Operations Parks and Rec Committee Meeting – April 23, 2026
Operations Parks and Rec Committee Meeting – April 23, 2026
The Operations Parks and Rec Committee met on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 7:03 PM. Chair Sanford presided. The committee considered three items: two resolutions naming athletic fields at Stamford High School, and a review of the city's snow removal process. All committee members were present, along with several other board members and administration staff including Director Turk.
Consent Calendar
- OPR 32.009 – Resolution waiving the requirements of Section 21-3B of the city code to allow naming of Stamford High School Baseball, Softball, and Soccer Fields for living persons. President Shaw introduced the item, noting the honorees' long service (30–42 years) to the school. The committee voted unanimously to approve.
- OPR 32.010 – Resolution naming the Stamford High School Baseball, Softball, and Soccer Fields with the names set forth in the resolution. The committee voted unanimously to approve.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- OPR 32.008 – Review of the city's snow removal process and snow emergency preparedness. Representative Gross submitted the item after a winter with two major blizzards (18 inches and 24 inches of snow). He requested a comprehensive presentation of the snow removal process, including maps and route information, to better answer constituent questions. Director Turk explained the complexities of snow operations: 320 miles of road, 34 snow routes, 39 drivers (with vacancies), and GPS tracking. He emphasized that the extreme storms were not normal, and that expectations for clearing all roads during a blizzard are unrealistic. Topics discussed included crosswalk clearing, driveway plowing, snow disposal at West Beach, use of seasonal employees, and the process for designating snow emergency routes. Multiple committee members (Reps. Finkel, Didalo, Temprality, Salas) asked questions and received detailed responses. Director Turk offered to prepare a slide deck and give a tour of the city garage. The committee opted to recommit the item to steering for further discussion next month, with the presentation to be circulated first.
Key Outcomes
- OPR 32.009 – Approved unanimously.
- OPR 32.010 – Approved unanimously.
- OPR 32.008 – Recommitted to steering by voice vote. Director Turk will prepare a presentation on snow removal operations for the next meeting. Committee members were invited to schedule a tour of the city garage. The meeting adjourned at 7:57 PM.
Meeting Transcript
I'm going to call this meeting to order. It is 703 p.m. My name is Chair Sanford. This is the Operation Parks and Rec meeting. Today is Thursday, April 23rd, 2026. In attendance for the committee, I have myself, Representative Politia, Representative Beckham, Representative Didalo, Representative Finkel, Representative Salais, and Representative Zachary. From the rest of the board, I have Representative Hill, President Shaw, Representative Morrison, Representative Gross, and from the administration from the administration I have uh I'm sorry, Representative. From the administration, I have uh Director Turk and Tyler Theater. Uh is that everyone? I believe so. So at this time, uh have three items on the agenda. OPR 32.009, a resolution waiving the requirements of section 21-3B of the code of ordinances in order to name the Stanford High School Baseball Softball and Soccer Fields for the names set forth in the resolution. Item two, OPR 32.010 resolution naming of the Stanford High School Baseball, Softball and Soccer Fields with the names is set forth in the resolution. And then item three, OPR 32.008, a review of the city's snow removal process and snow emergency preparedness. At this time, if I have a I'll entertain a motion to take up item one, OPR 32.009. So moved. And second discussion. Is there any discussion? I will open it up to rep uh to President Shaw who introduced the item. I know she sent some information out, but if she wants to expand a little bit, I'll go ahead and let her go ahead, ma'am. The floor is yours. Thank you so much, Chair Sanford. I apologize. I'm in like a noisy place. I'm at one of those education excellence awards present, you know, event, and it's I'm just sitting there. So um I I've given all the information. I just wanted to just give a summary that um that, you know, um, and I know Chris, the director of athletics from Stanford High School, Mr. Passimano had sent more information as well. Basically, where the waiver is for um uh waiving the requirements because the way the we the rules the or ordinances reads is we have to if we're naming something, uh a park or a facility, uh a city facility on someone that's still alive. We have to get the board has to um sign, you know, approval waiver. So that's the reason for which these names have been introduced. Um, and then the resolution that kind of goes along with it, which is our second item here. Um I I we've given all the information that we've uh we we have. I think it's a great honor to have these people recognized, um, especially when they're you know at their stages now um and what they've done for Stanford High School. Not only they've graduated from there, but they've worked there for many, many years, you know, 30 years, 42 years, and they've done so much. So I I think that this is a small thing that we we owe to them and recognize them and honor them. Um so I uh I hope the board approves this and we can move forward. So thank you and I yield. Thank you, President Shaw. Is there anyone else from the committee or outside of the committee? And I appreciate the president for submitting these items. I agree. Um Sheila, I don't see anybody unless you see someone. So without any other discussion, I will go ahead and take a vote for approving uh this item OPR 32.009. Uh all those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any oppose. See no opposed, that item passes. And I believe Representative Bradford is now in attendance.
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