[00:00:02]
I'M GONNA CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 9:07 AM UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I AM THE VICE CHAIR FOR THE COMMISSION.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2024 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DIRECTOR.
DENNIS, CAN YOU PLEASE DO THE ROLL CALL? I WILL.
SO, COMMISSIONER OR CHAIR REDFIELD IS EXCUSED, YOU KNOW THAT.
UH, WE DO KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ WAS EXCUSED AHEAD AT THE TIME.
UH, COMMISSIONER HIGA HERE, AND WE DO KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON, THIS IS UNUSUAL.
WE NEVER REALLY HAD TO WORRY ABOUT QUORUM, BUT WE DID HEAR THAT COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON, UH, IS EXCUSED.
AND THEN COMMISSIONER SHE HERE.
SO WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, THANKFULLY.
AND FOR THE RECORD, UM, I, I HAVE TO SAY THIS FOR THE RECORD, COMMISSIONERS, REDFIELD CHAVEZ AND LIVINGSTON ARE EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING.
ARE THERE OBJECTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON.
SO EVERYONE PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE.
OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA OF COURSE START OFF WITH PRESENTATIONS AND AN EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
SO I THINK EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
USUALLY I, I JUST PUT THE CONTEXT IN PLACE, BUT EVERY MONTH, UM, WE ARE ABLE TO BRING ONE OF OUR STELLAR, UH, TEAM MEMBERS WHO'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AND RECOGNIZED AS OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
SO THIS MORNING WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AS OUR PRESENTATION.
AND ANDREA, WHICH IS ANDREA, UH, REPRESENTING OUR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION COMMITTEE, IS GOING TO SET THE STAGE FOR THE PRESENTATION AND RECOGNITION.
UM, I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR TO REPRESENT ERC TODAY.
UM, JOY CANNOT BE HERE TODAY, SO, UM, I CANNOT DO JUSTICE OF WHAT THIS PERSON HAS DONE, UM, AND SPEAK ABOUT.
SO I'D ACTUALLY HAVE TO CALL IT MELANIE TO COME TALK ABOUT THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY.
SO I AM SO EXCITED THAT WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR CHRIS HAWKS.
UM, GOT, HE'S GOT ONLY SEVEN NAMES.
HE'S OUR, OUR DOG TRAINER EXTRAORDINAIRE.
UH, AND JUST TO PUT IN SOME CONTEXT JUST ABOUT WHAT DAY TO DAY LIFE LOOKS LIKE AT THE SHELTER RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE NATION.
OUR FIELD OF ANIMAL WELFARE HAS SOME REAL CHALLENGES WITH MOVING OUT LARGE DOGS UN KIND OF UNPRECEDENTED.
NOW, POST COVID TIMES, THAT MEANS THAT AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT WE HAVE 120 DOGS IN OUR KENNELS.
VERY RARELY DO WE HAVE AN EMPTY KENNEL.
AND THE SECOND THERE IS ONE, THERE'S ANOTHER DOG COMING IN OUR DOOR YOU CAN OFTEN SEE.
ACTUALLY, EVERY DAY I CALL HIM THE FLASH, HE'S LIKE IN FRONT OF ME AND IT WAS GONE.
AND HE'S WALKING AROUND WITH HIS INVENTORY LIST IN HIS BACK POCKET.
HE KNOWS EVERY SINGLE DOG IN OUR CARE.
AND I AM NOT EXAGGERATING IF THAT DOG HAS BEEN THERE A DAY OR A YEAR.
HE KNOWS WHAT THEY NEED, RIGHT? WE AS A SHELTER HAVE A CHOICE.
WE CAN BE A PLACE AND A SHELTER THAT JUST FEEDS AND WATERS AND EXERCISE AND CLEANS UP AFTER ANIMALS.
OR WE CAN BE A SHELTER THAT REALLY CARES ABOUT OUR DOGS, GETS THEM OUT, PROVIDES ENRICHMENT TRAINING, FIDO, FIELD TRIPS, TRAINING VOLUNTEERS, ALL OF THIS FOR 120 DOGS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
HE IS OUR RESCUE COORDINATOR, SO HE'S ALWAYS TRYING TO CONTACT MULTIPLE RESCUES ON OUR LIST TO GET THEM TO COME PULL DOGS FROM US SO WE CAN MAKE SPACE TO HELP MORE OF THE COMMUNITY.
