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
10/20/2025
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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https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/89140287145?pwd=vxTpbZL37PSa9tyNRsapnbNKFauJJP.1 Meeting ID: 891 4028 7145
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CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
This meeting was called to order by Chair Chu at 7:05 PM.
Dana Caldwell, Maureen Chu, Derek DeMarco, Eversley Forte, Vikas Gupta, and Edward A. Souza
Present 6 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
1.A 25-1048 Action on the Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes of the August 18, 2025, Meeting
A motion was made by Commissioner Forte and seconded by Commissioner Gupta to approve the minutes of the August 18, 2025 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting as amended.
Aye: Caldwell, Chu, DeMarco, Forte, Gupta, and Souza6 -
1.B 25-1045 Make a Recommendation to City Council to Adopt the Proposed 2026 Calendar of Meetings for the Parks and Recreation Commission.
A motion was made by Commissioner Forte and seconded by Commissioner Gupta to recommend approval of the Parks & Recreation Commission 2026 calendar of meetings.
Aye: Caldwell, Chu, DeMarco, Forte, Gupta, and Souza6 -
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
10/20/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft
GENERAL BUSINESS
2. 25-1050 Status Update on the Progress Made on the FY 2025/26 Parks & Recreation Commission’s Work Plan Goals
Commissioner Chu recommended to move this item to item 5 on the agenda. Commission agreed. No motion made and no vote was taken. No action was taken on this item.
3. 25-982 Consideration of the Revised Council-Approved Schematic Design for the New Public Park at 3905 Freedom Circle
A motion was made by Commissioner Forte and seconded by Commissioner Gupta that city council approve the revised schematic design for the new public park at 3905 Freedom Circle, with the condition of improved parking signage.
Aye: Caldwell, Chu, DeMarco, Forte, Gupta, and Souza6 -
4. 25-1056 Recommend a Nominee(s) as the 2025 Honorary Holiday Tree Lighter Commissioner Chu made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Forte to recommend Wanda Buck as the 2025 Honorary Tree Lighter.
Aye: Caldwell, Chu, DeMarco, Forte, Gupta, and Souza6 -
5. 25-756 Action on Proposed Definitions for Aquatic Facility Use Categories, Priorities of Use and a Proposed Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Municipal Fee Schedule and Proposed Adjustments through Fiscal Year 2028/29
Commissioner DeMarco made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Gupta to continue this item to next month, specifically directing staff to flesh out the categories, specifically the government use/non-residential non-commercial use.
Aye: Caldwell, Chu, DeMarco, Forte, Gupta, and Souza6 -
STAFF REPORT
Parks & Recreation Director Sparacino
The Director has nothing new to report other than next month we have the tree lighting. No major updates. There are no updates for the dog park but he hopes to have some soon. As a reminder, the department is showing Coco in Mission City Memorial Park for Dia De Los Muertos.
Recreation Manager Castro
Recreation Manager Castro says MacDonald High School PTSA did not make a lot of revenue at Art & Wine and would like to rethink how non
10/20/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft profits participate in the festival for next year and what pieces they can help with other than food. She invites anyone to brainstorm with her and staff.
The Nebula Rider's last day is November 14th. Spooktaclara and Diwali event are coming up.
Senior Management Analyst McDowell
She gave an update on ISC construction drawings and staff workshop. All representative departments were involved. We summarized all the comments and turned them in. We expect they will turn in 100 percent drawings by November 6th. She says we are getting close on physical designs and shovel to the ground potentially in February 2026. More to follow. Eight new grounds maintenance workers were brought in July, three additional in October, with one starting in November. Priscilla Candel-Ramirez is the new Staff Aide in the admin office. She started in October.
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Chair Caldwell: He had a great time working at the Art & Wine Festival.
He drove in the Parade of Champions. He also visited Maywood Park, Fremont Park and the Senior Center. He appreciated that the parks and Senior Center were in great shape.
Commissioner Chu: She was excited and thankful for the Nutcracker’s new ticketing system. In recent years the performance has been general seating, it is now going back to assigned seating.
Commissioner DeMarco: He walked to Bowers Park many times with his wife. He noticed graffiti and excessive trash in the park. He was pleased to hear about the newly hired grounds maintenance workers. He hoped the increase in staff will help with the upkeep of the park.
Commissioner Forte: He worked both days of the Art & Wine Festival.
He also attended the Parade of Champions.
Commissioner Gupta: He attended the State of the City. He was happy he had the opportunity to see the fantastic dance performance twice.
Commissioner Gupta visited Central Park and was pleased to see the Magical Bridge being enjoyed by many visitors. He had worried the Magical Bridge Playground would not be used to full capacity. He also visited Maywood Park. He commented that the park felt like a gerrymandered park now that the school had taken over a portion of it. He
10/20/2025Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft disliked the solar panels and noted the character of the park had changed.
Commissioner Souza:
He enjoyed the Art & Wine Festival. He thought the music and crowd were very good this year. He also attended the Parade of Champions and visited War Memorial Park. He continued his weekly visit to the Senior Center for fitness classes. He was impressed by the new fitness equipment.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner DeMarco made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Caldwell to adjourn the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting at 8:58 PM until the next regular meeting on November 10, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Sparacino Conference Room at City Hall.
Aye: Caldwell, Chu, DeMarco, Forte, Gupta, and Souza6 -
MEETING DISCLOSURES
10/20/2025Parks & 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.