[0:04] All right. Good evening everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the

[0:07] pickle weed advisory committee meeting of August 5th, 2026. The time is 7:07

[0:14] p.m. And Becky, will you please call us?

[0:23] Oh, you're muted, Becky. Haven't

[0:31] done that in a while, huh? All right. Uh, member Arbit

[0:36] » here. >> Okay. Um, let's see. Let me get my order

[0:40] here. Um, member Campos >> here.

[0:45] » Member Newan.

[0:49] » No. >> No. Okay. Member Ruez

[0:52] » here. >> Member Sprag is absent. Uh, member

[0:57] Tanchez is also absent and then member Vasquez

[1:01] » here. >> All right. Thank you.

[1:04] » All right. So, I'm going to call the first agenda

[1:09] item here, which will be approval of the regular meeting minutes from June 3rd,

[1:14] 2026. And I'd invite any questions um from committee members to staff about

[1:19] minutes.

[1:23] No questions. So, if there's no questions, then I'd

[1:27] request a motion and a second to minutes for June 3rd. 6

[1:35] motion. >> Yeah. Second, Becky, did you catch that?

[1:39] » Yes, I did. I didn't catch the second. I'm sorry.

[1:44] » Member Arbit. >> Oh, who motioned? I thought member Arbit

[1:47] was seconded. >> Member.

[1:49] » Oh, gotcha. Thank you. All right. Uh, member Arbit.

[1:54] » Yes. Member Campos. >> Yes.

[1:57] » Member Ruez. >> Yes.

[1:59] » And member Vasquez. >> Yes.

[2:02] » All right. Motion approved. Thank you.

[2:06] » All right. This is fun for me. I don't I don't normally get to facilitate the

[2:10] meetings, so I'm I'm loving it. So, this is just reminder meeting to the public.

[2:15] Public's welcome to address the committee at this time. Is anyone here

[2:19] from the public that would like to speak? They have up to two minutes. I

[2:22] know we have some presenters that are here this evening, but if there's

[2:26] anything not on the agenda that anyone would like to share or discuss, this

[2:30] would be the time to do so.

[2:34] Not seeing anyone, I am going to close the public comments, which means we can

[2:42] move to what we have on the agenda this evening. And before I get to that, I

[2:47] just want to say it's great to see you all. Thanks for being here tonight. Um

[2:50] I'm Craig Barman, the assistant library and recreation director and kind of

[2:54] filling in this evening. Uh and we have two items that are on the agenda this

[2:59] evening. We have two co-sponsorship applications that are before you. Uh we

[3:03] have one with Brail Canal and then another with Canal SC. And we're going

[3:07] to we're going to start with you. So I'm going to go ahead and turn it over to

[3:10] you to um introduce yourselves and then uh share what you'd like to share about

[3:14] your application. >> Great.

[3:17] My name is Yafari and I'm one of the co-founders and co-directors of Dil

[3:23] and

[3:29] thank you so much for being here. So >> I just would like to say briefly that

[3:34] last year was our first year here and uh we loved being here. We thought that it

[3:42] was a really our place to be in the midst of uh the the community and also

[3:49] the the the many many services and partners that um that uh make this their

[3:57] home. >> I'll share just a little bit of

[4:01] information just for context about process. I know you're all familiar with

[4:05] our co-sponsorship process, but uh PA system canal provides youth and families

[4:11] access to community programs um they need to overcome barriers of thrive,

[4:15] empowering them to realize their full potential as residents of Mur County. So

[4:20] the term of this proposed youth after school program is from September of this

[4:25] year through June of 2027 um with breaks during the school

[4:30] holidays. Um the program's requesting a full e-waver, which would be valued at

[4:35] $11,781 for use of the teen room, um Monday

[4:40] through Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. So this would be a Monday through

[4:44] Friday youth after school program at that time period. So the facility

[4:49] advisory committee has the authority to co-sponsor activities at the board

[4:53] community center as you know and the committee the committee may grant um a

[4:58] fee reduction a whole fee waiver or may request additional information at your

[5:02] discretion. Um staff are recommending this. We we feel that this program

[5:07] really does align with the values of the community. um the types of programs that

[5:11] we want to see are blended overall and mix of programs that are offered in the

[5:16] community and we are recommending a 100% fever for this type of a program. Um I

[5:22] mentioned the value of that program I think just as a reminder with all of our

[5:25] sponsorships that's representative of what our standard fees would be if

[5:29] someone were to rent a facility. It's not a loss of the city. Uh it just

[5:34] represents what the value of that would be. Um, we have the authority as a city

[5:38] to approve up to $168,000 of total fee wavers. So, this would be

[5:44] kind of considered as part of that rule for the calendar year. Um, we are not

[5:48] close to that threshold at this point in time. So, we do still have room to

[5:52] co-sponsorships at this point. Uh, and so, yeah, I think staff are are

[5:56] supportive of this. I think uh we've seen great programming system and we

[6:01] would be supported. Anything else that you'd like to add or

[6:05] share? I know you had a video that you wanted to share.

[6:08] » In the video, you will see u um our first annual reading festival that

[6:15] concluded our yearly program and uh it took place on June 13. And we also um um

[6:25] also are requesting that this this will be a yearly meeting, a yearly event that

[6:33] would be co-sponsorally. >> That's correct.

[6:38] » And I'd also just I'd remind the committee members that there was a full

[6:43] um co-sponsorship application that was submitted. it was attached to the agenda

[6:47] that has a lot more detail and information that was provided by the

[6:51] group. Um, with all of our co-sponsorships, we do require some kind

[6:56] of metrics and tracking to make sure that the programs are uh that they

[7:01] qualify, that they're eligible. Staff have already reviewed and feel that this

[7:04] program is eligible for co-sponsorship. Uh, and so there are some requirements

[7:09] to report out as well as part of the overall program. So, all that

[7:13] information is in the application that was sent out as part of the agenda

[7:18] packet. Just a reminder, all of that is being

[7:23] uh if you'd like, I can share that video. Try and pull that up. We'll see

[7:26] if I if I'm techsavvy enough to make that happen.

[7:30] » Thank you. See?

[7:36] And then Becky, I'll request that let us know if you can hear this on your

[7:42] end, too.

[7:50] I don't know how loud this will be. Not loud at all.

[7:56] Becky, can you hear anything on your end?

[7:58] » No.

[8:01] See

[8:10] is this um screen share? >> It is.

[8:13] » Okay. Sometimes with videos we have to do the

[8:18] advanced screen share. Um

[8:24] share computers. Let's try that.

[8:31] » [music] >> We can't hear it on our end.

[8:34] » I can hear it very loud on my end. [laughter]

[8:36] » Okay. Interesting.

[8:47] [music] >> We still can't hear it on our end.

[8:50] Wow. >> Um, any other tips or tricks? Yeah, but

[8:55] I think if we stop the share uh stop the screen share and then go to

[9:01] um where the share gives you the features on the side. Let's see. Share

[9:05] settings. Um

[9:11] should be an option for advanced screen share. There's advanced down there. Yes.

[9:15] Okay. And then when we go to advance, we scroll down.

[9:25] That that was all that it allowed. >> Yeah, it's all showing right now. Becky,

[9:28] I'm gonna try to just play the video on our screen without

[9:31] » Yeah, that's fine. I think Christiey's done that in the past. Um

[9:36] » where you are all able to hear it, but I wasn't able to.

[9:40] » Try that. Let's play it web if I can.

[9:57] here

[10:03] try

[10:11] ideas you let me try I'm happy to make that happen but I know there's audio so

[10:16] you could hear it Yeah. Um, no, we can also uh play it for the committee from

[10:23] uh my laptop or from your laptop. I was going to try to do that as well.

[10:26] » Oh, perfect.

[10:33] » All right. Un unconventional, but I'm going to play it from here.

[10:42] » Thank you.

[10:48] Love

[10:58] to go

[11:13] museum.

[11:16] And they

[11:22] always seem to go

[11:38] to

[11:50] What you thought

[12:14] ended here. I I started this after an event, but

[12:20] you all saw it, right? Great. Great.

