HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-08-2022 Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes1
Final Minutes 03-08-2022
City of Saratoga
Parks and Recreation Commission
Regular Meeting
Minutes
DATE: Tuesday, March 8, 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 Huang, Commissioner Mahuvakar and Commissioner Wang. Absent:
Mahuvakar. Also in attendance was Kristin Borel, Staff Liaison, John Cherbone, Public Works Director,
and Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager. (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 March 3, 2022
Oral & Written Communication
Letter from Staff at The Inn at Saratoga - Request for improvements at Wildwood Park
Approval of Parks and Recreation Commission Draft Minutes:
Commissioner Wang/Huang moved to Approve the Parks and Recreation Minutes for the Regular
Meeting on January 11, 2022. Passed by a verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Paquier and Wang. Noes:
None. Abstain: None. Absent: Mahuvakar.
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Final Minutes 03-08-2022
Agenda:
1. Summer Movie Night
Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager reviewed the options for PRC involvement in Movie Night.
They were also asked to choose movies from a pre-selected list.
Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item.
There was 1 speaker who asked if there are to be food trucks at the event. Staff will investigate and get
back to the Commission with this answer.
Commissioner Mahuvakar arrived at the Zoom meeting at 6:45
The Commission recommended the movies Encanto, Luca and Sing for this Summer’s Movie Night
and to host activities such as Hula Hoop and Community Tree Activity.
2. Beauchamps Park Update
Staff reported that the approved Draft Plan 1B plan was sent to neighbors of Beauchamps park soliciting
input and comments on the design. Notices were also posted in the park with information about the
project and links to the website. The City received 8 comments, mostly asking for additional swings,
shade and additional seating. Staff contacted the designer, and it looks like most of the requests can be
accommodated. The existing swing set will be removed and relocated to a newly created location just
north of the existing play area. This will provide an additional swing to meet the residents’ requests.
A finalized plan incorporating all the resident’s comments will be drawn up and brought back for final
approval at the May 10, 2022 meeting.
Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item.
There was 1 speaker who asked about the surface of the new play area. Staff answered that the new
surface will an all rubberized surface.
Commissioner Paquier/Makuvaker moved to Recommend approval of the changes to Design Plan 1B
based on resident input, and to be brought back for final approval at the May meeting. Passed by a
verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Mahuvakar, Paquier and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent:
None.
3. Update on Historical Plaque Program
The Commission discussed the status of this program which will work on creating historic information
signs 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 Commission will review the photos at the next meeting and report on the status of the project.
Chair Paquier invited any public comments on this item.
There were no speakers.
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Final Minutes 03-08-2022
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 asked about creating a “Fun Run”.
Commissioner Paquier/Muhavakar moved to Recommend new projects to the 2022-23 PRC Workplan
– Organizing Hikes for Wellness and a Park Photo Contest to be shown at Movie Night or other City
event (Let’s Hike! and Let’s Create!). Passed by a verbal roll call: Ayes: Huang, Mahuvakar Paquier
and Wang. Noes: None. Abstain: None. Absent: None.
5. Equity in Parks
The Commission recommended at the January 11, 2022 meeting to wait for City Council direction on this
topic. To date there has been no direction from the Council
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
Mahuvakar 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
• Work Plan Project Updates
• Equity in Parks
• Letter about Wildwood Park
• Drone Video Update
Adjournment
Commissioners Paquier/Wang move to Adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. Passed by a verbal roll
call: Ayes: Huang, Mahuvakar, 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
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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.