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HomeMy WebLinkAbout011321 TOWN OF DANVILLE PARKS, RECREATION AND ARTS COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING SUMMARY OF ACTIONS January 13, 2021 1. CALL TO ORDER The special meeting of the Danville Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission was called to order by Chair Joyce at 5:30 p.m. The meeting was conducted by Teleconference only. 1.1 Roll Call Administrative Assistant Kristine Meidberg conducted the roll call for attendance: Present: Brittany Beech, Commissioner Kevin Donovan, Commissioner Kyler Fung, Commissioner Youth Representative Alesia Strauch, Commissioner Randall Diamond, Vice Chair Jane Joyce, Chair Absent: Alec Tappin, Commissioner 1.2 Announcements Kristine Meidberg, Administrative Assistant, provided information regarding the format of the meeting and instructions for public comment. 2. CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA There were no changes to the order of the agenda. 3. "FOR THE GOOD OF THE TOWN" Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission Summary of Actions January 13, 2021 2 Chair Joyce opened the Item for public comment. There were no public comments and Chair Joyce closed the item for comments. 4. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION/ACTION 4.1. Approval of the Summary of Actions from the December 9, 2020, Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission Special Meeting. MOTION BY VICE CHAIR DIAMOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BEECH, TO APPROVE THE SUMMARY OF ACTIONS OF THE DECEMBER 9, 2020 PARKS, RECREATION AND ARTS SPECIAL MEETING. MOTION CARRIED 5-0; Commissioner Tappin was absent, Commissioner Strauch not yet present. 4.2 Review Tennis Court Usage and Options for Pickleball Courts in the Town of Danville and Provide Staff with Recommendations for Action Director of Recreation, Arts and Community Services, Henry Perezalonso reviewed the reservation and usage totals of tennis courts from the year 2019 for the following four locations: Diablo Vista Park, Osage Station Park, Monte Vista High School, and San Ramon Valley High School. Of the four locations, only Diablo Vista Park and Osage Station Park are fully controlled by the Town for a total of six tennis courts. Three potential options for pickleball courts at Diablo Vista Park and Osage Station Park were presented. Option #1 - Pickleball Overlay – Creating multi-use courts by adding pickleball lines over existing courts, providing 1-4 pickleball courts. Temporary netting and storage would be required. The preliminary cost would be approximately $2000 - $3000. Options #2 - Court Conversion – Converting 1 tennis court into 4 dedicated pickleball courts with permanent netting. The preliminary cost would be approximately $15,000 - $20,000. Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission Summary of Actions January 13, 2021 3 Option #3 - Research other locations within the parks that may be able to convert into a dedicated pickleball court area. The preliminary cost would be approximately $75,000 - $100,000. Option #4 – Do not move forward with adding Pickleball courts at this time. Director Perezalonso reminded everyone that there is no funding at this time for a pickleball project and that the Commission is being asked to come up with the next steps. Commissioner comments were made and questions answered. Chair Joyce opened Item 4.2 to public comment. Kristine Meidberg announced that the Town did receive public comments via email prior to the cut-off for today’s meeting. All emails have been forwarded to the Commission for review. Kathy Sostaric, Danville, in support of pickleball. Expressed that there is one negative to Pickleball and that is the noise. With that in mind, she advises that Diablo Vista is too close to homes and would not be the best option. She also expressed many positives of pickleball and believes option 2 with all-day drop-in at no cost would be best. Steve Sutton, West Region Director for USA Pickleball Association, in support of pickleball. Expressed concerns over both locations. He believes with option 2 there is not enough room, it will be too narrow. Advises Town gets accurate measurements before moving forward. Stuart Proctor, Danville, in support of pickleball. Expressed that most of the issues being discussed have already been addressed by communities around Danville. He does have concerns when doing an overlay, multiple lines are confusing for both tennis and pickleball players. Advises Commission to take field trips to pickleball facilities. Expressed Option 2 is the best. Kim Moore, Danville, in support of pickleball. Expressed his love for pickleball. He is in support of Option 2 at Osage Station Park. He asked the commission if there was a possibility of converting more than 1 tennis court as he has seen the popularity of the sport in other areas. Mentioned that pickleball is for all ages. Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission Summary of Actions January 13, 2021 4 Joel Crocket, Danville, in support of pickleball. Expressed his love for pickleball. Currently, he must travel to Walnut Creek and Concord to play and courts are always full with people waiting. Pickleball is a game for all ages. Most of the courts he has played on have been converted from tennis ball courts successfully. Addressed the utilization numbers of tennis vs pickleball and because of the noise concern he believes Osage Station would be the ideal location. Informed the Commission that newer paddles tend not to be as loud as the older paddles. Kristine Johnson, Danville, in support of pickleball. Echoed all the previous positive comments on pickleball. Would like to see permanent courts. Advised the Commission to go to the Walnut Creek courts to see the popularity of the courts. Listed the advantages of pickleball over tennis; easier on the joints, easier to learn, more social, a quicker game, game for all ages. Michael Harrison, Danville, in support of pickleball. Expressed that pickleball is for families, and that is what Danville is all about. Many clubs, retirement homes, and schools are converting tennis courts to pickleball. Stu Thompson, Danville, in support of pickleball. Option 2 is preferable. Found a sport that his whole family will play together. Aligns with the values of the Town of Danville. For-profit organizations have been converting tennis courts into pickleball courts, which is a good indication of the popularity of the sport. Monica Williams, President of Palo Alto Pickleball Club, in support of pickleball. Pickleball has been very successful in Palo Alto. The club started with 2 temporary courts and within a short period of time, they had 600 members in the club with 15 courts and 7 temporary courts. Pickleball has many assets for a city, it’s an inclusive sport, has great health benefits, and builds community comradery. Alexander Fleming, Tennis and Pickleball Instructor at Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville, in support of pickleball. The club started with the overlay option and it did not work well. Tennis players stopped playing on that court because it was very difficult to see the lines. One year later, the club fully converted the court into 4 dedicated pickleball courts. The pickleball courts are very successful and are booked all day. They are now considering converting another court. He is in support of option #2. Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission Summary of Actions January 13, 2021 5 Chris Hunter, Board Member of Walnut Creek Pickleball Club, in support of pickleball. She advised, with overlays, it is a must to have storage at the site and personnel to be in charge of the equipment daily. She spoke of Walnut Creek’s experience. They started with overlays at the Rudgear courts and then converted to 4 dedicated courts and 4 overlays in 2015. They noticed that people would wait and play on the dedicated courts only, so in 2018 they converted 4 more courts, and now have 8 dedicated courts that are busy the entire day. She is in support of option 2. Chair Joyce closed item 4.2 to public comment. MOTION BY VICE CHAIR DIAMOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER DONOVAN, TO PURSUE OPTION 2 AT OSAGE STATION PARK WHEREBY ONE TENNIS COURT IS CONVERTED INTO 4 DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS, ALONGSIDE THIS MOTION KEEP OPTION 1 AS A BACK-UP IF TIMING AND FUNDING ARE NOT LINING UP TO EXECUTE IN A TIMELY FASHION. MOTION CARRIED 6-0; Commissioner Tappin was absent. 5. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS 5.1. Parks, Recreation & Arts Department Director’s Report Recreation, Arts and Community Services Director, Henry Perezalonso provided an update on the status of the Recreation, Arts and Community Services Department and highlighted some of the activities that have taken place over the past month. For future special events and programs, our department is planning with the current health order guidelines. Informed the commission of the two new appointments to the Commission, Adam Falcon, and Jenna Mesic. 5.2. Commissioners’ Reports Commissioner Donovan reported on the Arts Advisory Board meeting. There are many unique and exciting ideas being pursued. Commissioner Fung reported on the Danville Youth Council. They are currently planning the Amazing Race and Battle of the Bands events. Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission Summary of Actions January 13, 2021 6 Commissioner Strauch spoke to the Commission about the East Bay Greenway. Chair Joyce reported that she attended the Employee Recognition event. ADJOURNMENT The special meeting of the Danville Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission was adjourned at 7:52 p.m. Henry Perezalonso, Director Recreation, Arts and Community Services Kristine Meidberg, Administrative Assistant Recreation, Arts and Community Services