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PKC - Item 2A - Minutes - June 2025 1 MINUTES OF THE ROSEMEAD PARKS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JUNE 3, 2025 The regular meeting of the Rosemead Parks Commission was called to order by Vice-chair Luau at 7:00 p.m. in the Rosemead City Council Chamber located at 8838 East Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. PRESENT: Commissionner Chavez, Hernandez, Luau, and Vu ABSENT: Commissionner Le PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Luau INVOCATION was led by Commissioner Vu 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE - None 2. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Minutes Chair Hernandez motioned the approval of the meeting notes at 7:02 p.m. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Chavez and seconded by Vice-Chair Luau to approve the May 6, 2025, minutes: Motion carried by the following vote: YES: Chavez, Hernandez, Luau, and Vu; ABSENT: Le 3. MATTERS FROM STAFF A. Rose of Excellence Awards Recreation Supervisor Tam Chu opens the meeting with the Rose of Excellence recipients. The City of Rosemead proudly recognizes Matthew Mendoza and Sal Tovar for their outstanding contributions to the Parks and Recreation Department. Since joining the City in January 2022, Mr. Mendoza has been a dependable and hardworking team member, providing exceptional customer service and ensuring smooth operations at the Rosemead and Garvey Community Centers. His dedication and professionalism have made him a valued asset to the department. Mr. Tovar, who began his service in May 2024 with the Youth and Adult Sports Division, has demonstrated a strong commitment to youth programming, bringing passion, patience, and leadership to every interaction. His efforts were instrumental in leading the City’s Youth Basketball All-Star Team to the semi-finals in the Winter 2025 Smash San Gabriel Valley Tournament. Both individuals exemplify excellence in public service and continue to make a meaningful impact on the Rosemead community. Chair Hernandez thanks both recipients for their hard work and dedication to the City of Rosemead. 2 B. 2025 Summer Registration Update Recreation Supervisor Tam Chu presents an update on summer registration to the commission. The Parks and Recreation Department is gearing up for a busy and exciting summer filled with many programs and events for the Rosemead community. Summer registration officially opened on Monday, May 19, at 8:00 a.m., both online and in person at our city facilities. The most popular programs filled quickly, reflecting high community interest and participation. Swim lessons remain one of our most in-demand offerings. With five sessions available, we currently have 929 participants registered. Due to the popularity of this program, we were able to add sessions this year. While some sessions are complete, there is still limited availability in others. The Summer Youth Basketball League has also reached capacity with 160 participants, and 87 additional youth have been placed on a waitlist. In response to this demand, staff secured access to a second school gym, allowing us to expand the league and accommodate those on the waitlist. Camp Rosemead remains a family favorite, with 264 children registered for the summer. Only six spots remain for the week of June 30 through July 3. Our excursion programs also see strong participation, with 210 individuals currently registered. Space is still available for several upcoming trips. Our most popular senior excursions are visits to the Queen Mary, a Hollywood tour, the Getty Center, and a beach day at Santa Monica Pier. Youth excursions to Knott's Berry Farm and Topgolf have also generated much interest. This summer, we are excited to introduce two new offerings: a family excursion to the OC Fair and a teen excursion to Raging Waters. Our contract and general recreation classes have 445 participants enrolled. The Integral Tai Chi classes at the Garvey and Rosemead Community Centers filled quickly. We are also seeing incredible enthusiasm for our new adaptive recreation events. For example, the Paint and Punch event scheduled for June 12 is already at full capacity. Supervisor Chu notes that these numbers show the staff has diligently prepared for a vibrant and engaging summer season. With such a variety of programs available, the Parks and Recreation Department is proud to offer inclusive and enriching opportunities for residents of all ages. Chair Hernandez exclaims that over 900 participants for swim lessons are impressive. Supervisor Chu explains that swim lessons are one of the most in- demand summer programs, with classes filling up rapidly, often within minutes of registration opening. Supervisor Chu continues that the department was able to recruit and schedule enough qualified staff and lifeguard instructors this season to offer an additional session. While Aquatics typically provides four sessions, staff was pleased to expand to five this year to meet community demand better. Chair Henandez asked if there is still a need to recruit more lifeguards. Supervisor Chu responded that the department continuously recruits lifeguards since the Rosemead Aquatic Center is open year-round. Chair Hernandez asked Supervisor Chu if there 3 are any specifics to point out that cause the high numbers for swim lessons versus other years. Supervisor Chu explained that the success of Rosemead's aquatics programs is primarily due to well-trained staff and the rare advantage of having two city-owned aquatic facilities. Unlike many cities that rely on limited shared-use pools, Rosemead's dedicated centers allow for greater flexibility and expanded program offerings. Chair Hernandez inquired if there would be another additional basketball league added. Supervisor Chu explains that the youth basketball league is expanding its capacity due to increasing demand and high popularity. Traditionally, the league operated with one school gymnasium, accommodating approximately 16 teams and 160 participants. Recently, registration has sold out within minutes of opening. The department secured access to a second school gymnasium through the local school district to address the growing interest. With approval granted, staff have notified individuals on the waitlist, offering the opportunity to register for an additional 16 teams, potentially increasing participation by another 160 youth. Commissioner Chavez asked if the staff is looking into additional revenue for the youth basketball league or in general. Supervisor Chu responded that staff continuously seek ways to enhance the league experience, such as playing music during halftime and warm-ups to engage parents better. Operating at two sites has been beneficial in supporting these efforts. Expanding the league to accommodate the 84 waiting individuals represents a significant achievement. The department also expresses gratitude to the school district for their partnership and support in providing additional gym space, which has been essential to hosting the expanded number of teams. C. Monthly Parks & Recreation Department Review Recreation Supervisor