[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6575252,"mediaKeyId","3124427-7ce924a7d115b53907bd34b1edb0bb4e","parentId",3124427,"title","Votes at a glance: agenda adoption, meeting time change and adjournment","audioSeconds",7016,"startMs",66000,"endMs",7082000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3124427-7ce924a7d115b53907bd34b1edb0bb4e&start=66&end=7082","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3124427-7ce924a7d115b53907bd34b1edb0bb4e/thumbnail_66000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6575252/Placerville/El-Dorado-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-agenda-adoption-meeting-time-change-and-adjournment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575252-269655e7e4dc340795bb8733c38511ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442786&Signature=m~3CGvUtpFJ1toUNmbZVwjjKYf22AY-ZDRgjeNK1bV7lKMzB1venHt67ponx3Mu0MgEj6LWdcBRa2dYVlqSYi0wX2nen6HOMkVPsaWbi39rGbWLcH~iZtM0QGjpuGxzPqH2rR4qDzrIXXH3Zm7QKoypzHjkjJoDkIgjfoNHE5YNy5LQiqUu4t5pkVwZw~CR52FKQ7DdwdMWvD1n6QgnQ6m9XAYRlsGpgqdeDpb6fqjWfKXDiaqyw~FLmpMSjmdK47iGsmw72jT~z~GypaDkN8IsdTXR1FtIVgkCyOe4TeZRPh4MsaiYNxb9RDbuhHJYFgzupSMW3kc0sULXQDpar9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-25T16:31:23.197Z","article","At the start of the meeting commissioners adopted the agenda. Later, the commission voted to shift regular Recreation & Parks Commission meetings from 5:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The meeting ended after the commission adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

Details
- Agenda adoption: Chair called for adoption; a motion and second were made and the commission adopted the agenda by voice vote (all in favor). The transcript does not record a named mover.
- Meeting start time change (Item 5.3): Motion to move Recreation and Parks Commission meeting start time to 5:00 p.m. received a second; commissioners voted by voice and the motion passed (voice vote recorded as “Aye;” commissioners present indicated unanimous support).
- Adjournment: A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and approved by unanimous voice vote.

Attendance and vote context
Roll call at the beginning identified five commissioners present: Chair Wendell, Vice Chair Spencer, Commissioner Pitchley, Commissioner Luan and Commissioner Potter. Because the roll call established five members present, the unanimous voice votes recorded for the formal motions imply five yes votes for each passed motion. The transcript does not record individual roll-call tallies or any nay/abstain votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Recreation & Parks Commission Meeting 04 21 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission adopted the meeting agenda, voted to move regular Recreation & Parks Commission meetings to a 5:00 p.m. start time, and adjourned. No substantive policy votes on Lions Park or the aquatic center were taken.","taxTitle","Placerville, El Dorado County, California","taxId",12827,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6575255,"Plasco Aquatic Center review: commissioners weigh fee increases, partial closures and cost-saving options",3162,2928000,6090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3124427-7ce924a7d115b53907bd34b1edb0bb4e&start=2928&end=6090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3124427-7ce924a7d115b53907bd34b1edb0bb4e/thumbnail_2928000.jpg","/articles/6575255/Placerville/El-Dorado-County/California/Plasco-Aquatic-Center-review-commissioners-weigh-fee-increases-partial-closures-and-cost-saving-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575255-ad179c41aae6d6a291d0592d107bf68b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442786&Signature=L5VjJd5k8-wjb0QMAc-6kGFM1ymQu6Y2N~knWhMig1xv-987D50nPeYmY8ZMOy8S7uIK04yFouS8qinBA8N2KJGpMKYsCgHXzq9zx5Y-ZQrlP6UL~NFc1PQ3EoP20L9sTi863MORrcstoqTeth7fdi6fJgucoLNaoOUJwkV7elTMxik3OSaKwR8TxbotWiaJCsQbCjiIj4TyzAsDyirjl7enoe4DSVEPJf5r~BR28qVroQXAMshy1SUTw2lzZ4Ep~mDgXo2X~jzNliLkhi3btXXEczm6ZHjItImuvRcR-msRNvn4CIrS6TD9VfMsO6QMmN7hluE1CNxyg6umjBJ3Lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented an operational review of the Plasco Aquatic Center and prompted a multi-hour discussion about how to reduce the center’s subsidy while preserving swim lessons and essential services.

Community Services Director Dennis Nishihara told the commission the city currently spends about $674,630 annually to operate the pool — approximately $465,000 in operations and $208,000 in maintenance — and that projected revenues for the next budget year are around $185,000. Nishihara said those numbers leave the city to subsidize a large portion of the facility’s cost: “whether you're heating your pool, whether you're putting chemicals in the pool, or whether you're putting a lifeguard at the pool… an aquatic center … does not make enough revenue to offset its expenditures,” he said.

