OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Walnut Creek PROS Commission Meeting Summary - December 1, 2025

City Council — Monday, December 1, 2025
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, December 1, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:48:38
Transcript — Verbatim
0:28

Good evening.

0:29

Welcome everybody.

0:31

This is the two October 6th, 2025 PRO's Commission meeting.

0:37

I would first like to introduce and welcome our newest commissioner.

0:42

This is our first meeting, Glorianne Sasser.

0:47

Welcome.

0:48

Thank you.

0:49

Yeah.

0:50

You want to give us 30 seconds of introducing yourself to everyone a little bit?

0:55

Sure.

0:55

So I'm really pleased to be a commissioner.

0:58

Thank you.

0:58

And my background is in finance and human resources.

1:02

And then I've spent a lot of time in the open space in the parks, and I've lived in Walnut Creek for about 25 years now.

1:08

So thank you.

1:08

Oh, very exciting.

1:09

Thank you very much, and welcome to being here.

1:12

Okay, we'll uh roll call and uh Secretary of Vickers.

1:15

Uh, please call the rule.

1:17

Good evening, uh Commissioner Sasser.

1:21

Here.

1:22

Commissioner Oler.

1:23

Here.

1:24

Commissioner Garland.

1:25

Here.

1:26

Vice Chair Pinkstaff?

1:27

Here.

1:28

And uh Chair Cook.

1:30

Here.

1:31

Thank you.

1:31

Let the record show that all the commissioners are here, minus the youth commissioner.

1:36

Okay.

1:37

Public communications.

1:38

This portion of the meeting is reserved for comment on items not on the agenda.

1:43

Under the Brown Act, the Commission cannot act on items raised during public communications, but may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed.

1:52

Request clarification or refer the item to staff.

1:58

We've allotted 30 minutes for this particular public comment period.

2:03

Does any member of the public wish to speak on any item not on the agenda?

2:08

I do have some cards, I'll call those off here.

2:17

Correct.

2:18

Alright.

2:19

And uh Mr.

2:21

When I call your name, please approach the podium.

2:23

Mr.

2:23

Burns.

2:31

Hi, members of the commission.

2:35

Thanks for having us here.

2:37

Um good evening.

2:38

Uh my name's Justin Burns.

2:40

I live in Walnut Creek with my wife and two children.

2:44

I'm here tonight representing Walnut Creek's beach tennis community.

2:48

Uh, to ask that you request staff to consider replacing the net winches at the city sand courts.

2:55

I have some of the other members here joining me.

3:00

Beach tennis is a globally popular sport governed by the International Tennis Federation, uh, the same organization that governs traditional tennis.

3:10

Except beach tennis is played on a sand court similar to beach volleyball.

3:16

The sport is gaining serious momentum and is under consideration for inclusion in the uh 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

3:25

A key difference in our sport is the net height.

3:28

For beach tennis, it's set around five feet seven inches, about two feet lower than a standard women's volleyball net.

3:38

For almost three years, a growing group of us have been playing beach tennis on the city's sand courts.

3:45

We're always extremely careful with the nets and raise them back to the higher volleyball settings after we play.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous█████████████████████████████████33%
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████████31%
Youth Programs█████████████13%
Procedural███████████11%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Environmental Protection██2%
Active Transportation██2%
Fiscal Sustainability█1%
Homelessness█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Walnut Creek PROS Commission Meeting Summary - December 1, 2025

Note: The user-specified meeting date is December 1, 2025, but the raw transcript indicates the meeting was held on October 6, 2025. This summary uses the specified date; the original meeting date per the transcript is noted for accuracy.

The Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Commission convened to discuss public comments, a consent calendar, a proposed drone ordinance, and a playground renovation update. The meeting included public testimony on trail conditions, beach tennis equipment, e-bike signage, and fire mitigation. The Commission provided direction on two major agenda items: the drone ordinance and playground renovations.

Consent Calendar

  • The Commission approved the consent calendar, which included the minutes from the last meeting and four routine items. Commissioners raised questions on the tennis annual report (noting a decline in youth program enrollment and a 63% court utilization rate) and on the aquatics scholarship program. Staff committed to follow up with the tennis contractor and provided details on the scholarship application process.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Justin Burns (Walnut Creek resident): Representing the beach tennis community, requested replacing net winches at city sand courts with a slider system (cost under $1,000) to allow quick height adjustments for multiple sports. He noted the system is used successfully in Fremont Central Park.
  • Jonathan Shiner (resident): Complained about trail conditions, including cow manure and deep ruts, stating the open space is becoming unappealing for recreational users. He expressed support for cattle grazing but urged better trail maintenance.
  • Jeff Langner (Summit Road Firewise leader, Lafayette): Thanked staff (Mike Vickers and Corey Frazier) for facilitating a goat grazing program on Acalanes Ridge, which improved wildfire safety beyond minimum weed abatement.
  • Barbara Guinness (resident): Raised three issues: (1) incorrect “Ride Safely” signs at open space entrances showing e-bike classes permitted despite current code; (2) lack of public access to draft social trails to official trails plan; (3) ongoing problem of motorized vehicles in open spaces, citing recent motorcycle incidents.

Discussion Items

  • Drone Ordinance Update: Staff presented a proposed ordinance regulating unmanned aircraft in parks and open spaces, requiring permits for specific uses (photography, surveys, fire assessment, governmental purposes). The ordinance mirrors East Bay Regional Parks’ policy but allows more permit types. Commissioners questioned permit duration, director designation, fee structure, enforcement, and airspace jurisdiction. Staff clarified that the city can only control launch/landing on city property, not drone flights in airspace. The Commission gave consensus to move forward to City Council after incorporating feedback (e.g., clarifying director roles, permit duration, and fee specifics).
  • Playground Renovation Update: Staff shared results of public outreach (over 600 survey participants) for renovating Civic Park and Walden Park playgrounds. The original $500,000 budget was set in 2023. Community feedback favored adding shade structures and three rotating/climbing amenities. Costs escalated to approximately $540,000 for Civic Park and $245,000 for Walden Park. Staff presented three options: (1) accept original designs and seek additional funding; (2) defer one park; (3) accept amended designs with shade and amenities, seeking funding for both or one park. After discussion, the Commission reached consensus to prioritize Civic Park, using the full $500,000 budget (including added amenities and shade if possible), defer Walden Park renovations, and direct staff to seek additional funding from park-in-lieu reserves, Measure O, county contributions, or other sources. Staff will also explore adding the two-to-five improvements at Walden (approx. $20,000) if funds allow.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
  • Drone Ordinance: Commission directed staff to incorporate feedback and proceed to City Council for review.
  • Playground Renovation: Consensus to move forward with Civic Park first, defer Walden Park, and have staff pursue additional funding. Staff will provide an update at a future meeting.
  • Public Comment Follow-Up: Staff noted they will continue working with the beach tennis community on net winch upgrades and address trail maintenance concerns.
  • Meeting Adjourned: The next PROS Commission meeting is scheduled for December 1, 2025 (per the user’s date; transcript shows adjournment to a future meeting date).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome everybody. This is the two October 6th, 2025 PRO's Commission meeting. I would first like to introduce and welcome our newest commissioner. This is our first meeting, Glorianne Sasser. Welcome. Thank you. Yeah. You want to give us 30 seconds of introducing yourself to everyone a little bit? Sure. So I'm really pleased to be a commissioner. Thank you. And my background is in finance and human resources. And then I've spent a lot of time in the open space in the parks, and I've lived in Walnut Creek for about 25 years now. So thank you. Oh, very exciting. Thank you very much, and welcome to being here. Okay, we'll uh roll call and uh Secretary of Vickers. Uh, please call the rule. Good evening, uh Commissioner Sasser. Here. Commissioner Oler. Here. Commissioner Garland. Here. Vice Chair Pinkstaff? Here. And uh Chair Cook. Here. Thank you. Let the record show that all the commissioners are here, minus the youth commissioner. Okay. Public communications. This portion of the meeting is reserved for comment on items not on the agenda. Under the Brown Act, the Commission cannot act on items raised during public communications, but may respond briefly to statements made or questions posed. Request clarification or refer the item to staff. We've allotted 30 minutes for this particular public comment period. Does any member of the public wish to speak on any item not on the agenda? I do have some cards, I'll call those off here. Correct. Alright. And uh Mr. When I call your name, please approach the podium. Mr. Burns. Hi, members of the commission. Thanks for having us here. Um good evening. Uh my name's Justin Burns. I live in Walnut Creek with my wife and two children.

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