PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 032822
CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Monday, March 28, 2022
4:00 PM
Location: Virtual – Zoom meeting
A G E N D A
A. CALL TO ORDER at 4:03 pm
B. ROLL CALL
Commissioner Karger Commissioner McCarthy
Commissioner Greenberg Commissioner Turkmany
Commissioner Weiner Commissioner Grampp
Commissioner Doran
Present: Greenberg, Doran, Weiner, Leyman, Karger, Grampp, McCarthy
Absent: None
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 28, 2022
Commissioner Greenberg moved to approve minutes.
Commissioner Weiner seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Ayes: Greenberg, Doran, Weiner, Leyman, Karger, Grampp, McCarthy Nayes: none
Abstain: none
Absent: none
D. CEREMONIAL - None
E. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (3-Minute Limit) -
Lee Barr, resident - the homeless count was held and is approximately the same total (approx. 5-6) people as last year. The official count will be out soon.
F. GENERAL BUSINESS
2022 Workplan Item updates
El Porto Family Park
Director Leyman reached out to LA County Beaches and Harbors regarding installing a swing set, as directed by the City Council. Assistant to the City Manager, George Gabriel, is working with deputies of the County Supervisor to see if they are willing to pay for the amenities.
Commissioner Weiner asked if this is part of the park’s plan.
Commissioner Karger asked if is it about landscaping and Director Leyman explained that for now, it is just the swing set.
Commissioner Greenberg asks that Director Leyman remind the City Council members that there is a bias on low-profile playground equipment, nothing that obstructs views or occupies too much square footage, there is also already a swing set near the park.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 032822
Director Leyman reiterated that there will be a conversation with the Supervisor’s office and will be asking about both the swing set and the maintenance of the park. There may be funding opportunities from the county. He is waiting to hear what comes out of the conversation with the Supervisor’s office regarding that park site. More discussion about funding and design elements is needed to find out if they are willing to move forward.
Sand Dune Park Master Plan (Nature Areas and Trails, Building) The recreation supervisor and Public Works supervisors will be a part of the committee to put together the plan.
Commissioner Greenberg is heading up the ad hoc committee and moving forward with the direction from project recreation supervisor, Michael Hudak, as well as representatives in Public Works. Both supervisors, Bobby Dobson and Ernest Area will a part of that committee.
Commissioner Greenberg will schedule a meeting for the ad hoc committee and move forward.
Dog Parks and Community Parkettes
Commissioner Weiner is trying to get a meeting with Public Works for the dog runs that need shade coverings, and also to look at upgrades to the dog parks, specifically Polliwog dog park.
Director Leyman will set up the meeting with Public Works. However, he had a tour with the Public Works director a while ago and looked at what needed to be fixed such as maintenance and landscaping. More funding will be needed to assist with these projects.
Repurposing Pay N Play
Chair Karger had no updates but noted that the City Attorney has confirmed that building is owned by the City and the legal team is actively working on the matter.
Explore Aquatics Facility
Commissioner McCarthy was happy to report the sub-committee have now been approved for a statistically valid survey administered by True North. She is hopeful that a combination of 501C3 and some momentum from other things going on in the surrounding communities, private and public partnerships, and the school board will result in the project moving forward.
Commissioner Greenberg asked the City Manager mentioned possible investment in the Begg Pool at the State of the City presentation. Director Leyman stated that the community survey results will help the City Council make funding decisions on Begg Pool. Commissioner McCarthy was not pleased that Begg Pool was lumped in with basic city services in the prioritization question of the survey.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 032822
Donation Policy and Programs – Mission Statement and Bylaws Chair Karger stated that a rough draft of the mission statement and bylaws has been prepared. A project approval process is being developed. The project would start with a review of current work plan items. The commission would then recommend items that could use additional funding to complement City funding. City Council would then vote to approve the recommendation which would then go the Foundation. The Foundation would determine how to fundraise for the project.
The Foundation would acts as a receptacle for monetary donations and have its own unique menu of options for different projects that need funding.
Chair Karger has spoken with a number of community members and most are very positive and supportive about it. She’s going to have a meeting with Julie McGinty who has been through this process with the Senior and Scout Community Center. Chair Karger will also meet with Hillary Mahan, Executive Director of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation.
Commissioner Weiner added that the city doesn’t have any concentrated or organized donation center for anything and wondered if this will be a niche program for parks.
Chair Karger stated that the commission should just focused on the Parks and Rec aspect for now and once that is set up, expansion can be discussed.
Director Leyman noted that the Foundation could help fund some of the smaller dollar items. Commissioner Turkmany suggested a sample project presenting the Foundation.
Chair Karger requested the commissioners to send notes on the document they received with suggestions and how to make this more meaningful.
G. STAFF ITEMS
City Council recap and Parks and Recreation Department updates – Director Leyman A community input meeting will be held at the proposed site of the National Fitness Court at Polliwog Park on March 30th at 6:00PM. Residents within 1000 feet of the site were noticed.
A community informational meeting for the Senior Scout Community Center, will be held on April 20
th at 6:00PM. The meeting will be led by architect Louis Tomaro, and staff will be there in a supportive role. Residents within 1000 feet of Joslyn Center will be noticed.
The lower Polliwog Park playground is expected to be complete in August, 2022. Supply chain issues have delayed delivery of equipment. The engineers and Public Works are pushing as hard as possible to meet or exceed that timeline.
Pickleball courts – staff is gathering cost estimates for resurfacing and installation of poles, nets and fencing for four picklball courts and Manhattan Beach Middle School.
The courts will be public when school is not in session, after school, weekends, and summer.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 032822
Council restored $600,000 to the Public Works budget for parks and facilities deferred maintenance.
Staffing updates
Director Leyman reported that Sr. Recreation Manager Melissa McCollum has joined the team. She has been a resident of Manhattan Beach for over 20 years, is a great leader, team player, former library manager for Manhattan Beach Library, and served as well as director of library services and Recreation and Parks for the City of El Segundo.
Her list of responsibilities include registration, recreation services, aquatics, special activity classes, park operations, and facility operations.
Other updates: Recreation Coordinator, Robbie Hoag as accepted a new position in central California and has given his two-week notice. Department Secretary Marcella Calloway has retired. Their spots have yet to be filled and the department is in transition so the next few months will be challenging.
Commissioner Weiner asked about emailed questions from the public to the commissioners. Director Leyman stated that the protocol is for Director Leyman to work directly with the chair, follow up on the email and BCC commissioners on the response.
This is a relatively new process developed through the City Manager’s office.
Commissioner Weiner inquired about the Concerts in the Park series. Director Leyman stated there will be a full ten concert series and the line up is being finalized. Staff is working to confirm the Satin Dollz for the Salute to the Troops. Sr. Mgmt. Analyst Robb will work with Kristin Yamauchi to create new designs for the challenge coin.
H. COMMISSION ITEMS
Older Adult Program update - The Senior Advisory Committee – Commissioner McCarthy
The Older Adults Program is still very cautious about in-person activities, but are moving forward.
24 people attended the panel on Dementia Disorders. Beach Cities Health District and Cal State Fullerton helped to provide the panel.
Staff have been working with the Traffic Engineer for safe pick-up and drop-off locations at the Manhattan Village Mall.
The next Dine and Discover topic will be the 1952 Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Boy Scouts in the City.
Personalized bricks for the Scout House, to commemorate families, are still available for a donation of $250. .
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 032822
School District update – Commissioner Greenberg
Commissioner Greenberg had no updates and has not yet met with the new superintendent.
Student update – Commissioner Grampp
Spring formal sold out (1000 tickets). The annual scholar quiz is in progress. The Model UN team completed their travel season and was highly awarded.
Spring break begins April 4.
I. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Turkmany moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:05pm.
Commissioner Greenberg seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Ayes: Greenberg, Doran, Weiner, Leyman, Karger, Grampp, McCarthy 7 Nayes: none
Abstain: none
Absent: none