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1 DRAFT MINUTES City of Glendale Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Glendale Municipal Office Complex Meeting Room B3 5850 W. Glendale Avenue Glendale, Arizona 85301 February 10, 2020 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Sam McConnell, Chair Gayle Schiavone, Vice Chair Ronald Beye Stephanie June Kathryn Mawbry ABSENT: Kristina Cadena ALSO PRESENT: Jim Burke, Director, Public Facilities and Special Events Tim Barnard, Assistant Director, Public Facilities and Special Events Paul King, Recreation Administrator Diane Williams, Program Manager 1. Call to Order Chair McConnell called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call Chair McConnell took roll call. 3. Citizen Comments No citizens present. 4. Approval of the Minutes Motion by Commissioner Beye, second by Commissioner June, to approve the January 29, 2020 Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting minutes as written. Motion carried 5 – 0. 5. New Business a. Information: Youth Baseball Update Mr. King gave an update on the Youth Baseball Summer Program, which included the following information: • Program registration is February 24th through April 10th. Participants registered by March 6th will receive two free tickets to a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. • Games will begin the week of June 1st at Sahuaro Ranch Sports Complex. • All youth divisions are co-ed for ages 4 through 14 years old. • League costs $55 for residents; $75 for non-residents • Fees include a team shirt, hat, awards, and up to eight games. • Opening Ceremonies and first games of the season will be held at Sahuaro Ranch Park on June 1st. • Closing Ceremonies will complete the season at the Camelback Ranch stadium on July 27th. 2 Vice Chair Schiavone asked if any non-residents participated in the program. Mr. King replied that the program is comprised of approximately 30% to 40% non-residents due to the location next to Phoenix and at Camelback Ranch. Chair McConnell inquired about scholarship opportunities for under privileged residents. Mr. King replied there was a scholarship fund year-round for all sports, parents can apply for the scholarships, and there are criteria to qualify. Vice Chair Schiavone wondered how residents were made aware of the scholarships. Mr. King explained there was promotion in the Glendale Parks magazine and next to the hard copy registration materials. Chair McConnell asked if all games were played at Sahuaro Ranch Park. Mr. King replied in the positive. Chair McConnell inquired if there were team sponsors. Mr. King explained that sponsorship funds go towards uniforms, programming materials, and new equipment. Mr. King said that sponsors are promoted via banners and other mentions. Commissioner Mawbry asked about children who could not afford a bat. Mr. King explained that kids are only asked to come with gloves and if they cannot, extra gloves are available at practices and games. Mr. King relayed that the City received a $43,000 grant in 2015 from the Tohono O’odham Nation for the purchase of baseball equipment. Chair McConnell inquired if there could be a partnership with other organizations, such as Arrowhead Little League. Mr. King replied that Arrowhead Little League is a private organization that rents facilities from the City. Mr. Barnard stated that Arrowhead Little League is more competitive, and the City’s program is more recreational. Commissioner June commented that the Little League season ends in May and so the kids could participate in both programs if they chose. Mr. King will send the Commissioners an invitation to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The agenda item was concluded. b. Information: Calendar of Events Mr. Burke presented information on the following events: • The Chocolate Experience, Saturday, February 8th and Sunday, February 9th o There was good turnout of approximately 15,000 people. o Good feedback was received on the change to an indoor event. o It was very successful. • The Tractor Procession, Saturday February 8th o Chair McConnell complimented the event, the work of staff, and Council efforts. • Historic Sahuaro Ranch Barnyard Dedication, Saturday, February 8th • 30th Annual Winter Antique Tractor & Engine Show, Saturday, February 8th and Sunday, February 9th • Fold & Heritage Festival, Saturday, February 29th and Sunday, March 1st • Movies by Moonlight: February 21st, March 20th, and April 3rd • Glendale Adult Center Activities o Valentine’s Lunch: Friday, February 14th o St. Patrick’s Day Lunch: Tuesday, March 17th 3 The agenda item was concluded. c. Action: Mini-Libraries in Parks Mr. King gave a presentation on consideration of Mini Libraries in Parks, which included the following: • Recently, a citizen made a request for the City to consider a mini-library in the parks program. • This program would provide books to be used and returned free of charge to designated locations in parks and/or recreation centers in Glendale. • Several photographs of the mini-libraries were distributed as examples of those in other cities. • The mini-libraries hold approximately 20 books at one time. • Staff would identify donation sources for installation, ongoing maintenance, and repair/replacement. • Staff would look to community volunteer groups to help create the program and manage it on an ongoing basis. • The Glendale Main Library has committed to the donation of books. Commissioner Mawbry asked if staff has looked into demographics for the program. Mr. King replied in the negative and noted that the program was in the early stages of discussion at this time. Mr. Burke explained staff would like to recommend a program at no cost to the City, managed by volunteers. Mr. Burke stated staff would present locations once a volunteer has been found who will commit to a location. Mr. Burke commented that the Glendale Library will donate the first books to get the program off the ground, however, additional books would be donated by the community in which it serves. . A citizen was present, who requested to speak and filled out a comment card. Chair McConnell