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Home My WebLink AboutMin - PR - 2024.05.161 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION APPROVED Meeting Minutes Regular Meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2024 1. CALL TO ORDER The duly noticed regular meeting of the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Milne at 7:00 pm. 2. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Milne, Yu, Holzman (arrived at 7:03), Brunello, Chang & Wettan COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Parks & Recreation Director Glomstad, Parks Superintendent Holtz, Parks Supervisor Barron, Recreation Manager Acquisti, Recreation Supervisor Coggins, Recreation Supervisor Vega & Recording Secretary Helley OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Penticoff, Sandra Pan, Kelly McDonnell, Shelley Nielsen, Saonja & David Ivester, Cathane Clune, John Syracuse, Chris Ohm, Alison & Steve Pariani, Kim Donellan, Gary Tom, Julie Bellome, Lindsey Van Voorhs, Andrea Van Voorhs, Martha Bye, Natalie Lipman, Elliot Barker, Craig Goldman, Todd & Amy Barney, Sheri Bernstein, Teri Handelman, Hank Sauer, Lynn Ahn, Joe Dreleerson, Jeff Clause, Barbara Smith, Francisca Hawken, Lorne Semrau, Kaitlyn Van Peirsen, Stephen Pham, Gemma Roche, Agnes Tung, David Gonzalez, Diane Dao, Chris Chu, William Teoh, Stephanie Jacabovitz, Stephanie Parker, Paula Irwin Sachder & Cathy Chappell 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Brunello made a motion to approve the April minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wettan, and the motion was approved. 5-0-1 (Holzman absent) 2 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 4. CORRESPONDENCE None Presentation – Youth Advisory Committee – Recreation Coordinator Bliss introduced herself and members of the Committee. She noted that this group of exceptional leaders has been instrumental in advancing the community's interests and well-being through dedicated service to the Burlingame Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). YAC is comprised of 13 appointed teenagers who either live or attend school in Burlingame. Their main goal is to raise awareness about teens' concerns in Burlingame. The YAC members in attendance were Ashley, Penny, Zach, Ellie, Kristen, Sophia, Hope, Sylvie, and Corrine. The initiative this year was Public Safety and Preparedness in Burlingame. A few of the related events that the group executed throughout the year were fire prevention and earthquake safety PSAs, as well as a variety of self -defense classes. The group also assisted with several events this year, including the Family Campout, the Muddy Mile, the Senior Dance, and Fall Fest. One of the frequent events the group helped at is the Kids Night Out event with the themes of St. Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day. The YAC members volunteer at these events to guide kids through overall activities and foster positive experiences. Additional events the group participated in were the Annual Tree Lighting, the Winter Market, and Cookie Decorating to hand out to local law enforcement. In the fall, the group attended the YAC Social event held in San Carlos. The event was a gathering of other YACs to meet, exchange ideas about events, and bond. The group also hosted the YAC Attack event, a one-day leadership conference that multiple city officials, including Mayor Colson, attended as keynote speakers for a Q&A session. Every month, YAC created PSAs for the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Social media, such as Fire/ Earthquake Safety and Voting, to keep Burlingame citizens informed. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS None 6. OLD BUSINESS a. Resident / Non-Resident Registration Update Recreation Supervisor Vega introduced herself to the Commissioners. She told the Commission that the first registration with the resident priority was on April 3, 2024, at 8 am. A total of 350 registrations were processed that day, with 202 processed in the first hour. The non-resident registration date was on April 8 at 8 am. A total of 149 registrations were processed that day, with 33 being processed in the first hour. 3 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Overall, the launch went smoothly. Staff received a few complaints from non-residents that they did not know there was a separate registration date. Staff is preparing for the next registration date, which is August 7. The fall registration is significantly larger than the previous registration session as it includes all enrichment classes held on school district sites. For comparison, in the fall of 2023, there was a total of 429 residents who participated in the enrichment classes for the fall session. Of that, 31 were non-residents who attended Burlingame schools. This may pose a potential issue in the fall as non-resident students will be trying to enroll and will have to wait until the non-resident registration date. However, after looking at the trend of classes they enrolled in last year, it does not seem like it will be an issue as the classes they enrolled in were not severely impacted and were not full within the first five days. Vega invited questions and comments from Commission. Commissioner Wettan asked how many classes were filled on April 3 within the 1st hour. Vega said she could look that information up and provide details of which classes were full on the first day. Director Glomstad noted that registration for summer classes started in December. Classes that were filled may have been due to that fact. Some additional camps were added for summer, but the Department opens summer registration early for camps. Wettan stated in an email he read that the writer of the email was unaware of the registration dates. He asked how staff informed the public of the different registration dates. Glomstad noted the information was on the front cover of the Live, Play, Burlingame edition, which had summer camps in it. Wettan stated that he heard it a couple of times and noted that there is no easy way to find out where things are. He suggested having a consistent registration date, such as the first Monday in April or the first Monday in August. Then, after a year or so, people will hopefully remember that. Glomstad noted that session registration dates are very similar every year. Vega noted the Department can increase marketing when classes are opening. Commissioner Holzman inquired if, at this time, staff can tell if this change has alleviated the