City of Sunnyvale

Meeting Minutes - Final

Parks and Recreation Commission

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

7:00 PM

Online and Bay Conference Room (Room

145), City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Kesting called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

SALUTE TO THE FLAG

Chair Kesting led the salute to the United States flag.

ROLL CALL

Present: 4 - Chair David Kesting

Commissioner Daniel Bremond

Commissioner Prashant Gattani

Commissioner Prakash Giri

Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Dona Mason

Council Liaison Klein (present)

PRESENTATION

23-0709

Youth and Teen Overview

Recreation Service Manager, Jesus Raygoza, provided an overview on the Youth

and Teens programs. Highlights included: summer camp report, total participants,

locations, Columbia Neighborhood Center programming, teen programming,

recruitment and training, benchmarking, surveys, and recreation scholarship

program.

Commissioners inquired and staff responded:

How many people participate in the free drop-in gym? Staff will follow up.

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

Dan R., Gary T., Elise L., Carole S., Chris D., Clark H., and Gina R. are proponents

of the City exploring a dog off-leash area (DOLA) trial. The Cities of Mountain View,

Los Altos and Cupertino have launched DOLA trials. Residents notated that a trial

period would allow Sunnyvale staff to gather feedback. Previously a study issue

was proposed.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Commissioner Bremond moved and Commissioner Giri seconded the motion to

Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of August 9, 2023 as

submitted.

The motion carries by the following vote:

Yes: 4 - Chair Kesting

Commissioner Bremond

Commissioner Gattani

Commissioner Giri

No: 0

Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Mason

23-0859

Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

Minutes of August 9, 2023

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS

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.

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.

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: 4 - Chair Kesting

Commissioner Bremond

Commissioner Gattani

Commissioner Giri

No: 0

Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Mason

STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES

23-0806

Online Database of All City Owned Property

Commissioners discussed the potential study issue for online database for all city

owned property. They voiced concerns and notated that members of the public can

submit a public records request.

Chair Kesting withdrew the study issue proposal.

23-0807

2025 New Trees in Sunnyvale in 2025

Commissioners discussed the potential study issue for 2025 New Trees in

Sunnyvale in 2025. They discussed adding an incentive that would promote

residents to plant more trees.

Commissioners voted and sponsored the study issue.

23-0856

Late Night Lights at Public Parks

Commission moved to postpone discussion for Late Night Lights at Public Parks

study issue to next meeting.

23-0857

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.

Commission moved to postpone discussion for making the city owned property at

West Evelyn & Matilda Place open and accessible to the public study issue to next

meeting.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS

-Commissioner Comments

Commissioner Giri recommends staff look into alternatives for synthetic turf.

-Staff Comments

None.

INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS

23-0860

Parks and Recreation Commission Proposed Study Issues,

Calendar Year: 2024

Commission approved to add study issue regarding increasing planting trees to the

2024 study issue list.

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Kesting adjourned the meeting at 10:08 p.m.