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CC MINS 20100424 ADJ MINUTES RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING COMMUNITY LEADERS' BREAKFAST APRIL 24, 2010 The meeting was called to order at 9:12 A.M. by Mayor Wolowicz at Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West, notice having been given with affidavit thereto on file. City Council roll call was answered as follows: PRESENT: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz ABSENT: None Also present were Carolyn Lehr, City Manager; Carolynn Petru, Deputy City Manager; Carol Lynch, City Attorney; Dennis McLean, Director of Finance/Information Technology; Joel Rojas, Community Development Director; Tom Odom, Interim Director of Recreation and Parks/Deputy Director of Public Works; Sara Singer, Senior Administrative Analyst; Holly Starr, Recreation Services Manager; and, Carla Morreale, City Clerk. FLAG SALUTE: The Flag Salute was led by Planning Commission Chair Bill Gerstner. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Mayor Wolowicz requested that "Mayor's Announcements" be added to the agenda. Councilman Stern moved, seconded by Councilman Misetich, to approve the agenda, as amended. Without objection, Mayor Wolowicz so ordered. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Wolowicz provided a brief commentary on modern day management philosophies that former Mayor Gardiner had once shared at a meeting. He welcomed those present to the Community Leaders' Breakfast, invited each person to introduce himself/herself, and thanked each person for the work he/she does for the community. City Council Minutes Community Leaders' Breakfast/Adj. Reg. Meeting April 24, 2010 Page 1 of 5 NEW BUSINESS: REGULAR NEW BUSINESS: Conceptual Design Overview for Grandview and Lower Hesse Parks City Manager Lehr recognized City staff members who have helped coordinate this event and introduced Interim Director of Recreation and Parks/Deputy Director of Public Works Tom Odom who will be coordinating the work of key City staff members and consultants regarding the Conceptual Designs for the Grandview and Lower Hesse Parks Project. City Manager Lehr introduced Michelle Sullivan and Hong Joo Kim from Mia Lehrer and Associates. Michelle Sullivan, Principal Architect/Project Manager, Mia Lehrer and Associates, provided an overview of their firm and recent projects they have designed and with which they are currently involved. Ms. Sullivan showed examples of design landscaping which created cultural and community connections in the enhancement of parks and creation of new sustainable projects. She noted their emphasis on community outreach, needs assessment, and stakeholder meetings to build consensus regarding the development of a plan. Ms. Sullivan, provided an overview of the goals of the firm including the following: community interface responding to the trails and parking; programming aspects; environmental focus; landscape sustainability; and management. She explained the design process including design workshop preparation and site analysis; a first community workshop and presentation of the site analysis; the design of a preliminary concept plan; and, the presentation of the final concept plan. Hong Joo Kim, Principal Architect, Project Designer, Mia Lehrer and Associates, discussed the current remarkable views from Hesse Park, the existing site layout, and the challenges of the current configuration of the 18-acre parcel that comprises Lower Hesse Park. He highlighted the goals to improve accessibility, improve drainage, and add buffer landscaping to Lower Hesse Park. He noted that included in the early assessment are considerations for the following program elements: landscaping; additional bridges; possible location for dog park; improved drainage; parking lot; basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts; picnic and viewing areas; lawn area and greenbelt; kiosk; paved parkway; exercise par course; perimeter and interior trails; site irrigation; trash bins; drinking fountains; and driveway gate. Mr. Kim provided an overview of Grandview Park, including the wonderful view of the ocean and City from the 18-acre site and the current challenges including the grade of the site; the narrow trails and overgrown tall non-native grasses currently at the site. He stated that considerations for the following program elements have been included after early assessment of Grandview Park: parking lot; dog park; playground/day camp; cycling City Council Minutes Community Leaders' Breakfast/Adj. Reg. Meeting April 24, 2010 Page 2 of 5 area; landscaping; picnic and viewing areas; restroom facility; kiosk; par course and training steps; perimeter and interior trails; site irrigation; trash bins; mutt mitt stations; and drinking fountains. He concluded with an invitation for community participation in the process of the development of the two parks. Ms. Sullivan stated that one of the goals of the firm is to aspire to create beautiful parks that respect the history of the place, that respond to the community needs, and that also celebrate sustainable practices. She invited input from those present and announced the three upcoming Community Outreach Meetings scheduled for the following dates: 1) May 15, 2010 a site analysis from 9:00 A.M. to noon in the Multi-Purpose Room at Hesse Park; 2) July 17, 2010; and 3) September 25, 2010. City Manager Lehr stated that interested parties could join the City's Listserve by providing their names and emails to staff. Mayor Pro Tem Tom Long stated that there needs to be outreach performed in the non- traditional format so that those who are not represented by an HOA and those who do not live in the immediate neighborhood are able to express their viewpoints. He also suggested outreach to the School District, PTA groups, and those who have children. Barbara Dye, Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) Member, Rancho Palos Verdes, suggested reaching out to the community by