Park, Recreation, and Open Space Commission Regular Meeting - April 7, 2025

The Park, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Commission held a regular meeting on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting was chaired by Vice Chair Jason Cooke (acting) due to the absence of Chair Brendan Moran. The meeting addressed the election of new officers, a consent calendar, a presentation on open space weed abatement, and three major consideration items: recreation fee changes, trail committee updates, and playground replacements. The meeting adjourned at 7:58 PM.

Opening & Election

• Roll call: All commissioners were present except Chair Brendan Moran.
• Election of Chair and Vice Chair: Commissioner Fran Garland nominated Jason Cooke for Chair, seconded by Commissioner Art Oller. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). Commissioner Cooke then nominated Sharon Pinkstaff for Vice Chair, seconded by Commissioner Garland; the motion also carried unanimously (4-0).

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the February 3, 2025, regular meeting.
• Accepted the Facility Rentals Annual Report for April 7, 2025.
• Motion by Commissioner Oller, second by Commissioner Garland, carried unanimously (4-0). No public comments were received.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Barbara Ginos (resident since 1996) expressed concerns about city staff selectively implementing the 2020 Trail Committee document, lack of community input on open space plans, lack of enforcement of rules/citations, and absence of a volunteer patrol program. She urged commissioners to fulfill their advisory role and ensure citizen comments are considered. No other public comments were offered on non-agenda items.

Presentation: Open Space Annual Weed Abatement Program

• Mike Vickers (Assistant Public Works Director) presented a detailed overview of the city’s vegetation management program.
  • Fire breaks: Approximately 78 miles of fire breaks are maintained annually using disking (18 miles, minimum 40–70 feet wide), mechanical mowing, and string trimming (11 miles of hand abatement, 25 miles of single-track trail trimming).
  • Fuel load grazing: Cattle graze over 50% of Shell Ridge, 30–40% of Lime Ridge, and 80% of Sugarloaf. Goat grazing at Oka Lani expanded to 15 acres. Rotational grazing has been abandoned due to vandalism (electric fence cutting) and difficulty finding ranchers; traditional roaming resumed from late May through October.
  • Fuel reduction project (new): In response to the governor’s March 1 state of emergency proclamation, staff will remove dead vegetation (6 inches or less in diameter) within a 200-foot perimeter around open space boundaries. This work will take multiple years.
  • Deadlines: Weed abatement is typically required by June 1–7, subject to extension by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. Inspections are largely complaint-driven.
  • Commissioner questions: Commissioner Oller asked about fire road maintenance (annual smoothing) and enforcement; Vickers confirmed the city now handles fire road grading internally. Commissioner Pinkstaff inquired about reporting requirements for the fuel reduction project; Vickers stated no formal report is required.

Consideration Items

a. Proposed Changes to FY26-27 Recreation Fees & Charges

• Kevin Gordon (Arts + Recreation Business Manager) presented proposed updates to the Master Fee Schedule, including eliminating certain fee categories, creating new ones (e.g., synthetic turf field rental, children under two aquatics fee), increasing ranges to accommodate rising costs (particularly mandated minimum wage increases), and modifying minimum rental hour requirements for facilities to anticipate the Heather Farm Community Center demolition.
• A new synthetic turf field rental category was added for Heather Farm fields 1 and 2 (conversion expected fall 2025).
• Commissioner comments: Commissioner Oller noted that rental minimums in red (e.g., 3–4 hours for larger facilities) could conflict with the “minimum two hours” header; Vickers agreed to add clarifying language. Commissioner Oller also asked about pickleball court fees at Heather Farm; Gordon and Recreation Manager Jim Carlson stated they would follow up with Lifetime Tennis to clarify the fee structure. Commissioner Pinkstaff confirmed that AquaBears, Aquanuts, Masters, and Walnut Creek Swim Club fees are set by separate contracts not included in this schedule. Commissioner Sasser asked about comparability surveys; Gordon responded that nearby municipalities (Danville, Concord, Alamo) are used for benchmarking.
• Commission action: Motion by Commissioner Oller to accept the report and forward to City Council with the discussed changes, second by Commissioner Garland. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). No formal action beyond this referral.