HE HAS A HAND IN ADOPTIONS, MAKING SURE THAT SOME OF OUR MORE CHALLENGING DOGS ARE MATCHED WITH THE CORRECT ADOPTERS SO THAT THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL IN THE HOMES.
YOU CAN SEE HIM EVERY DAY DOING PLAY GROUPS, WHICH MEANS GETTING DOGS OUT, FIGURING OUT WHICH DOG GETS ALONG WITH THE OTHER DOG SO THAT THEY HAVE SOME JOY IN THEIR LIFE INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING IN A KENNEL.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE LEVELS FROM BEGINNING TO BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
HE'S TRAINING EVERY VOLUNTEER ON WHICH CAN DO WHAT AND WHICH DOG NEEDS WHAT.
I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE HE'S DOING TETRIS OF DOGS AT ALL TIMES,
BUT OUR DOG LIFESAVING RATE HOVERS BETWEEN 94 AND 95%.
THAT MEANS THAT OUR LIVE OUTCOME RATE IS THAT
[00:05:01]
HIGH.THAT IS INCREDIBLE FOR A MUNICIPAL SHELTER.
AND I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THE ABSOLUTE ROLE THAT CHRIS HAWS HAS IN THIS, UH, HIS UNBRIDLED PASSION RADIATES THROUGH OUR TEAM.
IT RADIATES THROUGH OUR VOLUNTEERS, AND I JUST FEEL SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM AS PART OF OUR TEAM.
I JUST WANNA SAY I WAS GONNA TEAR UP.
I'M SO, UH, PASSIONATE, BUT IT'S NOT ONLY PLEASURE TO BE NOMINATED WITHIN THE ENTIRE PARKS AND REC GENERATION, BUT TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF, UH, RECOGNITION NOT ONLY WITH OUR DIRECTOR, BUT WITH STAFF IS JUST, IT'S AN HONOR.
THAT'S ALL I COULD REALLY SAY.
THAT WAS A VERY EMOTIONALLY HARD SPEECH AND TOUCH.
SO, UM, YOU WANNA DO BACK, I THINK OUR COMMISSIONERS KNOW THAT ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF OUR OH C IS THAT THEY COME UP WITH A CREATIVE WAY TO SURPRISE THE, THE HONOREE.
SO YESTERDAY, UM, AS CHRIS WAS LURED INTO EDUCATION, EVERYONE, EVERYONE WANTS TO BE LIKE CHRIS.
WE HAVE A PICTURE FROM YESTERDAY AND IT'S SO GOOD.
IT WAS ACTUALLY FUNNY WHEN WE DID, WE DID A TEAM PICTURE.
IT LOOKED LIKE WE HAD TWICE AS MANY STAFF
HOW MANY DOGS DO YOU HAVE? UH, TWO RIGHT NOW.
I'LL TAKE SOME FROM THE SHELTER.
HONESTLY, THERE'S A LITTLE GLARE.
1, 2, 3, AND SAY CHEESE, CHEESE, CHEESE.
THERE GOES OUR AUDIENCE
YOU GUYS DO, YOU'RE JUST AS IMPORTANT.
SO NOW WE'LL GO TO THE AGENDA ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE OF COURSE IS, UM, AGENDA ITEM TWO FOUR DASH 5 5 4 4 5.
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17TH.
UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? HEARING? HEARING NONE.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN AND IF SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SCHOEN.
UM, OUR NEXT ONE IS ITEM NUMBER TWO FOUR DASH 5 5 4 4 6.
RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO PERMIT NUMBER 2 8 2 4 6.
WITH BRIDGE ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE PERMIT FOR TENNIS INSTRUCTION IN DEPARTMENT OF RECS, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE CONTRACT CLASSES UNTIL AUGUST 31ST, 2025 OR UNTIL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PR DASH 25 DASH 512 IS AWARDED AND A NEW PERMIT IS AUTHORIZED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION, UNLESS SOON SOONER TERMINATED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? I COULD PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION.
UH, SO MY NAME'S COOPER BRIDGE.
THIS IS MY SECOND MEETING THAT I'VE ATTENDED.
UM, I AM WITH, UH, BRIDGE ENTERPRISES.
SO WE OPERATE AS, UH, BTG TENNIS, WHICH IS NOW BTG TENNIS AND BALL, UM, PICKLE.
BUT WE MANAGE EL DORADO AND WE MANAGE BILLIE JEAN KING, UH, NEXT WILSON HIGH SCHOOL OVER THERE, UM, PARKS AND REC 2024.
