{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2021-04-08", "page": 1, "text": "apd\nALAMEDA RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION\nMINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING\nDATE:\nThursday, April 8, 2021\nTIME:\n7:00 p.m. Called to Order\nPLACE:\nCity Hall Council Chambers\nA video recording of the meeting may be viewed at https:llalameda.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx\nThe following are action minutes in keeping with the Sunshine Ordinance 2-91.17.\nROLL CALL\nPresent: (Teleconference via Zoom) Chair Alexander, Vice Chair Robbins, Commissioner Limoges and\nCommissioner Navarro\nStaff: (Teleconference via Zoom) Alameda Recreation and Park Department (ARPD) Director Amy\nWooldridge\nChair Alexander announced that Commissioner Ron Limoges was resigning and this would be his last\nmeeting. Commissioner Limoges was given best wishes and complimented by all for his commendable\nservice to the Recreation and Park Commission.\nAPPROVAL OF MINUTES\nChair Alexander moved to accept the minutes of March 11, 2021 Regular Meeting as presented.\nM/S Vice Chair Robbins / Commissioner Navarro. All present in favor with 4 ayes via roll call vote.\nWRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (For topics not on the agenda)\nWritten Communication: Submitted by Patricia Lamborn regarding Shoreline Park parcel 4 Path\nRepair\nOral Communication:\nSpeaker Betsy Mathieson: Requested that waste receptacles be moved away from the\ntrees in the parks as it is harmful to the roots of the trees.\nSpeaker Patricia Lamborn: Requested ARPD to help sponsor and take the lead on the\nShoreline Park parcel 4 path repair project.\nSpeaker Mary McMuldren: Likes the Encinal Boat Ramp, suggested waste receptacles\nthat are not opened at the top because of the overflow of trash, said the narrow driveway\nentrance to the Encinal Boat Ramp is becoming crowded with people parking there as\nthere is not enough available parking. Concerned that the seals need more protection\nfrom the public. Hopes that the area can stay clean and safe.\nSpeaker Edward Sing: Shoreline Park parcel 4 needs repaving to keep it safe for\npedestrians and cyclists.\nSpeaker Gary Thompson: Shoreline Park parcel 4 is used by a lot of people and\nencouraged Recreation and Parks to take the lead in getting it completed for everyone's\nsafety.\nREPORTS FROM THE RECREATION AND PARK DIRECTOR\nARPD Director Amy Wooldridge gave the report. See Exhibit 1\n1", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2021-04-08.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2021-04-08", "page": 2, "text": "REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONERS\nChair Alexander: Toured tennis courts to look for pickleball court possibilities. Ballena Bay looks\nlike a good site. Last month talked about the women of ARPD and Jackie Krause, Recreation\nManager, reminded her that Sherry McCarthy and Suzanne Oda were also ARPD Directors\nbefore Director Wooldridge. Suggested having a plague to recognize the history of the women\nof ARPD and place it at Krusi softball diamond #1 as it is mostly used by women's teams.\nThanked Mastick for calling seniors to ask if they had or need their COVID-19 immunizations.\nRequests to repair the tennis courts and repaint the backstops if there is additional funds from\nthe Federal stimulus package. Would like to add more book boxes in the parks with books about\nchildren of color.\nCommissioner Limoges: Looked at Shoreline Park parcel 4. Agrees there is about 400 feet that\nis in disrepair and supports finishing it. Has been watching Seaplane lagoon Waterfront Park\nbeing built and said there is a lot of movement and is a beautiful spot. Stopped by the Gaga Pit\nand enjoyed seeing the kids playing and having fun.\nCommissioner Navarro: Excited to see the RAP kids, who were on a field trip to Tuckers Ice\nCreamery, enjoying themselves and also that they were wearing masks and physical distancing.\nVice Chair Robbins: Good pickleball court potential at Ballena Bay. The courts are sunken down\n4 feet and with wind screens it would be great. Asked about the progress of online tennis\nreservations. ARPD Director Wooldridge: ARPD is working on it to launch it correctly. Asked if\nthere would be signage at the Gaga Pit. ARPD Director Wooldridge: Yes, the signage is on\norder.\nAGENDA ITEMS\n6-A Discuss and Make Recommendations on the City Facility Naming Policy, Particularly\nRegarding Parks and Recreation Facilities\nARPD Director Wooldridge gave presentation which included the background, draft policy,\nprocedure and criteria for naming facilities and explained the process from public input to\nRecreation and Park Commission to the City Council approval.