CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE
MINUTES OF THE
BEACHES, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2026, 6:00 P.M.
Vice Chair Garcia called the Adjourned Regular Meeting of the Beaches, Parks, and Recreation Commission of the City of San Clemente to order on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 6:01 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, located at 910 Calle Negocio, 2nd Floor, San Clemente, CA.
Commissioner Van Nort led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENT Dolegowski, Garcia, Grace, Haskins, McCanne, Van Nort Johnson joined dais at 6:07 p.m.
ABSENT Kahn, Schmitt
STAFF PRESENT Samantha Wylie, Beaches, Parks & Recreation Director Debbie Fields, Administrative Assistant
1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
None
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. April 14, 2026, Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Motion by Commissioner Grace, second by Commissioner McCanne, CARRIED 6-0, Chair Johnson and Commissioners Kahn and Schmitt absent, to approve the April 14, 2026, regular meeting minutes.
AYE: Dolegowski, Garcia, Grace, Haskins, McCanne, Van Nort NOE: None
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Pamela Roth, San Clemente, spoke regarding having Beaches, Parks and Recreation, help design volunteer programs for special needs.
4. RECREATION ACTIVITIES UPDATE
None
5. OLD BUSINESS
None
Beaches, Parks, and Adjourned Regular Meeting May 13, 2026 Recreation Commission
PAGE 2
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Review of Playground Design Proposals for Forster Ranch Park and Talega Park Samantha Wylie, Beaches, Parks & Recreation Director, presented an overview of the proposed playground replacement designs for the upper playground at Forster Ranch Park and the playground at Talega Park. Both projects are currently funded Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects and are included on the Commission’s work plan.
Director Wylie identified three primary components involved in the playground replacement projects based on the survey results.
1) Playground equipment
2) Surfacing material
3) Installation costs
Commissioners either individually or as a group discussed the following:
• Separate funding for equipment versus the surfacing demolition and installation • Sand being an option for surfacing
• Trees in the parks
• Themed parks
• Climbing features
• Musical features
• Older children playground option and younger area playground option • Fencing around the younger playground area
• Designs of swings
• Playground surfacing requirements
• Longevity of the equipment
• Timeline of the project
• Lifetime of turf
Mike Etchison, representing Recreation Brands of Southern California, spoke on the proposal they submitted.
Kristopher Johnson, representing Great Western Recreation, spoke on the proposal they submitted.
George Gregory, San Clemente, spoke in support of the playground projects.
Motion by Chair Johnson, second by Commissioner Dolegowski to recommend Great Western Recreation Option #2 for Talega and Great Western Recreation Option #1 for Forster Ranch Park.
Substitute motion by Chair Johnson, second by Commissioner Van Nort, CARRIED 7-0, Commissioners Kahn and Schmitt absent, to establish a Playground Subcommittee.
Subcommittee will be Dolegowski, Garcia, Grace and McCanne.
AYE: Dolegowski, Garcia, Grace, Haskins, Johnson, McCanne, Van Nort NOE: None
Beaches, Parks, and Adjourned Regular Meeting May 13, 2026 Recreation Commission
PAGE 3
7. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Beaches, Parks & Recreation Director Report
Samantha Wylie, Beaches, Parks & Recreation Director, mentioned that we are gearing up for summer and have hired more than twenty-five part-time staff members for camps and lifeguarding.
8. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION
A. Subcommittee Reports
i. North Beach Community Association Subcommittee (Garcia, Kahn) None
ii. Sandcastles for Sloan Subcommittee (Garcia, McCanne) None
iii. Beach Sand Policy Subcommittee (Johnson, Schmitt, Van Nort) Chair Johnson reported that policy is about 75% complete and the Subcommittee will be meeting and is hopeful that the policy will be ready for the next regular meeting in June.
iv. Aquatic Partnership Policy Subcommittee (Garcia, Haskins, McCanne, Schmitt) Director Wylie reported that the policy will be ready for the next regular meeting in June.
B. Items from Commissioners
i. PierPride Foundation (Grace)
Commissioner Grace reported that there will be a lunch fundraiser on June 11, 2026 and that PierPride is focusing on the Pier Entrance Project and the Pier Railing Replacement.
ii. Proposed Agenda Items
Motion by Commissioner McCanne, second by Chair Johnson, to have staff prepare a special presentation regarding the volunteer program Beaches, Parks & Recreation currently works with for the next regular meeting in June.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Chair Johnson, second by Vice Chair Garcia, CARRIED 7-0, Commissioners Kahn and Schmitt absent, to adjourn at 7:40 p.m. to a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, located at 910 Calle Negocio, 2nd Floor, San Clemente, CA.
Beaches, Parks & Recreation Director Beaches, Parks & Recreation Commission Chairperson