[12:27] » All right.

[12:32] But at this event, we were able to have over 200 community members join us. And

[12:37] it was uh an event that really was super successful in the outreach and in the

[12:42] education information people received that it was a really feel-good time for

[12:46] everyone and a lot of joy. >> Yes. I I think um also a lot of

[12:53] information that um that the community appreciated and uh

[13:01] and um gives plants so that everyone can start their own uh uh pot or garden or

[13:12] add to it. That's one of our main living objects with resident.

[13:19] Um I want I'm going to open up to questions and then if I were if you can

[13:22] share a little more about the actual program who participates in the program

[13:28] how many participants typically participate on a day basis and share a

[13:33] little bit about the team that works some type of programs.

[13:39] » Um in terms of participation we have uh kids from different schools

[13:46] participating. We have uh chosen from Santo

[13:54] some so some of the couple of of um girls from No school made their way to

[14:04] our throne. In addition to those schools of course we used we have we have uh

[14:10] children from Bayista who bista um I think is our main um school. I would say

[14:21] it's because of how close they are and the

[14:28] the children and we have relationship with them.

[14:37] Um so um we have different uh opportunity

[14:43] dates in during the week but um we do the pick up at Bayista at 2:45 and we we

[14:52] um bring the children here. Uh we start with um with reading and meditation to

[14:59] calm everybody down and then start with reading and homework help and then go to

[15:06] the program. On Mondays we do um sewing or uh by hand or by um with the machine.

[15:17] Um and the reason one of the reasons we have chosen the sewing is because any

[15:24] activity that has to do with with your hands uh immediately brings um brings

[15:30] the the person whether children or adult um you have to lose your your hands uh

[15:41] and the brain cannot do two things at the same time. you cannot focus on begin

[15:46] and and be thinking about you know what's for dinner uh it's you are there

[15:52] present at the moment um on Tuesday we focus uh on literacy and also health

[16:03] and we have the opportunity to um engage with with uh the children almost on a

[16:10] onetoone basis to assess the literacy needs And so we are able to um to

[16:16] articulate a plan to help um that child in whatever needs they they have. Um

[16:26] uh several of our of our uh participants um were um behind in their reading and

[16:38] um six months um down the road. uh they were uh able to not only uh be the

[16:47] outreing level but uh many excel in work on on their um uh best readers group and

[16:58] and the same is true for homework help and

[17:03] um famil development and

[17:08] it's like that um on Wednesdays we do we have um different um it's like um

[17:19] miscellaneous day we did um for instance uh sneakers

[17:26] or our we have done

[17:34] art, you know, um poetry or reading or

[17:42] um on Thursday we do environmental

[17:46] education and Fridays we do hands on um work with the children department. So,

[17:52] we have five cards uh including one at Bayan that we um were able to

[18:01] to build this past year from February. And um it was a education experience for

[18:10] for the children uh from the program but also for all the children at school

[18:18] because it was at the entrance of of the school. And everybody would see um know

[18:25] the the plants um uh just growing and um seeds coming along and the first spoons

[18:35] and things like that until the garden we developed into a a fullfledged garden.

[18:42] And so the um the administrators of school um are very very content with

[18:50] that very happy So we are um really establishing a very good relationship

[18:56] with them and uh um once uh once a month on on Saturday we do a service day.

[19:08] So we we gather the families, the children and the adults so that um it's

[19:16] an opportunity for the families to have a um um an activity with their children

[19:24] outside in nature free of charge. So they don't have to pay, they don't have

[19:30] to buy anything to to be with their children. So um that has been also a

[19:36] very good experience for the families that that um at the beginning they were

[19:43] questioning oh my s or something like that but but the children are so uh into

[19:50] it that they are the parents and the parents then don't realize oh this is

[19:56] something that my child really enjoys and also they have left to enjoy.

[20:03] So that sounds more or less what kind of things.

[20:10] » And how many participants? >> Um we have had um 12 um participants. Um

[20:21] uh 14 participants. Um so our ranges is um uh 12 to 15.

[20:31] Yeah. >> And my last question is, how is this

[20:35] program funded besides this co-sponsorship? How how do you receive

[20:39] funding to help support this program? And are there any fees for participants

[20:43] to come to the program? >> Yes, of course. Um, so we're actually a

[20:48] program that has no fees for any participants and we make a point to

[20:52] remove all the barriers to entry and all the financial obstacles. We fund raise

[20:56] all the costs up front and offer uh the spaces for free, the programming for

[21:01] free and on a year- round basis. And we are funded by different community

[21:06] foundations, government grants at a county level, and we're definitely

[21:11] applying for different grants at state level and federal level. And so we

[21:16] currently have funding mainly for foundations and county support.

[21:20] » Just want to say congrats to you. I know that you just received a 501c3. Thank

[21:24] you. status and that's one of the reasons that this um report is coming

[21:28] now I said maybe earlier in the year is because you want to wait until fewer so

[21:33] congratulations on that I know that's a milestone developing services thank you

[21:38] so much and thank you for the advisory committee and like my said we really

[21:42] found a home here and it's great to feel like we have a place where we have the

[21:46] support and the community likes this spot so it's a great fit and we look

[21:50] forward to years of future more great festivals and programing that we'll hold

[21:54] here. >> Well, with that, I would open it up to

[21:59] questions from the community members. >> Yeah.

[22:03] » So, it sounds like a great program, but I'm really questioning the number of

[22:07] participants. Remember, if you have 12 to 15 participants, that's a lot of fun

[22:12] that you're asking for and that you're getting. And it seemed more like it's

[22:16] almost like they had a daycare for these kids rather than a community program.

[22:23] and I see where it's provided by the community, but still it seems like

[22:28] that's a very small number. >> So, I'm wondering about that.

[22:34] » Um, we plan to expand. >> Yes. Yes.

[22:38] » When it Yeah. And as we speak, we are um um uh we will be in talks with with

[22:48] Bayista in fact and they have invited us to their staff meeting on the first day

[22:54] and so uh to talk to uh the the staff about the program uh to start our

[23:00] referral system. >> Do you have the same students five days

[23:05] a week? uh mostly. Um so we we do have students

[23:13] five days a week because it is a a program that um uh it's a leadership

[23:20] program. And so our our activities um work hand in hand together

[23:28] um to to develop that that leadership um of the students. And um we are very

[23:36] pleased that uh last year we we did accomplish that. our uh our students

[23:44] some of our well our students um were shown in the um in the video they were

[23:50] wearing the the t-shirt and and they are the ones uh sometimes leading the adults

[23:56] in the families or or or or asking other people to um to uh come and see um what

[24:05] they have created uh through the year

[24:08] » and their ages. their ages. Um, we service uh first grade through fifth

[24:15] year to fifth grade. So, six and up. >> Six and up. 15 at the most.

[24:22] » Yes. >> But we do have um do you mind? We do

[24:26] have um certain limitations. Currently, we're housed the teen room that has a

[24:30] capacity limit that we can't go beyond. So,

[24:34] » that limit is actually uh I believe >> 18.

[24:37] » Yeah. 18. So we have to have enough staff per kids and have room for

[24:41] volunteers. And so we really have a limitation there.

[24:45] » It doesn't allow us to even expand more even if we wanted to. So

[24:49] » what is your staff per child? >> So currently we have volunteers and we

[24:53] have two staff. So we really have a 1 to six kind of ratio, sometimes even 1:5

[24:59] ratio. And so, well, what I would just push back on saying we're kind of like a

[25:03] daycare is that we take the time and attention in this youth leadership

[25:06] program and environmental education program to ensure that all the kids are

[25:10] getting that attention that they need on all these different subjects. But at the

[25:16] end of the day, we are a youth leadership development program that also

[25:20] offers after school programming as well as all of our other programming. And

[25:23] this is a real base for us. As Mate said, it has allowed us to build the

[25:28] relationships from here with Bay Vista with community members from our home

[25:33] base here. So we do actually reach so many more community members than just

[25:37] our after school programming. For example, 200 plus unduplicated community

[25:41] members at an event. Our Minga events can get up to 50 people on popular

[25:46] Saturdays. And we're canvasing in the community, reaching 2,000 plus people

[25:51] every year that are canvasing, door to door camping. And so I would just not

[25:56] focus just on who's coming to the after school programming with the impact that

[26:00] canal canal is having from this location with the support that you guys have

[26:04] given us because in these years that we've been here we have grown and we are

[26:08] on a good trajectory and we look forward to that support taking us to the next

[26:12] level whether it's expanding to a bigger room here or even keeping our teen room

[26:17] but having more offerings within the community uh with your support and with

[26:21] the support of our sponsors Would you apply for a larger room?

