ParksandRecreationCommission

SkateboardParkAdhocCommitteeMeeting
April14,20146:00pmatMarineAvenuePark

MeetingNotes:
IntroductionandOverview
ParksandRecreationCommissionerandAdHocCommitteememberNancyHersmanwelcomed
meetingattendeesandintroducedcommitteemembersandCitystaff
NancyintroducedParksandRecreationDirectorMarkLeyman
o MarkGaveanoverviewofCityCouncildirectionandaskedRecreationServicesManager
IdrisAlObouditogiveanoverviewofusagecontrolsandoperations
Idrisnotedthefollowingpoints:
o Staffedversusunstaffedparks
HermosaBeachisstaffed;otherparksvisitedareunstaffed
o SkateboardingisdefinedasahighriskactivitybytheStateofCalifornia
Generallysignageandunstaffedparksmitigateliability
o Regulationsmustbeposted
Itisuptouserstofollowrulesandregulations
o Designandmaintenanceareimportantfactorsinminimizingrisk
o TheRiskmanagerhasbeenconsultedandtheysuppliedsomeinformationfromthe
Citysinsurancepool
Idrisstatedthatheisnotariskmanagementexpertandalwaysrefersliabilityandriskissuesto
CityRiskManagerashehasdonefor28+yearsofworkingwiththeCityofManhattanBeach
Idrisaskedtheattendeesiftheyhadanyquestions

Questions,comments,anddiscussionpointsfromattendees:
AretherelawsinCalifornialimitingliabilityforunstaffedparks?
o Yes
Staffingaskateboardparkcanincreasetheriskofliability?
o IdrisGenerally,yes
Ifstaffingaparkmeansmorerisk,whatareotheroptionsformonitoringuse?
Willhoursofoperationbeset?Howwilltheybeenforced?
Dosurveillancecamerasimpactriskorliability?
o IdrissomeparkshavecamerasandtheCityhasconsideredusingcamerasaswell,but
wedonotknowaboutassociatedrisks.OurCitysRiskManagerwillhelpformour
opinion
HowmanyparkshavebeenvisitedbyCitystaffandhowmanyofthoseparkswerestaffed?
o Staffvisitedfiveparksandonewasstaffed
Doesvisibilityimpactvandalismandimproperuse?
Haveweresearchedvandalismissuesatotherskateboardparks?
o IdrisYes,butmostproblemsarerelatedtotrashandpeopleputtingstickersonsigns
andskateboardparkelements,notgraffiti
Isthebeachorabeachparkingareaapotentialsite?Thebeachshouldbeconsideredbecauseit
representstheCity.
Whatkindofsquarefootageisnecessary?
o ThecommissionerscitedAaronSpohnspreviouspresentationandsuggestedaspaceof
about10,000squarefeetwouldbemostappropriate
SeveralattendeesexpressedtheirconcernoverongoingproblemsinPolliwogPark
o Afterhoursuse,trespassing,andvandalismareconstantproblems
o Attendeesstatedthattheycontactthepolicedepartmentregularly
o TrafficandparkingfromMBMSarealreadybadandhaveneverbeenaddressed
o TheCitycannotenforcethepoliciesalreadyinplaceatPolliwog,sohowwillthey
enforcerulesatanewfacility
ResidentslivingnearPolliwogfearthatthedecisionhasalreadybeenmadetobuilda
skateboardparkinPolliwog
WhatpartofPolliwogisbeingconsidered?IstheSEpartoftheparkanoption?
o Yes,itwasincludedinMr.Spohnspresentation
Isanindoorparkanoption?
o NotfortheCity.Anindoorparkwouldbeprivatelyownedandoperated
Othercommentsonlocation:
o MarineAveParkoutfieldlocationisbestbecausetheimpactonresidencesisminimal
o Arethereanylocationswhererelocatingorreplacinganexistingfacility(e.g.atennisor
basketballcourt)isanoption?
TheCitydoesnotwanttogetridofanything,butrelocatingafacilityisan
option
o MarineAve.Parklocationisnotvisibleenoughtoeasilycontroluse
Askateboardparkmayactuallyalleviatesomeoftheconcernsthatexist
ThecityshouldlookatTheCoveSkateboardParkinSantaMonicaforanexampleofan
alternativetofree,unstaffedparks.

Questions/CommentsfromCommittee:
CommitteeMemberNancyHersmanaskedthatdiscussionfocusonoperationandusage.
FurthercommentsonlocationcouldbebroughttothenextParksandRecreationCommission
meeting.
Ifbuildingaskateboardparkwasaforegoneconclusion,whereshoulditgo?
ShouldseveralsmallerskateboardparkelementsscatteredaroundtheCitybeconsidered?Ifso,
whereshouldtheelementsgo?
o Severalattendeesagreedthatthisapproachmadesenseandshouldbeconsidered
CommitteeMemberMadisonMiketaaskedwhattheattendeesexpectedfromtheyoung
peopletheyassumewouldbeusingthepark

Wrapup
CommitteeMemberNancyHersmanendedthediscussionandremindedattendeesofthe
meetingonApril21,2014andnotedthatthetopicofdiscussionwouldbedesign.