OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

PROS Commission Regular Meeting - April 6, 2026: Elections, Nonprofit Presentations, and Park Overview

City Council — Monday, April 6, 2026
BodyWalnut Creek, California
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:21:10

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Okay, good evening.

0:02

I'm Sharon Pinkstaff, Vice Chair of the Walnut Creek Pros Commission.

0:07

Welcome to the April Pros Commission meeting.

0:11

Before we do a roll call, I would like to introduce and welcome newly appointed Commissioner Matthew Brockhaus for the for his first prose commission meeting.

0:22

Oh, Matt, I don't know if you want to take the opportunity to introduce yourself and say a few words about uh why you're interested in the committee and um your vision for the position.

0:32

Sure, thank you.

0:33

Um I moved to Wanna Creek in 2020 and immediately fell in love with it and have been an active user of both the parks and the open spaces since the minute we moved here.

0:45

I have a dog, I have two young children, and it's inspired me to want to get involved and make Warner Creek an even better place than it is now.

0:53

Great, thank you.

0:54

All right.

0:55

The next portion of the agenda is a roll call.

0:58

Commission secretary Mike Vickers, would you please do the roll call?

1:03

Yes.

1:04

Vice Chair Pinkstaff here.

1:07

Commissioner Brockhaus.

1:09

Here and welcome, by the way.

1:11

Commissioner Garland.

1:14

Here.

1:14

Commissioner Ohler.

1:15

Here.

1:16

Commissioner Sasser?

1:17

Here.

1:18

And let the record show that Commissioner Congson is not here tonight.

1:26

All right, moving right along.

1:28

Um the election of the pros commission chair.

1:31

So this time of the year that we usually do our chair um nomination and vice chair nomination.

1:37

Do we have a nomination for chair?

1:39

Commissioners.

1:41

I nominate Sharon Pinkstaff, Chair of the Commission.

1:45

Is there a second?

1:47

Second.

1:48

Secretary Vickers.

1:50

Would you do the roll call?

1:52

Yes.

1:54

Commissioner Sasser.

1:56

Yes.

1:56

Commissioner Garland.

1:58

Yes.

1:58

Commissioner Ouler.

1:59

Yes.

2:00

Commissioner Brockhaus?

2:02

Yes.

2:03

And soon to be Chair.

2:05

Commissioner, Vice Chair Pinkstaff.

2:08

Yes.

2:08

Yes.

2:09

Excellent.

2:10

All right.

2:17

Commission chair.

2:20

Okay.

2:20

Next is election of pros commission vice chair.

2:25

I'll nominee Girl Glorianne Sasser as a vice chair of the Pros Commission.

2:30

Is there a second?

2:31

Second.

2:32

The nomination.

2:35

Right.

2:35

Oh, call roll.

2:37

Yeah.

2:38

Chair Pinkstaff.

2:39

Yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████82%
Procedural███5%
Engineering And Infrastructure██4%
Environmental Protection██3%
Community Engagement█2%
Public Engagement█1%
Zoning and Planning█1%
Fiscal Sustainability█1%
Public Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

PROS Commission Regular Meeting – April 6, 2026 (6:00 pm – 8:21 pm)

The Park, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Commission held a regular meeting on April 6, 2026, in the City Council Chamber. The meeting included the election of officers for the 2026-2027 term, approval of prior minutes, presentations from two community nonprofit partners, and a partial update on city parks and open space (continued to the June meeting). Public comments addressed native plant gardens, mountain bike trail access, lake maintenance, tennis court lighting, wildfire risks, and park lighting.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of February 2, 2026 Minutes – Motion by Commissioner Garland, second by Commissioner Oller, carried unanimously (5 yeas: Brockhaus, Garland, Oller, Sasser, Pinkstaff; Commissioner Konson absent). No public comments.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jill Dresser (Walnut Creek) – Invited commissioners to the "Bringing Back the Natives" garden tour on May 3, 2026, at Sugar Loaf Open Space Native Plant Garden. Thanked the city for sponsorship.
  • Richard McChesney (Concord) – Expressed full support for expanding mountain bike use at Lime Ridge Open Space, citing health benefits and the need for youth riding opportunities. He noted membership in the Contra Costa Composite MTB Club and emphasized courteous trail use.
  • Matthew Tarlach (Mount Diablo Bird Alliance) – Expressed concern about algae and tule overgrowth at Heather Farm’s natural lake. Asked about the status of a skimmer and potential dredging. Staff indicated algae harvesting would begin soon and more details would follow.
  • Glenn McBee (Walnut Creek Racket Club) – Requested replacement of original lighting on courts 1–7 at the Heather Farm Tennis Center, noting frequent failures and lack of parts. Staff reported exploring an LED retrofit kit.
  • Barbara Ginos (Walnut Creek) – Opposed converting social trails to multi-use trails in Lime Ridge due to wildfire risk, citing a record dry March and low snowpack. She argued increased human activity raises fire danger.
  • Jerott King (Walnut Creek resident since 1989) – Urged creation of a pilot project for dedicated mountain bike trails at Lime Ridge, arguing that exclusion leads to illegal trail building. Referenced the Briones pilot project as a successful model.
  • Miguel Perez (Concord) – Supported new mountain bike trails at Lime Ridge, noting it is a key training location for the Contra Costa Composite team and expressing willingness to volunteer for trail building.
  • Jim Harrison (Model Railroad Club) – Requested improved parking lot lighting at Larkey Park, citing safety concerns for elderly visitors. Staff acknowledged the issue and committed to addressing it.

Discussion Items

  • Election of PROS Commission Chair (2026-2027) – Commissioner Sasser nominated Vice Chair Sharon Pinkstaff. Second by Commissioner Garland. Motion carried unanimously (5 yeas). Commissioner Konson absent; no preferential vote.
  • Election of PROS Commission Vice Chair (2026-2027) – Chair Pinkstaff nominated Commissioner Gloriann Sasser. Second by Commissioner Oller. Motion carried unanimously (5 yeas).
  • Presentations of Non-Profits/City Partners –
    • Walnut Creek Senior Club: President Fred Rentschler provided an overview of club activities (1,000 members, $20 annual dues, no city funding). He highlighted a need for parking at Civic Drive and expressed interest in relocating to Heather Farm when the new community center opens in 2027. No formal action taken.
    • Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society: Woody Hodge presented on the society’s history (founded 1948) and operations, including 44,460 visitors in 2025. He noted planned ADA upgrades (bathroom conversions) that will be coordinated with city hardscape improvements at Larkey Park. No formal action taken.
  • Park and Open Space Summary – Assistant Public Works Director Mike Vickers began an overview of city parks, amenities, budget, and the 10-year park plan. After covering several parks (Alma, Arbolato, Civic, etc.), the commission agreed to continue the open space portion at the June 2026 meeting to allow fuller discussion, including history and community feedback.

Key Outcomes

  • Chair and Vice Chair elected – Sharon Pinkstaff as Chair, Gloriann Sasser as Vice Chair for the 2026-2027 term.
  • Consent Calendar approved – Minutes of February 2, 2026.
  • Park and Open Space presentation continued – The open space overview will be rescheduled for the June 2026 PROS meeting.
  • Staff committed to follow-up – On Larkey Park parking lot lighting (Jim Harrison’s request) and potential LED lighting for tennis courts.
  • Field visits proposed – Staff will poll commissioners on dates for park site visits.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, good evening. I'm Sharon Pinkstaff, Vice Chair of the Walnut Creek Pros Commission. Welcome to the April Pros Commission meeting. Before we do a roll call, I would like to introduce and welcome newly appointed Commissioner Matthew Brockhaus for the for his first prose commission meeting. Oh, Matt, I don't know if you want to take the opportunity to introduce yourself and say a few words about uh why you're interested in the committee and um your vision for the position. Sure, thank you. Um I moved to Wanna Creek in 2020 and immediately fell in love with it and have been an active user of both the parks and the open spaces since the minute we moved here. I have a dog, I have two young children, and it's inspired me to want to get involved and make Warner Creek an even better place than it is now. Great, thank you. All right. The next portion of the agenda is a roll call. Commission secretary Mike Vickers, would you please do the roll call? Yes. Vice Chair Pinkstaff here. Commissioner Brockhaus. Here and welcome, by the way. Commissioner Garland. Here. Commissioner Ohler. Here. Commissioner Sasser? Here. And let the record show that Commissioner Congson is not here tonight. All right, moving right along. Um the election of the pros commission chair. So this time of the year that we usually do our chair um nomination and vice chair nomination. Do we have a nomination for chair? Commissioners. I nominate Sharon Pinkstaff, Chair of the Commission. Is there a second? Second. Secretary Vickers. Would you do the roll call? Yes. Commissioner Sasser. Yes. Commissioner Garland. Yes. Commissioner Ouler. Yes. Commissioner Brockhaus? Yes. And soon to be Chair. Commissioner, Vice Chair Pinkstaff. Yes. Yes. Excellent. All right. Commission chair. Okay.

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