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
07/13/2026
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).
Meeting Invite Link: https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/88682184126 Meeting ID: 886 8218 4126
Or join by phone:(669)900-6833
Chair Gupta has provided advance notice of remote participation. He will attend the meeting remotely from: C56 Ram Marg, Shastri Nagar, Jaipur 302 016, INDIA.
Vice Chair DeMarco will preside over the meeting in person.
At the end of the staff report portion of the meeting, Chair Gupta requested to be excused from the meeting to attend to a personal family matter. The Commission excused him at 8:00 p.m. and the meeting proceeded.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Acting Chair - Vice Chair DeMarco called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. The Commission welcomed the new Commissioner Sukrit Ganesh.
Commissioner Dana Caldwell, Commissioner Maureen Chu, Vice Chair Derek DeMarco, Commissioner Eversley Forte, Chair Vikas Gupta, Commissioner Edward A. Souza, and Commissioner Sukrit Ganesh
Present 7 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
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Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 07/13/2026
1.A. 26-743 Approval of the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes of June 8, 2026
Recommendation: Approve the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes of June 8, 2026
Commissioner Forte made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chu, to recommend approval of the June 8, 2026, Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Commissioner Chu, Vice Chair DeMarco, Commissioner Forte, Chair Gupta, Commissioner Souza, and Commissioner Ganesh
7 -
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
The Acting Chair - Vice Chair DeMarco opened the public presentation. No speakers came forward in person or via zoom. The Acting Chair closed the public presentation.
GENERAL BUSINESS
2. 26-755 Discuss and Develop Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan Goals and Activities for FY 2026/27
Recommendation: Discuss and develop Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan Goals and Activities for FY 2026/27.
The Commission discussed the item. No action was taken.
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STAFF REPORT
Recreation Manager Castro
On July 7, the City Council took action on the Bowers Park consent item related to the rehabilitation of the park parking lot. The project will include the addition of electric vehicle charging stations and solar charging infrastructure at Bowers Park.
The Recreation Manager also reported that, on the upcoming July 14 City Council consent calendar, three new master service agreements are scheduled for consideration. These agreements would support the design of various rehabilitation improvements at existing parks and allow staff to work in tandem on multiple park improvement efforts.
The Pickleball Survey remains open and will close on July 31. Staff will host two community meetings at the end of July, with opportunities for both in-person and Zoom participation. Feedback received through the survey and community meetings will help inform future facility planning and improvements.
Henry Schmidt Park is currently under construction. The lighting improvements are ready, and the park will include dual-track lighting for morning and evening use. Staff also anticipates a parallel project related to the courts, potentially beginning sometime next month.
The Recreation Manager thanked the Commissioners for attending the Fourth of July event. Additional community events include the Watch Party and Night Market taking place this weekend.
Fall registration opens for residents on July 21 at 7:00 a.m. The Recreation Manager also noted that Moana Jr. opens this week, followed by Rent next week, and encouraged Commissioners and the community to attend one of the performances.
The Senior Center newsletter has been released.
Regarding the proposed 1.7-acre public park at 400 Saratoga Avenue, staff has not yet received schematics. Commissioners can expect an update from staff regarding schematics in August or September.
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COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Commissioner Caldwell reported that he and his wife attended the Fourth of July event for the first time and shared that it was well organized and a great community event. He also visited Parkway Park over the weekend and observed an unhoused encampment at Wilson Park, which he reported through the MySantaClara app. He expressed appreciation for how quickly the issue was addressed. He also reported water in the street through the app.
Commissioner Chu reported that she visited all City parks, completing her final visit at Bill Wilson Park earlier that day. She noted that it was interesting to see the differences between older and newer parks.
She also shared that ballet programming will begin soon. Commissioner Chu reported that a wasp nest was removed promptly after being reported through MySantaClara and stated that she was impressed with the speed of the resolution.
Vice Chair DeMarco reported that he was unable to attend the Fourth of July event because he was out of town. He shared that his child is currently enrolled in an acrobatics class at the Community Recreation Center and is enjoying the program. Vice Chair DeMarco also visited Homeridge Park and enjoyed the park, but noted that the interactive sound feature and rolling slide were not working.
Commissioner Forte reported that he attended the Fourth of July event at Mission College and estimated that approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people were in attendance during the evening. He also attended the Special Olympics event at Santa Clara University and the watch parties at the Santa Clara Convention Center.
Chair Gupta requested to be excused from the meeting to attend to a personal family matter. He was excused at 8:00 p.m., prior to the start of the Commissioners’ Report portion of the meeting.
Commissioner Ganesh reported that he has used Santa Clara Parks & Recreation services since he was younger, including summer camps, coding classes, swimming, and Little League. He shared that he is familiar with many of the City’s parks and continues to use Parks & Recreation facilities and services for activities such as playing football with friends, running, and flying his RC helicopter.
Commissioner Ganesh noted that he enjoys staying active, particularly because his work is primarily sedentary. He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve on the Parks & Recreation Commission and stated that he looks forward to becoming more involved in community events over the next few months. He also shared that he previously attended City events and programs such as the Art & Wine Festival and winter ice skating.
Commissioner Souza reported that he attended the Senior Center BBQ and was pleased to see Recreation Manager Kimberly Castro and Parks & Recreation Director Damon Sparacino in attendance, noting that their presence meant a lot to staff. He also shared that another BBQ is scheduled to take place at the Senior Center. He reported visiting City Plaza Park, Thamien Park, War Memorial Park, and Fremont Park. He also completed a full walkthrough of the Senior Center and noted that the facility is looking nice, with new equipment in the gym. He observed approximately 10 to 12 people using the gym during the middle of the day.
Commissioner Souza also reported having a positive conversation with Anna Vargas Smith, Chair of the Parade of Champions, Vice President of the Sister Cities group, and a recently appointed member of the Cultural Commission. They discussed the possibility of holding a concert at City Plaza Park featuring the Santa Clara Portuguese Band. Ms. Vargas Smith expressed interest, and they have been in contact with the band. As a potential next step, Ms. Vargas Smith may present the idea to the Cultural Commission.
He further reported that he has been conducting research on City Plaza Park, noting that it was the City’s first and only park in the late 1800s. He found a photo of the original bandstand, which dates back to 1808.
The original bandstand was later removed to construct the library; however, a replica is located at History Park in San José and closely resembles the original structure.
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ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Chu made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Ganesh to adjourn the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting at 8:09 p.m. until the next regular meeting on August 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Sparacino Conference Room at City Hall.
Aye: Commissioner Caldwell, Commissioner Chu, Vice Chair DeMarco, Commissioner Forte, Commissioner Souza, and Commissioner Ganesh
6 -
Excused: 1 - Chair Gupta
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.
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