HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/12/11 - Minutes - Special Joint Min.December 11.2007
CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA
CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
AND PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
A. CALL TO ORDER
A special joint meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council/Redevelopment Agency and Park and
Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, at the Arrow Center (Mission Room)
located at 9791 Arrow Route, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Councilmember Gutierrez called the Park and
Recreation Commission to order at 1:35 p.m. with all members present. The Council was called to order at
1:55 p.m. once a quorum was established.
Present were Councilmembers/Agencymembers: Rex Gutierrez, L. Dennis Michael (arrived at 1:55 p.m.),
Sam Spagnolo, and Mayor Pro TemNice Chairman Diane Williams (arrived at 2:00 p.m.).
Absent was Mayor/Chairman: Donald J. Kurth, M.D.
Present were Commissioners: Martin Dickey, Antonio Karraa, Francisco Oaxaca, Ann Punter and Chairman
Patricia Carlson.
Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager/Executive Director; Tamara Layne, Finance Director; Kevin
McArdle, Community Services Director; Dave Moore Community Services Superintendent; Nettie Nielsen,
Community Services Superintendent; Karen McGuire-Emery, Sr. Park Planner; Francie Palmer, Marketing
Manager; Paula Pachon, Management Analyst III; JoAnn Gwynn, Community Services Supervisor; Michelle
Dazalla, Community Services Coordinator; Melissa Morales, Sr. Administrative Secretary; and Debra J.
Adams, City Clerk/Assistant Secretary.
B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
No communication was made from the public.
C. ITEM(S) OF BUSINESS
C1. DISCUSSION REGARDING FAMILY AQUATICS CENTER
Kevin McArdle, Community Services Director, stated for the last couple of years everyone has been reviewing
material for the Aquatics Center. He commented that on November 26`" a tour of the Aquatics Centers in La
Mirada, Palmdale and Santa Clarita was taken. He informed everyone that just prior to this meeting, staff and
the consultants had met to discuss the proposed Aquatics Center, and now they are asking for input from the
Council and Commission. He referred to the pictures on the wall of the Aquatics Centers at La Mirada,
Palmdale, Santa Clarita and some photos taken by Dave Moore, Community Services Superintendent, at an
aquatics conference.
Robert Meuting, RJM Design Group, asked for the Council and Commission to look at all of the pictures and
put dots on the photos they liked.
Special Joint City Council/Redevelopment Agency and Park and Recreation Commission Meeting
December 1 t, 2007
Page 2
Santa Clarita Aquatics Center Comments
Councilmember/Agencymember Spagnolo stated he liked the snack area with access on both sides. He felt
there should be more area for people to eat. He mentioned the gutter system that La Mirada has and stated
he liked that.
Councilmember/Agencymember Gutierrez stated he likes a larger play area. He stated his dream is to have a
beach area.
Councilmember/Agencymember Michael arrived at 1:55 p.m. Mayor Pro TemNice Chairman Williams arrived
at 2:00 p.m.
Councilmember/Agencymember Spagnolo stated he would like the indoor pool for the senior activities.
Councilmember/Agencymember Michael stated it was sad to see the discoloration of some of the equipment,
and felt it distracted from the product. Randy Mendiorez, Aquatic Design Group, stated this will happen with
more vibrant colored equipment. He suggested using lighter colored equipment where the fading will not be
as noticeable.
Chairman Carlson expressed concerns about life guards and felt safety was important.
Rick Gould, City of Santa Clarita, stated he didn't feel a lot of deck would be a safety issue, and felt the flow
was more important.
Commissioner Dickey stated he likes the life guard area at Santa Clarita and liked the hills for spectator
viewing.
Commissioner Oaxaca liked the zero depth entrance at Santa Clarita as opposed to La Mirada's.
La Mirada Aquatics Center Comments
Councilmember/Agencymember Michael liked the lazy river and other elements it had.
Kevin McArdle, Community Services Director, reminded everyone that the competitive needs will be taken
care of at the high school and college facilities, and that this center is more for recreation.
Mayor Pro TemNice Chairman Williams stated she liked the deck level gutter system. She stated she was
concerned about colored equipment in the Aquatics Center not knowing what the surrounding neighbors would
think as they look into the park.
Councilmember/Agencymember Spagnolo stated he likes the family atmosphere that La Mirada portrayed,
and stated he agreed with Mayor Pro TemNice Chairman Williams on the colors for the equipment.
Councilmember/Agencymember Gutierrez stated he loves La Mirada for obvious reasons.
Commissioner Oaxaca commented on the wrist bands for crowd control and piped in music.
Commissioner Dickey stated he liked the splash area.
Councilmember/Agencymember Michael stated he liked the spa area.
Commissioner Dickey stated he liked the idea of using landscaping to separate areas.
Special Joint City Council/Redevelopment Agency and Park and Recreation Commission Meeting
December 11, 2007
Page 3
Chairman Carlson stated she liked the idea of separating the areas in case you have a "toddler-type" accident
in the tot pool, it could be shut down and not affect all the other areas. She mentioned separating areas by
age groups.
Randy Mendiorez, Aquatice Design Group, stated he agreed and felt there should be separate areas for each
age group.
Commissioner Oaxaca stated he liked the concession/store area in La Mirada.
Palmdale Aquatics Center Comments
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Williams stated she likes the punch bowl effect, but did not think it was right for
Rancho Cucamonga. She wondered if this could be worked into the design somehow.
Councilmember/Agencymember Gutierrez stated he likes this too.
