Parks And Recreation Commission Regular Session (2024-10-15)

Page 1 of 4 City of Gilroy Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | 6:00 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called by Chair Bentson at 6:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Attendance Attendee Name Present Patricia Bentson, Chair Theresa Graham, Vice Chair Luis Ramirez, Commissioner Salvatore Bozzo, Commissioner Absent None 3. FLAG SALUTE 4. SECRETARY'S REPORT The agenda was posted on August 16, 2024. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 5.1. August 20, 2024 and September 17, 2024 RESULT: Pass MOVER: Luis Ramirez, Commissioner SECONDER Theresa Graham, Vice Chair AYES: Chair Bentson, Vice Chair Graham, Commissioner Ramirez, Commissioner Bozzo 6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA RESULT: Pass MOVER: Luis Ramirez, Commissioner SECONDER Theresa Graham, Vice Chair AYES: Chair Bentson, Commissioner Graham, Commissioner Ramirez, Commissioner Bozzo 7. INTRODUCTIONS – none. 8. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA There were four public comments: 1. Michelle Wexler – Talked about the Santa Clara County Public Health Department Walking Loop program, which encourages people to exercise. She encouraged the commissioners to participate in the program. 2. Connie Rogers – Promoted the idea of having the Commission collaborate with the AAUW on an Earth Day event at Christmas Hill Park. She would like the City to co- sponsor it. 3. Jan Guffey – Also a member of AAUW and supports the Earth Day event idea with the City of Gilroy. Wants to raise awareness about climate change.

October 15, 2024 6:00 PM Page 2 of 4 Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes 4. Janice Felipa – Also, a member of AAUW who mentioned several community- based partners that would be interested in supporting the Earth Day event. 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.1. Proposed 2016 VTA Measure B Encouragement and Education for Fiscal Year 2024 Henig reviewed the staff report and explained the Commission’s role in overseeing the 2016 Measure B Bicycle and Pedestrian Education and Encouragement Fund. Henig reviewed the two program projects that the City had submitted for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025: Bike to Wherever Day and a GIS Bike and Pedestrian Route Map. Although it wasn’t included in the packet, Henig shared a second attachment, the annual reporting document, which provided an update about the projects from FY24. For Bike to Wherever Day, for example, an energizer station was established on the levee at Christmas Hill Park to encourage residents to use a bicycle to commute to work, do errands, or ride to school. For the GIS Bike and Pedestrian Route Map, a consultant was hired to complete the project. The payment to the consultant occurred after the fiscal year, which is why it was not included in the reporting document. It will be included in next year’s reporting. 10. OLD BUSINESS 10.1. Ranking of Parks for Potential Pickleball Courts Atkins discussed his findings from the scoring of park locations that was submitted by the commissioners. Using the commissioner scoring sheets, there were 15 parks that were ranked based on their suitability to serve as a future site for a pickleball court. The top four sites were (in this order): Las Animas, Christmas Hill, Gilroy Sports, and Christmas Hill Ranch Site. A public comment was made by Mike Vizzosi. He did not want to see existing tennis courts be repurposed exclusively for pickleball. He was also not in favor of building pickleball courts at Sunrise Park due to lack of parking and increased traffic. Ramirez motioned to make a recommendation to City Council that the top four ranked park locations be the focus of a future potential pickleball site and remove all the other park sites from consideration. In addition, Bentson added an amendment to encourage the City to look into developing user agreements with Gilroy Unified School District and Gavilan College to allow public usage of their existing courts, as well as denoting in the recommendation that the other 11 parks are not recommended for pickleball courts based on their evaluation of the criteria. Bozzo seconded. Motion passed 4-0-0. RESULT: Pass MOVER: Luis Ramirez, Commissioner

October 15, 2024 6:00 PM Page 3 of 4 Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes SECONDER Salvatore (Sam) Bozzo, Commissioner AYES: Chair Bentson, Vice Chair Graham, Commissioner Ramirez, Commissioner Bozzo 10.2. Review of FY24 and FY25 Parks and Recreation Commission Work Plan Henig reviewed the Work Plan and the following topics were mentioned: • Arbor Day – Will be held on Thursday October, 24 at 11:00 a.m. at Rainbow Park. Commissioners are encouraged to wear their commission polo shirts. • Pickleball – Commissioners have completed the assignment of reviewing potential pickleball locations. • Storywalk – Henig informed the Commission that the City is currently reviewing the MOU. He also showed the Commission a possible pathway for the StoryWalk markers at Christmas Hill Park. 11. DEPARTMENT UPDATES 11.1. Recreation Division Updates Henig provided the updates for the Recreation Division as described in his staff report. 11.2. Status of City Parks Parks Supervisor Sousa provided the updates for Park as described in his report. 12. COMMISSIONER PARK REPORTS & COMMENTS The following comments were made by commissioners: • Bozzo – nothing to report. • Graham – Parks look beautiful. • Bentson – Cydney Casper looks good. Del Rey needs mulch and there are still uneven cement issues. Ranch site looks good. • Ramirez – Observed graffiti on a bridge at Las Animas Park (near Hanna Street parking lot). San Ysidro Park looks good. The Sports Park looks fantastic. 13. STAFF COMMENTS Henig informed the Commission that Commissioner Doc Davis has resigned from the Commission, effective Monday, October 14. 14. FUTURE COMMISSIONER INITIATED ITEMS Ramirez requested that the Commission consider partnering with an outside organization to host a special event at Christmas Hill Park. He suggested AAUW since they already have the idea for Earth Day. Graham would like to incorporate the Red Barn into the event. The Commission was in favor of it. Henig will add it to a future agenda. 15. ADJOURNMENT

October 15, 2024 6:00 PM Page 4 of 4 Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes Bentson adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m. ___________________AH__________________ Adam Henig, Recreation Division Recording Secretary