Final

City of Santa Clara

Meeting Minutes

Parks & Recreation Commission

08/18/2025

7:00 PM

Hybrid Meeting

Sparacino Conference Room - City Hall East Wing

1500 Warburton Avenue

Santa Clara, CA 95050

Special Meeting

The City of Santa Clara is conducting the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting in a hybrid

manner ( in-person and a method for the public to participate remotely).

Join Zoom meeting

https://santaclaraca.zoom.us/j/89140287145?pwd=vxTpbZL37PSa9tyNRsapnbNKFauJJP.1

Meeting ID: 891 4028 7145

Passcode: 863597

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

The meeting was called to order by Chair Chu at 7:02 PM.

5 -

Present

Absent

Commissioner Dana Caldwell, Chair Maureen Chu, Commissioner

Derek DeMarco, Commissioner Eversley Forte, and Vice Chair Vikas

Gupta

2 - Commissioner Brittany Ricketts, and Commissioner Edward A. Souza

Commissioner DeMarco made a motion, seconded by

Commissioner Gupta to excuse Commissioner Souza from the

August 18, 2025 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. The

motion carried by the following vote:

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner DeMarco,

Commissioner Forte, and Vice Chair Gupta

2 - Commissioner Ricketts, and Commissioner Souza

Absent:

CONSENT CALENDAR

25-852

Action on the Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes of the July 14,

2025, Meeting

Recommendation:

Approve the Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes of the July 14, 2025,

Meeting.

Commissioner Gupta made a motion, seconded by Commissioner

DeMarco, to recommend approval of the July 14, 2025, Parks &

Recreation Commission Minutes. The motion carried by the

following vote:

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner DeMarco,

Commissioner Forte, and Vice Chair Gupta

1 - Commissioner Souza

1 - Commissioner Ricketts

Excused:

Absent:

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

None.

GENERAL BUSINESS

25-917

Status Update on the Progress Made on the FY 2025/26 Parks &

Recreation Commission’s Work Plan Goals

Recommendation:

Discuss and develop Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan Goals

and Activities for FY 2025/26.

The FY 2025/26 Parks & Recreation Commission's Work Plan Goals were

updated live during the meeting by Sr. Management Analyst, Carolyn

McDowell, to provide feedback and approve. No commission action was

taken on this item.

STAFF REPORT

Recreation Manager Kim Castro

Gateway Crossing park ribbon cutting is August 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM. All

Commissioners will attend, including Commissioner Souza. The Parks

Master Plan is in the final stages, with the report expected by the end of the

month. The department expects to present to Commission at the October

20, 2025 meeting and to Council by end of the year, and are aiming for

November. The lawn bowl clubhouse remodel began today. The Cultural

Commission is sponsoring the Nebula Rider exhibit at City Hall, along with

six new Electric Box artwork projects.

Sr. Management Analyst Carolyn McDowell

The Aquatics fees report and benchmark study is expected in October.

Eight new Grounds Maintenance Worker I's have been on-boarded, with

four more expected to be hired. The Ground Maintenance Worker III's

developed a detailed training program, including Wednesday A.M. "Shop

Talk" for ongoing training. The goal is to retain employees long-term. The

ISC schematic design is complete. The goal is to extend current facilities

lifespan by 25-30 years. 75% construction drawings are due the week of

Sept 15 and will include imagery. Scheduling workshops to condense 3-4

weeks of decision-making in one day. Two more sessions are expected.

Parks & Recreation Director Damon Sparacino

Nuevo Dog Park investigation is ongoing. There is a history of vandalism

and mistreatment of the facility.

COMMISSIONERS REPORT

Commissioner Caldwell

The Commissioner attended National Night Out with his wife. Visited Corn

Palace Park in Sunnyvale at 1142 Dahlia Ct. It is a similar play structure to

the new one planned at Henry Schmidt Park.

Commissioner DeMarco

The Commissioner visited Westwood Oaks park a couple of times. He

was pleasantly surprised when a broken swing was repaired swiftly after

reporting it to Kim. He also reported and noticed completed repairs at

Homeridge. Has visited Bowers while walking daily while dropping his

daughter at Kindergarten right next door.

Commissioner Forte

The Commissioner has been attending the Concerts in the Park, including

the August 15th concert at Live Oak. He also attended the MJ musical in

San Jose.

Commissioner Gupta

The Commissioner attended Jr. Swim Nationals in Irvine with his son. SC

Swim was well represented and ranked 8th in the nation. He believes the

ISC would be a fantastic host site for this competition and estimates $1

million is generated in revenue for the city (and occupants). He also

believes this would inspire youth to learn to swim.

Chair Chu

The Commissioner attended Street Dance, National Night Out and visited

Earl Carmichael Park a couple of times. She notified Kim that a baby

swing at Live Oak needed repair and was pleasantly surprised when it was

completed promptly. She also asked the Commissioners to send

suggestions to her via email regarding the "Honorary Tree Lighter" ahead

of the October 20 meeting so that a vote may take place at that meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner DeMarco made a motion, seconded by

Commissioner Caldwell to adjourn the Parks & Recreation

Commission Meeting at 8:47 PM until the next regular meeting on

October 20, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Sparacino Conference Room at

City Hall.

5 -

Aye:

Commissioner Caldwell, Chair Chu, Commissioner DeMarco,

Commissioner Forte, and Vice Chair Gupta

1 - Commissioner Souza

1 - Commissioner Ricketts

Excused:

Absent:

MEETING DISCLOSURES

The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any

quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City is governed by Section 1094.6 of the

Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other

provision. Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any

quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must be filed no later than the 90th day

following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal

challenge, which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. If a person

wishes to challenge the nature of the above section in court, they may be limited to

raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in

this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clara, at or

prior to the meeting. In addition, judicial challenge may be limited or barred where the

interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies.

If a member of the public submits a speaker card for any agenda items, their name

will appear in the Minutes. If no speaker card is submitted, the Minutes will reflect

"Public Speaker."

In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act

of 1990 ("ADA"), the City of Santa Clara will not discriminate against qualified

individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or

activities, and will ensure that all existing facilities will be made accessible to the

maximum extent feasible. The City of Santa Clara will generally, upon request,

provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for

qualified persons with disabilities including those with speech, hearing, or vision

impairments so they can participate equally in the City’s programs, services, and

activities. The City of Santa Clara will make all reasonable modifications to policies

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Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 1 408-615-2220 with your request for an alternative

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accommodation, in order to participate in a program, service, or activity of the City of

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