Sept. 6 Minutes

City of Chandler — Regular Meeting (2022-10-04)

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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD 
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 
September 6, 2022 
 
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL 
Chairman Dykstra called the meeting to order on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at 
5:00 p.m. 
 
a. Roll Call 
 
Members in Attendance: 
Chairman Melanie Dykstra 
Vice-Chairman Tim Johnson 
Boardmember Cenalmar-Bruquetas 
Boardmember Shawn Hsu 
Boardmember Jegadesan Krishnamurthy  
Boardmember James Montgomery 
 
Members Absent:  
Boardmember John David 
 
Staff Members Present: 
John Sefton, Community Services Director 
Mickey Ohland, Community Services Planning Manager 
Jeffrey Larsen, Parks Operations and Maintenance Manager  
Erika Berry, Recreation Superintendent 
Rebecca Kuiper, Recreation Superintendent 
Rosemary Rosales, Sr. Assistant City Attorney  
Victoria Roedig, City Records Management Coordinator 
 
Others Present 
Jane Poston,

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Vice-Chairman Tim Johnson introduced himself and shared his background and 
interest in serving on the Parks and Recreation Board.  
 
Boardmember Cenalmar-Bruquetas introduced herself and shard her 
background and interest in serving on the Parks and Recreation Board. 
 
Chairman Melanie Dykstra introduced herself and shared her background and 
interest in serving on Parks and Recreation Board. 
 
Boardmember Jegadesan Krishnamurthy introduced himself and shared his 
background and interest in serving on the Parks and Recreation Board. 
 
Boardmember James Montgomery introduced himself and shared his 
background and interest in serving on the Parks and Recreation Board.  
 
Boardmember Shawn Hsu introduced himself and shared his background and 
interest in serving on the Parks and Recreation Board.  
 
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 
 
Chairman Dykstra requested approval of the minutes for the May 3, 2022, Parks 
and Recreation Board meeting.  Vice-Chair Johnson made the motion to approve 
the minutes. Boardmember Krishnamurthy seconded the motion with the 
modified changes. 
 
The minutes were approved 6-0 by all Boardmembers present.  
 
3. ACTION ITEMS 
 
a. Recommend Amendments to Chapter 31 Community Services 
 
Mr. John Sefton, Community Services Director included a packet and introduced 
Ms. Rosemary Rosales, Sr. Assistant City Attorney along with Ms. Victoria Roedig, 
City Records Management Coordinator to conducted training on Open Meeting 
Law, Conflicts of Interest and Public Records. Ms. Rosemary Rosales explained 
that 4 years ago Chapter 31 prohibitions were inadvertently changed from civil to 
criminal. The law offices want to change it back to civil offenses. The proposed 
changes made from Legal perspective are to include:  
• Changing the Fireworks definition  
• Adding the Penalty Section, which will make this all civil. It will only be 
criminal if they are habitual offenders

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Mr. John Sefton mentioned that in the next two weeks from tonight if the Board 
would like to add additional feedback, please do. Staff will be reviewing Chapter 
31 as well. We will bring this back in the October’s Meeting. 
 
Chairman Dykstra asked what was the premises behind the 317b, the definition 
of structure? Ms. Rosemary Rosales responded part of the reason this has been 
added is the definition of tent wasn’t inclusive enough, and our new Assistant 
City Manager suggested the new definition, he got it from Washington which is 
where he was originally from.     
 
Boardmember Shawn Hsu asked if the city Community Center or Senior Center 
is considered a Park? Mr. John Sefton responded by defining all Park and 
Facilities.  
 
Boardmember Tim Johnson asked if right now does the Community Services 
Director has the ability to enforce these things? Ms. Rosemary Rosales 
responded that the Community Services Director is handling the permit, 
administrative part of it. The day-to-day enforcement of some of these 
prohibitions are for the Park Rangers and Police Officers. Legal will take a look at 
the language of enforcement.  
 
4. BRIEFING/DISCUSSION 
 
a. Mrs. Erika Berry, Recreation Superintendent, updated the Board on Recreation 
Division Updates, these include: 
• Tumbleweed Recreation expansion Project 
• Tennis Center Locker Room are currently being remolded  
• Summer Programs were very successful with over 1,200 campers in Camp 
Challenge and Youth Camp, and over 1,600 participants in regular classes 
• 63 teens participated in the Leader in Training Program  
• Aquatics had over 146,000 visitors across all the centers and 6,100 
participants in swim lessons 
• First Senior Prom held this summer, over 40 people attended.  
 