\n6-A Public Comments\nSpeaker Rasheed Shabazz: naming is a great opportunity for the community to say what is\nimportant and significant. Define what diversity, equity and inclusion means in the process to\nhave clarity. Think about how it can increase access to empower the community's voice.\n6-A Commissioner Comments\nCommissioner Limoges: Research is important, who will be doing the research in the community.\nARPD Director Wooldridge: City council and staff.\nCan City Council say no to a request for a name change? ARPD Director Wooldridge: City\nCouncil determines if a facility should be renamed.\nIs there a way for partial naming when someone donates funds? ARPD Director Wooldridge:\nYes, that would be naming specific amenities in a park and has been done previously.\nThinks a Master list is a good idea and that the process has to begin with City Council.\nCommissioner Navarro: Would be good to indicate sub facilities such as Golden Gate Park does.\n2", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2021-04-08.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2021-04-08", "page": 3, "text": "Is the Commission's input editing the policy? ARPD Director Wooldridge: No, discussing high\nlevel concepts tonight.\nVice Chair Robbins: The idea that the Commissions and Council have to go through the ongoing\nnaming process seems like it is takes a lot of staff's time and wonders if names options could be\nupdated yearly by creating a Master List.\nChair Alexander: Believes the City Council should decide what parks, etc. should be changed\nand let the various Commissions know as the Commissions are not elected officials and the City\nCouncil are elected officials. Concerns about naming after a person as it can get into an issue\ndown the road.\n6-B Receive status Update and Provide Direction on the Chochenyo Park Play Area\nARPD Director Wooldridge gave presentation which included the background, playground design by\nTyler Velten, the Medicine Wheel Landing design and the signage giving the history of the park by artist\nRyan LaRonde. Ryan LaRonde commented that the Medicine Wheel fulfills an educational component\nabout the Native American group.\n6-B Public Comments\nSpeaker Gary Cook: Excited about play area at Chochenyo, likes the Medicine Wheel but the\nplayground structure is his first choice.\nSpeaker Meredith Hoskin: Likes the Medicine Wheel but her preference is the natural\nplayground.\nSpeaker Jim Manning: Likes the Medicine Wheel and train in the play area and thinks they\nshould choose one or other as the train should not go inside the Medicine Wheel.\nSpeaker Rasheed Shabaaz: Encouraged to create something that recognizes safety for the\nchildren and healing in the Park.\nSpeaker Joanne Robinson: Likes the Medicine Wheel where children can play games and\nactivities with spinning acorns and sticks and teach native American skills including weaving.\nSpeaker Amy: Support the playground with trains, thinks it fits in with the aesthetics of the park.\nSpeaker Grace Rubinstein: Loves all the designs, concerned about the volume of traffic on\nEncinal and would suggest the South end for a playground for safety. It would be great to\ncombine the playground and the Medicine Wheel respectfully for a gathering place.\nAdditional Written Public Comments: See Exhibit 2\n6-B MOTION\nCommissioners discussed and made a motion:\nCommissioner Navarro motion to examine Medicine Wheel concept in tandem with a landscaped play\nspace to fulfill the desire for an area at Chochenyo Park.\nM/S Commissioner Navarro / Commissioner Limoges. All present in favor with 4 ayes via roll call vote.\n6-C Recommend Approval of a Memorial at the Central Avenue Pathway\n3", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2021-04-08.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2021-04-08", "page": 4, "text": "ARPD Director Wooldridge gave the presentation along with Alameda Resident Denise Sims who\napproached ARPD with the request to install the memorial in honor of her son Austin. Presentation\nincluded photos of the proposed artwork.\n6-C MOTION\nCommissioners discussed and made a motion:\nCommissioner Navarro motion to recommend approval of a Memorial at the Central Avenue Pathway.\nM/S Commissioner Navarro / Commissioner Limoges. All present in favor with 4 ayes via roll call vote.\nITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA:\nBudget and Capital Projects\nUpdate in Directors Report on RAP programs\nUpdate on Swim Centers\nSET NEXT MEETING DATE: May 13, 2021\nADJOURNMENT\nMotion to adjourn\nM/S Vice Chair Robbins / Commissioner Navarro\nMotion carried by the following voice vote: All in favor with a 3 ayes via roll call vote.\nChair Alexander adjourned the meeting at 9:32 PM\n4", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2021-04-08.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2021-04-08", "page": 5, "text": "EXHIBIT 1\n04/08/2021 ARPD Director's Report\nPresented by Recreation and Park Director Amy Wooldridge\nRecreation Services\nThe Alameda Youth Committee - a youth leadership development group - is beginning to meet in\nperson and they are hosting an online fundraiser for the Alameda Food Bank from 4/19 - 5/23. Info\nabout the fundraiser will be published in the Alameda Sun with a QR code for people to scan and\ndonate directly.\nFriends Connect - a social group for teens with developmental disabilities - and AYC have traded\nnumerous pen pal letters back and forth during the pandemic. The exchange has been really\nenjoyable for both groups. Friends Connect is meeting in person for the first time this school year and\ntaking a walk from Chochenyo Park to Alameda Beach.\nThe State COVID-19 child care guidelines were recently revised and there is no longer a maximum\ncap on the number of children allowed in each cohort. Subsequently, ARPD added spaces for the\nSpring Vacation camp (kindergarten through 5th grade) at Leydecker, Lincoln and Washington Parks.\nTo celebrate Earth Day in 2021, the City of Alameda and its partners have created an interactive\nvirtual website celebrating Earth Day. The fun starts April 19th, as the website will launch prior to\nEarth Day on April 22nd. We will also host a volunteer tree planting event at Krusi Park on Sat., April\n24th. Registration is required with information coming soon.\nThe 2021 Summer Supplemental Guide will be available mid-April, with the next installment of special\ninterest classes, camps, and local events. Registration has been open for ARPD's Summer\nPreschool/Camp, WOW, Day Camp, Tween Adventure Camp, and Aquatics programs. Some sites\nare full and space is filling quickly!\nInterviewing for Summer Recreation Leaders will begin soon, and interested individuals can apply\nNOW through the ARPD's website, under the Employment tab. ARPD is the place to be this summer!\nPicnic areas are now available to rent online\nThe adult softball league is starting with registration available as of April 16.\nMastick Senior Center\nWe are now offering an in person, outdoor Line Dancing class and outdoor Hula class. Mastick\nis working to create outdoor classrooms to host more of these classes.\nSeveral projects were completed recently including replacing mirrors in the dance room,\nevaluating and pruning trees plus leveling and overhaul of the Bocce courts. The front walkway\nimprovement project will also be underway soon.\nAARP Tax-Aide Program has been extended through May 11. Starting next week, four\ncounselors will be onsite processing taxes in real time while clients wait in their car or\noutdoors. Safety protocols are in place.\nA Vaccine Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, April 17 at Mastick Senior Center Social Hall - by\nappointment only. There are 300 doses of the J & J vaccine.\nA Pickleball Tournament is scheduled for Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24.\nPark Maintenance\nAll pathway lights were replaced at Woodstock Park with LED fixtures.", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2021-04-08.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2021-04-08", "page": 6, "text": "Parks and Public Works are coordinating to install new lighting fixtures along Shoreline Park starting\nat the Bay Farm Bridge. Our next project will be to replace the asphalt pathway along major sections\nof this linear trail park.\nThe Bayport Park playground replacement project starts this week and completion is anticipated by\nmid-June.\nThere's a lot of improvements happening at Grand Street Boat Ramp. Staff is converting the\nlandscape to drip irrigation and drought tolerant landscaping. We are finalizing permits to replace the\ngangway and docks on the east side with plans to replace the middle dock later this year.\nThe Alameda Point Waterfront Park is now under construction.\nThe Alameda Point Neighborhood Park is now open to the public!