[26:26] » So where is the kind of what I'm getting you're saying

[26:30] is that you're limited by the space you get here.

[26:34] » So why not ask for more space, >> right? Well, it's our first so just I'll

[26:39] just give you a quick answer and I appreciate your questions. Um, so for

[26:43] us, we've just become a 501c3 and so we've gone from being incubated as

[26:49] fiscally sponsored project to a 501c3 on quite an accelerated timeline. And for

[26:53] us, we're actually going methodically and looking to expand to that room. But

[26:57] this is our first time as a 51c3. So we wanted to keep some stability in our

[27:01] programming as we go through that transition. And then once we can

[27:05] continue through one more year, we would like to apply to a larger room. Of

[27:09] course, we also have fiscal restraints and financial restraints that all

[27:13] nonprofits, especially small grassroots nonprofits like ourselves are dealing

[27:17] with in these years where budget cuts are coming from federal, state and local

[27:22] level, even from some of our supporters. And we have to deal with this reality.

[27:26] So, we do want to scale, but methodically and in a healthy way that

[27:32] is sustainable for ourselves and our community members. Okay. And can you

[27:35] also explain if you have from first grade to fifth grade?

[27:40] » Yes. >> I there's a lot difference between a

[27:42] first grader and you only have two staff. How do you

[27:48] divide that? How do you work? How did everybody get included in that spread

[27:53] immediately? Kids who are like you know sisters or brothers who are one class

[27:57] apart. So how does that work? I mean you can do

[28:02] that over three hours a day. >> Yeah. Yes.

[28:06] » And and that is um also part of our leadership um uh program. The the older

[28:16] kids become the mentors of of the younger ones. And so um the same goes

[28:24] for our monthly uh gathering on a Saturday. that Yavar was mentioning some

[28:29] of our gatherings go no up to 50 uh 50 people and that means that um all the

[28:38] the family members of that particular child come in a company. So that means

[28:44] that three siblings or four siblings or two siblings and one parent or or

[28:50] cousins. And so uh that is part of our uh leadership um program as to no uh

[29:00] have the the family included but um also have the older uh children be the role

[29:09] models of the younger ones. But then you would have several siblings from the

[29:16] same family attending. >> Yes.

[29:18] » So of the 15 maximum that you have we could have two or three siblings

[29:24] » sometimes. Yes. Yes. We at at times we had we have had um uh siblings. Yes.

[29:31] » Can I can I just share and add I think you know from the city's perspective a

[29:35] couple have comments or thoughts on this thing. One is um you know for the tina

[29:40] room that is a maximum maximum space of about 18 people that

[29:45] could accommodate that room. So, we actually view that as a really excellent

[29:48] utilization rate for that room and for that amount of space. Having that number

[29:53] of of students and staff in there seems very appropriate for the room. Um, and

[29:58] you know the I was just I'm reminding again about like the value of that

[30:02] really isn't a cost to us. I mean, it's not we're not giving money to basically

[30:07] canal. truly it's it would be potential loss or trading if someone were rented

[30:12] during that time. So I just want to make sure that that's clear. Um I think the

[30:15] the second part a couple questions about like childare broadly speaking being

[30:20] sandfell there is a need for afterchool programs there is strong demand and not

[30:27] enough service providers um that are offering after school programming for

[30:31] the whole gamut from TK all the way up through um fifth grade and in middle

[30:38] school and beyond. We know that there's a need for these programs and so um we

[30:43] as a city participate in a group called the early learning for the canal

[30:46] neighborhood Belcan as well as canal promise. Um we have our big preschool

[30:52] right next door. Um we're trying to do everything we can to really understand

[30:55] how can we as a community provide better afterchool programming for for kids of

[31:01] every age range. And um some of the the things that are coming out from these

[31:05] groups are talking about this is that we just need more we need more programs. We

[31:09] need more inhome care. We need more centerbased care. Anything we can do as

[31:14] a community to provide more opportunities for youth development and

[31:18] leadership is going to be very very helpful. So even though I'm kind of

[31:23] hearing some comments about how, you know, this may only serve a small number

[31:26] of kids, that small number of kids, they may not have another option otherwise in

[31:31] the community without programs like this.

[31:33] The other thing I um I wanted to mention with regards to um siblings, you know,

[31:40] for our pickle preschool program and the Parkside preschool across town, that's

[31:44] actually a really important consideration for us as youth program

[31:47] providers that many families really do need care for siblings in one program

[31:54] because otherwise they'd be looking at pickup and drop off in multiple

[31:58] different locations which can be a huge burden for families. And so the ability

[32:03] to accommodate siblings in one program is often times a really important

[32:07] consideration for program providers and something that we actually um give

[32:12] priority to siblings in our programs if if there's already someone enrolled.

[32:17] They would be higher on our weight list because we know how important that is

[32:20] for family dynamics. So it's kind of share that perspective. So let me

[32:24] clarify. So what we're voting on only is the use the value of the use of the

[32:29] space. >> Yeah. So your your decision in front of

[32:32] you tonight would be whether to offer um a fee waiver um or reduction for this

[32:38] program. Typically we would um require groups to rent space. Um so this group

[32:43] is requesting a fee reduction or waiver for use of that space to help them offer

[32:48] this type of >> and the space used for you said it's the

[32:52] team. I would think that after school for teens would be their name for it.

[32:56] » It's it's it you know the names of these rooms are holdovers from probably 2004

[33:02] when it was um renovated. That has historically been the name of the room,

[33:06] but really it's it's another multi-purpose room just like this one.

[33:09] It can get used for for anything. Right now we don't have any other competing

[33:14] demand. So this request would not offset any other usage right now for that room.

[33:20] It would really just be if someone were to come in and ask for the rental to

[33:25] revisit it. I think you're right. We need team programming in this community.

[33:29] That's something that our city staff team has talked about extensively. Um

[33:33] it's hard that's a hard program area to try to create programs that bring teams

[33:38] in that they want to engage in. And maybe this can obviously can speak a

[33:42] little more to that too moving forward, but you know, sports is is a big one.

[33:46] Um, I think that, uh, having things that draw people in, um, is a big part of

[33:51] that. Right now, if you go to the teen room, there's not a lot in there that

[33:54] teens are going to be interested in. So, >> yeah, teens would love to learn how to

[33:58] sew. They love learn how to manage to cook and to plant. Teams make these

[34:03] things, too. >> And we do have a uh volunteer aspect.

[34:06] And so part of the leadership that we provide is also opportunities for high

[34:10] school and middle school students to be mentors, volunteers to come to different

[34:15] days that day when they're speaking with them. So we do have that opening.

[34:18] They're also eligible to come to our Saturday planting and community service

[34:22] events. So we have an a whole aspect. We also have success in kids graduating out

[34:27] of our program as the leaders becoming volunteers,

[34:32] interns, and being interested in working with us. So we do have kids that really

[34:37] maintain an interest in this program as they grow. Our goal with Raises is that

[34:42] a kid would stay with us all the way until adulthood because they would be a

[34:45] community member that understands the merits of the program, the movement and

[34:49] what we're trying to do here. So we really think that our last years here

[34:54] showed that we offer a lot of value to this community, disproportionate value

[34:58] to this community because from this teen room we're able to provide all the

[35:03] things that we outlined. So, we would really appreciate your support and we

[35:07] think that we would really be able to double down on all of our successes and

[35:11] have another great year and hopefully come back to this next meeting with you

[35:15] as an ally and a supporter and a lot of your questions answered. And so, I'm

[35:19] very interested in uh in advocating for your support, Ellen.

