Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting – January 22, 2025
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Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting – January 22, 2025
The Belmont Parks and Recreation Commission held its regular meeting on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting covered the consent calendar, a presentation on gender equity in youth athletics under AB 2404, a discussion on fostering belonging in the community, an annual update on priority projects, and department announcements.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the draft minutes from the December 4, 2024 meeting unanimously (6-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Juliana (representing the Belmont Bike and Pedestrian Committee) spoke during the Community Forum. She expressed strong concern that the city's Vision Zero plan targets 2040, calling 15 years too long, and urged a 2030 target. She noted that she had been hit twice while cycling in the past year and stressed the need for safer streets on Ralston, Alameda, and Harbor (after annexation). She asked the Commission to engage with the City Council on this issue.
Discussion Items
- AB 2404 Fair Play Act Update – Kim Turner (volunteer attorney) provided an overview of the California gender equity youth athletics policy. She explained that the law prohibits discrimination based on sex or gender in community youth athletic programs and requires equitable allocation of facilities, equipment, coaching, scheduling, and other resources. She noted that girls' participation in parks and rec sports averages only 20–33% across the state and highlighted benefits of sports for girls (e.g., higher wages, higher GPAs). She recommended conducting community surveys, tracking participation numbers, rotating field assignments, and partnering with schools. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about compliance, metrics, co-ed leagues, and non-binary inclusion. No action was taken.
- Belonging Starts Here – Commission Discussion – Chair Michaels led a discussion on social isolation and how parks and rec can strengthen community belonging. Reference was made to the U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on loneliness and San Mateo County declaring loneliness a health emergency. Commissioners shared ideas such as: creating intergenerational programs, “chatty benches” to encourage conversation, buddy benches for youth, community art projects, volunteer activities, and low-cost physical changes like board game libraries and phone socks. Several commissioners emphasized the need to support existing informal groups (e.g., group bike rides) and to improve awareness of programs like the senior center. Chair Michaels proposed making belonging a recurring discussion item, with commissioners emailing ideas to staff for compilation and aiming to prioritize and implement low-cost, high-impact actions by summer 2025. No formal vote was taken.
- Annual Parks and Recreation Department Priority Projects Update – Staff presented an update on projects aligned with the City Council's strategic plan (infrastructure, sustainability, public safety, quality of life). Key 2025 priorities include implementing CalFIRE/FEMA fuel reduction grants and restarting community center conversations. Other projects (e.g., Oak Knoll parklet, PROS plan policies) are dependent on resources. Staff noted that park impact fee revenues have slowed due to reduced development, limiting new initiatives. Commissioners asked about Stanford University development and the potential for field and dog park access; staff reported ongoing negotiations with a council update expected in March. No action was taken.
Department Updates
- Staff reported on recent and upcoming activities: tree removals at Twin Pines Park (eucalyptus and creek bank restoration), winter events (Winter Wonderland, Santa at the firehouse, sensory tent), a fall tree giveaway (25 trees), the end of the “Belmont Walks” program (all streets completed), hiring for Camp Soar and aquatics, and upcoming events (Lunar New Year celebration Feb. 2, Sweetheart Dance Feb. 7, child care preview fair Feb. 8, YAC iPhone workshop Feb. 18). A grant-funded chipping program for residents west of Alameda was announced for March. Commissioner Whitmore announced that this was her last meeting after eight years of service; the Chair thanked her.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved (6-0).
- The AB 2404 presentation and the annual priority projects update were received without action.
- The Commission agreed to continue the belonging discussion at future meetings, with commissioners submitting ideas to staff by email for compilation.
- Next meeting: March 5, 2025 (likely featuring Youth Advisory Committee presentations and a youth/teens update).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Uh welcome to the first parks and recreation commission meeting for 2025. Awesome. Okay. And so let me go ahead and read a couple of quick things. So commission meetings, unless otherwise noted, are broadcast live on for Belmont residents on Comcast Cable Channel 27. Streamed live via the city's website at Belmont.gov via Zoom at HTTPS colon backslash backslash. Belmont-gov. Zoom dot us meeting ID 9248 3193757. Or live in person, which we see many people here, so thank you. Um in council chambers at Belmont City Hall, second floor. Public in the council chamber present the clerk for public comments. Um you can present the clerk a request to speak slip found at the table at the rear of the chamber. If participating virtually, use the raise hand feature to request to speak. For dial-in comments, call star six seven one six six nine nine hundred six eight three three. Your phone number will appear on the live broadcast if star six seven isn't dialed prior to the phone number. Enter meeting ID nine two four eight three one nine three seven five seven and press star nine to request to speak. All public comments are subject to a three-minute time limit unless otherwise determined by the chair. If you wish to submit written public comment, you may send an email to PRCOMM at Belmont.gov before the commission considers the item. Please indicate the agenda item topic or agenda item number you wish to comment on in your emails subject line. Any public comment regarding agenda items that are received from the time of publication of the agenda and three hours before the start of the meeting will be distributed to the commission prior to the meeting and made part of the meeting record. Written public comments will not be read during the commission meeting. The commission chair has the authority to rule any speaker out of order, including speakers during the public comment period. If the subject raised is not within the subject matter jurisdiction of the commission during a public hearing or a general business item if the speaker is not presenting testimony or evidence relevant to the matter, or if the speaker becomes disruptive to the proceedings and conduct of the meeting. Commissioner Leiford? Here. Okay. And next I ask everyone to stand to do the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Community forum. And so this is for public comments that anyone wishing to address the commission on any city matter within their purview of the commission, which is not on the agenda. The period for public comment at this point in the agenda is limited to a maximum of three minutes per speaker. Are there any slips? We have one speaker slip. Okay. Juliana, you can come on up. Hey all. Hope you're all doing well here in your capacity as the Belmont Bike and Pedestrian Committee. Last week's council meeting Vision Zero plan came before it. I hope you all were uh showing it. Um Vision Zero is a great thing. It's a great thing to aspire to. Uh problem is that we kind of don't really prioritize it. Uh neither the county nor in particular Belmont. Target date is 2040, 15 years from today. That's way too long to be safe. Vision zero became a thing. I'm gonna make this up somewhere around 2010.
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