Belmont Parks & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting – April 2, 2025

The Parks and Recreation Commission met on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 7:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting covered an athletic field use policy amendment, a community center conversation update, a fire safety chipping program update, and a discussion on creating a sense of belonging in Belmont’s parks. The commission approved the consent calendar and the policy amendment, and received updates on multiple ongoing initiatives.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the March 5, 2025 draft minutes as presented. (Motion passed 6-0)

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the community forum or on any agenda items.

Discussion Items

• Belmont Athletic Field Use Policy Amendment: Recreation Manager Cody George presented proposed amendments: a winter field allocation meeting (November), an inclement weather schedule (first year due to AB 2404 Fair Play Act), a formal non-discrimination grievance policy, annual reporting metrics, and a priority use correction for BRSSD (Belmont-Redwood Shores School District). Statistics reported: Belmont youth population 51.7% female, 49.3% male; youth program enrollment 72% male, 28% female, four unidentified; five co-ed competitive soccer teams. Commissioners noted the data covers only city‑operated field programs and does not include school sports, private leagues, or competitive dance. Discussion included the high utilization of the synthetic turf field (six leagues, ~375 hours in a six-week winter period), field-sharing cooperation, and the need to clarify data limitations. A motion to approve the policy amendment as presented was made and passed 6‑0 later in the meeting.
• Community Center Conversation Update: Staff reported the community center discussions are now part of the citywide “Your Voice Your Belmont” budget priority survey. Outreach includes small‑group gatherings, presentations to HOAs and community groups, and a mailer. The city is re‑engaging Group 4 Architects to refresh the conceptual design (originally done in 2019) based on lessons from other community centers (e.g., Burlingame). Commissioners suggested targeting multiple age groups, involving youth commissioners, and considering bike/scooter storage and charging facilities. No action was required.
• Fire Safety Chipping Program Update: Staff reported on the pilot program (grant‑funded by CalFire) serving the western half of Belmont. Over 150 homes were serviced in 10 days by a contractor. Lessons learned: improve outreach (flyer clarity on dates), require pre‑registration for route efficiency, discontinue chip‑retention service, avoid scheduling on trash pickup days, and emphasize visible house numbers. The city is seeking future grants for continued chipping and is proceeding with fuel‑reduction work on emergency access roads (Lake Road, Salsen Trail, part of John Brooks) later this year. A wildfire‑preparedness event is scheduled for April 26. Commissioners suggested coordinating with CERT and exploring neighborhood‑level tree‑trimming contractors.
• Creating a Sense of Belonging in Belmont’s Parks Update: Commissioners discussed three focus areas: (1) a physical pilot in Twin Pines Park called “The Commons” — a small gathering space with a conversation bench/swing, game grove, ready post (prompt board), and string lights; (2) programming ideas such as free coffee, walking groups with ice‑cream rewards, sports watch parties on the city’s big screen, and community‑led clubs; (3) a map of meaningful public spots and activities to encourage exploration. Staff proposed targeting July (Parks & Rec Month) for groundbreaking on The Commons. No formal vote was taken.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to amend the Athletic Field Use Policy (including winter allocation, inclement weather schedule, AB 2404 compliance, and BRSSD priority) was approved 6‑0.
• The commission directed staff to scope and plan the Twin Pines “Commons” pilot, with an ambitious goal of implementation by July 2025.
• Staff will explore partnerships with the community college district for weekend classes and develop a mechanism for residents to propose and lead clubs/activities.
• Continued outreach for the Community Center redesign and fire‑chipping program will proceed; the city will seek further grant funding for the latter.