To the Belmont Parks and Recreation Commission meeting for Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

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Commissioner Lee.

Here.

Commissioner Leifer.

Here.

Commissioner Amkin.

Here.

Chair Whitmore.

Here.

Commissioners Vasavada and Cunha are absent as well as Youth Commissioner Halan.

Next agenda item, Pledge of Allegiance.

One nation, an under God, individual liberty and justice.

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the commission on any city matter within the purview of the commission, which is not on the agenda.

The period for public comment on at this point in the agenda is limited to a maximum of three minutes per speaker.

Do we have any speaker slips?

Yes, we have five.

Good evening, Commissioners, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight.

I wanted to reiterate support for the Oaknel Park.

Um I know there's been some comments on that.

Um, you know, I've lived in Belmont for 10 years, and one of the reasons why I chose Belmont is it's really family oriented, and we really have nice neighbors.

So for you know, many families for children, for seniors walking to the nearest park is actually really difficult.

It's unsafe and it's quite far.

The sidewalks are limited, and in many cases, you kind of have to walk on the road.

It's like cars are traveling 30, 40 miles per hour.

It's just not a really safe place.

So, in terms of the need for that area, it's really underserved when it comes to a safe public space.

Um, you know, that location has a lot of potential to become a really great assets for residents of all ages.

It's a place for kids to play, neighbors to connect, families to gather, and a pit stop for you know folks walking their dogs.

You know, it's clear that this space really needs some attention and investment.

And so a really thoughtfully designed park could really help beautify that area, improve safety, and really create a stronger sense of community.

So I know this project requires you know collaboration, compromise and thoughtful planning, but I just wanted to hope that we can come together as neighbors and work with the city to come up with a such solution that really benefits the community.

So thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you.

Alright, next we have Oliver.

Good evening, commissioners.

Thank you for having me.

Um likewise, much like Henry, I'm here to support the Oak Knoll Park, particularly after uh some more recent meeting on location where there was quite a bit of opposition that was a surprise to some of us.

Uh I really thought it was a great idea to uh improve that space.

Uh I think we could all benefit from it, like Henry said that we're decently far from any near park.

And I'll tell you, even and as uh un excuse me, unimproved as as it is.

Um I'll tell you that both of my kids who are eight and four have learned to ride a bike up there, learn how to climb a tree.

Uh it's a gathering spot for for neighbors, and it's it's just like a really nice natural space that just lends itself to uh to being a little parklet.

And you know, I I don't think we should build the next Disneyland up there, which is what those neighbors seem to think we're gonna do, but you know, some minor improvements, like a bench or some rocks, some some minimal things to the boulders to climb, maybe some some amount of of perimeter fencing for the little kids.

Um whatever you guys ultimately decide, but I think anything is better than than just dead grass and dirt that it is right now and and and contractor trucks and UPS trucks parking and creating mud hud holes there.

So I hope you guys take that into consideration and um thank you for having me.

Thank you.

Next is Nicholas.

Hi, my name is Nicholas.

I also live on Oak Knoll and I'm here to support the Oaknole Park.

Um I guess I've been a little bit surprised about how this whole process is going along, and I'm I would kind of like to understand more about how we can show that there is kind of a need for especially like we have a three and a six-year-old, they cannot walk anywhere in our neighborhood by themselves, and this process started when the six-year-old was I believe, still an infant.

So I'm just hoping that something is built that they can use and they can, you know, spend time with neighbor friends that's not, you know, at home where we're working and they're running around jumping, and that you know, there's a safe place for them to get to, especially as you know, they go to middle school and other places.

Um, and yeah, it's I just would encourage that we can uh hurry up some decision making and decide, you know, if there's a space there that the kids can actually use.

Um I'm a less concerned about dogs and things, but I'm sure there are other neighbors who would like to have a place for just to sit down and look down, look around or whatever they want to do.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Next is Steve.

Uh good evening, everybody.

Uh my name is Steve Stoddard.

Um, I live a short walk from the top of Oak Knoll.

Uh, I want to again also express my support for the project, mainly because I wasn't able to attend the in-person on-site meeting that took place uh a number of weeks ago.

Um, I really appreciate the the parks commission for considering the project.

I think it's important mainly because um I remember you know over five years ago when we were first uh looking and buying our house here in Belmont.

Um the main drawback that we thought about in this particular area that we are is the lack of a community open space and how far it was to get to the to the nearest one.