Commissioners and the public discussed four broad options staff presented: (1) eliminate the extended season that runs after school resumes; (2) increase user fees and consider higher nonresident fees with discounts for city residents; (3) implement partial closures or modified hours to match attendance patterns; and (4) pursue operational efficiencies such as different propane vendors, solar pool covers, or a longer-term salt-water conversion. Staff recommended keeping core services, particularly swim lessons, but exploring these tools to reduce the city subsidy.

Why it matters: The Plasco Aquatic Center is the region’s primary public pool for a large portion of El Dorado County; staff reported that about 76% of users come from outside the city. Commissioners noted the pool provides lifesaving skills training and community recreation and emphasized protecting swim lessons while reducing operating deficits.

Key figures discussed
- Annual operating and maintenance costs: about $674,630 total (operations ~ $465,000; maintenance ~ $208,000). Staff presented these figures as 2024/2025 season totals.
- Revenue: 2024 budgeted revenue roughly $222,000; projected revenue for the coming year about $185,000 given recent county funding changes (Nishihara noted the county’s preliminary decision reduced expected support; staff has used an approximate $37,500 figure for a one-time county donation in prior years).
- Pool usage in 2024 (examples): 343 swim lesson registrations, 379 lap-swim users, 5,331 point-of-sale drop-in public swims, and about 540 average weekly attendants during peak weeks.
- Chemical costs: staff reported roughly $58,466 in pool-chemical purchases in 2024; propane totals discussed in the presentation were approximately $20,145 over the reporting period.

Options under consideration
- Eliminate extended season: Staff noted the city runs a 13‑week season although lessons are nine weeks; attendance falls after school starts. Several commissioners supported cutting the extended weeks at the end of the season to reduce costs.
- Fee adjustments: Commissioners and the public recommended raising nonresident fees and incrementally increasing resident fees. Nishihara recommended maintaining current fees for the remainder of the fiscal year and considering a larger increase next year; commissioners suggested staged increases and public outreach. Staff noted fee increases require a council decision and a 60-day notice for implementation.
- Modified hours and partial closures: Staff and several commissioners recommended aligning open hours and public‑swim offerings to weekly attendance patterns. Data presented showed attendance dropping in the final four weeks of the current operating season.
- Operational efficiencies and capital options: Participants suggested reviewing propane contracts, considering solar pool covers to retain heat, investigating salt-water conversion for longer-term savings, and exploring internships to support staffing. Staff said many of these require longer-term study and capital investment.

Public reaction and equity considerations
Members of the public urged keeping swim lessons affordable because they are a lifesaving skill for children. Staff confirmed the city’s youth scholarship fund can subsidize lesson fees for low-income families; commissioners noted raising user fees would increase demand on that fund.

Ending
Staff will present these options and collected public feedback to the city council (item was noted for the council agenda the following day). Commissioners generally supported exploring staged fee increases, potential elimination of the extended season, targeted partial closures or hours changes, and further study of energy and chemical cost reductions. No binding decisions or fee changes were adopted at the meeting.","Staff outlined the aquatic center's finances — roughly $675,000 in annual expenses and projected city revenue of about $185,000 — and commissioners and the public discussed trimming hours, nonresident fees, volunteer support and technical upgrades such as solar covers or salt conversion.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6575257,"Placerville commissioners back staff-led turf repairs at Lions Park; volunteers and equipment purchases planned",2439,178000,2617000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3124427-7ce924a7d115b53907bd34b1edb0bb4e&start=178&end=2617","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3124427-7ce924a7d115b53907bd34b1edb0bb4e/thumbnail_178000.jpg","/articles/6575257/Placerville/El-Dorado-County/California/Placerville-commissioners-back-staff-led-turf-repairs-at-Lions-Park-volunteers-and-equipment-purchases-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575257-060ebc2d02daee658aa6b0775f522c48/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442786&Signature=nqncDqxh~Od-mwSTeG8QpgHUpHUPTU4yqWjZ-HCJlfFeZ3e8Q~u2snGEMJ-UQCdrRrYaru94mtb3xLFnVNv8zGAXw25hsPSq9v928FbpuvjSenF5DVrQQgpdMcXUAa79CN3EsRuRBnGAdOMH-ExOO3g98ut3NCQ5MGcgtF0NOUi28l~-McWYZvLzMmh~Qu9sOdQUdAh3khexdY9IuYQ6euV-OaC3jh0DkhuEyywDdw2~HGAflRPtFP-wVqy~Me3R-CSze0lOPaUackh1juwLmWUobQNxCD8aNvS4oKV1u8we0hKNsbK81XxXWQVNkb4p3rqR2e7O8GrpkxYjygG6Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Placerville Recreation and Parks staff outlined plans to begin in-house turf repairs at Lions Park and asked commissioners and the public for feedback on longer-term drainage and master-planning needs.