[00:10:01]
OUR TENNIS CLASSES ARE WRAPPING UP.SO LAST CLASSES ARE ACTUALLY THIS FRIDAY.
UH, THAT'LL CONCLUDE THE 2024, UM, PNR SEASON FOR US, WHICH IS EXCITING.
UM, THIS SEASON ALONE, WE SAW 422 STUDENTS ACROSS 61 CLASSES, UM, AT SEVEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN THE CITY.
SO OUR TWO FACILITIES INCLUDED, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL FIVE PARKS.
UM, THE WINTER IS PROMISING TO BE HOPEFULLY JUST AS BIG.
I THINK WE'RE ADDING FIVE CLASSES, SO 61 WILL GO UP TO 66.
UH, WE'RE ALSO ADDING PICKLEBALL PARKS AND REC PICKLEBALL CLASSES.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEMAND FOR THAT AND JUST KIND OF NAVIGATING AT THE LAST COUPLE SEASONS HAS BEEN, UM, IT'S PROVEN TO BE PRETTY SUCCESSFUL.
SO WE'RE STARTING WITH FOUR CLASSES.
UM, WE'RE GONNA KEEP 'EM IN OUR TWO FACILITIES JUST TO MAKE SURE WE CAN REALLY CONTROL 'EM.
AND THEN, UM, I JUST SUBMITTED SPRING FOR 2025 AS WELL TO THE DEPARTMENT.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ADDING A SECOND PICKLEBALL INSTRUCTOR.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE EVEN MORE PICKLEBALL CLASSES, UH, COME SPRING 2025.
PLEASE LEMME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
SO WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HIA AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SCHOEN.
OPPOSED? THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
SO WE'LL ROLL INTO NUMBER THREE.
UM, 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T, DID I TYPICALLY DO PARDON LESS? NO, I SAY THAT.
DID I MISS SOMETHING? YOU LET NO, THAT WAS FINE.
IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
'CAUSE THERE WAS INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKET.
BUT YEAH, IF YOU NEEDED SHE, OH, I'M SORRY.
DID YOU ALL WANT AN OVERVIEW? IT WAS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
YEAH, WE ALWAYS ARE ON THE READY IF YOU DO WANT A PRESENTATION, SO, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN REWIND.
ACTUALLY, I THINK COOPER COOPER'S CONTEXT OF CONTRACT CLASSES, THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.
IT WAS, AND, AND JUST A FORECAST OF THEIR EXPANSION, WHICH INCLUDES THE OTHER ASPECT OF THE TENNIS CENTER WOULD BE A REALLY GREAT THING.
SO WE APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION SUPPORT OF, UM, OR SUPPORTING THIS.
SO COOPER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
SO NOW WE'LL GO ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS 24 DASH 5 5 4 4 7.
RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE DIRECTOR'S MONTHLY HIGHLIGHT REPORT.
WE CREATE COMMUNITY AND DIRECTOR'S HIGHLIGHTS FOR NOVEMBER, 2024.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALL RIGHTY, DIRECTOR DENNIS.
YEAH, AS ALWAYS, I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
'CAUSE SO MUCH HAPPENS IN THE COURSE OF, UH, TIME HERE IN OUR DEPARTMENT BETWEEN WHEN I POST THE DIRECTOR'S HIGHLIGHTS AND WHEN WE COME TOGETHER THIS MEETING.
SO THIS PAST WEEKEND WAS PROBABLY THE BEST ILLUSTRATION OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT OUR TEAM PRESENTS TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO IN EL DORADO PARK REGIONAL, WE HAD OVER 300 YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ENJOYED THE SPORT OF FISHING.
A LOT OF 'EM FOR THEIR FIRST TIME EVER.
HAD A LOT OF GREAT COMMUNITY RESOURCE PARTNERS THERE.
UM, BUT, UH, IT JUST REALLY ACTIVATED, ACTIVATED THE PARK AND BROUGHT GREAT JOY TO YOUNG KIDS.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN JUST ACROSS THE STREET OVER AT OUR NATURE CENTER, UH, FOLLOWING THE REALLY FUN HALLOWEEN EVENT, WHICH WAS JUST AMAZING.
UM, AND I DO WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO MEGAN O'NEILL.
SHE OVERSEES THE PARK AND THEN ALL THE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.
