City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Parks and Recreation Commission
7:00 PM Online and Bay Conference Room (Room
145), City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kesting called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Kesting led the salute to the United States flag.
ROLL CALL
Chair David Kesting
Vice Chair Dona Mason
Commissioner Daniel Bremond
Commissioner Prashant Gattani
Present: 4 -
Commissioner Prakash GiriAbsent: 1 -
Commissioner Giri (excused absence)
Council Liaison Klein (excused absence)
Council Liaison Sell (present)
PRESENTATION
A 23-0945 Aquatics Report
Recreation Service Manager, Tracey Gott, and Kelsey Christian, Recreation Service Coordinator, provided an overview on the Aquatics program. Highlights included: pool locations, lap swim program, overview of pool use, swim lessons, Splash N' Dash Camp, junior lifeguard program, recreation swim, pool party rentals, and staffing.
Commissioners inquired and staff responded:
Will the City offer more days/hours of availability and remove the restriction of 50 minutes per lap swim appointment? Currently staffing remains a big challenge. We
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October 11, 2023Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft don't have enough staff that can work during the day and typically after the summer season most of our staff return to school. Once we can increase our staffing numbers, we can explore offering more days/hours of availability and removing the 50 minute limit for swim appointments.
Why aren't we able to provide more programming even though the City has more aquatic staff this year comparatively to last year? Although we have more aquatic staff this year, most of our casuals didn't have a wide range of availability.
Additionally, casual staff are limited to 25 hours a week and 900 hours a year. We try to spread out their hours so that we can provide year-round service and don't burn them out.
Chair Kesting noted that he has seen pool managers at Washington Community Swim Center change their roles mid shift and become lifeguards so that the pool could accommodate more swimmers.
B 23-0944
Capital Improvement Projects Update
Superintendent of Parks and Golf, Jim Stark, provided an overview on the Capital Improvement Projects. Highlights included: Lakewood Park, Corn Palace, Community Center, Plaza del Sol and golf course irrigation system replacement.
Commissioners inquired and staff responded:
Where will visitors park at the Corn Palace? Due to the parks limited size, the Corn Palace will be intended as a neighborhood park. Most visitors will need to walk there or park in the neighborhood.
How can the City partner up with local businesses like Tipsy Putt? Golf Manager, Rodney Wilson, can be scheduled to speak at a future commission meeting. He has extensive knowledge regarding golf related businesses within the City.
The Civic Center auditorium will be a great venue for performers - how will we go about budgeting/programming for that space? Staff will get back to the commission with more information once Damon Sparacino, Superintendent of Recreation Services, returns.
Chair Kesting noted that the Corn Palace would be a wonderful location for a dog off-leash area (DOLA).
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Gary T., Michael S., Elise L. are proponents of the City exploring a DOLA program
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October 11, 2023Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft in Sunnyvale. They provided information on proposed guidelines and trial goals.
Louise S. shared lessons learned from the DOLA program in Cupertino.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Commissioner Bremond moved and Commissioner Mason seconded the motion to Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of September 13, 2023 as submitted.
The motion carries by the following vote:
Chair David Kesting
Vice Chair Dona Mason
Commissioner Daniel Bremond
Commissioner Prashant Gattani
Present: 4 -
Commissioner Prakash GiriAbsent: 1 -
1 23-0947
Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Minutes of September 13, 2023
Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of September 13, 2023 as submitted.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
None.
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
2 23-0942 Late Night Lights at Public Parks
Commissioners discussed the potential study issue for late night lights at public parks. Commissioners discussed.
Chair Kesting opened for public comment.
Dash L. opposed the late night lights study issue. He noted that sport lights can cause harm to the habitat and increase light pollution. He would like the study issue to include an analysis of light pollution if moved forward.
Chair Kesting closed public comment.
Commissioners voted and sponsored the study issue.
3 23-0943
Making the city owned property at West Evelyn & Matilda
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October 11, 2023Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Draft Place open and accessible to the public with a retrofit of the existing bus terminal sign abandoned at that location.
Commissioners discussed making the city owned property at West Evelyn & Matilda Place open and accessible to the public with a retrofit of the existing bus terminal sign abandoned at that location. Commissioners discussed.
Commissioners voted and sponsored the study issue.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
None.
-Staff Comments
None.
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
4 23-0948 Parks and Recreation Commission Proposed Study Issues, Calendar Year: 2024
Chair Kesting informed the Commission that he reached out to the Sunnyvale City Attorney regarding AB265. He relayed that their response noted that the bill releases the City of liability if the City was to make the DOLA program happen.
Staff clarified that the City would not be liable on the caveat that the City enforces those rules. The study issue would analyze cost staffing workload, pros/cons, and cost to enforce of rules. The pilot program would occur after the assessment.
Chair Kesting asked if we can revise information on a approved study issue.
Director of Library and Recreation Services, Michelle Perera, noted that she would speak to the City Manager if it was feasible to add an addendum to DPW 20-11.
Chair Kesting noted that the cost of the study issue may be cheaper than the estimated $75K if we leverage our neighboring cities' DOLA rules and regulations.
Council Liaison Sell appreciated the commissions feedback. She noted that it is the responsibility of the commission to recommend policy to Council, and the responsibility of Council to decide to implement policy.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Kesting adjourned the meeting at 9:06 p.m.
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