Final  
City of Santa Clara  
Meeting Minutes  
Parks & Recreation Commission  
06/09/2025  
7:00 PM  
Hybrid Meeting  
Sparacino Conference Room - City Hall East Wing  
1500 Warburton Avenue  
Santa Clara, CA 95050  
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  
Meeting ID: 891 4028 7145  
Passcode: 863597  
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Commissioner Caldwell called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.  
5 -  
Present  
Absent  
Commissioner Dana Caldwell, Commissioner Eversley Forte,  
Commissioner Derek DeMarco, Commissioner Brittany Ricketts, and  
Vice Chair Vikas Gupta  
1 - Chair Maureen Chu  
Commissioner Forte made a motion, seconded by Commissioner  
Gupta to excuse Chair Hai and Vice Chair Chu from the June 9, 2025  
Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. The motion carried by the  
following vote:  
5 -  
Aye:  
Commissioner Caldwell, Commissioner Forte, Commissioner  
DeMarco, Commissioner Ricketts, and Vice Chair Gupta  
2 - Chair Chu, and Hai  
Absent:  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
1.  
Action on the Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes of the May 12,  
2025, Meeting  
Recommendation:  
Approve the Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes of the May 12,  
2025, Meeting.  
Commissioner Forte made a motion, seconded by Commissioner  
DeMarco, to recommend approval of the May 12, 2025, Parks &  
Recreation Commission Minutes. The motion carried by the  
following vote:  
5 -  
Aye:  
Commissioner Caldwell, Commissioner Forte, Commissioner  
DeMarco, Commissioner Ricketts, and Vice Chair Gupta  
2 - Chair Chu, and Hai  
Excused:  
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS  
None.  
GENERAL BUSINESS  
Elect a Vice Chair of the Parks & Recreation Commission for FY 2025/26  
2.  
Recommendation:  
Nominate and elect a Vice Chair for the Parks & Recreation Commission  
for the FY 2025/26 term.  
Commissioner Forte made a motion, seconded by Commissioner  
DeMarco, to nominate and elect Commissioner Gupta as Vice Chair  
of the Parks & Recreation Commission for FY 2025/26. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
5 -  
Aye:  
Commissioner Caldwell, Commissioner Forte, Commissioner  
DeMarco, Commissioner Ricketts, and Vice Chair Gupta  
2 - Chair Chu, and Hai  
Excused:  
3.  
Status Update on the Progress Made on the FY 2024/25 Parks &  
Recreation Commission’s Work Plan Goals  
Recommendation:  
Provide status update on progress made on the FY 2024/25 Parks &  
Recreation Commission’s work plan goals.  
Goal A: Review park site and facility condition assessments and  
recommend priorities given existing and anticipated service levels and  
available resources.  
--No update.  
Goal B.1.: Review and solicit community input on the existing City park  
rehabilitation projects based on the current Capital Improvement  
Program (CIP) Budget and schedule.  
--The Warburton Park Playground Rehabilitation Project's schematic design  
was approved by City Council on May 13, 2025.  
Goal B.2.: Review residential developer proposed schematic designs  
for new neighborhood parks that serve new residential development.  
--No update.  
Goal C.1.: Host and develop recommendations for the annual Santa  
Clara Art & Wine Festival 2024.  
--No update (completed).  
Goal C.2.: Participate in Citywide Special events.  
--No update.  
Goal D.: Partner with at least one other commission to build  
upon/expand at least one existing Parks & Recreation event by  
adding one extra element for patrons to interact with during the event.  
--No update.  
Goal E.: Participate in the Parks & Recreation Master Plan Process.  
--No update.  
Goal F.: Consider the annual budget of the Parks & Recreation  
Department during the budget preparation process and make  
recommendations with respect to the City Manager and City Council.  
--Completed.  
STAFF REPORT  
Director Sparacino  
Director Sparacino gave an update on the new public park near Coleman  
Ave/Brokaw Rd, which is almost completed, and awaiting title transfer.  
Commissioners will be notified when a soft opening date is determined, and  
when the official opening event will be scheduled in late August or September.  
He also mentioned that the Library is currently reviewing bids for café vendors.  
Deputy Director Seale  
Deputy Director Seale gave an update that the Department is finished with the  
first recruitment for Grounds Maintenance Workers I positions. Onboarding is  
expected to begin at the end of June. In addition, there will be internal  
promotional opportunities for Grounds Maintenance Worker staff.  
Recreation Manager Castro  
Recreation Manager Castro announced that the Parks Master Plan online  
survey is live and has already received 230 responses. She talked about the  
upcoming June 25th community meeting at the Senior Center which will provide  
another opportunity for community input on the Parks Master Plan. She also  
gave an update on 4th of July event.  
COMMISSIONERS REPORT  
Commissioner Caldwell  
Commissioner Caldwell mentioned that he saw a ground level bonfire at  
Maywood Park that was handled by Santa Clara Fire Department. He also  
brought up questions and comments that he received from a few community  
members.  
Commission DeMarco  
Commissioner DeMarco attended a dance recital and mentioned that his  
daughter is back in the dance program.  
Commissioner Forte  
Commissioner Forte attended the first concert hosted by Mission College and  
commented that it was very good. He spoke with the Cultural Chair who let him  
know that there will be music every week.  
Commissioner Gupta  
Commissioner Gupta observed lots of kids having fun at Magical Bridge. He  
visited Townsend Park in San Jose and commented that he liked that the park  
had a running track, open play area, and BBQ stations. It was a nice inspiration.  
Commission Ricketts  
Commissioner Ricketts took her grandparents to the last Health and Wellness  
Fair and a gardening class. She also visited Henry Schmidt Park. She  
mentioned that she and her friends have been getting into pickleball.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Commissioner DeMarco made a motion, seconded by  
Commissioner Gupta to adjourn the Parks & Recreation  
Commission Meeting at 7:39 PM until the next regular meeting on  
July 14, at 7:00 PM in the Sparacino Conference Room at City Hall.  
5 -  
Aye:  
Commissioner Caldwell, Commissioner Forte, Commissioner  
DeMarco, Commissioner Ricketts, and Vice Chair Gupta  
2 - Chair Chu, and Hai  
Excused:  
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  
and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to  
enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.  
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public record will be made available by the City in an appropriate alternative format.  
Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 1 408-615-2220 with your request for an alternative  
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any other disability-related modification of policies or procedures, or other  
accommodation, in order to participate in a program, service, or activity of the City of  
Santa Clara, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 408-615-3000 as soon as  
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