concerns. Vega responded that this session was a little tricky because the bulk of the summer camps were opened in December, and what was open for registration in April were all of the traditional summer classes and some late addition summer camps submitted by contractors. So, this December is going to be the first full summer camp registration period there will be two registration dates. Holzman asked if, in the Fall, the same classes fill up in the first few minutes, like summer programs. Vega responded not generally because classes are school site-specific and geared towards only those students. Commissioner Yu asked if the numbers shared tonight were just for the first day of registration. Vega noted the numbers were for the entire fall season. Yu inquired if the ratio of residents to non-residents was pretty standard. Vega confirmed that most students attending Burlingame schools are Burlingame residents. Yu noted she was surprised there were so many non-residents utilizing Burlingame programs. 4 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Chair Milne suggested collecting data points on how many classes fill up in the first week of registration to determine how many instances there were Milne then asked during the address verification process how many incorrectly designated addresses were there and how much clean up was there to do. Vega noted that roughly 20-25 households were categorized as residents but were technically non-residents. b. City-Wide Dog Park/Off-Leash Update Recreation Supervisor Coggins presented the history of Dog Park/Off Leash areas over the last ten years. Over the years, the City has added off-leash dog options, which include Bayside Dog Exercise Park, Washington Park (near the rose garden), Cuernavaca upper grass area, Washington Ballfield, Cuernavaca Ballfield, Skyline Park, and Ray Dog Park. Even with the additional off- leash options throughout the community, dogs on fields, parks, and throughout the City continue to be challenging. To aid with dog-related issues, a Dog Advisory Group was created as an Ad Hoc Committee to make recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council regarding all things involving dogs in Burlingame. Over the last year, the Dog Park Advisory Group has met to discuss current issues and possible solutions to the ongoing dog challenges. A few reoccurring patterns exist in a review of all dog correspondence over the last year. Below is a list of common complaints staff receive, ordered by frequency: 1. People allowing dogs to be off-leash outside posted times and/or in areas not designated for dogs to be off-leash 2. People are not cleaning up dog waste 3. Dogs damage the grass by digging holes 4. Dog walkers bring more than two dogs at a time into the off-leash area. For the past three months, Field Monitors have been scheduled more regularly to monitor the behaviors of people with dogs. This has included being assigned every morning to patrol each park throughout the City to curb complaints about the number of dogs walkers bring into the park, enforce hours, and educate the community regarding the rules. Since starting this, while it has been an added expense to the Department budget and time-consuming, staff has noticed a decrease in complaints. Although the four main complaints are prevalent throughout the City, other concerns are exclusive to individual locations. For the grass areas open from 6:00am-7:30am (Washington Park near the rose garden and Cuernavaca grass), there have been requests for extended hours in the morning and additional hours in the evening. On the other hand, there have been complaints about off-leash dog attacks against people walking through Washington Park. Although it doesn't occur often, when staff hear from the public regarding Skyline Park, it is typically for a maintenance request. Most recently, it was to fix a loose step on the newly installed stairs. Parks staff responded quickly out of caution for safety. 5 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Set in a residential neighborhood, Ray Dog Park has been the most discussed park as of late. A neighbor submitted complaints to the Parks and Recreation Commission, staff, and the Burlingame Police Department about dogs excessively barking and being left unattended inside Ray Dog Park. In January 2024, the Dog Advisory Group decided to change the opening time to 9am (previously sunrise) to help curb the excessive barking and the hardship on the neighbors early in the morning. Staff received significant pushback from the community of dog owners who wanted to exercise their dogs in Ray Dog Park after dropping their kids off at Lincoln Elementary School. Therefore, in March 2024, the Ray Dog Park opening time changed from 9:00am to 8:00am based on a recommendation from the Dog Advisory Group. Having a Field Monitor onsite to educate dog owners on the rules on most mornings has decreased the number of complaints. The most pressing issue at Ray Park is that, almost nightly, dog owners show up and run their dogs off-leash at nighttime on Ray Athletic Field, where dogs are not permitted off-leash at any time. This typically occurs during nighttime hours of 6:30pm – 8:00pm. When Field Monitors patrol and witness violations, they educate dog owners that their dogs cannot be off-leash on the athletic field. However, it doesn't seem to be curving the group of nighttime dog owners coming out seemingly daily. This is particularly challenging since Ray Athletic Field was recently renovated at a cost of $1.4 million, and the heavy dog usage is damaging the integrity of the field for athletic use. The Dog Park Advisory Group will continue to monitor and discuss dog-related issues and, when necessary, bring suggestions and recommendations to the Commission for discussion and approval. In addition, staff will continue to be diligent with the Field Monitors' schedule, educate the public, and maintain close communication with the Dog Advisory Group regarding any of the City's dog issues. The additional part-time Field Monitor expense is approximately $3,800 per month. Coggins invited the Commission to ask questions. Commissioner Brunello asked for clarification about “dogs off leash after seven,” but the monitoring stopped at seven. Coggins noted this to be correct and that, typically, the monitoring has stopped at seven. However, one of the Field Monitors has recently been able to and has volunteered to monitor until 8 pm. This was prompted by an email that was received with a picture of Ray's athletic field at about 7:30 pm with approximately 30 dogs off-leash. Commissioner Chang asked if the cost of the Field Monitor was for one field monitor. Coggins noted that, in total, there are three field monitors, with hours ranging from 8 am to 9pm. Commissioner Milne asked if the field monitors roam from park to park. Coggins confirmed that the monitors visit each park and the ballfields as well. The monitors receive a schedule of all athletic programs that are scheduled. Part of their duties is checking the dog parks and field reservations to ensure that the group there should be there. They do not have the authority to ticket or cite; however, they are there to communicate with the community, provide information, and let them know anytime they violate any of the park rules. 