HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/24/2013
/s/ Rhonda Smiley Committee Members:
Rhonda Smiley, Assistant to the City Manager Jacquie Sullivan, Chair
Bob Smith
Willie Rivera
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, October 24, 2013
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 12:00 P.M.
1. ROLL CALL
Committeemembers Present:
Councilmember Jacquie Sullivan, Chair
Councilmember Bob Smith
Councilmember Willie Rivera arrived late, 12:12 p.m.
Staff Present:
Alan Tandy, City Manager Dianne Hoover, Rec. & Parks Director
Rhonda Smiley, Asst. to the City Manager Darin Budak, Asst. Rec. & Parks Director
Chris Huot, Administrative Analyst David Stricker, Recreation Supervisor
Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney Raul Rojas, Public Works Director
Richard Iger, Associate Attorney Kevin Barnes, Solid Waste Director
Nelson Smith, Finance Director Sal Moretti, Solid Waste Superintendent
Pamela Elisheva, Associate Planner Luda Fishman, Solid Waste Business Manager
Others Present:
Amber Beeson, The Giving Tree Project Theo Douglas, Bakersfield Californian
Jason Ackley, Member of the Public Isaiah Crompton, Stop the Violence
2. ADOPT MARCH 14, 2013 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Adopted as submitted
Community Services Committee Meeting
Agenda Summary Report
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Page 2
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
None
4. NEW BUSINESS
A. Aquatics and Athletic Programs Update – Hoover
Recreation and Parks Director Hoover provided a brief report regarding the activities of
the Aquatics and Athletic programs.
Ms. Hoover stated there was an increase in attendance at the City pools. Discounted
swimming lessons were offered to children ages 0 to 5 and their parents through grants
from First 5 Kern Make a Splash Program and USA Swimming Foundation. There was also
an overall increase in donations from the community.
With the opening of the Mesa Marin Sports Complex, there was an overall increase to
the number of participants in all the athletic programs. Several adoptive programs
continue to be popular as well.
Ms. Hoover also thanked the volunteers and sponsors who donate their time and
money to help make all the programs a success.
B. Discussion and Recommendations Regarding Community Beautification Projects -
Hoover
Recreation and Parks Director Hoover stated Councilmember Maxwell requested the
Committee discuss the concept of beautification projects within the City, and whether
they can be funded in a cost-effective manner.
Ms. Hoover stated her department receives occasional requests to add landscaping,
plant trees or paint murals in areas around the city where none currently exist, upgrade
playgrounds, and add spray parks, skate parks, and dog parks in various locations.
Each request received is reviewed carefully for costs and funding sources, water
sources, hazards, impacts to surrounding structures, and other questions associated with
the sustainability of the request over a long term.
Staff dedicated to tree maintenance collaborates with volunteers to plant trees and
shrubs, trim and prune 4,485 trees throughout the City, and collects green waste. The
City also has an annual contract with an approved tree service which is awarded
through a public bidding process by the City Council.
Amber Beeson with The Giving Tree Project Benefit Corporation provided the
Committee with letters of support from various organizations supporting sustainable
community gardens. Ms. Beeson also provided a brief summarization of The Giving Tree
Project Benefit Corporation and its history in developing and maintaining community
gardens, with the support of Keep Bakersfield Beautiful, local and nonlocal sponsors,
and volunteers. Ms. Beeson encouraged the idea for City owned vacant lots to be
made available for planting community gardens. She would like to be involved as a
consultant to such projects.
Community Services Committee Meeting
Agenda Summary Report
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Page 3
Committee Chair Sullivan thanked Ms. Beeson for her presentation and her hard work
and efforts in educating individuals throughout the communities to participate in
community gardens.
Committee member Smith stated he liked the idea of installing more community
gardens in the vacant lots throughout the City. He also asked for clarification regarding
Councilmember Maxwell’s request to partner with The Giving Tree Project Benefit
Corporation. Mr. Smith also requested that staff check the feasibility of expanding the
Adopt-A- program to include beautification efforts as another option.
City Manager Tandy stated procurement/employment procedures in a civil service
environment require that proposals, such as Ms. Beeson described, must be addressed
in a legal and ethical manner through a public bidding process and/or request for
proposal process.
Committee member Rivera also thanked Ms. Beeson for the information she provided.
Mr. Rivera also stated the community volunteers make such a program a success. He
also suggested that the community gardens already in place be monitored to evaluate
their long-term feasibility and success.
Committee Chair Sullivan requested a report be prepared elaborating on the current
programs available through the Solid Waste Division of Public Works and Keep
Bakersfield Beautiful which may be expanded to include beautification efforts.
5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
Committee member Rivera stated that Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee had organized a
cleanup on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 7:00 a.m. at Martin Luther King Park.
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 1:47 P.M.
cc: Honorable Mayor and Council