Tam Chu presents the Parks and Recreation Department's monthly programs to the commission. The Aquatics Division staff have been actively preparing for the busy summer season. Several in-service training sessions were held for aquatics personnel throughout May, covering CPR, AED, first aid, and lifeguard certification to ensure a well-prepared team. In recognition of National Water Safety Month, weekly water safety tips were shared on social media every Wednesday to help educate the community and encourage safe practices around water. On May 17, all current swim lesson participants took the Safe Swimmer's Pledge during class, reinforcing important safety habits and personal responsibility in and around aquatic environments. The City continues to offer a full schedule of aquatic programs, including lap swim, Aqua Fit, and the Rosemead Rapids Swim Team. As the spring session ends at the end of May, the summer session is set to begin on June 9. The Splash Zone underwent its annual site inspection on May 9 and successfully passed, ensuring compliance with all regulations. The facility is now open for rentals, and recreational swimming will begin on June 9. This summer, recreational swimming 4 will be offered seven days a week—Monday through Friday from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. At the Community Centers, the Play School Program hosted its annual Spirit Week from May 19 to May 22. The week featured themed days such as Matching Monday, Grown-Up Tuesday, and Color Wednesday. It wrapped up with Graduation Thursday when students were celebrated as they prepared to enter kindergarten. The Garvey Community Center remained active with ongoing senior programming, including monthly bingo socials, craft classes, and daily lunch service. On May 22, the Center hosted the annual Salute to Seniors event to celebrate Older Americans Month. The program featured lunch, live music from Bobby Z, themed decorations, and a raffle. A total of 110 seniors attended. The Youth and Adult Programs Division hosted its first Adult Pickleball Tournament on May 17, themed "Wild Wild West." The event welcomed 16 participants from eight teams. Team Spicy Pickles took home the championship, while all players received T-shirts, participation medals, and entry into a raffle. The next tournament will be held on Saturday, August 2, with a carnival theme. Several special events also took place in May. The Anti-Hate Poetry Contest invited Rosemead students ages 5 to 17 to submit original poems on the theme of unity and inclusion. A total of 12 entries were received, with winners representing Sanchez Elementary, Bitely Elementary, and Garvey Intermediate. Poems were judged on creativity, relevance to the theme, and originality. The Spring Kids' Night Out: Paint and Play event was held on May 9 at Garvey Park Youth Center. The sold-out event welcomed 30 participants, ages 6 to 14, who participated in painting, animation activities, games, dinner, and a movie. The next Kids' Night Out is scheduled for Friday, August 1, at the Splash Zone, with a "Splash Bash Finale" to celebrate the end of summer. On May 24, the City hosted its second annual Youth Multicultural Day at the City Hall parking lot. Organized by the Rosemead Youth Advisory Committee, the event celebrated cultural diversity with performances from Aztec dancers, the Temple Cultural Center, the School of Rock Youth Band, and others. The event also included informational booths and fun, family-friendly activities. Finally, the City held its Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26, at 10:00 a.m. at the Civic Center Plaza. The ceremony honored those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and included a presentation of colors, placement of a memorial wreath, and the playing of "Taps." Vice-Chair Luau inquired about the location for the next Special Olympics event. Supervisor Chu informed the commission that an area had been secured. Special Olympics Southern California has an agreement with Bolero, so the staff secured the Bolero in Montebello. Supervisor Chu explains that it is fortunate to partner with Special Olympics Southern California as they will also pay for the lanes. 5 Supervisor Chu again thanked the Special Olympics organization for donating to utilize the bowling facility. Chair Hernandez asked if transportation would be included. Supervisor Chu replied that transportation would need to be arranged by the participant, whether that be their parents or a caretaker. Information regarding the location has been communicated to all participants. Commissioner Vu asked how many participants are enrolled so far. Supervisor Chu reports that a total of nine participants have signed up. Supervisor Chu further commented that despite nine being a low number, the staff is excited with that turnout, as this is a new program, and last spring, with Bocce Ball Special Olympics, there was only one participant. Supervisor Chu is also excited to explain that stand-alone participants from Bocce Ball had the best time at the first Special Olympics event, and they are returning for bowling. Vice-Chair Luau inquired about what funding was coming from the City of Rosemead. Supervisor Chu explained that the City is paying for staff dedicated to attending specific Special Olympics training. The department will also be providing t-shirts and certificates. 4. MATTERS FROM COMMISSION A. Commissioner Comments Chair Hernandez suggested installing a shade canopy at the Aquatics Center. While spring swim lessons experienced some light rainfall, the suggestion was made with summer conditions in mind, as extreme heat can affect both participants and spectators. The proposed canopy would provide consistent shaded areas for swimmers, families, and staff, enhancing comfort and safety during peak sun hours. Supervisor Chu noted that temporary shade structures such as pop-up canopies often provide shade for special events like dive-in movie nights. At this time, Supervisor Chu will share the recommendation with the Parks and Recreation Director for further consideration. Vice-Chair Luau inquired regarding the 4th of July and asked if any help was needed. Commission Secretary Geneva Ramirez informed Vice-Chair Luau that volunteer help is always appreciated and that Vice-Chair Luau’s contact information will be forwarded to the appropriate staff so she can volunteer with preparations. Supervisor Chu also mentioned that he oversees the Volunteen Program, and those volunteers will assist with the 4th of July event. The Rosemead Key Club and Latin Key Club with Rosemead High School have also been contacted if they would like to volunteer and assist. Supervisor Chu notified the commission that if they or anyone they know who is interested in volunteering, please feel free to contact staff. Commissioner Vu congratulated Supervisor Chu on his job and said he had done well on his presentation. 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. The next Parks Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 6 __________________________________ Geneva Ramirez, Commission Secretary APPROVED: _________________________ Alina Hernandez, Chair