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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/01/2010 B A K E R S F I E L D `"" Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Rhonda Smiley, Assistant to the City Manager/ P.I.O. Sue Benham For: Alan Tandy, City Manager David Couch AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Regular Meeting of the COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, February 1, 2009 - 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 12:10:14 PM. 1. ROLL CALL Committee members Present: Council member Jacquie Sullivan; Chair Council member David Couch Council member Sue Benham Staff Present: Alan Tandy, City Manager Joshua Rudnick, Deputy City Attorney Rhonda Smiley, Asst. to the City Manager Justin Crumley, Associate Attorney Rick Kirkwood, Management Assistant Allen Abe, Asst. Recreation & Parks Director Steven Teglia, Administrative Analyst Darin Budak, Parks Superintendent Others Present: David Rogers, Electronic Towne Crier Earl Norcross, Kern Wheelmen Zac Griffin, Bike Bakersfield Rich O'Neil, Kern River Parkway Tina Chapa, Bike Bakersfield Joslynn Skelton, YMCA of Kern County Gretchen Wenner, Bakersfield Californian 2. ADOPT NOVEMBER 2, 2009 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None Community Service Committee Agenda Summary Report February 1, 2010 Page 2 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion on User Safety and Maintenance for the Kern River Parkway- Hoover/Gennaro Park Superintendent Darin Budak gave a brief summary regarding the public meeting held on November 19, 2009 to discuss the concerns brought forward by the Kern River Parkway Foundation, Bike Bakersfield, and Kern Wheelman. Based on public input from this meeting, staff proposed the following recommendations: a generic term for name of the path, use the City website for more detailed guidelines, paint a center line in high use areas of the path, install signs that indicate direction of traffic, and place signs on the path in advance of any upcoming event to notify users. Members of Bike Bakersfield and Kern River Parkway Foundation have volunteered to update the kiosks periodically. Associate Attorney Justin Crumley stated that during the public meeting, Recreation and Parks Director Dianne Hoover was approached to change Ordinance 10.80 which relates to the path. Staff recommends the following ordinance changes: remove the word "bike" from the title and change the name to Kern River Trail, change the definition of the trail to be delineated more generally and include any subsequent trail expansion, change the description of who may use the trail to include other non-motorized modes of transportation such as walking, jogging, skating which would allow multi-use of the trail, include slower traffic staying to the right in section 10.80.050, and adding a section to state all dogs should be kept on a leash no longer then 6 feet. Committee member Sue Benham thanked staff and the members of the public who participated in the public meeting because safety is paramount to everyone who uses the path. Committee member Benham asked if the Recreation and Parks department ever encourages charities or organization to use additional areas other than the bike path, like Mill Creek, when acquiring their permits for events. Assistant Recreation and Parks Director Allen Abe stated charities and organization are given details of various facilities around the city so they can determine which better suits their event. Rick O'Neil of Kern River Parkway Foundation stated that his organization is in agreement with the recommendation of changing the current name of the path to Kern River Trail and eliminating the inclination of public perception that the path is only for bicycles. Mr. O'Neil stated that bicyclists use the horse trail and the jogging trail which are also multiple use trails. Zac Griffin, a liaison with Bike Bakersfield, thanked the City for involving them in this process and stated his organization agreed with the recommendations presented. The Committee unanimously approved a motion to present this ordinance for first reading to Council. Committee member Sue Benham requested staff return with their suggestions for signage before any signs are installed on the path. Committee member David Couch asked if there are any guidelines the City would have to follow on this kind of path with regards to signage. Parks Superintendent Darin Budak stated that staff will be following the California Manual on uniform traffic control devices. B. Discussion and Committee Recommendation for Adoption of the 2010 Committee Meeting Schedule- Smiley Adopted as submitted. Community Service Committee Agenda Summary Report February 1, 2010 Page 3 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Staff Report and Committee Discussion of the Off-Road Motorcycle Group Request for a City-Provided Recreational Area - Kirkwood / Tandy Management Assistant Rick Kirkwood gave a brief description of the proposal for an Off- Highway Vehicle Park. Staff researched the potential impact to the environment, surrounding neighbors and costs of the park. Staff has expressed several concerns with using the sump as a site, because of the effects from imported materials. Materials would have to be porous enough to allow water to continue to percolate, and with consistent vehicle use may degrade the materials ability to percolate over time. Another concern is the affect the park may have to the Kern County Animal Control Facility which is located south of the proposed site. Potential dust blowing to the south will affect the animals. The Bakersfield Adult School would also be affected. The concern of dust would also be a matter the Air Quality Control District would have to regulate. In addition, the City does not have the funding and/or staffing resources to operate and maintain such a facility. Committee member David Couch asked if there is property adjacent to the sump which was also being considered for the proposal. Management Assistant Rick Kirkwood responded that this location is the former location of the Wastewater Treatment Plant #I which was decommissioned and buried. Staff has great concern, considering the past use of this land and the potential impact it may have if exposed to humans. Mr. Kirkwood also stated that the City does not own any other land that could accommodate this proposal, considering the concerns stated above. David Rogers of Electronic Towne Crier stated he had searched for alternatives and had looked into having the YMCA of Kern be part of operating the park facility. Mr. Rogers stated that the nonprofit organization had created a similar facility for BMX bike riding. Joslynn Skelton from YMCA of Kern County stated that the YMCA is willing to be part of this proposal and they are excited about creating this pilot program that would benefit many families in Bakersfield. Ms. Skelton stated her organization is very interested in this opportunity because it will bring families together locally. Committee Chair Jacquie Sullivan recommended that Mr. Rogers and Ms. Skelton meet with Recreation and Parks Director Dianne Hoover. Committee member David Couch recommended Mr. Rogers get in contact with the Planning Director Jim Eggert, so he may get clarification on what needs to be done for this kind of project if it were to be placed on private property, as it will likely need to be proposed to the Planning Commission. 6. COMMITTEE COMMENTS None 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1 :34:16 P.M. cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council