PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY RESOURCESADVISORY COMMISSIONMINUTES OF MARCH 19, 1997 MEETING

Roll Call

Present: Chairperson Mitchell, Commissioners Abrams, Aronoff, Dunbabin,

and Koppel

Staff: Rooney, Flaherty

Approval of Minutes February 19, 1997

Motion: "To approve as submitted."

Aronoff/Dunbabin All Ayes

Public Comments:

Betty Evans and Donie Field addressed the Commission on behalf of the Garden Club indicating that they wanted to assist with landscaping suggestions for the Valley Park renovation.

Matters for Commission Consideration

Skateboard Park Proposal

Public Comments:

Thirty-six (36) citizens addressed the Commission in support of the concept of a joint Skateboard project with Redondo Beach. There were 25 youth speakers and 11 adult speakers who addressed the Commission. Of these speakers, nine (9) were residents of Hermosa Beach; 17 of Redondo Beach and ten (10) from Manhattan Beach and other cities.

All were in support of the proposed facility and location. Other discussions centered around key issues as follows:

1. Should the facility be supervised? Fourteen (14) youngsters said that it should not be a supervised facility while two (2) thought that it should be. Two (2) adults spoke in favor of supervision.

1. Should the facility include shared uses between skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMX bikers? Most speakers were opposed to shared use with seven (7) supporting all uses.

1. Other comments included:

• Two (2) Redondo Beach Commissioners spoke in favor of the joint project and encouraged supporters of the project to attend future Harbor Commission meetings in Redondo Beach.
• Mike Sliff thought that the facility may be a boon to Redondo Beach businesses.
• Chris Stay reported that he is building a private sector skate facility in Gardena which will open soon and they hoped to provide bus service from the City to that facility.
• One youngster reported that safety equipment was too cumbersome.
• Kathy McCurdy reported that the School District was experiencing vandalism from skateboarders and that she encourages efforts for the City to provide a facility for skateboarding--and hoped that the proposed site could be maximized to that end.
• Eric Zucker reported that he thought skateboard manufacturers might chip-in for the track.
• Viki Garcia stated that the City spends very little money on teens by percentage and that they need a place to go.
• Kristina Marcus supported modest fees (if any) for the facility.
• Chris Garcia stated that charging admission to the track may entice the Harbor Commission to approve the facility.
• Roger Bacon expressed support for the facility and thought that ESPN could sponsor contests at the site as a potential revenue source. He also stated that phones and bathrooms should be included. He thought the project should encompass the entire 50,000 square feet at the site.

Motion: "To forward to City Council for conceptual approval: Strong support

for working with Redondo Beach to build a joint skateboard track at

the Triton site in Redondo Beach."

Aronoff/Abrams All Ayes

Vetter Windmill at Greenwood Park

Public Comments:

Roger Bacon - 1100 Pacific Coast Highway

Addressed the Commission in support of restoring the Vetter Windmill and renovating Greenwood Park.

Motion: "To direct Public Works staff to refine the estimate for the April Commission meeting providing cost estimates to preserve the Vetter

Windmill: (a) as an operable windmill; and (b) aesthetically

(without functioning as an operable windmill)."

Mitchell/Koppel All Ayes

Film Festival: Use of Pier and Beach for Free Movie Preview

Motion: "To place this item on the agenda and consider it as an emergency

item."

Mitchell/Abrams

Ayes: Dunbabin, Koppel, Mitchell, Abrams

Abstain: Aronoff

Motion: "To approve staff recommendation to use the Pier and beach north

of the Pier by the Community Center Foundation for the Hermosa

Beach Film Festival Preview scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 1997

6:00 to 10:00 p.m. and forward item and recommended contract

to City Council for final approval."

Mitchell/Koppel

Ayes: Abrams, Koppel, Mitchell, Dunbabin

Abstain: Aronoff

Motion to Adjourn: Koppel/Aronoff All Ayes

Adjourned: 10:25 p.m.