Parks and Recreation Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Parks and Recreation Commission Wednesday, August 9, 2023 7:00 PM Online and Bay Conference Room (Room 145), City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Chair Giri called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Giri led the salute to the United States flag. ROLL CALL Present: 5 - Commissioner Prakash Giri Commissioner Daniel Bremond Commissioner Prashant Gattani Chair David Kesting Vice Chair Dona Mason Council Liaison Klein (present) PRESENTATION A 23-0748 PRC Purview and Study/Budget Issue Process Superintendent of Recreation Services, Damon Sparacino, provided a presentation on PRC Purview and Study/Budget Issues Process. Highlights included: Council policy statement, general duties, specific duties, work plan and study issue process. Commissioners inquired and staff responded: Are study issues only for policy and not operational issues? Yes. B 23-0609 Sunnyvale Tree Program Urban Landscape Planner, Leonard Dunn, provided a presentation on the Sunnyvale Tree Program. Highlights included: reason for trees, urban forest management plan, how do we compare, whats the canopy cover goal, planting and City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 9, 2023 maintenance issues, and ecosystem benefits. Commissioner Kesting opened for public comment. Elisa F. informed the Commission that she has been waiting three years for her tree to be trimmed. During that tie, two branches have fallen onto her property. This has caused her to feel uneasy. She hopes that Council would provide more thought to funding and maintaining trees in Sunnyvale. Additionally, she asked that the City provide more transparency on which requests was next in the queue. Superintendent of Golf and Parks, Jim Stark noted that staff receive a tremendous amount of calls regarding trees each day. Due to the COVID pandemic, tree maintenance was on hold for 2-years as a cost saving measure. Recently Council has reinstated funding and prioritization for staff to maintain trees and focus on the liquid amber program. These items are taking time to start up, but he thanked the public for their patience. Commissioner Kesting closed public comment. Commissioners inquired and staff responded: Where does the City stand on planting fruit trees? Planting fruit trees is great on private property, but does not recommend in public spaces due to specific care and fruit droppings. How can the City increase canopy cover on private and commercial property? We would need to increase education on the benefits of planting trees and informing patrons of subsidized programs to increase desire for owners to plant trees on their property. Most people are nervous about the maintenance and footprint of planting large trees. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Gary T., Elisa F. and Scott C. were proponents of the City exploring off-leash dog park areas in the City of Sunnyvale. They noted that they have forged friendships and fostered community with their neighbors while walking their dogs. CONSENT CALENDAR Commissioner Kesting moved and Commissioner Bremond seconded the motion to Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of June 14, 2023 as City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 9, 2023 submitted with the amendment that the following notes be added: 1. PG&E and the City own the easement property 2. Status of the property lots in the Cherry Chase area are privately owned by PG&E and the City 3. Currently there is an existing study issue regarding this particular park (study issue 01-315) The motion carries by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Commissioner Bremond Commissioner Gattani Chair Kesting Vice Chair Mason No: 0 Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Giri 1 23-0710 Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes of June 14, 2023 PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2 23-0706 Selection of Chair and Vice Chair Commissioners discussed and nominated Commissioner Kesting as Chair and Commissioner Mason as Vice Chair. Both accepted their nominations. Commissioner Bremond moved and Chair Giri seconded the motion to approve the selection of David Kesting as Chair and Dona Mason as Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Commissioner Giri Commissioner Bremond Commissioner Gattani Chair Kesting Vice Chair Mason No: 0 STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES None. City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - Final August 9, 2023 NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Commissioner Kesting noted that the Washington Community Swim Center staff delivered exceptional service this past weekend. Commissioner Giri asked how often does the City level fields. Staff answered not very often unless its a usability or safety issue. Commissioner Giri also asked if any parks would be using recycled water. Staff responded that currently only Sunnyvale Municipal Golf Course and Encinal Park use recycled water. Currently the City is renovating the water plant and plan to use more recycled water in the future. -Staff Comments Jim Stark noted the City of Sunnyvale takes care of street trees, unlike most Bay Area cities. If patrons are interested in maintaining the street trees immediately themselves, the City will grant a permit to do so. Council Liaison Klein informed the Commission that State laws keep the City from requiring commercial land have a minimum canopy cover. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS 3 23-0712 Parks and Recreation Commission Proposed Study Issues, Calendar Year: 2024 Standing item. No study issues approved in previous meeting were proposed. ADJOURNMENT Chair Giri adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 4