6 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Commissioner Holzman asked Coggins to speak about any complaints/requests regarding the rest of the City. Coggins noted that most emails unrelated to Ray or Washington are typically about the maintenance of the fields and not about dogs off-leash at the other parks. Glomstad stated that complaints have been received about dog walkers bringing too many dogs to Bayside Dog Park and not supervising them. Chair Milne opened public comments. Craig Goldman – “I live west of Skyline. I want to raise two issues: our understanding is that Cuernavaca Park will no longer be available due to the artificial turf project. We are hoping the City will consider fencing the upper field and extending the hours to make up for the loss of the outfield; second, I appreciate the recent improvements to the stairs at Skyline Park. As a below the knee amputee, I can say that the park has been and continues to be difficult to navigate for those of us with limited mobility, and there is absolutely no access to those dependent on wheelchairs. Particularly difficult in the winter months. I hope there are plans to make Skyline Park accessible in the near future.” David Gonzales – “I live down the block, my son went to school here, and now we’ve got two dogs. I have been coming here for probably three years, and I probably come to the dog park twice a day with both dogs. But with both dogs and just from the perspective and some of the things I have read, I have never met such a responsible group of people. About dog poop, I pick up other people’s dog poop. I know that in the whole two or three years of coming here, I have never seen any dog poop except twice, and both times I have picked it up. I don’t see any digging and the comment about someone getting bitten here ended up. What I found out was not even true, that it was someone. A woman was yelling at her kids, and the kids were crying at that and not really about the dog biting anyone. So I just find it is a really respectable group of people.” Shelley Nielsen – “Hi, my name is Shelley and I just live down the street on Alpine. Very quickly I want to say for older people like myself and I have foot problems, coming to the outfield at Washington Field, I can drive, I can bring my dog, who I am very responsible and I think that older people need to have access to this field. And I am hoping that we will find a way to work together whether you need to fence or we are open to also contributing, in any way, a little financially to help, so we can still come because, again, I need it as an older person and my dog need it.” John Syracuse – “My name is John Syracuse and basically, a multi-generational family here in Burlingame. The Syracuse family has lived in Burlingame for more than 100 years. My dad, myself, and my daughter graduated from Burlingame. I have owned a couple of St. Bernard’s and we are on our fourth one. And they are very much appreciated here in Burlingame. I can tell you they have been an ambassador for the dog community. One of the things, I read the last report from the last meeting, and it almost reads as if there is a case being built against the off-leash community here. And like has been said, I’ve been bringing my animal to the park particularly to the outfield where I played baseball for many, many years. And when it says it’s open from this month to this month, that’s not really the case. I mean, I think everybody realizes that it’s closed during rainy periods and on weekends. The only other thing that I would mention is about monitoring is when the complaints focus on evening hours, it’s pretty much evident that that’s a time that could be accommodated. In other words, reasonable accommodation for dog owners are 7 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 off-leash would eliminate the need for monitoring. The last thing I’ll say and I will be done has temporary fencing ever been explored. As it is being used at other cities.” Lonnie Nowlin – “My name is Lonnie Nowlin. I have lived in town all my life. My grandson is fifth generation Burlingame. I have had the last seven years the opportunity of walking through this park two or more times a day and there typically are 20 or more dogs in the park running around everywhere. I have not seen any information on stats of safety issues in regards of dog bites which I think would be relevant here. I don’t hear anybody speaking about safety issues, and you have little kids walking through this park daily, and they are right in the face of dogs. I think that is a major concern of the City in the way of liability. You need to take a good hard look at that. I have learned not to walk the grass anymore as many times I have stepped in a mess. My grandson has stepped in a mess. We’ve seen it on the bicycles. It’s a problem.” Bryan Michael – “My name is Brian and I am an almost 25-year resident of Burlingame. A business owner in Burlingame. Been here a long time. I want to say I am a dog owner, and I make use of the facilities. We do have a problem with compliance and I have called the animal control for San Mateo County, and they estimate only 25% of dog owners in the City of Burlingame have registered their dogs. So, we need to increase registration for dogs. Based on their data, there are actually more dogs living in Burlingame than kids if you look at the census data. So, I would like that to be studied and reflected in the budget because the budget should reflect the dog owners in the way it reflects other families. I agree we need to as a community help enforce each other. I think everyone here’s dog has been registered. We pick up after other dogs, we see others in violation and we want to help the