City of Sunnyvale
Draft Excerpt Meeting Minutes
Parks and Recreation Commission
7:00 PM Online and Bay Conference Room (Room
145), City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kesting called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Chair David Kesting
Commissioner Daniel Bremond
Commissioner Prashant Gattani
Commissioner Prakash Giri
Present: 4 -
Vice Chair Dona MasonAbsent: 1 -
Council Liaison Klein (present)
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 23-0060 Recommend to City Council Approval of the Preferred Concept Plan for the Lakewood Park Renovation Project
Senior Engineer, Bennett Chun, provided a presentation on the Preferred Concept Plan for the Lakewood Park Project. Highlights included: park background, park boundaries, project budget, project scope and goals, community input process, timeline, preferred site plan, multi-use synthetic turf field, natural grass field, all-inclusive playground, dog park, splash pad, picnic area, skate park, court light improvements, restroom/concession building, walking paths/circulation, sustainability goals, pro and cons of synthetic turf and natural grass, next steps, and staff recommendation.
Commissioners inquired and staff responded:
Outside of the synthetic field, will LED lights be installed on the remaining school grounds? No, the joint use agreement allows for the City to maintain the field, but not the school grounds.
Attachment 7
September 13, 2023Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Will the fencing be 100% around the field? No, during community outreach residents asked for an open concept. The field will be 50% enclosed.
Can staff clarify why the presentation says "potential" hitting cage in the concept plan? The city has identified locations for multi-use batting cages, but will need to find a partner to finance a portion of the project. The estimated price for a hitting cage is approximately $250K.
Has staff considered installing a net in the unfenced portion of the field to catch fly balls? Staff have not considered that, but can explore if budget permits.
Commissioner Kesting opened for public comment.
Gail G., Brad M., Jason D., Damon J., Mike L., Steve G., Biju N., Greggory D., Ben D., Albert T., and Anush M. support the use of turf. Highlights included: the City cannot professionally maintain grass fields, turf allows for year-round use, can be used shortly after inclement weather, and allows for a higher density of use.
Susan H., John K., Andrea W., Carrie L., Courtney J., Mary B., and Daniel H., opposed the use of turf. Highlights included: creates a heat island affect, use of toxic materials, no feasible recycling process, potential for injury lawsuits, and recommends the City explore the use of Bramuda grass which uses 50% less water.
Commissioner Kesting closed public comment.
Commissioners inquired and staff responded:
How much of Lakewood Park will be converted to synthetic turf? 20%.
Will turf debris drain into the storm drains? The turf field will have a drainage system directly below the field, so debris shouldn't flow into the storm drains.
During the planning phase, did staff conduct a cost/risk analysis on the use of grass vs. turf? No, staff does not have that data. During the planning phase, staff was instructed to increase usability.
How much water does the City save when converting grass to turf fields? Substantial. Up to 90%.
Does the City have injury data on turf fields? No.
Attachment 7
September 13, 2023Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Can the City specify that poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) not be used as turf materials? The City will follow state guidelines on turf materials.
Can the City specify terms on the lifecycle process of the turf? Yes, it is possible.
We have been working with other communities on their language for chain of custody, and finding environmentally sensitive ways to dispose of turf materials.
How can the City mitigate turf run-off into the storm drains? Turf field will be designed to drain vertically. Additionally, the City can install walk-off mats for patrons to stomp particles off their shoes.
Chair Kesting proposed to add the following friendly amendments to the recommendation:
1. To mitigate PFA use in artificial turf (declined)
2. To add end-of-life cycle information (declined)
3. Design park to limit runoff of PFA onto the surrounding field (declined)
4. Remove "potential" for batting cage and include into preferred concept plan (approved)
Commissioner Bremond moved and Commissioner Giri seconded the motion to Approve Alternative 1: Recommend that City Council Approve the Preferred Concept Plan as shown on Attachment 6 of the report with the friendly amendment to remove "potential" for batting cage and include into preferred concept plan.
The motion carries by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Kesting
Commissioner Bremond
Commissioner Gattani
Commissioner Giri
4 -
No: 0
Absent: Vice Chair Mason1 -
Attachment 7