07-1119_CC_Minutes_Special MeetingMINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING
OF THE
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL
PARKS, RECREATION, AND EQUESTRIAN COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 19, 2007
The Joint Meeting of the City Council/Parks, Recreation and Equestrian Commission of
the City of San Juan Capistrano, California, was called to order by Mayor Allevato at
7:02 p.m. in Council Chambers. Mayor pro tem Soto led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom Hribar, Mark Nielsen, Dr. Londres Uso,
Mayor pro tem Joe Soto, and Mayor Sam Allevato
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
PARKS, RECREATION, AND EQUESTRIAN COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ilse
'
Byrnes, Gail Zukow, Jill Hanna, Chair Kathy Hooper
PARKS, RECREATION AND EQUESTRIAN -COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Dave Adams, City Manager; Meg Monahan, City Clerk; Karen
Crocker, Community Services Director; Cynthia Alexander, Interim Community Services
Manager; Tara Magner, Administrative Specialist; and Eileen White, Recording
Secretary.
WORKSHOP SESSION
a. PARKS AND RECREATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT FINAL REPORT
RECEIVED AND FILED. CITY COUNCIL PRIORITY NO. 13B (960.10)
Karen Crocker, Community Services Director, related the purpose of the Parks
and Recreation Needs Assessment, which is to receive input from residents in
regard to recreation service needs, City amenities and City facilities. The
Assessment will also serve as a quantifiable document as it relates to changing
demographics, service needs and facilities, and assist the City with long-range
planning regarding recreational needs of its residents. Staff recommended
' Council and Commissioners receive and file the final report of the Parks and
Recreation Needs Assessment; and direct staff to develop an implementation
plan of recommended recreation amenities.
11-19-2007
Pam Woolrich, Research Network, Ltd, reviewed a slide presentation entitled
"Recreational Needs Assessment, City of San Juan Capistrano," featuring a brief
overview of the process, summary of the demographic analysis, surrey focus
and questions. She also discussed input provided at community workshops as
well as survey results, study conclusions, and recommended actions.
In response to questions, Ms. Woolrich indicated the demographics used in the
study are generated by Orange County and compiled by Cal State Fullerton;
noted input from the telephone survey was heavily weighed over input provided
at the public workshops, which can be skewed by testimony provided by special
interest groups; advised input from non-residents at the public workshops was
weighed equally with input provided by residents attending the workshops; stated
the town's Native American population did not provide collective input; and
clarified workshop procedures, telephone survey guidelines, and survey
interpretation.
Public Comment:
Tom Kelley, Laguna Niguel resident, encouraged the Council to include a
velodrome (bicycle track) to provide a safe place for bicyclists to exercise. Mayor
Allevato encouraged him to bring this idea forward for the needs assessment for
the Great Park planning.
John Campbell, City resident, also encouraged construction of a velodrome as
there are many bicyclists in the area. In addition the recreational needs analysis
forecasted an increasing older adult population and bicycling is a sport enjoyed
by adults.
Mike Mathewson, City resident, said girls had been turned away due to lack of
fields for girls' softball. Facilities need batting cages and equipment lockers to be
useful. He also suggested more maintenance, such as providing soap and paper
towels in restrooms. Karen Crocker, Community Services Director, reported that
several fields were not used at all because they lack equipment lockers and are
considered by sports groups to be too inconveniently located for teams to
transport equipment to the fields.
Ates Baydu, City resident, encouraged construction of a skateboard park.
Skateboarders are strongly discouraged from their sport in the community and
need a place to skate so they can stay local. He felt that a skateboard park
would be supported financially by prominent athletes in the sport that live in the
community.
2 11-19-2007
' Discussion:
Council Members and Commissioners thanked Ms. Woolrich and staff for all their
efforts, and made comments/suggestions as follows:
• Emphasize trails as multi-purpose intended for varied uses, and focus on
completion of Mountain to Sea Trail;
• Priority given to maintaining equestrian facilities in town;
• Need for additional recreation facilities in northern part of community to
serve Latino residents;
• Explore uses for the City's existing northwest open space including dog
parks, additional sports fields, additional trails, skateboard park for teens,
and equestrian uses;
• Need for programs typically aimed at seniors to serve the Citys growing
aging population;
• Encourage acquisition of more open space and explore opportunities for
the City to partner with the school district, private individuals, and
community groups to improve existing recreational opportunities; and
• Encourage staff to explore creative means to fund programs
Council/Committee Members asked Pam Woolrich, consultant, to reassess
' certain factors of the study, including ensuring that input derived from individuals
during the telephone survey is given greater weight than input received at the
workshops from organized special interest groups, as that input is a statistically
more accurate representation of the community's desires.and needs and may not
be accurately presented in the results; identifying specific areas in town where
recreation facilities, especially those that serve the Hispanic community, are
lacking; checking with the school district to ensure demographics used for the
study are in line with their figures; and contacting Native American groups for
their input.
Council/Commission Action: Moved by Mayor Allevato seconded by Council
Member Nielsen and carried unanimously, 9-0 to receive and file final report of
the Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment; and direct staff to develop an
implementation plan of recommended recreation amenities, taking into account
the comments of the meeting and reassessment of the results.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None
11-19-2007
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Commission, Mayor Allevato adjourned the
City Council at 9:05 p.m. to the Regular Meeting of Tuesday, November 20, 2007, at
5:30 p.m. for Closed Session, and 6:30 p.m. for the Public Business Session, in City
Council Chambers; and Chair Hooper adjourned the Parks Recreation and Equestrian
Cosionat 9:05 p.m. to the Regular Parks Recreation and Equestrian Commission
M tin soh uled for Monday, December 17, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.
submitted,
R. M AFAAN_CrTY CLERK
ATTEST'Decbml6ed 16. 2007
Ce
JOE SOTO. MAYOR
H
11-19-2007