THE LONG BEACH RECREATION DOG PARK ASSN.
Summary of BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: Sept. 5, 2001

Remarks

(none)

Old Business

1. Jim Walters received a corrected version of a contract to renew of the association's agreement with the city, which now notes that the association is a public-benefit corporation. Notarized signatures of President Jim Knutson and Treasurer Fred Nicas are needed. Mr. Knutson will send the signed copies to the Department of Parks, Recreaton & Marine.

2. Jim Walters reported that the only local teacher to respond to the association's plea for help in taking a park census was Pam Zerby of Long Beach Poly High. He will set up a preliminary meeting with her and Dave Ashman of the Parks Department within the next few weeks.

3. Final tabulations from the Pet Fair were discussed, with Fred Nicas and Gerry Facon disagreeing over the figures. Mr. Nicas, the treasurer, reported net income of $3,863.68, while Mr. Facon, the even co-chairman, reported a net income of about $4,500. Mr. Facon's figure included $375 in new memberships, which Mr. Nicas' did not. And Mr. Nicas' figures took into consideration two bounced checks, which Mr. Facon's figures did not. The two agreed to compare their figures privately.

4. The board members discussed allocating portions of its proceeds from the Pet Fair. Event co-chairs Gerry Facon and Lori Edwards recommended giving $500 each to the Pet Assistance Foundation, for its low-cost spay-and-neuter program; the Volunteers of America's Companion Pet Program, to support in-house care for the pets of disabled seniors; and the Golden State Humane Society, to support the rescue, care and adoption of sick and abandoned animals in the city. Mr. Facon noted that as per our nonprofit public-benefit corporation status, the association is obliged to assist charitable organizations. Jim Walters said that while the association, indeed, should assist charities, he thought that giving away about a third of what was raised at the Pet Fair was too much. He said that attendees were not told as such and that most believed that all the proceeds were going to the Dog Park. After additional discussion, Fred Nicas suggested that total contributions should be $1,000. Mr. Facon then recommended only awarding two donations as less than $500 would be insufficient to be of much assistance.

MOTION by Mr. Nicas to award $500 to the Pet Assistance Foundation and $500 to the Golden State Humane Society, and, based on an examination of association's revenues, wants and needs, a possible donation to a third group at a later date, seconded by Mr. Walters, passed 5-0, with Mr. Facon abstaining.

Mr. Facon said that he would write cover letters for the donations and Mr. Walters agreed to copy-edit them. Mr. Facon and Jim Knutson said that they wanted to do the check-passings in person.

5. In committee news:

Projects & fundraising: Chairwoman Lori Edwards; board representative Gerry Facon.
-- Ice Dogs Night: A night will be schedduled in October, once we know their schedule for Community Appreciation Nights. Two types of tickets were discussed: Dinner at the Ice Dogs VIP Club and tickets for the game, or just tickets to the game. Both require a minimum number of tickets sold.
-- Belmont Shore Christmas Parade: The ccommittee will explore the possibility of entering an unit in the 2nd Street parade to see what constraints the organizers have.
-- Long Beach Pops Holiday Program: The committee will look into a night of music at the event, once we know dates for the concerts.
-- Pet Fair: The board agreed to write aa thank-you note to Ms. Edwards for her help in organizing the event. Jim Walters will have a letter ready for each board member to sign at the next meeting.

Nominations and elections: Chairman and board representative Pablo Drobny.
-- Election materials that Jim Walters hhas will be handed over to Mr. Drobny.

