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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/16/2008 B A K E R S F I E L D Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Rhonila Smiley, As ant to the City Manager/ P.I.O. Sue Benham For: Alan Tandy, City Manager Irma Carson AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Regular Meeting of the COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 12:00 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room — Suite 201 City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA The meeting was called to order at 12:00 PM. 1. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmember Jacquie Sullivan; Chair Councilmember Irma Carson Councilmember Sue Benham Staff Present: Rhonda Smiley, Assistant to the City Mgr Dianne Hoover, Recreation & Parks Director Rick Kirkwood, Management Assistant Darin Budak, Parks Superintendent Alan Tandy, City Manager David Stricker, Recreation Supervisor Justin Crumley, Associate Attorney Bob Sherfy, Deputy City Attorney II Others: Jennifer Lopez, Network for Children 2. ADOPT APRIL 7, 2008 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. NEW BUSINESS Community Service Committee September 16, 2008 Page 2 A. Preliminary Report— Swimming Pool Analysis / Recommendations — Tandy / Hoover City Manager Alan Tandy provided a brief background on the pool analysis report. There are $3 million in repairs that are needed on pools that are approximately 45 years old. If repairs are made, there is still the risk of other problems occurring. Mr. Tandy presented two options for the Committee to consider: 1) invest money on temporary repairs; or 2) replace the pools when funding becomes available. Due to the current economic climate, funds needed to replace the pools may not be available for the next two years. When comparing the cost of installing new pools, rates increased 68% from a year ago. Recreation & Parks Director Dianne Hoover advised that the pools can be rebuilt, but the same rectangular shape will exist, preventing the pools from being used for new activities, such as lap swimming, swim teams, and water polo. Recreation Supervisor David Stricker stated that the previously mentioned activities were not being offered at Jefferson Pool or MLK. These pools were refurbished and the same programs remained, likely contributing to lesser attendance. Committee member Sue Benham asked if the pools will be opened next year. Ms. Hoover advised that the assessment report indicated that the pools could function three more years in their current condition with some minor adjustments. Given the budget constraints, Committee member Benham requested a considerable effort from staff to get the High School District to partner with the City to help rebuild the existing pools and provide a report with a proposal or a plan for action. Mr. Stricker reported that the attendance at City pools has increased from an average of 58,000 in the summer of 2006 to over 104,000 this past summer. The City offers a variety of programs such as lap swimming, swimming lessons, water polo, fly fishing, kayaking, pool maintenance, float-in movies and special events, which have contributed to the increase in public attendance. The American Red Cross swim program has been very beneficial, producing positive feed back from the public. With a $20,000 grant from First Five Kern, which provides free swimming lessons to children ages one to five and their parents; overall attendance at Jefferson Pool and MILK Pool increased. Staff is also working on a year-round recreational swim team which will provide a low cost way for the public to participate. For the first time ever, the City will offer fall swimming lessons. Pools used for fall swimming will be heated to maintain the temperature level for all swimmers. Committee chair Jacquie Sullivan commented that the Recreation and Parks publication helps a great deal in promoting the various programs in the City. B. National Recreation and Parks Association Accreditation Process — Hoover Recreation & Parks Director Dianne Hoover announced that the City of Bakersfield is on track to receive accreditation at the National Recreation and Parks Association Conference in Baltimore, MD in October. A Self Assessment study was submitted and a visitation team of three individuals reviewed all 155 standards submitted. Their final report indicated that the City of Bakersfield had successfully completed 149 of the standards, missing just six. The Recreation and Parks Department was given the opportunity to resubmit the previous six missing standards and are now awaiting the Boards final report and accreditation. Information regarding the Recreation and Parks Department can now be found in one location and allows the process for applying for grants to be more efficient. Parks Superintendent, Darin Budak stated how beneficial the process was for the Recreation and Parks Department. New strategies and emergency evacuation plans were created for various buildings. The City of Bakersfield will be only Community Service Committee September 16, 2008 Page 3 the second city in California to accomplish accreditation. The accreditation will help the Recreation and Parks Department stay up to date with current programs and procedures. To maintain their certification, the department will need to inform the board of any changes that may occur on a yearly basis, and be prepared for a review every five years. C. Walking Programs in Parks /Walking Groups — Hoover At the request of Committee member Sue Benham, Recreation & Parks Director, Dianne Hoover researched the walking program at Stiern Park. Recreation and Parks has expanded into many different areas in hopes of generating interest in walking programs. A program has started at MLK which provides exercise to women who attend the class, and it will extend to walking activities. There is an informal walk program at the Park at River Walk in which women use their strollers as part pf a daily exercise program, which is also known as The Stroller Striders. Jennifer Lopez, with The Network for Children, spoke regarding an initiative funded by the California Endowment, known as the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROP). Ms. Lopez created a link to strengthen the relationship of the community and the City. A "walk-ability assessment" was completed two years ago. It mapped out challenges residents faced at their local parks regarding safety. The group has partnered with the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Bakersfield program to build a walking path in conjunction with Recreation and Parks. The walking group is working on acquiring grants and funds to help build a new playground. Recreation & Parks Director, Dianne Hoover stated the department is part of Get Moving Kern. A staff member attends the meetings and is working on expanding walking groups in Bakersfield. Committee member Benham requested Recreation and Parks focus on Central Park, since the improvements at the park will be open to the public later this year and to include a walking program in the Mill Creek project plans. 5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Recreation & Parks Director, Dianne Hoover mentioned the department was participating in a challenge called International Park(ing) Day. The focus of this event is to encourage the development of more parks in the inner cities and downtown areas. This international movement recommends taking parking spaces and turning them into a park for a day. On Friday, September 19, 2008, Recreation and Parks Department will take a few parking spaces on the corner of Eye St and Truxtun Ave. Staff will lay out about 500 square feet of sod, 20 trees and 30 shrubs with picnic tables. Staff will be at the site, answering any questions from the public. Councilmember Sue Benham requested someone contact both the Downtown School and Franklin Elementary to inform them of the event, in case they can arrange a walking field trip. A press release was sent to publicize the event. 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:04 PM. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council