1. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Blethen presided and called the Arroyo Grande Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at 6:36 p.m.

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1 MINUTES CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017, 6:30 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 215 E. BRANCH STREET ARROYO GRANDE, CA CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Blethen presided and called the Arroyo Grande Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. 2. FLAG SALUTE Vice Chair Blethen led the Flag Salute. 3. ROLL CALL Parks and Recreation Commissioners: Commissioner Will Reichardt, Commissioner Jen Jensen, Commissioner Jamie Maraviglia and Vice Chair Shawn Blethen. Commissioner Absent: Staff present: Public Works Director Geoff English, Director of Recreation Services, John Rogers, Incoming Public Works Director, Christopher L. Magdosku and Administrative Secretary Jane Covert-Lannon 4. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS Vice Chair Blethen opened community comments and suggestions. Teresa Walden Contacted Public Works regarding the use of Round Up in one of the City parks in December of She was told that the City had gone through a pest control company for these applications. She stated that there are many other products available to use that are better than Round Up. She said that Round Up is known as a carcinogen and it should not be used where children and pets are. She said that she has a list of products that are effective and safe for use around children and pets. Hearing no further public comment, Vice Chair Blethen closed community comments and suggestions 5. CONSENT AGENDA 5.a. Consideration of Approval of Minutes Action: Commissioner Maraviglia made a motion to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting of March 8, Commissioner Jensen seconded the motion and the minutes were approved on a voice vote as submitted.

2 PAGE 2 6. CONTINUED BUSINESS. 7. NEW BUSINESS 7.a. CONSIDERATION OF AN EXTENSION OF THE AGREEMENT FOR USE OF THE ARROYO GRANDE AND WOMAN S CLUB COMMUNITY CENTER BY THE WOMAN S CLUB OF ARROYO GRANDE. Commission recommend that the City Council develop and approve an updated agreement between the City and the Woman s Club of Arroyo Grande for use of the Arroyo Grande and Woman s Club Community Center. Director of Recreation Services, John Rogers presented the Staff Report to the Commissioners. The group was formed in 1937 as a service group to the community. Throughout the years the Woman s Club has made donations to special events, given out scholarships to graduating seniors and recently has raised and donated $45,000 toward the renovation of the Woman s Club kitchen remodel. In 1979 the Woman s Club entered into an agreement with the City of Arroyo Grande to transfer ownership of the Woman s Club at 211 Vernon Street. There was a sunset clause attached that gave the Woman s Club free use of the community center through Mary Carson Arroyo Grande She is a twelve year member and past president of the Woman s Club. She said that the Woman s Club started the Harvest Festival and continues to participate each year. They also support special events. The Woman s Club has been working for five years to help to bring the kitchen project to fruition. Hearing no further public comment, Vice Chair Blethen closed community comments and suggestions Action: Commissioner Jensen moved to recommend that the City Council develop and approve an updated agreement between the City and Woman s Club of Arroyo Grande through the year Commissioner Maraviglia seconded the motion and the motion passed on the following vote: Jensen, Maraviglia, Reichardt, Blethen

3 PAGE 3 7.b. CONSIDERATION OF TRAIL ADDITION IN THE JAMES WAY OPEN SPACE PRESERVE. Commission recommend approval of the proposed James Way Preserve trail expansion plan to the City Council. Director of Public Works, Geoff English introduced the incoming Director of Public Works, Christopher Magdosku, and presented the Staff Report to the Commissioners. Director English stated that this is an exciting project and after a brief presentation Local Biologist Cindy Cleveland would discuss her environmental assessment and show a slide show of the area. Director English said that the James Way open space preserve is approximately 75 acres of dedicated open space to the City. The trail addition proposed would enable access to areas not available now.. Biologist Cleveland did an environmental review of the proposed addition. Biologist Cleveland gave her presentation. She said that she walks the trails several times per week. She said that the area has the densest population of badgers that she has ever seen. She said the proposed trail is through Oak trees and pristine woodland areas. It is safe and relatively flat with great views. She said the trail will be maintained by volunteers, the Oak trees are protected, the trail will be built with no damage to the roots of trees and the project will not impact wetland areas. The video of the proposed new trail was then shown. It was filmed by drone. Pat McCann Strawberry Avenue -Arroyo Grande. He said that he is an active hiker and loves trails. He said that he has a few questions: 1) why are additional trails needed? 2) After trails are constructed, who is responsible to maintain them? 3) Is the ingress and egress strictly off of James Way? Because there is an unofficial entrance behind K-Mart and homeless people congregate there plus trash is dumped behind K-Mart on private property. Hearing no further public comment, Vice Chair Blethen closed public comment. Director Geoff English answered the questions posed by Mr. McCann. 1) Director English said that extra trails have been requested by the public and the City is responding to the request. Additionally, hiking is in the general plan and is viewed as a healthy activity. Lastly, there are not a lot of opportunities to add hiking trails to the City. 2) Parking and Access The egress and ingress is accessed off of James Way. 3) Project costs The project will be done entirely by Volunteers. 4) City Staff will work on trails, but Volunteers will do the maintenance.

