HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/28/2005 B A K E R S F I E L D
ji[i.~~T, ~ Jacquie Sullivan, Chair
a6 andy, City Manager Sue Benham
Staff: Alan Christensen Irma Carson
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
Monday, November 28, 2005 - 1:00 p.m.
Suite 201, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA
1. ROLL CALL
Called to Order at 1:12 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers Jacquie Sullivan, Chair; and Irma Carson
Absent: Councilmember Sue Benham
2. ADOPT SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Adopted as submitted.
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
4. DEFERRED BUSINESS
A. Staff report and Committee recommendation on the proposed 200-acre
park in the southwest
City Manager Tandy explained staff had presented the concept of a regional sports
park in the southwest to the full Council and Committee several months ago. The
first concept included a 3-par golf course, but staff has given up the golf course to
.make room for youth football. Due to the growth in the community and the future
displacement of both soccer and baseball fields from California State University,
Bakersfield (CSUB) campus, the recreational uses now shown in the revised
concept are soccer, baseball/softball, and football complexes.
The property for the proposed regional park is located on Taft Highway between
Gosford and Ashe Roads. This City-owned property was under contract to a yeast
company, who has gone out of business and left the area. Due to the rising crisis
of available/affordable property in the southwest, staff proposed about 200 acres of
the property be identified as a regional park.
Agenda Summary Report Page 2
Community Services Committee Meeting
Monday, November 28, 2005
Developers in the area have provided input that the City would be well advised to
carve out at least two corners and sell them for commercial development.
Hopefully, commercial development that would enhance the sports uses, such as
restaurants, sporting goods stores, etc. Carving out the commercial sites would
leave about 147 acres for the regional park.
The development agreements the City is entering into 'with adjacent developers will
provide monies long-term. One development is proposed to provide nearly
$9 million over 20 years and the City anticipates entering into another similar
development agreement. The development of the regional park will be dependent
on the benefiting groups doing community fund-raisers, as well as park
development fees.
City Manager Tandy expressed that even with fund-raising and development
monies, the regional park is a long way from being funded. The project itself will
cost about $42 million, which does not include infrastructure improvements such as
street widening, water and sewer extensions. Based upon sub-division mapping
activity, ideally the developments on both sides would provide for some of the
improvements. It may be five years before construction of the park can proceed.
Kevin Wright, Bakersfield Southwest Baseball, spoke in support of having a
regional sports park.
Steve Rogers, Golden Empire Youth Football, spoke in support of the regional
sports park.
Public Works Park and Landscape Designer Don Hoggatt provided the latest
concept on a design board and gave a brief report on the landscaping, concession
stands, paths and shared-parking.
Recreation and Parks Director Hoover gave an overview of the plan for walking
trails around a pond area and throughout the park, and possible amenities for
some of the pocket areas, The exact layout will be dependent on working out
contracts with the sport groups.
City Manager Tandy explained if the revised concept for the regional park is
acceptable, with Committee direction staff could begin work on a master plan,
identify the beneficiaries and make decisions on entering into contracts on the uses
and their fund-raising.
Committee Chair Sullivan expressed the concept for the regional park looked great
and was in support of staff moving forward. Committee Member Carson spoke in
support of staff proceeding with the project and working with the sport groups to
further define their needs and the design layout. Committee Member Benham was
absent. Staff will report back to the Committee.
Agenda Summary Report Page 3
Community Services Committee Meeting
Monday, November 28, 2005
B. Staff report and Committee recommendation regarding 40-acre park
tenant
City Manager Tandy explained this is the 40-acre park located on City-owned
property at the northeast corner of Jewetta and Stockdale Highway. The City
acquired this property with State Water Bond money as a recharge area so its use
is limited to recreational purposes. This recharge area will include a lake for
percolation, walking trails and equestrian trails over to the staging area. This park
was formerly being referred to as a soccer park. However, the City has received a
formal letter from AYSO "Region 73" now playing at CSUB stating their interest in
the Taft Highway location, as it would be difficult to fund-raise and develop two
different locations.
