{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 1, "text": "Jupd\nALAMEDA RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION\nMINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING\nDATE:\nThursday, January 9, 2014\nTIME:\n7:02 p.m. Called to Order\nPLACE:\nCity Hall Council Chambers\n1.\nROLL CALL\nPresent:\nChair Bill Delaney, Vice Chair Lola Brown, Commissioners Ann Cooke, Joe\nRestagno and Bill Sonneman\nStaff:\nAmy Wooldridge, Recreation & Parks Director\n2.\nAPPROVAL OF MINUTES\nApproved minutes of November 14, 2013 regular Recreation & Park Commission meeting\nM/S/C Commissioner Sonneman/Commissioner Cooke and unanimous.\n3.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS, AGENDA\nSpeaker Jon Pecson, Alameda Soccer Club (ASC) gave a report about their field lease at\nAlameda Point. It is working out well with good playing time for Alameda kids and well-\nmaintained fields. The Club donated field time at Hornet Field to Artemis Racing. Lighting has\nbeen added at the Hornet Field and rental fees from groups like St. Joseph's Alumni are used\nfor scholarships.\nMr. Pecson asked for the renewal of the Hornet Field lease and Director Wooldridge stated this\nis a five-year lease that is going before City Council on Jan. 21.\n4.\nWRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS\nChair Delaney stated that a number of communications were received regarding Jean\nSweeney Open Space Park and will be included in the minutes (Attachment A).\n5.\nNEW BUSINESS\nA.\nCity of Alameda Paratransit Program Annual Update - Gail Payne, Transportation\nCoordinator\nThe recommendation is $253,000 for fiscal year 2014/15. This is an increase from last year,\nbut this fund also has a reserve. They would like to gain more ridership. She gave an\noverview of the program and explained that this past year was a pilot program for all riders, not\njust seniors. She reported on bus stops changing and repositioning and how it affects AC\nTransit. They are working on further signage. She further reported on the taxi-voucher medical\nappointment program, how it operates, and that this service would increase.\nVice Chair Brown stated the taxi-voucher program is a very important program and she would\nlike for the bus to stop routinely even if no one is out on the bench at the hospital. She said it is\na problem when seniors are waiting inside and the bus does not stop.\nMs. Payne also reported on increasing group trips and scholarships. There will be an increase", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 2, "text": "Recreation Commission\nMeeting Minutes - January 9, 2014\nPage 2\nin the program management. She is requesting an increase in customer service and outreach,\nas they are recommending increasing advertising. She further reported on the results of an\nannual customer survey.\nVice Chair Brown commented on the value of the paratransit program and how it is very\nbeneficial to the seniors. Chair Delaney asked about capacity and funding and will the trend\nbe to ask for more next year also. Ms. Payne explained the costs with drivers, ridership and\nsignage. She wanted to recognize Jackie Krause and Donatella Zepplin at Mastick Senior\nCenter for their work.\n6.\nOLD BUSINESS\nJean Sweeney Open Space Park Update\nA.\nOverview of Community Feedback on Master Plan\nDirector Amy Wooldridge gave an overview of ideas from the community feedback process\nthat wrapped up in December 2013 (Attachment B). Kristopher K\u00f6ster, pro-bono architect for\nthe Sweeney Park Master plan was also present.\nMs. Wooldridge stated there was much discussion on the number of onsite parking spaces.\nThe CEQA process will be underway soon and this may determine a better number, but there\nis no standard for parks. She also explained that this Master Plan simply gives an estimate but\nthat the final number of parking spaces will be determined during landscape design.\nChair Delaney asked about security and safety in the area and if there were any concerns\nabout increased problems with the Community Garden. Director Wooldridge stated that as a\npublic park, this will have the same rules, regulations and security level as other Alameda\nParks. As an open park, it inherently can create some security issues but it also puts \"eyes on\nthe park\" which can address safety concerns.\nCommissioner Cooke commented that the pump-track for bicycles was a good addition and\npublic comments from written communications seem to favor this.\nCommissioner Sonneman commented that the overall look should be keeping the project open\nspace. He liked including a frog pond and would like it to be educational. He liked not having\nbridges. He commented on the parking issues and likes that it can be determined later. He\ncommented on not having the bike track and is fine with it not being in the project, but perhaps\nsomewhere else in Alameda.