4 PAGE 4 Action: Commissioner Jensen moved to recommend to the Arroyo Grande City Council to approve the proposed James Way Preserve trail expansion. Commissioner Reichardt seconded the motion and the motion passed on the following vote: Jensen, Reichardt, Maraviglia, Blethen 7.c. CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER OF TITLE 12 OF THE ARROYO GRANDE MUNICIPAL CODE (COMMUNITY TREE PROGRAM). Commission recommend approval to the City Council of the proposed Amendments to Chapter of Title 12 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code (Community Tree Program). Director of Public Works, Geoff English presented the Staff Report to the Commissioners. Director English said that the proposed amendments to the Tree Ordinance will allow the City to update the ordinance to reflect current practices and definitions. Additionally, the amendment would allow for more oversight and guidance for tree pruning on development sites. Lastly, Director English said that once the ordinance update has been approved, a mailing should go out to all companies with business licenses doing tree trimming work within Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County. This mailing should include a cover letter and the new requirements so all contractors are notified of the changes. Pat McCann Strawberry Avenue Arroyo Grande Mr. McCann said he received a letter from the City approximately two years ago stating that one of his trees needed to be trimmed because it was hanging over the street. He trimmed it, but never heard any more from the City. Hearing no further public comment, Vice Chair Blethen closed public comment. Director English stated that periodically notices go out to certain neighborhoods asking the residents to trim their trees that are encroaching on the City s right of way. An inspection is then done and if the trees have been trimmed, no further action is taken. Action: Commissioner Jensen made a motion to recommend to the City Council to approve the proposed Amendments to Chapter of Title 12 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code (Community Tree Program). Commissioner Maraviglia seconded the motion and the motion passed on the following vote:

5 PAGE 5 Jensen, Maraviglia, Reichardt, Blethen 7.d. REVIEW OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION BY-LAWS AND ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON. Commission review the Parks and Recreation Commission By-Laws for possible updates and changes. It is further recommended that Commissioners elect a chairperson and vice chairperson for the remainder of Director of Recreation Services, John Rogers presented the Staff Report to the Commissioners. Director Rogers said that the by-laws had not been updated in some time and needed to be updated to reflect current job titles for both the Director of Recreation Services as well as the Director of Public Works. Additionally, Director Rogers said that a member of the public had asked why the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting started at 6:30 P.M. when all of the other City meetings stated at 6:00 P.M. Lastly, Director Rogers said that a new Chairperson and Vice Chairperson needed to be appointed for the remainder of the 2017 year. The Commissioners discussed the time change and decided to keep it at the 6:30 P.M. start time. Hearing no public comment, Vice Chair Blethen closed public comment. Action: Commissioner Jensen made a motion to update the Parks and Recreation Commission By-laws. Commissioner Reichardt seconded the motion and the motion passed on the following vote: Jensen, Reichardt, Maraviglia, Blethen Action: Commissioner Maraviglia made a motion to nominate Vice Chair Blethen to be the Chair of the Commission. Commissioner Reichardt seconded the motion and the motion passed on a voice vote. Action: Commissioner Maraviglia made a motion to nominate Commissioner Jensen as Vice Chair of the Commission. Commissioner Reichardt Seconded the motion and the motion passed on a voice vote.

6 PAGE 6 8. COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS 9. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS 1) Director Rogers said that a person has been appointed for the vacant seat on the Commission. He will be sworn in and start at the next meeting. 2) The Family Tea Party was held on April 8, The event was well attended and a silent auction was very successful. 3) The annual Egg Hunt and the Family Festival is scheduled for April 15, ) The baseball fields are still very wet. Staff believes the water table is very high at one location in particular due to all of the rain this winter. Director Rogers praised the hard work of the Public works Staff for trying to fix the problem. 5) Director Geoff English introduced Ron Simpson, Public Works Supervisor, to discuss the use of Round-Up in City parks. Ron Simpson said that a generic form of Round-Up is used in the parks, with all permits having been obtained. He said that due to the fact that the Public Works staff is small, they cannot stick around to wait until the application is dry to warn park users to stay away from the area. He said that he has purchased flags to be placed in the areas where the applications are that will read Keep off-pesticide use. The flags will then be collected when the applications are dry. He also said that he will look at alternatives for cost and effectiveness. 10. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS Teresa Walden Arroyo Grande She suggested googling alternatives to Round-Up and said she felt the flags would not be effective. 10. ADJOURNMENT Action: Commissioner Maraviglia made a motion to adjourn the meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting and Commissioner Jensen seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m. /s/shawn Blethen, Vice Chair ATTEST: /s/jane Covert-Lannon, Secretary to the Commission (Approved at PRC Mtg )