City of Santa Clara
Meeting Minutes
Parks & Recreation Commission
Draft
7:00 PM Hybrid Meeting
Sparacino Conference Room - City Hall East Wing
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
04/13/2026
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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By consensus, the Commission agreed to hear agenda items out of order. Items were heard in the following order: Items 1.A, 3, 4, 2, and 5.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Chu called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.
Commissioner Dana Caldwell, Chair Maureen Chu, Commissioner Eversley Forte, Vice Chair Vikas Gupta, and Commissioner Edward A. Souza
Present 5 -
Commissioner Derek DeMarcoAbsent 1 -
Commissioner Forte made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Caldwell, to excuse Commissioner DeMarco from the April 13, 2026 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner Forte, Vice Chair Gupta, and Commissioner Souza
5 -
Excused: Commissioner DeMarco1 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
04/13/2026Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
1.A. 26-379 Action on the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes from March 9, 2026
Recommendation: Approve the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes from March 9, 2026
Commissioner Gupta made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Caldwell, to recommend approval of the March 9, 2026, Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes as amended, by correctly stating that Commissioner Caldwell made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner DeMarco to approve the Wade Brummal item and correcting typos. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner Forte, Vice Chair Gupta, and Commissioner Souza
5 -
Excused: Commissioner DeMarco1 -
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
Craig Larson spoke regarding tennis balls in Saratoga creek and pickleball facilities.
GENERAL BUSINESS
2. 26-259 Review and Recommend for City Council Approval a Resolution Updating the Average Per-Acre Land Values and Park Development Costs Per Capita Used for Setting the Parkland In-Lieu Fee Schedule.
Recommendation: Review and recommend for Council adoption the proposed resolution (Attachment 7) updating the average per-acre land values and park development costs per capita used for setting the parkland in-lieu fee schedule.
Commissioner Gupta made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Caldwell, to recommend for City Council Approval a Resolution Updating the Average Per-Acre Land Values and Park Development Costs Per Capita Used for Setting the Parkland In-Lieu Fee Schedule. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner Forte, Vice Chair Gupta, and Commissioner Souza
5 -
Excused: Commissioner DeMarco1 -
04/13/2026Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
3. 26-355 Review of the Wade Brummal Youth Sports Grant Scholarship Program Discussion of Potential Updates
Recommendation: 1. Discuss the Wade Brummal Youth Sports Scholarship Program;
2. Provide input on potential Wade Brummal Youth Sports Scholarship Program updates;
3. Request staff work with community youth sports organizations regarding the impacts of potential Wade Brummal Youth Sports Scholarship Program updates
4. Another recommendation identified by the Parks and Recreation Commission
Commissioner Gupta made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Souza, to Recommend the Commission Reviews the Wade
Brummal Youth Sports Grant Scholarship Program Annually and Staff Host Community Outreach Meetings with the User Groups. The motion carried by the following vote. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner Forte, Vice Chair Gupta, and Commissioner Souza
5 -
Excused: Commissioner DeMarco1 -
4. 26-447 Solicitation of Parks & Recreation Commission Input on the Sections of the Charter Involving the Parks and Recreation Commission and Parks and Recreation Issues to inform the Charter Review Commission Currently Engaged in a Comprehensive Review of the City Charter
Recommendation: Provide consolidated comments to staff on Parks & Recreation Commission relevant charter revisions for the Charter Review Committee and City Council to consider as a part of the “Charter Project” Charter Review Process. The Commission also has the option of appointing a representative to present these comments to the Subcommittee on Boards and Commissions.
Commissioner Gupta made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Forte, to present the item titled Solicitation of Parks & Recreation Commission Input on the Sections of the Charter Involving the Parks and Recreation Commission and Parks and Recreation Issues to inform the Charter Review Commission Currently Engaged in a Comprehensive Review of the City Charter as stated as the Parks & Recreation Commission's recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner Forte, Vice Chair Gupta, and Commissioner Souza
5 -
Excused: Commissioner DeMarco1 -
04/13/2026Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
5. 26-358 Update on the Progress of the FY 2025/26 Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan Goals and Activities
Recommendation: Staff to discuss and provide updates on the Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan Goals and Activities for FY 2025/26.
No action or motion was taken. Commissioners elected to move on to Staff Report.
STAFF REPORT
Director Damon Sparacino
Director Sparacino provided updates on ISC project process.
Recreation Manager Castro
The Recreation Manager reported that staff will begin discussions regarding goals for the next fiscal year next month. In June, the Commission will hold elections for Chair and Vice Chair. A celebration to mark the commencement of the ISC project is being planned, and Commissioners were invited to attend. The Recreation Manager also reported that the Central Park Accessibility Project is progressing well. The first Sunset Movie is scheduled for May 8 at Montague Park. The Health and Wellness Fair is scheduled for May, and the Senior Needs Assessment Survey will be released in the near future.
04/13/2026Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Commissioner Caldwell
Commissioner Caldwell expressed enthusiasm about the progress of the Henry Schmidt construction project. He also commented positively on Maywood Park and attributed its condition to increased staff support.
Chair Chu
Chair Chu reported visiting Maywood Park and noted that the school fence appears to be oddly placed. She commented that it is a great park, especially because of the old redwood trees. She also visited the Geof Goodfellow Sesquicentennial Park and noted that the plaque commemorates an event that did not occur at that park, but at another location.
Commissioner DeMarco
Commissioner DeMarco was excused.
Commissioner Forte
Commissioner Forte attended the Arbor Day event at the Triton Museum of Art and reported enjoying the event.
Vice Chair Gupta
Vice Chair Gupta reported seeing excavators while driving past ISC and asked about the project’s progress.
Commissioner Souza
Commissioner Souza reported that he has been biking the San Thomas Aquino Creek Trail. He also visited the Senior Center. He plans to attend the Health & Wellness Fair.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Caldwell made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Gupta to adjourn the Parks & Recreation
Commission Meeting at 9:45 PM until the next regular meeting on May 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Sparacino Conference Room at City Hall.
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner Forte, Vice Chair Gupta, and Commissioner Souza
5 -
Excused: Commissioner DeMarco1 -
04/13/2026Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
MEETING DISCLOSURES
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.