Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting - November 15, 2023

The Parks and Recreation Commission met on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 12:30 PM (local time) for their regular meeting. All commissioners were present except Commissioner Bell, with Commissioner Becker attending by telephone. The meeting covered park project updates, upcoming events, and a focused discussion on revising the mobile food vendor agreement.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the October 18, 2023 special and regular meetings as written. Motion carried with all in favor.

Reports

• Parks and Recreation Superintendent Report (Dave Heath):
  • Construction of a new shade structure over the fitness court at Rotary Park is underway, expected completion before end of November.
  • Volunteers renovated the RC track at Rotary Park, adding clay, redesigning layout, adding a pit area, and installing new tubing.
  • Maintenance crews are replacing post fencing with decorative boulders at Rotary Park.
  • Work continues at the former Firebird Field for Mojave Community College soccer teams to begin play in 2024; dugout/media/storage area finished, sod removal and leveling in progress.
  • Projects out for bid: resurfacing of municipal pool deck and outdoor racquetball courts at Rotary Park.
  • Equipment arriving for Gary Keith Park stage and event pavilions (north end), construction starting soon with completion in 2024.
  • Upcoming events: Carnival (Nov 16–?), Scarecrow Treat Bags (Nov 17, free, registration open), Farmers Market (Nov 25, 9 AM–1 PM at Community Park, Santa Bravo), Winter Wonderland Ornament Workshop (Dec 1, free), Snowman Hot Cocoa Spoons (Dec 8, free), Winter Festival (Dec 16 at Field House, expected over 10,000 attendees, $15 unlimited fun or free entry).
  • Program partnerships at Sutton Lake Community Center: Veterans in Motion (music/motion therapy, ballroom dancing, ukulele/voice, band, line dance) and River City's Community Theater Players / Ghost Light Theater (Christmas production Dec 7–10, spring musical Wizard of Oz).
• Chairman's Comments:
  • Chairman inquired about the off-road side-by-side parking lot project at Silver Creek; Superintendent Heath reported Assistant City Manager Eddie Kajira is leading, secured a $1.3 million grant, working to leverage additional funding before bidding.
  • Chairman asked about public involvement at the skate park; Heath announced an open forum on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at 5:30 PM at the Rotary Park Skate Park (2315 Balboa). The city has $300,000 budgeted for significant updates, and the contractor will be present to gather community input.
  • Chairman acknowledged the commission's productive discussion at the prior special meeting on the role of the commission.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Davoranga (Snowy Shaved Ice): Stated preference for simply increasing the move time from 15 minutes without a designated area. He expressed strong opposition to designated areas, saying they would lose "hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales" and he would likely not renew his permit if designated areas were required.
• Alejandro Bingocheo (Alex, co-owner of RiverSuppen, sandwich truck): Explained that the 15-minute rule was the primary reason he did not renew his permit this year. Set-up takes 30–45 minutes, and the time limit is not feasible. He had previously worked with the superintendent to extend time to 1.5 hours, but the official rule remains 15 minutes. He advocated for a longer time limit, noting that 15 minutes is not workable especially for trucks with complex menus.

Discussion Items

• Revision of Parks Food Vendor Agreement (Section K – Time Limit):
  • Superintendent Heath recapped the prior workshop discussion: current rule requires mobile vendors to move every 15 minutes. Previous suggestions included 30–40 minutes, 1–2 hours, or 45–60 minutes. Some discussion of designated areas but no consensus.
  • After public testimony, commissioners debated the time limit and designated areas. Commissioner Becker (via phone) suggested focusing on time only, as vendors primarily wanted more time. Commissioner indicated a preference for a straight 60 minutes. Another commissioner suggested designated spaces near events but with pre-setup time, but the chairman argued that designated areas are impractical due to varying park events and locations. Superintendent clarified that the rule applies to general park use, not special events which have their own stationary vendors.
  • Motion was made to change the time frame in Section K to 60 minutes for occupying a parking space. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously (all in favor).

Key Outcomes

• Vote on Vendor Agreement Time Limit: The commission approved a motion to recommend an administrative change to the parks food vendor agreement, increasing the allowed occupancy time from 15 minutes to 60 minutes. The motion carried unanimously.
• Next Steps: The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for formal action. No further discussion on designated areas at this time, though the chairman left the door open for future changes.