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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/27/2002 BAK"ERSFIELD Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Sue Benham Irma Carson Staff: Alan Christensen COMMUNITY SERVICES ,COMMI'I-FEE of the City Council - City of Bakersfield Wednesday, February 27, 2002 1:30 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room - City Hall 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 201, Bakersfield, CA AGENDA 1. ROLL CALL 2. ADOPT JANUARY 25, 2002 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Staff report and Committee recommendation regarding proposed ice skating and aquatic facilities (It is hoped we will have a guest who operates seven ice skating facilities) B. Discussion regarding placement of historical 'documents, and the national motto, "In God We Trust," at City Hall, and design and placement of the Liberty Garden - · Christensen 5.' NEW'BUSINESS A. Staff report and Committee recommendation regarding Clean Up Bakersfield (CUB) Program/Boy Scouts Patch Program - Ford 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS 7. ADJOURNMENT AC:jp SfiAC~002CSComrnJttee~,cs02feb27agen.wpd DRAFT B A K-E'R SFIELB A~~~n ~d~'~~n~er~ Sue Benham -Darnell "Haynes, Assistant te the ~City Manager ~-Irma Carson ...... AGENBA SUMMARY REPORT 'SPECIAL MEETING COMMUNITY SERVICESCOMMI'I,rEE Friday, January 25, 2002 '- 12:00 noon City'Manager's Conference Room 1. ROLL 'CALL Call to Order at 12:09 p.m. Present: CouRcilmembers Jacquie Sullivan, Chair; Sue Benham; and Irma Carson 2. ADOPT DECEMBER 5 AND DECEMBER 10,-2001 .AGENDA SUMMARY REPORTS Adopted. as submitted. 3. ~PUBLIC.STATEMENTS 4, 'DEFERRED BUSINESS Az' Staff update on the entrance signs into the City PUblic Works Director RaulRojasgave an .update. The artwork hasbeen approved for the entry monument signs and the .contractor is-currently .fabricating ~two sample ,letters for. review. The .work .will be .done under the current contract ,with .Omega Construction. The -net cost ,difference for fabricating and :installing the revised letters 'for the monument signs will be an additional $2, t36 plus an estimated $1.,000 to$2,000 to remove the existing conduit intended for the .neon lighting and patch the holes. It is estimated the entry monument signs will be completed within eight weeks. Concurrently, General Services will · ~-'-- be installing the lighting system and the Parks'Department will be installing the water lines and landscaping. 5, NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee .recommendation regarding placement of patriotic plaques, slogans and documents-in .public locations/City 'Hall Committee Chair Sullivan read the agenda item and stated it included our national motto, "In God We Trust." AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT DRAFT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Friday, January 25, 2002 Page -2- Stun Simrin stated he, Mike Miller and .Phil Rudnick are 'here and are all past.presidents of Temple Beth El, a Jewish congregation in.Bakersfield. He spoke in opposition to putting God centered slogans on public buildings, He read a letter to the Committee (copy attached). Rabbi Cheryl Rosenstein, Temple BethEl, spoke in opposition of posting slogans like "In God We Trust" on civic buildings. She read a letter to the Committee (copy attached). Mike Miller, Temple 'Beth :El, spoke in opposition to-putting God's name on public buildings. He read a letter to the Committee (copy attached). Philip Rudnick, Temple Beth El, spoke in opposition to putting God's name on public buildings. 'He read a letter to the Committee (copy attached). Reverend Jennell W. Mahoney, Senior Pastor, First Congregational Church, spoke in opposition -to having "In God We Trust" inscribed on a civic building. (Letter attached.) Committee Chair Sullivan stated she does appreciate and respect all the views expressed. However, she explained she had heard on the news over a year ago that there were cities in our Country that did 'have the national motto, "In God 'We Trust," posted and thought it was a good idea for Bakersfield. The governor of Michigan has signed a new law that strongly .encourages state and local government officials to display "In God We Trust" in all public buildings;-' She stated her hope for today would be to get the approval of the Committee at least in the concept, including "In God We Trust." Committee Member Benham thanked all those who came to the meeting to speak. -She stated that as we proceed with Ways to honor our Country and its history, she believes that it is important that our expressions of patriotism be inclusive of all Americans and we do nothing to abridge the spirit of religious freedom which is one of the most cherished principles embodied in our Constitution, which provides for the separation of church and state. She fully supports Councilmember Sullivan's suggestion that we post copies of The Constitution, The Bill of Rights and The Declaration of Independence in a prominent place at City Hall. However, she believed