community to move forward.” Paul Webb – “Paul Webb, resident for 27 years. I am part of the Ray Park criminal society of dog walkers. I am also a member of the Burlingame Police parking enforcement. So, when the police have come out there after calls, when they know me. When the decision came down about Ray Park, not to allow off-leash times, we agree with it. We get what they are saying – it had to do with softball. There was poop on the fields. Over the last two months, you didn’t need a field monitor. I have been there every night. Ray, who’s been one of the field monitors, knows who I am. There is no tougher owner than anyone on that dog field. We don’t allow, if your dog poops, you’re called out, and everybody knows who is in Washington Park same thing. The dog owners walk from five to six blocks away. They go through the community. They go there because it is a friendly place for their dogs to run, chase balls, sticks, frisbees, whatever. And there’s not one aggressive dog that’s allowed in there without the owners.” Amy Barney – “I live around the corner for about 15 years. Washington Park is the center of our family life. I do want to point out dog parks aren’t just for fun. I have been fighting cancer for over a year and a half, and they are actually a place for dogs to come and get real exercise. For owners who aren’t in a position to walk long distances, I think that huge amount of off-leash dog complaints is just proof across the board that we need accommodation. I am here every day all the time, and I can tell you that huge portions of this park go unused, especially after 4 pm. I would call attention to the back where there is usually nobody at any point in time, and I think if you were to make an alternative space, just like that 6-7:30 in the morning, either there or perhaps in front of the field area, we would all obey that. We just need a place to take the dogs for them to exercise and I think it’s been pointed out. With regards to the other options, most of them are not particularly safe if you’re a female, a young child, or elderly because they are off track.” 8 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Cathy Blair – “I live near Amy. You may have seen me walking around. I am out twice a day with my super large dog. He looks like an Irish wolfhound, and I have met so many people within the community that I would never have met before had I not had access to being out with my dog. My only comment is that I have been out in Washington Park, it’s a beautiful day on a Saturday, and we get kicked off the field, and there’s no sports going on. And there’s no kids going on, you know, playing in the field for soccer. If I see sports going on, I don’t even venture out with my dog. I know better. It could be used and also evening hours as well. I can’t get out super early in the morning, but I would like for more evening hours in Washington Park.” Amy Pentikoff – “I live over on Howard, one block away. One thing I would like to concur with what Shelley said about older people. It is really hard for older people to meet people in Burlingame, but since I have been a part of this dog community, I have made a lot of friends and I finally feel like a part of this community. And the second thing that I will say is I have this whole reference list of benefits of off-leash dog areas. For not only dogs, but their owners and for the community in general. Dogs that get a lot of exercise are calmer, better behaved, and they are less aggressive and that is good for the community. The second thing I want to say is there is the dog park committee and none of this community is on it or even knew about it. I saw that it was formed in 2020, but there is no one other than Parks and Rec and City Council on it.” Kelly McDonnell – “Unfortunately, I don’t have the opportunity to walk my dog during the day. I work, as most of us have to have two incomes just to live in this beautiful City. I like to be able to walk him in the evenings. I would never go on the ballfield when there are games. I am a super responsible dog owner which I can vouch for probably 30 people behind me as well. We just want the opportunity to let our dogs go out and play and be safe and not feel like common criminals. And the fact that you are paying these people this much money to walk out and tell us to put our dogs on a leash is ridiculous.” Lindsey Van Voorhs – “I live near Ray Park. I’ve got a 13-year-old 95-pound dog with bad hips and bad knees. I can’t get him in the card, so I can’t take him to the other parks. I tried to take him to the sort of dirt area, and he hates it. It’s just wood chips. It hurts his paws. So, it would be nice to have some time at Ray Park. I think it’s, as lots of people have said, incredibly responsible community, and it’s just sort of fun to be out and meet neighbors – it’s one of the better places to do it. So, I hope the group can consider some off-leash time so the cops don’t have to be called all the time.” Katherine – “Thank you for your report, it was really great. I’ve been walking my dogs in the community for quite some time. I’m newer to Washington Park. As my son said, “Why is it against the rules to be here?”. Like why are we teaching kids that a thing that happens every day is against the law, that is one. Two: The dog community is really great, and we’ve had baby showers in Washington Park. We are having a going away party. It is a huge part of the community both Ray Park and Washington Park. The community comes together, and because of the fields, there is enough space for the dogs to spread out. I have never seen a significant dog fight in either of the fields because of the amount of space. It gives the dogs the ability to sort of like not conflict. I think that is one of the reasons, community, community, community.” 