\nNigel Lewis was hired as the Parks Foreperson. This was a promotion for him and we're excited to\nhave him as part of the Parks administrative team!\nAdministration/ Projects\nThis week the Mayor made two nominations for the Recreation and Parks Commission - Philly Jones\nand Alice Nguyen. If confirmed by a vote of the City Council on 4/20 then they will join the\nCommission for its May meeting.\nGodfrey Park Recreation Center construction this summer - replacing existing restrooms with three\ngender neutral restrooms, one of which is ADA accessible plus interior improvements such as\npainting.\nLeydecker Park Recreation Center current construction to install drainage between the facility and\nthe baseball field. Currently, there is water intrusion during major storms and this drainage will\nprevent that. Upcoming construction plans to improve the restrooms at the center.\nAlameda Point Gym restroom construction is underway and is estimated to be completed by the end\nof June. This project includes installation of a new modular restroom with eight gender neutral, ADA\nunits, two of which are open to the public for skate park users. The other six are intended for the gym\nusers.\nGolf Commission is reviewing a concept for improving the old fire training tower at the entry to Corica\nPark, funded by Greenway Golf.", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2021-04-08.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2021-04-08", "page": 7, "text": "Exhibit 2\nRECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION\nExhibit 2 for Minutes 4-8-2021\nAdditional Public Comments that were not included\non the 4/8/2021 Item 6-B Agenda\nReceive Status Update and Provide Direction on the\nChochenyo Park Play Area", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2021-04-08.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2021-04-08", "page": 8, "text": "Amy Wooldridge\nFrom:\nMeredith Hoskin <meredithmawilliams@gmail.com>\nSent:\nThursday, April 8, 2021 5:15 PM\nTo:\nAmy Wooldridge\nSubject:\n[EXTERNAL] Item 6-B: Feedback on Chochenyo Park Play Area Design - April 8\nHi Amy,\nAs an Alameda resident that lives close to Chochenyo Park, I want to share my support for the new design for the play\narea, specifically the wood train structures.\nI appreciate how the design maintains the natural aesthetic of the park while giving kids a specific area to climb and\nplay, which will make the park even more welcoming and inclusive of young families in Alameda - particularly the\nneighboring families who aren't able to travel far for a play area. Using tree stumps and small wood structures for\nclimbing, and the fun theme of trains will definitely be enjoyed by our family.\nOverall, I feel this design of the new play area would be a positive development to the park for local families that won't\ncompromise the longtime historical value that so many have enjoyed with the park over the years.\nAs a frequent visitor to the park, I can't wait to walk over and have a fun area for my kids to play - making the park a\nwelcoming space for our community and generations to come.\nThank you,\nMeredith\nMeredith Hoskin\n1", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2021-04-08.pdf"}
{"body": "RecreationandParkCommission", "date": "2021-04-08", "page": 9, "text": "Amy Wooldridge\nFrom:\nKate Fayngersh <kate.fayn@gmail.com>\nSent:\nThursday, April 8, 2021 5:38 PM\nTo:\nAmy Wooldridge\nSubject:\n[EXTERNAL] Chochenyo Park Playground proposal\nHi Amy,\nMy husband and I live close to Chochenyo Park with our three young children. I want to share\nour support for the design for the new natural play area and Ohlone tribute.\nWe moved to Alameda because of the small town vibe, the many families with children, and the\ndiversity. We go to Chochenyo Park daily with some combination of one or all of our kids. I\nbelieve that the changes proposed in the new design create a hub that may serve as a common\nplace for local families to gather. The elegant design fits in well with the natural, peaceful appeal\nof the park, while remaining simple enough to where it is unlikely to appeal to families who\nwould drive and create traffic/parking issues in the area. I believe spending so much time in this\npark will be a wonderful opportunity to educate my children about the Ohlone people and the\nrich history of the land the park resides on.\nIn summary, I strongly support the proposed tribute and play area designs, and look forward to\nthem deepening the sense of community and respect for the indigenous tribe.\nThanks,\nKate\n1", "path": "RecreationandParkCommission/2021-04-08.pdf"}