10/15/2019 Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Adopted 12/03/2019
CITY OF GILROY
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 15, 2019
6:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
7351 Rosanna Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
MINUTES
Page 1 of 7
I. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission was called to
order by Chair Bentson at 6:03 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
ROLL CALL
Present:
Chair Patricia Bentson, Vice Chair Ermelindo Puente, Commissioner Terrie
Berry, Commissioner Theresa Graham, Commissioner Marcos Gonzalez,
and Commissioner Michelle Wexler.
Absent: Commissioner Robert Miller.
Staff present: Recreation Manager Adam Henig, and Parks Supervisor Bill
Headley.
III. FLAG SALUTE
Commissioner Gonzalez led the pledge of allegiance.
IV. SECRETARY'S REPORT
The packet was posted on the City's website on October 10, 2019 at 3:00
p.m.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion was made by Commissioner Berry; seconded by Commissioner
Gonzalez and carried with a vote to approve the September 17, 2019
minutes with a vote of 6-0-0
VI. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion was made by Commissioner Berry; seconded by Vice Chair Puente
and carried with a vote to approve the agenda as written with a vote 6-0-0.
VII. INTRODUCTIONS
None.
Page 2 of 7
VIII. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS
Council Member Carol Marques accepted the certificate of recognition on
behalf of the Gilroy Tennis Club.
Marques stated they hope to make additional improvements this coming
year.
IX. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
X. NEW BUSINESS
A. Resident Inquiry about a Dog Park in East Gilroy
Henig referred the item to Commissioner Graham.
Commissioner Graham stated there have been inquiries by members of the
community asking why there are no dog parks in the east side of Gilroy.
Graham stated she saw an opportunity at Forest and San Ysidro for a dog
park, possibly for small dogs.
Headley stated the east side of Gilroy is currently built out with three city
parks in the district: Butcher, Forest, and San Ysidro. He stated Forest Park
is part of the City Park Master Plan. There has been consideration to
redesign Forest Park and/or repurpose San Ysidro Park.
Headley stated there is currently a long list, based on priority needs. With an
increase in popularity with dog parks, Headley stated when impact park fees
are involved, City Council has the final answer.
Commissioners were in agreement that there needs to be a neighborhood
focus group to champion for a dog park.
B. Approval of the 2020 Schedule of Regular Parks & Recreation
Commission Meetings
Page 3 of 7
Management Assistant Zinnia Navarro referred the commissioners to the
packet pages #12-13.
Upon discussion, the commissioners decided to go dark in August and
December.
Motion was made by Puente and seconded by Berry to approve the 2020
Parks and Recreation Commission Calendar as written with a vote of 6-0-0.
XI. OLD BUSINESS
A. Fiscal Year 2020 Training Budget Expenditures
Henig referred commissioners to packet page #14 and stated as of today,
nothing has been spent from the $1,000 training budget.
Chair Bentson would like the one day pass to attend the annual California
Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) Conference held in Long Beach. The
cost is $245; the entire conference is $450. She encouraged others to
attend.
Graham asked the benefit of attending.
Bentson stated there is specific training regarding Parks & Recreation
Commission topics to include what’s in meeting, and working with outside
partners.
Graham would like to attend the conference however her term ends
December of 2019.
Bentson recommended Graham to enroll in January should she reapply for
the commission and get re-appointed.
A motion was made by Commissioner Berry; seconded by Commissioner
Gonzalez to supplement lodging funding to Bentson should no one else
from the Parks & Recreation Commission sign up for the CPRS conference.
B. 2019 Parks and Recreation Commission Work Plan
Page 4 of 7
Henig referred commissioners to packet pages #15-18 of the 2019 Parks
and Recreation Commission Work Plan.
Commissioner Wexler and Commissioner Graham met to discuss the
Disneyland application process. In addition to pursuing the Disneyland
tickets, the commissioners agreed to explore other fund raising
opportunities prior to the Breakfast with Santa event scheduled for
December 14, 2019.
Gonzalez will reach out to Great America and Magic Mountain.
Berry will reach out to Pier 49 such as the Horn Blower and Monterey Bay
Aquarium.
Graham will reach out to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Rockin’ Jump.
Puente will reach out to Gilroy Gardens and the movie theater.
Bentson will look at baking class opportunities and social media is another
venue to promote the fund raiser efforts.
