CITY OF INDIO

Youth Master Plan Steering Committee Meeting

December 5, 2005 at 5:00 p.m.

Council Chamber

150 Civic Center Mall

Indio, California

                       

 

Meeting called to order at 5:07 p.m. by Brad Ramos.

 

Pledge of allegiance led by Benjamin Guitron.

 

Committee Members Present: Alternate Ben Guitron, IYTF; Ron Hare, Indio Chamber of Commerce; Trina Jellison, JFK Hospital; Don Martin, CV Recreation & Park District; Gil Marrujo, Desert Sands USD Administration; Brad Ramos, Chief of Police/IYTF; Alternate Tony Williams, Boys & Girls Club.

           

Committee Members Absent: Mike Wilson, City Council; J, Vice Chair; Carey Carlson, Coachella Valley USD Administration;  Regina Hawkins, YAC Advisor; Luciano Ramirez, Desert Sands USD/Indio High School; Anne Reinhagen, Coachella Valley USD/Monte Vista Elementary School; and Pamper Rodriguez, Parks & Recreation Commission; Father John Vieira, Ministerial Alliance/OLPH.

                       

Staff Present:  David Ison, Youth Coordinator; and Felicita Lugo, Administrative Assistant; Bridget Healy, Assistant City Manager; Ken Weller, Assistant City Manager.

 

1.      Update on youth activities

 

David Ison reported the AYSO program is just about done with its full season utilizing our soccer complex.  The league went from 500 participants last year to 825 this year.  Luciano and his board of directors feel that the next season they should get 1,100 participants.  If you have not been around the soccer fields, the fields are the best in the Coachella Valley.  There are a couple of minor improvements that need to be made before the beginning of next soccer season.   The fields are heavily used, especially, in the weekends.  Since we last met, the Council approved purchase of 7.3 acres for a piece of the sports complex in north Indio and will be closing escrow on December 15.  We are moving toward acquisition of roughly 35 or 36 acres in that area to provide us with a sports complex.    The youth delegation we sent to Dallas conference came back extremely motivated to build generational bridges between seniors and youth in our community.  They want to put together an event and we are moving forward with it.  The target date is September 30, 2006 at Fantasy Springs Casino.  We have spoken to several of the speakers in Dallas and they are very interested.  This will give an opportunity to our youth to drive agenda with our seniors, so it is truly a community event.   Spoke with JFK and Fantasy Springs Casino and both have express an interest in being partners. We are trying to get as many supporters as possible to lend help with their corporate support.  

 

A discussion followed concerning the lighting on the soccer fields, adults encroaching on youth time at the soccer fields and security issues as a result of lighting being turned off in the early evenings.

 

2.   Approval of the draft Youth Master Plan

           

      David Ison requested approval of the draft Youth Master Plan that incorporates all the changes suggested and it has gone to the committees that we think needed to see it and also received their approval.  If this committee is comfortable with this draft, it will go to Council on December 21 for their ratification and then starting the first of the year we will be recruiting for community professionals, hopefully, some of the committee members will join. 

 

      Motion by Don Martin, seconded by Trina Jellison with all in favor to approve the draft Youth Master Plan.

     

3.   Discussion of January 2, 2006 meeting date

 

      David Ison stated the first Monday of the year City Hall will be closed due to a holiday.  Our regular meeting can be moved to the following Monday on January 9. 

 

The Committee agreed to reschedule their January 2 meeting to January 9.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

None.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m. by Brad Ramos