Um I think that the open space uh at the top of that uh location uh is really really good and would really contribute to um building community and uh among the neighbors in the neighborhood.

Um again, I think it was mentioned that it's a very hilly area.

Uh there's not a lot of sidewalks, and so uh especially when you run into neighbors along the way, um, there's not a good place to kind of step to the side and have a have a chat and kind of commune over over things that may be going on and and build those relationships.

And so I think having a place that you could actually step in, sit down, maybe take a quick chat uh would be really helpful would really um help beautify the area and also make it more attractive and and more um uh enjoyable to be out for a walk and run into our neighbors, and that's one of the biggest things that we like about the neighborhood is the neighbors that we see and uh the friendliness that that we've experienced with everyone there.

Um so I I do want to emphasize I think that it's as a parklet, it serves a different purpose than just maybe like uh traditional playground or something like that.

It's more about building community than it is for a place for kids to play.

I think it's something that can be more enjoyable for everyone in that way.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Alright, and next we have Weston in Dallas.

Uh good afternoon.

Um my name is Weston, and this is my friend Dallas.

We are students at uh Nesbitt Middle School and we would like to discuss the problem of like dog waste on Belmont.

Dog waste is like considered being like consider consistently being left by like dog owners who don't clean up for like a multitude of reasons.

One reason we want to talk about uh forgetting dog poop bags or finding a trash can for a long time, and people sometimes drop dog waste bags on the floor.

Also, there are 77 million dogs in the United States, and they produce three-fourths of a pound of dog waste per day.

We would like more dog waste bags and some signs to inform people about this problem around Belmont, especially in those areas that don't have a lot.

Um for example, we saw that in Water Dog Trail.

Uh there are dog poop stations at the start and the end, but Weston and I think that uh Belmont should add a station closer to the middle too.

Um dog poop or dog waste is actually toxic to the environment and contains many types of bacteria and could even contain parasites.

Most areas with dog waste are public parks and walking trails.

These areas tend to have the most.

Um we are bringing this up to give the park and rec ideas on how to improve and make Belmont nicer.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Who have any raised hands?

We do not.

Okay.

Um on to commissioner announcements and agenda amendments.

Anybody?

Um to the consent calendar.

Consent calendar items are considered routine in nature and will be enacted by one motion.

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

Uh we have a motion to approve.

I move to approve minutes as presented.

Uh second.

All right.

Commissioner Lee?

Yes.

Commissioner Hell.

Yes.

Commissioner Leiford.

Yes.

Commissioner Empkin.

Yes.

Chair Wetmore.

Yes.

Motion passes five and oh.

Okay.

On to items of business.

The Belmont Community Learning Center update and rebranding.

Did you present?

Okay.

Good evening.

My name is Ingrid Oriana, the recreation supervisor overseeing preschool programs, and I'll be sharing updates on our preschool this evening.

City of Belmont launched its first preschool program top time in 1982.

Later the year in that year, the Belmont Community Center opened at Cipriani as a licensed program, and after a short time it moved to Nesba Elementary, where it quickly reached full capacity.

In 1985, City of Belmont acquired Barrett School, establishing Belmont Community Learning Center at its permanent home.

Today program has proudly served the community forty-one years at the Barrett Community One Community Center.

Belmont Community Learning Center is a California state licensed preschool with an average daily enrollment of 48 children across two classrooms, serving children ages two to five years old.

We keep our classrooms at a class size of 24 with three teachers.

If interest and enrollment were to increase, we have a third classroom available, which can add an additional 15 spots.

Since the last preschool update in 2024, the program has extended the part day schedule from 9 to 12 to 8 to 12 and added a five-day part day option, additionally including 30 minutes to extended care, allowing an earlier drop-off time.

As of September 1st, extended care will be built into the operational hours, and all full-time families will have access to a 7 30 to 6 schedule without any additional fees.

We decided to incorporate the schedule changes based on feedback from our enrolled families.

Our enrollment trends.

At BCLC, enrollment typically starts lower in the fall and gradually increases throughout the year.

We serve a mix of families with about 70% enrolled and full-time and about 30% enrolled part-time.

Around 8% of our participants receive tuition assistance, and the vast majority, approximately 98%, are Belmont residents.

A large factor contributing to a decline in our enrollment over the past three years has been a free program provided by school districts across California, traditional kindergarten, transitional kindergarten.