it would be a mistake and did not support placing "In God We Trust" on City Hall, as it would, not be a unifying message for our community. Committee Member Benham proposed that if the City wishes to honor the memory of those who died in the attacks on September 11th, this Committee support the establishment of a Liberty Garden. This is an initiative of the-Keep America Beautiful Organization, with which our Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee is already affiliated. She had been contacted with a request to establish a Liberty Garden this coming spring as a beautification .component of the 2002 Great American Cleanup. A Liberty Garden would.be a public place for meditation and enjoyment and would bring citizens of all ages, races and creeds' together in our shared sorrow and commitment. Some communities' may seek to dedicate AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT DI AF'I' COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Friday, January 25, '2002 Page -3- a-park for this purpose, Plant a grove of-trees, landscape a plaza, create.a perennial garden or plant a single tree. Committee Member Benham suggested it might be appropriate to do something on Truxtun at the entrance .of City Hall. The Keep America 'Beautiful Organization encourages the use of red, white and blue flowers, with trees, .benches, bird baths, or fountains. It would have a,commemorative "Liberty Garden" plaque, which .would be a unifying.element in all of the .Liberty Gardens established across the Country. The hope is that there could be-a formal dedication around the Country the weekend before Memorial Day this year. Committee Member Carson stated her appreciation to the guest speakers who came to provide input to the Committee. It was her belief that our country was founded on the basis of a belief in God. In the history she comes from without that belief.in God, they would not have survived. She personally does not have any opposition to using "In God We T-rust" on a-public .building if.it is appropriately displayed. She also supported the suggestion from Councilmember Benham regarding the Liberty Garden. Committee Member Benham made a motion the Committee send a recommendation-to the Council to move forward to place historical documents such as: The Constitution of the United States, The Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights on display in a .prominent place in City Hall. The Committee unanimously approved. Committee Chair Sullivan made a motion the 'Committee send a recommendation to'the Council to move forward with the Keep American Beautiful concept of a Liberty Garden. The Committee unanimously approved. Committee Chair Sullivan made a motion the Committee send a recommendation to the Council to move forward with placing the national motto, "In God We Trust," on City Hall. The Committee voted: Councilmembers Sullivan and Carson, "ayes"; and Councilmember Benham, "nay." The Committee requested staff to prepare an administrative report with separate majority and minority reports to the Council for the meeting of February 20, 2002. ~B. Staff report and committee recommendation regarding potential projects for: 1. Existing Proposition 12, Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air., and .Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 2. Proposed Proposition 40, Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2002 City Manager Alan Tandy provided an overview of Proposition 40, proposed on the ballot for March 2002. If passed by the voters, the City will receive $1 million on a per capita basis DRAFT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Friday, January 25, 2002 Page -4- and there will be several pockets of money that will be available for individual grant applications. Assemblyman .Florez-held a forum a couple of months ago encouraging communities to adopt at least broad-based plans of how they would .use the money as an inducement to get voter approval. Mr. Florez was given a sheet of projects as outlined in Council Goals. Staff would like to pursue funding for as many of the Council Goals identified as being eligible under the grant money as possible, such as tree planting, improved tree canopy, Kern River Parkway, northeast :preservation, development of the 40 acre-recreational site in the southwest, and expansion of Central Park. For anything that. might fit under a grant category, we-would want to preserve the City's position and adopt a plan that would make -the City eligible to apply for the money. The City Manager provided an update on Proposition 12. This bond act was passed by the voters in-2000 and allocated monies for park and recreation facility improvements. The State has been slow to development the rules .and regulations under which it will disburse the money. The City was granted $2.4 million which could be used toward funding an aquatic complex or an ice rink. Most of the City pools .are very old and in need of maintenance, major rehabilitation and repair, and some of the older pools need to be replaced. The pools are not