[35:25] » Also, this Saturday, do you need space here on Saturday?

[35:28] » We are hosted at BF on Saturday at the school.

[35:31] » Okay. Now, what about the big you said you had this big annual party?

[35:35] » Yes. >> That was the the

[35:39] » That was here. >> Okay. So, is that included now? $11,000.

[35:42] » No, that's another um last time with Christie. We did it separately. We spoke

[35:48] to Christie about it and told her the date and then we worked together. She we

[35:54] had a couple planning days with her and then it was hosted here. Yeah, that was

[35:59] a for us that was a very low impact event that did not have any other offer

[36:04] programming. So, we actually don't co-sponsor that as a city sponsored

[36:07] event. So I I think maybe my question for most

[36:11] of the it seems as I said seems like a private day here

[36:16] after school especially 15 and there's two two staff and all these volunteers

[36:22] and it has to be expanded in age wise because teenagers need something to

[36:27] learn to the teen ro so I guess I was going very

[36:33] my question thank you for your answer >> thank you

[36:37] other questions.

[36:41] Uh, I'm just curious. Um, do you get like any like CPR training or

[36:47] visit a medical emergency? That's something.

[36:52] » Um, no, we haven't. Um, we haven't got that. But that's a an excellent

[36:58] uh idea.

[37:02] long long time ago. I be entertaining, but we've done we've done CPR trainings.

[37:07] So, we've done CPR trainings uh as colleagues and so I think we would be

[37:11] good to renew. Um but we we've done CPR trainings and gone through certain

[37:16] trades together, but you're right, these should always be renewed and checked up

[37:19] on. So, I think we're due for a CPR training.

[37:32] questions.

[37:36] » Well, uh, if there are no other questions and I think at this point I'd

[37:39] open it up to any public comment. >> Well, I will say that programs like

[37:45] these are critical for the community as mentioned is a huge need after program

[37:53] like this. So I really encourage you to consider the support because we will

[37:59] need it and it's not going to be a single response for this need. We need

[38:04] cross sector respond city no profits philanthropy

[38:10] private sector and putting all that together is not easy. So I really

[38:16] appreciate you what you guys did for the community and think in my scene is small

[38:20] in a scale that is a key contribution to the the bigger efforts that many of the

[38:25] system. So thank you all

[38:33] that children would learn these skills in some of the other programs ahead of

[38:38] boulder at our community center. is like say eight um rather than five or

[38:46] six years old. Do they have other classes here where

[38:50] they can learn the same things just at a different time?

[38:55] I think I think we're one of the I wouldn't want to speak about you know

[39:00] the curriculum of other programs because I'm sure they have aspects but we really

[39:04] do have a focus on youth environmental leadership and our focus entails a

[39:10] cultural sensitivity with Latino youth and families here in the canal. We have

[39:14] a cultural aspect to our programs and as Mel was outlining our weekly schedule

[39:19] and programming, the sewing program, the upcycle program, the uh art, the

[39:24] environmental education, the literacy, the books, everything is culturally

[39:28] sensitive, a bilingual program that we can service kids that are speaking

[39:33] Spanish, English or both. And we really do focus on these details and these

[39:38] aspects. And that's what we think is a unique aspect of our program that

[39:42] throughout the whole curriculum you have these values that we try to focus in on.

[39:47] So um I don't think currently that there's another program of another age

[39:51] group that we could say is a parallel program. But like we've said, we are

[39:55] interested in expanding to a larger room, having more mentors of other ages,

[40:00] more middle school and high school teens involved as the mentors and volunteers

[40:05] for community service hours for the letters of recommendation for college

[40:09] and for just the benefits that they get as community members and all the

[40:12] positives you get when you give back to youth and youth programming. Um, and

[40:17] we've had great reviews from people that come and volunteer with us. They're

[40:20] delighted to be helping the young kids that look like them, that have a similar

[40:24] experience to them. We have a board member that was in my test programs as a

[40:29] kid right now that was an intern with us and a staff with us when we had the

[40:34] budget and was a youth in the programs that I remember as a kid in the program.

[40:38] So, it's just a testament to that we're we're really interested in long-term

[40:43] development of these kids. And if if our program right now is focusing on the

[40:48] younger age group, it's not because that's all we want to focus on. It's

[40:52] because that's what the strength is focusing on now because of where we see

[40:55] the greatest need. But we do have a plan to expand to those other aid groups and

[41:00] get those teens in the teen room. >> We also have that the music programm

[41:08] after school programs and so on. And I'm I'm just wondering how many of those

[41:12] students are going to stay in this program and go on to those programs,

[41:16] drop out of the leadership and go into personal interest and

[41:20] » well just wondering how do we know

[41:24] » there there are many children that go without any programming like were saying

[41:30] so uh there's no shortage of of kids to go into different programs um but the

[41:38] » you stay those set of programs also.

[41:42] » No, not necessarily. Um, you know, different different children go to the

[41:48] music program. Uh, there are more than 3,000 uh children ages 5 to 18 and

[41:56] there's no not enough programming or or after school programming to go around

[42:02] for everybody. So, the the more the marrier. when she's talking about the

[42:08] the camping and the scouting which is fabulous and teaches leadership also. So

[42:14] I don't know how to I don't think

[42:18] » well again I'll just remind that you know what's in front of us right now is

[42:22] a is a request for this specific program that doesn't preclude us from you know

[42:26] exploring other types of programs moving forward but I would just reiterate that

[42:30] I I think this is a needed program and one of the reasons at a staff level that

[42:34] we are recommending approval of this is because we do see this as a need for in

[42:40] our community. >> Great.

[42:43] » Yep. And I think with that and so, you know, we we had public comment. So, I'm

[42:46] going to bring it back to uh where we typically go, which would be to request

[42:51] a a vote on this this matter or request a a motion and a second actually is what

[42:57] I would be um looking for here.

[43:04] » Motions. I'll second.

[43:09] » Thank you, Becky. Did you catch that? I did. Thank you. Uh, member Arbit.

[43:14] » Okay. Member Campos. >> Yes.

[43:17] » Member Ruez. >> Yes.

[43:19] » And member Vasquez. >> Yes.

[43:22] » All right. Motion approved. Thank you. >> Okay.

[43:26] » Thank you. So, you're welcome to stay. You're also welcome to go if you need

[43:30] to. Thanks. Thank you for being here. >> Thank you so much.

[43:39] Yeah. Park somewhere we shouldn't depart.

[43:43] » Thank you so much. Thank you so much everybody.

[43:47] » Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good to see you.

[43:52] » Yeah. And then we'll be in touch too. It's really great to put new places

[43:55] together. Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much.

[43:57] » Great. Thank you Greg. This Thank you. >> All right. And so with that, we are

[44:03] going to move on to the second item on our agenda.

[44:10] I'm going to welcome some representatives here from Canal SC. I'm

[44:14] going to let you introduce yourselves here and then I might share a couple

[44:17] words about the application and then we can have discussion.

[44:22] » Well, hello everyone. Uh my name is Nico Carrera. I met some of you guys earlier

[44:26] this year. Um, I am one of the staff members of Canalc. I wear a couple of

[44:32] hats. I'm one of the coaches of Canalc, but I also work in the administrative

[44:37] side, logistics as well to make sure that this program runs smoothly.

[44:41] And hello, how are you? My name is Omar. I'm the CEO of Canal Alliance. Also, I'm

[44:46] here as an advisory board. I'm a member of an advisory board for Canalc. So, we

[44:52] can see Canal Alliance is the responsibility.

[44:57] So thank you for for being here. Um the reason we asked you to come back this

[45:02] evening is you may recall u has already submitted a post sponsorship application

[45:08] which came your way earlier this year. Um we you also know that we recently um

[45:16] put a lot of work into pickle weed fields and I think as um we're now

[45:22] seeing demand increase for the fields we wanted to pause before we approved the

[45:27] full year of co-sponsorships so we could better understand the seasonality of the

[45:31] requests coming our way. So what was approved um for Canelc's co-sponsorship

[45:37] originally took us through the spring season. I believe that that

[45:40] co-sponsorship ended at the end of May 2026. Um, and now we're looking at a

[45:47] co-sponsorship request for the the fall winter season. Um, so that is why why uh

[45:55] Canel is back this evening. That was a a kind of decision on our part to really

[45:59] just be thoughtful about how we approve these requests. Um, I wanted to share I

[46:04] think right now one of the things that we're doing is we're taking a look at

[46:08] the seasonality of field allocation and trying to make sure that we're reviewing

[46:14] these requests in a way that that makes sense. That is going to help um groups

[46:18] plan um enough time in advance but not so far in advance that you can't really

[46:24] tell how many participants they need, how many fields, what field space. So,

[46:28] we've been having recent discussions about that process on our end and I

[46:33] think we are honing that in. We're also taking a look at our field allocation

[46:38] and policy procedures, the rules for the field to make sure that um those match

[46:43] with our needs and including our priority allocation schedule, who has

[46:48] priority access to the field. So, that's something that we're anticipating

[46:53] bringing to our park and recognition probably this fall and maybe as soon as

[46:58] this month for our August park and recognition meeting. We're not expecting

[47:02] any dramatic changes, but we want to make sure it's really clear to the

[47:06] community how how we want to prioritize access to the fields. For the city, we

[47:10] want to prioritize um um Sandra residents first and foremost have access

[47:15] to the community. um uh youth programs are important to us. Recreational

[47:20] programs that are free access programs are important to us. Uh but we also know

[47:25] that there's a broad range of programs that uh we want to see happening, you

[47:30] know, including adult programming, competitive programming. We know there's

[47:34] a lot of different ways people get involved in sports. Um and so that's

[47:38] something we're taking. I just kind of want to share that context before we get

[47:42] into uh the canal scene presentation. So with that, um, just a reminder again

[47:50] that this is a request for co-sponsorship for use of the field. Um,

[47:54] I need to remind myself the specific days and times that you're requesting,

[47:58] but you might know off hand before I pull it up. I believe it's Mondays and

[48:03] Wednesdays, uh, as well as, uh, Saturdays and Sundays as well. Um, from

[48:08] Saturdays and Sundays, it's from 8:30 to 12:00 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, I

[48:12] believe, we start at 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. If I'm not mistaken, those are

[48:17] the times that we are allocated for that matches. And

[48:23] so the the again, this would not be a cost to the city. It would just be a a

[48:29] fee waver request. Uh, the value of that request for this season will be $10,624.

[48:37] be based on our current resident nonprofit field rental rates for pickled

[48:41] meat field. Uh and that amount would be in addition to the uh the previously

[48:47] approved fee waiver which was $6,34 for the spring season. Um I I would say,

[48:55] you know, we we do have demand for the field from a lot of groups. I think

[48:59] slightly different from the team room. We do have a lot of groups that are

[49:03] requesting access to the field, but at this point, this this request would not

[49:09] offset in their groups. I think we've been able to find a nice happy home for

[49:14] everyone that has requested field space at this point in time that would align

[49:18] with our priority allocation schedule. So, let's kind of share that context as

[49:22] well. Um, and with that, I know you mentioned

[49:25] you had a slide deck. Would you like me to pull it up on the screen?

[49:27] » Oh, yeah, that would be great. Uh, send it to your email.

[49:30] » Yep. I have that opened here. Let's see if I can share that.

[49:56] » Look. Okay, that looks perfect. All right. Just let me know. Sounds good.

[50:00] Uh, well, first and foremost, thank you so much for letting us be here again.

[50:03] It's a pleasure. Um, we really appreciated your support last time and I

[50:07] just want to give you guys a quick update of what your approval brought to

[50:12] our program in the in the in the spring. Uh, this was the first time that Canal

[50:17] was able to do a full year- round program soccer. Normally, the the the

[50:21] the season for soccer is in the fall. This time we were able to do the spring

[50:26] and the fall which was a big step in not only canalc but uh just soccer in

[50:32] general for recreational programs such as canal. Um during that time we had

[50:37] about 80 kids that participated. Uh and trickling in we went up to about 100

[50:43] kids at the end at May. Uh we were able to have a female team as we promised uh

[50:49] with female staff that were licensed as well as played previously at D2 and D1

[50:56] colleges that brought their experience uh to the girls that we brought in. um

[51:01] as well as the fact as we were also participated in multiple uh tournaments

[51:06] as well such as football with the marine football league and as well as uh

[51:10] friendly games that we were able to make with Cor Madera FC um as well as Santa.

[51:17] Um during this time we were able to uh bring in uh roughly ages from

[51:24] kindergarten all the way up to high school. some of our oldest kids were uh

[51:29] in sophomore years of high school. Um so it was a it was a great success in terms

[51:34] of the continuation of the fall last season. And now we're here to talk about

[51:39] uh the 2026 fall program that we have planned uh which would go to the next

[51:44] slide please.

[51:50] So for the 2026 fall pickle program when this uh slide was created we were

[51:58] expecting 130 plus estimated participants. These individuals would go

[52:02] from TK all the way to 8th grade and we would have about 10 coaching staffs

[52:07] ranges of all terms of qualifications. To this day we have about 120 kids that

[52:13] have already signed up. So 130 is no longer our estimate. We're looking

[52:18] closer to that 200 range. These the majority of these kids are going to be

[52:22] in the TK to sixth grade, but we also have the seventh to eighth grade group

[52:27] as well. Um practices would be uh Monday and Wednesdays from 400 p.m. to 7:00

[52:33] p.m. And games are Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 to 12. Um from this we can

[52:40] have about uh actually it'll be on the next slide. I apologize. Um,

[52:47] from this we want to drive our impact a little bit

[52:53] uh farther away from just our initial 80 kids that we had. And the way that we

[52:57] did that is by partnering with the schools in the Sanfell district. Uh we

[53:02] are currently expanding to San Pedro Elementary and Bajia Vista elementary

[53:06] schools where we'll have afterchool programs there on top of the programs

[53:09] that we have in uh in in pickleweed. And the reason why we're doing this is one,

[53:14] we just need more space. There's uh the incentive is very high and we it's it's

[53:19] just better to be able to have a controlled environment where we're

[53:23] having instead of having 200 kids in Pickle Park, we're able to have a

[53:27] controlled roughly 100 kids at Pickle Park that they have the space to be able

[53:31] to compete, to practice, to be able to scrimmage so that they're preparing for

[53:35] the the season that we have to come. Um, as well as the fact is we're going to

[53:39] have about 50 kids at San Pedro and another 50 kids at Vaya Vista later this

[53:43] uh later this year. Um, but the big honing in on why we really need your

[53:49] support is because we really want to take away that payto-play method. Um, as

[53:53] as you guys know, playing sports in Marin County is a very expensive thing.

[53:58] And that's uh Canal residents don't have the they don't have the finance to be

[54:02] able to go and be able to give their their uh their money to uh programs that

[54:08] are that are uh roughly costing anywhere between what $1,000 to $1,500

[54:14] for the year. And that's just recreational. When you go into

[54:17] competitive, you're looking up to $5,000 of cost um for any competitive soccer

[54:23] that you'll see such as um other other organized competitive sports. For

[54:28] Canalc, our price is $300 for uh for the season. That includes up to August all

[54:36] the way up to November with unlimited scholarship. And we really mean

[54:40] unlimited scholarship. If you only can pay $50, 150 free, you have it as we we

[54:47] do not want to make uh a financial burden to any of these kids. We just

[54:52] want them to play soccer, to be able to develop as a team, instill leadership,

[54:56] and be able to truly enjoy the sport at a high quality level that's no uh lesser

[55:02] than any of the other clubs that Marin provides. Um, and then the other thing

[55:06] that we also want to hone in on is recruiting with inclusion in mind. Um,

[55:12] we had one successful team for for the female uh for the female category. Now

[55:17] we're promising five, potentially more. Uh, this goes all the way to TK, all the

[55:22] way to 8th grade, that we're ensuring that not only do we have enough uh staff

[55:26] members to be able to ensure that this occurs, but also to um make sure that

[55:31] these kids as they develop through TK all the way to 8th grade that they still

[55:35] stay with the same team, they grow as the same team. And we've been but we've

[55:39] also been able to uh give uh our female um uh players the opportunities to go

[55:46] and see professional players play. Last season we were able to take all the

[55:51] girls and their families to the BSC game which is a professional female team here

[55:56] in the Bay Area to go and not only meet the players but also be able to see the

[56:00] game and be able to have an amazing event with their family. and they loved

[56:04] it and they want to come back and want to continue playing the sport. And

[56:08] that's kind of what our our message is to be able to obviously encourage every

[56:12] every player that wants to come in, but also encourage the girls to come and

[56:16] continue to come in and play, but they are also um you know a big part of uh

[56:22] our our plans to be able to expand into recreation for community.

