HomeMy WebLinkAboutPickleweed Advisory Committee 2022-08-03 Minutes
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PICKLEWEED ADVISORY COMMITTEE
August 3, 2022 – 7:00 p.m.
DRAFT MINUTES
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Watch on Zoom:
https://tinyurl.com/PWAC-8-3-2022
Telephone: (669) 900-9128
Meeting ID: 852 1560 3702
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Mason called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Mason
Member Palacios
Member Sprague
Member Vasquez
Member Yost
Absent: Member Avalos
Member Hau-Guiterrez
Member Tanchez
Alternate Member Ceballos
Park & Recreation Commission Representative Gutierrez
Also Present: Craig Veramay, Assistant Library & Recreation Director
Becky Ordin, Senior Administrative Assistant
Rich Storek, The Canal Arts
Stephanie McNally, Vivalon
AGENDA AMENDMENTS
None
MINUTES
1. Approve regular meeting minutes of June 1, 2022
Member Palacios moved and Member Sprague seconded, to approve the meetings
minutes of June 1, 2022.
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AYES: Members: Palacios, Sprague, Vasquez, Yost
NOES: Members: None
ABSENT: Members: Alvalos, Hau-Guiterrez Tanchez
ABSTAINED: Members: None
Minutes approved as submitted.
MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
2. Public Comment from the audience regarding items not listed on the agenda
None.
3. Presentations
Chair Mason introduced Craig Veramay, Assistant Library & Recreation Director, who
gave a presentation of the Public Art Review Board.
Staff responded to questions from Members.
Public Comment: Marina Palma
Chair Mason introduced Rich Storek with The Canal Arts who gave a presentation on
the Public Mural Presentation.
Chair Mason gave a little background to public art at the Albert J. Community Center
and Pickleweed Park.
Staff responded to questions from Members.
Public Comment: Aaron Burnette, Director of Policy and Engagement at Canal Alliance
Meg, Marin Society of Arts
Anabel, Voces del Canal
Aurelia Vargas
Marina Palma, Voces del Canal
Cristina Rosales
Irene
Cruz Vargas
Chris Parra
Marina Calderon
Isabel
Mr. Veramay clarified the process for the Public Mural presentation through the Public
Art Review Board.
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MATTERS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
If necessary, to assure completion of the following items, the Chairperson may establish time
limits for the presentations by individual speakers.
4. Co-Sponsorship Application Committee Recommendations
A. Vivalon: Zumba by Vivalon
Chair Mason presented a background on older adult programs and gave a brief detail of
the application request for Vivalon Zumba Co-Sponsorship Recommendation.
Chair Mason introduced Stephanie McNally with Vivalon who presented the Co-
Sponsorship application for the Zumba program.
Staff and applicant responded to questions from Members.
Public Comment: None
Member Sprague moved and Member Palacios seconded, to approve a full fee waiver
of the older adult Zumba by Vivalon program for the period of September 1, 2022 to
August 31, 2023.
AYES: Members: Palacios, Sprague, Vasquez, Yost
NOES: Members: None
ABSENT: Members: Alvalos, Hau-Guiterrez Tanchez
ABSTAINED: Members: None
Motion Passed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS AND COMMENTS
5. Other brief reports on any meetings, conferences, and/or seminars attended by
the Commission members.
A. Parks & Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee Update
Member Sprague did not have updates.
B. Other Reports
Member Palacios commented that the Steering Committee has been active and
recently met at the Sun Valley Park. She appreciates the committee getting
together and voicing their opinions.
Member Sprague commented that she was thrilled to see the awarding of the
grant to renovate the Pickleweed field and see the additional work planned to
build out the resources available at the Community Center and fields.
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Member Yost wanted to make sure the Vietnamese community is involved in the
mural process.
STAFF COMMENTS
6. Events of Interest
Chair Mason gave an updated on the following programs:
The free, six-week summer camp the Center hosted, in a partnership with San Rafael City Schools and
the YMCA, concluded last Friday and accommodated 75 school identified Canal children to support
academic and social emotional development.
Program Coordinator, Stephen Rogers, started a new Saturday, San Rafael Basketball Academy this
summer for youth ages 5 and up. The program was a fun way for kids to be introduced to the world of
basketball with drills and games focused on building motor skills and teaching basic basketball
principles. The fee was $15 for the entire session. Additional sessions are being planned this fall.
