Well, good evening and welcome to the May 14th, 2026 Alameda Recreation and Park Commission meeting.

Uh could we start this evening with a roll call, please?

Commissioner Alexander.

Commissioner Bernie.

Present.

Vice Chair Schwartz.

Present.

Chair Radies.

Thanks very much.

Uh this evening, Commissioner Robbins isn't able to be here on what would be his uh the his final commission meeting.

Uh in his absence, he asked that uh his farewell statement be uh be read, which I'm happy to do at this point.

Uh Commissioner Robbins writes, it has been my pleasure to serve on the Alameda Recreation and Park Commission for the past six years.

During this time, we've accomplished a lot and have seen the need for our parks grow.

As I commonly state, the residents of Alameda must keep in mind, in order to provide the services that you want for our community, we must be responsible and acknowledge that we all must pay for these services.

So I ask to always support any initiatives Wreck and Park are asking for with due diligence, and to approve any funding initiatives that are put forth to make this happen.

To the commissioners, I thank you for your work and friendship over the years.

And to any upcoming commissioners, please remember that we are asked to serve on this commission not because we have a specific initiative or agenda we want to foster, but to represent the community and what they're asking for.

So whether it be soccer, boating, pickleball, or swimming, we are not on the board for our own agenda, but for what the citizens of Alameda have told us they want.

Lastly, to Justin, Donna, and the rest of the park and recreation team, thank you for all of your time, energy, and service.

What you do goes almost entirely unnoticed by the community at large, and yet you are an essential part of what makes Alameda such an amazing community to live in.

Signed Eric Robbins.

The first item on our agenda 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.

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?

Yes, we have three speakers.

The first speaker is Adam Garfinkel.

Thank you.

Welcome, Speaker Garfinkel.

Hi.

Thanks for being here and thanks for doing what you guys do.

It's critical to our city.

Um the words that you read for Mr.

Robinson or Commissioner Robinson hits home.

I agree with that 100%.

I've been a volunteer with Alameda Parks and multiple organizations within Alameda for several years.

I've grown up playing at the parks as a kid, and now that I'm an adult, I kind of feel I'm playing at the parks again in a different way.

I've been the director of fields with Alameda Little League for the last year and had the pleasure of working with the Little John project.

And just wanted to say thank you for all the effort that went into that.

It was an incredible effort.

The way that city resources came together to support the organization.

Helping to rebuild the outfield to maintain the infield to build the mound, try to make things safe to help with parking management, to help with everything required in order to try to make that as viable and safe as it could be for Alameda Little League majors division.

Ultimately, I kind of want to say that it's really not great.

It's a beautiful field.

That the the fencing is not necessarily high enough to be safe for protecting the parks, both on the street side and and uh the park side.

A few things that I wanted to share from observations and my time there.

Um, it would really help if there was a loading zone that uh we were provided signs to put up as a loading zone.

We were provided uh signs to try to keep parking available for residents, and it became very difficult on our volunteers and oftentimes parking the spots that we wanted for the loading zone were already occupied, which then created cascading problems with the neighbors.

Um, so regardless of what happens in the future with Little John Park, it would really be great if there was a loading zone.

Um, also there are a number of amazing dogs in that neighborhood.

It would help if there were signs and a clear policy saying no dogs on the sports field.

Um, it would also be awesome if there could be a space in Gene Sweeney Open Space Park to allow for off-leash dog play because these dogs do deserve a great place to be.

But I've picked up probably 50 to 60 piles of poo uh in the past few months of trying to be a coach and a volunteer in that organization.

So thank you again for what you do.

I'm out of time, and I look forward to working with you guys on trying to find a new home for our majors division for Alameda Little League.

It's definitely needed.

So thank you.

Next speaker is Jay Ingram.

Welcome, speaker Ingram.

Evening Commissioners, Jay Ingram, former chair of the uh recreation and parks uh commission and a former AGSA board member.

Um, want to give some higher level context.

I agree with uh what Adam said about finding another location.

I'm here to talk about the MOU that might come before you, or maybe it won't.

Maybe Alameda Little League will pull it back.

Higher level context earlier this year, the two basketball two half court basketball courts were combined into one basketball court.

There's a lot of history behind why it was two half courts.

I talked with the staff and was unsuccessful.

So now and I was told that the Vipers are gonna show up and play there.

So now this small park has potentially the Vipers, has the 10 to 12 year old Alameda Little League, and I think you'd have to check with the planning department, Del Monty developer, neighbors across the street.

They use that park as their open space and their parkland dedication.

So if it's got an exclusive youth with Little League, it's not open space, it's not parkland dedicated fees.

December, we got a notice about the this agreement that staff and Little League was working on for a community meeting.

We asked them to come back for another meeting.

Sounded like it was a proposed uh changes that have happened in the park in the last nine months have greatly impacted the use, and I think you may be familiar with some of the feedback that the neighbors have provided.

Kind of follows what Adam was saying.

Um for the improvements, and I'll share some of the infrastructure improvements.

And it's unfortunate that they put them in here and then they might end up walking away from this field.

They could have put something improvements like this out in a field at the Naval Air Station and worked with the city to have a more permanently permanent home.

Um I just feel strongly in the negotiations that I've been involved with.

I feel strongly that Alameda Little didn't negotiate in good faith with uh the city, and um it didn't seem like going into it that this was going to be a one-year trial.

Um I think there's been a little change in the sentiment from Little League that the 10 to 12 year olds this isn't a place, isn't a site for them, it's too small of a park.

Uh let's see.

If the MOU comes before you, that's what I came for tonight.

I wasn't I thought it was going to be on the agenda, but it's not.

So I would ask that you would uh consider it and reach out to some of the neighborhood and the community in regards to some of the details of it because there's a lot of sentiment from the neighborhoods and how this has impacted um the neighbors.

Um I feel that Alpha Little League should go through the field allocation process that has been through ARPD for a long time and not get exclusive use of a particular park, regardless of what the school district did to them and so on and so forth.

Um let's see.

I'll just wrap up by saying the neighborhood park known as Little John Park is too small to support the 10 to 12 year olds.

I think Little League is kind of realizing that um and their families.

I would ask that uh when and if an MOU comes before the park and recreation commission, recreation and park commission, um, that you not approve it.

Um and go from there.

I'll leave you with some pictures of the infrastructure that they kind of put in.

Um, not kind of they did, and then I will leave a picture for you, Justin, about the baller, just a reminder of as the ballers.

So, thank you.

Next speaker is Jill Ingram.

Welcome, Speaker Ingram.

Thank you.

Okay, um, so just here to talk to you about the MOU for the Alameda Little League.

Um it was our understanding that it would be coming to the commission because I attended the uh council meeting a few weeks ago.

Um, and you know, as they had said the previous speakers, you know, the neighborhood definitely was in support of the little kids for little league.

It was never a problem before, and um just you know, the majors just it doesn't seem to be a fit for them at the park.

Um we want the public to be able to use the park, um, you know, like they've been able to use it and um be able to have rentals of the barbecue sites, and you know, it just seems right now we they don't have the regular public coming into the park anymore.