9 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Sandra Pam – “I have been in this community for 38 years and thank you for serving our community and trying to find balance in what our needs are. I have been a soccer mom, a softball mom and have been on the Burlingame Girls Softball board. I have felt that I was part of the community, part of the core community. But I have aged, my children are gone, and now I have a pet as a companion, I need a community, and the people behind me are my community. And we are here because we love the City. I would always think that Burlingame is a city that brings a higher standard for our community’s well-being. I feel that right now, it is a not in my backyard mentality. If you want dog off-leash, don’t be around here. Go somewhere further away. Skyline is not an appropriate place for dogs, and Bayshore is not. Cuernavaca is closed, and Ray Park has a back area that a resident is complaining about all the time. Where would you like us to go? As homeowners, as taxpayers of this community, we like to be included and feel part of this community where our dogs and us can all exist.” David Ivester – “In my sixty seconds, I would like to focus on Skyline Park. I think that if that park was improved to be more hospitable to dogs and people, it would take some of the pressure off all the other parts because Skyline is an all-year, all-day park, and that’s really what is needed. A couple of suggestions and how it could be improved is first vegetation management right now, it is half weeds and half bare ground, probably three-quarters weeds, one-quarter bare ground. And the weeds, it is not just cutting it, it is the mix of plants, there are too many. Pickers and stickers are basically in that park, and that is why people don’t want to go there. Some rangeland management could change the mixture of vegetation. The other problem is that with the addition of the walk way with the handrail, it has cut off access to the water fountain that is next to the other. The other place is from inside the park. There is no way reasonably to get to it and so that would be a nice fix as well.” Meaghan Dunne – “I am currently the Burlingame Girls Softball president, and I am a dog owner and dog lover. I am also a very social person and understand the need for community, and that community feel. On the flip side of that, I would love to say that all of the dogs that are running off-leash at Ray Park are always as well-behaved as everyone is saying, but I carry poop bags in my gear bag so that I can go ahead and spend the first couple of minutes of every practice cleaning up. So, it isn’t, unfortunately, across the board and it does affect the time that we spend with our players, us being volunteers out there. I didn’t sign up to be BGS president and, you know, jump into this, nor do I ever feel like I want to police other citizens that are out there, but it does scare some of the players when it happens when dogs are running through when we’re practicing, it’s very, very distracting. I have watched time and again dogs do dig up in the wetter months. I think the vast majority of dog owners are very responsible, unfortunately, it is not everybody.” Diane – “I and my husband Chris are new dog owners and also new homeowners. A few things came out to me. One is that the majority of people here are dog owners, and homeowners is a highlight of the home ownership aspect. We partly bought this area after moving from Palo Alto because of Washington Park. And so, I think as a point of contention, this will affect a lot of the homeownership that is in this area. And the second aspect, I understand the concern for dog poop and with and with a lot of kids and kids in the area. I, myself am a pediatric anesthesiologist for the City and for Stanford, so I have seen dog bites. I know those what those causes are, and often, they are from etiquette from between child and dog. And I often think that, you have to have an understanding of what that means. By policing us as dog owners doesn’t help a child to understand change. What needs to be happening, and I think that that’s part of the reason some accidents 10 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 happen to improve this is not necessarily to get rid of dogs but to work together to figure out a solution.” Angelique – “I live across the street in an apartment, so, having a dog, we really like to utilize this space. I have heard people complaining about grass being dug up. What I have not heard, and perhaps this is a separate issue, is that there are lot of motorized bicycles that have been in the park, and those have also been ruining the grass, and I don’t think there is much policing of those. I want to see the park being used by children, but where is the responsibility on their parents or for them if they are on these motorized bikes, practically motorcycles. Also, I have had to watch out for them than for other dogs, on and off-leash. I know that may be a separate issue, but I definitely want that to be on everybody’s radar because that is also a safety issue we are having, and it is going beyond, I hear it at 10pm.” Kim Donnellan – “I have lived in Burlingame my entire life. My parents live on one side of Ray Park, and that is where I grew up, and I now live on the other side. I moved there because I love the area. We do not have kids. This is our community. All our friends, every single one of them, are people we have met at the park. I’ve seen old friends who no longer can afford to live in the area. I see their parents and I can catch up with them. It is a huge part of our community, and I keep thinking about all of the money we spend on people to police it, to resource it, and we’re talking about a bag of dirt and some grass seed. How expensive is that compared to paying for people to go there. All of the issues that use that we are seeing if we had designated hours, there would be no overlap, if we could have hours, there is no overlap with softball, and there is no overlap with kids playing there. When we know that those hours are designated, kids shouldn’t be walking across the field unattended and being in a dangerous situation – those are dog park hours. I think it is really important to look at the community here and see this is what we are asking for. This is what we are saying, and I don’t see that representation or being considered the survey was completely biased, and even then, that data spoke and said that people want this.” Laura Syracuse – “I just want to piggyback what everyone has said here. I thank you for the time and the opportunity. I think by the show of this community, we’re here to be with you and identifying the problem. But more importantly, or more specifically, identifying a solution in collaborating with you and that is what a community does. So, I hope you can recognize by the show of support, we want a seat on this committee in some shape or form or any way, but the energy that we bring is to be a part of the solution. That is what I am about, that is what we are about and so we appreciate the time.” Paula Sashtev – “I have been a resident for 16 years. It is clear that the dog park at Ray Park just isn’t working because people continue to use