Parks and Recreation Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Parks and Recreation Commission Wednesday, June 14, 2017 7:00 PM Council Chambers, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Kenton called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Vice Chair Kenton led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present: 4 - Vice Chair Ralph Kenton Commissioner Irene Gabashvili Commissioner Craig Pasqua Commissioner Robert Pochowski Absent: 1 - Chair Henry Alexander III Chair Alexander III (unexcused) Council Liaison Melton (present) PRESENTATION 17-0649 Recognition of Service Mayor Hendricks presented a certificate of recognition to Vice Chair Kenton for his first term of service and to Commissioner Pochowski for his second term of service on the Parks and Recreation Commission. He thanked all the Commissioners for their time and effort and expressed that Council appreciates their service. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR 1.A 17-0650 Approval of Draft Meeting Minutes of May 30, 2017 City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes June 14, 2017 Commissioner Gabashvili moved and Vice Chair Kenton seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 2 - Vice Chair Kenton Commissioner Gabashvili No: 0 Absent: 1 - Chair Alexander III Abstain: 2 - Commissioner Pasqua Commissioner Pochowski PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2 17-0485 Recommend to City Council Approval of the Conceptual Design for the Washington Community Swim Center Project Superintendent of Community Services, Daniel Wax, introduced Assistant City Engineer of Public Works, Jennifer Ng. Assistance City Engineer Ng presented an overview of the Washington Community Swim Center Project which included the design options, layout and concept of the project, and she provided the feedback received from the two community input meetings. Commissioner Gabashvili inquired about the recycling of the water in the splash pad area. Staff indicated the water used at the location is considered “one-time use” and will be collected and used for the irrigation of landscaping. Commissioner Pochowski inquired about having a shallow pool at the location of the splash pad area. Staff indicated the splash pad area is designed for long term sustainability. Also, standing bodies of water require lifeguards. Commissioner Pasqua asked about an area for pool parties. Staff identified the areas for parties. Commissioner Pochowski inquired about the size of the pool, having both a lap and play area and the barrier that separates the two areas of the pool. Staff indicated programming for the pool has not been fully determined and the barrier is to augment the depth of the pool. Commissioner Gabashvili inquired about having a slide at the pool. Staff indicated a slide requires a deeper depth and a "run-out" which would entail a larger deck space. City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes June 14, 2017 Vice Chair Kenton inquired about the area of water gained or lost in the pool with the proposed design and the cost effect on the City budget. Staff indicated there is a gain of water space and the cost fits within the current budget. Vice Chair Kenton opened the item for public comment. Judi Nickey, Sunnyvale resident, suggested the City consider an indoor pool that would allow the pool to be used year-round. Areil Yule, Sunnyvale resident, indicated the pool should be part of the park and have more green areas around the pool. Holly Lofgren, former Chair for Friends of the Fremont Pool, expressed her concerns regarding parking, building space compared to pool space and suggested a wet playground instead of the splash pad area. Commissioners asked speaker, Holly Lofgren, her opinion about the configuration of the pool and the use of splash pads. Holly Lofgren indicated zero-depth entry to the pool is preferred and splash pad use depends on the activities available in that area. Mark Pool, Sunnyvale resident, discussed his concerns regarding parking, the hazards of step entry to the pool and the floorplan. He suggested the City increase the number of lap lanes and provide a zero-entry smooth ramp. There being no further speakers Vice Chair Kenton closed the public comment. Vice Chair Kenton asked if there was a motion regarding staff's recommendation to City Council to approve the Conceptual Design for the Washington Community Swim Center Project. Commissioner Pochowski moved and Commissioner Gabashvili seconded a motion to recommend City staff review the pool configurations and the parking to identify a design that will meet the desires of the community. The motion was carried by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Vice Chair Kenton Commissioner Gabashvili Commissioner Pasqua Commissioner Pochowski No: 0 Absent: 1 - Chair Alexander III City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes June 14, 2017 3 17-0328 Approve the Concept of Constructing an Inclusive Playground at Fair Oaks Park and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement Between Magical Bridge Foundation and the City of Sunnyvale for Design and Construction Services Related to the Playground. Superintendent of Parks and Golf, Jim Stark, presented a staff report on constructing an inclusive playground at Fair Oaks Park that would provide inclusive play opportunities for children and adults. Jill Asher, co-founder of the Magical Bridge Foundation, provided background information on the foundation including fundraising, development, design, and the benefits of building a Magical Bridge Playground in the community. Commissioners inquired about the foundation’s mission, how the parks are developed, the number of employees and the location of the Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto. Magical Bridge co-founder, Jill Asher, indicated the foundation’s mission is to bring inclusive playgrounds to communities around the country and to begin advocacy work. The foundation worked with inclusive experts in the development of the Palo Alto playground and the foundation currently has two full-time employees and contractors. The playground is located inside Mitchell Park in Palo Alto. Vice Chair Kenton opened the item for public comment, and there being no public comments, closed the item for public comment. Commissioners indicated an inclusive playground is a great and innovative project. Superintendent Wax indicated agenda item 17-0328 will be presented to Council on July 11 and inquired if a representative from the Parks and Recreation Commission plans to attend the meeting. Vice Chair Kenton confirmed he will attend the July 11 Council meeting to represent the Commission. Commissioner Pasqua moved and Commissioner Pochowski seconded the motion to Approve the Concept of Constructing an Inclusive Playground at Fair Oaks Park Concept of Constructing an Inclusive Playground at Fair Oaks Park and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement Between Magical Bridge Foundation and the City of Sunnyvale for Design and Construction Services Related to the Playground. The motion was carried by the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes June 14, 2017 Yes: 4 - Vice Chair Kenton Commissioner Gabashvili Commissioner Pasqua Commissioner Pochowski No: 0 Absent: 1 - Chair Alexander III STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES None. NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS None. -Commissioner Comments Vice Chair acknowledged Sunnyvale resident, Esther Lucas, for bringing the concept of an all-inclusive park to the attention of the Commission and the City Council. Commissioner Pasqua thanked Commissioner Pochowski for his leadership and service and for serving two terms on the Commission. -Staff Comments INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS 4 17-0658 Update on the Age-Friendly Initiative Superintendent Wax indicated two focus groups were conducted in April regarding the Age-Friendly Initiative and an on-going task force will be formed to develop an action plan that will include recommendations from the community. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Kenton adjourned the meeting at 8:56 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 5