Um, and I think one of the things that I see quite often is a lot of people parking in the red zones, and just in the last two days, they are parking on the corner, and it's a clearly marked red zone.

And I've called the police on one occasion, they came out, they didn't tick it.

Um, so that just doesn't seem to be safe.

Um, and then um, you know, maybe look at the development of Del Mani in the past to see, you know, because it's our understanding that that was their open space, um, for them.

So um, and then just I would, you know, please ask to continue to notify the neighborhood with flyers coming to the um houses because that's how we found out about about both meetings, and we appreciate that.

We're not someone who we're not following the website, we're not following social media, and so it just makes it hard to know when meetings are happening and things like that.

Um, we just want to be able to communicate and get the information.

So, thank you.

Great.

In that case, we'll move forward.

The next agenda item, excuse me, is our staff communication from recreation parks director, Justin Long.

Uh Director Long.

Uh good evening commissioners.

Um we'll have a pretty good list of what's going on.

This we're starting our spring and summer, so our programming is getting quite high.

Um, so to go over some of the community events and engagements that are ongoing or at least coming up.

Um, the volunteer coastal cleanup takes place every second Saturday of the month.

This is ongoing.

It's at 10 a.m.

at Seaplane Lagoon Park, and this is uh supported by uh the community action for sustainable alameda, Casa.

Our Alameda Walk Series are taking place on Saturdays.

Um, the first one is May 16th at Harbor Bay Business Parkway.

The next one will take place on May 23rd in the Gold Coast neighborhood.

Um this weekend, this Saturday on May 16th is the National Kids to Parks Day.

This will be taking place at Gene Sweeney Park from 9 30 until 2 p.m.

This is a free community event with classes, crafts, and games.

Um, the 12th annual play for the parks golf fun and dinner is taking place on Monday, May 18th at Karika Park.

Um, and the dinner will be taking place at uh the Harrison Center in Lincoln Park, and all proceeds uh go to the Friends of the Parks, and thank you for supporting us.

Um, the Alameda Community Band will perform a free Jitterbug music concert Friday, May 22nd at 7 30 p.m.

at the Mastic Social Hall.

Um, the Memorial Day holiday um is taking place on Monday, May 25th.

This is a city um holiday in observed and programs will not take place on that day.

Um the Unity Fest uh is taking place on Saturday, June 13th from 12 until 5 p.m.

at Chochenio Park.

Um, this is a free event as part of the Rhythmics in the Parks.

It's a celebration of diverse cultures, music, dance, and art.

Uh the Sand Castle and Sculpture Contest will be taking place on Saturday, June 20th at the Crown Memorial State Beach.

Registration begins at 9 a.m.

And please come out and join us for a uh fabulous event.

Bring a hat and some sunscreen.

Um, and then um the 4th of July events.

So uh it'll start off with a five key 5 uh K race that starts at 8 30 in the morning, and all pro benefits will go to the midway shelter, and then the parade will start at 10 a.m.

Um, and it'll start at the park in Lincoln intersection.

Um, and uh hope everyone's ready to come out and help celebrate America's 250th birthday.

Um for some some highlights, um, the Harrison Center at Lincoln Park project was uh recently painted and Lincoln Park um had some vegetation, a lot of um uh uh improvements to some irrigation around the Rose Garden.

Um, the Lincoln Park uh fitness equipment was installed.

Uh we had 48 uh Mastic members, they took a day trip to the Roaring Camp Railroad and uh railroads in Santa Cruz.

Uh on May 8th, Mastic held a book signing for the World comes to Alameda Volume 2.

Um authors read excerpts from the book, and over 90 people attended.

Um, and then our summer hiring is in and uh is almost complete, so there's still a few slots that are being filled, but most of our programs are already full, so we're really happy with uh how our staffing went this year.

And then there's still a variety of programs that are still available um in our summer guide.

So you know, please check it out and pick an activity that you might enjoy.

For some programs for our youth, we have after school pickleball for middle schoolers, still taking place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 until 5:30 at the Alameda Point Gym.

We have a home school PE for kindergarten through fifth graders taking place Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 until 12 again at the gym.

And then we have some special interest classes taking place, currently offering HTO stream, H2O stream, sorry about that, Dance Fusion, Lego Robotics, Karate, and many more.

We also have summer day camps, so registration is open for Hidden Cove and Trails End sessions held at the Memorial Crown Beach.

Again, ARPD is still supporting the QTAC or the Queer Teen Alameda Center.

This takes place at the Underground at the Vets Building Fridays at 6 p.m.

And this is supported by Alameda Pride.

And then our summer volunteer programs, Operation Green Sweep, will take place Mondays and Fridays from June 22nd to July 24th.

And then our junior leader program is a Monday through Friday, July 6th through the 31st, where youth will gain experience and prepare for future jobs with ARPD.

And then the summer we also have our tween teen adventure camp.

This is a summer field trips that include everything from whitewater rafting, going to the Santa Monica or Santa Cruz boardwalk, paintball, laser tag, and many others.

And then on Sundays, we're still holding our open gym.

That's from 6 until 10 p.m.

We have tennis lessons available for both private and group instruction.

Then we have indoor pickleball taking place Fridays from 9 30 until 12.

And indoor roller skating Wednesdays from 9 p.m.

until 10:30.

Those last two events take place at the Alameda Point Gym.

The new registration or sorry, new member registration is available at Mastic.

It's the takes place the second Thursday of each month where you can take a guided tour, find out all the activities that are available.

And if you want to call and get some more information, that number is 510 747 7500.

And then the Mastic website also has a it's got a new look.

We've got a lot of updates on trips and all the monthly activities that take place, so please visit that.

We've had creative aquatic camps, are now available.

You can choose everything from Mermaid Camp, Pirate Camp, Star Wars, and many special programs like that.

So come on out and sign out for some of our summer programs.

We're also offering group and private swim lessons for all ages throughout the summer.

Wanted to let folks know that you know we're also trying to take care of our staff at the same time.

So we had park staff attend a training at the Del de Bluegrass hosted by Sportsfield Maintenance Association.

We had management staff attend the CPRS Pro Academy in San Jose.

And then our aquatic leadership team attended a mid-year training course by the Association of Aquatic Professionals, as well as the Total Guard training sponsored by Jim Wheeler and the Bay Area Public Pool Operators Association.

Again, as well as our summer ARPD lead staff, they'll also attend a CPRS training institute on Saturday, May 16th.

Where we do an appreciation for our staff, which is just really nice to help us kind of get together, do a little team building before the crazy season gets started.

So we we're in the process of considering adjusting our public office hours from Monday through Friday to Monday through Thursday to align with other city departments.

And then Fridays would we're proposing having by appointment only.

This is a we're gonna be issuing a public survey early next week, and so we can gather feedback on what the community sees and will appreciate around if there's an hour change or not.

We want to make sure that we're in alignment with expectations.

