City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Commission February 26, 2024
CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Wednesday, February 26, 2024
4:00 PM
Location: City Hall - City Council Chambers / Hybrid (Virtual and in person) – Instructions within Agenda
MINUTES
A. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Doran called the meeting to order at 4:07 pm.
B. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
C. ROLL CALL
Present: Allen, Chair Doran, Komatinsky, Zimbalist, Windes, Greenberg, McCarthy
Others Present: Parks and Recreation Director Mark Leyman, Sr. Recreation Manager Melissa McCollum, Sr. Management Analyst (SMA) Linda Robb, Recording Secretary Rosemary Lackow.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – None
E. CEREMONIAL – None
F. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (3-Minute Limit) – None
G. GENERAL BUSINESS
1. 24/0226.01 Work Plan Items Discussion
a. Dog Parks & Community Parkettes
Commissioner Allen updated: a community meeting for review of first renderings is scheduled for March 23 rd at Polliwog Park for the dog park expansion project.
Public notification including postcard mailing will be done in advance. b. Explore Repurposing Pay ‘n’ Play Racquetball Land/Building Commissioner Windes reported that council has approved the demolition of the existing building and installation of a new futsal court (square footage to be determined) at Marine Avenue Park. The project is being funded as a CIP (Capital Improvement Project) and Public Works is evaluating project costs. c. Sand Dune Park Master Plan (Nature Areas & Trails, Building) Commissioner Zimbalist updated that the committee and design consultant are preparing for the March 9 th community meeting (9-11:00 a.m.) including multiple methods of public notification ( report/email/social media/direct mailing ). Mailing will be to 800 nearby homes; staff and committee are consulting with DVD (David City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Commission February 26, 2024
Voltz Design) regarding presentation. Commissioner McCarthy suggested that a sandwich board type poster be placed in the park.
d. Explore Community Aquatics Facility
Commissioner McCarthy updated that committee/staff/HMC meetings continue to be held; the following future public meetings were highlighted:
Feb 27: 6- 8 p.m. community meeting; residents within 1,000 ft radius park boundaries were notified.
HMC will process input received and provide in formal presentations for the following dates:
3/25 to the P arks and Recreation Commission; 4/16 to City Council and 4/17 to MBUSD Board.
For the April meetings, HMC expects to have rough cost estimates for two options: keep/renovate existing pool or build two new pools. e. Donation Policy and Programs / LoveMB Discussion
Commissioner Komatinsky updated that after receiving project approval from city council in early February, the committee is moving forward vigorously , building documents and a structure for this legacy foundation.
f. Enhanced Holiday Events (Flags, Memorial Day, Fallen Soldier) (to be renamed Flags, Memorial Day and Memorial to the Fallen) Commissioner McCarthy updated that the committee continues to meet and research information for a number of topics and a location for the memorial is to be determined. On April 16, Director Leyman will present the committee’s progress to city council.
H. STAFF ITEMS
Director Leyman reported that it appears that class registration for spring and summer camp will be very high based on today’s activity which as the opening day, took in $180,000. At the next meeting he will share data comparing last year to this year’s revenue.
Polliwog tree planting project: Commissioner McCarthy reported that everything was ready including engagement with all affected groups, but, due to storms and very wet ground, the start has had to be suspended now until now after nesting season which is between April and June.
New kiln in Live Oak Park: the construction for the installation of the new kiln started today. In the first phase there will be some impact which will be gauged week to week, but in the next phase, the ceramics studio will unfortunately need to be closed April 9 through mid-May. The open-lab ceramic classes are canceled City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Commission February 26, 2024
and programming for alternative ceramics, once construction is complete, is being planned. The Director briefed regarding the specifics of the new kiln project (larger kiln and an awning).
I. COMMISSION ITEMS
Older Adult Program update (McCarthy) An in -depth survey of the city’s older adults programming has been done; results show a very high satisfaction level; however there will be some tweaks such as how to improve a public crosswalk to enhance access/safety at Joslyn Center and how to spend money budgeted for publicity – and especially how to reach new people.
School District update (K
omatinsky) – 1) On the March 5 ballot there will be a
measure for the renewal of the 2018 parcel tax. It has been projected that if fails, job cuts close to 32 positions will be needed. 2) Wednesday the board will address what specific cuts will need to be made if it fails and overall the budget over the next few years is pessimistic due to complicated state regulations 3) Good news:
the stadium way project improving access to the football field area has been started and is expected to be completed in time for June graduation. A small putting green in the area affected has been removed.
Commissioner Zimbalist noted that the stadium way project is not funded through the school’s general fund, but from 2 past bond measures (C and EE), and emphasized that state bonding is a financing method that is different from the parcel tax. Commissioner Komatinsky clari fied that bonds target capital improvements while parcel taxes support operations and the parcel tax revenue does not go to Sacramento – it stays with the local schools.
Student update ( Greenberg) Spring sports have started . The b oys’ varsity volleyball recently took first in a local varsity tournament and junior varsity took 9th place. Academically students will be working hard throughout March preparing for the AP’s in April.
Commissioner Windes announced Mira Costa s enior Donne Ward who is president of the Mira Costa Black Student Union, and a member of a group “Black Men in White Coats will be recognized as South Bay People Magazine’s “ 2024 Face of the Future” in the April or May edition. Donner is aiming to attend UCLA or Howard University and plans to be a neurosurgeon. He will also program and will be the Mira Costa speaker at the inaugural Juneteenth event at Bruce’s Beach.
J. ADJOURNMENT
At 4:50 it was moved and seconded (Zimbalist/Windes) to adjourn to Monday, March 25
th at 4:00 p.m. The motion passed unanimously with a voice vote.