UH, BUT WE, UH, HAD A REALLY GREAT TURNOUT FOR THAT EVENT.
UH, LOTS OF COSTUME, UH, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WAS FUN.
BUT ALSO, UM, I THINK TODAY DOES END OUR NATIVE PLANT SALE THAT'S BEEN REALLY, UH, WELL SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S BEEN, I THINK, A REAL POPULAR TRADITION FOR OUR GREEN SUMMERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, SO THAT, THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING.
AND THEN, UM, COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES HAD, UH, A REALLY GREAT JOB FAIR AT MARTIN LUTHER LUTHER KING PARK ON SATURDAY ALSO.
AND THEN IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, AND OF COURSE THE ANIMAL CARE TEAM LEFT ALREADY, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR ADOPTION WAGON.
SO THEY WERE OVER AT PET SUPPLIES PLUS ALSO ON SATURDAY, UM, UH, WITH THE ADOPTION WAGON AND LOTS OF REALLY ADORABLE FREE FRIENDS.
AND WE'RE REALLY FORTUNATE THAT COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO FIND FOREVER HOMES
[00:15:01]
FOR A LOT OF THOSE.AND THEN ON TUESDAY NIGHT THIS WEEK, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON DID HIS WALKABOUT IN SUEY CHAMBERS WITH PARIS, WHO'S, UH, AGAIN, AN ADORABLE KIND OF GOLDEN COLOR PIT BULL.
HOPEFULLY SHE'LL FIND A HOME THIS WEEK TOO.
BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY A GREAT MONTH.
UM, I DO WANT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT.
WE DID THIS PAST MONTH, UH, I THINK IT STARTED ON NOVEMBER 4TH, BUT WE DID SOME REALIGNMENT IN OUR, UH, ORGANIZATION.
WE BROUGHT, UM, ALL OF OUR TEAM FROM PARK PLANNING PARTNERSHIPS, UH, REALIGNED THEM OVER UNDER, UH, STEVE'S BUREAU BUSINESS OPS.
UH, AND I DO, THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS WE DID HAVE SOME CHALLENGES FINDING, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT LEADER FOR THAT.
YOUR, UH, UH, AND THEN REALIGNING IT.
UM, I DO WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO BEATTY.
SHE HAS BEEN SERVING AS OUR INTERIM, OUR INTERIM, UM, INTERIM MANAGER.
UM, SO SHE'S RETURNING TO HER IMPORTANT ROLE AS, AS OUR PARTNERSHIP OFFICER.
UH, SHE ATTENDED THE PARTNERS OF PARKS BOARD MEETING WITH ME ON MONDAY NIGHT THIS WEEK.
AND SHE'LL BE A REGULAR WITH ME AT, AT THEIR BOARD MEETINGS.
UH, BUT ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER SUPPORTED US, UH, RE REPURPOSING THE BUREAU MANAGER POSITION TO, I THINK IS GONNA BE MORE HELPFUL FOR US.
SO WE DO HAVE, UH, POSTED, I'M NOT SURE WHEN IT CLOSES.
MAYBE TOMORROW, RIGHT? YEAH, TOMORROW AS A PARK DEVELOPMENT OFFICER.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT PROFESSIONAL STAFF PERSON THAT THEIR FORTE IS ALL ABOUT PARK PLANNING, STRATEGIC PLANNING, AND ALL THE NUANCES IN ADVANCING PROJECTS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SO THAT'LL REALLY HELP SHORE UP THAT PART OF OUR TEAM.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, IF YOU RECALL DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS A LOT OF LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT MONEY THAT FUNDED MANY IMPORTANT POSITIONS AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND AS THOSE POSITIONS WERE, UM, BASICALLY COMING TO A CLOSE, THE CITY TEAM WAS REALLY LOOKING, UH, VERY STRATEGICALLY ON WHERE THERE COULD BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO, UH, BENEFIT, UM, POSITIONS IN NEED ACROSS THE CITY.
SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT, UM, ONE OF THE GRANT WRITERS AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS GONNA BE OUR NEW AAA.
UM, ALEX, I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS LAST NAME.
ALEX ESCOVEDO WILL BE JOINING US SOON AS OUR GRANTS WRITER.
UH, AND I, I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR THAT.
'CAUSE AS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS ARE VERY GRANT FUNDED RELIANT.
SO, UM, WE'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS REALIGNMENT, UH, WE'RE GONNA COME OUT OF EVEN STRONGER AND BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENT.
