Hermosa Beach retires Parks Master Plan subcommittee as staff shifts to implementation; courts, shade and budget under-run highlighted

The Parks and Rec Community Resource Advisory Commission voted to retire its Parks Master Plan subcommittee at its Dec. 3 meeting after the City Council adopted the 2024 Parks Master Plan on Nov. 12, 2024. Commissioners said the move is intended to shift commission and staff time from plan development to implementation of projects and policy work.

The retirement motion passed by voice vote after members made and seconded the motion; the transcript records Chair Lang and Commissioner Almond saying “yes” when the vote was opened. Staff said the retirement and onboarding of two new special-events and filming staff will allow the department to focus on pending subcommittee work including the Clark Building use policy and volleyball court use policy.

Why it matters: With the plan adopted, the commission and staff are moving into project delivery and policy updates that will affect parks operations, capital improvements and long-term use agreements across the city.

Staff provided updates on several projects tied to the plan. The Kelly Court renovation (CIP 619) at Clark Field, staff said, will resurface and reconfigure the courts to return four pickleball courts, and will also resurface and restripe tennis and basketball courts to meet court standards. The design is near completion, and Public Works plans to advertise the project for bids within the next couple of months, Community Resources Director Lisa said. She added staff will re-engage the stakeholder group of neighbors and pickleball players to revisit use policies once the construction timeline is established.

Friends of the Parks told the commission it plans to underwrite a replacement shade structure at South Park. Laura, representing Friends of the Parks, said the organization expects the project to be a $7,000 expenditure and that it is prepared to fund the replacement pending lease and budget details.

Budget and contract costs were discussed during public comment. A member of the public asked whether the city's reported under-run on the master-plan contract included fees paid to Catalyst Consulting. Lisa responded that the approximately $329,000 reported contract cost did include Catalyst Consulting and the plan consultant (RJM). Commissioners noted the plan came in well under the $650,000 originally budgeted in the CIP and that the unspent funds will return to the general fund.

Staff also flagged continuing municipal lease and facility items that tie to implementation: a Clark Building use policy and fee structure to support the building's reopening and municipal lease policy work to clarify agreements for community organizations that use city facilities.

Next steps: staff said it will return with timelines and construction scheduling once bids are received, re-engage stakeholders on court-use policy once a construction schedule is set, and provide updates to the commission as implementation milestones are reached.