PRC MIN 2000-07-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of July 26, 2000 Page 5 -Commission Discussion Commissioner Slusser said he has visited the park and that Stafford has lots of park users, similar to Spinas and Mezes Parks. He felt that the trash cans were too small and that we needed to have bigger and better trash cans that will hold more. He also felt that we need to find solutions to the parking situation around Stafford Park. . Commissioner LaBerge asked about how are we going to enforce our rules and regulations and suggested different policies for different parks. Commissioner Joseph agreed with Commissioner LaBerge regarding the enforcement issue. She agreed that trash is an issue as well as the size of the groups. She spoke about having a permit or reservation system in certain parks. Commissioner Swope felt that as other parks are developed, it will take the pressure off of Stafford Park. She felt that Stafford is a neighborhood park and that groups should be able to use it. She suggested that park patrons use the BBQ equipment that is in the park and that nothing else be allowed to be brought in. Commissioner Swope noted that other city parks also experience problems with people "roping off" areas. She stated that park ordinances should be enforced and we need to find a way to have them enfo rced. Commissioner Truscelli felt that the limit of groups to 25 or less was too small and we should consider renting the picnic area or issuing permits to have better control of the number of people using the park. She suggested that patrons take home their extra garbage and pick up after their children. Chairperson Davis felt there needs to be a fine balance with the neighbors and park patrons. He felt that most people are happy with the park but there were behavioral problems with some patrons. He said he has visited the park 20 to 30 times and noticed that the park is heavily used. He has also observed that many parked cars have remained in the same spots around park, but he has always found parking spaces available. Chairperson Davis said the summer concert series involves only 6 or 7 concerts per year and this Commission could work with the Civic Cultural Commission to consider rotating the concerts to different parks. He agreed that the noise from the ice cream trucks is unbearable. He also felt that when the Stulsaft and Maddux Parks have been renovated, the usage at Stafford Park will decrease. He noted that the Commission needs to further study a reservation system. Director Griffiths explained that the reason we do not have a reservation system in place is because enforcement is not there and our parks are not set up to allow for designated picnic sites. He spoke about the park ranger we used to have 10+ years ago, the Police Department responding to calls, and citation authority under the penal code, and that no one on our staff is