CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Monday, Apr 25, 2022
4:00 PM
Location: Virtual – Instructions within Agenda
MINUTES
A. CALL TO ORDER 4:01 pm
B. ROLL CALL
Commissioner Karger Commissioner McCarthy
Commissioner Greenberg Commissioner Turkmany
Commissioner Weiner Commissioner Grampp
Commissioner Doran
Present: 7
Absent: 0
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March 28, 2022
Move to adopt minutes: Commissioner Wiener
Second: Commissioner Turkmany
Ayes: 7
Nayes: 0
D. CEREMONIAL - None
E. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (3-Minute Limit) - The public may address the Commission regarding City business not on the agenda.
Resident, Lee Barr wanted to discuss the Salute to the Troops. It needs to be ‘low key’; wondered if there could be a flyover; a procession of flags could be nice; we don’t really need the ‘challenge coin’, just a nice concert.
Director Leyman said the flag procession was with the boy scouts behind the color guard and that he would check with Risk Management regarding a fly over.
Sr. Mgmt. Analyst (SMA) Robb stated that she would check with risk management again this year to see if there may be a change in insurance requirements for a flyover.
F. GENERAL BUSINESS
2022 Workplan Item updates
• El Porto Family Park - Commissioner Greenberg had no updates but Director Leyman was able to connect with the senior deputy from Supervisor Mitchell’s office and relaying the request and providing some background information. He should have an update by next month.
• Sand Dune Park Master Plan (Nature Areas and Trails, Building) Commissioner Greenberg reported there was a kick-off meeting for the park ad hoc committee with Rec Supervisor Michael Hudak, coordinated with his colleagues from Public Works- Bobby Dobson (responsible for park maintenance and irrigation), Sean Roberts (maintenance manager) and Ernest Area (Urban Forestry). City Council restored the full park maintenance budget to 100% pre-covid and allocated $625,000 for the current fiscal year for additional landscaping and maintenance – this is being split among several places.
Suggested revisiting this in six months, but he thought the community would be pretty happy when they see the results of this tremendous investment and bringing our park back to the standards that the community expects.
Commissioner Turkmany stated that Public Works has a full docket and a fixed timeline of repairs and maintenance.
Commissioner Weiner asked about the rest of the projects regarding Sand Dune Park such as the improvements of the children’s area and the lower park area.
Commissioner Greenberg answered that Sean Roberts put that area on the list to pressure wash the bathrooms, paint, repair anything that is broken and give some of the areas some “TLC”. Bathrooms and playground equipment will not be replaced at this time.
Commissioner McCarthy stated they are moving forward with what would have been the normal course of expenditures over the park system and that the $625,000 is to address two years of deferred maintenance. A significant amount of work will be done at Sand Dune Park. She added that community input until the maintenance work is complete. Once the maintenance is completed, community outreach will be necessary to look at what will be done in the next fifteen to twenty years.
Commissioner Weiner asked if the work would be through public works or if the work would be done through a third-party. Commissioner Greenberg responded that they would be updating the existing Merchants contract to include this additional scope of work. No additional staffing is needed.
Commissioner McCarthy suggested following up the maintenance work with a park walkthrough in September.
• Dog Parks and Community Parkettes -
Commissioner Weiner stated that because of the absence of the walk-through, there are no updates.
Commissioner Turkmany reported that a shade structure had been discussed as there was some crossover between the Sand Dune meeting and the Dog Parks.
• Repurposing Pay N Play - Chair Karger stated that the Pay N Play should be in the City’s possession by May 1 and will be locked up on May 1. Public Works will do a walk-through and determine what work needs to be done. Next steps for the Pay N Play ad hoc committee is to meet again and reevaluate the repurposing. She mentioned a suggestion of a golf simulator for each of those stalls.
• Explore Aquatics Facility -
Commissioner McCarthy is trying to get a meeting with True North but has not yet heard back from them. Director Leyman stated that he would follow up with True North.
Commissioner McCarthy asked if new meeting dates were needed, and if so, she’d like to get them within the next twenty-four hours. Director Leyman agreed.
Commissioner McCarthy also stated that there was enthusiastic interest regarding the possibility serving on an Aquatics Board to help raise money.
Commissioner McCarthy asked if Director Leyman had heard anything regarding the Redondo Beach momentum on the bond issue for Parks & Rec? He had not and would speak with City Manager Moe and ask him if he knows if the $60 million bond issue for Parks & Rec includes the aquatic center.
● Donation Policy and Programs – Mission Statement and Bylaws Chair Karger stated that 501c3 would not be presented to the council before both she and Commissioner Turkmany term out of the commission. City Manager Moe will include updates in his weekly meetings with City Council. Chair Karger and Commissioner Turkmany will no longer be on the commission but are willing to continue on as a private citizen volunteers to further the goal of forming the 501c3.
Director Leyman stated they talked about a number of different programs (the policy itself, the military wall, the tree and bench program), and that a comprehensive Donation program would be brought to Council, instead of each individual program.
G. STAFF ITEMS
City Council recap and Parks and Recreation Department updates Director Leyman stated the city council approved the plaque at Bruce’s Beach Park and it will be placed in the same location as the current plaque, facing Highland.
The rainbow crosswalk waves design was approved and the rainbow gazebo pathway was approved for Polliwog Park.
Commissioner Greenberg asked about dates for the 6-Man volleyball tournament and Director Leyman said that SMA Robb had the Special Event calendar.
Commissioner Greenberg inquired about the new ownership of the MBO, how the tickets were going to be sold and if the commissioners would be receiving free tickets or if they should purchase them. Director Leyman said they were still in discussions and would keep the commissioners updated as information becomes available.
Regarding the Salute to the Troops, it was decided that if risk management would allow it, a flyover would be preferable to challenge coins. The cost of challenge coins would be in the range of $2,000. Satin Dollz will perform. SMA Robb will look into securing a color guard.
H. COMMISSION ITEMS
Older Adult Program update - Commissioner McCarthy reported that the parcel tax was discussed at the senior advisory committee meeting. There is confusion on whether older adults would be able to opt out once, or if they would need to opt out every year.
Commissioner McCarthy added that Rotary and Beach City Health District have a program for seniors who need minor tasks completed in their houses.
The Lunch Bunch attendance is increasing and technology classes are well attended, but they are losing employees due to low wages.
School District update - no update
Student update - Commissioner Grampp - AP exams are happening in May. The Drama program will present Beauty and Beast. A limited number of free tickets will be offered to the older adults program. Tickets will also be offered for the June 7th choir concert.
Commissioner Weiner mentioned that Redondo Beach approved its first community garden.
Commissioner Greenberg stated there doesn’t seem to be a great deal of interest here.
Commissioner Weiner stated that the Redondo Beach development was renting space and the garden was full.
Commissioner Greenberg asked Director Leyman if there had been a resolution regarding the field where the parents watched soccer - Begg park hillside seating vs community garden. Director Leyman reported no resolution.
I. ADJOURNMENT
Move to adjourn: Commissioner Greenberg
Second: Chair Karger
Ayes: 7
Nayes: 0
Meeting adjourned at 5:18 pm