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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-2022 Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes1 Final Minutes 01-11-2022 City of Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes DATE: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 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 January 6, 2022 Oral & Written Communication None Approval of Parks and Recreation Commission Draft Minutes: Commissioner Wang/Huang moved to Approve the Parks and Recreation Minutes for the Regular Meeting on November 9, 2021. Passed by a verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Paquier and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None. 2 Final Minutes 01-11-2022 Agenda: 1. Drone Video Program Adam Xu and Dustin Peng from Saratoga High School gave a short presentation of their previous drone projects and made recommendations for the Saratoga City Park Drone video. Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item. There were no speakers Commissioner Paquier/Huang moved to Select EL Quito Park as the next Drone Video Project. Passed by a verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Paquier and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None. 2. Beauchamps Park Update Three design firms submitted proposals and the Commissioners discussed the pros and cons of each design. The design firm that they selected was Spec Specialized Play Equipment, Option 1 (page 7 in Attachment 2). They did want to include another assessable element if possible. Staff will work with the design firm to finalize a design. Next, it will be posted on the website and letters sent to neighbors asking for comments, and then be brought back to the March meeting. Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item. One speaker remarked that she was familiar with Ross Recreation, and they were able to alter designs easily and were knowledgeable about safety requirements. She asked if a water element could be added to a plan. Commissioner Paquier/Huang moved to Recommend Spec Specialized Play Equipment Option 1 with the possible addition of another assessable element. Passed by a verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Paquier and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None. 3. Update on Historical Plaque Program Chair Paquier that the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting will be adding this project to their workplan to be approved by the City Council in March/April. Two of its members, Commissioners LoPresto and Commissioner Shariati are going to work with our Commission on creating historic information for our parks. All the commissioners supported working with the HPC on this project and supported the goal of posting this information in our parks and on our website. The Commissioners agreed to take photos of any existing plaques in the parks to have for the next meeting’s discussion. Chair Paquier – Wildwood, Foothill, Beauchamps and Brookglen Vice Chair Huang – Quarry, El Quito and Gardner Commissioner Wang – Azule, Kevin Moran, Friendship, Bell Grove, Congress Springs and Ravenwood Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item. There were no speakers. 3 Final Minutes 01-11-2022 4. Community Engagement Brainstorming The Commission spoke in general about ideas for future events and activities. Vice Chair Huang suggested organizing ongoing hikes to encourage residents and families to get out into nature for wellness. Commissioner Wang initially raised the idea of a photo contest and Chair Paquier liked it as well and recommended that they be shown at Movie Night. She also suggester partnering with the Youth Commission. Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item. There was one speaker who recommended using the term “wellness” instead of mental health when discussing the hiking events. Commissioner Paquier/Wang moved to Recommend two new projects to the 2022-23 PRC Workplan – Organizing Hikes for Wellness and a Park Photo Contest to be shown at Movie Night. Passed by a verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Paquier and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None. 5. Equity in Parks Chair Paquier introduced the topic diversity and equity in our parks at the November meeting. The Commission had the option whether to move forward on their own or wait for City Council direction on this topic. Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item. There were no speakers. Commissioner Paquier/Wang moved to Recommend that the Commission wait for City Council direction on this topic. Passed by a verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Paquier and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None. 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 Agenda Items for Next Meeting January 11, 2022 • Beauchamps Park playground replacement project • Update on Historic Plaque program • Update on Let’s Work • Community Engagement Discussion • Equity in Parks • Drone Video Update 4 Adjournment Commissioners Huang / Wang move to Adjourn the meeting at 7:58 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 January 6, 2022 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.