MEETING DATE: 3/10/2020
DEPARTMENT: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR:
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER: Dulce Alonso
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 156
SUBJECT:
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Discussion regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Veterans Memorial Park Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as discussion relating to the enhancement / involvement of the Commissions in Park Operations; Consideration of setting a special joint meeting of the Board of Supervisors and the Parks and Recreation Commission on Saturday, March 28th or April 4th.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 156
AGENDA SECTION:
REGULAR AGENDA
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on February March 18, 2020 the Board requested to information on Memorial Park Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission roles and responsibility as well as a discussion of operations.
San Benito County has a number of existing parks to serve the recreational needs of San Benito County residents. There are two parks existing, Veteran’s Memorial, on Memorial Drive, and San Benito County Historical Park, on Airline Highway, south of the Tres Pinos community. A potential third regional park, tentatively called Riverpark is located south of San Benito High School, along Riverpark Drive. The County also owns three small neighborhood parks, Quail Hollow, Oak Creek, and Riverview, all three being maintained by the respective CSA’s that they are located in. A fourth neighborhood park will be under construction shortly in the Santana Ranch development off Fairview Road. There are also two neighborhood parks planned in the San Juan Oaks development which are several years off from development.
Veterans Memorial Park:
Veterans Memorial Park was established by Ordinance No. 167 1/2, approved by the qualified electors of San Benito County at a general election held on November 7, 1950. Ordinance No. 167 1/2 directed the Board of Supervisors to accept certain real property, to be developed and maintained as a public park and playground known as Veterans Memorial Park of San Benito County, under the supervision of the Memorial Park Commission. The Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 741 regarding vendor franchise agreements and fees for use of the fields at Veteran's Memorial Park. Together, Ordinance Nos. 167 1/2 and 741 are codified as Article IV (sections 3.05.065 through 3.05.072) of Chapter 3.05 of the San Benito County Code.
Veterans Memorial Park Commission:
Ordinance No. 167 1/2 establishes a five member Veterans Memorial Park Commission, comprised of two members of the Board of Supervisors, to be appointed by the Board Chair, and one representative from each of the three veterans organizations, to be elected by a vote of the membership of the Veterans Council of San Benito County. The Commission has "...general supervision and control of the development, maintenance and management of [the] Veteran’s Memorial Park..., including the administration of all business affairs, in connection therewith, the hiring and discharging of keepers, gardeners and other employees necessary or convenient for the proper management and care of … [the park]; [and] they shall have control over the disposition and expenditure of all moneys received from any source whatsoever in connection with said park including the disposition and expenditure of any funds, public or otherwise, that may be appropriated for the development, maintenance, repairs and management of said park."
Parks and Recreation Commission:
The Board of Supervisors established the Parks and Recreation Commission, by Ordinance Nos. 804 and 850, codified as Article VIII (sections 3.05.145 through 3.05.155) of Chapter 3.05 of the San Benito County Code. The Parks and Recreation Commission was established as an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors regarding all current and future County parks, except the Veteran's Memorial Park. The Parks and Recreation Commission consists of seven members; one from each district, a representative of the Veteran's Memorial Park Commission, and a representative of the San Benito County Historical Society, all seven to be appointed by a majority vote of the Board of Supervisors. The purpose of the commission is to make recommendations to the Board concerning all current and future parks, except Veterans' Memorial:
- Use of existing county park facilities including the development of park improvements to the facilities;
- Need for future park facilities and their location(s);
- Development of recreational activities and programs at county park facilities;
- Use of federal, state and local funds for parks and recreation facilities and activities;
- Joint use of park facilities with other agencies;
- Coordination with federal, state and local parks and recreation agencies to enhance the use of park facilities throughout the county; and;
- Other issues as deemed appropriate by a majority vote of the Board of Supervisors.
At the Parks and Recreations meeting on February 12th the parks commission requested a special meeting with the Board of Supervisors to discuss the following topics:
- the overall state of the Parks; and
- Request an appointment of a commissioner to the Board of Supervisors Ad-Hoc.
The proposed dates are both on Saturday, March 28th or April 4th at 2:00 p.m.
BUDGETED: