Thu, Nov 13, 2025·Alameda, California·City Council

Alameda Recreation and Park Commission Meeting Summary (Nov. 13, 2025)

Discussion Breakdown

Parks and Recreation64%
Fiscal Sustainability14%
Youth Programs14%
Community Engagement3%
Procedural2%
Workforce Development1%
Engineering And Infrastructure1%
Disability Rights1%

Summary

Alameda Recreation and Park Commission Meeting (Nov. 13, 2025)

The Commission convened to hear department updates, receive presentations on teen programming and the Leidecker Park playground replacement, and vote on recommended Recreation & Park user fee revisions for calendar year 2026. A major theme was balancing affordability and access with rising operating costs and long-deferred maintenance needs, including discussion of potential future parks funding via a city bond measure.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Ann Delp (Alameda Aquatic Masters): Expressed opposition/concern regarding the proposed adult nonprofit pool lane rental increase, stating it would raise their rates by 46% and could force reductions in lane rentals/practices or threaten viability; argued Alameda Aquatic Masters is a long-standing nonprofit serving many seniors.
  • Annie Horn (Alameda Aquatic Masters): Urged reconsideration of pool rental fees, stating the proposed increase is unsustainable; requested aligning increases to the 3–10% range and suggested removing the adult nonprofit category so nonprofits pay the youth team rate.
  • Stephanie Lapche (Alameda resident/parent): Raised equity concerns, arguing aquatics are made comparatively inaccessible; stated a field can be rented for about the same price as a single lane and asserted this places disproportionate burden on swim teams; also expressed concern that pricing out masters teams could reduce overall pool utilization.
  • Kristen Koblik (Alameda resident): Stated support for a parks bond measure; echoed concerns about equity/accessibility for masters swimming and emphasized the intergenerational community link between adult masters and youth programs.
  • Maria Ducey (online, Alameda Aquatic Masters): Requested equal per-lane fees for youth and adult swim teams, stating “a body is a body in a lane.”

Discussion Items

  • Director’s Report (Director Justin Long)

    • Announced upcoming ARPD and community events (model trains at the USS Hornet, Winter Lights celebration, coastal cleanup, camps, youth basketball, rose pruning).
    • Project updates: Estuary Park Phase 2 contract awarded and site prep underway; skate park expansion at ~70–80% construction documents; Lincoln Park fencing/netting work; preliminary discussions on a surf pool option and future community engagement.
    • Presented parks system scale and capital needs (e.g., 35 parks, 300+ acres, 10+ miles of trails). Reported outstanding needs including $43.5M for park amenities, $5M for ADA improvements, $19M for park buildings, $18M for specialty buildings, and stated the City is “approximately $220M behind” on overall needs.
    • Discussed unfunded future park projects and estimates, including park development around $66M (excluding sports complex) and a regional sports complex estimated around $65M.
    • Commission Q&A covered: what happens if a bond measure fails (continue prioritizing highest-risk items like playground safety); field closure signage; Rittler Park/AUSD changes and impacts; Lincoln Park netting concerns; centralized lighting controller upgrades (remote scheduling/operation).
  • Commissioner Communications

    • Multiple commissioners encouraged community engagement with City Council regarding a potential bond measure and the need for infrastructure funding.
    • Commissioner Alexander: Stated conditional support for a bond measure, emphasizing funds should be clearly delineated for specific needs.
    • Commissioner Robbins: Strongly urged voting yes on bonds/tax measures and criticized inadequate long-term funding; raised concern about Holiday Boutique vendor sign-up policy (limited new vendor access).
    • Chair Radies: Mentioned speaking at an AUSD Board meeting to encourage collaboration regarding a Rittler field rental dispute.
  • Teen Programs Update (Recreation Assistant Ashley)

    • Reported on programs including the Underground Teen Center and shuttle, teen leadership (AYC), teens teaching technology at Mastick Senior Center, teen volunteer and junior leader programs, and the Teen Haunted House.
    • Noted increased participation and described teen skill-building (leadership, independence, intergenerational connections).
    • Reported the Teen Haunted House drew nearly 600 attendees on a rainy Sunday (compared to a typical ~300).
    • Commissioner feedback included support for flexible “Every Act Matters” volunteer opportunities and suggestions for: clearer guidance for parents on allowable cash during trips; potential partnerships with scouts/local businesses; and possible financial literacy/entrepreneurship programming.
  • Leidecker Park Playground Update (Acting Parks Manager Eric Volnar)

    • Explained replacement rationale: playground built in 1991 and beyond typical 10–15 year lifespan; parts increasingly difficult to source.
    • Survey process: about 650 responses (stated as ~5% return) via online outreach and QR codes.
    • Community selected Option B design (hybrid modern/traditional with nautical/island theme elements).
    • Estimated cost: just under $300,000 (inclusive of removal and installation) with a hybrid surfacing approach (poured-in-place rubber in key areas and fiber elsewhere).
    • Timeline: ~12 weeks for equipment delivery after ordering plus ~1 month demo/installation; projected reopening around April (weather dependent).
  • 2026 Revised Recreation & Park Fees (Director Justin Long)

    • Staff presented annual user fee adjustments effective Jan. 1, 2026, noting most changes range 3–10%, with identified outliers.
    • Discussed inflation and labor impacts, especially for extensive part-time staffing.
    • Identified higher-change areas including: athletic field fees (youth rates described as historically low and increasing annually), open space park rentals, and lane rental increases tied to a previously presented three-year pool pricing implementation plan intended to align with the future aquatic center.
    • New/updated fee concepts included: annual fees for storage boxes/containers placed in parks (to improve accountability and reduce abandoned equipment) and rentals for battery backup units and portable wheelchair lifts for permitted events (supporting ADA compliance and reduced generator use).
    • Scholarship program: stated scholarship funding is about $20,000, fully utilized; staff stated additional funds could be used if available.
    • Commissioners discussed equity in aquatic lane rental pricing (youth vs. adult nonprofit categories), benchmarking challenges across cities, and program access/affordability.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from the Sept. 11, 2025 meeting (Alexander abstained due to absence; all others voted yes).

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved (Sept. 11, 2025): 4–0–1 (Alexander abstained).
  • Recommended approval of revised Recreation & Park fees for CY 2026 for City Council consideration: 4–1 (Alexander yes; Bernie yes; Robbins yes; Schwartz no; Radies yes).
  • Next meeting: Dec. 11, 2025; anticipated item includes a report on coastal shoreline adaptation.
  • Meeting adjourned following a unanimous vote.

Meeting Transcript

They're behind the lights. I can't see it. Okay. Okay. Okay. Thanks. Okay, good evening, everyone. Welcome to the November 13th, 2025 Alameda Recreation and Park Commission meeting. Could we start with the roll call, please? Commissioner Alexander. President. Commissioner Bernie. Present. Commissioner Robbins. Here. Vice Chair Schwartz? Here. Chair Radies. Present. Thank you. The first item on our agenda this evening is non-agenda public comment. Members of the public may speak for three minutes regarding any matter not on the agenda. Commissioners will not respond to comments or answer questions. The city welcomes speakers, providing public comment, but please be advised that this is a limited public forum. As such, speakers must stay on topic if speaking to a particular agenda item. And if speaking during non-agenda public comment, they must address matters within the subject matter jurisdiction of the city. If speakers fail to follow these rules, they'll be warned, and if they continue to disregard the rules, their opportunity to speak will be ended. Do we have any non-agenda public speakers this evening? No non-agenda public speakers. Thank you. Good evening, Commissioners. And trains Saturday, December 6th at 10 a.m. at the U.S. Hornet Museum. There'll be model trains and kids' crafts and bring a toy donation for discounted admission on the Hornet. And celebrate the season with local vendors and entertainment. That afternoon, we have our winter lights celebration. That's again Saturday, December 6th at 5 30 p.m. at City Hall for the tree lighting, the dancing Christmas trees, um, Alameda Community Chorus, and the Alameda Free Library for free book giveaways. So we're excited for that. And then our monthly coastal cleanup, Saturday, December 13th at 10 a.m. Uh, Seaplane Lagoon. And that is uh sponsored by uh the community action for sustainable Alameda. Um for our recreation events, just want to let everyone know the winter spring 26 activity guide is out. So you can register for upcoming ARPD and Massick Senior Classes. Um the Elks National Hoop Shoot Contest is taking place on Friday, December 12th at 6 30 p.m. at the Alameda Point Gym. It's a free event for Alameda youth ages eight to thirteen. Uh, and we're asking people to uh register online by noon of the day of the event. This is sponsored by the Elks Lodge.