HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 15Parks and Recreation Committee
March 15, 2021 Meeting Minutes
Monday 4:30-6:00 PM
Meeting Time: Monday March 15, 2021 from 4:30 – 6:30 PM
Meeting Place: Teleconference Meeting Per the Governor’s Executive Order
No. N-25-200
1. Call to order/Roll Call (Quorum = 4)
a. Chairperson: Yibin Tang Vice Chair: Scott Vanderlip
b. Members: Ying Liu, Kathy Evans Secretary: Boxia (Jessica) Schmidt
c. Staff: Sarah Robustelli
d. Council Liaison: Lisa Schmidt
e. Associate Members: Patty Radlo, Rebecca Hickman, Helene Karlsson, Kjell Karlsson, Val
Metcalfe, Jim Basiji, Craig Murray, Elisa Bredo
f. Present: Yibin Tang, Scott Vanderlip, Lisa Schmidt, Sara Robustelli,
Kathy Evans, Jasmeen Pombra, Ying Liu, Boxia Schmidt, Diane
Brauch(Public member)
2. Review of DRAFT Minutes – Feb 22, 2021
The Feb minutes are passed unanimously.
3. Public Comment: list members of the public
No public comments.
4. New Business
a.Vote to update ordinance to no longer permit remote control vehicles and drones in Byrne
Preserve (Sarah)
Advisory notice. The new updated ordinance addresses the issue of RC vehicles in Byrne
Preserve. Victoria Dye from Westwind Barn was concerned that horses would be scared due to
the increase of the pedestrians and the potential increase of RC vehicles. The vote is not
completed due the lack of specification in the language of the ordinance. Committee members
will form a subcommittee to work on the ordinance language after this meeting.
Kathy said the RC vehicles are dangerous and environmentally harmful. She mentioned years
ago, the town had banned RC vehicles in the town hall and riding ring areas since the RC
vehicles left gasoline traces there; it was both dangerous and polluting. Gas-powered RC
vehicles can potentially spill fuel. The noise level of these RC cars is also high. Therefore, the
penalty of bringing these RC vehicles to Byrne Preserve should be severe. Drones can spook
horses. However, she also mentioned that certain use of drones should be permitted since we
would like to use drones to take photos of our events and our beautiful hills. Therefore, she
suggested that Westwind can issue the permit/authorization for drone usage but not for RC
vehicles.
Scott suggested that it would be helpful to listen to the opinions from RC vehicle users as well.
Pombra seconded it. The ordinance should be specific and should not generally target all the RC
vehicles. For many families, RC is a bonding entertainment activity. Scott mentioned that we
can’t make decision for the vote before we see the language of the ordinance. The sub-committee
will work on the proposed language and take it to the April meeting on April 12th.
Sarah added that all committee members are welcome to contribute in how to and what to write
on the sign that is going to be put up in the Byrne Preserve area.
Furthermore, Kathy suggested that we should put up an educational sign and a warning sign in
the Byrne Preserve. Both signs are needed to let visitors be aware of the law enforcement as well
as of the important information about the activities’ impact on horses. Sarah added that large
families were coming during the Pandemic. They lacked information about how to care for
horses and thought it was a petting zone. Unfortunately, horses can be dangerous as well as
vulnerable. Scott mentioned that visitors should be able to get more information from the
warning sign on how to behave around large animals. They also need to stay socially distant
from the horses. Sarah concluded that we had a great discussion and committee members should
contribute in what to write on the sign.
Lastly, Scott added that we should find an alternative to welcome the people instead of simply
pushing them away. For the RC vehicles fans, maybe we can work with the pathway committee
to find out some bumpy dirt trails for them. Ying mentioned that is a multiple-layer problem and
our discussion might be out of scope. The most important thing is to review the language of the
ordinance and then vote for it.
b.Vote on Inspirational Banner Project Submissions (Sarah)
Currently we have 4 banners submitted and we need 6 banner designs. All residents are welcome
to submit new designs until the end of March. Sarah said the submission is closed now but she
can reopen it till the end of the month.