b. Walnut Creek Trail Committee Update – Unsanctioned Trails

• Mike Vickers provided an update on the implementation status of the 17 recommendations from the 2020 Trail Committee report. The first seven are completed or ongoing; items 8–12 are in progress (including trail evaluation); items 13–17 are not yet started (e.g., volunteer patrol program).
• Two unsanctioned trails are being evaluated for potential sanctioning:
  1. Lime Ridge trail (approx. 1 mile): Multi-use, in use since the 1990s. Staff plan to install stairs (6–7 stairs) for pedestrians and a separate bike ramp, add barriers to close spur trails, and address safety after a serious accident in 2024. It will remain multi-use.
  2. Shell Ridge trail (approx. 0.5–0.75 miles): A cut-through between Hannon Lane Trail and Costanoan Trail (offering a shorter 1.5-mile hike). The trail is only 2 feet wide with steep slopes; staff recommend pedestrian-only use due to safety concerns.
• Vickers noted these are operational decisions; commissioner input was sought. Public comment: Barbara Ginos opposed the Lime Ridge trail, citing erosion risks, wildfire history (September 2024 fire near the area), vandalism, illegal bike jumps, and a 2023 fatality.
• No formal action taken; the item was informational only.

c. Playground Equipment Replacement Project at Civic Park and Waldon Park

• Mike Vickers presented renderings and options for replacing aging playground equipment at both parks, funded by $500,000 from the 2024-25 Capital Budget (In-Lieu Parkland Funds).
• Civic Park: Three options (A, B, C) for two playground zones (ages 2–5 and 5–12). Swings (including a new generational swing) will be retained. All options include bark surfacing (meets ADA requirements). The sand pit and train at Civic Park will remain; water features may be updated. Option costs range from approximately $450,000 to $500,000 (including synthetic turf in a muddy area).
• Waldon Park: Three options for the 5–12 area (ranging $200,000–$250,000) plus a separate $40,000–$50,000 upgrade to the sand play area (ages 2–5) with a new water source. Swings (including a generational swing) will be kept. Costs are lower due to smaller park size and space constraints from state safety buffer requirements.
• Public outreach plan: Staff will conduct pop-up tables at the parks, an online survey, and attend farmers’ markets and First Wednesdays events (starting within 30 days). Feedback will be brought back to the commission for further direction before bidding (likely late fall 2025).
• Commissioner questions: Commissioner Garland asked about surfacing; Vickers confirmed bark meets ADA but noted resilient surfacing at Heather Farm costs nearly $1 million to replace. Commissioner Konson asked about permanent features (sand pit, train, boulders); Vickers said they will be retained or improved. Commissioner Oller praised the water addition for the Waldon sand area.
• Commission feedback: General support for the approach. No formal action taken; staff will proceed with public outreach and return for further direction.

Key Outcomes

• Officer elections completed: Jason Cooke elected Chair, Sharon Pinkstaff elected Vice Chair for 2025-26 (both votes 4-0).
• Consent Calendar approved unanimously.
• Recreation fee referral: A motion to forward the proposed FY26-27 fee changes (with minor language edits) to City Council was approved unanimously (4-0).
• Trail update received: No action taken; staff will continue evaluation of the two unsanctioned trails.
• Playground project advanced: Staff will begin public outreach on playground options and return to the commission with community feedback before proceeding to bid.
• Staff reports noted: Construction on Tice Valley lighting began April 7; synthetic turf at Heather Farm starts next Monday; aquatic center permitting ongoing; tennis court resurfacing at Arbolado and Rudgear scheduled for July; Sutherland/Fossil Hill pilot program continues with mixed feedback.