CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes
SPECIAL WORKSHOP FOR CIVIC CENTER PARK MASTER PLAN
Cotati City Hall
201 W. Sierra Avenue, Cotati, CA 94931
October 20, 2001
Vice Mayor Orchard, Councilmembers Fox, Gilardi, and Kurvers
III. Staff Presentation
David Woltering gave the initial staff presentation. He made staff introductions, discussed the ground rules and touched on key issues surrounding the Civic Center Park.
Marsha Sue Lustig made a presentation regarding the history of the civic center park, focusing on the various iterations of the development of a new facility. Marsha Sue answered several questions.
Suzanne Whipple asked the difference in sq. footage between old proposed site versus the new proposed site. CM stated that were almost identical, with the exception of the new community room in the new proposed police facility. There were other questions regarding sizes of buildings; Senior Planner Lustig listed known sizes of buildings on a sheet. Staff indicated that other areas of the park would be calculated.
Pru Draper stated that she liked the new plan better, but not the parking on West Sierra Avenue. She felt that perhaps the reception area could be reduced to allow for more parking.
Jan Kurvers asked about pedestrian travel between City Hall and the new police facility.
Bob Coleman supported the concept of police facility; but wondered about the cost for remodeling the other buildings, such as the multipurpose room. Geoff Fox answered the questioned. Bob Coleman suggested removing the multi-purpose room and creating more park space.
Suzanne Whipple questioned the quality and size of the police facility: "Facility is too big and the parking area is too large for a City our size." Dan Dutra agreed.
Maggie Harryman asked for clarification of costs for improvements to the multi-purpose room. Councilmember Geoff Fox provided information that the improvements were primarily cosmetic, but that there were some other significant improvements that would be necessary, such as new heating and air conditioning.
John Rock said that the site should no longer be considered a park.
Mike Kurvers said the new police facility was too large.
Senior Planner Lustig indicated that this designation was for that part of the park between the baseball field and West Sierra Avenue. Terry Dutra asked about previously discussed recreation uses within this area. Senior Planner Lustig provided these details, including such possible uses as bocce ball, volleyball, a small baseball warm up field with a portable backstop, etc.
Susan Sees wanted the area left as passive open space.
Lisa Moore stated that it would be hard to determine the exact uses without square footages. Suzanne Whipple does not want the police facility the way it is shown. She suggested that the architects turn the police facility 90 degrees, reduce parking and add more green space.
Bob Coleman stated the emphasis should be park, not civic center uses.
Pru Draper felt that removal or reduction of paths and/or bar-be-cue areas could allow more passive park uses. Yvonne Van Dyke agreed.
Lloyd Draper suggested that the City consider using the basketball courts for volleyball.
Lisa Moore stated that tables with built in chess boards should be included.
Dan Dutra had distinct ideas for reducing police structure size, creating more park space.
John Rock wanted horseshoes and drinking fountains included.
Bob Coleman asked the question: is the little league field a given? Discussion ensued.
Terry Dutra gave the history of the ball field.
John Rock suggested considering an alternate site for little league and making Cator Field a T-ball field. Geoff Fox felt that this was not feasible at this time given that the proposed replacement field was part of a proposed project that was not even under consideration at this time. Council Person Janet Kurvers wanted to focus on the potential of making the outfield fence removable in the off-season. Bob Coleman wanted to reinforce this point.
Pru Draper stated that one of the existing rooms should be converted to a Cotati History Room/Library.
Susan Sees suggested that there should be a Art Trails Room/Gallery.
Terry Dutra stated that good meeting rooms could be rented, and thus be a revenue source for the City.
Suzanne Whipple wanted a dance facility and that carpet is not a good idea for stage.
April Haynes felt that the facility should be able to be used by seniors.
John Rock added that the facility could have an AV Room to show movies.
Terry Dutra stated that a Teen and Preteen room was a need in the community.
Suzanne Whipple stated that the facility should be wired for computers.
Lisa Moore suggested that the building could have class room uses that would be used for extended education.
Suzanne Whipple wanted a portable stage provided in the multi-purpose room.