We've begun discussions with AUSD and regarding our joint use agreement that was part of the Emma pool funding strategy, and so we're beginning that process with AUSD now, and we'll be bringing those forward as they become more developed with recommendations around access to shared facilities from both parties and what that will look like.

You know, ASUD's been AUSD has been our partners for many years.

This is just a better way for us to establish what all those those parameters are.

Just as an FYI for everyone, both of the rock spinners at Gene Sweeney Open Space Park are closed for the indefinite future.

Their engineering needs to be double-checked by the artist, and so until that can be re-evaluated, they will be closed to the public.

And then the Godfrey Park pergola behind the recenter was vandalized over the last last week.

But we wanted to make sure the public was fully aware that we're we're in the process of having that fixed.

It's just it has forced us to close portion of that park or uh picnic area.

And then another upcoming project that we want to make sure the public was well aware of.

So starting on Monday, June 8th, we will be doing a safety fencing improvement at the Lincoln Park field.

This will require us to close the driveway in the parking lot for approximately six weeks to have that netting uh restored.

We'll be sending out uh communications via the city's email distribution.

We will also be uh having it through our email distribution.

Not only that, but also on our website, but it'll also be posted at the park so that everyone is aware of of what's going on.

Uh we've informed all of our our uh renters uh for the Harrison Center that this is occurring.

Again, this is a safety issue.

The fencing needs to be replaced there, and so we're we'll be installing that starting on June 8th.

So with that, that's the rest of my report.

Thank you.

Commissioners, any questions for Director Long?

I have one, please.

For the schedule change, how will the survey be disseminated?

So we'll be sending it out via our uh it'll be posted on our website.

We'll be sending it out to everyone within our email files through anyone who's ever registered with us.

We'll also be posting it on the city's main website so that we can get that out.

Um, we're announcing it here, we're putting it out to um as many people as we can get it out to others.

No, uh Director Long, I'd like to ask the I think the same question that I asked about this time last year.

I'm curious when you look at summer registrations for your various summer programs.

Um how are registrations looking now compared to the same point last year?

Are you noticeing any interesting trends to call out?

Sure.

Um it started off a little slower this year.

Um, it has recently picked up.

I think one of the things that we're starting to realize that the competition is growing even higher and higher now with the programs, and so we're trying to figure out ways uh to mark them.

We're also trying to figure out if we are offering what people are looking for.

There's there seems to be a lot of growth and very specialized types of classes, and so that's what we're really trying to gauge.

But right now, we're doing pretty well.

We still have a few vacancies in a and uh or not vacancies, but we openings in a few of the camps.

Um but like say we've we've been seeing those start tick up as we get closer.

People start realizing, oh, school's over, you know, coming up in less than a couple weeks now, and so, you know, oh, what are we gonna do with the kids?

So, um, but but in general, I would say that we're starting to see a lot of competition.

Um, one of the projects that um Matt and I are working on, as well as with our recreation supervisor, it's called a rec assessment, and we're in the beginning phases of starting to formulate what that'll look like, and that'll really try to give us a you know uh a five-year look ahead of what programs are we offering, looking back at what we've done, evaluating are they currently in alignment with Delameda community?

Has things changed, and what should we propose in the future to modify our recreation program?

So, you know, over the next six to twelve you know months, we'll be going through that process involving the community, special user groups so we can look at that.

Great.

And it seems appropriate to ask with the Friends of the Park uh parks event on Monday.

Um, current state of scholarship funds available and whether you're seeing drawdown on those.

So um we use all of our scholarship uh funds every year.

Um we're probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 50% consumption so far.

It summer's usually a pretty big hit to that.

Um, but again, uh we end up utilizing every bit of um the scholarship money we have available and you know um we will gladly accept more of if if folks want to.

There is an opportunity um you where you can reach out to our department and you can sponsor kids.

So we also take registrations in that method as well.

So we have a lot of folks that will actually I would like to sponsor a camp or I want to sponsor a swim lesson or a class, so we take those directly at the department as well.

Okay, great, thank you.

Okay, in that case, let's move forward.

Our next item is uh Commissioner Communications.

Uh Commissioner, excuse me, Commissioner Alexander.

Uh, can I invite you to go first?

Sure, thank you.

Um, first of all, I would like to thank Commissioner Robbins for his nice letter tonight.

I'm sorry he's not here with us tonight.

Um I've enjoyed serving with him these last eight years, and there'll be more on that next month, but I want to thank and acknowledge him.

Um I spent a lot of time going to Little League games this last month.

I was at Little John Park.

I was at Cruzy Park for the girls softball.

I went to Rittler, I saw the Bannham game at Franklin.

Um just wanted to spend some time there just to see and hear what people were saying, some of the issues that were brought up tonight.

Um I had a wonderful experience that little John.

The dugouts look fabulous.

The field is in excellent condition.

I was able to find a parking space, and the game had already started right on Wayne of Vista, so I can't complain about the parking.

Um I watched one game and then I stayed to see the transition to the next game.

Everything seemed to be working smoothly.

Probably talk more about that next month, but I just wanted to say, spend a lot of time out there.

Um, all the dogs I did see on the park were all on leashes, all 30 of them or so.

They were all unleashes.

Um, I went to the Mother's Day swim that they had at Incinow.

It was a little chilly to actually be in the pool, but I want to compliment Stacey Thomas and her staff, they had beautiful decorations, they had flowers for the moms and little gift bags and hot chocolate and crafts, and it's just wonderful.

And I just don't think that our aquatic program gets as much recognition as they used to get.

You really are so creative, it is unbelievable.

Um I guess that's about all I did.

I went to baseball games and I went to the Mother's Day event.

I am working on the Friends of the Park golf tournament.

Um the good news is we're sold out.

But you can always go to our uh one uh friends of the park website and make a donation, and we do have a um raffle that's going on that night that you could participate in.

So if you would just like to donate because you can't come or didn't get in, you feel free to do that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Bernie.

I again would like to give an appreciation to the ARPD for having good parks to train in for those that don't know.

I mentioned it last month that I was running in the Boston Marathon to raise money for Cat Town, which is a cat shelter in Oakland.

I was able to run the Boston Marathon last month.

I was able to finish the Boston Marathon last month.

I was able to raise money for a cat town.

So I just wanted to again give the appreciation to ARPD for having excellent parts in order for people to be able to train for such things, and just to also say that good parks are not everywhere.

It's a privilege, not a right.

So I just want everybody to be aware of the work and effort that ARPD does in order to have excellent parks here in the city of Alameda.

Thank you, Vice Schwartz.

I don't have much personally.

I'm actually just back from Europe about 24 hours ago, so still a little jet lagged.

But my parents were actually here to watch my son.

So I got a little bit of a unique perspective and some of the park experiences they had.

Great to see them back in the water, even again today.

And then my dad went to Lap Swim.

Both of them were at my son's T ball games, their first time at Franklin, their first time at Bay Port Bay Port Park, so they were able to experience some of the great parks we don't usually go to because they're not in our neighborhood.

And then only feedback is they were hoping to do some stuff at Mastic, but it didn't seem like sounds like something about an orientation class they had to take.