[56:31] And the last thing I want to touch on is that we as Canalc have realized that

[56:37] canal uh soccer is is not the only thing that we can provide for this community.

[56:41] And what what we mean by that is that we want to invest beyond soccer and we want

[56:46] to be able to provide more community outreach to not only the members that

[56:52] play for Canal, but to Canal uh the Canal community itself. A couple of

[56:57] things that we've been able to do is being be able to participate in the

[57:00] National Night Out. Actually, we did that yesterday. That photo on the right

[57:03] is us yesterday over in the National Night Out. We were able to be at the

[57:07] Fruits and Vegetables Festival and also for the the World the World Cup final.

[57:10] We were able to have an event here uh in the multi-purpose room. Uh and we were

[57:16] able to stream the the uh the final of the World Cup to not only the families

[57:22] of the CanalC, but also residents of uh the Canal neighborhood as well. Um, and

[57:27] we also are trying to build bridges across North Bay. What we mean by that

[57:30] is we're trying to partner with other clubs uh around Canal Alliance Canal

[57:35] that see our vision and want to support us. And the way that looks is that they

[57:39] want to compete with us. They want to be able to uh join leagues. For example,

[57:42] Port Madera and Sano, West Marin and Nevada have all are are all going to be

[57:47] competing uh with Canalc in the fall. And this goes from TK all the way to 8th

[57:52] grade that they're able to have opportunities to play other clubs in in

[57:57] in Marin. And this is going to be truly the first time that we're going to be

[58:01] able to show what Canal talent has and compare it to uh the rest of Marin, not

[58:07] just for the recreational side, but also for our competitive program as well.

[58:15] And with that being said, thank you so much for your time. Thank you for

[58:18] allowing us to present and again we really appreciate uh you being here and

[58:23] yeah I really appreciate your time. >> Well, thank you. I'll just say one last

[58:30] thing before I open it up to um to questions or comments from the committee

[58:35] is that I think I failed to mention that with the city staff we are 100%

[58:39] supportive of the waiver of this program. We we kind of like I mentioned

[58:44] ISIS now we see this as a as an important community program um offering

[58:50] youth soccer on these fields. One of the reasons these fields um came to be and

[58:55] were so greatly improved is through the support of groups like Alliance and PLC

[59:00] advocating for this program. Uh and uh so we we are very supportive of this

[59:06] wave of requests. Um, so yeah, with that I turn it over to any question

[59:16] if the use of field that you're asking for the funds for you said there was

[59:20] $6,000 $10,000 does that for the whole year does that

[59:24] include when you had the groups from the other communities come in does that

[59:29] include reducible field during that time also?

[59:33] » I can answer that and feel free to fill in. Um, you know the the specific last

[59:37] super space would be the times that were listed. I can pull it back up on slide

[59:43] one here. Uh slide two, the the the co-sponsored request before the

[59:49] practices games. So Monday is a Wednesday 7 p.m. and then the games

[59:54] Saturday is a Sunday. Now how how can LSC choose it to use that time for

[59:59] practices or games or use that build space is kind of to them. So that uh I

[1:00:04] would maybe defer to you the answer to that question. Yeah, absolutely. Well,

[1:00:07] in terms of the practices, that's uh solely just for Canal Canal uh kids.

[1:00:12] » So, so what happens when you have a competition with the other clubs? Do

[1:00:15] they come over here and play? Do you rent facilities at those times?

[1:00:19] » So, we are only responsible for being able to host the games that we're uh

[1:00:24] that we're uh that we're supposed to host. And that's majority is going to be

[1:00:30] on Saturdays. And and those games are yes their quarter era contest and West

[1:00:35] Marine comes in during those hours but the reason for that is because we also

[1:00:40] want to invite them over to be able to play at week to show them our home field

[1:00:45] and there's also away games as well. We go over to Cord Madera and that time is

[1:00:49] not paid for by um for for this request. That's that's their own um that's their

[1:00:55] own payment. But uh in terms of us, yes, we invite teams to come in to come to

[1:00:59] come compete with us, show them our beautiful field, our beautiful

[1:01:02] community. Um but the majority I would say is solely for

[1:01:07] » what about on the day that you're not here like Tuesdays and Thursdays that

[1:01:12] you give those other teams to come play here and pennis?

[1:01:15] » Yeah. Uh potentially. Yes. I uh that that could

[1:01:21] be that could be a good idea. Unfortunately, that's not my

[1:01:24] » Yeah. I I might step in and just share. I think from our perspective, um I

[1:01:29] actually say no, we don't want groups to be essentially subleasing their space on

[1:01:34] the field and making those types of arrangements. I think that it is very

[1:01:38] common for the leads to invite other teams to come to compete.

[1:01:44] um this request that you'd be looking at today for the co-sponsorship will be us

[1:01:50] um doing a fee waver for Canf to have access to the field and to schedule

[1:01:55] those types of games as they see is appropriate. Um, but you know, asking

[1:02:00] other teams to come and pay for that time, it's it's already covered, right?

[1:02:04] It'll be covered by the co-sponsorship. So, so I would say no. I wouldn't want

[1:02:08] them to be supplementing the facility or making those types of arrangements. That

[1:02:12] would be something. If other teams did want to come and rent the facility, if

[1:02:15] they really enjoyed their experience here at Paper Park and they wanted to

[1:02:19] come and and host their own games or activities here, uh, we would definitely

[1:02:24] be open to that and consider it. So it's kind of alignment how we allocate

[1:02:27] presser

[1:02:31] I wonder um the days that facility does the field need to breast

[1:02:38] fresh to where it can out be used by other or does it need

[1:02:45] » the beauty about surf is that once we're done it's completely uh usable for any

[1:02:50] other sport or recreation >> um and we clean up after ourselves

[1:02:54] there's no mess that. Um, and we our staff also stays late to make sure that

[1:03:00] it's set up so that when the next person comes in, they're able to use it in any

[1:03:04] way. Yeah, I feel student. Um, on Fridays, we do field maintenance once a

[1:03:10] week. So, uh, we do have our parks crew that's going to do a great job of taking

[1:03:14] care of the facility. Um, you know, over time we we are expecting maybe a little

[1:03:19] piece of wear and tear, but we factor that into our plans for long-term

[1:03:23] operations and maintenance. But just as was mentioned, the beauty of this field,

[1:03:27] the reason that we chose to install um an all weather turf field is because it

[1:03:32] it more than doubled the amount of playing time available. Um, typically,

[1:03:37] if if you've been familiar with how we've operated a field in the past, this

[1:03:42] time of year, the field typically wouldn't be open for playing. it would

[1:03:45] be closing because it would either be cost prohibitive to longer and maintain

[1:03:49] it or by this point in the season there would be too many issues concerns with

[1:03:54] the blank surface to allow to be playable. So it did it. So we're really

[1:03:59] grateful that we have the opportunity to have year round play and very very

[1:04:03] limited downtime in between groups.

[1:04:10] Other questions?

[1:04:14] Um, Nicholas, may I have a question for you? You said uh you're going to have

[1:04:21] 140 children, but maybe in the future you're going to

[1:04:26] take more children because our community is so big.

[1:04:30] » Yes. Um, we would love to take as many kids as we possibly could take.

