Parks, Recreation and Trees Advisory Commission (PRTAC) Regular Meeting - October 21, 2026

The Parks, Recreation and Trees Advisory Commission (PRTAC) met on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, 955 School Street, Napa, CA. Commissioners Stults, Streng, Richard, Wallace, Katz-O'Neill, Graffuis, and student representative Bynum were present; the roll-call transcription is garbled regarding Commissioner Bordona. The commission approved the previous two meetings' minutes, received administrative reports on the Park Restroom Project and Splash Pad Feasibility Study, and unanimously recommended the former Harvest Middle School property as the preferred location for an expedited splash pad while continuing to evaluate Kennedy Park.

Approval of Minutes

• Minutes of the August 19, 2026 regular meeting were approved by acclamation (motion and second; no opposition or abstentions).
• Minutes of the September 23, 2026 special joint meeting with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) were approved; Commissioner Streng abstained because he did not attend that meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were provided. The chair invited Commissioner Katz-O'Neill's son to speak; he declined.

Park Restroom Project Update (Item 6.A)

Stephanie Bouret (Management Analyst I) presented the design progress for City Council-funded permanent restroom construction at three parks, with ADA access improvements at all sites:

• Fuller Park: The existing 10-stall restroom with exterior sinks will be replaced in the same location with a new building containing four all-gender units with interior sinks, a central utility chase, and an adult-sized changing table in one unit. The project responds to the aging building and supports the all-abilities playground and pavilion improvements completed in 2026.
• Century Oaks Park: The existing portable restroom will be replaced with a two-unit, all-gender ADA building featuring baby-changing tables and a utility chase; aging sidewalks and curb-to-building ADA access will also be repaired. This site was identified in the Napa Parks and Facilities Master Plan.
• Westwood Hills Park: A one-stall portable restroom will be replaced with a permanent single all-gender ADA unit with a utility chase and a drinking fountain with bottle filler. The 13-stall parking lot will be repaved and a larger bike rack added. A bid alternate would expand the lot from 13 to 25 stalls, which would require a new stormwater bioretention facility. Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2027. A placeholder exists in the capital budget, and design development is ongoing to identify funding needs. Key responses to commissioner questions: the three sites will be bid together as one project; construction sequencing is not yet determined; park restroom cleaning is handled by Parks maintenance staff (Public Works facilities staff cover recreation centers), and staffing needs are under review; the adult changing table is a community request from local families and nonprofits, not an ADA requirement; the Westwood Hills parking expansion is budget-contingent, but if not funded it will remain designed and shovel-ready for potential future Measure G funding. Commissioner Streng reminded the commission that the Napa Park and Recreation Foundation is raising $18,000 through the Give Guide campaign for the Fuller Park adult changing table. A commissioner requested a map of park locations for future packets; staff agreed to provide one.

Splash Pad Feasibility Study Report (Item 6.B)

Ali Koenig (Parks Planning Manager) presented findings from the COAR Design Group Splash Pad Feasibility Study (O'Brien Park, Las Flores Community Center, and Kennedy Park) and the Harvest Park Project led by Noll & Tam Architects at the former Harvest Middle School property. (The staff report lists the property's acquisition date as December 2026, which appears inconsistent with the October 2026 meeting date.) Splash pads are zero-depth aquatic facilities regulated as public pools (no lifeguards required because there is no standing water). The need for water play is identified in the Parks and Facilities Master Plan, a statistically valid community survey completed last year, and City Council priorities. California facilities typically use recirculating systems with a 4,000-gallon (or larger) underground tank, 400-amp electrical service, water and sewer connections, daily debris removal and water testing, and Aquatics Facility Operator/Certified Pool Operator staff. Community surveys at the Measure G in Motion event and Harvest town halls identified spray tunnels, overhead sprayers, and dumping buckets as the top three desired features.

