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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/06/2014  B A K E R S F I E L D Committee Members: Rhonda Smiley, Assistant to the City Manager Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Bob Smith Willie Rivera AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, March 6, 2014 12:00 p.m. City Hall North First Floor - Conference Room A 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA 93301 The meeting was called to order at 12:05 P.M. 1. ROLL CALL Committeemembers Present: Councilmember Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Councilmember Bob Smith Committee member Absent: Councilmember Willie Rivera Staff Present: Alan Tandy, City Manager Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney Rhonda Smiley, Asst. to the City Manager Richard Iger, Associate Attorney Steven Teglia, Asst. to the City Manager Raul Rojas, Public Works Director Chris Huot, Asst. to the City Manager Nick Fidler, Asst. Public Works Director Caleb Blaschke, Management Assistant Doug McIsaac, Com. Development Director Dianne Hoover, Rec. & Parks Director Tom Jones, Park Construction/Facility Planner Others Present: Jaime Escudero, City in the Hills Homeowner Mary Brown, City in the Hills Homeowner Heidi Carter Escudero, City in the Hills Homeowner Community Services Committee Meeting Agenda Summary Report Thursday, March 6, 2014 Page 2 2. ADOPT JANUARY 9, 2014 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Update Regarding the Possible Expansion of Mesa Marin Sports Complex, Phase 2 – Tandy / Hoover Assistant to the City Manager Steven Teglia stated Vice-Mayor Ken Weir and City Manager Alan Tandy, along with other City staff, hosted a public meeting on February 13th with the City in the Hills community regarding the park land exchange concept and addressed questions and comments. The response to the proposed land exchange was positive, with only a few dissenting opinions. City Manager Alan Tandy stated several residents who are supportive of the concept want certain assurances that the development of the 10 acres will be compatible with what currently exists in the neighborhood. The City’s Property Manager intends to pursue a tentative contractual agreement with the land owner involved with the land exchange. It will be presented for consideration by the Planning Commission and then by the full City Council. City Attorney Virginia Gennaro stated it is important that all who are affected by the project are informed as to future meetings so they have the opportunity to be present to speak on the project. City in the Hills homeowner Heidi Carter Escudero thanked City Manager Tandy for clarifying that the concept and agreement will first be presented to the Planning Commission so she can speak before them to express her perspective. She also stated she would not like to see the 10 acres within the neighborhood lost, but would instead like to see it developed with a xeriscaping concept. Ms. Carter also stated that Mesa Marin is a large sports complex, not a family orientated park, and that the installation of regular park amenities will only increase the danger for the neighborhood children as they will have to cross Highway 178. City in the Hills homeowner Mary Brown stated she is concerned with what will happen to home property values in the area. She also stated she would not like to see the 10 acres of land intended for a park lost. City Manager Tandy stated that although Mesa Marin is currently a large sports complex, the installation of regular park amenities, such as a dog park, a skate park, and picnic areas, among others, would change the concept of the complex into a family orientated park. A community meeting to discuss the specific alternative amenities for installation at Mesa Marin will be held. In addition, several safety features will be incorporated into the Highway 178 improvement project. Community Services Committee Meeting Agenda Summary Report Thursday, March 6, 2014 Page 3 Recreation and Parks Director Dianne Hoover stated a new elementary and junior high school is opening in the fall, therefore, the community located on the other side of the Mesa Marin Sports Complex would also be invited to attend the community outreach meeting. Committee member Bob Smith asked if Mesa Marin Sports Complex was strictly a pay to play facility with no public access to the fields. Recreation and Parks Director Hoover stated the fields are located in an enclosed fence, which is locked. There is a high level of maintenance associated with the fields, including, stripping the fields during the day in preparation for evening play which takes place daily. Therefore, there is no public access to the fields. There is no charge for spectators to watch the games when they occur. City Manager Tandy also presented a map detailing the current Mesa Marin sports complex, the land exchange area, and another map detailing the future concept area. Assistant to the City Manager Teglia also provided details pertaining to the current park located in the City in the Hills neighborhood and the surrounding area. Committee Chair Jacquie Sullivan asked when the land exchange concept was developed. She also asked how much land acreage the Sports Village and Mesa Marin Sports Complex each contained. Recreation and Parks Director Hoover stated Mesa Marin Sports Complex would be approximately 80 acres of recreational park area including the land exchange concept and the Sports Village was about 160 acres of recreational park area and 30 acres of commercial development area. City Manager Tandy stated that Vice-Mayor Weir envisioned having a similar facility like the Sports Village in the southwest in the northwest area. Staff researched the possibility for expansion, and happened to cross paths with a developer who owns land and wants to trade and/or sell it. Committee member Bob Smith asked if there was any action that the Committee needed to take at this point. City Manager Tandy stated no action was required at this time. City Attorney Gennaro stated there will be plenty of time for interested citizens to appear before the Planning Commission and then the full City Council, during the public hearing portion of each meeting. Committee member Bob Smith asked what the majority of the neighborhood supported. Assistant to the City Manager Teglia stated the residents were in support of the land exchange opportunity. It would provide many additional amenities that they would like for their community in a much quicker time frame than leaving the land undeveloped for an undetermined amount of time. Community Services Committee Meeting Agenda Summary Report Thursday, March 6, 2014 Page 4 B. Discussion and Committee Recommendation Regarding Adoption of the 2014 Committee Meeting Schedule - Smiley Adopted as submitted 5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS None 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:00 P.M. cc: Honorable Mayor and Council