Parks & Recreation Commission Staff Report - September 5, 2007
City of San Carlos Commission Staff Report Creating Community through People, Parks and Programs To: Parks and Recreation Commission Date: June 6, 2007 From: Barry Weiss, Parks and Recreation Director Subject: Staff Report – Parks and Recreation Programs and Services At each month’s Park and Recreation Commission meeting, the Parks and Recreation staff provides the Commission with a staff report on items of interest.These items reflect the Mission of Parks and Recreation to: - Strengthen Community Image and Sense of Place
| - Support Economic Development
| - Strengthen Safety and Security
| - Promote Health and Wellness
| - Facilitate Community Problem
| - Solving Increase Cultural Unity
| - Protect Environmental Resources
| | - Provide Recreational Experiences
|
Strengthen Community Image and Sense of Place The privet trees on Laurel Street received their annual shearing of their abundant creamy white flowers. Were the flowers not sheared, a fruit crop of blue-black, berry-like fruit follows the blossoms. The fruit falls, staining cars, walkways and other paved areas. Several of the privets are of declining health and scheduled to be removed. The Parks Division is developing a guide for Best Management Practices for tree conservation in downtown San Carlos. This will be a Guide to selecting, placing, conserving, protecting, maintaining, establishing, removing, and replacing trees in downtown San Carlos. The monthly Pancake Social at the AdultCommunity Center was a huge success in August.Coffee Chat members along with the ACC kitchen volunteer crew fed over 55 hungry seniors, many of whom were visiting from Belmont, Burlingame, and San Mateo. Our Adult Community Center is well-known on the peninsula for its outstanding programs, services, and welcoming atmosphere. Support Economic Development The E-Ticket Band brought down the house for the final concert of the summer on August 24th. The lawn area was a sea of people chatting, eating, singing and dancing to the familiar rock tunes of the past. The concert wrapped up a perfect season of great music and great times for the San Carlos community. A huge thank you to the businesses whose sponsorship made it all possible: Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, Nektar Therapeutics, Intero Real Estate, Steve & Dana Eldridge of RE/MAX Today, BOWWOW Meow, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Cashin Company, RE/MAX Today and the overall presenting sponsor, Mills Peninsula Women’s Center. Planning for our 18th season will begin almost immediately. Promote Health and Wellness From the Center for Collaborative Solutions the Healthy Behaviors for Children and Families Developing Exemplary Practices in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Food Security in After School Programs states that, “After school programs create significant cost savings to taxpayers through reductions in crime and vandalism. Programs are contributing to local economic development by increasing workplace productivity and reducing stress in the homes of students who are enrolled. We are reconnecting neighborhoods with schools and spearheading new community partnerships. (Most recently with healthcare professionals) Programs assist students to become better prepared to becoming contributing members of the future workforce. And, it has the potential for making a real difference in the health and well-being of children, young people and families – which, if successful, will lead to invaluable cost savings over time for them and for our society”. The San Carlos Youth Center meets the daily challenges of providing a safe, nurturing, physically engaging, health-conscious environment for our students, even as budget dollars continue to shrink. The staff is motivated and dedicated to increase assets in our participants, and while doing so, are creative and youth-engaging in their programming and events.Being on the front line in the fight against childhood obesity is just one of the objectives of the YouthCenter. There is a strong correlation between the SCYC being a comprehensive program for health and wellness and the Center for Collaborative Solutions report on exemplary practices in after school programming. Foster Human Development The Healthy Cities Tutoring Program raised $49,120 for fiscal year 2006-07 through foundation and corporate grants, private donations, service club contributions and support from the San CarlosSchool District. The program’s fundraising goal for the year was $47,000, so this represents a 4.5% increase over the budgeted goal. The program has been working towards a balance of support from the City, the School District, and the community at large and this goal is close to being realized. In addition, for fiscal year 2007-08, Healthy Cities has received a grant for $5,000 from Symantec Corporation, $1,000 from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and a $1,000 contribution from the San Carlos Lions Club. Healthy Cities is off to a good start for 07-08! Healthy Cities has its Fall tutor training for new tutors scheduled for Wednesday October 10. Two training sessions are being offered. One session is from 8:30-10:15 AM and a second session is offered from 6:30-8:30 PM. Both training sessions are being held at White Oaks School in the multi-use room and community members are invited to attend to become a tutor in the program. The training is offered in partnership with teachers from the San CarlosSchool District. Tutors are asked to commit one hour per