posting notices at various locations throughout the City including playground areas. Barbara Lucky, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that it is important to communicate with areas that do not have HOAs and noted that information could be distributed to reach out to students and families through the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Superintendent's Office. Noel Park, President, Pacific View HOA, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that the records would show that the Pacific View HOA members have said that they would like to participate in the process so that the project is compatible with the neighborhood while the goals of the City can be met. He noted that most of the surrounding neighbors are cautiously optimistic that the quality of life can be improved by the park improvements. Lynn Swank, Chair, Traffic Safety Commission (TSC), commented that all of the workshops have been scheduled for Saturday mornings and suggested the holding of a meeting during the week since many people are not available on the weekends. Jim Knight, Planning Commission Member, stated that the City's website is a good place to post the information as long as the public knows about the website. Councilman Campbell stated that he believed outreach to families could take place by persons distributing information or using free-standing information displays at scheduled events such as games and park activities. City Council Minutes Community Leaders' Breakfast/Adj. Reg. Meeting April 24, 2010 Page 3 of 5 Michael Lampasi, stated that the information regarding the concepts might be burned to DVDs which could be dispersed in the immediate park neighborhoods and through the H OAs. Kathy Gould, Director, Palos Verdes Library District (PVLD), stated that Facebook and Twitter are convenient methods of outreach to many and stated that notices can be placed on the information kiosks and bulletin boards in the Library, and possibly in the PVLD Newsletters. She added that there is a need for skateboard facilities in the City for students that are not involved in organized sports in the community. Lowell Wedemeyer, Oversight Committee Member, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that outreach to young people should be through texting, Facebook, and You Tube with the younger crowds, not via emails. Roberta Weaver, stated that many people are not aware of the location of Grandview Park, noting that this has been a learning experience for her right from the start. Adrienne Ang, Rancho Palos Verdes, inquired if there were to be restroom facilities at the two park sites, a bike path, and walking trails. Ms. Sullivan noted that she believed restroom facilities were planned for both park sites, trails were planned for both parks, and that there was currently a bike path planned for Grandview Park. She added that the Site Analysis Workshop on May 15, 2010 will begin at Hesse Park with a site tour and conclude with a tour of Grandview Park. Candy Fletcher, Rancho Palos Verdes, inquired as to what portion of the acreage at Grandview Park was canyon side. Mr. Kim responded that 9 to 10 acres of the center portion of Grandview Park was usable due to existing slope conditions. Bill Gerstner, Chair, Planning Commission, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that Grandview Park backs up to Palos Verdes Estates and suggested that the City should engage in outreach to the adjacent homeowners of Palos Verdes Estates. Jim Knight stated that on the original NCCP plan the northern portion of Grandview Park was designated as a habitat corridor connection. He noted that he believed it was important to consider the NCCP connection of habitat with the addition of trails, benches, and native vegetation. Mayor Pro Tem Tom Long stated that although Grandview Park was originally considered to be a part of the NCCP, the Council specifically voted not to include Grandview Park in the NCCP plan, noting that the City was deficient in active parkland space for community use. City Council Minutes Community Leaders' Breakfast/Adj. Reg. Meeting April 24, 2010 Page 4 of 5 Barbara Dye stated that in terms of the NCCP plan, it was her understanding that once the appropriate planning process has been performed through which the parkland properties would meet the park needs for the residents, portions of these properties could have habitat restoration so that portions of these properties could become a part of the NCCP Preserve. David Berman, representative of the California Native Plant Society, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that the property could be used as a park as well as a location for native habitat. He suggested the use of grass in the center of the property along with the use of many native plants. Noel Park stated that the Pacific View HOA agrees with the joint use of Lower Hesse Park for active uses as well as to be used for the planting of a native habitat palate for the beautification of the site. Ken Swensen, President, Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, stated that the community needs the City parks for active recreation uses to take the pressure off of the more passive Preserve areas. Ms. Sullivan concluded with information on the upcoming meetings and an explanation of the tours of the sites for the Site Analysis Workshop scheduled for May 15, 2010. She thanked those present for their participation and initial comments regarding the Conceptual Design Overview for Grandview and Lower Hesse Parks. Mayor Wolowicz provided concluding remarks and noted that the Los Angeles County Fire Department would be invited back sometime in the near future to provide a presentation on "Ready, Set, Go —Wildfire Action Plan." ADJOURNMENT: At 10:45 A .M., Mayor Wolowicz adjourned the meeting. kd i ayor Attest: i I/ /' City Clerk W:\City Council Minutes\2010\20100424 CC MINS.doc City Council Minutes Community Leaders' Breakfast/Adj. Reg. Meeting April 24, 2010 Page 5 of 5