UM, HE'S BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THE TRANSITION.
UH, WE DID SPEND A LOT OF TIME INDIVIDUALLY WITH ALL OF OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THEIR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AREN'T CHANGING.
UM, ACTUALLY IT'S NOT A STEP BACK, BUT ALL OF THESE POSITIONS WERE, UM, PRE IN PREVIOUS YEARS, HOW IN BUSINESS OPS.
SO JUST I THINK A SMART REALIGNMENT.
SO I WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, THERE MIGHT BE A EMPTY SEAT HERE IN THE FUTURE.
NO, WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, MEREDITH REYNOLDS USED TO OCCUPY NANCY MASON.
AND THEN AGAIN, THANKFULLY FOR HER INNER RECOVERY, SHE'S BEEN DOING A REALLY GREAT JOB.
SO I KNOW SHE'S ANXIOUS TO, UH, WELCOME THE PARTNERSHIPS.
UH, I'M STARTING THE, UH, PARTNER DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, 'CAUSE THOSE TWO OFFICER POSITIONS WILL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER.
THE LAST THING THAT I DO WANT TO SAY IS, UM, UH, DECEMBER 10TH WILL BE THE LAST MEETING FOR DISTRICT EIGHT COUNCILMAN AL AUSTIN.
AND, YOU KNOW, HIS 12 YEARS, UM, I THINK HAVE REALLY BEEN HIGHLIGHTED RECENTLY WITH SOME IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAVE ADVANCED.
SO WE DID, UH, CELEBRATE THE DAVENPORT PARK ENHANCEMENTS.
THAT PARK NOW IS ABOUT DOUBLE IN SIZE.
IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL NATURAL TURF SPORTS FACILITY, UH, SPORTS FIELD, UH, WHICH IS A CIRCLE BY A WALKING FITNESS TRAIL WITH, UH, OUTDOOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT.
UM, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE BLEACHERS FOR SPORTS EVENTS.
AND THEN THE PROJECT'S NOT QUITE FINISHED.
THERE'S GONNA BE A FULL COURT BASKETBALL COURT ADDED HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN ON TUESDAY NIGHT, AND AGAIN, I'LL GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SHER, SHE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB PRESENTING THE NEW VISION PLAN FOR SHEAR PARK.
AND AGAIN, IN COUNCIL DISTRICT A THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART, BUT IT ALSO ILLUSTRATED HOW GREAT A JOB OUR DEPARTMENT DOES WITH THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT AND WORKSHOPS.
AND THAT NEW VISION PLAN FOR SHEAR PARK TRULY REFLECTS WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO SEE AND BECOME IN THE FUTURE.
UH, THE ONE THING THAT, UM, IS ALWAYS THE CHALLENGE, IT'S GOT ABOUT A $35 MILLION BUDGET TO BUILD IT OUT AS PROPOSED, BUT IT DOES EASILY KIND OF COME INTO PHASES.
SO, UH, THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE NEW CHALLENGES FOR OUR GRANTS WRITER AND OUR PARTNER DEVELOPMENT OFFICER TO TRY TO NAVIGATE OUR WAY TOWARDS ACCOMPLISHING THAT
[00:20:01]
VISION.UM, AND THEN I'LL SAY ON A POSITIVE NOTE, UM, WE DID AFTER THIS MEETING, HAVE THE BEST INTENTIONS TO DO OUR ANNUAL READING OF THE NAMES THAT OUR MEMORIAL TREE JUST OUT FRONT IN GOOD NEIGHBOR PARK, BUT FOR A VARIETY OF PERSONAL REASONS, UM, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT, UH, WERE GONNA BE RECOGNIZED OF THE FAMILIES OR THE COWORKERS THAT HAD LIFTED THEM UP INITIALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UH, FOUND THAT IT, IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE MEANINGFUL TO HAVE IT AS A SMALLER, MORE FAMILY TYPE MEMORIAL.
SO WE DID CANCEL IT, BUT, UM, IT STILL STANDS AS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF A LOT OF THE STAFF MEMBERS AND BELOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE SUPPORTED OUR DEPARTMENT OR OUR TEAM OVER THE YEARS.
UH, BUT WE AREN'T GONNA DO THAT AFTER THIS, THIS MEETING.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I JUST WANT TO PAUSE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOVEMBER, WHILE IT'S BUSY, WE CELEBRATED VETERANS DAY INTO THE PARADE AND, AND OUR VET'S MEMORIAL IN HOWTON PARK.