the athletic field instead. I’m wondering has anyone considered using Village Park and fencing off the field there and using that. The children could still play in the playground. We could have hours for Village Park to use as a dog park, as an option, as an alternative. I think we need dog parks in the community in the evening hours – people are working during the day, and when they get home, they want to take care of the dogs. They need to be socialized and exercised, and we need these areas in the community within walking distance as opposed to driving up to Skyline and I think the dirt parks are, you know, the dirt on the ground is a huge issue, we need an alternative surfaces for dogs as opposed to pure dirt.” 11 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Allison Pariani – “I live near Ray Park. I am a dog owner, and I also have girls that play softball. As far as I am aware, I completely understand people want to have a place for their dogs to run off-leash. But as far as I am aware, Ray Park is designated by the City as a sports field. It is not a park, it is not a place for dogs to run around, and I don’t know any other city on the peninsula that has a sports field that has off-leash dog hours. I know that my girls have been navigating around dogs, dog poop, and people letting their dogs off-leash, it doesn’t matter if there are hours or not, people are going to have their dogs running around.” Emails received: Barbara Smith – “I want to thank the town of Burlingame for the off-leash dog hours on the Washington park field. This field provides a much-needed space for residents to exercise their pets while at the same time providing an invaluable place for residents to meet up and socialize on a daily basis. This is especially welcome after the isolation we suffered during the pandemic. Over the years I have spent many hours on the field with my dogs and have made great friendships there. I have observed very responsible dog ownership and a self-monitoring and clean-up of not only dogs but of dog owners taking pride in the cleanliness of the field and cleaning up trash etc left after games and events. Nearly 50% of US households have at least one dog, many Americans consider their pets part of the family especially seniors, empty nesters and singles living alone. These demographics are more vulnerable to isolation and pets provide a very positive influence on the health and well-being of these people. The flexibility of the field provides adequate time and space for people to move through in smaller groups so interactions are successful. Thank you for being part of the solution and providing the space for people to socially thrive!” Chris Chai – “I am writing to emphasize the crucial need for continued support and use of the Washington Park dog off-leash areas, especially during the summer months. Our community thrives on the bond built through our pets, who are integral members of Burlingame. We urge for extended hours and days during summer when the park is not used by sports or camps. Dogs deserve fair representation, space, and designated times for socialization. Burlingame families and responsible dog owners are proud members of this city, and our pets are family, not just pets. Please consider our plea for extended hours and continued support for our four-legged loved ones.” Christine Enriquez – “I have been a resident of Burlingame for a year and a half. I specifically chose to live in Burlingame because of how dog-friendly it is. Since moving here, my dog and I have frequented Washington Park and it has been great! Not only does the field provide a safe haven for my dog to run around freely in, with no risk of being hit by a car or getting injured by unsafe turf/grounds, but it also provides a safe space for him to interact with other dogs and learn to cohabitate with them and other people. Apart from the dogs being able to socialize and let out much-needed energy, the dog parents at Washington Park have given me a community to be a part of. A community of people who genuinely care about one another and that looks out for each- others’ dogs when needed. This has played an extremely positive role in mine and my dog’s life, and I can’t imagine having it taken away. The dog community I speak of has been extremely good and conscientious about picking up our dogs’ waste. Washington Park has been the cleanest off leash park I’ve ever been to because we know how important this space is for us. We are not perfect and we don’t claim to be. However, we do our best to keep a clean environment so that we can maintain the privilege we have of being there. Although I understand the concerns the council has regarding off-leash privileges, I hope you will consider the positive aspect of off-leash hours as 12 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 well: better-behaved dogs in the community, happier residents and dogs who get to socialize and exercise simultaneously, and a wonderful community that only want the best for our dogs, whom we consider family. Thank you for your time.” Cindy Sibley – “Thanks for collecting information about dogs in Burlingame. It’s clear this is a significant issue to many people. I have been bringing my dogs to local dog parks in Burlingame for 20 years. I know recently there has been more of an effort to enforce the City rules which I think has brought up an important issue. Based on the use of the off-leash dog parks and people using the parks outside the allowable times, it’s clear more, consistent, year-round, off-leash time is needed. I believe that if there was reasonable amount of year-round access to off-leash time at the parks, people would be able to follow the rules and that would make the park use better for everyone. Right now, there is so little off-leash time allowed at Washington Park (nothing in the winter or summer, nothing on the weekends, nothing in the late afternoons or evenings). The rules may make sense theoretically, but in practice the rules do not seem to be related to field maintenance or when the field is occupied. We need more time and flexibility. The dog owners are a wonderful group of citizens with well socialized dogs. I believe the dog owners will happily follow the guidelines when there is a clear, consistent, yea- round schedule that allows off-leash time. Instead of spending our resources enforcing unreasonable rules, let’s work together to find solutions that benefit everyone. This will both solve the problem and build community. Thanks so much for