• Las Flores Community Center: small scale with a 1,800 sq ft splash zone accommodating up to 120 occupants; existing parking, playground and community center, but no outdoor restrooms, limited footprint, storm drain conflicts, user-group coordination concerns, and potential peak-use parking limitations. Estimated budget $3.25-$4 million; 3-3.5 years.
• O'Brien Park (8.5 acres): small scale with a 1,800 sq ft splash zone accommodating up to 120 occupants; walkable, transit-accessible, and serving diverse demographics, but no existing parking lot (a new small lot would have fewer stalls than splash pad capacity), required restroom work, overhanging trees, and ADA pathway needs. Estimated budget $3.25-$4 million; 3-3.5 years.
• Kennedy Park (nearly 200 acres along the Napa River): medium scale with a 3,000-3,500 sq ft splash zone accommodating up to 200-234 occupants and an existing 81-stall parking lot; however, floodplain constraints require watertight construction, building above base flood elevation, a pump room at least one foot above base flood elevation, possible groundwater issues with the 10-foot-deep water tank, and environmental review. Estimated budget $5-$6 million; 3-4 years.
• Harvest property (26.6 acres): medium-large scale; central location, transit access, planned future pool requiring the same operator certifications, high existing visitation, and planning efficiencies because the design team is already under contract. Staff's preliminary view is that Harvest best meets community demand; O'Brien Park could serve as a secondary location if future demand is measured. Equipment cost represents only about 10% of a splash pad project's total budget. Staff will present findings to City Council in November; Council has already begun discussing early-action facilities. Staff also identified lower-cost interim water features (misters/coolers) that could be added to existing parks. Commissioner positions and discussion:
• Wallace supported the amenity but expressed concern that the projects are highly ambitious and that costs may be underestimated.
• Streng said a small splash pad would be a missed opportunity given community demand, ruled out Las Flores and O'Brien, and ruled out Kennedy because of floodplain and environmental issues.
• Katz-O'Neill supported going big, ruled out Las Flores and O'Brien, and urged that Kennedy not be ruled out because the full Harvest build-out may not deliver until roughly 2030. Staff responded that an early-action phase at Harvest (track and field work near Playground Fantastico, potentially including a splash pad) could deliver activation in about three years, that Kennedy's environmental work would add years, and that a second splash pad could be reconsidered later based on usage data from the first facility.
• Student Commissioner Bynum noted the equity benefit of distributing facilities across Napa and found Kennedy appealing for multi-age family outings given the skate park and BMX amenities, while acknowledging its constraints.
• The chair said community feedback over years of outreach consistently identified pickleball courts, a community pool, and a splash pad as top needs and expressed strong support for Harvest. Motion: Commissioner Streng moved to evaluate Harvest as a location for expedited implementation while continuing to consider the feasibility of Kennedy. The motion was seconded and carried with no opposition.

Comments by Commissioners and Staff

• Katz-O'Neill: Could not attend last week's BPAC meeting; she will provide the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission representative update in December.
• Streng (Napa Park and Recreation Foundation): Reported a new $5,000 grant from the Flanagan Family Fund, $2,500 from PG&E for swim scholarships (funding not received last year), and $100 from mimosa sales at the dog costume parade. The Give Guide campaign begins November 1. The Foundation is recruiting board members: Kevin Hansen is stepping down at the end of the year after seven years, leaving four active board members; outreach to Leadership Napa Valley has not yet drawn a response.
• Park Maintenance (Jeff Gittings): Fall flower removal was completed around September 30 (consistent with the past five years); irrigation adjustments are underway ahead of winter shutdown; leaf cleanup will be a major seasonal focus; and a Westwood Hills trail improvement project will begin this month under a change order with the existing contractor.
• Recreation Division (Breyana Brandt): Fall classes and programs are underway; the first annual Alston Park dog Halloween costume parade drew over 40 entries; a ribbon cutting for phase two playground and amenity work (Solomon Park and Monarch Park open, Esther Deaver opening soon, shade structures complete at Springwood and Playground Fantastico) is scheduled for the next morning, October 22, at 11:00 AM; Dia de los Muertos returns Saturday, November 7.
• The chair congratulated Commissioners Richard, Wallace, and Bordona on their reappointment to the commission for another two years.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the August 19, 2026 and September 23, 2026 meeting minutes (Streng abstaining on the September minutes).
• Unanimously recommended the former Harvest Middle School property as the preferred location for an expedited splash pad while continuing to evaluate Kennedy Park; the recommendation will be presented to City Council in November.
• Received the Park Restroom Project update; construction is targeted for fall 2027, with the Westwood Hills parking expansion as a budget-contingent bid alternate.
• The next regular PRTAC meeting is scheduled for November 18, 2026.