THE LONG BEACH RECREATION DOG PARK ASSN.
Summary of QUARTERLY MEETING: July 27, 2002

Remarks

Lack of quorum, no action could be taken.

Committee Business

Projects & fundraising: Chairman and board representative Buzz Minnich.
-- Pet Fair: Mr. Minnich said that 14 vvendor tables have been spoken for. An agility and demonstrations area will be set up next to the Casting Pond. Harriet - NEED LAST NAME - said that Rite-Aid Drugstores would be willing to donate ice cream and cones for sale, but the board noted that unless the store is willing to sell the cones itself and assume liability, the venture might not be covered by the association's temporary food permit from the Long Beach Department of Health. Mr. Minnich said that he would contact the Health Department on the matter. Mr. Minnich said that he and Pablo Drobny have discussed the starting times of the Dog Walk portion of the event and decided that staggered starting times would work best for the 1-, 2- and 3-mile walks, with about 15 minutes' separation.

Nominations and elections: Chairman and board representative Pablo Drobny.
-- Election: Mr. Drobny reported the foollowing tabulations for the recently concluded election for the four seats on the Board of Directors:

Carolyn Reed	(one-year seat)	49
Nancy Sheriff	(three-year seat)	47
Fred Nicas	(three-year seat)	47
Richard Ulibarri	(three-year seat)	45
Roger King (write-in)		1

 

The two new members - Ms. Sheriff and Mr. Uliberry - will join the board at its next regular meeting, Aug. 1. Ms. Reed and Mr. Nicas were incumbents.

Maintenance & planning: Co-chairmen and board representatives Jim Knutson and Fred Nicas.
-- Fencing: Jim Walters and Jim Knutsonn brought to the board's attention that the recently installed fence on the west end of the park has been broken. Several large holes have been made in portions of it. The Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine has done some repair work on it, putting more anchoring clips on the bottom rows of chain link and the guide wire.

• MOTION by Jim Walters, seconded by Carolyn Reed, to authorize Fred Nicas to spend up to $750 to repair the double gates at the west end, approved 5-0.

--Trees: Jim Walters relayed to the board the there may be a possible donor for replacement trees at the park; a business owner passed along a tip that someone she knew might be willing to donate trees. Mr. Walters reported that he has been invited to the September meeting of the Long Beach Police K-9 Unit Association to seek their approval of honoring the city's police dogs with the new trees, under the city's Donate-a-Tree parks program.
-- Benches: Dave Ashman of the Departmeent of Parks, Recreation & Marine said that the city has some old bus benches at the city tree farm that the association could use.

Membership: Co-chairwomen and board representatives Carolyn Reed and Shirlee Hitchcock.
-- Logo contest: Carolyn Reed presentedd the winning entries of the contest, noting that there was a tie. She will ask those two contestants to compromise on a log, incorporating elements of some of the other entries: groups of dogs, action and whimsy.
-- Membership drive: The number of membbers for the current year has grown to 57, with 18 being added in June. Of that total, 35 are new members and 46 are renewals, for a total of $2,040.

Communications & advertising: Chairman and board representatives Jim Walters.
-- Paw Prints: Mr. Walters reported thaat the Summer 2002 issue has been mailed.

Other Business

1. Dave Ashman of the Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine: Mr. Ashman had previously told the board that any plans for an additional dog facility in the city would probably more forward more quickly and carry more weight if such an established organization as the Recreation Dog Park Association helped. He said that the city has received more than 400 emails in support of a dog beach, but that the city needs boundaries and order in setting up such an area. He said the Phil Hester of his department, the Health Department and other city officials would like help in setting up meetings on the proposal. Access problems and finding an isolated area that can be made dog-friendly are important, he said. On behalf of the board, Jim Knutson responded that the directors would be willing to consult with the department; any further action would have to wait until August, when additional board members are seated. Board members generally agreed that the city will be taking action with or without the association's input and that it would be prudent for the organization to take a role in the process.

• MOTION, by Pablo Drobny, seconded by Jim Walters, to inform Dave Ashman of the Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine that the association is amenable to a meeting with city officials pertaining to the establishment of a dog beach and/or another unleashed exercise area in anticipation of assisting the city with its long-range parks plans, approved, 6-0.

2. Friends of Long Beach Animals: The organization, which has supported the association over the past few years, asked the board if it would like to have a booth at its September fund-raiser. Jim Walters and Shirlee Hitchcock said that the association's efforts at the last Friends' event were disappointing in that no new members were enrolled, that most visitors to our table were from out of town, and most were looking for free items to take home. The board agreed that it would not be in its best interest to have a booth at the event, but upon the suggestion of Carolyn Reed, would find volunteers to help the Friends with its setup and tear-down. Mr. Walters said that he would contact Friends President Shirley Vaughan.

3. MOTION to adjourn, by Buzz Minnich, seconded by Shirlee Hitchcock, approved 4-1, with Shirlee Hitchcock, Jim Knutson, Mr. Minnich and Carolyn Reed in favor; Jim Walters opposed.

Next Meetings

Next quarterly members meeting will be Saturday, July 27, at the Bruins Den.
Next regular board meeting: Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine.

-- JIM WALTERS, July 21, 2002