973, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Chair Furst, Director Turner, and Director
Goodman (3)
NOES: None (0)
ABSENT: Directors Faltings and Kamena (2)
3.2
Resolution No. 1974, a resolution accepting a contract from the State
Department of Education Child Development Division for child care subsidy.
On a motion by
Director Turner, seconded by Director Goodman, approved Consent
Agenda Resolution No. 1974, by the following roll call
vote:
AYES: Director Goodman, Director Turner,
and Chair Furst (3)
NOES: None (0)
ABSENT: Directors Faltings and Kamena (2)
3.3
Resolution No. 1975, a resolution accepting a subcontract with Kidango
to provide subsidized school-age child care in
Livermore.
On a motion by
Director Goodman, seconded by Director Turner, approved Consent
Agenda Resolution No. 1975, by the following roll call
vote:
AYES: Director
Goodman, Director Turner, and Chair Furst (3)
NOES: None (0)
ABSENT: Directors Faltings and Kamena (2)
4. NEW
BUSINESS
4.1 ROBERT LIVERMORE COMMUNITY CENTER POOL WINTER
SCHEDULE
Senior
Recreation Supervisor Carlson stated that the staff recommendation is that the
RLCC lap pool not close for a 3-month period (as budgeted), but remain open
during December, January and February.
Director
Goodman stated that he was pleased with the staff report, and very pleased that
LARPD is able to provide use of the lap pool December-February. He voiced
concern whether the current pool users will continue to support the pool and
encourage others to use it. He stated that he was willing to try keeping the
pool open for the entire year this year, to see how much revenue is generated
vs. cost. He noted that the Masters swimming programs may not be able to leave
their current practice facility this season, since there is no guarantee that
the RLCC pool will remain open December-February next year.
Director
Turner stated that he was pleased with the staff report, as well, and that the
Board of Directors had heard comments from the community (at the Regular Board
Meeting of September 14).
Chair
Furst stated that LARPD loses to the State of California over $5 million a year
in Livermore property tax revenue. He noted that LARPD is not the federal
government, and, by law, cannot operate on a deficit budget. He observed that,
during the budget process for the 2005/2006 fiscal year, no member of the
public came forth to express interest in keeping the pool open year round. Chair
Furst further noted that, if the Board approves keeping the pool open year
round, LARPD must change its existing balanced aquatics budget. He asked staff
how they thought LARPD could absorb the $17,000 estimated additional cost of
keeping the pool open December-February, when the current budget is already
stretched.
Aquatics
Supervisor Sharon Grant responded that, due to overwhelming response to the
summer program, summer pool revenue alone had exceeded the 2005/2006 budget
revenue projections. The budget revenue projection was $175,000; the actual revenue
collected May 1-August 31, 2005 alone was $217,210, exceeding the entire
revenue budgeted for 2005/2006 by $42,000. Staff believes this budget surplus
will absorb the cost of keeping the pool open an additional three months.
Chair
Furst opened public comment. No public comment was received. Chair Furst closed
public comment.
Director
Kamena arrived at 6:05 p.m.
On a
motion by Director Turner, seconded by Director Goodman, approved supporting
the staff recommendation to keep the RLCC lap pool open during
December-February, passing 4-0. (Director Faltings absent)
4.2 LIVERMORE VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
PROPOSAL FOR USAGE OF THE
BOTHWELL CENTER
Superintendent of Youth Services Kraybill presented a
staff report regarding a proposal from
the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center (LVPAC) on the use of the Bothwell Center. Senior Recreation Supervisor Tibbetts and Youth Services
Superintendent met with Jamie Hyams,
Administrative Director of LVPAC on September 9, 2005 and discussed LVPAC’s need to change
their approach to the use of the Bothwell Center. LVPAC has determined that a lease agreement with LARPD is
economically unfeasible for
them, and has proposed that the Bothwell Center become a joint program of LARPD
and LVPAC, wherein LARPD would
continue to run the facility, including staffing and building operation. LARPD would continue programs at the
facility, and LVPAC would raise
awareness of the facility as a resource to the arts community and pursue grants
to underwrite the cost of
rental rates for individual artists and groups. All rental revenue would go to LARPD.
Director Goodman asked if LVPAC would receive priority
use of Bothwell after the LARPD
program time had been allotted.
Superintendent Kraybill responded that further discussion
was needed in order to make a decision
on this.
Chair
Furst opened public comment.
Jamie
Hyams, Director of LVPAC, addressed the Board, stating that Superintendent
Kraybill’s assertion that LVPAC is making the new proposal due to their not
being able to sublease all of the Bothwell space is inaccurate. Ms. Hyams
stated that, since LARPD wished to continue holding programs at Bothwell even
if LVPAC leased the facility, LARPD staff would be on hand anyway, whether
LARPD or LVPAC was responsible for operations. Additionally, the cost of
insurance for LVPAC would be prohibitive. Her belief is that a joint program
between LARPD and LVPAC would be a win-win situation for the artistic community
and for LARPD. Ms. Hyams expressed her feeling that, with the amount of
interest in studio and gallery space from the artistic community, Bothwell
would be a cultural arts center. She estimated LVPAC’s pursuit of grant funding
could yield $5-$10,000.
Charles
Hartwig, 4319 Findlay Way, Livermore, President of the Livermore Cultural Arts
Council, which represents 19 to 20 different organizations, stated his opinion
that the Bothwell Center would be great for cultural arts organizations to join
forces. Mr. Hartwig’s two main points were that he was in agreement with
LVPAC’s viewpoint, as it appears to be mutually beneficial for LARPD, and that arts
groups and the arts community wants one place to focus on. He assured the Board
that the community out there is willing to step forward and support this.
Director
Furst closed public comment.
Director
Kamena inquired about the time frame for getting approval for LVPAC’s proposal
and getting things rolling.
District
Legal Counsel Kyle responded that there was an initial effort to develop a
lease, but, now that the concept has changed, we will have to get a better idea
of what we are looking at.
Director
Goodman asked which LARPD committees would be responsible for this issue and
bringing it before the Board, the Facilities Committee, or the Program Committee.
Superintendent
Kraybill responded that both committees would be responsible.
Chair
Furst wished to clarify LVPAC’s role in the proposed arrangement. Would LVPAC
raise awareness and write grants, and LARPD handle everything else?
Jamie
Hyams confirmed Chair Furst’s summary of LVPAC’s role, emphasizing that LVPAC
can do much more than LARPD to get the word out about rentals, etc. to the arts
community.
Chair
Furst stated that he is anxious for the process to proceed quickly.
Ms.
Hyams responded that LVPAC is ready to begin immediately.
Director
Goodman approved of the proposal to arrange an agreement with LVPAC, and
expressed a desire for the process to move along quickly.
Director
Turner was also in agreement with the staff proposal, and expressed the desire
for quick action on the matter.
District
Legal Counsel Kyle stated that clarification must be made about how the
agreement will be structured, as it is not really a lease agreement.
Director
Kamena stated that it is important that the agreement be in writing, although
it may not be a formal lease agreement.
Director
Goodman indicated that, perhaps a simple agreement such as an MOA or MOU would
be appropriate. He also stated that we must be careful about conflicting program
uses.
5.
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
APPROVED,
_______________________
Chair,
Board of Directors
ATTEST:
_____________________________
General Manager and
ex-officio Clerk
to the Board of Directors