HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - September 28, 2004 SSCITY OF LODI
INFORMAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING
"SHIRTSLEEVE" SESSION
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2004
An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday,
September 28, 2004, commencing at 7:01 a.m.
A. ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members — Beckman, Hitchcock, Howard, Land, and Mayor Hansen
Absent: Council Members — None
Also Present: Interim City Manager Keeter, City Attorney Schwabauer, and City Clerk Blackston
B. CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR UPDATE
City Clerk Blackston reviewed the weekly calendar (filed).
C. TOPIC(S)
C-1 "Lodi Skate Park Informational Update"
Interim City Manager Keeter reported that she met last week with staff members Tony
Goehring, Mike Reese, and Kirk Evans to discuss the status of the skate park.
Parks and Recreation Director Goehring recalled that Council previously made a decision to
terminate the contract with Spohn Ranch and gave direction to open the skate park on a
no -fee, unsupervised basis. Staffs target in doing so was June; however, difficulties arose
in obtaining insurance. Work toward lessening the noise on the equipment by grinding the
edges or applying silicone has been delayed pending resolution of the insurance issue. He
outlined the following options:
1. Reopen the park with the City assuming 100% of the liability risk under the
California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority, in which the City has a
$500,000 deductible;
2. Reopen the park with the City assuming the liability risk until an appropriate liability
insurance policy is obtained, or a secondary policy that would cover the deductible
amount;
3. Close the park, dismantle and sell the equipment, and convert the pad to another
use;
4. Find another manager to maintain and operate the park; or
5. Do nothing until the insurance is in place.
In response to Mayor Hansen, Kirk Evans, Risk Manager, noted that the city of Galt is in
an insurance pool for smaller cities and has only a $25,000 deductible. Mr. Evans stated
that he has been attempting to obtain a $1 million policy from Commercial Insurance
Services in Oklahoma; however, it lost its carrier and he has been unable to get a quote.
Other insurance companies he spoke to require that the skate park be supervised and
users must sign waivers.
City Attorney Schwabauer stated that the liability protection provided by the State of
California would not apply if the park was supervised.
Council Member Hitchcock suggested that Mr. Evans contact the League of California
Cities for insurance references of other cities who have skate parks. Ms. Hitchcock stated
that if the direction appears to be to disassemble the equipment and use the park for
another purpose, the matter should first be considered by the Parks and Recreation
Commission.
1
Continued September 28, 2004
Mayor Pro Tempore Beckman voiced support to open the park and have staff return to
Council with options regarding insurance.
Council Member Land was opposed to opening the park prior to obtaining insurance
coverage, noting that the City sustained a substantial loss in the past in a similar situation.
He preferred that the park be closed and converted to basketball courts.
Mr. Schwabauer acknowledged that the signing of waivers does not provide protection
against liability.
Mr. Goehring noted that the skate park was designed to accommodate skate boarding, in-
line skating, and BMX bicycles. BMX enthusiasts used the park much more frequently
than skate boarders; however, if the park were unsupervised they could not be allowed to
use the park at the same time.
Mayor Hansen favored opening the park and assuming the risk until reasonable secondary
insurance coverage was obtained, if possible. He asked that the matter be placed on an
upcoming Council agenda for consideration. He noted that a "blue sheet' (filed)
communication was received from Barbara McWilliams, in which she expressed hope that
the noise would be mitigated if the skate park is to be reopened.
Ms. Keeter expressed her opinion that the park be reopened as soon as possible, and in
the interim, staff would continue its search for insurance.
Mr. Goehring indicated that he would place the matter on the City Council agenda of
October 20, 2004.
Steve Dutra, Parks Superintendent, asked Council to provide direction to staff at its October
20 meeting regarding "house rules," e.g. giving staff authority to close the park if
participants were not following rules, whether graffiti would be permissible, and allowing staff
to deal with maintenance issues without seeking further approvals.
In answer to Mayor Hansen, Bob Johnson, Parks and Recreation Commissioner, believed
that if there were a way to satisfy the risk issues, the Commission would be in support of
reopening the park.
D. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS
None.
E. ADJOURNMENT
No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:41 a.m.
ATTEST:
Susan J. Blackston
City Clerk
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October 2004
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Monday. September 27 Thursday. September 30
8:30am 9:00am LPD - Swearing-in ceremony for new police officer 2:00pm HANSEN - City Selection Committee - Re: Alternate
(Police Dept. Community Room) City LAFCO Member (Board Chamber - 222 E. Weber
5:30pm 10:00pm HANSEN, BECKMAN, HITCHCOCK, HOWARD, & Avenue, room 701, Stockton)
LAND. Building Industry Asociation of the Delta
"Salute to Policy Makers" (Wine & Roses Hotel, Lodi)
Tuesday. September 28 Friday. October 01
7:00am 9:00am Shirtsleeve Session (Carnegie Forum) 9:00am 9:30am HANSEN - 2nd grade class tour - Reese School
7:00am Special Meeting - Closed Session (Carnegie Forum) (Forum)
11:30am 2:00pm HANSEN - East Bay Municipal Utility District annual
Pardee BBQ (McLean Hall, Pardee Center)
5:30pm 7:00pm Lodi Art Center Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting (110
S. Church St.)
Wednesday. September 29 Saturday. October 02
Sunday. October 03
Street Faire 8 a.m. to 4 .m.
Kari Chadwick 1 9/24/2004 11:55 AM
Page 1 of 2
Jennifer Perrin cam
From: Susan Blackston
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 4:01 PM
To: 'Lew & Barbara McWilliams'
Cc: City Council; Janet Keeter; Steve Schwabauer; Tony Goehring
Subject: RE: McWilliams-Kofu Skate Park
Dear Barbara McWilliams:
This reply is to confirm that your message was received by the City CleWs Office and each member of the City
Council. In addition, by copy of this e-mail, we have forwarded your message to the following departments for
information, referral, or handling: 1) City Manager, 2) City Attorney, and 3) Parks & Recreation.
Thank you for expressing your views.
Is/ Susan J. Blackston, City Clerk
-----Original Message -----
From: Lew & Barbara McWilliams [ma !Ito:mcwilliams@softtom.net]
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 3:39 PM
To: Susan Blackston; Susan Hitchcock; Emily Howard; Keith Land; John Beckman; Larry Hansen
Subject: McWilliams-Kofu Skate Park
Councilmembers,
I have attached a few of my thoughts for your consideration as you make a decision on the fate
of the Kofu Skate Park.
Barbara McWilliams
BARBARA MCWILLIAMS
RE: SKATE PARK at KOFU PARK
I will have to admit that the absence of the skateboard noise coming off the ramps at
the Kofu Skatepark has been nice this summer. I do
understand the City must decide what to do with regards to the skate park.
We, in the Sunset Drive area, feel we will suffer noise no matter what you
decide. If you open the park we have to deal with the dumping noise of the
skateboards hitting the ramps where they are put together. The kids have
not been too noisy. If you decide to do away with it, I'm sure you will find
another use such as basketball, which Councilman Land alluded to. Then
we get to enjoy the bouncing balls and the noise of the players (quite
frankly, I'm certain they would be more noisy. I know the tennis players
are.)
If the City decides to reopen the skatepark, i ask that the City do something to muffle
G]hxINITi!,i
Page 2 of 2
the dumping sound we are stuck with. I also ask that you do not
consider amplified sound events for the area.
If you decide to do a basketball court ---I guess I give up for now.
9/27/2004