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1 DRAFT MINUTES City of Glendale Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting Glendale Community Center 5401 W. Ocotillo Rd. Glendale, Arizona 85301 Monday, December 13, 2021 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Gayle Schiavone, Chair Sam McConnell, Vice Chair Stephanie June Kathryn Mawby ABSENT: Reginald Martinez, Jr. ALSO PRESENT: Jim Burke, Director, Public Facilities, Recreation and Special Events John Kennedy, Assistant Director, Public Facilities, Recreation and Special Events Bruce Hooks, Recreation Coordinator Manny Padia, Senior Recreation Coordinator Tim Rastedt, CIP Project Manager Diane Williams, Program Manager 1. Call to Order Chair Schiavone called the meeting to order at 6:18 p.m. 2. Roll Call Chair Schiavone conducted roll call. 3. Introductions Mr. Burke introduced Mr. Kennedy, the new Assistant Director, and shared a brief background. 4. Citizen Comments None. 5. Approval of the Minutes Motion by Vice Chair McConnell, second by Commissioner June, to approve the November 8, 2021 Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting minutes as written. Motion carried 4 – 0. 6. New Business a. Information: Commission Reports Chair Schiavone reported that she viewed the Parks and Recreation webpage and found some items that were out of date and also old comments on the site. b. Information: Glendale Community Center Renovation Projects Mr. Padia gave a presentation on renovations at the Glendale Community Center, which included the following information: • Status: The renovations are at 60% completion. The interior improvements have been made and the exterior improvements will be next. 2 • Exterior planned improvements include: o Re-design the entrance and exterior basketball/volleyball areas. o Re-face the front entry space. o Repair and resurface the sport court. o Re-design and upgrade the court fencing. o Upgrade the shade structure over the sport court. • Interior completed improvements include: o New, more durable flooring. o New paint based on the City’s logo color scheme. Mr. Burke reported that the City received $5 million in federal funds for the COVID CARES Act, which was utilized for the Police and Fire Departments. This, however, freed up money in the General Fund, of which a portion was earmarked for renovations at the City’s three community centers: Glendale Community Center, O’Neil Community Center, and Rose Lane Community Center. Chair Schiavone asked how many people were on staff at the Glendale Community Center. Mr. Padia relayed that there was one full-time Recreation Coordinator and three part-time staff members. He stated that there were forty-six registered children, and the goal was a 1:15 ratio for staff to children. Chair Schiavone asked if meals for seniors were being served at the center, as done in the past. Mr. Padia stated that there were no senior meals at the center, only at the Glendale Adult Center. Chair Schiavone commented that the renovations at the center look beautiful and were much needed. c. Information: Volunteer Tree Planting Project With Keep America Beautiful Mr. Padia gave a presentation on the Volunteer Tree Planting Project, which included photos of the event and the following information: • Twenty new trees were planted, and mulch put down near the Glendale Youth Sports Complex on December 11th by eight volunteers. • The project was funded by a $9,000 donation. • The trees planted were Sissou, Mulga Acacia, and Cedar Elm. d. Information: Sahuaro Ranch Orchard Plan Mr. Burke gave a presentation on the Sahuaro Ranch Park Orchard Plan. He displayed and explained a map of the orchard plan prepared by West Coast Arborists (WCA). He provided information on the project, which included the following: • Staff is going before Council tomorrow to present the orchard plan and request approval to move forward. Staff will be asking for a contract amendment with WCA for renovation of the orchard. • The proposal includes: o Removing approximately 130 to 140 dead trees. o Re-grading and preparing the ground for replacing the citrus trees that were removed. o Replanting with 15-gallon citrus trees. • If approved, staff would like to begin the project at the end of January 2022. It will take approximately four weeks to remove the dead citrus trees. Replanting will then be done after frost season. • Staff will work with the Tractor Association to discuss other activities at the orchard, such as a plan to disc the orchard and churn the weeds into the soil and work on a demonstration field at the orchard. Vice Chair McConnell inquired about the budget for the project. Mr. Burke stated that the budget was $95,000, which included a small amount for contingencies. Vice Chair McConnell inquired about the reasoning for only 15-gallon replacement trees. Mr. Burke explained that the major factor was price, however, indicated that other mechanisms for larger trees could be explored. Vice Chair McConnell suggested selling 3 new trees and installing a plaque by the tree commemorating the donor. Mr. Burke stated that trees could eventually die, and the donor would need to be made aware of this. Mr. Burke indicated this suggestion could be explored further. Vice Chair McConnell commented that the last 15-gallon trees that were planted look dead. Mr. Burke surmised this was an issue with irrigation, which was not handled correctly in the past. Mr. Burke stated that the irrigation was now fixed, and he wants to put in a request for additional funds for fertilizer and proper weed control, which will help with the new plantings. Vice Chair McConnell stated that there were still issues with the irrigation and did not agree that the irrigation was fixed. Mr. Burke relayed that the City paid a vendor to fix the irrigation valves. Mr. Burke will follow up with Vice Chair McConnell to conduct a walk-through of the irrigation. e. Information: Trail Enhancements at Thunderbird Conservation Park Mr. Rastedt gave an update on the Trail Enhancement Project at Thunderbird Conservation Park. He announced that the trail work was being done by the American Conservation Experience (ACE) and played a video which described and displayed the trail work. He displayed a map of the trail improvements and the weekly work schedule and locations. He displayed before and after photos of the trail improvements. Chair Schiavone commented on the impressive work being done. Ms. Williams announced that the total project cost was approximately $320,000. 7. Staff Updates Mr. Burke gave the Staff Update, which included the following: • The Heroes Park Lake Project is going very well. There is a valve-turning event this week. The project contract with the vendor concludes at the end of December and the Grand Opening will be held in the middle of January. • Upcoming events in downtown Glendale include Live@Murphy Park Thursdays through Saturdays in February and March, and the Folk and Heritage Festival March 5th and 6th at the Sahuaro Ranch Historic Area. • An architect is being selected for the Trailhead Master Plan. Interviews are scheduled for January. This item will be brought to the Commission and public outreach will be conducted. • Recruitment for lifeguards for next season has begun. • There are three proposed locations for a Mid-City Splash Pad: Sunset Palms Park, Sahuaro Ranch Park, and Sierra Verde Park. Locations were suggested based on a site map of current splash pad locations. 8. Commission Comments and Suggestions Chair Schiavone stated that the Commission receives a lot of information regarding all of the projects in the department. She requested more information on what is going on with the people and programs. Chair Schiavone inquired about any coordination of advertising programs and events with other City departments. She asked if there was a way to advertise all City events in one place instead of each department advertising their own events. Mr. Burke relayed that the departments work together to some degree and conduct cross- promotion. He stated that, for example, the Parks department flyers are placed in the library and the Parks department places flyers from other City departments in the Parks’ facilities. Mr. Burke said that a master list could be explored. Commissioner June commented that she sees City events advertised on social media and also on the flyer that is included in the water bill. 9. Next Meeting 4 The next regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission will be held on January 10, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., in conference room B-3 of the Municipal Office Complex, located at 5850 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, Arizona, 85301. 10. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner June, second by Commissioner Mawby, to adjourn the meeting at 7:08 p.m. Motion carried 4 – 0.