Susan Sees thought that the facility could have rehearsal space for musical events.
Dan Dutra stated that the Cotati Philharmonic should not have orchestral storage in the multi-purpose room.
Bob Coleman thought that there would be some value in a connection with the new Green Music Center at Sonoma State.
Bob Stewart gave a history of the existing skateboard park and related problems.
Will Dutra complained about police interactions with skateboarders.
April Haynes stated that the skateboard park has adversely impacted her quality of life. The park should be moved.
Anthony Gilardi said he toured many skateboard parks this past summer and that these parks were in the middle of a park, not at the edge. He felt that the skateboard park should moved into the middle of the Civic Center park.
Dan Dutra agreed that the City should move the skateboard park to the center area next to the proposed police facility.
Bill Underwood added his complaints with the existing skateboard park which included noise, vandalism, and gang activity. He stated that it should be placed close to police station.
Susan Sees suggested that the City make users pay a yearly registration fee with a "pass".
Bob Coleman discussed locational issues of the skateboard park. He wanted to put it closer to the police station that would provide better supervision.
Nancy Kelley asked the question: could a user fee be used for paying for supervision?
Yvonne Van Dyke suggested that the skateboard site should be next to the recreation supervisor's office.
Terry Dutra was concerned with the compatibility of a central location with the MU room.
Anthony Gilardi indicated that he is for more police supervision, but is against a fee.
Suzanne Whipple asked the question: is there a better location for the skateboard park, perhaps somewhere else in the city?
Lisa Moore stated that the site should be somewhere where there are more eyes on the space.
Katie Arnold suggested that maybe the City should consider a site in commercial or industrial area.
Mike Kurvers stated that the police should be involved with kids and that the City should move the site next to police station.
Dan Dutra wanted to move skateboard site now, but look for another site later.
John Rock stated that the City should look at a berm to reduce noise without losing visibility for improved supervision.
Mike Kurvers added that a new Ordinance should be written to allow for police to seize skateboards for rules violators.
Susan Sees wanted to restore the tennis courts.
Lisa Moore wants an expanded playground in the middle of the park that would appeal to a wide range of ages.
Dave Woltering gave an introduction to this topic.
Anne Wallace Rock asked: would an amphitheater really be feasible based on seasonal considerations. For example, would outdoor productions work with cold evening weather in the fall, winter and spring.
Susan Sees felt that the amphitheater would be more pleasing than a skateboard park.
Suzanne Whipple stated the need to encourage more arts and music in the community.
Anne Rock again wondered if an amphitheater is appropriate in this park.
David Woltering and Senior Planner Lustig discussed parking demands based on appropriate scheduling.
Yvonne Van Dyke asked about parking on West Sierra Avenue. Kelly McClelland indicated that she would be in favor of it.
John Rock is concerned with a failing intersection at West Sierra and School Street if the Green Center is built.
Bob Coleman stated that the amount of parking is symbolic that this not a walkable Cotati.
Opportunity to bicycle to the site should not be compromised.
Susan Sees stated that parking should not encroach into the area on the northwest of middle school building.
Don Van Dyke asked about the addition of a new driveway on West Sierra Avenue. Dale Shaddox made a presentation regarding the alignment of the EVA.
Bob Coleman questioned the rationale for the EVA and felt that it was no longer needed.
Susan Sees agreed with Bob.
Yvonne Van Dyke questioned the need for secondary access to residential areas.
Anne Rock was against the use of gravel for the EVA.
Yvonne Van Dyke suggested turf block as an alternate material.
Cole Keller wanted a tot lot within the area of the EVA.
Suzanne Whipple stated that the park/civic center should be called Cator Park after the family that originally donated the property.
Bob Coleman felt that the City needs to decide whether this area was a Civic Center or a park; it could not be both. Anne Wallace Rock thought it was a civic center area.
Katie Arnold stated that she thought it could be both a civic center and a park since it had both functions.
Several individuals thought that areas within the park could have separate names to indicate unique locations, such as Cator Field, the Plaza area, etc.
Meeting was adjourned at 3:05 p.m.