OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Belmont Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - December 3, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, December 3, 2025
BodyBelmont, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, December 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:19:03
Transcript — Verbatim
0:55

Hello, and welcome to the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting for Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025.

1:02

We are here in City Council Chambers.

1:04

Just a reminder: for public participation, you can either tune in to Comcast Cable 27.

1:11

The meeting will also be streamed live via the city's website at www.belmont.gov or on Zoom by visiting Belmontgov.zoom.us.

1:22

Select join and enter meeting ID nine two four-eight three-one nine three seven five seven.

1:29

For public comments, public in the council chambers may present the clerk a request to speak slip found at the rear of the chamber.

1:36

If participating virtually, use the raise hand feature to request to speak.

1:41

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

1:48

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

1:53

Enter meeting ID nine two four-eight three one nine-three seven five-seven and press star nine to request to speak.

2:01

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

2:07

To submit a written public comment, email PR com at Belmont.gov before the commission considers the item.

2:14

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

2:20

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 committee meeting.

2:29

The chair also has the authority to order any person who willfully interrupts the meeting to be removed.

2:34

All persons are expected to conduct themselves with civility and courtesy at all times.

2:39

All persons giving comments shall speak directly to the Commission and address issues, not individuals.

2:44

Personal attacks, cursing, or outbursts from the audience in support or opposition to the speaker are not tolerated in order to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome to speak.

2:53

So items on the agenda.

2:57

Commissioner Hill.

2:58

Here.

3:00

Here.

3:00

Commissioner Whitmore?

3:01

Here.

3:02

Commissioner Michaels.

3:03

Here.

3:03

Commissioner Cunha.

3:04

Here.

3:05

Chair Emkin.

3:06

Here.

3:06

Youth Commissioner Perez.

3:08

Here.

3:08

Commissioners Lieford and Youth Commissioner Venkatesh are absent.

3:12

All rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

3:57

Do we have any speaker slips or raised hands?

3:59

We have one hand raised on Zoom.

4:10

All right, Rosemary, you will have three minutes.

4:43

Rosemary, are you there?

4:45

Yes.

4:46

I had some problems.

4:47

Can you hear me now?

4:49

Yes, you're all good.

4:49

You'll have three minutes.

4:52

Okay.

4:53

Um, I'm a resident of the city of Belmont for twenty-nine years, and I volunteer at the Senior Center.

5:03

And I'm a member of the senior club.

5:07

What I'm coming for this evening to bring up is that I know that you're looking for commissioners, but you also have a youth advisory, but the city seniors have not had any input because the senior advisory committee hasn't met or hasn't had a quorum for a long time.

5:37

And so this is my concern that there's no one to raise up questions that affect the seniors at the city of Belmont.

5:50

So I would like to, and also I was on the I don't know if it's excuse me, if it was the task force, but it was the age-friendly city.

6:05

And one of the things that's important to me is community.

6:09

That is one of the very reasons that I was glad to move to the city of Belmont was to be in community with others.

6:18

And I've age through, now I am a senior, but it seems like to have an age-friendly community is to help seniors enjoy an active role in their community and feel respected, valued, and engaged.

6:38

And I'm just concerned what the future holds for the senior community without bringing in the seniors to have their voice.

6:52

So thank you for that, and that is.

6:55

So if there's any information that you can give about the senior advisory committee, we'd appreciate it.

7:05

Thank you.

7:09

Do we have any other comments or questions?

7:12

We do not.

7:13

So Rosemary, thank you very much for your comments.

7:16

I'll just mention that we aren't, as commissioners, we're not allowed to discuss things that are not on the agenda, but we do hear you, and we're very thankful that you brought this issue to us.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████71%
Community Engagement█████████████20%
Procedural███4%
Arts And Culture███4%
Public Engagement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Belmont Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - December 3, 2025

The Parks and Recreation Commission met on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 3:00 PM in City Council Chambers. Commissioners discussed facility rental updates, appointed a subcommittee for the Oak Knoll improvement project, reviewed open space volunteer procedures, and received department updates. The meeting included public comments and a consent calendar approval.

Consent Calendar

  • November 5, 2025 Draft Minutes: Approved unanimously (6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Rosemary (Belmont resident for 29 years, Senior Center volunteer): Expressed concern that the Senior Advisory Committee has not met or had a quorum for a long time, leaving seniors without a voice. She advocated for an age-friendly community where seniors feel respected, valued, and engaged. Chair Emkin acknowledged the comment but noted the commission could not discuss non-agenda items.

Discussion Items

  • Facility Rental Update (presented by Karina Cortez, Facilities Program Coordinator):

    • Overview of five facilities and picnic areas, with high peak rental periods (April–October).
    • Notable increase in rentals at the sports complex; factors include cost, location, parking, and more city/county meetings.
    • Upgrades: new lighter tables (6-foot rectangular and 60-inch round), outdoor patio lighting at lodge and cottage, hiring/training building attendants (currently 7, seeking 2 more).
    • Enhanced customer experience: informative emails, checklists, cleaning kits.
    • Picnic usage down due to Creek Restoration Project closing Redwood site.
    • Wedding Fair in the Park: 35 vendors in 2025 (highest), attendance similar to 2024; 2026 fair scheduled April 12.
    • Twin Pines Art Center at the Manor: New volunteer community arts curator Heather Birnbaum Harris launched music/open mic night (October, ~30 attendees), Obscure Movie Club (first: Joe vs. the Volcano on January 3), painting class (Feb 28, spotlight on Vincent van Gogh), author readings (March 28). Events free, aimed at adults, held Saturday evenings.
    • Commissioners asked about rental trends, security requirements (required for events with alcohol and >150 people), additional amenities (horseshoes, volleyball), corporate event facilitation, and marketing for art programs.

