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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - November 5, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, November 5, 2025

BodyBelmont, California

SessionCity Council

DateWednesday, November 5, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:34:04

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:23

Hello and welcome to the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Wednesday, November 5th, 2025.

1:30

We are here in City Council Chambers.

1:32

For meeting participation, the meeting will be broadcast live to Belmont residents on Comcast Cable 27, streamed live via the city's website at www.belmont.gov and streamed live on Zoom.

1:46

The public may also attend the meeting in the city council chambers and address the commission from the chambers.

1:51

Members of the public may provide comments by joining the meeting via Zoom, Belmont-gov.zoom.us.

1:59

Select join and enter meeting ID nine four.

2:02

Oh, pardon me.

2:03

Try that again.

2:12

You may rename your profile if you wish to remain anonymous.

2:15

For dialing comments, call star six seven one six six six six six six nine nine hundred sixty-eight thirty-three.

2:22

Your phone number will appear on the live broadcast if star six seven is not dialed prior to the phone number.

2:27

Enter meeting ID nine two four eight three one nine three seven five seven and press star nine to request to speak for a particular agenda item.

2:36

All public comments are subject to a three-minute time limit unless otherwise determined by the commission chair.

2:42

If you wish to submit a written public comment, you may send us an email at PR com at Belmont.gov before the commission meeting considered before the commission considers the item.

2:52

Please indicate the agenda item topic or agenda item number you wish to comment on in your email subject line.

2:58

Any public comment regarding agenda items that are received from the publication of the agenda through the meeting date will be made part of the meeting record, but will not be read during the commission meeting.

3:08

So item number one, roll call.

3:11

Commissioner Lee.

3:13

Commissioner Michaels.

3:26

Okay.

3:26

Now please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

4:09

Do we have any speaker slips or hands raised?

4:11

We do not.

4:23

Moving on.

4:23

Number five, consent calendar.

4:26

Consent calendar items are considered routine in nature.

4:29

It will be enacted in one motion.

4:30

There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a commissioner or staff requests specific items be removed for separate action.

4:38

We only have one item.

4:39

It is the October 1st, 2025 draft minutes.

4:43

Anyone have any revisions?

4:47

Move to approve as presented.

4:53

Commissioner Lee?

4:55

Yes.

4:55

Commissioner Michaels?

4:56

Yes.

4:57

Commissioner Whitmore?

4:58

Yes.

4:58

Commissioner O'Harrow?

4:59

Yes.

5:00

Chair Emkin.

4:59

Yes.

4:59

Motion passes five and oh.

5:03

Okay.

5:04

Now onto items of business.

5:06

Our first item of business is Eagle Scout project.

5:12

Commendation.

5:12

I was having trouble with that word.

5:16

Thank you.

5:16

All right.

5:19

So good evening, Commissioners.

5:29

Just want to share a few photos that maybe he can talk to in his um in his comments.

5:36

So there we go.

5:38

Uh that went away really quickly.

5:41

Okay.

5:42

So with that, um, we want to uh bring up our Eagle Scout Luke.

5:46

So come on up and introduce yourself.

5:48

Tell us a little bit about your project.

5:50

Hello, my name is Luke Williams, and I'm a senior at Sequoia High School in Redwood City.

5:54

I've been a scout since I was in first grade, starting Cub Scouts with PAC 65 and moving into Boy Scouts with Troop 321, which is where I've been for the past four years.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Parks and Recreation███████████████████████23%

Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████18%

Environmental Protection█████████████████17%

Community Engagement█████████████████17%

Arts And Culture█████████████13%

Water And Wastewater Management████4%

Procedural███3%

Active Transportation███3%

Historic Preservation█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - November 5, 2025

The Belmont Parks and Recreation Commission met on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 3:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of consent calendar items, a commendation for an Eagle Scout project, an update on the Belmont Creek Restoration Project, planning for the city's centennial celebration, approval of hydrant art designs, and scheduling adjustments for early 2026. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

October 1, 2025 Draft Minutes: Approved as presented by a 5-0 vote (Commissioners Lee, Michaels, Whitmore, O'Harrow, Chair Emkin).

Public Comments & Testimony

Belmont Creek Restoration Project: Nikki, a resident, asked questions about potential phase two downstream improvements, the composition of hydroseeding, and the project's impact on flooding in the Harbor Industrial Area and San Carlos. She expressed appreciation for the project and sought clarification on long-term plans.

