City of Sunnyvale

Meeting Minutes - Final

Parks and Recreation Commission

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

7:00 PM

Online and Redwood Conference Room,

City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale,

CA 94086

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Kesting called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Present: 5 -

Chair David Kesting

Vice Chair Dona Mason

Commissioner Daniel Bremond

Commissioner Prashant Gattani

Commissioner Prakash Giri

Council Liaison Srinivasan (present)

STUDY SESSION

25-0297

Recreation Scholarship Report

Michele-Bridget Ragsdale, Recreation Services Manager of Admin, Marketing, and

Events, provided a presentation on the Recreation Scholarship Program. Highlights

included: 2024 income eligibility, recreation scholarship outreach, statistics,

participation program overview, and program cycle ages.

Commissioners asked what the average amount of scholarship funds used per

family was during the fiscal year 2024-2025, why the numbers for teen participation

is lower than other age groups, and is there a way to leverage the pools of local

high schools?

25-0298

Special Events Report

Michele-Bridget Ragsdale, also provided a presentation on Special Events.

Highlights included: special event highlights, partnerships, and a special event

permit overview.

Commissioners asked if staff does outreach at private, local high schools, can

people advertise their special events on city sites, and what is the threshold that

triggers a special event permit requirement?

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

None.

CONSENT CALENDAR

25-0313

Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting

Minutes of January 8, 2025

Commissioner Bremond moved and Commissioner Giri seconded the motion to

Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes of January 8,

2025.

The motion carried by the following vote:

Yes: 5 -

Chair Kesting

Vice Chair Mason

Commissioner Bremond

Commissioner Gattani

Commissioner Giri

No: 0

STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES

Staff went over their recommendation to the proposed study issues with the

commission.

25-0314

Implementation of California Assembly Bill 43 to Lower Speed

Limits Adjacent to Parks in Sunnyvale

Chair Kesting proposed that the study issue would assess the feasibility of

implementing reduced speed limits around parks in order to mitigate risks to

pedestrians and cyclists.

Jim Stark, Superintendent of Golf and Parks, explained staff recommendation is not

to sponsor because the specialty is within traffic engineering. Process to move the

study issue forward, is to present to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

or discuss with a City Council Member to see if they would like to sponsor.

25-0315

Temporary Use Ice Skating Rink in Downtown Park

Chair Kesting explained that the study issue would explore converting a portion of a

park near downtown into a temporary ice skate rink.

Jesus Raygoza, Superintendent of Recreation Services, explains that staff

recommendation is not to sponsor, because there is a developmental agreement

between the city and CityLine developer that requires CityLine to operate an ice rink

or other activity for three winters.

25-0316

Street Trees for Improved Traffic Safety

Chair Kesting explained that the city should explore utilizing street tree planting as a

strategy to enhance traffic safety.

Jim Stark explained that staff recommendation is not to sponsor, because it does

not fall in Parks and Recreation's purview, but it does fall in the purview of traffic

and engineering.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS

-Commissioner Comments

Commissioner Giri announced that there is a new Charter Review Committee, and

suggests that the Parks and Recreation Commission review the section of the

charter pertaining to parks. Staff will help provide that section of the charter for

commissioners to review. Staff will find an open slot for review in the current parks

and recreation work plan.

Additionally, Commissioner Giri announced that he recommends the commission

hold an open public meeting where they could tour parks that have capital

improvement projects scheduled.

Chair Kesting inquired about the location of the original Corn Palace sign, and

announced that the County of Santa Clara held an open meeting about banning

field turf on county property, but was unable to get it to pass.

-Staff Comments

Jim Stark, announced that the construction of the Corn Palace Park is underway,

there is a study issue in the works regarding the Orchard Heritage park, with a

focus on figuring out what the orchard will be in the future, Las Palmas Park design

work has begun but no dates for public outreach have been decided yet, and he

encouraged commissioners to visit parks and fields.

Jesus Raygoza announced that the Job Fair is March 4, 2025, at the Recreation

center from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. If anyone is interested in a summer job, they could

potentially go through the process and get a job offer that same night. Additionally,