Some of the programs, most of the programs, it seemed like were like 12 weeks long.

So maybe I don't know if just the website's not updated or but would be probably great to have some more public facing stuff for drop-ins, especially as you know parents might come to visit, relatives might come to visit to kind of expand, you know, what what some of them are able to participate in at Mastic if there's open space.

But that's all I got for today.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

I have a two-part uh update to share of uh park experiences from the past month.

Uh first, really happy to finally join the Alameda Aquatics community.

Um as my son was training for a swim test over the last month.

We were out at uh NCNL for three consecutive weeks uh working out there and helping him uh build his um uh his his strength in the pool.

Um I saw both sides of it.

We were out on uh weekends and weekdays, including, and I encourage you to get your 12-year-old out to swim at 7 o'clock in the morning on a Friday.

It's a real experience.

Um and I just couldn't uh speak more highly uh as new swimmers in the pool, uh, of how welcoming the staff was at the pool.

Um we discovered uh we didn't know that the pool was free on the first Friday of the month.

Um perhaps you didn't know either.

So on programs, that was uh that was a delight as well.

But everyone from everyone at the front desk to uh to the lifeguards uh to the other swimmers were were wonderful to uh uh wonderful to meet.

Uh on the flip side, uh, when the pool was uh closed, this uh the lap swim was closed this past Sunday afternoon, I guess for the Mother's Day swim.

Um we didn't uh we had trouble uh learning about that, that it was closed.

We saw it posted on the website, but but not the reason why.

Um and in that moment when I needed to get him in the pool for a swim.

Uh we actually we ended up uh at the pool in El Cerrito uh as a result.

Um so we we felt both both sides of it, you know, the the great welcome and also the need for more uh for more pool space.

Um while we were up in El Cerrito for what it's worth, the the layout up there is very similar to the layout that's being contemplated for our own aquatic center.

Um so it was really neat to uh to see uh to see that and dream a little bit and and look forward to uh look forward to that day.

Uh the only feedback that I have to offer from this past experience is that uh this past Sunday when we were looking for a new pool space to go to.

One thing we really I ended up calling around to a number of different cities in the area, and it was really easy for those other cities to reach the front desk of the pool with a single phone call and just from a distance confirm you know the availability of what I was finding on the website.

Um and I had I had a I I couldn't find a similar number here here in town.

Um so that would that would certainly have helped us out uh in that in that moment.

Um, but overall, very uh very positive experience, and uh I think the best part is my son continues to look forward to getting in the pool even at 7 a.m., which is great.

Can I just piggyback off that?

Don't we have a number that somebody has that phone on the weekend?

There's somebody always on call.

Don't we have that number that you could call and maybe find that information out?

Yes, we have a standby number.

Um I'll let Matt, he's got it memorized.

I think I do, but I want to confirm before I say the wrong number.

But but generally, we have we have a standby number that uh after hours and on weekends that you can call and someone can get you that information should you need it.

I I will say that at the NCNL swim center we are challenged as the school district does not have a phone line to the actual front desk area or even into the building area.

So it's a challenge for us to get phone calls in and out there.

But I do appreciate that.

We will work on figuring out a way to get more information out to the public and work.

One user's experience.

Yeah, our off hours stand-by phone number is 510 775 5459, and staff are expected to answer that within a reasonable amount of time and help answer any questions.

And if you need me to chip in a couple of bucks for that Friday, just uh just let me know again.

No worries.

Okay.

Uh, the second piece uh is similar to Commissioner Alexander after April's uh city council meeting uh where the uh Little John MOU is discussed.

I I spent a lot of time out at Little John over the last three uh weekends doing much the same thing, observing the games, observing the changeovers, walking the neighborhood to gain uh perspectives from the neighbors uh in the area.

Um and similarly, I look forward to contributing those perspectives uh when the when the item comes to us uh in the future.

But that was that was time well spent and nothing quite like um kind of walking in the shoes of the folks who are uh affected to um uh to gain uh gain that experience.

Um okay.

Let's uh let's move forward.

Um our next item on the agenda is to approve the minutes from our April 9th, 2026 meeting.

Uh, do we have a motion to approve those minutes, please?

I will motion to approve, second.

Uh and a roll call, please.

Commissioner Alexander.

Yes, Commissioner Bernie.

Yes, Vice Chair Schwartz.

Yes, Chair ADs.

Yes, thanks very much.

The motion's been approved.

Uh the next item on our agenda is our regular agenda item 6A, which is to uh receive uh the 2026 recreation parks department project updates.

Uh we'll have a report and a presentation.

Commissioners can ask clarifying questions.

We'll have an opportunity for public comment, and then the commissioners uh will discuss and offer further feedback.

Uh there is no motion to make uh on this item.

Uh Director Long.

Good evening.

Uh charities and fellow commissioners.

Um we're here tonight just to give you guys a high-level overview of where we are for our 2026 uh uh capital projects and small projects that we have ongoing here in the department.

Um, so we'll get started.

So the first one up is the Sweeney Park Trail Connectors.

Um as many of you have maybe gone out there or gone through the park, you've seen them fenced off.

The paving has been completed, they're working on some final uh components early next week.

They're gonna start the striping and installation of signage.

Once those are complete, we will then open up the connectors to the public.

Um, this will now allow for us to have um two entrances from the north, and then again, two inches, two entrances again from the south.

This has been a um long process for the department and has put a pretty big strain on our resources for um just trying to get the management of the beginning components of it once we got a final approval.

Um it's moved pretty quickly over the last couple of months.

So we're very happy to start bringing this project along.

Um again, this was really to improve pet access, uh pedestrian access, um, you know, and so we have we expect it to be open here uh before the end of the month.

So we're thoroughly excited about this.

Um the City View Skate Park, um, as you uh well know over the last year we've been working with um the skating community.

We worked to try to identify uh improvements.

Um this was built in 1999, and there's been uh nothing really done other than maintenance to it since then.

Um, and so um what we can see here in the yellow square is the outline of the limit of work.

Um this is an area that they identified as needing closure to in order to complete the circuit route that this is a very well known um skate park for.

And so we worked with them to come up with the plans, took their feedback, and uh this is a little dark here, unfortunately, but uh basically it completes the loop on that northern side there on the edge, uh in the upper right hand corner, which will allow people to go across the skate park and then come back in and allow the circuit to really be completed.

We've finished all the construction documents, it's in permit review now, and then we're expecting it to start in October, and then once construction starts, it'll be two and a half to three months, depending on weather again.

We pick that time of year primarily because we know that our summer programs will be out, and then also just you know, we're just trying to align with our department's workload.

But this will be a huge improvement.

There's gonna be ADA parking improvements, pathway improvements.

Again, as you're gonna hear with a lot of our projects coming forward, is that we're making ADA improvements that talk about path of travel.

These are items that were identified in ADA transition plan that was adopted by city council last year, and so as we do projects, we are also addressing those issues as they come up so that we can uh work to help support the transition plan being completed.

