04/18/2023 Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Adopted 05/16/2023
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City of Gilroy
Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 | 6:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order by Chair Ramirez at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Attendance Attendee Name
Present Ermelindo Puente, Commissioner
Luis Ramirez, Chair
Pat Bentson, Commissioner
Theresa Graham, Commissioner
Terence Fugazzi, Commissioner
Vince Sasso, Commissioner
Absent None
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 April 13, 2023.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
5.1. March 28, 2023
Commissioner Bentson proposed an amendment to the minutes. Bentson and Graham
had their former titles listed in the minutes, Vice Chair and Chair, respectively. They no
longer hold those titles and requested they be struck from the minutes. Bentson motioned,
with the amendment, to accept the minutes. Puente seconded.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Pat Bentson, Commissioner
SECONDER Ermelindo Puente, Commissioner
AYES: Chair Ramirez, Commissioner Bentson, Commissioner Graham, Commissioner
Sasso, Commissioner Fugazzi, Commissioner Puente
6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Pat Bentson, Commissioner
SECONDER Ermelindo Puente, Commissioner
AYES: Chair Ramirez, Commissioner Bentson, Commissioner Graham, Commissioner
Sasso, Commissioner Fugazzi, Commissioner Puente
7. INTRODUCTIONS
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7.1. 1. Vince Sasso
2. Terence Fugazzi
Chair Ramirez introduced the newest commissioners, Terrence Fugazzi and Vince
Sasso.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Araceli Vaquera discussed the current location of the entry gate at the Las Animas
Veterans Park dog park. To enter the dog park, one must go through an area where there
are tents and groups of transients. According to the speaker, this can intimidate visitors to
the park, limiting the potential number of users at the dog park. She recommended to city
staff, that the entry gate be moved to another section of the park where visitors would feel
more comfortable entering and exiting.
9. NEW BUSINESS
9.1. Commission Chair Welcomes New Commissioners and Expectation for the
Meeting
Chair Ramirez welcomed the new commissioners and reviewed his expectations
of the commission. He wants everyone to have a voice but to respect each other.
He also emphasized staying on topic and arriving on time.
9.2. Selection of Vice-Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission
Commissioner Fugazzi nominated himself. Bentson nominated herself. The
commission chose Bentson as the Vice Chair to replace Patterson. Ramirez
motioned. Sasso seconded.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Luis Ramirez, Chair
SECONDER Vincent Sasso, Commissioner
AYES: Chair Ramirez, Commissioner Bentson, Commissioner Graham,
Commissioner Sasso, Commissioner Fugazzi, Commissioner Puente
10. OLD BUSINESS
10.1. Review of 2023 Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan
The Commission made the following updates to their proposed 2023 work plan:
• Host Arbor Day: The Commission learned that the City of Gilroy
received its designation as a Tree City USA for the 42nd year. No site yet
has been determined for the 2023 Arbor Day.
• Training opportunities: Bentson and Ramirez registered for the
upcoming Volunteer Leader Roundtable workshop offered through the
National Association of Park Foundations.
• Coffee in the Park: Puente and Ramirez met and shared their updates.
They would like to host two meetings, one on a weekday evening (6/8 at
6pm) and the other on a weekend morning (6/24 at 11am). They would
also like to have a Quality of Life police officer present. The event will be
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Regular Meeting Minutes
focused on getting ideas from park users; commissioners will serve as
scribes and facilitate the meeting. They would like to the City to assist
publicizing the event. They will also need a bilingual translator.
• Park Assignments – with two new commissioners, the revised park
assignments are:
o Bentson – Del Rey, Cydney Casper
o Fugazzi – Sunrise and Carriage Hills
o Graham – Hecker Pass, El Roble, Rainbow, Sports Park
o Puente – San Ysidro, Renz, Butcher, Farrell Ave.
o Ramirez – Miller, LAVP, Christmas Hill, Sports Park
o Sasso - Los Arroyos, Forest
• Participate in citywide events: Henig shared upcoming opportunities
with the commission:
o Clean-up at Las Animas Veterans Park on April 22.
o Bike to Wherever Day on May 18
o Annual Creek Clean-up on May 20.
• VTA Measure B Funds – Henig purchased yard signs for the Bike to
Wherever Day.
• Study dog parks: Established a committee to study and develop
recommendations to the City for improvements to the current dog park.
Committee will comprise of Graham, Fugazzi, and Puente.
11. DEPARTMENT UPDATES
11.1. Recreation Division Updates
Henig reviewed the report enclosed in the meeting packet.
12. BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN ENCOURAGEMENT & EDUCATION
Nothing to report.
13. COMMISSIONER PARK REPORTS & COMMENTS
• Puente –
o Butcher – the ADA parking spot needs to be repainted (faded).
o Renz – looks good
o San Ysidro – water fountain is not working; barbeque pits need to be
cleaned; found oil containers in the dumpster.
o El Roble – lights are not on in the evening.
• Bentson –
o Del Rey – noticed there were cement issues (lifting the ground); Turf looks
good
• Ramirez –
o Miller – soccer players are chewing up the grass
o LAVP – tent has been up for a while at Las Animas (near dog park); Found
graffiti on water fountain
o Christmas Hill – found a shopping cart at Silva’s Crossing; otherwise looks
good.
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Regular Meeting Minutes
• Graham –
o El Roble – fallen trees were removed. Wanted to know what was the status
of the tennis courts were; will it be used for pickleball.
o Sports Park – Found the restroom was clean, which she was pleased to
see.
14. STAFF COMMENTS
Henig mentioned the Gilroy Foundation informed the Recreation Division that grants were
made to their programs from various funders, including youth scholarships (more than
$5,000).
15. FUTURE COMMISSIONER INITIATED ITEMS
Commissioner Fugazzi asked if the Commission can explore the possibility of contracting
a concessionaire at the parks to mitigate mobile and sidewalk vendors at city parks. There
were three commissioners in favor and three against. City staff recommended that they
would look into the matter and share an update at the next meeting.
16. ADJOURNMENT
7:46 p.m.
________________________AH_____________
Adam Henig, Recreation Division
Recording Secretary