of the current design standards that are popular in the industry and elsewhere around:the country. High schools and the swim clubs in town are critically short of competitive pools and while the City should not be the only party involved, we are a key interested party along with the schools in providing swimming facilities. Staff is ..requesting consideration to address the -rehabilitation and enhancement at least of the heavily-utilized pools, such as Jefferson and Martin .Luther King, both of which need substantial investment. Staff is also requesting consideration for one new aquatic complex that would contain both the new design and a competitive pool and diving facility, which would serve broad-based community and neighborhood needs, and some of the needs of the swim clubs. Thesefacilities would need to be located in census tracts that qualify for Housing and Community Development Grant funds and would serve less affluent areas of the City. It should also be located in such a way that it would serve as a replacement for the underutilized or badly deteriorated pools that might be identified later to be phased out or replaced with spray parks. An ice rink facility-was actively considered-by the Community Se rvicesCommittee from April of 2000 until February of 2001, when it was proposed to be in the City Center Project. There is $800,000 currently in ice rink pledges from fund-raising efforts to date (this includes $500,000 in donations and pledges from the .community and the Council approved $300,000 in matching funds). The Condors have made an offer of services, donated goods ' and .mutual advertising. If the City Center proposal comes back, it will not contain an ice rink, it was not something the lending institutions looked favorably on and in order to enhance their position with lending institutions, it will be dropped. Essentially, there is a gap in -the community of a service and interest-based recreation facility that the City does not have. Centennial Garden is attempted to be used for that purpose, but is a 208,000 sq. ft. structure and cooling it for 20 or 100 children to skate is not efficient. Due to scheduled events at the Garden, it is not available on a regular basis. It does not serve the needs of AGENDA SUMMARY-REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE DRAFT Friday, January 25, 2002 Page -5- the figure skaters, nor the hockey players or recreational skaters. There was an article in the .local paper about Bakersfield being the only city out of eight thathas.a hockey team that does not have a recreational skating.rink where they can practice. The Winter Olympics are coming up shortly, there will be medal winners here at a touring ice show, and this also inspires young People to take up the ice sports they see at the Olympic events. There-are .people who try,and fit in to the schedule at the Garden, but most must drive a c°uple of hours to get to an ice facility. A great deal of research was done on an ice r. ink when it was previously considered by the Community Services Committee. Feasibility studies were conducted and also discussions with numerous ice rink operators. Staff is confident we know the cost and economic considerations associated with an-ice facility. An ice rink by a private sector investor is. not an economically viable investment. If it is-publicly .owned and financed, it can-be managed and will operate.on a self-sustained--basis. There. is not much detail provided on the specific cost of these facilities until the Committee comments and staff could take into account any constraints or change of direction the Committee might have. On a broad base, the-rehabilitation to Martin Luther King and Jefferson pools coupled with some spray parks phasing out some aging pools will-run .about $1 million. A modern aquatic facility will run about $3.5 million and an ice rink will run about $3.5 million. That does not include land for either. Staff has not gone into specific locations-. When this Committee was considering the ice rink before, it was generally discussed that it needed to be centrally located near downtown, near Centennial Garden. There was .a piece of property looked at located'between R and N Streets at California, but there was no decision. Consideration ought tobe given to any central Iocation'that could be economically obtained. It does need ease and safety of access because of the children and it needs to be viSible from an arterial street for signage and other purposes. There is some concern about putting an aquatic facility in a neighborhood park because the new design may bring so many people that it would be disruptive to the neighborhood. There are other funding sources that may be available. The School 'District has offered $500,000 toward an aquatic complex. Staff believes if the City puts up money and makes it a match ,kind of proposal, we may be able to get this amount increased, as the schools have critical demands for swim facilities. The Section 108 Federal Loan Program in .essence works like borrowing on our Housing and Community