UM, BUT IT ALSO CAUSES US TO JUST THINK HOW THANKFUL WE ARE FOR EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GREAT DEPARTMENT TEAM, LOTS OF GREAT VOLUNTEERS, AS ALL OF YOU ARE.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR CARING ADVOCACY FOR EVERYTHING OUR DEPARTMENT STANDS FOR HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
UM, SO WE HAD A MOTION BY COMM, UM, BY COMMISSIONER HIA AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
UH, NO OPPOSED? THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND NOW WE'LL ROLL INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE
WELL, WE DO APPRECIATE OUR TENNIS FRIENDS SHOWING UP, SO YEAH.
SO WHY DON'T WE ROLL INTO STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND, UH, WE WILL START WITH GLADYS.
UM, BRETT HIGHLIGHTED A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES.
UM, OUR TEAM IS VERY, VERY BIGGIE, BIG BIGGIE, BIG
UM, THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONERS WHO CAME OUT AND SUPPORTED OUR EVENTS.
IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO STAFF TO SEE YOU THERE BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY, IT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS IN MORNING COMMISSION.
UM, A LOT OF TRICK OR TREATERS, A LOT OF FISHERS, UH, FISH, FUTURE FISHERMEN.
UM, AND OUR JOB FAIR WAS VERY, VERY, UM, UH, SUCCESSFUL THAT WE HAD.
NOT ONLY DID WE ATTEND THE ONE AT LBCC, BUT IT CARRIED ON OVER INTO ANOTHER ONE INTO OUR PARKS.
AND THEN WE'RE GETTING READY FOR ONE ON DECEMBER 10TH.
UM, ALL CONSTANTLY GROWING OUR TEAM AND SHARING OUR MESSAGING AND HOW THEY CAN BE A PART OF OUR TEAM.
UM, AND SOMETIMES IT'S MOUNT EVEN IN THE ROLE OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND MARINE, BUT IT OPENS THE DOOR TO OTHER CITY JOBS.
SO WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT.
UM, AND YES, THE JOB FAIR MEANS WE'RE GETTING READY FOR SUMMER.
UM, AS SUPER MENTIONED, WE ARE ALREADY TURNING IN OUR INFORMATION FOR SPRING, FOR OUR SPRING CONNECTION, AND THEN WORKING WITH STEVE'S TEAM.
UM, AND THEN THAT COMES ON THE HEELS OF PREPARING FOR, UM, SUMMER.
UM, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
BUT JUST SOME, A FEW OTHER THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT.
WE'RE PART OF THE NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR GRANT WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IT'S GREAT WHEN WE HAVE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UM, AND THEY BRING US IN.
SO NEIGHBOR TO EIGHT NEIGHBOR IS A GRANT WHERE WE HOST EVENTS, UM, AT OUR PARKS.
THE PARKS ARE THE FOCUS, UM, AND PULLING IN THE NEIGHBORS.
SO EXAMPLE, IF WE ARE AT DRAKE PARK, OUR NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBORS WOULD BE THE SURROUNDING PARKS.
UM, YOU KNOW, SAY SIR CHAVEZ, 14TH STREET ADMIRAL KID, RIGHT THERE IS KIND OF JUST CREATE THAT BRAND IS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE YOUR LOCAL PARK RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT RIGHT THERE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST EXPAND A LITTLE LARGER IS ANOTHER EVENT.
SO THAT IS GOING TO BE, UM, ON DECEMBER 13TH AT SILVERADO PARK.
UM, SO SOME COMMISSIONERS RECALL, OR SOME STAFF, UM, BACK IN THE DAY, A LONG, LONG, LONG, LONG TIME AGO, WE USED TO HAVE SNOW DAYS WITH FUNDING.
UM, AND, UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING THAT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, IN THE SILVERADO AREA.
SO OUR TEAM, WE'LL CREATE, UM, YOU CAN SEE THE HIGHLIGHT THERE, THE WHOVILLE WINTER VILLAGE.
SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND THEN WE WILL ROLL INTO, UM, FALL, CONTINUE WITH FALL PROGRAMMING, AND THEN RAMP UP FOR, UM, OUR KIDDOS WHEN THEY'RE OUTTA SCHOOL FOR WINTER FUN DAYS.
SO, UM, FOR ME, 2025 HAS GONE BY 2024
HE ALWAYS SAY 90 DAYS OUT, 90 DAYS OUT.