your time and for looking for save solutions.” David McAlindon – “I am reaching out to you as a Burlingame resident for the past 25 years. I have also owned dogs for a majority of those years. It has been wonderful to have the access and abilities to walk through the park as well as using the off-leash areas for my dog and others to play and grow together. It has provided the ability for our dogs to become well trained and behaved dogs as our group watches out for all our dogs. We hold each other accountable as well. Aside from the dog activity it is also to be a part of a wonderful community of owners that have grown together sharing friendships and lives. Seeing a child smile when they get the opportunity to get close to a well-trained dog for the first time is priceless. We have also grown close to elderly during their strolls in the park. One in particular is suffering from a disease and being able to share my dog with him while we sit and chat brings back all his memories of owning dogs in his lifetime. Thank you for your time and regardless of how this situation unfolds I as well as others will continue to do the right thing for our community and its members.” Jason Yip – “I understand there's a meeting tonight to discuss banning dogs from the dog park and I'm imploring you to reconsider your position. Dogs in Hillsborough and Burlingame have so few places they can go and roam free, and it seems like this policy is being driven by non-dog owners who are lacking in empathy for the plight of these wonderful companions who bring joy and comfort to us and our children. In an age where many of us, especially our children, struggle with mental health challenges, our dog is our lifeline and has really helped our teenage kids. We don’t have a fenced-in backyard and need a place for our dog to learn social skills and run around to get exercise. Given everything she gives to our family, it’s only fair for us to give her the same If you, or anyone on your committee has ever gone to a dog park, you will see it filled with people who have good intentions and clean up after their dogs. When we see an errant poop, we also pick those up as well. Being a dog owner requires someone with a sense of moral and civic responsibility, and we are good intentioned people who are willing to come up with creative ideas 13 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 to help out and do the right thing for everyone. Please know there are options, if you're just willing to consider them. It would mean the world to my dog and countless others.” Jill Johnson – “I am a two-dog owner and have been coming to Washington Park for years with my dogs. It is a wonderful community of dogs and dog owners. It’s a social place not only for humans, but our furry friends. My understanding is that access to the park/s with our dogs may be in jeopardy. I am unable to attend the meeting tonight so am making my voice heard on email instead. PLEASE don’t restrict our access. We are a responsible group of people who are just trying to be outside in a secure place where our dogs can play and socialize. Is there an occasional poop that gets missed? Yes. But do other responsible dog owners come in and clean up what may not be theirs? Yes. I liken it to an unflushed public toilet, or the toilet our male friends urinate all over and don’t clean up. Some folks just aren’t as responsible as others, but this is true across the board and in all areas of life. Washington Park is a HUGE park. Yes, we share it with baseball teams, but I would never bring my dog there, unleashed, while a game is in play. For the bulk of the day Washington Park sits wide open with almost no one on it. Why can’t we continue to use this space in the designated hours with our dogs - it is for the community to enjoy and share, right? How about making the outfield a bit smaller since no one can hit a ball that far over the fence anyway? Create a dog run at the back of the park. If we take this space away from dog owners we have a missed opportunity for community members and their beloved animals to socialize, get some exercise and enjoy a public space that should remain public and accessible to ALL of us. Don’t let a few snarky, loud-mouthed anti-dog people ruin this for the rest of us. There were probably 30 dogs there this morning and it was such great energy. Please don’t take this away from us.” Linda Ryan – “Hi, I’m Linda Ryan from 1532 Drake avenue. I’ve raised 4 Bernese mountain dogs and 2 basset hounds in Burlingame since 1997. I’m saddened to see how inhospitable the town has become towards dogs and dog owners. In a town that’s gotten more and more expensive to live there are less and less open spaces for dogs and dog owners to socialize. We ALL pay tax and deserve some time in our public parks. The dog owners are locals who are responsible, kind and friendly and just want to exercise their dogs so please reconsider the restrictive “off leash dog” policies. Please stop making Burlingame at lousy place for dogs and dog owners to live. And lastly, people are going to let their dogs off leash no matter what you do so why not be practical and let dog owners have some free time in the parks.” Lisa Hu – “I would like to extend my support in keeping Washington baseball fields open to our dog community. I’ve been a Burlingame resident for 25 years and have met more neighbors and friends through this dog park community than through the multiple exercise classes or kid’s programs that I’ve enrolled throughout the years. I understand some of the concerns about the cost of maintenance of the fields and keeping them poop free. I suggest creating a program that allows dog parents to enroll their pups to use the field (similar to signing up for camp/classes) and hopefully keep the field open throughout the year. I believe there would be enough interests and enrollment to pay for any additional maintenance fees. There are so many families here with dogs and yet I find the City limiting more open spaces in our parks for our pets. I truly hope the Parks and Recreation Commission will serve the wider community and see the need in providing a safe, clean open space for our family pets.” 14 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Linda Ryan – “I’m Linda Ryan from 1532 Drake avenue. I’ve raised 4 Bernese mountain dogs and 2 basset hounds in Burlingame since 1997. I’m saddened to see how inhospitable the town has become towards dogs and dog owners. In a town that’s gotten more and more expensive to live there