Henig stated half of the scholarship tickets were sold at the Breakfast with
Santa.
The commissioners will keep Henig abreast with their fund raising success.
The deadline is by the end of November.
Henig will look into donating swim passes.
Bentson inquired about participating in a ribbon cutting ceremony with the
Bicycle Pedestrian Commission pertaining to the Ronan Channel project.
Henig stated there are no plans for a ribbon cutting ceremony in the near
future (2019).
Bentson would like Henig or Recreation Director Maria De Leon to reach out
to City Administration.
Wexler stated the Bicycle and Pedestrian commission will be celebrating
with the community at San Ysidro Park for Spirits Night family event with its
trunk or treat component.
Bentson provided an updated on the California Association of Parks and
Recreation Commissioners and Board Members (CAPRCBM) meeting that
took place at the Willey Cultural Center on October 12, 2019. She stated it
was a success.
XII. DEPARTMENT UPDATES
A. Recreation Department Updates
Page 5 of 7
Henig referred commissioners to packet page #19 and reviewed the list of
updates.
Henig praised Headley for trouble shooting issues at Las Animas Park and
Christmas Hill Park the weekend of October 12-13, 2019.
B. Status of City Parks
Headley referred commissioner to packet pages #21-35.
Graham stated the memorial was beautiful.
Bentson is concerned about the appearance leading up to the memorial
entrance with its numerous items that are damaged by the outside
elements. There’s was a consensus by all commissioners to move the items
to the memorial site.
Headley asked Bentson to draft an email to himself and Henig on the above
matter.
XIII. COMMISSIONER PARK REPORTS & COMMENTS
Park Assignments
Pat Bentson:
• Christmas Hill Park - The park and memorial look nice.
There is still a large amount of cracked cement throughout the park.
Headley stated the apparatus has been replaced in the children’s
playground. Staff will be working on repairing the rubberized portion of the
playground.
• Cydney Casper - Noticed a lot of the vegetation is dead. The hopscotch
needs repainting.
• Del Rey Park- Nothing to report.
Terrie Berry:
• Carriage Hills, Los Arroyos, and Sunrise Park are being utilized by family
and their animals.
Berry stated she attended the senior advisory board meeting and everything
is going well.
She stated the Employee Appreciation brunch was a great success and
thanked all of the commissioners for their participation.
Marcos Gonzalez:
• Las Animas Veterans Park- Nothing to report and thanked Headley for his
hard work.
• Brought the plans for Brownell Elementary.
Theresa Graham:
• Miller Park-Graham noticed a motor home was parked with folks sorting
through a large number of recyclables on the grass. .
Page 6 of 7
• Rainbow Park - Is being utilized by high schools students. Stated the park
needs a shade structure over the playground area or plant additional trees.
Ermelindo Puente:
• Butcher Park- Looks good, walkways for wheelchair, would like it painted
red Concerned with wheel chair accessibility on sidewalk.
• Forest Street Park-The tree on the north side hasn’t been trimmed and is
still blocking the light. There’s a tree by the children’s area that needs to be
replaced.
• Renz Park-Nothing to report.
• San Ysidro Park - Graffiti on the picnic table, the door looks nice.
Michelle Wexler:
• Hecker Pass Park- Noticed a large number of owners with their dogs in the
dog park area. She was approached by a non-profit group interested in
healthy youths in our community; they are looking into connection between
youth, parks and health; Wexler will send a link to the commissioners.
Robert Miller:
• El Roble Park -
• Gilroy Sports Park-
XIV. GENERAL PLANNING ADVISORY COMIMTEE
Bentson referred commissioners to Environmental Justice (Senate Bill
1000) Fact Sheet listed on packet page 34; The next community workshop
will be held on Friday, November 8, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at Cesar Chavez
Gym.
XV. STAFF COMMENTS
XVI. NEXT MONTH AGENDA ITEMS
The next regular meeting is scheduled December 03, 2019; the deadline for
agenda items is November 26, 2019, possibly sooner due to the
Thanksgiving holiday.
XVII. FUTURE MEETINGS November 19, 2019 at 6:00 P.M.
The next regular Parks and Recreation meeting will be December 03, 2019
at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
XVIII. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Bentson adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m.
Page 7 of 7
Zinnia Navarro
Recording Secretary
Recreation Department