PRAC Minutes 4.10.23

City of Glendale — Regular Meeting (2023-05-08)

View PDF Item a Meeting page

Extracted text (via pymupdf) 7108 characters
1 
 
   DRAFT MINUTES 
City of Glendale 
Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting 
Sahuaro Ranch Park Historic Area 
Fruit Packing Shed 
Glendale, Arizona 85302 
Monday, April 10, 2023 
6:00 P.M. 
 
PRESENT: 
Reginald Martinez, Jr., Chair  
 
Helena Johnson-Bodine, Vice Chair 
 
Marie Nesfield, Commissioner 
 
Kathleen Roe, Commissioner 
 
Bud Zomok, Commissioner 
 
Joseph Jarrett, Teen Commissioner (arrived during agenda item 5) 
 
ABSENT: 
Kathryn Mawby, Commissioner 
 
 
ALSO PRESENT: 
Jim Burke, Director   
 
John Kennedy, Assistant Director 
 
 
Heidi Barriga, Deputy Director 
 
Manuel Padia, Jr., Senior Recreation Coordinator 
 
Aaron Crow, Recreation Coordinator 
 
Isabelle Flores, Recreation Coordinator 
 
Diane Williams, Program Manager 
 
 
1.   Call to Order  
Chair Martinez called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  
  
2.  Roll Call 
Chair Martinez conducted roll call.   
 
3.  Citizen Comments  
None. 
 
4.  Approval of the Minutes 
Motion by Commissioner Zomok, second by Vice Chair Johnson-Bodine, to approve the March 13, 2023 
Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting minutes as written. Motion carried 5 – 0. 
[Commissioner Jarrett was not yet present.] 
   
5.  New Staff Introductions 
Mr. Padia introduced Mr. Crow and Ms. Flores, the new Recreation Coordinators.   
 
6.  New Business 
 
a.  Information:  Commission Reports 
[Commissioner Jarrett entered the meeting during the agenda item.] 
 
Commissioner Nesfield reported she was at Desert Rose Park last week and reported the sand at the playground 
needed to be raked and cleaned of debris.

2 
 
Chair Martinez said the new kid’s jungle gym at Sunnyside Park looked great.   
 
Commissioner Roe reported that she attended the Fiesta Bowl Field dedication at O’Neil Park. She said there 
were a lot of kids in attendance, giveaway bags, and the sod looked beautiful.  She said the Mayor spoke at the 
event and he was very appreciative of the gift that was given to the city.    
 
b. Information: Update of Recreation Spring and Summer Programming 
Mr. Kennedy gave an update on Recreation Spring and Summer Programming, which included the following 
information: 
• Spring Programs 
o Peacock Strut: Wednesday, April 12, at Sahuaro Ranch Park  
o Hook a Kid on Fishing: Saturday, April 22, at Bonsall Park 
o Crafty Kids – Earth Day: Saturday, April 22, Thunderbird Conservation Park    
o National Arbor Day: Friday, April 28, Rose Lane Park, with Glenn F. Burton Elementary   
• Summer Programs 
o Foothills 360 Summer Camp: June 5 through July 28, Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center 
o Free Summer Programs: Monday through Friday Drop-In Program: Glendale Community 
Center, Rose Lane and O’Neil Community Centers 
o Daddy-Daughter Dance 
• Recreation Summer Leagues 
o Junior Racquetball Summer League 
o Poker Leagues 
• Aquatics Programs: June 6 – July 29 
o Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center and Rose Lane Aquatics Center 
o Swim Lessons, Dive Lessons, Water Aerobics, Open Swim, Volunteer Junior Lifeguard Program 
 
c.  Information: Update on the Three Community Centers    
Ms. Barriga gave a detailed presentation on the improvements underway at Glendale’s three Community 
Centers. 
• Glendale Community Center: Estimated construction completion date is June 30, 2023.  
• O’Neil Community Center: Estimated construction completion date is April 17, 2023.  
• Rose Community Center: Estimated construction completion date is April 20, 2023.   
 
Mr. Burke explained Council approved funding for the construction at the Community Centers.  He said federal 
grant funds will be received to bring fiber to the buildings, which will result in updated technology.   
 
Commissioner Jarrett asked when the Centers would be fully open and operational.  Mr. Burke said the Centers 
would be opened this summer for traditional programming. Mr. Burke said it might take longer for the fiber 
connections, depending on timing of the grant funding, however, the Centers could be open without the fiber.   
 
d.  Information: CIP and Operating Budget Update 
Mr. Burke announced Ms. Barriga was the new Parks and Recreation Deputy Director.   
 
Mr. Burke provided information on the CIP and Budget, which included information on the following: 
• Budget Calendar Dates 
• CIP Budget for FY2024 
o $10,166,937 in funding 
o 16 Projects Scheduled 
• Operating Budget for FY2024

3 
 
o $1,326,000 in Budget Supplementals Requested 
• Seven new staff positions are included in the new budget.  
 
e.  Information: Update on Paseo Tennis Center / Sports Complex Lighting Projects 
Ms. Barriga displayed an aerial overview of the Paseo Tennis Center and Sports Complex, with the before and 
after impact of the upgrades to the lighting.  She relayed the following: 
• Lighting upgrades were done at the Tennis Center, Paseo Sports Field, and the parking lot. 
• New lighting was done at the monument and walkways.  
• There is no bleed-over into the neighborhoods from the new lighting.  
• The project was completed last week. 
• There have been favorable comments on social media regarding the project.   
 
Mr. Burke said the new lighting technology was easier to control remotely and was a more efficient use of 
electricity.  He said the City received a $25,000 credit from APS due to the project.  He said the new lighting 
enhanced safety and security as well and announced the goal of similar lighting projects at all ninety parks 
eventually.   
 
7.  Staff Updates 
Mr. Burke shared information on the following: 
• Arbor Day Event: Friday, April 28, 9:00 a.m., at Rose Lane Park. This is the 28th year Glendale is a Tree 
City USA.  The Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with the Transportation Department and 
Water Services on the event. The Glendale Women’s Club will provide water and a snack for the 
children.   
• Glendale University: April 19 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center  
 
Ms. Barriga said a Racquetball Court Survey was being conducted, most specifically regarding the courts at 
Bonsall Park.  The survey will be open until April 24th.   
 
Mr. Burke said there was an opportunity to develop Bonsall Park, according to the Master Plan, however, the 
location of the racquetball courts was a challenge. He said the intent of the survey was to find out if the public 
really wanted to keep the racquetball courts at Bonsall Park.  
 
8.  Commission Comments and Suggestions  
Commissioner Zomok announced the Glendale Independent had an article on Arbor Day, in which it said 
Glendale was going to plant 60 new trees and currently has $47 million worth of trees.  He suggested promoting 
this information on the City’s website.  
    
9.  Next Meeting 
The next regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission will be held on Monday, May 8, 
2023, at 6:00 p.m., at the Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center, 5600 W. Union Hills Dr., Glendale, Arizona, 
85308. 
 
10. Adjournment  
Motion by Commissioner Roe, second by Vice Chair Johnson-Bodine, to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 
p.m.  Motion carried 6 – 0.