The discussion centered on immediate work to make softball fields safe for the upcoming season and on whether the city should hire outside consultants for a broader master plan. Community Services Director Dennis Nishihara said the commission is proposing initial, staff-led turf repairs and described the move as fiscally prudent: “after taking a few looks at some of the expenses, I think having it in house … is advantageous … for the long term return on investment,” Nishihara said.

Commissioners and speakers at the meeting raised cost, timing and outreach questions. Staff estimated roughly $25,000–$30,000 to do primary field repairs in house, not including some staff hours and equipment rental or purchase. Field maintenance staff and volunteers described a work program that would include aeration, monthly top-dressing and reseeding with Bermuda suited for Placerville’s transition climate. Mark Stringfeld, field maintenance staff, said, “The seed has already been ordered … This stuff will be incorporated in the field. The grass, it's there. It will start growing over the summer.”

Why it matters: Lions Park is a regional facility used by adult softball leagues, youth players and other community groups. Commissioners described the park as one of the city’s largest recreational draws, and several public speakers emphasized player safety and the local economic value of attracting tournaments.

Details and next steps
- Immediate repairs and safety work: Staff proposed focusing first on turf repair so play can begin this season; that work is being organized now and staff aim to start within weeks. Nishihara said drainage questions remain and recommended an irrigation audit before extensive reconstruction.
- Cost estimates: Staff estimated about $25,000–$30,000 for primary in-house field repair (materials, smaller equipment and some implements). A local vendor had earlier quoted about $40,000 for materials; an outside contractor quote discussed at prior meetings was roughly $58,800 per field. Large drainage reconstruction was discussed as a much larger undertaking; staff warned true reconstruction could reach roughly the “million-dollar” scale and said the city is not prepared to fund that level this year.
- Equipment: Parks staff said the $25,000–$30,000 figure includes purchasing items such as an aerator, top dresser and dethatcher. Staff said the city currently lacks a tractor; staff and volunteers discussed short-term rental (~$3,700 for a month) versus purchasing used tractors (estimates discussed in the meeting ranged roughly from $15,000 to $60,000 depending on horsepower and condition). Staff said they are also exploring used-equipment listings and community donations.
- Volunteers and workdays: Staff and field maintenance organized volunteer workdays immediately after the meeting. Volunteers must sign liability waivers; staff will circulate a sign-up and waiver form. Mark Stringfeld offered to supervise volunteer work: “When I do it, it's gonna be bucket loads of mix onto the field, and then it needs to be spread.”
- Master plan and consultant: Staff recommended hiring a park-planning consultant to engage neighbors and users about long-term amenities and deferred maintenance, but commissioners suggested cost-saving alternatives (in-house meetings, newsletters and targeted outreach). Staff estimated a consultant-led master-plan study would cost roughly $30,000–$50,000.
- Irrigation and drainage: Staff reported an irrigation study has been completed by an outside firm (REUI) and that further audit work is needed to identify where pressure or distribution problems originate. Commissioners emphasized that an irrigation audit should precede major reconstruction or replacement of irrigation piping.

What remained undecided
No formal budget appropriation or contract award was voted on during the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to continue planning, pursue volunteer coordination and return with further details on timeline, specific equipment purchases and the scope and cost of an irrigation audit or consultant study.

Public input and operational notes
Multiple public commenters, including long-time players and organizers from the newly formed Placerville Softball Committee, urged prioritizing player safety and praised the staff-led approach. Craig Larnsey, representing the Placerville Softball Committee, said the nonprofit will seek to raise funds to funnel directly to park improvements.

Ending
Staff will coordinate volunteer sign-ups, secure immediate materials and equipment rentals where needed, and return to the commission with a timeline and cost breakdown for the next meeting.","Commissioners and the public discussed an in-house plan to repair Lions Park softball fields, with staff estimating $25,000–$30,000 for initial turf work, requests for volunteer workdays and equipment purchases, and further study for irrigation and drainage.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: agenda adoption, meeting time change and adjournment

Plasco Aquatic Center review: commissioners weigh fee increases, partial closures and cost-saving options

Placerville commissioners back staff-led turf repairs at Lions Park; volunteers and equipment purchases planned