Development Block Grant. An .old 1.08 loan was done for the Holiday Inn Select will be-paid for in the summer of 2003. The.expiration of this debt offers an opportunity to keep the debt service at the same level, roll the debt over and do something of substance in terms of community recreational facilities now, and not have' less money to work with from other Block Grant programs than we have had in the last eight years. Park Development Fees can be used for pool rehabilitation or conversion to a spray park. These funds are limited to the district in which the money is raised. Jefferson Park is surrounded on three sides by the County and so it would be reasonable to ask the County for assistance, as the pool serves County residents. Facilities that bring in visitors for regional competitions and tournaments will contribute to AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT DRAFT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Friday, January 25, 2002 Page -6- hotel tax collection over time, so .it would 'be ~reasonable ~to make a one-time contribution from the Transient Occupancy Tax (hotel tax).. Recreation and Parks ~Director Stan ~Ford gave an update on swimming pool needs and the new-design for an aquatic center. Swimming, according to surveys, has ..been the most popular recreational sport for the last few years in the United States. An assessmenthas been completed :by a contractor on the City's current pools and the cost to bring them up to code would be over $1 million. This is mostly due to the age of the pools. This does not include anything in {erms of improving service -to the public. The City Manager stated 'by combining all the 'revenue sources, hopefully it will be possible to achieve,both facilities. There was a discussion of having the.proposed pool and ice rink located at the same site. BarbaraGrimes, BakerSfield Blades Skating Club, spoke regarding the need for an ice rink. They make'four or five trips to Valencia .per week for the children to skate and take ,lessons. Matthew Riley, General .Manager of the Condors Professional Hockey Team, spoke regarding the need for a public ice rink. He stated due to the schedule at the Garden, on numerous occasions they must~travel out of town to practice or leave early for out-of-town games just to get in some practice time. Paul .Kelly, coach of the Condors, spoke regarding the need for an ice rink for the youth of our community, the Junior Condors and for the hockey team to practice. JOhn Genter, president of the Kern County Hockey Club, spoke in support of an ice rink. When the youth .teams come to Bakersfield to play, there are 30 to 40 persons per team and usually three teams, so this brings 120 visitors from out of town. SteVe DeBranch, Kem County Hockey Club, spoke in support of an ice .rink and youth sports. The City Manager said staff is loOking for direction from the Commi.ttee on the proposed concepts for pool rehabilitation, aquatic center and ice rink facility. Sta. ff would also .like to more forward with contacting the schools, the County and others-for assistance with funding as well as preliminary design work and identifying locations. Committee Member Benham .made a motion that the Committee give staff the support to explore the issues, including both the ice rink and the aquatic issues. The Committee unanimously supported the motion. AGENDA.SUMMARY REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE DRAFT Friday, January 25, 2002 Page -7- C. Staff report and Committee recommendation regarding proposal from the Native American ~Preservation ~Council to add :Native American .names -to-River Oaks Park.and additional sites in the Kern ~River-Parkway The ~Committee-deferred this item to the.next-meeting. · 6, COMMI3=rEE COMMENTS Committee.Chair Sullivan.commented that the.motion to.place historical documents.in~ity Hall did notinclude The Pledge of Allegiance and she would like to include it.on :the report to the-Council. 7; ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2:20 .p.m. Staff attending: Mayor'Harvey Hall; City:Manager Alan Tandy; City Attorney Bart Thiltgen; Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen; Assistant-to the 'City Manager'Darnell Haynes; Public Works ~DirectorRaul Rojas; Recreation and Parks .Director Stan Ford; Recreation and Parks Business Manager Rebecca Jamison; .Office Administrator,Public .Relations Rhonda Smiley; Deputy City Attorney Ginny Gennaro; Deputy Fire Chief Gary Hutton; and Public Works Construction Supervisor Rick Millwee. Others attending: Reverend Jenell Mahoney, Keith Sutton, Stanley Simrin, Rabbi Cheryl Rosenstein, Mike Miller, Phil Rudnick and Jackie Rudnick regarding .patriotic signs and.plaques; Stephan DeBranch, John Genter, Paul Kelly, Matthew Riley, and Barbara Grimesregarding Proposition 12 monies/ice.rink; and reporters: Karen Todd, KERO; Tammy Brown, KUZZ; Carol Ferguson and-Pete Cassem, Channel 29 News; and James Burger, The Bakersfield Californian. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council S:~,C~002CSCommittee\cs02jan25summary.wpd