Um, as you guys know and everyone knows, the aquatic center is coming.

The bids uh package came in at the end of uh April.

Um we've been working with uh the council and city management talking about the budgeting.

You've heard in the the last uh discussion about budget that was brought before at the last council meeting.

Um, the fee or the estimate for the aquatic center is about five million more than had been budgeted.

So there was a lot of conversation about how the city would uh meet its uh obligations and commitments, and so that we are still moving forward with the aquatic center.

Uh we're going to be bringing the contract for a ward on June 16th in front of City Council, where we will award the contractor, and then we will continue to start that process for the construction of the facility.

Um, the bid package included the 30 meter competition pool, the activity pool.

Um we're also looking at until council approves, but we put it into the base for what we want in the project.

Uh the full school board will be included.

Uh, we will also be uh including a 16 by nine L C D wall on the maintenance or the mechanical building that will also be used for programming.

We've coordinated this with AMP and their participation with the electrification.

So they'll use that as a communication device to the public about their programs, and then in other times we will be using it for our programming.

Um, so it's a good combination or of partnership with them.

So we're expecting the construction and to mobilize in July.

We'll have a duration of two full years.

Um, and so uh once once we get uh the shovels in the ground, it'll be a huge improvement.

And so we're excited, it's a big project.

Again, it's a it's a big uh taxing uh demand on our work time.

So both Matt and I will be spending a lot of time as the construction of this project starts.

And then uh adjacent to the um aquatic center is the community garden.

Um we've held a couple preliminary meetings with Alameda Backyard Growers.

We did a site walk back in April, looking at the facility, looking at the location.

Um one of the things that we are looking at is to try to maximize benefit with even existing work being performed with the trail connectors.

Um we talked about vegetation removal in certain areas and what types to be moved.

So we're actually working at with that contractor to try to maximize even from the previous project whether or not they might be able to help support this sum.

Um that'll still depends on just quite what they have left.

Uh, we anticipate bringing um uh you know more forward.

You know, the goal is to approximately get to two acres.

The initial phase is not two acres, it's about half of that, and so what we're really trying to do is to do this in a phase mechanism in order to build momentum and get this this going.

The the first phase will have between 70 and 100 plots.

These are going to be raised beds, and again, we're looking at trying to get you know as much as we can, whether it's even just vegetation moving uh removal done in August, and then start getting the other components uh ready.

So we're hoping for the duration to be about 12 to 14 months, and then expected completion hopefully no hopefully sooner than December of 27, but it'll all depend on weather and some of the resources that become available.

This is Franklin Park.

Um we've identified through the paving assessment that we we performed over the last uh year and a half that the paving for the basketball half court outside of the rec center uh really needs to be redone.

Um, it's got aggregate showing at this point, and so uh we've focused on uh repaving this segment, and it'll uh have resurfacing, putting in a new standard again.

This is also part about improving the ADA paving in that area, so we will be doing that at the same process.

So that is expected to start in the fall of 26 and take about four to six weeks.

So we'll be doing a lot of coordination with our after school program.

We'll be doing it with the school because these facilities are both heavily used by both facilities.

Um this is Longfellow Park on the west end, and so this is another park with a paving issue that we you know it's been a long time since the main basketball court and area has been paved.

This is something that we have been in our plan for a while, but we're finally being able to get to it this year, and so this is the area that we're talking about that will be addressed.

Um, what you're gonna be also coming up in the next meeting is there's an ADA improvement project that has to occur.

Uh, this park, as many of you may know, only has one entrance, it's by the recenter, and it exceeds the ADA requirement for the thresholds and slope, and so we are going to be exploring installing another entrance into the park, which we will bring forward here.

Um, but this project we're expecting to start in the spring of 27 and it's gonna last about four to six weeks again.

These paving projects are all dependent on contractors availability.

A lot of these projects are relatively small in comparison to a lot of big paving projects, so we often have to work with contractor schedules in order to try to navigate when they can get to these and when they can't, but it'll be a big improvement in this park as we have not been able to put a lot of attention to this in a long time.

And then oh, over here at Lincoln Park, I had just mentioned in my director's report because I wanted to get the information in a couple places.

This is where we were talking about doing an improvement to the baseball field netting.

Um we have existing fencing on the north side there along the driveway access.

Um it has become a little bit precarious, and we want to make sure that it becomes safe, so we will be installing netting along the first uh or netting along the third baseline, which will be the tall netting, which is what we have on the south side of the park.

Um, and then there's also going to be the installation of netting along the bleacher area.

Um, a gentleman came and spoke earlier about the safety issue here, so they're going to be installing both of those at the same time.

This is again is starting on June 8th, and it'll take between four to six weeks.

Um, but this again will be a big safety improvement for both property and pedestrians, and uh we're excited for this one to start here real soon.

Um, and then again in Lincoln Park, as we've stated before, as Estuary Park comes to its completion, there will be six new pickleball courts there.

We've talked to the pickleball community here about the resurfacing of these courts as we do know that there's cracks.

They've come before you, and one even brought a piece out here once for you all.

Um, so we've been working to uh you know maintain those and keep those cracks filled.

However, uh it is time for a full resurfacing that will come uh come to fruition.

Uh again, we are waiting until Estuary Park comes online, which we expect to happen in uh either late December or early January of 27.

Then we'll have a place for our pickleball community to go, and then we can take these offline and get them reconstructed.

Uh, again, that is going to take between six to eight weeks in order to do that work.

And as I just mentioned with estuary phase two, uh, we are well into the construction of our five and a half acre phase two here.

Um this park is uh again, this is a uh illustration of what the park will look like.

There's been some modifications on this since then.

Um, but this is the general layout of the park.

Um we will have a the six bigleball courts, the full basketball court, we'll have bank shot, it'll have a new ADA playground, we'll have a lawn area for the community to gather as there's a lot of density around this.

I'll have open space, we'll have two dog parks, we're both large and small, and a reasonable size parking lot to service both estuary existing park for the athletic fields, but as well as uh the park itself.

I want to point out that Estuary Park has not had restroom facilities since it was constructed.

Uh, they've had to use temporary portables.

This now will allow for six individual stalls to support both the park and the uh existing athletic fields.

Um we're excited about this because if you ever get a chance to go out there, I highly encourage you to because if you're curious about park development, you it's amazing to see something turn from a dirt field very quickly into something that starts to look like a park.

And so uh, like I say, we we anticipate this coming online at the end of the year.

Uh, we've received a decent amount of grant money for this, so we really are appreciative of that, but that this is going to be an exciting change on the west end.

Um, and then not to ignore the East End at all, uh, especially around dog parks, as part of the Clement Tilden uh project and lean realignment.

Um, there's two there's several large green areas you see there, they're dedicated to be a dog park.

We'll have two there, one again for a large and small.

These will be installed at the completion of the project, as you can see along Broadway.

That little parklet area where there used to be the old uh platform has been transformed pretty quickly.

So, you know, as this project comes to a closure, we'll be opening those two dog parks.

So we'll actually have the ability to have grown our dog parks across Almina.