Families can apply through their local school district if their child turns four by September 1st.

Since 2023 school year, TK enrollment at the Belmont Redwood Shore School District has increased by 43%.

Overall in San Mateo County, TK enrollment has increased by 34%.

To address enrollment challenges, we have increased operational hours, introduced a parent communication app, and recently changed providers to more user-friendly options.

We accept vouchers from 4Cs for tuition assistance and our researching vendors to provide hot lunch options and make updates to the classrooms.

For our tuition assistance, we use child care coordinating council of San Mateo.

Families apply through 4Cs to receive tuition assistance.

Once approved by 4Cs, we will give families they will give up, they will give families a list of local agencies accepting vouchers, and then families will then reach out to us for availability.

Approximately 8% of our enrolled families receive assistance from this agency.

As a provider, we are able to use their resources such as free professional development offerings.

Center updates.

Over the past year, we have focused on updating our classrooms, including fresh paint, child sized toilets, lower sinks for easier access, updated lighting, height appropriate furniture, and replacement of broken equipment and materials.

Here we have a before photo of our largest classroom, room 9.

And this is an after photo of the same classroom.

Same classroom, just a different angle.

So we have brighter, brighter lights, fresh coat of white paint, lower furniture as you can see, and more natural colors in the classroom.

Our rebranding that I suggested in our last meeting.

This is our current logo, and I would like to change the name as well.

As you can tell, it is harder breed and is missing the word Belmont in the title.

As shared with you earlier, enrollment has declined, and as a department, we feel an update to the name and logo will be beneficial as we continue to market the preschool to the Belmont community.

We are looking to simplify and modernize the logo replace learning center with preschool to provide clarity on what age group we serve, use keywords Belmont and preschool for when families are looking for local child care options.

Lastly, increase exposure to increase our exposure in the community.

This is the new logo.

We submitted our school information to an outside consultant and asked for a simple modern logo to represent youth, playfulness, and growth.

We felt a simple logo would provide ease for branding to be used on letterhead, uniforms, and uh marketing.

So here are the two side by side for comparison.

We chose colors similar to the original, added a simple butterfly to signify growth and transformation.

Included in rebranding, we plan on adding classroom names such as the caterpillars and the butterflies.

Here are a couple other alternative options.

We can remove the butterfly, the established date, or change the colors around.

Moving forward, uh we are planning several opportunities to invite families to the center, such as daily tours, host open houses and open play events, participate in community events for outreach, and lastly monitor the market and keep tuition prices competitive.

Any questions?

Thank you.

I'm not gonna go in line, I think.

Does it anyone want to start with uh questions or comments?

I think a couple questions.

So comments just in general, right?

I've said this every time we talk about the the Belmont community preschool.

Um my children are in sixth and eighth grade now, they're alumni of the program, and I think it's one of the sort of key pieces of our sort of like strength as a community, right?

It's one of those things that my children have friends in middle school that we met uh when they were two years old in the program, which is awesome.

Um so I love the the branding and thinking about how we can update that to potentially attract more, you know, more um customers' enrollment increase enrollment?

Um so a couple one question is when we think uh when we look at prior to the TK change, was enrollment pretty steady or was it declining before that change?

I would say it's pr it was pretty steady, yes.

So that's the primary driver we think in um that showed a change in enrollment.

Um and a lot of community events that I've been going to recently.

What I've been hearing is they don't know we exist, they don't know we're back there at Barrett.

Got it.

Um and I was thinking about I'm sure you've thought about a lot of these, but and thinking about marketing and outreach.

Um, like when new um families move to Belmont, is there a way that you can get in front of those new families like through realtors and other people that are um you know providing like those you know transition packets to families as they either rent or buy, so like in the big apartment buildings or other places like that.

Have you already like tapped into those?

Not yet, but I'll definitely look into it.

Okay, awesome.

And then um, uh and then is there, I don't know if there's an answer to this also, but is there a way to um target the people who work in the community who don't live here or that might be like wanting to drop off their children and pick them up after work uh who work in like the you know greater sort of Belmont San Carlos San Mateo area.

Is there a way like how how do we do that?

You know, I've been looking into options of maybe using the school district or first responders in our area.

Um our first step in doing that was in our employee uh kind of outreach newsletter.

We put in that um that we're here, we offer the services we offer to reach out to me and my information.

So little by little we've been doing a little bit more outreach that way, because agreed.

I mean, I feel like there's a lot of teachers who may not live in Belmont, but they work at our schools and in the school district.

So yeah, well, yeah, so all of the like those community letters, the PTA newsletters that go out to the schools for sure.

I was thinking of other like people work in any other sort of industry that like spends time in Belmont.

Uh if there's a comprehensive way to approach and target those people, that would be another avenue.

So I'll look into it.

I really like the logo.

I hope you use the colors in the butterfly.

I think it was a nice update to the to the older logo that was busy and kind of hard to parse and sort of a distance.

It seems like it was really clean, and I think renaming it preschool makes a lot of sense.

I think that's probably what people are really looking for when they start Googling or asking.

Looking on the internet for a way for that kind of care.

Uh yeah, I think all those changes make a lot of sense.

Although I didn't say that either.

But yeah, the uh the logo with the butterfly and them and the different colors for the for the each of the letters is fantastic.

But it's also good to have those alternate logos for different publications and different uses.

So I like our calls back to the Belmont colors too, you know, like the the colors we use in all of our all of our literature, like even down at the bottom of your slides has the same colors, right?

So that's nice.

Uh first of all, I love the work you do.

Um I'm really interested there you've got footsteps there as well, right?

Yeah.

So Footsteps has after school there.

Uh for elementary school age, they don't have a preschool on site.

Absolutely.

And what I was actually thinking is often people have got more than one kid is aware to coordinate with different steps.

So I've actually uh met with both directors for Stepping Stones.

That's another after school, because we do have several siblings and that has been a great way to gain some enrollment either that we have their little and I suggest the after school or vice versa and that's been a great partnership.

Good because that's a I think that's a it's a really logical right a really logical parents love one drop off.

And there probably is a packet when people move into apartment buildings or house there probably is a packet or if they don't they should right because that would help someone that's moved in and moved in to find things you know it's polarize themselves.

See if you can find out and probably not every apartment but there are some larger ones.

But if you can somehow get into that I'm curious with other preschools 'cause there's TK thing and if I do it as like a a quarter to a third hit it looks like.

How do you compare from like a pricing and then offerings in terms of and then like you talked about having hot lunch do most other preschools offer a hot lunch or is that anything it would depend on the program.

So I do know programs like footsteps they use several different grant options to offer uh all meals to all students regardless if they receive assistance or not.

Um and that's something that we have discussed moving forward in that direction and that's why we started using 4Cs and to search other options that can widen that spread to all of our students not just the ones receiving assistance.

But for the most part I would say they do offer some sort of meal option.

Currently we just offer snack um but a lot of parents during tours have been bringing up the hot lunch and even our current families um so that's been something that I've been actively looking at something that will serve a school of our size.

So that's the issue I've been running into is that we are a little bit smaller.

Yeah just I was just curious how we and you don't need to answer I just it'd be good to know how we stack up from a like a pricing versus offering standpoint.

And then the footsteps idea gave me another thought which is all of the schools it's not it's not crazy to think that if somebody's got a a TK or they have a littler person as well.

Yeah.

Um so it might be where you can do with the schools if someone has a new because that'd be a way to find people they may not know of you but they're gonna end up with this the child in the public schools.

Um and probably also IHM which isn't far from you.

Yeah it's very close.

Um but yeah this is you know it's it's great where I think TK does complicate things um and it'd be great to figure out how we can how we can um get a new some additional community uh beyond that because there are a bunch of people that need services like this and aren't getting them so I also like the really love that you're working with the child care coordinating council.

I was also the actually wondering about hip housing as well as other groups is that another potential source of yeah people.

And that's something that I've been uh kind of working with teachers of like what events besides just Belmont events that we can go to like hip housing maybe um the food bank other places like that to put our flyers out and you know make it known that we do ex have tuition assistance as part of our program.

And I was also thinking like Samaritan House there are a number of groups that try to help people that that have difficulty and um you know child care is a huge complication for people and you're a solution to that and then people might not even know that the opportunity exists.

Yeah and you know there are studies by the county that as far as uh child care in general there isn't a need in Belmont but for subsidized child care there is.

So that tuition assistance is needed in this area, and it goes back to we need to put the word out, do more outreach events, put our face to the name so they know we exist, right?

Yeah.

Good.

Thank you.

Yeah.

And I like, by the way, I like the logo.

I think it's a great, a great shift, and I love the butterfly.

Awesome.

So yes, same thing.

Um above the logo, the new one with the butterfly, and the branding of the different classes having names that kind of track with the butterfly development.

That's all really nice.

Um I'll admit that I did not know about your preschool program when I moved to Belmont.

And um, I don't know if part of that is just the location and the marketing, you're kind of hidden back there, and so they don't really know it's there.

Um so kind of on that, since I don't know much about your program, what's the outdoor plate area look like?

Because you showed the indoor spaces.

Is there an outdoor plate?

Yeah, so we do have our own private playground that's only for our center with a structure.

We have a shaded area which we've added tables, sensory tables, uh mud kitchens.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Cause my kids when they were in preschool, that was the outdoor side was where they spent most of their time.

And then is it a play-based program or is an academic program?

Play based.

Play based, I guess.

Um, going off what he said as well, you have such nice extended hours.

So if there are people who need to work, that's it's a great opportunity if they know about it and they know that you're there, because there's definitely a need for especially subsidized child care for working parents.

So I think Parv is just gonna be kind of trying to get the the word out about your program agreed.

Yes.

Yeah, I think these changes are great because all help like the families.

And um, yeah, I think it's really consider adding all these changes.

Happy teacher appreciation week.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, I have a I have a daughter at your school, she loves it there.

Um I think that the teachers are wonderful.

They they feel like they're members of our family.

I we have to pretend like they're at our dining room table frequently.

Um and navigating the enrollment dilemma, uh, great job with that because I I I know of another preschool in the area that is really looking at themselves if they need to shut down because um uh the enrollment it's it's a it's it's it's not going away.

I mean it's a great it's a great program we have in California, but I know that it creates um an issue for the school.

So great got great job navigating that.

I think that BCLC is a really cool like entry point into the community.

I feel like it's the first time a lot of families here learn about things that are going on.

They learn about camp sour, they learn about, you know, water dog hikes.

I I love that you post different things outside the classroom.

I feel like I've learned about stuff going on in the city just through that.

Um so wonderful.

Uh I have a question about the consultant.

Um did they say anything about adding a slogan?

Like have you thought about like is there gonna be something below like the logo like on the website or anything?

Like, so we, you know, I worked with with our team like internally of like shooting ideas.

Um they'll kind of take what we say and add it to it.

Um we were thinking kind of like learn, play, grow, something along those lines to add to the bottom instead of an established date.

Um, but I would love to hear.

I think key words would be great if you guys have any input on that.

Yeah, or or something along like I like the butterfly, and I kind of like I the school, I know that that you have the the garden that that students visit sometimes, and I just kind of like leaning into the nature idea like rooted in Belmont or something along those lines, but um I think that a slogan would be would be nice.

The established in 1985, I think that it might play into some people thinking, oh it's a it's it's well established, it's been here for years.

Um, but I think a slogan could could hit well as all as well.

Okay.

Um any other ideas on the slogan before I want to.

I was just saying, I think the 1985 should stay like the longevity is important, but I do like the like the opportunities to add a little bit more sort of context or flavor to it.

I was thinking in in terms of uh this whole notion of how to find the younger children of of someone, all the youth sports, if you there's some you that have got under five programs.

If you've got an under five, it's not crazy to think you've got a four and a two.

You don't and so I was sitting there thinking there's a way to promote you uh with some of the youth sports organizations is one thought.

Um, and then I think there are a number of organizations I think there's the tuition assistance, I think that that's there's that's underserved.

If I do the math, it's like 11.

I gotta believe there are more than eleven families in Belmont that need child care support because they've got, you know, they've got both parents working and things like that.

So I think there's an opportunity there to make a difference for the community.

Have you thought about how you're gonna communicate the rebrand or how it's gonna like I'm thinking like does the city have big scissors so that we could cut like a like a ribbon or something or it's something with a centennial?

You know, it's it's funny.

I think Bridget had mentioned something like that.

Because we, you know, we updated the rooms and you know, new logo news sign and do something to that extent definitely alumni back.

Yeah.

I could I could be there.

I I went there nineteen ninety.

And I think this year would be perfect with it being the centennial um with Anne Marie's help also doing some social media posts.

Yeah I think something something would be great.

I think that that's getting getting another way to just get the name out there.

And Daily Journal.

It's a great story.

You know you get the Sam Mateo Daily Journal to do a do an opening thing with a bunch of alumni and you know this would and you could do like the before after picture.

I I think Bubby does have some pictures for like a picture from that playground from the eighties.

Anchor, thank you so much.

Anything else?

Okay.

Um on to the happy hydrant program.

Uh I hear we have an update with new designs.

Did we fix the broken one got fixed, right?

The one that got run over.

Yeah it wasn't thank you fully knocked off so it was it was saved for the most part.

Happy hour and happy hydrants don't always really um so with this new round um like I've mentioned before the submission period is just rolling now so we're accepting them at any point.

There's no deadlines or anything like that.

Um but since our last meeting we've received some new submissions um we got one person that submitted multiple ones um so I'm gonna show all of them and then you know reasons why the committee decided the ones that they did.

Um so this is from this is one that the committee has kind of presented to be approved um by a youth community member.

And then um this is the community member that submitted multiple ones this is the one that um got the most consensus from the committee um Bridget had suggested to them to kind of pick the one they liked the best um we didn't think it was right to have one person have multiple throughout the city we want to make sure it's equal opportunity for everyone.

So this is the one that was um most consensus through the c uh committee to pick this was another submission and then this was their other submission.

And I want to note that the committee did like these ones but the first one was just the one that they liked the most.

And then this was a submission we received for the uh utility boxes.

And while the committee did like it, um they like the idea they wanted to kind of lean more into the historical aspect of it given the centennial year and everything.

And this just wasn't exactly what they were envisioning.

So the happy hydrant we have not had there's only one and we haven't had anything picked for that so that one is still um illable.

And then the highlighted yellow ones are the uh locations that they were um selected for the community members.

Are the X's ones that have already been completed?

Yes the X's are the ones that are already done um this is on our website as well so if someone's looking at it the X's is that has already been painted the ones that have nothing on it, those are still available.

And then once this the set is approved I'll update this and put it back on the website.

So yeah.

So we're not looking for a motion it's just more of you guys if you agree with the committee's um decision we'll let the artists know.

One question um for the person who submitted the utility box uh I s uh application that didn't get selected do they get feedback on their design so like if they want to read design it and come back or like change some of the elements to incorporate some of those historical like features uh do we share that with them or yeah so um with all the other ones Bridget had emailed them letting them know why we did or didn't choose.

Um that community member also did a hydrant that you guys had already approved.

So they did do a hydrant, so yeah, they weren't too upset about that.

But yeah, we let we let them know why we did or didn't choose what they submitted.

So they can they have the opportunity to resubmit or revise and yeah, and um in a discussion with option, he kind of suggested that maybe because we still have so many available, we reach back out to people that submitted prior that we didn't approve and um let them know there's still available places and see if they want to like update their submissions and see what we can do with that.

Yeah, that utility box one would make a nice hydrant if they want to do it as a hydrant set.

It's very pretty.

Um it does say on the agenda to approve them.

Is that that's just yeah, it's just you guys saying you agree.

It doesn't have to be an official motion.

Yeah, no objections for me.

Yeah, I agree, so that's good.

Do you know how many hydrants are left?

Um, there's a there's a good handful.

There's still a lot.

I would say like 10, 15 of them.

Six, seven, good chroma.

Only two of the yellow ones are gonna be selected, so even.

Yeah, fifteen.

Yeah, and like I said, the the submission period is just rolling, so people can submit at any time.

Um, it's on our website.

We also have paper copies in our office if people want to pick that up as well.

Any other questions or comments?

Oh I love this program.

Uh yeah, I do too.

It's fun looking at them around town.

Some of the other hardware's I wish we could update, but I couldn't.

Um okay.

Let's move on to the summer meetings schedule.

Uh traditionally we have combined the July and um August meetings into one uh meeting that hopefully all or a majority of us can make it to.

Um the meetings were scheduled for July 1st and August 5th.

Um there last year we rescheduled it to July 16th.

Um so if there are dates in the middle of July, Wednesdays fall on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th.

Um, there are dates that jump out at people.

The fifteenth and eighth are good for me.

I would say I'm at a town the eighth.

So the fifteenth I would prefer.

Anybody else?

Commissioner Cunha sent her options and she preferred the 22nd or 29th.

Okay.

Okay.

I'm good for 15 or 22.

I'm good for 15 or 22.

I can make the 22nd, not the fifteenth.

Alright, well then.

I can do 22nd.

I can't do the 20 seconds, sorry.

That sounds like everyone else might be able to do it.

So, um, maybe what?

Sorry.

Apologies.

We watched water polo in Southern California.

Well, there's always Zoom.

So there you go.

There we go.

That's right.

Um, we have a motion to uh set the meeting schedule for July twenty second.

I move that we set the meeting schedule for July twenty second.

I second Commissioner Lee?

Yes.

Commissioner Hill.

Yes.

Commissioner Lifeford.

Yes.

Commissioner Emkin.

Yes.

Chair Wetmore.

Yes.

Motion passes five and oh.

Okay.

On to other business updates, department updates.

I feel like we have kind of a big one here.

Okay.

So it feels like it's been a while, but um we had our adaptive adventure hunt in early April.

This was our third annual one.

Um it was a great success.

There was around 30 um youth that attended.

We hid 2,000 eggs um and two golden eggs, and they had a great time.

They also we brought some of our um sensory friendly toys and equipment so they could enjoy that as well.

And then the following day we had our traditional egg adventure hunt.

Um, super big crowds, pretty crazy.

Um, but we brought back our photo booth that's super popular.

It kind of helped lessen the craziness with the bunny line.

Um, we did also have a outside source for our bunny this year.

Um, so that was very nice.

Um they knew how to handle children and everything like that.

So it was super fun.

Um we also our police department fire, um, all of our community vendors were there, so people spent a lot of time meeting with everyone um after the actual hunt was done in like two seconds.

Uh and then we had our wedding fair in the park.

It was a rainy day, but we still had a great turnout.

Um all different vendors in the area for any wedding needs um be it catering uh furniture music jewelry everything like that and then we had the Barrett open house the following weekend um so community members got to visit B Sale C and our other partners there learn about um what they have to offer and we have opened up our movies in the park survey um so we are bringing those back again this fall but we want to know what people would like to see um this is on our website and social media as well but um we ask that you select up to four options and then once we narrow it down we'll do kind of like a bracket voting style on our um social media to pick the final ones and our summer enrollment is open um camp stores full but we do have a lot of spaces still available and all of our other options um we have our aquatics and then um there surprisingly still some spots available for some of our senior trips and other senior activities um so you can go on our website and browse through that um you can also enroll in our office if you would prefer and then May is bike safety month um so we will be hosting kind of like a what's called a charge station or energizer station on May 14th um with some of our staff and they'll just have some little goodies for anyone that is biking to or from work or wherever they happen to be going on that day.

And then some of our upcoming stuff uh we are bringing back our community hikes we have one in a couple weeks on May 14th um up at the Crystal Springs Cross Country course and then um June 24th at Hidden Canyon Park this is led by Patrick um I think there may be some park staff um there has been in the past but we'll also provide some information on our open space and trail maps and everything like that.

And then our doubles pickleball tournament is returning um to the senior center on June eighth.

If you would like to sign up for that you can call a senior center or stop by um obviously teams of two I think it's $10.

Last year Bridget and Commissioner Cunha participated so it's very fun.

So yeah that is all I have.

Thank you questions or comments from us.

I'll just make one comment uh the Easter egg height hunt was fabulous as always and um it was nice to see people playing in the creek afterwards a lot of people hung around and so they got to uh see the Creek restoration project and really appreciate that.

So I think a lot of people that was the first time that they had seen the work that was done so um and it was great to see people playing in the creek as always.

I was like the the Easter the East Trade hunt was always fun.

I really appreciated the adaptive as well because you can tell it means so much to the parents and to the kids to be able to do that.

Yeah we'd have pickleball reservation system is that actually working out in terms of referring for the courts okay yeah I'm we've had a glitch here or there but that was more like system side not user side but I haven't heard anything recently so I've used it many times it works fine.

Yeah.

I'm just always sensitive because we have such we have so many fewer courts as a percent of population than everyone around us, right?

Especially with not having the Indian new one so that's why it's the morning weekend morning hours people are sniping it like it's a rock concert.

So you have to really be on it if you want to if you want to play it fill up quick but yeah.

Okay.

Sorry, oh are there prizes for the tournament um possible I think there are that's I have to ask Patrick but we do have trophies and I think there may be last year he gave away like a pickleball set.

So a hundred or a hundred year swag.

Well we have we have that in the office if anyone wants to stop by and purchase some as well.