Recreation and Parks Director Hoover reported she made contact and met with
several groups, including Golden Empire Football; Bakersfield Southwest Baseball;
Kern County Athletic Association representing Rugby; the Bakersfield Brigade a
semi-pre soccer team; and AYSO "Unit 359" now planning at Liberty Park. Staff
requested proposals from the groups. Two proposals were received, one from
Golden EmPire Youth Football and one from Bakersfield Southwest Baseball. Both
proposals were included in the Committee packet.
The lessee would ideally be paying for the improvements and maintenance and yet
it will be a publicly-owned facility. Any lease will have to provide for other groups to
use the facility when the lessee is not using it.
Steve Rogers, Golden Empire Youth Football, made a presentation and gave an
overview of their proposal.
Kevin Wright, president of Bakersfield Southwest Baseball, made a presentation
and gave .an overview of their proposal.
Recreation and Parks Director Hoover explained as Bakersfield Southwest
Baseball has been asked by CSUB to find another location, staff is recommending
negotiating with them as a tenant at the "40 acre park." Golden Empire Youth
Football plays at high school locations and staff will work with them on the
possibility of their locating at the "200 acre" regional park.
Public Works Park and Landscape Designer Hoggatt provided a design board
showing how baseball fields would fit into the available park space.
The City Manager explained with a motion from the Committee to authorize staff to
move forward, staff will negotiate an agreement with Bakersfield Southwest
Baseball to outline terms and conditions on development of the property and
benchmark dates for fund-raising. Staff will come back to the Committee with an
agreement for Committee review and recommendation to the Council.
Agenda Summary Report Page 4
Community Services Committee Meeting
Monday, November 28, 2005
Committee Member Carson made a motion to authorize staff to proceed.
Committee Chair Sullivan approved the motion. Committee Member Benham was
absent.
C. Staff report and Committee recommendation on skateboard parks
Recreation and Parks Director Hoover gave a report on possible locations for
future skate parks and expansion (a copy was included in the Committee packet).
Possible locations for Committee discussion included:
The current skate park at Beach Park could possibly be expanded with funding.
A 5,000 square-foot addition is estimated to cost approximately $150,000.
· The proposed master park plan for the Old River Ranch Project includes a
skate park in the design. The skate park could be developer provided in three
to five years.
· The City is reserving 50 acres from the proposed sale of the farmland for park
purposes. A skate park funding source is undetermined and development is
likely more than five years out.
· The City currently owns 20 acres along Paladino Drive just east of Morning
Drive for park purposes, which should be expanded to about 30 acres as
surrounding development occurs. A skate park funding source is undetermined
and development is likely more than five years out.
· For a location in the northwest, North Bakersfield Recreation and Parks District
owns several future park sites. The City could encourage the development of a
skate park on one of the sites using park development fees as a funding
source.
Committee Chair Sullivan expressed on the timing she would prefer to build a
second skate park at one of the other locations before expanding the skate park at
Beach Park.
The Committee was in support of building new skate parks and expanding the
skate park at Beach Park and requested staff to continue working and bring
updates back to the Committee on timelines and funding sources as information
becomes available. Committee Member Benham was absent.
5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m.
Agenda Summary Report Page 5
Community Services Committee Meeting
Monday, November 28, 2005
Staff attendance: City Manager Alan Tandy; Assistant City Manager Alan
Christensen; City Attorney Ginny Gennaro; Recreation and Parks Director Dianne
Hoover; Real Property Manager Don Anderson; Public Works Park and Landscape
Designer Don Hoggatt; Police Captain Tim Taylor; Parks Construction and Facility
Planner Ken Trone.
Others: Dave McArthur, North of the River Recreation and Parks District (NOR); Bill
Kotz, Tom Mason and Kevin Wright, Bakersfield Southwest Baseball; Steve Rogers,
Golden Empire Youth Football; Cameraman/reporter from Ch 17 News; and James
Burger from The Bakersfield Californian.
cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council
S:~C\05 Community Services\cs05nov28summary.doc