  • Appointment of Subcommittee for Oak Knoll Improvement Project (presented by staff):

    • The city plans a modest 3,000 sq ft play space in an undeveloped public right-of-way on Oak Knoll Drive, identified as high priority in the Parks and Recreation Open Space Master Plan due to lacking public amenity.
    • Budgeted in FY 25-26 capital improvement fund; three design proposals received based on staff, public, and commission comments.
    • Staff recommended two commissioners be appointed to a subcommittee to review proposals and return in January with a recommendation.
    • Commissioners Whitmore and Michaels volunteered and were appointed to the subcommittee. No public comments.

  • Open Space Volunteer Update (presented by staff):

    • Goals: improve coordination, documentation, collaboration, and consistent procedures for vegetation and trail maintenance.
    • Procedure: community organizations must contact Parks & Rec, submit plans, get written approval, sign waivers, document work with before/after photos.
    • Trail and vegetation maintenance rules: approved standards only; modifications prohibited; invasive removal limited to within 5 feet of trails; debris removal by city vehicle access.
    • Unauthorized work prohibited. Staff noted issues with over-eager volunteers creating trail features, pruning, or expanding trails.
    • Commissioners discussed barriers to volunteering (many steps, lack of marketing, website issues), need for tiered project types, training (e.g., identifying invasive species, poison oak), and recognition of long-time volunteers like Barry Stevens (Chaparral Trail).
    • Suggestions: create example projects, reduce friction, use video tutorials, improve volunteer page (Belmont.gov/volunteer has broken links, unclear forms), and promote 311 app for reporting issues.
    • Staff noted decline in volunteer interest but welcomed community ideas (e.g., free volleyball clinics, art programs).

  • Other Business & Department Updates (presented by staff):

    • Holiday Craft Fair (Nov 22) successful.
    • Belmont Creek Ribbon Cutting (Dec 3) celebrated completion of restoration project; new usable park spaces created.
    • Salson Trail: delayed opening due to weather; mitigation measures (guardrails, rocks) in place; trail to open end of day Dec 4; additional planting (30 oak trees) in January.
    • Off-leash hours at Barrett ended; dog off-leash allowed at Cipriani dog park; off-leash resumes March 1.
    • Commission applications open until Jan 9.
    • Upcoming events: Letter to Santa (drop-off until soon), Youth Advisory Committee food drive (through Jan 16), Santa at the Firehouse (Dec 11, sensory event 5-5:30, traditional 5:30-7:30), MLK Poetry and Essay Contest (submissions Jan 5-Feb 2).
    • Belmont 100 Centennial: banners up, swag shop opening January 1, storytelling project starting Dec 15.
    • Next commission meeting: January 21, 2026 (combined January/February meeting).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar (November draft minutes) approved 6-0.
  • Commissioners Whitmore and Michaels appointed to the Oak Knoll subcommittee; they will review design proposals and report back in January 2026.
  • Facility updates and open space volunteer procedures noted with suggestions for improvement.
  • Salson Trail to open end of day December 4, 2025.
  • Meeting adjourned; next regular meeting January 21, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting for Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025. We are here in City Council Chambers. Just a reminder: for public participation, you can either tune in to Comcast Cable 27. The meeting will also be streamed live via the city's website at www.belmont.gov or on Zoom by visiting Belmontgov.zoom.us. Select join and enter meeting ID nine two four-eight three-one nine three seven five seven. For public comments, public in the council chambers may present the clerk a request to speak slip found at the rear of the chamber. If participating virtually, use the raise hand feature to request to speak. 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. All public comments are subject to a three-minute time limit unless otherwise determined by the committee chair. To submit a written public comment, email PR com 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 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 committee meeting. The chair also has the authority to order any person who willfully interrupts the meeting to be removed. All persons are expected to conduct themselves with civility and courtesy at all times. All persons giving comments shall speak directly to the Commission and address issues, not individuals. Personal attacks, cursing, or outbursts from the audience in support or opposition to the speaker are not tolerated in order to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome to speak. So items on the agenda. Commissioner Hill. Here. Here. Commissioner Whitmore? Here. Commissioner Michaels. Here. Commissioner Cunha. Here. Chair Emkin. Here. Youth Commissioner Perez. Here. Commissioners Lieford and Youth Commissioner Venkatesh are absent. All rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Do we have any speaker slips or raised hands? We have one hand raised on Zoom. All right, Rosemary, you will have three minutes. Rosemary, are you there? Yes. I had some problems. Can you hear me now? Yes, you're all good. You'll have three minutes. Okay. Um, I'm a resident of the city of Belmont for twenty-nine years, and I volunteer at the Senior Center. And I'm a member of the senior club. What I'm coming for this evening to bring up is that I know that you're looking for commissioners, but you also have a youth advisory, but the city seniors have not had any input because the senior advisory committee hasn't met or hasn't had a quorum for a long time. And so this is my concern that there's no one to raise up questions that affect the seniors at the city of Belmont. So I would like to, and also I was on the I don't know if it's excuse me, if it was the task force, but it was the age-friendly city. And one of the things that's important to me is community.

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