01/17/2023 Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Adopted 02/07/2023City of Gilroy
Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 | 6:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order by Chair Graham at 6:01 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Attendance Attendee Name
Present Theresa Graham, Chair
Pat Bentson, Vice Chair Ermelindo
Puente, Commissioner Eric
Arredondo, Commissioner Sergio
Patterson, Commissioner
Absent Angela Reinert, Commissioner
3. FLAG SALUTE
4. SECRETARY'S REPORT
The Parks and Recreation Commission agenda was posted online on and posted in the
City Hall kiosk on January 13, 2023.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
5.1. November 15, 2022
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Luis Ramirez (old account),
SECONDER Sergio Patterson, Commissioner
AYES: Chair Graham, Vice Chair Bentson, Commissioner Puente, Commissioner
Arredondo, Commissioner Patterson, Ramirez (old account)
ABSENT: Commissioner Reinert
6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Ermelindo Puente, Commissioner
SECONDER Luis Ramirez (old account),
AYES: Chair Graham, Vice Chair Bentson, Commissioner Puente, Commissioner
Arredondo, Commissioner Patterson, Ramirez (old account)
ABSENT: Commissioner Reinert
7. INTRODUCTIONS
None.
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8. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Two members of the public made comments:
1. Trudi Souza – Wants the Commission to consider adding dog parks to a future
agenda. Feels that the Third Street park dog park needs new turf and another site
should be added at Christmas Hill on the Ranch Site.
2. Rosie Bowers – Recommends replacing the current turf with artificial turf at Third
Street/Hecker Pass Park. Also, recommends adding a water source inside the dog
park and more shade.
9. NEW BUSINESS
9.1. Selection of Chair and Vice-Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Ermelindo Puente, Commissioner
SECONDER Luis Ramirez (old account),
AYES: Chair Graham, Vice Chair Bentson, Commissioner Puente, Commissioner
Arredondo, Commissioner Patterson, Ramirez (old account)
ABSENT: Commissioner Reinert
Commissioner Puente nominated Commissioner Ramirez as Chair and
Commissioner Patterson as Vice Chair. They will serve in this position for the
2023 calendar year.
9.2. Select Parks & Recreation Commission Retreat Meeting Date
Commissioner Ramirez motioned to hold the retreat on Tuesday, February 7.
Meeting would begin at 5:30 p.m. Location will be determined.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Luis Ramirez (old account),
SECONDER Sergio Patterson, Commissioner
AYES: Chair Graham, Vice Chair Bentson, Commissioner Puente, Commissioner
Arredondo, Commissioner Patterson, Ramirez (old account)
ABSENT: Commissioner Reinert
9.3. Recommendation to the City Council to rename the Gilroy Senior Center’s
Classroom One after Theodore “Ted” Carpenetti
Discussion about the renaming of the Gilroy Senior Center’s Classroom One
following the death of resident and long-time senior center participant, Ted
Carpenetti. Upon his passing, Carpenetti made a generous donation to the
Senior Center, which prompted the Senior Advisory Board to submit a written
request to recommend the renaming of the room after Carpenetti. Three
speakers spoke and all were in support.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Ermelindo Puente, Commissioner
SECONDER Sergio Patterson, Commissioner
AYES: Chair Graham, Vice Chair Bentson, Commissioner Puente, Commissioner
Arredondo, Commissioner Patterson, Ramirez (old account)
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ABSENT: Commissioner Reinert
9.4. Review Proposed Closing Hours at Las Animas Veterans Park
Discussion about changing Las Animas Veterans Park’s closing hours.
Commissioner Patterson expressed concern that there’s a bigger safety issue than
just the closing hours. Graham concurred. Commissioner Puente said that by
changing the closing hours, it begins the process of addressing the park’s safety
concerns. Ramirez recommended that the commission look into utilizing a survey
to receive park user feedback.
Two speakers provided public comment. Araceli Vaquera supports the change in
park hours to 10:00 p.m. She mentioned that since the nearby Armory is now open
year-round, there is an increase in the number of unhoused park users, which is
contributing to the evening’s excessive noise. Also, proposed the new parking
gates be closed at 9:00 p.m. Charles Morales also supports the change in park
hours and would like to see the park address the already mentioned safety
concerns.
Commissioner Puente motioned to recommend to City Council to change the
park’s closing hours to 10:00 p.m. and request the parking gates at Hanna and
Wayland be locked at 9:00 p.m. Commissioner Ramirez seconded.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Ermelindo Puente, Commissioner
SECONDER Luis Ramirez (old account),
AYES: Chair Graham, Vice Chair Bentson, Commissioner Puente, Commissioner
Arredondo, Commissioner Patterson, Ramirez (old account)
ABSENT: Commissioner Reinert
10. OLD BUSINESS
10.1. Review the 2022 Parks and Recreation Commission Work Plan
Henig reviewed the work plan with the Commission.
11. DEPARTMENT UPDATES
Recreation Division Update
Henig reviewed the Recreation report. Ramirez and Graham requested that
Henig notify commissioners in advance when volunteers are needed at the
Senior Center or San Ysidro Park.
Status of City Parks
Henig provided updates about the storm’s impact at Christmas Hill Park. He also
informed the Commission that there will be new parking gates installed at Las
Animas Veterans Park in the Hanna and Wayland parking lot entrances.
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12. BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN ENCOURAGEMENT & EDUCATION
Henig was provided the following update by Eugene Bernosky, Gilroy’s representative on
the VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Member.
• Gilroy was represented by the City of Gilroy representative Eugene Bernosky at
the VTA December Joint Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and
Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)/2000 Measure A Citizens Watchdog
Committee (CWC) Workshop Meeting on December 18th. VTA Staff presented an
Overview of the Valley Transportation Plan 2050 (VTP 2050) and VTA’s Visionary
Network.
• Discussion by the joint committees reported in the meeting minutes were:
1. Provide process to facilitate contact between community organizations and VTA
staff;
2. Provide opportunities and mechanisms for community organizations input;
3. Present an update on VTA Bicycle Technical Guidelines to provide designers and
engineers options on how to improve bike access on expressways; and
4. Include quantitative data on current traffic patterns and base project goals around
improvement.
Members of the Committee provided comments on defining bike lanes and focusing on
people traveling in high occupancy vehicles and bikes rather than individuals in cars.
13. COMMISSIONER PARK REPORTS & COMMENTS
Comments from commissioners:
• Graham – CHP is closed; El Roble looks good. Rainbow is slightly flooded; Farrell
Ave. is very wet; There is still the tent at LAVP; Foundation received $1,000
donation
• Puente – Butcher Park has commercial trucks parked in front of it; Renz looks good;
At San Ysidro, there’s still lots of homeless in the creek; At LAVP, the light is out on
the flagpole; Flag needs to be replaced (brought a new one); On San Miguel and
Santa Paula Drive, the stop sign is leaning too far out; On Leavesley and Forest, a
business has a commercial flag advertisement that is leaning too much into traffic
• Patterson – Del Rey has excessive sand in the walkway. Excessive trash by the
fence.
• No other updates
14. STAFF COMMENTS
Henig mentioned the following:
1. Future agenda items – explained that if it’s going to take more than an hour of staff’s
time, it needs to receive approval from the City Administrator. Also, the item must be
in the commission’s purview.
2. Ramirez was selected to fill a new four-year term.
3. City was notified by Congress member Lofgren’s office that they received $4.5
million in funding for enhancements to San Ysidro Park ($3 million) and Lion’s
Creek Trail ($1.5 million).
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4. The commission will have a Department Head as the new point of contact. For the
Parks & Recreation Commission, it will be Public Works Director Daryl Jordan.
Henig will remain the staff liaison.
15. FUTURE COMMISSIONER INITIATED ITEMS
Ramirez recommended adding the Dog Park to a future agenda.
16. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Graham adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m.
Minutes completed by Adam Henig, Secretary