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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-09-2021 Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes 1 Final Minutes 11-09-2021 City of Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Final Minutes DATE: Tuesday, November 09, 2021 TIME: 6:30 p.m. LOCATION: Via Zoom Call to Order: Chair Paquier called the virtual Regular Session to order at 6:33 p.m. via teleconferencing through Zoom. Prior to Roll Call, the Chair and Staff Liaison explained that the meeting was conducted pursuant to provisions of the Brown Act and a recent Executive Order issued by the Governor to facilitate teleconferencing to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at public meetings. Ordinarily the Brown Act sets strict rules for teleconferencing. The Governor’s Executive Order has suspended those rules. The Executive Order does require that public agencies continue to notice meetings in advance and provide members of the public an opportunity to observe the meeting and offer public comment. The Commission met all of the applicable notice requirements and the public is welcome to participate in this meeting. Information on how the public can observe the meeting and provide public comment was also shared. Additionally, the Chair explained that votes would be taken through roll call. Roll Call: Chair Renee Paquier, Vice Chair, Commissioner Huang and Commissioner Wang. Absent: None. Also in attendance was Kristin Borel, Staff Liaison, (All appearing via Teleconference) Staff Liaison, Kristin Borel confirmed all the Commission members could hear the meeting proceedings and no doubts were expressed regarding the identities of the individuals representing themselves as Parks and Recreation Commissioners. Report on Posting of the Agenda: Kristin Borel reported that the Agenda for this meeting was properly posted on November 3, 2021. Oral & Written Communication Letter from resident dated 10/20/2021 about off-leash dogs at El Quito Park. Code Compliance will follow up with the resident. Approval of Parks and Recreation Commission Draft Minutes: Commissioner Wang/Huang moved to Approve the Parks and Recreation Minutes for the Regular Meeting on September 14, 2021. Passed by a verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Paquier and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None. 2 Final Minutes 11-09-2021 Agenda: 1. Election of new Vice Chair Commissioner Huang/Wang moved to Nominate Commissioner Huang for Vice Chair. Passed by a verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Paquier and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None. 2. Beauchamps Park Update At this meeting three submitted designs were introduced and staff outlined the project timeline. The Commissioners will give their recommendations for one design or specific equipment at the January meeting. It will then be posted on the website and neighbors notified to solicit input. In March, the design will be finalized and implemented in the Summer of 2022. Chair Paquier asked about the lifespan of the equipment. Vice Chair Huang liked Option 3 from Ross Recreation and wanted to consider equipment that might be geared toward used during a pandemic. She indicated that the slide in Option 2 is too short. Commissioner Wang noted that Option 2 was more condensed, and that Options 1 and 3 offered more space. Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item. There were no speakers. 3. Update on Historical Plaque Program Chair Paquier attended the October Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting. Two of its members, Commissioners LoPresto and Commissioner Shariati are going to work with our Commission on creating historic information for our parks. Commission Wang is going to contact our pervious commissioner to get background on the project. All the commissioners supported working with the HPC on this project and supported the goal of posting this information in our park and on our website. Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item. There were no speakers. 4. Community Engagement Brainstorming The Commission spoke in general about ideas for future events and activities. Vice Chair Huang suggested organizing ongoing hikes. Commissioner Wang suggested linking a food event with one of our parks and businesses. She also suggested a photography contest or offering residents portrait photography at one of the parks. Chair Paquier mentioned linking a walking tour of a park with businesses, and to partner with other commissions. Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item. There were no speakers. 5. Equity in Parks Chair Paquier introduced the topic of diversity equity in our parks. She recommends that the Commission consider professional training, create an assessment, and make an action plan. The commissioners will 3 Final Minutes 11-09-2021 consider whether this is something they want to work on, or what aspects of equity would be considered. Commissioner Wang feels that this is already a part of what the commission does. Vice Chair Huang supports creating a statement about inclusion and access. The Commission will discuss these options and whether they want to develop these ideas further at the January meeting. Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item. There were no speakers. Commissioner and Staff Reports (This includes committee updates and park reports. This section is informational only; no actions will be taken.) Commissioner Park Vacant Wildwood, Foothill, Quarry Huang El Quito, Gardiner Vacant Bell Grove, Congress Springs, Ravenwood Paquier Beauchamp, Brookglen Wang Azule, Kevin Moran, Friendship Park Commissioner Huang reported some trees down in Quarry Park, otherwise there was nothing to report. Agenda Items for Next Meeting January 11, 2022 • Beauchamps Park playground replacement project • Update on Historic Plaque program • Community Engagement Discussion • Equity in Parks Adjournment Commissioners Huang / Wang move to Adjourn the meeting at 8:03 p.m. Passed by a verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Paquier, and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a disabled person and you need a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate in this meeting, contact Kristin Borel at 408.868.1296 or kborel@saratoga.ca.us. Requests must be made as early as possible and at least one full business day before the start of the meeting. Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda Note: In accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, copies of the staff reports and other materials provided to the Parks and Recreation Commission by City staff in connection with this agenda are available at the office of the City Manager at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, California 95070. Any materials distributed by staff after the posting of the agenda are made available for public review at the office of the City Manager at the time they are distributed to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Certificate of Posting of Agenda: I, Kristin Borel, Public Works Analyst for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing agenda for the meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission of the City of Saratoga was posted on November 3, 4 2021 at the office of the City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 and was available for public review at that location. The agenda is also available on the City’s website at www.saratoga.ca.us.