As you will find out through many of the folks that come here about whether it's off-leash dogs at Little John or at Cruzy or at Lincoln.

Uh, we do our best to work with our animal control folks to do education.

Uh, I think if you look at our guidebook, I try to mention it every time to keep your dog on a leash.

Uh, we invite everyone to visit our dog parks for that experience.

And so we're excited to be bringing this forward.

Um, again, we're expected that the completion will happen in the spring of 27.

So things are starting to turn out sooner than you think.

So this summer's gonna be a pretty busy summer with projects going on and then into the fall.

Um, so we're excited to be able to make these improvements.

Um I encourage everyone to watch the budget process.

You know, the uh the city is in healthy shape, but again, as part of that process, you know, there are needs that will have to happen.

Um, you know, we have had our playground replacement funding unfunded for the last two years.

So it's one of those things where we've had to delay replacement, and so as we move forward, we're going to try to strategically make improvements as those funds become available.

Leading into playground replacement, we did.

This is the last playground that we had funding for.

So this is Lidecker.

Um, as you can see, it um this playground has outlived its lifespan by many years.

We've been able to keep it going and keep it safe, but uh it's virtually impossible to get parts for replacement anymore.

And so we're excited to start this process.

Uh we went through a uh significant public engagement.

We brought it forward to you for the new design.

Uh again, there's 80 improvements included in this, and we're going to start construction on this in August of this year.

It'll be down for one to two months, and uh then we'll be able to reopen the playground to the public.

With that, I'll conclude my presentation and be available for questions.

Terrific.

Thank you.

Thank you both and to the entire department.

Uh commissioners, can we have clarifying questions please?

Uh thank you for uh after some of the comments from the community guarding prioritizing that.

Uh really appreciate that, Justin.

Um, is I believe when you go to Gene Sweeney Park, there is a very outdated master plan sign right by the playground.

Um, given that master plan didn't include an aquatic facility.

Is there gonna be a new master plan for Gene Sweeney that you'll guys will put together?

Um at this time we haven't put together a redraw of the master plan that includes the aquatic center.

I think that's something that as we get further down the road that we can address.

Um I think it's also just trying to take into account um, you know, the older master plan, and I think we can I think we can update that as soon as we you know start to lay ground.

I don't want to see it come to fruition before I start making a new sign.

No, I totally agree.

I was just curious on on that one since uh I remember I always see that big sign when when I walk in.

I know there's been some significant changes, but yes, I agree.

I think that that would make sense to see at least when ground's broken, if not uh when it's done.

So um that was all I had.

For Sweeney Park, it's because it's a lot of things going on there.

Will there be any disruptions for people who still want to use the park during that time?

So um we will have to put up construction fencing and the contractor will have a plan, but the goal is to keep the cross Alameda Trail open, um it'll there will be uh several times when it probably has to be shut down, but we will be issuing notices well in advance of when that occurs.

Um, and again, it we'll know more of what that plan is when we get the contractor on board and start getting a construction schedule and plan from them.

Um so what we'll try to do is to minimize that as much as possible.

And for the decker the playground update, I suppose.

Is there any concern from the community because this is the total rebuild?

So the old playground is being removed and new playground is being built, but then there'll be a transition period in which there won't be a playground.

So is there any concerns during that transition period about people not having a playground?

So one of the unique things about um Light Ecker Park is it is in the Harbor Bay um community.

Uh, and that that condo association also has other private playgrounds within that community, but also there's another playground that's available for folks at Tillman Park, which is not terribly far away, and we will be putting up signage and on our website as well as to where people can find the nearest playground to Lidecker.

Okay, okay, I have a couple.

Um, the skateboard park, is the rest of the skateboard park going to be open while they're doing construction?

It will not.

It will not, so we it'll be closed.

Correct.

Okay, do they the skateboarders know that?

As part of the Our Focus Group is aware of it.

And that's part of the reason why we are in October at that point, unfortunately, because they have a few events.

Thank you.

Um, the community garden.

I just want to say that I tried to attend the meeting down there.

I left my house and it was drizzling.

I thought, oh, this will be good.

I got to the fire station on Park Street and it downpoured.

I thought, oh, I'll just keep going.

It's probably coming this way.

Well, when I pulled into Gene Sweeney Park, there was flooding everywhere.

There was rain.

I'm sorry I didn't stay.

I turned around and went home, but I did try.

Um the Franklin Basketball Court is gonna stay in the same place and it's just half court, correct?

Correct.

It's uh it's a full court currently and it's gonna remain a full court.

Does it go this way or this way?

Which way is this way?

Well, there's only one there's only one um hoop there, isn't there?

There's one that's at um 10 feet and one that's at eight feet currently.

It's uh parallel to the tennis courts.

Yeah, we'll have to go look at that.

Um so the driveway at Lincoln, will two cards be able to go down the driveway now at the same time?

Uh more successfully than they are able to now.

I drove that many a data staff meetings, and it's not a fun thing.

Um, and at Estuary Park, I know that the design picture only has a half court is the full court going to be in that same place.

So the full court will be in the same place.

We moved the bank shot closer to the playground okay and so it's in a combination space over by the playground now.

So okay um I think that's all thank you.

Thank you again for the the comprehensive update and and I believe as well to the two of you as the principal project managers also not to let that go unmentioned.

I so a few questions I want to start with the Aquatic Center.

So construction time is money I'm curious uh is there any contingency plan if construction extends beyond the projected two year duration is there any is there any risk there?

I I don't believe there's risk but in all of our contracts we have it written into the number of constructible days you know potentially it goes into penalties you know so what we've done is um we've looked at with our uh design team to build out what we think is probably the longest period that's going to be needed so we're anticipating hopefully that it'll be shorter than that but again you know we all know with construction and weather and uh but but I think two years is a pretty confident timeframe okay great um and I I recall that during the council discussion there was a lot of conversation about uh parking specifically in the configuration of the parking lot and I'm just wondering whether there's been any evolution in that thinking or any further um design.

So um we received direction to go back and explore a parking options and capacity issues around programming.

We did that we contracted with a company that's been doing our our ferry terminal lots and and parking uh plans uh we'll be bringing that actually on the 2nd of uh June in front of council um to have that conversation um and then we will be bringing both options both a 50 uh space layout and a 67 space layout um there's been a lot of work with surrounding property owners um I don't want to get ahead of counsel on this but uh there's just been a lot of work and so we'll be we'll be making a recommendation of uh from that parking study uh about a variety of things that we're gonna propose um and then uh we'll see what council thinks of those okay great um moving over to the uh the community garden uh I'm curious from those discussions what type of uh governance model is envisioned for the community garden uh city operated uh community operated what's the what's the idea so there's been a lot of work over the years and I think some of our friends here in the audience can can uh uh better warrant like the the amount of effort that was done on operating models I I believe we will still have in my best recommendation would be still to have a part-time city staff be as the coordinator and then work with a appointed or uh a volunteer board of how to operate the facility and to work with the different um individuals that have plots just it's a little bit better cohesion sometimes when you have someone that this is their job to focus on it helps alleviate any types of um issues that may arise and it really just helps to keep it an orderly fashion and make sure bylaws are being followed and and whatnot okay great I'm glad to hear that there's gonna be staff support yeah um okay just uh two more questions uh the first is on the the subject of accessibility um so big big fan of accessibility improvements they end up benefiting everybody um I'm curious uh as you move beyond kind of the bare minimum ADA compliance what are the the priority accessibility equipment uh excuse me accessibility improvements uh that you like to to make in situations like these yeah so you know it it's it's a variety of things that we've been looking at you know there's the there's the physical environment um you'll see that we've been uh working with our program flyers, our communications, and just different.