Chairman Dykstra asked if at some point the Board could see comparative 
report from last summer to this summer or what changes from last summer to 
this summer. Ms. Erika Berry responded by saying she can have the information 
for next summer, clarifying the comparison would be of summer FY 18/19 and FY 
22/23.  
 
Boardmember Shawn Hsu asked when Tumbleweed would resume to its 
original hours of operation like it was prior to COVID. Ms. Erika Berry responded

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prior to COVID we were already considering reducing the hours to Tumbleweed 
due to the last hour of participation we really were not getting people coming in. 
Same thing with the Community Center and not having people participate in 
classes that last hour. Staff will revisit facility operational hours. 
 
Chairman Dykstra asked to have in the future review of policy outline is for 
fees/charges, cancellations, and understanding how it works across the board. 
Ms. Erka Berry responded we just finished up our fee study, we need to go 
through all of it and that information will be coming to the Board.  
Boardmember Jim Montgomery asked for clarification on how class offerings 
were determined and structured and suggested the structure be changed to be 
more flexible. 
 
b. Mr. Jeffrey Larsen, Parks Operations and Maintenance Manager, updated the 
Board on Parks Maintenance updates, these include: 
• Vacant positions: 7 vacancies, 6 hired.  
• Urban Forester – Started 8/1 
• Storm Damage 
• Paseo Trail Monsoon Storm Damage 
• Volunteer: For Our Park Day  
• Shawnee Dog Park Renovation: Completed 
• Nozomi Dog Park Renovation: Closed 8/22 for 6 weeks 
 
Boardmember Shawn Hsu asked about a leak in the gym at Tumbleweed   
Recreation Center, this was discovered last week due to the monsoons. An email 
was sent to Abel and wanted to know if there was an update. Ms. Erika Berry 
responded that Abel did submit a work request.  
 
Chairman Dykstra asked who does the parking lots to the facilities and pools? 
Mr. John Sefton responded that our team is going in and doing an internal 
assessment, leadership is aware, and this is a project that we are working on with 
Public Works and Buildings and Facilities.    
 
c. Mr. Mickey Ohland, Community Services Planning Manager, updated the Board 
on Park Developments updates, these include: 
• Homestead North Park 
• Tumbleweed Baseball/Softball Complex 
• Snedigar Park – Converting one field to synthetic turf 
• Brooks Crossing Park

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Chairman Dykstra asked if the Board can be included on being invited to the 
next public meeting for Brooks Crossing Park. Mr. Mickey Ohland responded 
that he will make sure that the Board receives invites. 
 
Boardmember Shawn Hsu asked if any assessment has been done on artificial 
turf due to chemicals? Mr. Mickey Ohland responded we have not yet, what we 
are doing is in the next couple of weeks we have meetings with different 
manufacturers, and we will start asking all the questions to determine which 
manufacturer fits our city the best.    
 
5. MEMBER COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS 
 
a. Chairman Dykstra asked Ms. Erika Berry could look at the APRA memberships 
benefits since the Board are all members of the APRA, and this way we know 
that everyone can have access to their benefits. Ms. Erika Berry responded by 
asking if everyone has received an email from APRA and will investigate and 
make sure everyone gets the information.  
 
b. Boardmember Shawn Hsu responded that this meeting was very informative.  
 
6. CALENDAR ITEMS  
 
a. Next meeting will be October 4, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at Tumbleweed Recreation 
Center, Cotton Room North, 745 E. Germann Rd. Chandler, AZ 85286   
 
7. ADJOURNMENT 
 
With no further items, Chairman Dykstra requested a motion to adjourn the 
meeting at 7:16 p.m.  Vice-Chair Johnson made the motion to adjourn the meeting. 
Boardmember Hsu seconded the motion.  
 
The adjournment was approved 6-0 by all Boardmembers present.   
  
 
_________________________________________              _____________________________________ 
Melanie Dykstra, Chairman 
Mickey Ohland, Community 
Services Planning Manager