The bike safety month Energizer stations, who's staffing it?

Is there an opportunity to like get feedback from people who write on our streets about some of the changes that are going through the council process now.

Yeah, last year, um, I believe so it's our that was that's our Comdev uh director and then some of our public work staff.

So I'm pretty sure it's them.

They'll be out there as well.

So yeah, they're there to chat.

I I plan to be out there as well.

Good.

Um I love that the egg hunt is free and I hope that it remains so.

I feel like it fits Belmont's ethos, and I I just love that it's free.

And uh the the turnout is incredible.

It has there ever been a conversation about limiting the number of participants.

Like are we like I'd know that it the park is large but not reaching any kind of like critical mass or like a number that would be deemed unsafe unsafe by police or fire?

No, I mean we work with PD and stuff beforehand um and they haven't raised concerns about that, yeah.

So random thought, but I don't know if this makes sense because of all of the time and energy that goes into actually executing the egg hunt.

But I was thinking about like in the water dog run afterwards, there's a big pancake breakfast, and that keeps people in the community around after the event.

They just don't like you know uh disappear into the into the ether.

But if there were like with all that space, especially with the creek, if there's something, you know, formal informal that we could do to keep people in and around the interacting and turning it into like even, you know, longer community event.

If we wanted to do that.

Because Rotary does it actually, so it's uh worth the conversation.

Yeah, but again, I know there's a lot of effort already put into the event and I don't know that you need to take on any anymore, but if there was something that we could do like that, those are those are really uh impactful in lots of positive ways.

Was BCLC there at the do we have something going on?

That's a good spot.

Um okay.

Uh on to commissioner questions and comments.

I have questions.

Um I thought in May, don't we actually hear the senior services program update?

Isn't that typically like a May agenda?

Or we it kind of just moves when it's available and when the staff are can do it and stuff.

There I don't think there's like a set thing, okay.

So hopefully we'll get to hear that sometime.

And also, um, do we have any timeline from what we're gonna hear about the Oaknel update?

As of right now, no.

I do have a um agenda item for myself to check on uh landownership and some of the concerns that some of the community members brought up about um whether we can actually develop it as a city.

I guess that's a good segue to welcome director Kobe Ash if this is your first meeting.

Yes, thank you.

It's a very streamlined agenda for your first meeting.

Anything else?

Um I had a question.

So I know community hikes.

Do you just like go there if you want to go on a hike or give like sign up?

Yeah, so I forgot to mention that there is a sign-up um through our registration site.

It's our like quick sign up, so you just have to put your name and email address, um, so it's super easy.

Uh we just need that for waiver purposes, um, just we have your information, but then um once you sign up, you'll get information on the specific like meeting spot and everything like that.

Are there signups on the website?

Yes, on a registration site on active net.

If you type in like hikes or anything like that, it should pop up.

Uh, so like is there any other community like events?

Is it like a community trash pickup or anything?

Um we have done them in the past.

It kind of is when we have like volunteers reach out to us or sometimes we'll have groups come to us.

Um, so it just kind of depends if there's a need for it.

Um we have in the past, like Girl Scout troops and stuff, they'll come to us and let us know they want to do that, and we've provided like the materials for them to do that.

So it just depends on the desire from the community and what we're doing.

Yeah, I was wondering because sometimes um I've done some I've done this with my friends every now and then, but we pick up trash around like uh I think I did it by school once and yeah, just for fun.

So I was wondering if there's like a big community thing that like is it pick up trash or anything, that'd be that'd be nice because I used to do it uh for fun, so that'd be that'd be cool.

Yeah, we also have the um later in the year in like September, the public works, they host the coastal cleanup day.

Um and that's a big cleanup day throughout the park and different parts of Belmont as well.

What's the best way for interested um students to reach out to the parks and rec office to coordinate or take the initiative to schedule something like that?

Yeah, I stop by email, call, whatever way, um, and then if it's always helps if there's like a plan or you know what they want to do, and then we'll go from there, talk to the parks and everything.

So, I believe there's a proposal checklist on the website, right?

That if you have a a thing that you want to propose, there's just there's a check.

Yeah, if it's more of like an official kind of thing like that.

Yeah.

How long the community hikes, how long did you say how long they would last?

Like an hour.

Okay.

And it Patrick's leading both of them?

Yes.

Okay, nice.

Cool.

Anything else?

Meeting adjourned.