City of Santa Clara
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Parks & Recreation Commission
Draft
7:00 PM Hybrid Meeting
Sparacino Conference Room - City Hall East Wing
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
08/18/2025
Special Meeting
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).
Join Zoom meeting
https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/89140287145?pwd=vxTpbZL37PSa9tyNRsapnbNKFauJJP.1 Meeting ID: 891 4028 7145
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CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chair Chu at 7:02 PM.
Commissioner Dana Caldwell, Chair Maureen Chu, Commissioner Derek DeMarco, Commissioner Eversley Forte, and Vice Chair Vikas Gupta
Present 5 -
Commissioner Brittany Ricketts, and Commissioner Edward A. SouzaAbsent 2 - Commissioner DeMarco made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Gupta to excuse Commissioner Souza from the August 18, 2025 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner DeMarco, Commissioner Forte, and Vice Chair Gupta
5 -
Absent: Commissioner Ricketts, and Commissioner Souza2 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. 25-852 Action on the Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes of the July 14, 2025, Meeting
08/18/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft Commissioner Gupta made a motion, seconded by Commissioner DeMarco, to recommend approval of the July 14, 2025, Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner DeMarco, Commissioner Forte, and Vice Chair Gupta
5 -
Excused: Commissioner Souza1 -
Absent: Commissioner Ricketts1 -
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
GENERAL BUSINESS
2. 25-917
STAFF REPORT
None.
Status Update on the Progress Made on the FY 2025/26 Parks & Recreation Commission’s Work Plan Goals
The FY 2025/26 Parks & Recreation Commission's Work Plan Goals were updated live during the meeting by Sr. Management Analyst, Carolyn McDowell. No commission action was taken on this item.
Recreation Manager Kim Castro
Gateway Crossing park ribbon cutting is August 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM. All Commissioners expressed interest to attend the event. The Parks Master Plan is in the final stages, with the report expected by the end of the month. The department expects to present to Commission at the October 20, 2025 meeting and to Council by end of the year, and are aiming for November. The lawn bowl clubhouse remodel began today. The Cultural Commission is sponsoring the Nebula Rider exhibit at City Hall, along with six new Traffic Box artwork projects.
Sr. Management Analyst Carolyn McDowell
The Aquatics fees report and benchmark study is expected in October.
Eight new Grounds Maintenance Worker I's have been on-boarded, with four more expected to be hired. The Ground Maintenance Worker III's developed a detailed training program, including Wednesday A.M. "Shop Talk" for ongoing training. The goal is to retain employees long-term. The ISC schematic design is complete. The goal is to extend current facilities lifespan by 25-30 years. 75% construction drawings are due the week of Sept. 15 and will include imagery. Scheduling workshops to condense 3-4 weeks of decision-making in one day. Two more sessions are expected.
08/18/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft Parks & Recreation Director Damon Sparacino
Nuevo Dog Park is closed due to an unfortunate incident, the investigation is ongoing. There is a history of vandalism and mistreatment of the facility.
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Caldwell
The Commissioner attended National Night Out with his wife. Visited Corn Palace Park in Sunnyvale at 1142 Dahlia Ct. It is a similar play structure to the new one planned at Henry Schmidt Park.
Commissioner DeMarco
The Commissioner visited Westwood Oaks park a couple of times. He was pleasantly surprised when a broken swing was repaired swiftly after reporting it to department. He also reported and noticed completed repairs at Homeridge. Has visited Bowers is is
walking daily while dropping his
daughter at Kindergarten at school.
Commissioner Forte
The Commissioner has been attending the Concerts in the Park, including the August 15th concert at Live Oak. He also attended the MJ musical in San Jose.
Commissioner Gupta
The Commissioner attended Jr. Swim Nationals in Irvine with his son. SC Swim was well represented and ranked 8th in the nation. He believes the ISC would be a fantastic host site for this competition and estimates $1 million is generated in revenue for the city (and occupants). He also believes this would inspire youth to try swimming.
Chair Chu
The Commissioner attended Street Dance, National Night Out and visited Earl Carmichael Park a couple of times. She notified Kim that a baby swing at Live Oak needed repair and was pleasantly surprised when it was promptly repaired. She also asked the Commissioners to send suggestions to her via email regarding the "Honorary Tree Lighter" ahead of the October 20 meeting so that a vote may take place at that meeting.
Commissioner DeMarco made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Caldwell to adjourn the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting at 8:47 PM until the next regular meeting on October 20, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Sparacino Conference Room at City Hall.
08/18/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner DeMarco, Commissioner Forte, and Vice Chair Gupta
5 -
Excused: Commissioner Souza1 -
Absent: Commissioner Ricketts1 -
MEETING DISCLOSURES
08/18/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft 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.