Yibin suggested everyone in the committee should come up with some ideas. Sarah and Chris
would help work with the ideas and put them into graphic designs. Kathy suggested that the
slogans on the banner should be encouraging, and the audience should be all residents. The
banners should have some messages that cheer people up.
c.Pathway ideas (Ying)
Ying proposed that we should have some information about trails on our hills, which should
include the difficulty level, time used, and the slope level of each trail. The information should
be accessible to all residents and can be an important resource when conducting activities with
kids and seniors. Ying mentioned that she had used lots of trails, but she did not know about the
trail status before hiking. She also suggested that we should have some articles in the town paper
about some kid-friendly and senior-friendly trails. The idea is that we can introduce different
trails for different groups of people. We could also provide recommendations based on the
physical experience.
Scott said that he created the website (www.lhsrecreation.com). There is printable trail map as
well as basic info about each trail on the website. Ying suggested to have a simpler version of the
map, since she found it hard to zoom in the map on her phone. Scott added that the website map
seems small, but it is with the GPS - that way you can locate where you are when hiking. Kathy
said we should put the link on town website. Ying summarized that the idea of this proposal is to
categorize all the info of trails so the residents can have a concept when hiking. The
recommendations should be based on age. Scott, Boxia and Ying will work on the details of the
category.
d.Town 65th Anniversary Celebration update (Kathy/Sarah)
The poster of the town’s 65th celebration is on the activity guide. The theme is to plant native
poppies. Seed packets are available in the town hall and farm stand. Picture frames were also
seasonally decorated. Poppy flowers were installed in the pop-up photo frame. Kathy suggested
that we should put the town logo on the popup frame as well. Sarah would take suggestions (on
what should appear on the frame) directly from members after this meeting.
e.Update on Town construction project – timeline, how it will affect P&R (Kathy)
No update.
f.Budget Requests for FY21-22 (Kathy)
Nothing new.
5. Old Business
a. Important contact booklet
The residents have received it. Sarah has added the booklet into the newcomer packet as
suggested.
b. LAH Outdoor Challenges – Scott
Scott has been searching for biking routes for young kids. Scott and Boxia will do the search and
give a report in the next meeting. Committee members suggested that the Gardner Bullis parking
lot can be a potential option during weekends.
c. Prop 68
d. Events
i.Drive Thru Shred Event 3/20 8-11 am
The event will take place this weekend. One notice- gift cards and
credit cards should be in different bags. They would not be shredded
but rather discarded.
ii.Hoppin’ Hounds at Home 3/29 - 4/3
Kits can be picked up at the end of the month. Patty and Rebecca are
working on this and the organization Pets in Needs is helping to
prepare the kits.
iii.Make Everyday Earth Day 4/1 - 4/25
Click on the link to go to the calendar.
iv.Pathways Run/Walk Self Challenge 5/1 -5/9
Committee members are encouraged to tell friends to sign up and to
get the shirt. Information needed on the website: Course, Age and
Name. Kathy will send the flyers to the schools. There is no flyer now
but we have a poster. Sarah will send the format to use after this
meeting.
v.Independence Day Caravan 7/4
We are starting to plan for a Caravan on 7/4 with updated guidelines.
Kathy and Sarah will plan for a Bicycle Parada as long as it is deemed
safe.
vi.Softball Game 8/14 1-3pm Purissima Park
When new guidelines are released, we plan to have a new Softball
Game for adults. Targeted at Hills residents. 18 years and older
athletes needed. Men and women.
vii.Family Campout
viii.Barn Lighting
On hold until we have more information.
g.Subcommittee Reports
i.Legacy Giving: Scott and Ying
No
ii.Garden Update: Craig
No
Future Meetings: April 12, May 10, June 14, No July meeting, August 16, September 12
Adjourned Time: 6:30 pm Respectfully submitted by: Boxia Schmidt