Discussion Items

Eagle Scout Project Commendation: Luke Williams, a senior at Sequoia High School and member of Troop 321, presented his project renovating bike tire cleaning stations at Water Dog Park. The stations help prevent the spread of sudden oak death by removing mud from tires. Luke designed a new sign for the stations. Commissioners praised his work and asked about materials, location, and ecological benefits. No public comments were made.
Belmont Creek Restoration Project Update: Assistant Engineer Daniel Matthews provided a detailed update. The project aims to reduce downstream flooding and enhance Twin Pines Park by restoring the creek using natural methods. Work began in January 2025 with tree removal and continued with creek restoration since June 2025. Key features include log structures (using material from removed eucalyptus trees), constructed riffles, pools, boulder access points, and over 1,000 native plants and 32 new trees. An inadvertent archaeological discovery was mitigated without major delays. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 11:15 AM. The project includes a five-year monitoring period with requirements such as 80% plant survival. Commissioners asked about winter performance, access points, and educational outreach. No formal vote was taken.
Centennial Celebration Update: Staff presented plans for Belmont's 100th anniversary in 2026. A signature picnic event will be held on October 24, 2026, at Twin Pines Park. Other activities include historic tours, a time capsule, community art projects, and branded banners on Ralston Avenue. A website (Belmont.gov/100years) and sponsorship opportunities were announced. Commissioners expressed support, with Commissioner Lee advocating for a parade and Commissioner Michaels suggesting a forward-looking component. No vote was required.
Happy Hydrant and Utility Box Art Project Update: Staff reported that 11 designs were submitted for painting 24 hydrants along Ralston and Alameda de las Pulgas, in celebration of the centennial. A subcommittee recommended approval of all 11 designs, with one requiring a color adjustment to meet Midpeninsula Water District guidelines. Commissioners approved the designs by a 5-0 vote. Future rounds of applications may be considered.
Winter 2026 Meeting Schedule: The commission voted 5-0 to consolidate the January and February 2026 meetings into a single meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, due to the holiday closure.

Key Outcomes

Consent Calendar: Approved (5-0).
Hydrant Art Designs: Approved (5-0).
Meeting Schedule: Consolidated January and February 2026 meetings to January 21, 2026 (5-0).
Upcoming Events: Ribbon cutting for Belmont Creek Restoration on December 3, 2025; centennial picnic on October 24, 2026; hydrant painting to begin early 2026; Salson Trail expected to reopen by Thanksgiving 2025.
Department Updates: Staff reported on recent events (Movies in the Park, Diwali celebration, Trunk or Treat) and upcoming activities (Veterans Day, holiday craft fair, Santa at the firehouse). Commission openings were announced.
Commissioner Comments: Commissioner O'Harrow noted the importance of respecting construction fencing at the Salson Trail site to protect dusky-footed wood rats. Chair Emkin shared information about Samaritan House rental assistance during the government shutdown.

Meeting Transcript

Hello and welcome to the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Wednesday, November 5th, 2025. We are here in City Council Chambers. For meeting participation, the meeting will be broadcast live to Belmont residents on Comcast Cable 27, streamed live via the city's website at www.belmont.gov and streamed live on Zoom. The public may also attend the meeting in the city council chambers and address the commission from the chambers. Members of the public may provide comments by joining the meeting via Zoom, Belmont-gov.zoom.us. Select join and enter meeting ID nine four. Oh, pardon me. Try that again. You may rename your profile if you wish to remain anonymous. For dialing comments, call star six seven one six six six six six six nine nine hundred sixty-eight thirty-three. Your phone number will appear on the live broadcast if star six seven is not 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 for a particular agenda item. All public comments are subject to a three-minute time limit unless otherwise determined by the commission chair. If you wish to submit a written public comment, you may send us an email at PR com at Belmont.gov before the commission meeting considered before the commission considers the item. Please indicate the agenda item topic or agenda item number you wish to comment on in your email subject line. Any public comment regarding agenda items that are received from the publication of the agenda through the meeting date will be made part of the meeting record, but will not be read during the commission meeting. So item number one, roll call. Commissioner Lee. Commissioner Michaels. Okay. Now please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Do we have any speaker slips or hands raised? We do not. Moving on. Number five, consent calendar. Consent calendar items are considered routine in nature. It will be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a commissioner or staff requests specific items be removed for separate action. We only have one item. It is the October 1st, 2025 draft minutes. Anyone have any revisions? Move to approve as presented. Commissioner Lee? Yes. Commissioner Michaels? Yes. Commissioner Whitmore? Yes. Commissioner O'Harrow? Yes. Chair Emkin. Yes. Motion passes five and oh. Okay. Now onto items of business. Our first item of business is Eagle Scout project. Commendation. I was having trouble with that word. Thank you. All right.

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