One of the biggest things is trying to eliminate any type of barrier for someone even finding out about information for us um the city's 88 coordinator has been working with our staff, coming up with uh graphic standards, information standards for how we share information, what's an image versus what's a um uh what what should be in text, what and and how it would appear to someone with a uh some type of impairment and how to get that information out there.

Uh there's been a lot of um experiments through other different park systems where they've actually put um whether it's QR codes or things that actually end up becoming like uh like audio uh components describing the park and how to navigate the park, you know.

I think we're we'll get there eventually, but I think at the beginning we need to get rid of the initial barriers, whether they be physical or even just how do you even find us.

So I think that's what we're gonna focus on first.

I think from a programming perspective, this is something that I know um uh Morris at Mastic is exceptionally passionate about.

It's uh Pat Russi is incredibly passionate about this.

It's trying to figure out how can we make all of our programs accessible to everybody.

Uh we've been working really hard to try to do that.

We have different tools in our toolkit where parents can reach out to us and how do we make them more adaptive.

We we run adapt to swim lessons right now, and so it's really about trying to figure out how do we get our programs you know accessible as well as our physical environment first, and then trying to add on the bells and whistles of how do we help people navigate?

How do we help them exist in our park system even if they do have some type of impairment or disability?

That's great.

Thank you.

It's great to hear your thinking on that.

Um and then last, um obviously this is a lot of construction, a lot of investment.

Um, curious, are are there do you have any concerns about um the level of capital investment with budget season coming relative to or rather the the level of investment outpacing the sustainability of funding maintenance and and operations?

So I think you know, our our challenge will is really, you know, we have a pretty old park system, you know, we've got a lot of older assets in it.

Um I think from a funding perspective, if for the next biennial budget, it's really trying to re-establish, you know, we are a general fund department, so you know, we we draw on the general funds that are come through our taxes.

Um, but it's it's really one of those things where if we don't keep building, it will continue to overtax the operations and maintenance staff to the ability where they won't be able to keep up and things will start to slide.

And so one of the ways you do that is by again getting those capital dollars in a regular basis, so you're not asking for them all at once, and that you're able to keep up with some of that systematic uh replacement along the way.

Um from an OM perspective, right now the department is in a pretty decent spot.

Um, but again, you know, as you'll hear in the next budget cycle uh or this next meeting, um, they've asked all the full-time requests from our departments to be made part-time.

Okay.

So we're gonna be bringing five and a half acres of estuary park online, but it's not gonna come with any full-time staff.

Um that is something that it should come with, but it's gonna come with some part-time dollars in order to get us through this next cycle.

Um, hopefully in the next biennial, we'll be able to make them full-time position.

So it's just it's incremental, but what what ends up doing is now we're gonna be dividing even more acreage over a smaller group of people, so it's more to take care of with less.

And so it overall it will impact, but we're gonna do the best we can.

Okay, thank you.

That's really helpful context.

Um, okay.

Let's um let's have one more question, please, Commissioner Alexander.

Is it LIDEC or the playground?

Is it going to have that poured surface or so there's gonna be a combination of uh poured surface and wood fiber?

Both of them are technically ADA accessible, but the routes going to very specific pieces of equipment and exit pieces out of the playground will be in the rubberized surfacing, and then other areas will be in the world.

And I'm sure the same thing at estuary, correct?

So estuary is actually going to be all in the poor in place because it's specifically it's made extra efforts to make every element in that playground fully accessible.

Thank you.

Right.

Okay, thank you all.

Uh, do we have public comment?

Yes, we have two speakers.

The first speaker is Liz W.

Welcome.

Thank you, uh Liz Warmer Dam.

I am the uh president of Almeida Backyard Growers.

And Commissioner Alexander, I'm sorry you didn't make the uh yeah, it was raining pretty hard.

Uh I just wanted to say um, first of all, I've lived in Alameda for 30 years, raised my kids here.

I think I have experienced every single one of those parks that you are either updating or remodeling.

We do have an amazing park system, Commissioner Burney.

You're absolutely right.

Um, and we don't have enough money, and you guys do a great job.

You really do.

You need more money.

Um, Almida Backyard Growers is really excited to be working with staff.

They've been fantastic.

Um, we did our our site walk, and um, you know, we're really excited.

Birgit, my colleague here tonight is gonna talk to you a little bit about um the work that we did about the uh management of the of the um of the garden.

We're an educational nonprofit, so we don't we she's gonna t talk about it, but it'll be nice to have some some dedicated folks.

But anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for um your continued support of the community garden.

We have a lot of folks that um are really excited about this project and are ready to get sorry for saying it, but our hands dirty.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Brigitte Evans.

Welcome, Speaker Evans.

Hi, my name is Birgit Evans.

I was not actually intending to speak today, but who can pass up an opportunity in this lovely room to get up at this at the podium?

Um yeah, that was quite a meeting out in the rain, but I was actually very delighted with the site because we've got some existing young oak trees there, and we were able to talk to Matt and Justin who was there in his dress shoes in the mud.

I felt very badly for him, but thanks to both of them for taking us through there and showing us the site, and I'm really excited to maybe have the educational space in the shade of one of those oaks as it grows up to be able to give classes there because we have needed a place to give classes for a very long time.

We give monthly classes education classes on all forms of gardening, and that will be really a treat.

Um I'm trying off the top of my head, and this was a very long time ago when we discussed the management, but yes, it will be very, very good to have a staff person who can collect fees from the gardeners because obviously there's gonna have to be an annual fee, and that is not a volunteer job to collect money from people and to say, hey, you haven't, you know, we don't really have that authority.

But otherwise, um my friend Sam uh ran the Emeryville Community Organic Garden for 15 20 years or so.

They had a board and they made decisions, they met and they made decisions about what they were gonna do, and they also had um bylaws and rules which said, you know, if you haven't maintained your plot for the past two seasons or three seasons or however long you want to go, then you know we're gonna take the plot and bring somebody else in.

So there are different rules, obviously, about how, you know, behavior and um space of respect for other gardeners and who can use what and how to access what and tools, etc.

So there'll be a set of bylaws that we will presumably write up with the assistance of the staff person, and then we will come up with how much we need to um we need for a fee every year, and I believe we're we're paying for the water.

Yeah, what the proposal will be is that the water is divided amongst all users.

Right.