The summer Junior Giants program at Pickleweed Park Athletic Field had over 90 participants. The
free program for youth of all skill levels ages 5-13 meets Saturdays and Tuesdays through August 6th
and led by Program Coordinator Stephen Rogers and a number of volunteers. Through each child’s
experience as part of a team, they will learn the “Four Bases of Character Development: Confidence,
Integrity, Leadership and Teamwork.” Additionally, the program has a focus on education, health, and
bullying prevention.
Open Gym Sports for adults restarted two weeks ago and is being held on Monday, Wednesday and
Friday evenings with drop-in basketball all three days and volleyball on Wednesdays.
The free monthly Canal Arts program, sponsored by the City and offered by the Canal Youth & Family
Council, continues to be offered from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on the second Saturday of each month.
The program is supported by the San Francisco Foundation.
The weekly Monday afternoon art program Drawbridge, which this Committee co-sponsored, created a
beautiful work of art the children took several months to complete, resulting in a painting of “Mt.
Tamalpais from San Rafael with native plants and animals.” The artwork has been on display in the
hallway of the Center this summer and they have a second painting that will also be hung next week.
As the Committee is aware, the Center regularly displays local art created by programs that utilize the
facility, community partners, and of course the annual showing of the Día de los Muertos murals.
A new Ballroom, Latin & Fitness Mini Camp for youth was offered for youth. The instructor will teach
both youth and adult classes for us this fall at a discounted rate.
This summer the Center held two separate weeks of Volleystart Summer Camp in the gymnasium.
San Rafael City Schools rented two classrooms for two weeks in July for State Testing ELPAC
SF Marin Food Bank distributions continue Tuesday mornings in our parking lot.
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The City continues to sponsor County of Marin Health and Human Services COVID vaccination clinics
at the Albert J. Boro Community Center. A clinic was offered from 3 pm to 7 pm yesterday and
additional dates this month include August 16th and 30th.
Paused during the pandemic, the Albert J. Boro Community Center’s Multicultural Older Adult Program
resumed on today. The program is being offered on Wednesdays from 10 am to Noon for socialization
and fun activities such as fitness, games, guest speakers, and arts & crafts. Run by Center staff,
program support is being provided by the San Rafael Library and later this year hot lunches will again
be offered through a partnership with the County of Marin.
Our annual Movie in the Park at Pickleweed will feature Encanto in Spanish and will be held on Friday,
September 23 on the soccer fields. There will be three other movies from August to October in other
San Rafael parks that everyone is invited to. The City is also coordinating a City information fair on the
fields at the same time to connect with the community on various City projects and functions.
The Día de los Muertos Planning Committee has been working on this year’s event since March. Altars
are being coordinated in downtown store windows beginning the middle of October. Car Procession
Through Downtown San Rafael on Saturday, October 22, 3pm. The event at Albert J. Boro Community
Center on Saturday, November 5, 2022, there will be altars, art workshops, live music and cultural
performances, traditional food, and a walking procession through the Canal Community.
The summer Canal Mini Soccer League has 156 children enrolled in the summer session of this
recreational program. Instruction is primarily in Spanish and meets Saturdays and Mondays through
August 13.
Special recognition needs to be given to Marina Palma who worked with the County to receive an
$8,000 grant this fall to directly support the Canal Mini Soccer program in lowering the $25 registration
fee and to purchase new league supplies.
The Albert J. Boro Community Center is offering a free Champions Soccer Camp for youth 7 – 12 years
of age this week, and is voluntarily led by a Branson student, and a Recreation Division’s swim
instructor/lifeguard, Rodrigo Diaz. Participants were able to hone their soccer skills while having fun.
The Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project was recently selected by California State Parks as one of
16 park projects that the State is recommending to the National Park Service for Land and Water
Conservation Fund grants. Mason acknowledged Director Quffa, Assistant Library and Recreation
Director Veramay, and Public Works staff for all their support on the grant and project.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Mason adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m.
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___________________________________________
BECKY ORDIN, Senior Administrative Assistant
APPROVED THIS_____DAY OF___________, 2023
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Catherine Quffa, Library & Recreation Director