read aloud the stipulations for citizen comments. Mr. Anthony Pratcher, of the Cholla District, made comments regarding the Mini-Libraries, which included the following: • When he graduated college, he piloted a free little library in his neighborhood, at Dos Lagos, in Arrowhead Ranch. • Little libraries help promote literacy and are often found in high property value neighborhoods. • As children walk to the park with their parents or to school, they can look in the little library to see if there is a book they would like to read. • The little libraries are a way to building something in a community we would all like to live in. • Mr. Pratcher supported the pilot program. • He worked with Southwest Human Development when he created the little library at Dos Lagos. He suggested partnering with other agencies, such as Habitat for Humanity, for funding. • Location suggestions included Utopia Park, Chaparral Park, or Desert Garden Park as the size of those parks would be ideal for a pilot program. • The City could possibly work with neighborhood associations as partners. • Landmark Elementary is trying to start a Girl Scout Troop and this might be a project the troop could support at the location. • Mr. Pratcher was in support of the measure and hoped the Commission would vote for it. Commissioner Mawbry noted that some churches have little libraries managed by Scout Troops, youth groups, or teen groups, and they are a safe location for the little libraries. Mr. Pratcher stated there is a little library at the church at 59th Avenue and Cholla. Mr. Pratcher would like to see little libraries in public spaces. 4 Chair McConnell inquired as to the cost of the box that Mr. Pratcher built. Mr. Pratcher relayed the cost as $500.00 and explained that some of the funds were a donation to Southwest Human development, who created the box and installed it. Chair McConnell asked Mr. Pratcher how much time he spent a week checking on the little library. Mr. Pratcher replied he goes to the box about once a week and spends less than one hour a month sorting and re-organizing the books. Mr. Burked noted there was a little library at the Velma Teague Library, which has the phrase Take A Book, Leave One Later. Commissioner Mawbry inquired if Mr. Pratcher had approached Barnes & Noble or Bookman’s for book donations. Mr. Pratcher replied that he did not need to. Commissioner Beye inquired if there was a way to identify traffic or the number of people using the little library. Mr. Pratcher relayed he has not tracked usage and does not have a way to track it statistically. Mr. Pratcher does see people at the little library and there is definitely a small community of people who are interchanging books. Mr. Pratcher stated that he wanted to put the little library in the location and let the community manage it. Commissioner Beye asked if any damage had been done to the little library. Mr. Pratcher replied in the negative. Chair McConnell asked if Mr. Pratcher had found any inappropriate content in the little library. Mr. Pratcher indicated he had not, however, there may be some self-policing by the users. Chair McConnell thanked Mr. Pratcher for coming to the meeting. Motion by Commissioner Mawbry, second by Vice Chair Schiavone, to instruct staff to investigate the cost and feasibility of the installation of free libraries at specific locations in the City. Motion carried 5 – 0. d. Action: Commission Goals for the Upcoming Year Mr. Burke facilitated discussion on the Commission’s Draft Work Plan for January 2020-21. Discussion was held regarding each of the proposed draft goals and other suggestions. Motion by Vice Chair Schiavone, second by Commissioner Mawbry, for the Commission to actively participate in the Parks and Recreation Work Plan for January 2020-21 as follows: • Each Commissioner to inspect at least one park per quarter utilizing the park inspection form provided by staff. Report back on findings. • Each Commissioner to volunteer at a Parks and Recreation outreach or department event (Council District meetings, special event, grand openings, etc.) • Actively participate in the Parks and Recreation work plan and provide recommendations for action items on the monthly agenda. • Schedule monthly Commission meetings at various Parks and Recreation locations to gain exposure to all parts of the City. Motion carried 5 – 0. 6. Staff Updates 5 Mr. Burke gave his update report, which included the following: • Distribution of an aerial photographic map which details the proposed zoning and development plan for Glen Lakes. Council has approved the sale of the property. However, the closing has been pushed out possibly to May 2020. • Distribution of the Council Budget meeting date calendar. All are encouraged to attend; meetings are taped for viewing at one’s convenience. • A promotional video for the Convention Visitor’s Bureau was played for the Commission, which was a Visit Glendale thirty-second video. Mr. Barnard announced a consultant will attend the April Commission meeting to provide data regarding the Master Plan Update survey. Mr. Burke distributed the FY18-19 Public Facilities, Recreation and Special Events Annual Report to the Commission. 7. Commission Comments and Suggestions Commissioner Mawbry reported that she spends a lot of time at the library and volunteers more than twice a week. Commissioner Mawbry inquired as to who was responsible for cleaning the peacock waste at the library. Mr. Burke stated that the library has a contract for this service. Vice Chair Schiavone attended the Tractor show, stated it was very well done, was nice to see the interactions with the children, and complimented Chair McConnell on the event. 8. Next Meeting The next regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission will be held on March 9, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. at Manistee Ranch, located at 5127 W. Northern Avenue, Glendale, Arizona, 85301. 9. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner June, second by Commissioner Beye, to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 p.m. Motion carried 5 – 0. Respectfully submitted, Denise Kazmierczak