02-20-2024 Minutes MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CYPRESS
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION
February 20, 2024
The regular meeting of the Cypress Recreation and Community Services Commission was called to order at 6:01 p.m. on
Tuesday, February 20, 2024, in the Cypress Community Center Conference Room.
PRESENT: Commission Chair Dronkers, Commission Vice Chair Jackson, Commissioners Edwards, Logovii,
Medrano, and Ridgeway
ABSENT: Commissioner Erbe
Also present, Jeff Draper, Director of Recreation and Community Services; Ian Kokot, Recreation and Community Services
Manager.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The pledge of the flag was led by Commission Chair Dronkers.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Limited to 30 minutes – three minutes per speaker, unless extended by the Commission)
Commission Chair Dronkers recognized Youth Action Committee members Vileka Lee, Sherman Leung, and Hiranmayee
Subramanyam.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approve Minutes – Meeting of January 16, 2024
Commissioner Ridgeway noted that on Page 4 she was asking about Vessels Park, not Vessels School.
It was moved by Commissioner Ridgeway, and seconded by Commissioner Medrano, to approve the minutes as amended
of the regular meeting of January 16, 2024.
The motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Dronkers, Edwards, Jackson, Logovii, Medrano, and Ridgeway
NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Erbe
2. Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Update
The Director provided background: (1) Property taxes account for 78% of District revenue; (2) Recreation District brings
in about $8.6 million dollars a year; (3) Typical Capital Projects about $1 million a year, but Capital Projects appropriations
this fiscal year are 82.3% due to the Arnold Cypress Park project; (4) Maintenance and facility support largest items in the
Recreation budget, accounting for 40%-45%; (5) The District will repay the City’s loan of $2 million for the Arnold Cypress
Park renovation over the next 20 years.
The Director reviewed the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget calendar.
Commission Chair Dronkers asked if there is an accounting if over an amount that’s budgeted in a line item.
The Director responded that those deficits need to be paid from another line item account if there is overspending.
Commissioner Edwards asked why the District does not receive sales taxes.
The Director responded all sales tax goes to the City, and the property tax paid to the District is distinct from that which the
City receives, but over time the property tax revenue may not keep up with the District’s expenditures.
Commissioner Ridgeway asked if the new housing being built in Cypress will help to alleviate any potential shortfall.
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The Director replied it will help, but any property tax gains from new development at the racetrack will be offset by the costs
of adding new parks in that area.
Commissioner Edwards asked if developers develop parks or pay in-lieu of fees.
The Director informed that they can do both, but most developers don’t want to build parks.
Commissioner Medrano asked who directs the budget process.
The Director responded that Finance holds workshops with Council, and Council gives the District and City departments
direction.
3. Halloween Decorating Contest
The Director provided background from the January meeting, and recapped that staff support would be very limited due to
the numerous City events in October, and Commissioners may be asked to take on the responsibility if they decide to go
forward with the contest.
Commissioner Ridgeway spoke in favor of a Halloween decorating contest, but is willing to bypass due to staff being
unavailable in October.
Commissioner Edwards asked Recreation Manager Kokot to review the process for the Holiday Decorating Contest.
Recreation Manager Kokot spoke of the extensive process required in setting up a new event: Commissioners would need
to set up procedures for contest rules, categories, timeframes, viewing homes, and what kind of awards to be given, and
would need to begin the process in May or sooner if the Commission wants to do this year.
Commissioner Ridgeway asked about any expenses involved.
Recreation Manager Kokot responded expenses to run this would be nominal, but as this is not budgeted, funding for the
program would need to be pulled from somewhere else.
The Director distributed examples of Halloween contests from other cities and noted that some contests have no rules or
categories, but are decided by votes from residents.
Recreation Manager Kokot spoke of the need to consider those Cypress residents who expend a lot effort to enter their
homes in the Holiday Decorating contest each year.
Commissioner Medrano thanked the Recreation Manager for clarifying the processes of setting up a new contest.
Commission Chair Dronkers asked if more residents would enter a Halloween decorating contest versus the Holiday
Decorating contest.
Commissioner Longvii replied that in her opinion there would be more entries for a Halloween decorating contest.
Commission Chair Dronkers, Commission Vice Chair Jackson, and Commissioner Ridgeway recommended implementing
the contest for Halloween 2025.
Commission Vice Chair Jackson spoke of the commissioners starting a timeline and coming up with categories.
Commission Chair Dronkers recommended forming an ad hoc committee to start the contest in 2025 and asked if that can
be done at this meeting.
The Director responded that this would need to be agendized for next month, and if ad hoc committee is able to come up
with something for this year, the contest could be implemented in 2024.
Commissioner Medrano asked if the some of the events normally slated for October could be moved to a different month.
The Director spoke of the attempt to space out “Cypress Celebrates” events to avoid having too many programs going on
at the same time.
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Commissioner Edwards spoke of envisioning this being a commission-driven event, and not to place more burdens on the
staff.
The Director stated the first year would be the most time intensive for the development of the program, and doesn’t foresee
any changes to the month of October.
Recreation Manager Kokot informed that any awards for the contest would need to be given end of October or first of
November when the Commission generally doesn’t meet, and suggested combining contests for a season of holiday
decorating for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Three minutes per speaker, unless extended by the Commission)
Commission Chair Dronkers asked the Youth Action Committee members for feedback on a Halloween Decorating contest.
Sherman Leung spoke on promoting the Halloween Contest.
STAFF REPORTS AND DISCUSSION:
Park Rules and Regulations Update
The Director thanked the Commissioners for their work on the park regulations, attended a workshop with City Council at
which the changes were approved, and that the first public hearing on the revisions will be held in March.
Arnold Cypress Park Update
The Director reported that most of the demolition has already taken place, and of still anticipating a reopening of the park
in early 2025.
Commissioner’s Appreciation Reception
The Director reminded of the event on March 27 in the Community Center Garden Room and to RSVP their attendance to
the City Manager’s Executive Assistant.
The Director reported that the Senior Center will be a voting center from February 24 through March 5.
OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS:
Commissioner Ridgeway asked if there will be a charge to use Arnold Cypress Park pickleball courts.
The Director responded that could be taken into consideration in the future.
Commission Chair Dronkers asked how the process of charging to use the pickleball courts would get started.
The Director replied it would require approval from City Council or the City Manager.
ADJOURNMENT:
It was moved by Commissioner Edwards, and seconded by Commissioner Medrano, to adjourn the meeting at 7:17 p.m. to
the regular meeting of March 19, 2024, to be held in the Cypress Community Center Conference Room at 6:00 p.m.
__________________________________________
CHAIR OF THE RECREATION AND COMMUNITY
SERVICES COMMISSION
ATTEST:
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SECRETARY TO THE RECREATION AND
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION