City of Santa Clara
Meeting Minutes
Parks & Recreation Commission
Draft
7:00 PM Hybrid Meeting
Cafeteria - City Hall East Wing
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
01/13/2025
The City of Santa Clara is conducting the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting in a hybrid manner (in-person and a method for the public to participate remotely).
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CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Hai called to order the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting of January 13, 2025 to order at 7:02 P.M.
Commissioner Dana Caldwell, Vice Chair Maureen Chu,
Commissioner Eversley Forte, Commissioner Derek DeMarco, Chair Sajid Hai, and Commissioner Vikas Gupta
Present 6 -
Commissioner Brittany RickettsAbsent 1 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
25-59 Action on the Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes of the November 25, 2024, Meeting
Commissioner DeMarco made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Chu to approve the Parks & Recreation Minutes of the November 25, 2024, meeting.
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Vice Chair Chu, Commissioner Forte, Commissioner DeMarco, Chair Hai, and Commissioner Gupta 6 -
Absent: Commissioner Ricketts1 -
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
GENERAL BUSINESS
01/13/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 25-61 Status Update on the Progress Made on the FY 2024/25 Parks & Recreation Commission’s Work Plan Goals
Goal A: Review park site and facility condition assessments and recommend priorities given existing and anticipated service levels and available resources-
-No Update.
Goal B.1.: Review and solicit community input on the existing City park rehabilitation projects based on the current Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget and schedule--the Commission discussed and provided feedback regarding park site visitation data provided by Deputy Director Seale and how it may be used for enhancing community input.
Goal B.2.: Review residential developer proposed schematic designs for new neighborhood parks that serve new residential development-- No update.
Goal C.1.: Host and develop recommendations for the annual Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival 2024--Work plan completed.
Goal C.2.: Participate in Citywide Special events--Commissioners attended and participated in the 2024 Holiday Tree Lighting Event.
Goal D.: Partner with at least one other commission to build upon/expand at least one existing Parks & Recreation event by adding one extra element for patrons to interact with during the event - -No update
Goal E.: Participate in the Parks & Recreation Master Plan Process- -Commissioners participated in focus groups for the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and provided feedback to the Consultant (WRT).
Goal F.: Consider the annual budget of the Parks & Recreation Department during the budget preparation process and make recommendations with respect to the City Manager and City Council- -the Commission will receive the updated draft of the Wade Brummal Scholarship Fund at the February or March 2025 regular meeting.
01/13/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
STAFF REPORT
Deputy Director Seale
Henry Schmidt Park is in the final stages of plan review by city departments prior to the bid process. The Department has already provided final comments. The Central Park Entrance project will combine the improvements of the pavilion parking with Central Park entrance based on accessibility to the western side of Central Park, including connectivity to the Magical Bridge All-Inclusive Playground and the Community Recreation Center. The entire project will provide a net gain of 25-30 parking spaces.
Work preparation for the International Swim center (ISC) is continuing. The racing and training pools have been drained and the contractor is onsite and has started the re-plastering project. City staff meet frequently to review all project components. Unfortunately the ISC has been experiencing frequent break-ins and vandalism. Santa Clara PD is aware and has been assisting the Department by providing guidance, and follow up.
Recreation Manager Castro
The Senior Center natatorium re-plastering project has been completed.
The Department has contacted county officials for scheduling an inspection for facility compliance prior to re-opening. The Arbor picnic area that was closed during the construction of the Magical Bridge All-Inclusive Playground is back online and available for rental starting in January.
Winter programming classes have started this week. Winter activity guides will be mailed to residents at the end of February and registration will be available shortly after. Show time, a Santa Clara Women’s League production, will be showing as a fundraiser for the Santa Clara Health & Wellness Program at the Senior Center the first weekend in March.
01/13/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Chair Hai
Chair Hai visited Jenny Strand and Westwood Oaks Parks and recently spent time traveling to Virginia.
Commissioner Caldwell
The Commissioner attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony and had a great time at the event. He mentioned the holiday tree lights didn't turn a couple of nights after the event. Staff explained that there were technical issues that Parks Division staff worked through to resolve. Under normal circumstances the tree would remain lighted until January 9. Commissioner Caldwell spoke with Deputy Director Seale regarding security fencing being raised on Cupertino School District property that borders Maywood Park. Commissioner Caldwell has been keeping a close eye on Maywood Park and mentioned it being quite the battle keeping the picnic area clean after park patrons use it on weekends.
Commissioner Forte
The Commissioner attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony “It was a good event!” He also mentioned the Magical Bridge Playground area during the Tree Lighting event was a major attraction itself with all the kids and families enjoying both.
Commissioner Gupta
The Commissioner attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony. “It was a wonderful ceremony!” The Commissioner was amazed at the energy and professionalism of the younger performers. Commissioner Gupta was happy to be in attendance and participate in the ceremony. He noted the popularity and attendance at the Magical Bridge Playground and is very proud of the public reception of the Magical Bridge Playground.
Commissioner Gupta visited Maywood Park for his frequent park walks.
He noted the aging conditions of a few of the park amenities and made the suggestion of creating a public volunteering effort led by the Department's staff to assist in improving the appearance of the aging facilities; he proposed a facility painting event as an example.
Commissioner DeMarco
He attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony. “It was great, lovely, so much fun!” The Commissioner DeMarco visited a handful of parks over the past month. The Commissioner’s daughter started a dance class instructed by the city’s Recreation Staff.
Commissioner Chu
The Commissioner attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony. “It was great to
01/13/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes see all the dance classes. Good to see Santa Clara showcased”. She attended the Nutcracker production produced by the Recreation staff. She walked her dog around Live Oak Park and met with the Girl Scout Troop at Lick Mill Park building and noted that It could use a coat of paint.The Commissioner’s daughter started her ballet session at the Community Recreation Center at Henry Schmidt Park. Commissioner Chu shared her appreciation of the Parks & Recreation staff for all their hard work with programming.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner DeMarco made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Chu to adjourn the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting at 8:22 PM until the next regular meeting on Monday, February 10, 2025 at the Sparacino Room across the lobby from Council Chambers.
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Vice Chair Chu, Commissioner Forte, Commissioner DeMarco, Chair Hai, and Commissioner Gupta 6 -
Absent: Commissioner Ricketts1 -
MEETING DISCLOSURES
01/13/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City is governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other provision. Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal challenge, which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. If a person wishes to challenge the nature of the above section in court, they may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clara, at or prior to the meeting. In addition, judicial challenge may be limited or barred where the interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies.
If a member of the public submits a speaker card for any agenda items, their name will appear in the Minutes. If no speaker card is submitted, the Minutes will reflect "Public Speaker."
In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the City of Santa Clara will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities, and will ensure that all existing facilities will be made accessible to the maximum extent feasible. The City of Santa Clara will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities including those with speech, hearing, or vision impairments so they can participate equally in the City’s programs, services, and activities. The City of Santa Clara will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.
Agendas and other written materials distributed during a public meeting that are public record will be made available by the City in an appropriate alternative format.
Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 1 408-615-2220 with your request for an alternative format copy of the agenda or other written materials.
Individuals who require an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or any other disability-related modification of policies or procedures, or other accommodation, in order to participate in a program, service, or activity of the City of Santa Clara, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 408-615-3000 as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.