\nCommissioner Restagno commented on the parking and is happy to hear this will be looked at\nfurther. He reported in favor of the frog pond as an educational water feature. He likes the\ngazebo feature. He stated that the pump track seemed like it didn't fit into the project, and is\nnot within the top priority outcome from public comments.\nVice Chair Brown reported the gazebo is a good idea but is concerned with the noise level. Ms.\nWooldridge explained that there is already an ordinance that does not allow amplified noise in\nour parks.", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 3, "text": "Recreation Commission\nMeeting Minutes - January 9, 2014\nPage 3\nVice Chair Brown stated this should stay as a peaceful, quiet environment for everyone. She\ncommented on liking the frog pond and echoes the proposed from other members. She does\nnot feel the bike track is appropriate for the project.\nChair Delaney agreed with all the other comments from Commissioners. He expressed\nconcern with the gazebo issue of noise and maintenance. He agreed with the bike track not\nbeing a good fit with the project. Ms. Wooldridge reported the maintenance for a gazebo\nwould be similar with the picnic shade structure.\nSpeaker, Mr. Aaron Thies, spoke on biking and trails in Alameda. He stated the single bike\ntrack seems to have morphed into something including the pump-track. He commented on the\nremoval would be a mistake and it is part of the trail being a gathering point. He feels this\nproject is the perfect place for the track. He feels there should be more discussion before\ndeciding to completely eliminate the track.\nChair Delaney reported there were letters and emails from the public on this issue.\nCommissioner Cooke asked about the safety issue with the track. Mr. Thies stated as with any\nfeature this has risks. Pump tracks are designed with gentle rollers and berms. It is not\ndesigned for racing.\nChair Delaney called for a motion to allow staff to proceed to a next design to include the\ngazebo, omitting the pump track, reducing parking, moving the outdoor learning center to the\nwest, and to include frog pond but reduce the design.\nCommissioner Sonneman made a motion to approve the changes to the Jean Sweeney Open\nSpace Park as recommended by staff (see Attachment B) such as reducing parking,\nincreasing open space, moving the outdoor classroom to the west, and reducing the fog pond\nsize, with the addition of omitting the bike park/pump track and including the gazebo.\nCommissioner Restagno seconded. All in favor.\n7.\nREPORTS FROM RECREATION COMMISSION AND RECREATION & PARK DIRECTOR\nA.\nRecreation Commission Reports: Chair Delaney reported he attended the Breakfast\nwith Santa event at the O'Club and it was a wonderful, well-attended event. Applauded staff\nfor the well-organized event.\nB.\nFriends of the Park Report (FOTP): Commissioner Restagno reported on the golf\ntournament being a success and because of that they were able to install the exercise\nequipment which now has an instructional video available online. They are happy to have in\nplace the Starlight Movie events, and another Fall golf tournament. They are thinking of\noptions for increasing funding to programs. They are searching for more board members.\nC.\nRecreation and Parks Director Report: Director Wooldridge reported the holiday\nprograms and events were successful and sold out. A new inter-generational program is\nstarting with a collaboration of Teens and Seniors. Now hiring for summer staff. Two new\nvehicles were purchase through the City's vehicle replacement program. Mastick Senior\nCenter received a $3,000 donation for new sewing machines. New wi-fi is being installed at", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 4, "text": "Recreation Commission\nMeeting Minutes - January 9, 2014\nPage 4\nMastick. The windows have been replace at the McKinley Recreation Center, funded by\nCDBG. There is a new cell tower being installed at Leydecker Park. This will add revenue for\nARPD with half of the revenue being used specifically for improvements at Leydecker Park.\nDirector Wooldridge commended AUSD staff for their work at Emma Hood swim center.\nSignificant improvements were made including installing a new heater, new filter, and fixing\nwater leaks. There will be a National Day of Service at Jean Sweeney Open Space Park, co-\nsponsored by Supervisor Wilma Chan's office on Saturday, January 18th, 10am - 4pm. Verde\nDesign was chosen through the Landscape Architect RFQ process for design of Estuary Park.\nThis is going to Council on Jan. 21.\nCommissioner Restagno asked about the Krusi Park Recreation Center project. Ms.\nWooldridge reported that it is still a priority but there is not enough staff time for project\nmanagement. She intends to put out an RFP for design this spring.\nD. Mastick Senior Center Report: Vice Chair Brown reported that Mastick is getting ready for\ntax season, which will begin soon. There will be a presentation for low-income assistance\nalong with classes. She reported on other upcoming classes which included, \"Circus Moves\nfor Young at Heart\". Mastick is a place for social connections for our seniors.\nChair\nDelaney\ncommented on doing a site tour of MSC with his wife and they loved it.\n8.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS, GENERAL: None\n9.\nITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA: None\n10.\nSET NEXT MEETING DATE:\nThursday, February 13, 2014\n11.\nADJOURNMENT: Chair Delaney adjourned the meeting at 9:03 p.m.", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 5, "text": "Jean Sweeney\nOpen Space Park\nZen Garden\nFrog Pond\nNatural Playground\n80 Parking|Sp\u00e1ces\nRestrooms\nUrban Forest\nButterfly Garden\nOutdoor Classroom\n2 Acre Community Garden\nGazebo\nFood Bank\nRestrooms\n100 Parking Spaces\nNatural Playground\nBMX Bike Park\n1011\nEagle Avenue\nEagle Avenue\nBay/Eagle\nCommunity\nGarden\nMasterplan Diagram\n>k\nALAMEDA JEAN SWEENEY OPEN SPACE PARK\n1", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 6, "text": "Issues and Solutions\nIssue/Concern\nSolution\nLess developed, more open\nRename Great Forest to natural vegetation; specifically\nspace and natural vegetation\ndelineate trees on southern border and the rest is vegetation\nMove Outdoor Classroom to west side, make it smaller, remove\nlawn portion and remove concrete area next to restroom\nRemove zen garden\nReduce number of parking spaces\nRail Right-Of-Way not shown\nAdd on next draft, adjacent to Cross Alameda Trail. Possible move\nCAT south to accommodate\nCommunity Garden creates\n1 acre of plot gardens and 1 acre of open educational landscape\nlimited west entrance\n(demonstration gardens/urban orchard/edible landscape)\nSmaller or no frog pond\nMake pond significantly smaller and push it into a creek\nenvironment with a boardwalk crossing along Wood St. path\nDesign of frog pond may shift based on drainage requirements\nBike skills track not labeled or\nDelineate along inside of main habitat area and make it at a\nclear\nlower elevation for safety.\nSt. Charles Street connection\nMake the St. Charles Street connection less prominent\nNo topography\nAdd as a foot note on the design that topography and elevation will\nbe added along trails, etc.\nSecondary trail not wide\nMake secondary trails wider\nenough for bike/walk safety\n2", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 7, "text": "Atlantic Avenue\n80\nParking Spaces\nPicnic\nRestrooms\nCross Alameda Trail\nClassroom\nOrchard\n(Butterily\nOrchard\nNatural\nEntry-\nPlayground\nSmall Lawn\nGarden\nFood\nBank\nEnlarged Masterplan Diagram\nALAMEDA JEAN SWEENEY OPEN SPACE PARK\n3", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 8, "text": "Park Entry\nE\nCross Alamed\n11\nU\nPicnic\nPicnic\nPicnic\nII\nUrban Forest\nZen Garden\nGreat Lawn\nGutdoor Classroom\nFrog Pond\nPavilion\nPicnio\n3\n20\n2\ne\nMasterplan Diagram\nALAMEDA JEAN SWEENEY OPEN SPACE PARK\n4", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 9, "text": "0\nC\nGazebo\nRestrooms\nPicnio\nPark Entry\n60 parking spaces\n40 parking\nspaces\nGreat Lawn\nNitdoor Classroom\nMain Plaza\nLandscape\nNatural Playground\nBMX Bike Park\nPavilion\nPicnio\n5\n0\nto\nCtemel nt Plaza\nTrain\nDepot\nMaintenance\nYard\nMasterplan Diagram\nALAMEDA JEAN SWEENEY OPEN SPACE PARK\n5", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 10, "text": "Additional Options for Discussion\nRemove or keep gazebo\nRemove or keep bike park/pump track.\nAdditional option to make it smaller (8,000 s.f.)\n6", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 11, "text": "Next Steps\nCompile input and develop 3rd Draft\nRecreation and Park Commission in Feb. 2014\nRecommendation to City Council in March 2014\nOnce approved, this Master Plan will be the roadmap\nfor fundraising, final design, and park development.\nPark development is unfunded. Timeline and scope\nwill be dependent upon securing grants and private\ndonations from businesses and individuals.\nSteering Committees in place\nJean Sweeney Open Space Park\nCommunity Garden\n7", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2014-01-09", "page": 12, "text": "Jean Sweeney Open Space Park\nZen Garden\nFrog Pond\nNatural Playground\n80 Parking Spaces\nRestrooms\nUrban Forest\nButterfly Garden\nOutdoor Classroom\n2 Acre Community Garden\nGazebo\nFood Bank\nRestrooms\n100 Parking Spaces\nNatural Playground\nBMX Bike Park\nEagle Avenue\nEagle Avenue\nBay, Eagle\nCommunity\nGarden\nMasterplan Diagram\nALAMEDA JEAN SWEENEY OPEN SPACE PARK\n8", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2014-01-09.pdf"}