Councilmember/Agencymember Spagnolo felt the south side of the park would be a good place for this.
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Williams stated the staff at Palmdale told her that this is a revenue generator
for them. She felt we need to decide if this park is a revenue generator or just a family park.
Councilmember/Agencymember Gutierrez hoped that the Council would get to see some more drawings that
include this feature.
Councilmember/Agencymember Spagnolo stated he liked the lazy river in Palmdale. He stated the whole idea
is to create a family aquatics center and didn't think people would mind paying a fee to get in as long as there
are sections for all ages.
Councilmember/Agencymember Michael felt there should be some kind of subsidy for those families that
cannot afford the whole amount. He also felt out-of-town visitors should pay a higher fee.
Councilmember/Agencymember Gutierrez stated he was thinking of $5.00 for residents and $10.00 for
nonresidents.
Randy Mendiorez, Aquatic Design Group, stated in same cases residents object to paying fees and felt the
price shouldn't be set so high people don't come. He felt the price should be set like a movie ticket is. He
stated someone can pay the price and enjoy the facility all day.
Councilmember/Agencymember Michael felt it should be revenue neutral.
Randy Mendiorez, Aquatic Design Group, felt if the tickets are in the $6 - $10.00 range, people would get a
great value and will keep coming back.
Commissioner Karraa agreed. He stated he didn't think Palmdale's colors were as faded as some of the
others. He also thought it was interesting that Palmdale was only open a few months out of the year.
Kevin McArdle, Community Services Director, stated that is why they are looking at the indoor option.
Councilmember/Agencymember Michael felt it should be open year round except for the months of January -
March.
Kevin McArdle, Community Services Director, stated Memorial Day to Labor Day is the peak time.
Councilmember/Agencymember Spagnolo felt possibly the off season could be used for rentals of the facility
Special Joint City Council/Redevelopment Agency and Park and Recreation Commission Meeting
December 11, 2007
Page 4
Chairman Carlson stated she was concerned about the wind factor with the Devil's Bowl. She stated she is
concerned about the height of things. She stated the teens from 13 and above like to have an area for
socializing. She pointed out that the schools are probably going to start the second week in August.
Commissioner Dickey felt Palmdale was the least favorite for him because ii was like Raging Waters with too
much concrete and not enough grass. He didn't feel it was a relaxing atmosphere.
Commissioner Oaxaca commented on trees being planted too close to the water creating more maintenance
to keep the water clean. He also mentioned the use of file and hoped something besides that could be used.
Randy Mendiorez, Aquatic Design Group, stated they would normally use pool plaster which he said has to
have water covering it all the time.
Commissioner Oaxaca stated he liked the lighting of the park at night, but didn't know if we could do that at our
facility.
Councilmember/Agencymember Michael stated he liked the shower facilities at La Mirada, but felt we could
save money by having more outdoor shower facilities.
Randy Mendiorez, Aquatic Design Group, stated the shower requirements are driven by State codes.
Chairman Carlson stated she liked the outdoor showers for safety reasons. She stated she also likes the
lockers outside. She felt night use would be very beneficial and used a lot by people.
Mayor Pro TemNice Chairman Williams felt it would be good to have a grassy area around the Aquatics
Center where people can set around it and enjoy watching the activities going on inside. She felt it would be
good to have some element on the outside that people could also enjoy.
Kevin McArdle, Community Services Director, mentioned the indoor pool, a recreation pool and an outdoor
pool with slides are currently planned. He also informed the Council/Agency about the Flow Rider since
previous comments had been made about a lazy river element.
Mayor Pro TemNice Chairman Williams felt this would be popular all year round in Rancho Cucamonga.
Kevin McArdle, Community Services Director, stated an additional fee could be established for people that
wanted to use the Flow Rider.
Randy Mendiorez, Aquatic Design Group, stated possibly the Flow Rider could be put in and the outdoor pool
possibly reduced in size.
The Council liked this idea.
Commissioner Oaxaca asked if the Flow Rider requires a lot of maintenance.
Randy Mendiorez, Aquatic Design Group, stated there might be some maintenance involved because of the
surface material, but that it should last for 10 - 15 years.
Kevin McArdle, Community Services Director, stated if they do away with the outdoor pool, they would
increase the size of the indoor pool. He stated we still want to continue with some of our programs by using
the school districts' swimming facilities.
Jack Lam, City Manager/Executive Director, felt long term maintenance should also be looked at.
Mayor Pro TemNice Chairman Williams felt it was important not to copy neighboring cities and felt the Flow
Rider is just what we need.
The Council discussed the financial feasibility of the bowl that Palmdale has
Special Joint City Council/Redevelopment Agency and Park and Recreation Commission Meeting
December 11, 2007
Page 5
Robert Meuting, RJM Design Group, stated they develop concepts with and without the bowl.
Chairman Carlson felt year-round passes should be considered like some of the other water parks offer.
Councilmember/Agencymember Michael asked what the time frame was for completion of this.
Jack Lam, City Manager/Executive Director, stated it would probably take about three years total.
Chairman Carlson mentioned the idea of shifts for people using this facility.
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Williams asked if there was a theme for the Aquatics Center. She wasn't sure
if we even needed a theme.
Chairman Carlson felt it should be flexible.
Councilmember/Agencymember Michael felt the design was more important than a theme to him.
D. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m.
Respectfully m//i~~~ted,
C~.
ebra J. A s, CMC
City Clerk/ sistant Secretary
Approved by Park and Recreation Commission: January 17, 2008
Approved by City Council: January 16, 2008