week for the 2007-08 school year to a child in need of academic and mentoring support. The 2007-2008 Officers for the San Carlos Youth Advisory Council are Matt Taylor, Senior Carlmont – Chair; Jordan Robb, Senior St. Francis – Vice Chair; Lauren Vogel, 8th Grade St. Charles – Secretary; Kristen Willsher, Freshman Carlmont – Treasurer; and Aaron Bousinna, Junior Carlmont – Public Relations Officer.All are veterans to the YAC.New Voting members are Anthony Vassallo, Junior Serra College Prep; Brett McCollum, Sophomore Carlmont; Chris Kolling, Sophomore Sequoia; and Joshua Frisch, Freshman Carlmont.The new Council attended the Fort Miley ROPES course to build team and communication skills for the coming year.Challenging our youth to show compassion and understanding for their fellow council members, while building courage and self-esteem, was the goal of the ROPES course challenge. The Youth Advisory Council annually selects Council members to attend City Council and Commission meetings.This is part of their professional growth in local government and as a YAC council member.Beginning in September, the following Youth Advisory Council members will start attending meetings and reporting back to the full Council. City Council/EDACMatt Taylor, Anthony Vassallo Parks & Recreation CommissionJordan Robb, Lauren Vogel Arts & Culture CommissionAlexa May, Josh Frisch, Aaron Boussina Senior Citizens Advisory BoardKristen Willsher Traffic & Circulation CommissionBrett McCollum, Chris Kolling Planning Commission Brett McCollum, Chris Kolling 96% of parents in the Smart Tots Pre-School Program for the school year 2006/07 agree that their children learned about responsibility and sharing. 92% of parents also agree that their child improved their self-esteem and self-confidence. 29 participants from the Pre-K program took their newly developed skills on to Kindergarten for the new school year. Protect Environmental Resources The theme for this Summer’s Adventure Camp was “Planet Protectors!”Programs and activities for our young campers centered on ecology, recycling and reusing, and creative craft projects. A camp highlight is Toy Story Day, when our young super heroes make a ‘jet pack’ from a cereal box, 2 paper towel tubes, some glue and paint. Taking time each camp day to teach our children the importance of drinking water and eating fresh fruits and vegetables, exercising daily, and learning about different cultures was also emphasized.Lifelong learning and mentoring in the camp environment is a priority for our young camp leaders. Facilitate Community Problem Solving “I just wanted to say I had asked Jeri if she could have the kids and staff at the YouthCenter decorate about 250 luminarie bags, which we will light up at our lumineria ceremony at the Carlmont Relay for Life on July 14th. Time is getting short, and we needed some help. Within a couple of days they were all beautifully decorated!This is just another example of the dedication the staff and kids have to our community. Thanks!” Gordie Burton The San Carlos Police Department (SCPD), in collaboration with the YouthCenter, are working together to create a positive environment for high risk youth. The Youth and Family Services Unit (YFS) within SCPD partners with the YouthCenter, designated youth, and their families.A contract is created which requires high risk youth to visit the YouthCenter and finish a number of community service hours. In this pilot program, the YouthCenter has tracked five young adults thus far. Though reluctant at the initial orientation, most of these youth have shown vast improvement in their overall attitude and socialization skills. One of our program participants has greatly improved our YouthCenter organic garden! His green thumb is an inspiration to staff and our other participants.The garden has given him a sense of pride and ownership in the Youth Center. Softball Leagues will step aside at Highlands Park to share the space with San Carlos’ popular fall youth soccer activities. All softball play is conducted at BurtonPark during this time of year as all other athletic space is overflowing with kids, coaches and soccer gear. AARP sponsored its annual Free Homeowners & Tax Assistance (HRA) Program at the AdultCommunity Center, giving many seniors the opportunity to apply for a Property Tax Rebate. Provide Recreational Experiences It was a Summer for making memories at San Carlos Parks & Recreation.Club Ed Specialty Camps were enormously successful, with participation climbing from 805 youngsters in 2006 to 1,100 in 2007. Families could choose between any number of camp experiences for the kids: Lego Engineering, Science, Art in Action, Sewing, Math Review, Magic & Wizards, Chinese Language & Culture, DanceKids Camp, GPS & Google Earth, Moviemaking with Claymation, Chess & Math Puzzles, Sum’s Up Math, and more.Our thanks go to the San Carlos School District for hosting these camps at CentralMiddle School. This cooperative partnership allows Parks & Recreation to broaden its offerings to the community each Summer. Adult Sports continue to grow in popularity as a source of exercise as well as a social outlet. Basketball leagues for men and women will resume with 17 teams engaging in weekly competition on September 11 after annual floor refinishing at the Middle Schools. In August, the AdultCommunity Center chaperoned day trips to the River Rock Casino in Geyserville and Pier 39/Sausalito/Federal Reserve Building. A great time was had by all. Check with the ACC, 802-4384, for the schedule of Fall trips and tours planned. |