So part of that fee will be for the water and then for other things that we agree upon that we need, and then we will um come up with some bylaws around that and working with the staff person.

So very happy to have a staff person.

Who can do the collecting the money?

And the being the bad cop, and then the rest of us can hopefully work together.

And come up with a really great plan.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Commissioners, discussion and feedback.

Well, I just want to say that's a lot of work for 14 full-time people down there in the recreation department.

I think we say that every month, don't we?

It's amazing what they get done.

Um it's nice to, from this perspective, to see some things coming to fruition.

We vote on a lot of things that we say, oh yeah, that's great, that's a good idea.

It's nice to be seen in the next year.

A lot of these projects will be finished.

I guess my only question is, um, I guess I should say math.

Are you pretty confident we're gonna get that five million dollars to finish the pool?

I don't want to put you on the spot, but I the mayor at the last meeting said that we have to honor our commitments, and I think it there's full support for it.

Okay, thank you.

Others, uh well, I'll just say this is a lot of work.

I'm actually glad that you have start dates but also finish dates.

I think that's good for the community to let people know that these projects won't be in continue purgatory.

So I think that's great.

I think the only concern I have there's nothing you can really control is just I think the underlying theme is construction costs because obviously things happen.

There's an election coming up, there they could be delayed that it would be weather, and how does that all impact the funding of these projects?

But we pretty much can't control that, but there's something we'll have just have to monitor as these projects are coming to fruition.

I know that a lot of independent groups that are looking forward to a particular product they may have come into fruition, and that will be delayed though.

That could potentially be delayed, so we just have to just have to keep people updated on that front.

I'll just echo Commissioner Alexander.

Um, it's really great to see progress on some things you know we've discussed or voted on and discussed it again.

Um so thank you for this uh great update.

I I echo my colleagues' comments.

Um, you know, my my general reflection, two reflections and then and then just a one one final question.

Um it just it dawns on me and looking at this, this full stack of great projects come into fruition that that each one of them in some manner small or large represents some element of change for each of these surrounding communities, in addition to the the actual site location itself, and I would just continue to encourage um active community outreach to the immediate neighbors and to the to the surrounding neighborhood to help manage even changes that seem like solely a benefit to the neighborhood, um, that really that that communication can only be can only be a positive number one, and then number two, I I just wonder in in addition in adding new facilities and amenities to these these spaces, just to keep uh a mind a mindful balance between um uh developed parks and and passively enjoyed open space.

Um, just uh when I see projects being built, um overall I'm very encouraged, but that's always in the back of my mind to think are we are we still allowing enough um open space for people to enjoy um uh just out in nature uh itself.

Uh so two general, those are two just general reflections.

Uh the question I had is uh just for the the budgeting cycle, are there any um public dates, uh key public dates that would you would have either us or the general public aware of as you're going through the process?

Well, I I would say at the next city council meeting that'll be the second discussion around budget.

So it's good for folks to attend and to uh understand the the budget adoption.

Um starting in the fall, we will start work on the next biennial budget.

So we'll be we'll be starting to do the planning work for the next two-year budget cycle.

Um again, I think that'll be important for the community to be involved in.

Um that's kind of sets the mark for you know a two-year strategy.

However, every look we call it mid-cycle.

Every after the first year, we will revisit again and see if anything needs to change.

Um, as that's what they're doing currently.

So again, I would encourage folks to um watch the city calendar about when budget's coming forward.

Again, I think the more people we have participating, the more could feedback that everyone gets, I think is helpful for everyone in a more successful city government.

You know, as specifically relates to to parks uh and recreation.

Um, you know, budgets for the general public, I feel like can often seem very just big and complicated and opaque.

Are there any particular areas of feedback or any specific types of feedback that you find are helpful from the public during these processes?

Um I think um, you know, there's there's you'll see that there's often a presentation, but you can dig further into the actual budget pages and you can actually dig down to look at specific interests you might be looking for, whether it's um uh park and recreation or if you're interested in what the fire department's doing or the police department, you can actually select out and get down to like more granular data.

The the presentation is really meant as a high level and but there's very specific detailed budget information in a lot of those documents that um I would encourage folks to do.

Again, come out here to the commission, advocate for things that you think that are important to you that you can communicate directly with staff to tell us what you think is important.

Um, you know, we look at things holistically from the department, but then we also try to look at what's happening, you know, in the community and where we think we need to put resources for what we hear year-round.

But I do think having that direct involvement and coming out to commissions like this and saying what you think is important is really helpful for the public to do.

Um, and the more feedback and the more uh involved, uh, the more change occurs.

Great.

Thanks very much.

Yep.

Any other feedback before we move forward?

Okay.

In that case, the next item on the agenda is our next meeting on June 11th, 2026.

Uh, do we have any agenda items uh the commissioners would like to suggest for that meeting?

I have something, but I don't think it needs to be on the next meeting.

Might be busy.

Um, I'd like at the end of the summer, like say September, to have an update on all the programs and how successful they all were.

You know, do we have a hundred percent of day camp?

Do we have 50% of this?

I think that would be an interesting stat at the end of the summer to know.

And I'm sorry, staff, I know I'm giving you more work, but I think it's in it's probably all on the computer.

Now you've got to print it up, but I think that would be interesting information for the commission to have.

Thank you.

Others.

In that case, Director Long, uh, do you have anything to add to that agenda?

Yes.

So at the next meeting, we will be bringing information about um the Little League MOU, the conversation that that um several uh the public spoke to tonight.

Um we will uh go in depth into the topic about the location, potentially alternate locations.

Um I think I think if you've heard from both uh a representative from Little League tonight, also the community that the department uh we're working with Little League very specifically to try to uh resolve the issue so that everyone you know it works for everyone, you know.

Um, and then uh we'll also probably be bringing some information around the ADA access at Longfellow Park at the same time for how to have an open discussion about um the project, the project um the importance of it, and hopefully uh to provide another opportunity for members of the public to uh speak to um uh about the because it is a it would be the potential of adding an additional entrance to the park.

Great.

Uh do you anticipate um perhaps in the fall or just subsequent to June that the uh joint use agreement with um with the school district will come come here in some form?

The school district agreement will come here, especially as we get closer to having a sort of a not really a punch list, but sort of having a short list of items that we want to talk about to get your feedback on.

Um we would hopefully anticipate bringing it to council once it is or to the commission after that fact, once it's finalized, um, back sometime in October, November.

Um the goal is to have it completed by both uh boards by um uh the end of the year.

Um that's that's when we anticipate Emmahood coming online.

Um the school district I think has a different opinion.

Okay, great.

Thanks very much.

Uh moving forward, the final item our on our agenda is adjournment for the evening.

Can I have a motion to adjourn, please?

I'll make a motion to adjourn.

I'll second.

And uh vote, please.

Commissioner Alexander?

Yes, Commissioner Burney?

Yes, Vice Chair Swartz, yes, Chair Radis.

Yes.

Okay, thanks very much, everyone.

The meeting's now adjourned.

Uh we'll see everybody in June.

Thanks.