I THINK HE'S LIKE 180 DAYS OUT NOW AND PLANNING THAT WAY.
UM, BUT WHEN SOMEONE GOES, YOU AVAILABLE FOR A MEETING IN MARCH OF 2025, I'M LIKE, SURE, MY BRAIN'S NOT THERE YET, BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE.
[00:25:01]
FOR YOUR SUPPORT.I, WE ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH YOUR FAMILY, UM, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY THANKFUL.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE BEFORE YOU LEAVE, UM, THE LBRA MURALS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER BACK, THEY CAME HERE.
SO THEY HAVE BEEN IN PROGRESS.
A COUPLE OF 'EM ARE FINISHED, BUT THE ONE THAT IS RIGHT BEHIND HERE, THE GREAT WORK IS IN PROGRESS.
SO STOP BY AND CHECK THAT OUT.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY NICE MURAL THAT IS GOING ON.
AND OTHER THAN THAT, JUST HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND JUST TO GET THANKS FOR, AND WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU,
NOTHING MAINTENANCE, NOTHING FOR YOU.
DIRECTOR DENNIS, DID I ADD ANYTHING? THIS IS ONE LAST THING.
THAT WAS THE, OUR, OUR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION COMMITTEE, UM, NEEDS TO HAVE ANOTHER SHOUT OUT.
SO, UM, THEY'RE VERY CREATIVE AS, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST SURPRISING EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER OUR HOLIDAY, KIND OF DEPARTMENT WIDE, UM, AS PARTY, A PARTY, UM, AT THE POA PARK, UH, ON DECEMBER 6TH.
AND, UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY IS MEANINGFUL TO ME IS THAT, UH, ACTUALLY GLADYS'S TEAM IS KIND OF THE CORNUS, THEY'RE VERY COMPETITIVE, BY THE WAY.
BUT THEY, THEY HAD A FUNDRAISING, A FUNDRAISING PROGRAM, UM, WHICH WAS DIFFERENT FOR US, BUT IT WAS SELLING POPCORN OF ALL THINGS.
AND, UH, A COUPLE OF HER TEAMS OF THREE, THEY WERE VERY COMPETITIVE AND VERY PROACTIVE IN MARKETING AND ALL THAT.
SO, UM, THE PROGRAM WAS SET UP SO THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR WORTH OF POPCORN SOLD, THE BENEFIT BACK TO THE ERC WAS 50 CENTS.
SO THEY, I THINK ECLIPSED $8,000 WORTH OF SALES.
SO THAT BENEFITS, UM, ERC, BUT IT'S DEDICATED TOWARDS THE ANNUAL ADOPTIVE FAMILY PROGRAM.
SO IT REALLY ILLUSTRATES THE POWERFUL PURPOSE BEHIND NOT JUST BUILDING COMRADERY AND IMPROVING MORALE AND RECOGNIZING OUR COWORKERS, BUT REACHING OUT AND TOUCHING THE COMMUNITY.
CAN WE HELP YOU ALL? I MEAN, CAN COMMISSIONERS PARTICIPATE IN YOUR ADOPTIVE FAMILY? ABSOLUTELY.
SO OUR ADOPTIVE FAMILY IS INTERNAL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.
UM, WHEN WE HAVE SOMEONE EXTERNALLY REACH OUT TO, WE DO CONNECT 'EM WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR OTHER LOAN PARKS, BUT THIS IS FOR OUR INTERNAL, UM, STAFF.
SOMETIMES YOU, YOU KNOW, WE FORGET THAT SOMEONE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH A CHALLENGE, WHATEVER IT BE.
AND THE, THE, IT'S, I'VE BEEN ON THIS DEPARTMENT FOR 24 YEARS AND A PART OF IT FROM, YOU KNOW, UH, SUPPORTING IT AND YET TO NEVER KNOW WHO THOSE FAMILIES ARE.
SO IT'S VERY CONFIDENTIAL AND WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE THAT COMPONENT.
UM, AND THE SUPPORTS THAT WE HAVE.
UM, AS FAR AS THE COMPETITIVENESS, UM, MY TEAM
AND MY VERY COMPETITIVE STAFF SAYS NOTHING WORSE THAN THE SECOND, FIRST PLACE.
AND I'M LIKE, WHAT IS SECOND, SECOND PLACE? OKAY, SECOND FIRST PLACE.