[1:04:35] » Um, we we are still going to be uh going into the schools once they come come

[1:04:41] back at August 19th, I believe. Um, and we're expecting to see a big jump in the

[1:04:46] amount of kids that we're going to be able to recruit during those times. Um,

[1:04:50] and so as of right now, we have about 120 uh kids that are currently

[1:04:55] registered. Once the season um once once school gets back in, we're able to

[1:05:00] promote our this this uh our software club to these schools that we've been

[1:05:05] partnered with, we're expecting to see a big jump and we're prepared to be able

[1:05:08] to take on those kids and increase the amount of coaches as we see fit,

[1:05:13] increase the so that the quality doesn't break down. We are really uh we kind of

[1:05:18] pride ourselves in that we want to be as as organized and as competitive as other

[1:05:23] clubs. So as the need dries we will match that drive as well.

[1:05:27] » Thank you so much for this opportunity for our community for me. Really really

[1:05:32] appreciate this big big job. Thank you so much for big report for for chilling.

[1:05:40] » Thank you so much. >> We need that. We need that. I think I

[1:05:43] will I just add the we covered everything but I will add the another

[1:05:47] component of this program is all the coaches are professional licensed right

[1:05:53] and also those coaches are providing opportunities for and youth who are

[1:05:59] soccer players but for high school to be assistant coaches. So they're being

[1:06:04] trained to become the future coaches of of these kids. So that's another element

[1:06:10] of the program is by having bison coaches allow us to bring youth to

[1:06:15] follow as well. We have I think like three high school uh kids right now

[1:06:21] being assistant coaches for we do we didn't want our program to stop after

[1:06:27] 8th grade or in the early stage of the high school. We trying to figure out

[1:06:31] other ways to be able to promote leadership and promote opportunities for

[1:06:35] individuals that were 16 plus. And the way that we thought about doing that is

[1:06:39] by being able to sponsor their license, provide them a job, be able to get that

[1:06:43] experience to be able to coach alongside licensed coaches as well.

[1:06:53] » Okay. other other

[1:06:58] » I just want to comment that it's so much more impensive what you're doing with

[1:07:03] 130 students three times a week than what the others are doing with 13 to 15

[1:07:09] students five times a week six so that's just why I have been asking a lot of

[1:07:14] questions of the others is really reaching enough people to make it

[1:07:19] valuable and you're reaching enough people to really make it work well

[1:07:22] because you're keeping office

[1:07:26] I think the nature the nature of the work is different is they complement

[1:07:33] each other. So there is programs they are the scale that what they can do

[1:07:39] require that amount of kids versus soccer because it's a group setting by

[1:07:44] default allow us to send more kids. >> Yeah. You're physically active.

[1:07:50] » Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think both are very important and they

[1:07:54] compliment with each other.

[1:08:01] » So if there are no other comments or questions, I open up to public comment.

[1:08:05] Seeing as no one's here, um I would request a uh a motion at some.

[1:08:20] » All right. And that was uh Darlin and Ellen. Correct.

[1:08:25] » Okay. All right. Member Arbit.

[1:08:32] » I didn't hear that. I'm sorry. Member Arbit.

[1:08:34] » Yes. >> Thank you. Member Campos.

[1:08:37] » Yes. >> Member Ruez.

[1:08:39] » Yes. >> And member Vasquez.

[1:08:41] » Yes. >> All right. Thank you everyone. Motion

[1:08:43] approved. >> Thank you.

[1:08:46] » Thank you very much for coming by. Thank you so much. We

[1:08:49] appreciate >> Thank you. Thank you guys. it.

[1:08:52] » Thank you. >> All right, we are going to move on to

[1:08:57] the next item on our agenda, community reports and comments. So, uh if anyone

[1:09:01] from that you would like to share and report out of any other meetings,

[1:09:05] community events to

[1:09:10] » uh I got different meetings. I have a a meeting uh about the date two

[1:09:18] weeks ago for about um um immigrants. What happened around with

[1:09:25] immigrants was so important for me about our community was multicultural.

[1:09:33] Uh they explain how many um lawyer we have for help people

[1:09:39] against the ice community broken families. Yeah. What's

[1:09:45] interesting? Yeah. And last night we have a a night with the police

[1:09:52] » night out. >> Yeah. in all outside

[1:09:57] and yeah in all this one days I have for um group

[1:10:05] SC

[1:10:20] » how was it? I said it's good because

[1:10:25] member of the

[1:10:31] » Okay. Well, then if that's all there then I'm going to move to

[1:10:39] um a staff report. Got a couple things I wanted to share on my end. I think one

[1:10:44] is I wanted just to acknowledge that I'm not normally the one running these

[1:10:48] meetings. I think you're all aware that um Christy Bucker was the direct

[1:10:52] supervisor here. She did step away from her role of the city at the end of June

[1:10:57] and so we did with vacancy in that role. Um so I've been helping support along

[1:11:02] with Darcy Chulu, one of the recreation supervisors over at the um the San Rell

[1:11:08] Center on B Street. And so we've been helping support but just want to Stephen

[1:11:13] Rogers the program coordinator here is still here. Um Denise at the front desk

[1:11:18] is still here and we're hoping to have some stability moving forward. So we are

[1:11:22] hoping to um start to make some decisions about who might be in that

[1:11:26] supervisor role this fall. We'll definitely keep you all posted as we

[1:11:30] make those decisions, but that was unexpected um for us to lose twisty at

[1:11:34] this point in time. She just shared that it wasn't the right fit for her at this

[1:11:38] point and sometimes it happens. Um but u I'm I'm feeling optimistic about how

[1:11:43] things will come together moving forward. So just wanted to acknowledge

[1:11:47] that that is a big constit um couple facility updates. Um the park

[1:11:53] restroom I know that right now it it is still not in good shape. If you've been

[1:11:59] out there and you've seen it, it um you all know it needs to be replaced and it

[1:12:03] is still on the work plan to replace the the park restroom. We ran into some

[1:12:08] delays with the design and the permitting review, the building check,

[1:12:11] but it is in motion right now, and I'm still optimistic that we'll be able to

[1:12:16] start that construction project, hopefully this winter. Uh that building

[1:12:21] may be installed by spring of 2027, far later than I would have hoped. Um

[1:12:26] sometimes, unfortunately, this happens uh with these types of projects, but

[1:12:30] that is still on the work plan, and I just wanted to share that. Uh I'm do

[1:12:34] everything I can to try to get that moving properly. um the library. Um

[1:12:38] we're getting close to wrapping up construction. You look out the window

[1:12:41] here, you still see the construction fencing that is up, but we're hoping

[1:12:45] that that will come down this fall as well. I think realistically we're

[1:12:49] looking at probably October, maybe November, the library will be reopened

[1:12:54] this fall, which we're all excited about. Um the uh Pickle preschool on the

[1:12:59] other side of the campus, uh summer 2027 is when we start construction. Um, we we

[1:13:06] had hoped maybe we would have been able to get those facilities completed this

[1:13:11] summer. That we didn't quite hit that window. We don't want to disrupt the

[1:13:15] preschool program. So, we're planning right now to uh completely renovate that

[1:13:21] facility in summer 2027 when um that program is not in session. Um just re we

[1:13:27] just received another grant to help support fun of that project. Um, we

[1:13:32] received $147,000 from, it's called CDBG, the community

[1:13:37] development block grant program. Um, so we're excited to have some additional

[1:13:42] funding that will help support the new facility next year.

[1:13:48] Not specifically at Pickle Park, but nearby. Um, I'm not sure if involved in

[1:13:52] tracking that the city acquired a new property at 620 Canal Street. is where

[1:13:58] the pedestrian the bridge would cross Canal. Um if you're on that at the

[1:14:03] property very end of Canal Street um that used to be a boatyard property it's

[1:14:07] about 1.65 acres. So the city worked with Trust plan the county man to

[1:14:13] acquire that property. Um, now that we have it, we're developing plans for what

[1:14:19] could a park look like at that facility and the money to build uh to build a

[1:14:23] park at that location as well as some feasibility studies for the engineering

[1:14:28] of the bridge across the canal. Um, but I want to share that though we just

[1:14:32] received an $800,000 grant uh priority conservation area grant through uh the

[1:14:38] uh the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, MTC. So, um we've received

[1:14:44] some initial funding to help with u the design of the parts of that feasibility

[1:14:49] study. And so we're really excited about that. We think this is going to be a

[1:14:53] project that will be very competitive for receiving grant funding and external

[1:14:58] funding sources to help support that moving forward and we're going to

[1:15:02] continue to be applying for those grant opportunities to help with that project.