Maintenance & planning: Co-chairmen and board representatives Jim Knutson and Fred Nicas.
-- Drainage: Mr. Knutson said that he annd Mr. Nicas had met with Gil Moxley about the mud hole at the east-end watering station and that all the association's efforts that have been suggested by the Park Department have been tried, without success. A plan to install a 33-inch cleanable catch basin, which would directly connect to the park's main drain, is now being considered but that the Parks Department's planning and maintenance panel balked at the $1,770 price tag. Mr. Knutson said that the two options being considered are: that the association pays the full cost of having the basin installed, or that the association and the Parks Department both pay for it. The subject has been put on hold until the Parks Department gets its next budget figures.
-- Pet Promenade: Mr. Nicas has submitteed a blueprint for the walkway to the Parks Department. The pour has been scheduled for Nov. 10, to coincide with other maintenance projects - another ground cover installation and possible work on the mud hole - so that the park will only have to be closed once. Donors who purchased squares will be notified of the pour date, he said, so that they can be present to make their inscriptions.
-- Ground cover: Mr. Nicas said that thee next installation is targeted for Nov. 10, with 200 tons to cover the old little-dog park and the area to the west of the restroom. Carolyn Reed brought to the board's attention the plight of one dog who came down with stomach problems after ingesting too much of the crushed-granite ground cover while playing fetch with wet tennis balls
-- Lighting: Mr. Knutson said that he haas briefly mentioned the subject of improved lighting to Dave Ashman of the Parks Department. Topics to be worked out will include how much the association might have to pay for the project, what kind of poles will be used, including whether the large wooden ones on the golf course border might be usable, what type of lighting and timers would be needed. This subject, Mr. Knutson stressed, is in its infant stages.
-- Gate: The bottom section of the insidde main-entrance gate is falling apart, Jim Walters noted.

MOTION by Jim Walters to authorize Fred Nicas to spend no more than $250 to install a new gate, seconded by Shirlee Hitchcock, approved, 6-0.

-- Signs: Jim Walters said that he has asked City Councilwoman Jackie Kell to let the association know if the revised City Code laws that pertain to the Dog Park have been approved by the council.
-- Graffiti: Carolyn Reed noted that theere are at least two graffiti in the park that single out two quarreling park-goers by name. The board agreed to try to paint both out at the earliest possible opportunity.

Membership: Co-chairwomen and board representatives Carolyn Reed and Shirlee Hitchcock.
-- Logo: After some discussion, board meembers generally agreed that the association should consider coming up with a new logo that could be put on caps and T-shirts to raise funds. Ms. Reed said she would look into coming up with a contest in January.
-- Renewals: The committee agreed to loook into renewals by email for 2001-02 since more than half the membership has email.
-- Members roll: The secretary has 180 mmemberships on the 2001-02 roll to date; a year ago the total was 93; at the end of membership year 2000, it was 111. A breakdown of this year's membership drive shows that 80 of those memberships are renewals and that 100 are new. Of those, 11 are patrons ($100), 4 are sustaining ($75) and 20 are supporting ($50).

Communications & advertising: Co-chairmen and board representatives Jim Walters and Gerry Facon.
-- Bark Board: Mr. Walters agreed to calll Dave Ashman and Terry Lortz of the Parks Department to see if there would be any objections to the association posting a list of dog obedience classes offered by the city on the board.
-- Paw Prints: The fall issue will be maailed out by the end of next week. Mr. Walters said that only two stories and one ad are needed to complete the issue

New Business

1. The board was in agreement that the association should staff a table at the Friends of the Animal Shelter's Sept. 23 fund-raiser. The Friends will furnish a table and chairs.

MOTION by Carolyn Reed for the association to attend the Friends fund-raiser, seconded by Jim Walters, approved, 6-0.

Shirlee Hitchcock, Ms. Reed and Mr. Walters agreed to staff the table. The small, capsulized poop bags left over from the Pet Fair will be given away, as will copies of Paw Prints.

2. The board agreed that the October quarterly members meeting agenda should contain the following items:

• Headliner: Shirley Vaughan, president of the Friends of the Animal Shelter
• Logo contest
• Belmont Christmas Parade
• Long Beach Pops Holiday Concert
• Committee reports

3. The next regular board meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. at Jim Knutson's home.
The next quarterly meeting will be Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the Bruins Den.

-- JIM WALTERS, Sept. 28, 2001