BUT WHAT IT DID, I THINK IT REALLY PULLED OUR DEPARTMENT TOGETHER AND EVERYBODY CAN HELP, WHETHER IT BE, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T WANT PARK AND POPCORN SHARED THE MESSAGE, BUT TO RAISE FOUR, ALMOST $4,000 FOR OUR ADOPT A FAMILY PROGRAM, IT WAS, IT'S KIND OF NEAT TO SEE.
SO WE'LL GET EM NEXT, CAME OUT ON TOP
SO IF YOU COULD LET US KNOW AT SOME POINT HOW WE CAN OH, YEAH.
SUPPORT YOU, ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS THAT WE WILL, I, WE CAN REACH OUT TO COMMISSIONERS AND I'LL SEND IT THROUGH OKAY.
UM, AND WHAT WE GET IS LIKE WE HAVE A FAMILY THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, TWO TEENS, BOY AND GIRL THIS AGE.
UM, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO CONTRIBUTE.
I KNOW I MADE A SHOUT OUT TO HIM.
I HAD A STAFF MEETING YESTERDAY.
IT'S SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS, THOSE THINGS OF COMFORT THAT YOU, YOU DON'T GET, IT'S THAT, YOU KNOW, BRAND NEW WARM BLANKET.
CASSO HAS A GREAT SALE RIGHT NOW, BY THE WAY,
OKAY, NOW WE'RE ON COMMISSIONERS, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO NOTHING IN PARTICULAR, BUT KIND OF JUST A GENERAL FEELING OF GRATITUDE 'CAUSE OF THE SEASON.
UM, JUST, UH, OVER THE PAST COUPLE DAYS, THERE'VE BEEN A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT, UM, THE PARK SYSTEM HAS COME UP IN CONVERSATION.
AND SO I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL
[00:30:01]
FOR OUR PARK SYSTEM.MY, UM, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW IS GOING THROUGH, UH, SOME HEALTH STUFF RIGHT NOW AND GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GOING TO THE PARK WAS SOME, WAS THE THING THAT KIND OF BRIGHTENED HIS WEEK.
AND ONE OF MY STUDENTS YESTERDAY WAS SHOWING ME PICTURES FROM OUR QUINCEANERA AND THAT SHE TOOK THE PHOTOS THAT SHE PARK AROUND THE, THE DUTCH POND, OF COURSE, WHICH IS THE TRADITION FOR, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, AND OF COURSE, UH, FALL BALL SEASON JUST WRAPPED UP HERE AT LOS ALTOS.
AND SO, JUST A LOT OF, A LOT OF GRATITUDE FROM THE PARK SYSTEM AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP IT GOING 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY, REALLY ESSENTIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S, UM, NOTHING OFFICIAL IN MY END, BUT HAPPY HOLIDAYS, THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU ALL AND VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR TEAMS THAT ARE OUT ACTIVATING OUR COMMUNITY.
MINE'S JUST A BASIC REMINDER FOR SELF-CARE, LIKE INTERNAL SELF-CARE AS WE GO INTO THE HOLIDAYS AND WE'RE RUSHING TO DO LOTS OF THINGS.
AND, UM, FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE REALLY SENSITIVE TO THE, JUST EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE WORLD, JUST REALLY TAKE THE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU FIRST BEFORE YOU TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY VALUE AND LOVE TO SHARE THAT WITH PEOPLE.
YEAH, I, I MEAN, I WILL JUST ECHO THE SAME, THANK YOU ALL.
UM, IT'S BEEN A, A PRIVILEGE BEING HERE AS THE, THE NEWEST MEMBER THIS LAST YEAR,
UM, SO I'M JUST INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE WARM WELCOME AND ALL THE, ALL THE AWESOME THINGS YOU ALL DO THAT I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY ALWAYS SEES.
AND SO IT'S REALLY AWESOME TO HEAR ALL THE INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE WORK THAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES TO, TO KEEP OUR, OUR PARKS AND UH, RECORD MARINE SYSTEM GOING.
I THINK THAT, WOW, THAT WAS I THINK RECORD TIME.
SO DO YOU WANT ME TO, DO YOU WANT ME TO BRING A PUBLIC COMMENT? CAN I, SIR, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, NO.
BUT WE HAD, I KNOW
IT IS OFFICIALLY 9 39 AND IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
I ONLY MESSED UP ONE, A LITTLE PREVIEW.