[1:15:06] So likely this fall, we're going to start some community outreach and

[1:15:10] engagement to get ideas from the community about what what what do people

[1:15:14] want to see in that park in that location? What are things that we should

[1:15:18] be there? So really excited about the opportunity to go to new park

[1:15:22] » to be beautiful. I think so. >> Yeah.

[1:15:25] » And nice. >> Yeah, we're really excited about this. I

[1:15:28] know that's that's another project that's been um envisioned for for

[1:15:32] decades. The opportunity to have that can across

[1:15:37] » um our fall activity guide will be coming soon. We just sent that file to

[1:15:42] the printer. So, uh you should be receiving our fall winter activity guide

[1:15:46] in the mail soon. It'll also be on our website probably this week or next week

[1:15:51] at our latest. So, take a look at all the programs that we're offering. Um,

[1:15:56] we've been meeting with the multicultural center of we're in um for

[1:15:59] the day of the dead celebration which is also coming up. It's hard to believe

[1:16:03] it's August and November is right around the corner, but November 7th for the day

[1:16:08] of the dead celebration. We still have a lot of summer programming going on. I

[1:16:12] don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves thinking about fall, but um

[1:16:16] yeah, a lot of still opportunities to get up to the turtle in the pool. Um

[1:16:20] there's all kind I mean, if you look at the field this time of year, it is busy.

[1:16:24] You've got drop in basketball going on, volleyball programs, pickle ball

[1:16:28] happening in the gym. The YMCA has their summer camp program here. The park is

[1:16:33] always busy. So, I'm just really thankful to see so much use and so many

[1:16:37] different things. Um, and with that, I think one other one

[1:16:43] other update I wanted to share that doesn't specifically relate to the park

[1:16:46] here, but the city is we're planning to build a new community center library at

[1:16:52] the current site for um the V Street Community Center, the Center Community

[1:16:56] Center. Um, that was approved by voters as part

[1:17:00] in November 2024. And um we're currently reviewing proposals from um design and

[1:17:06] construction teams to to start that project. Um so there is a survey that is

[1:17:12] up. It's um online survey. It's available right now. It will be in the

[1:17:16] activity guide. We're we're asking the community to share their thoughts on

[1:17:19] that project as well. That is a that is a really important one because that

[1:17:24] would be um essentially demolishing the existing community center and building a

[1:17:29] brand new community center library on that site. So that is a generational

[1:17:34] bill that will have a big impact on I think how people use Elbert Park and

[1:17:40] visit that location as a downtown central library. So we want to make sure

[1:17:44] we hear what people want, what kind of programs are going to be important

[1:17:48] there. What's the architectural design? What do they want us to see as part of

[1:17:53] that project? We will likely be working on that design through 2028. Um,

[1:18:00] construction would likely start sometime in 2028, hopefully be wrapped up by

[1:18:04] 2030, maybe 2031. So, that's a multi-year project. Plenty of

[1:18:09] opportunities to share opinions, but one of those is out there right now

[1:18:13] somewhere.

[1:18:17] So, and with that, I'd open it up for any questions. Yes. Yeah.

[1:18:22] » Just do we have any theater groups? >> You know, honestly, I need to check. I

[1:18:28] don't know the answer to that. I don't know if we have any current programs

[1:18:31] that are offering theater like specifically. I do know that like the

[1:18:36] YMCA after school program occasionally will do some theater programming, but

[1:18:41] it's not like a a focus point of what they're doing. I need to check. I don't

[1:18:46] I don't know if we have any theater programs at We do have a theater

[1:18:50] program. Um we have a a contract instructor operate that at the San

[1:18:56] Community Center. So that is a program offered there. And then um we offer

[1:19:00] youth enrichment programs. So to bring these schools and so um uh one of our

[1:19:07] program coordinators does help to coordinate a theater program that

[1:19:10] happens. I think it's a Sun Valley school. I think another one was

[1:19:15] happening at school. It's kind of depending on where the contractors able

[1:19:19] to stand up program. So I'll I'll check on that.

[1:19:23] things like that.

[1:19:27] » Yeah, it's been very popular over at the Sand Community Center with quite a few

[1:19:32] kids that are participating and a lot of logistics goes into that with whether

[1:19:36] schools are able to provide bus transportation and get kids to and from

[1:19:40] locations. >> Yeah,

[1:19:42] adults. >> Yeah. Other questions?

[1:19:50] Um, I I guess I was just thinking kind of piggybacking on my comment earlier,

[1:19:56] you know, I think like I guess I don't know enough about like

[1:20:01] how is an emergency is handled here. Is there like you know anything around

[1:20:08] that? Maybe we can that's a whole another meeting. But I I especially if

[1:20:13] there's the parents around

[1:20:19] I I appreciate it. Yeah, I appreciate that perspective and thank you for for

[1:20:24] uh raising that point. Um I did take some notes um as you you mentioned that

[1:20:30] and we do have um for our contract instructors or staffled programs we have

[1:20:36] some basic expectations about the level of training and certification that they

[1:20:42] will have when they're offering their programs and that is something I'll be

[1:20:45] following up with that group on to help make sure that they have an adequate

[1:20:50] stat plan that they have some baseline training to help support working for

[1:20:57] training is pretty like a couple hours, right? It's very short.

[1:21:01] » It is. Yeah. >> Yeah. No, no, it I can't speak I have to

[1:21:06] double check and take a look at, you know, legal requirements, but I think

[1:21:09] that best practices that want to see and so even as a staff team, um, some of

[1:21:15] like for myself, I'm not required to have CPR first aid, but I want to have

[1:21:19] that. I want to make sure I'm fresh and current, you know. So, we've got a great

[1:21:23] team over at German pool that is well trained. Our lifeguards, they're they're

[1:21:28] well trained or first responders. Some of them also provide training resources

[1:21:33] for CPR, first aid, a um and we're working to get all of our staff team

[1:21:40] trained up and I really appreciate my partner did the

[1:21:45] Sarah Linda training. Oh, good. Yeah, she said it was great. Great. Uh I take

[1:21:50] two training and multicular for adults and children can too but

[1:21:57] maybe most of them.

[1:22:00] » Yeah. Yeah.

[1:22:02] » I think we have one here too. >> We did offer one here a few months ago.

[1:22:09] » Yeah. We have one here. >> Yeah. In Spanish I think as well.

[1:22:14] » Yeah.

[1:22:20] But thank you. I think that's >> Yeah. No, thanks.

[1:22:22] » Other than that, I think everything's great. It's nice everything happening

[1:22:26] here and especially the civic center. Kind of knew the area, so I'm learning

[1:22:33] all the great parks here and the events that the city hosts. It's amazing

[1:22:39] actually.

[1:22:44] » Okay. You don't want to take this job off.

[1:22:49] » You know, you you will definitely see me more frequently moving forward. I I

[1:22:53] really enjoy being here, >> but I will be here all

[1:22:59] I I'm

[1:23:03] » Thank you. Okay. So, just a reminder that the next regular meeting we have on

[1:23:07] the books is scheduled for October 7th, 2026.

[1:23:12] That's the first Wednesday. So, we look forward to seeing you then. In the

[1:23:16] meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to stay in touch with me.

[1:23:19] We'll keep you posted. Transition for the supervisor here. And with that, I'm

[1:23:24] going to adjourn this meeting at 8:31 p.m.

[1:23:29] » Need a second. >> I don't think I need a second for that

[1:23:32] one. I think I can just adjourn it. So, all right.

[1:23:35] » Thanks,

Pickleweed Advisory Committee – August 5, 2026

Agenda

Transcript