HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/18/2000 BAKERSFIELD
,,~,' /"~'7'~~ ''~ Jacquie Sullivan, Chair
Tandy, C ty Manager
Patricia J. DeMond
Staff: Alan Christensen (vacant)
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SPECIAL MEETING
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
. Tuesday, July 18, 2000
12:00 noon
City Manager's Conference Room
1. ROLL CALL
Call to Order at 12:12 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers Jacquie Sullivan, Chair; and Patricia J. DeMond
2. ADOPT MAY 1, 2000 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Adopted as submitted.
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
4. DEFERRED BUSINESS
A. Update regarding entrance signs into the City
Mayor Pdce, with the Committee's approval, has taken this project on as something he would like
to see happen before he leaves office. Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen stated that staff
showed the entrance sign designs to the Mayor's Economic group at their last meeting, and picked
out three that were most favored. In addition, the designs have been taken to people in the
community who have design expertise and we are waiting for them to respond with ideas.
Staf, f with Mayor Price have continued to look at sites for the monuments. There is a potential
piece of property that is owned by the County on the south end of Highway 99 near the overpass
at Taft Highway. The County has agreed in concept to allowing the City to put an entrance
monument on this property and provide access to utilities for a "no-cost," $1 per year lease. Staff
and Mayor Pdce are checking where on the property the monument might be placed. Efforts are
continuing to check with property owners to locate a site at the north end of Highway 99.
B. Discussion and Committee direction to staff regarding ice skating facility study
approved by the City Council
When Council approved the $250,000 matching funds for an ice skating facility, in addition,
$50,000 was also approved for an economic feasibility study and preliminary design work
necessary for cost estimates. City Manager Alan Tandy explained we have gotten to the place
in the design work where we need to make a decision on issuing a contract. We are not at that
point with the feasibility study. If the studies are done now and the City Center Project with an ice
ooo FILE
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
Tuesday, July 18, 2000
Page -2-
skating facility successfully moves forward, as they will do their own feasibility study and design
work, the money will be wasted. If for any reason the City Center Project with the ice skating
facility does not materialize, then to proceed with another project at another location, these two
studies will need to be done. If we wait, however, then another three to four months will be
needed to do the studies.
Due to the fact that the studies may not be needed and the money wasted, the Committee
decided to put the studies on hold. Barbara Gdmes and the group of volunteers were encouraged
to continue their fund-raising efforts.
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Master Fee Schedule for the City of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks Department for
2000-2005
1. Discussion and Committee recommendation for fees for use of community centers. Vice-
Mayor Carson has express a desire to make Martin Luther King, Jr. Center available at no charge
on days of lower demand. It was proposed fees could be a charged for extra staff required to set
up chairs, tables or other requested extra services, but there would be no charge for rent on the
facility. The County has a policy "dark days" where this is used for some of their facilities.
Recreation and Parks Director Start Ford explained that Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
in the months of September to April are the days of light use at MLK Center. The facility is open
from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for normal center hours.
During discussions several questions arose, such as whether this should .be for non-profits or
community groups, should fund-raising events be allowed where in some cases the Council might
not approve of the event, and proper responses to requests to use the center at Silver Creek
without charge. Staff asked the Committee for direction on what the policy should be to
differentiate between groups if the requested use did not seem appropriate.
City Attomey Bart Thiltgen stated that you cannot differentiate by the conduct of what is going on,
as you would run into the same laws that forbid differentiating the content of signs. You must do
this on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Committee agreed that they would like to accommodate this request, but due to the need to
define direction to staff, requested staff to meet with Vice-Mayor Carson to explain some of the
problems encountered and get her suggestions as how best to achieve her request.
2. Discussion and Committee recommendation for swimming pool fees.
This request was to consider the daily admission for open swim at Martin Luther King, Jr. Center.
There is a coalition that has offered to pick up the $1 per person admission charged at the pool.
VVhen someone comes to swim, they would not be charged, but the City would bill the coalition
for reimbursement. This program is being proposed to begin next year.
It was discussed that if the pool is opened at no charge to the users, the usage would be at pool
maximum and additional lifeguards will be required.
The Committee directed that the public be made aware that this is not "free" swimming, but is
being opened at no charge to users with payment provided by private sponsorship. To do
otherwise would create an unpleasant pubic response wanting to have free swimming at other City
pools.
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
Tuesday, July 18, 2000
Page -3-
The Committee directed staff to meet with the coalition to arrange a one-week test this summer
to be able to plan appropriate staff and other needs for next year and to finalize details of
reimbursement payments to the City.
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 1:27 p.m.
Staff attending: City Manager Alan Tandy; Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen; City Attorney Bart
Thiltgen; Recreation and Parks Director Start Ford; and Public Works Director Raul Rojas
Others: Barbara Fowler, and reporters from TV Channel 29
cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council
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