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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.21.2021 PR Comm Minutes CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES FROM TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 I. CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m. A regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission of the City of South San Francisco was held on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, via teleconference due to the COVID- 19 pandemic and local health orders. II. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners, Battaglia, Camacho, Firpo, Lock, and Uy Absent: Commissioners Aires and DeNardi Staff: Greg Mediati, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Angela Duldulao, Recreation Manager Joshua Richardson, Parks Manager Kari Jung, Administrative Assistant II Erin O’Brien, Recreation Supervisor Laura Armanino, Childcare Supervisor Kelli Jo Cullinan, Senior Services Supervisor III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Skipped. IV. AGENDA REVIEW: There were no changes to the agenda. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 17, 2021, MEETING: Approved by motion. Motion: Commissioner Battaglia / Seconded: Commissioner Firpo VI. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: None. VII. OLD BUSINESS: A. COVID-19 Response and Modified Operations Update Manager Duldulao shared that the Department has continued to progress in its return to pre-COVID operations, and staff have found relief that public health guidelines have remained steady. Throughout COVID, one of the biggest challenges to the Department was the ever-changing public health guidelines, which made it difficult to make long- term plans, and put staff in a stressful position to pivot operations to accommodate the latest policy changes. Some of the main COVID-related challenges the Department is experiencing now are related to children going back to school in-person, restoring a team of part-time employees to support recreation programs, and adjusting to the “new normal” for operations including pending policy changes regarding enhanced vaccination mandates. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of September 21, 2021 Page 2 Supervisor Armanino provided updates on children returning to in-person learning. The South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD) returned to in-person learning this school year, a feat that understandably faces a multitude of challenges. SSFUSD started the school year with COVID protocols in place, taking guidance from the San Mateo County Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities: Pandemic Recovery Framework. The framework includes guidelines under which students can follow modified quarantine procedures, which allows students who have been exposed to COVID-19 to continue attending school as long as they are asymptomatic. Under modified quarantine, students may attend school, but should otherwise quarantine from all other extracurricular activities. After several conversations with San Mateo County Public Health officials, it has been determined that on-campus after school programs are considered part of the school and could be eligible for modified quarantine if the after-school program follows the same framework required of schools. These standards are currently under review, and staff hope to be able to offer modified quarantine to participants in our after-school program. Chair Uy inquired if there have been any reported cases in afterschool and how was it dealt with. Supervisor Armanino shared there have been a couple of exposures, but nothing spread beyond the initial case, mostly due to the multi-layered protection model in place. We had to temporarily shut down, due to not yet being eligible for modified quarantine. Commissioner Camacho thanked Childcare staff for ongoing flexibility and shared that she has received many compliments from the community. She inquired if City staff is required to be vaccinated as of 10/01. Supervisor Armanino shared that current policy is to either show proof of vaccination or test weekly, at least for childcare. A city-wide policy on this subject is pending. Manager Duldulao described efforts to restoring staffing and the “new normal.” The Department is fortunate to have many returning part-time employees and continues to hire new employees where needed. While this is going well, there are challenges to training a new workforce, dealing with the fast pace of reopening, managing COVID exposures and concerns, implementing post-COVID operating procedures, and reacquainting new and seasoned staff with being back in business. Upcoming Special Events • City Hall 101st Birthday Concert, Saturday, September 25, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., 400 block of Grand Avenue featuring: o A free vaccination clinic on the patio of the Grand Avenue Library; o Tours of the Mayor’s office in City Hall and a chance to take pictures from the balcony; o Food trucks (taco truck and an ice cream truck); o City-sponsored information tables, including a table seeking information for the Orange Park and Centennial Way Master Plans; o Vendors from Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, including food vendors and retail such as greeting cards, Latin culture novelty items for Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of September 21, 2021 Page 3 the home, vintage clothing and housewares, jewelry from recycled materials, and paintings on Grand Avenue near Spruce Avenue; o A photo booth on Grand Avenue; o The Library’s Learning Wheels outside, and children’s activities in the Grand Library; o A bubble play artist, face painter, and balloon twister; and o The Parks and Recreation Department's Mexican Folklorico and Hawaiian Hula dance programs. • “It’s the Great Pumpkin, South City!” Halloween Event Saturday, October 23, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Orange Memorial Park Manager Duldulao shared that since the Department has reached some stability in its post-COVID operations, this report concludes the Department’s monthly COVID update, barring any major COVID-related news resulting in major changes to the Department’s operations. Any notable shifts in operations will be brought to the Commission’s attention and may also be covered under the Administrative Update. Commissioner Battaglia shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming events. Commissioner Lock inquired if there will there be queues or other crowd control measures in place due to COVID? Supervisor O’Brien shared that payment would only collected for pumpkins and snacks and staff would look into temporary fencing to help line up participants, but there would be multiple entry and exit points. He further inquired if there are major standards differences between the city and the school district? Supervisor Armanino shared the only differences are between vaccination and testing requirements which should be brought into alignment with new standards pending with the City. We’re currently operating at 50-60% capacity, while the School District is at 100% due to the limit of 24 children per classroom; we’re licensed at 40 per classroom, so we’re serving the same number of kids as the school district per room. Commissioner Camacho inquired if there is any discussion with the School District to partner for additional portables. Supervisor Armanino shared that space is the issue. Commissioner Camacho pointed out that the naming event for Alice Bulos Center event overlaps with Great Pumpkin event and if the Anne Waters renaming event could be moved to the same day? Deputy Mediati shared that the Anne Waters renaming event is moving to November. Commissioner Firpo inquired if there would be a costume contest? Supervisor O’Brien will take the suggestion to the committee and review if possible. Deputy Mediati shared that if vaccinations for kids roll out we will look at increasing enrollment. VIII. New Business: Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of September 21, 2021 Page 4 A. Restoration of Departmental Position Budget Deputy Mediati shared an update on restoration of staff and the Department’s position budget. The following positions were frozen in March 2020, due to the anticipated economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic: • Parks and Recreation Director • Business Manager • Administrative Assistant II • Building Maintenance Custodian • Arborist Technician The following positions will be administratively unfrozen without any City Council action as they are currently within the Department’s position budget. • Parks and Recreation Director • Business Manager • Building Maintenance Custodian The additional positions identified below have been prioritized and did require City Council authorization to be added to the position budget, which was approved at their meeting on September 8, 2021: • Building Maintenance Stationary Engineer • Recreation Supervisor – Childcare Understanding the critical need to maintain the new park at Oyster Point at a high level, which will become a City maintenance obligation at the terminus of construction in early 2022, several Park Maintenance Worker positions were requested, and also approved by the City Council on September 8: • Lead Park Maintenance Worker • Senior Park Maintenance Worker • Park Maintenance Worker Additional budget will be needed for maintenance material costs, fleet, specialized services such as environmental monitoring, utilities, and Public Works Maintenance staff. These costs are still being evaluated and may be added at mid- year or in FY22-23 once true costs are better known. Commissioner Camacho inquired when the Civic Campus construction will be completed? Supervisor O’Brien shared that the current timeline estimates completion for June 2023. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of September 21, 2021 Page 5 Commissioner Battaglia inquired when the new PD/911 Dispatch Center will be completed. Deputy Mediati shared that the ribbon cutting is set for early December. B. Cancellation of November or December Commission Meetings Deputy Mediati shared that each year the Commission reviews cancelling one or both of the regular meetings scheduled in November or December. Commissioner Lock inquired if both could be cancelled if there are no key issues. Deputy Mediati shared that staff was planning on presenting items to the Commission for feedback in November. Chair Uy and Commissioner Battaglia expressed a preference to cancel the December meeting. Commissioner Camacho motioned to cancel the regular meeting of December 21st and Commissioner Lock seconded. The motion passed unanimously. IX. Friends of Parks and Recreation: Manager Duldulao shared that there are no updates at this time. X. Beautification Committee: Deputy Director Mediati reported that there is nothing new to report. XI. Items from Commission: Commissioner Lock shared praise on the various tree and landscaping work being completed around the City. He further commented on the tennis courts repairs at Westborough and requested the same for Alta Loma. He shared that the Parkway Middle School gate is unlocked for public use. Commissioner Firpo shared his appreciation of the pickle ball lines and commented that the trees on Hillside Boulevard are doing well despite lack of rain and strong winds. Commissioner Battaglia is pleased to see people at the park. Commissioner Camacho shared a request for additional dog waste poop bags, that Movie Night event was great, and inquire if there will there be more grants for more tree planting. Deputy Mediati shared that there aren’t many right now with water as an issue. Chair Uy shared excited about pickle ball lining and inquired if the City will we provide nets? Deputy Mediati shared that we have some, but don’t leave them out. Chair Uy inquired if the City would delineate times for pickle ball? Chair Uy shared his appreciation of the dog park. XII. Items from Staff: A. Calendar of Events. Deputy Mediati provided a brief update of the Calendar of Events indicating that the Anne Waters date would be moved to a later date to be determined. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of September 21, 2021 Page 6 B. Administrative Updates Chair Uy inquired if Commissioners had any questions related to the previously shared administrative updates. None were shared. C. Deputy Mediati inquired if the Commission was amenable to switching to electronic only packets, in lieu of staff printing and delivering. Commissioner Battaglia and Chair Uy both requested to continue receiving paper packets. Commissioner Camacho indicated that it depends on the content. XIII. Adjournment: 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kari Jung, Administrative Assistant II