are less and less open spaces for dogs and dog owners to socialize. We ALL pay tax and deserve some time in our public parks. The dog owners are locals who are responsible, kind and friendly and just want to exercise their dogs so please reconsider the restrictive “off leash dog” policies. Please stop making Burlingame at lousy place for dogs and dog owners to live. And lastly, people are going to let their dogs off leash no matter what you do so why not be practical and let dog owners have some free time in the parks.” Marisa McGinnis – “I am an advocate for MORE access for dogs. I have been to all the Burlingame Dog Parks in Burlingame: Washington, Ray Park, Skyline, Burlingame Exercise Park, Cuernavaca Park etc. I have met my current best friends at these parks. It is a place where all you need is a dog (well-trained of course) and you are accepted as part of the group without judgment. This is a great social setting and fosters connection, friendship and an exchange of ideas. Yes, dogs poop as do humans. Those of us who are responsible, which includes the majority, pick up our dogs' poop and also “unclaimed” poop left by distracted owners. I personally also pick up 3-4 pieces of trash every morning and afternoon and deposit it in a trash can. There is no “loneliness crises” for dog park people. We have a consistent 7-day a week community. Dog parks and expanded access are good for the mental health of Burlingame residents whether or not you own a dog.” Sandra Pan – “As a resident of Burlingame for 38 years, I kindly request your consideration for extending and standardizing the hours of our local field. This would transform it into a versatile space without incurring additional maintenance and monitoring expenses. Burlingame has a long- standing reputation as a dog-friendly community. However, our current four off-leash options are insufficient for the 1800+ registered dogs in our area, which serve over 12,000+ households. Furthermore, with over 2400 proposed housing units set to be added in the next few years, we anticipate a significant increase in our canine population. The demand for open space and off-leash exercise areas will inevitably rise. It's well-known that socialization and exercise are vital for the well-being of our four-legged companions. Washington Park Field is a unique location within our community, offering a large open space within walking distance for many of the neighborhoods with dogs to gather. Its grassy field provides an ideal environment for dogs to run and socialize without fear of foxtails, ticks, and harmful root systems. However, the current off-leash hours do not accommodate working families (no late afternoon and evening hours). Many elderly residents also depend on the neighborhood parks for their canines to get exercise. I firmly believe that the Parks and Recreation department is responsible for maintaining an inclusive environment for the entire community. While commendable efforts are made to upkeep sports fields and playgrounds, we hope that our dogs are not seen as burdens but rather as valued members of our community. Therefore, the park system should reflect our community's overarching commitment to providing a space where all members of the community can gather.” Stephanie Parker – “I am writing to urge you to consider extending off-leash privileges for dogs in our community parks and public spaces. Allowing dogs to exercise off-leash has significant benefits for their health, the well-being of their owners, and the broader community. Firstly, dogs require ample exercise to maintain their physical and mental health. Off-leash activities allow them to run, play, and socialize more naturally, reducing the risk of obesity, anxiety, and behavioral 15 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 issues. Regular exercise also promotes better cardiovascular health and longevity. Secondly, off- leash areas foster community engagement and socialization among residents. Dog owners are more likely to interact and form connections when their pets are allowed to play freely. These interactions can strengthen community bonds, reduce social isolation, and create a more cohesive neighborhood. Lastly, off-leash privileges can enhance the overall quality of life in our city. By providing designated spaces for dogs to be off-leash, we can reduce the likelihood of conflicts in other public areas, promote responsible pet ownership, and encourage outdoor activities. This approach aligns with the city's goals of promoting a healthy, active lifestyle for all residents. In conclusion, extending off-leash privileges offers considerable benefits for dogs, their owners, and the entire community. I respectfully request that you support measures to increase off-leash areas in our city. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.” Sheri Bernstein – “I’ve just learned there is a meeting tonight to discuss banning dogs from the parks. As a dog owner of a gentle, social Golden Retriever, I'm imploring you to reconsider your position. Dogs in Burlingame have so few places they can go and roam free, especially grassy areas. The official dog parks are less than ideal with the burrs that get in their paws and stick to their fur, the bugs and tics, (not to mention the 'beware of snakes' sign at the last one I took my dog to). It appears this policy is being put in place by non-dog owners, most of us don't have huge backyards and need a place for our dogs to learn social skills and run around to get exercise. If you, or anyone on your committee has ever gone to a dog park in the morning, you would know it's filled with people who have good intentions and clean up after their dogs. When we see an errant poop, we are just as irritated and will clean up after someone else. I’ve never witnessed any aggressive dog behavior that wasn’t remedied in a timely manner. We are well intentioned people who are willing to come up with creative ideas to help out, for example, we each could pay an additional fee to the city in order to get access to the parks. If my dog isn’t allowed in the parks, we will be on the Avenue and in more crowded places looking for socialization. Unfortunately, this will not only limit his exercise, he’ll be relieving himself where more people have daily contact and his leashed walks could be more disruptive to all when encountering other leashed dogs. I have found quite a few dogs whose owners say their dog is only reactive while on leash. I really hope you’ll reconsider this ban. By allowing dogs in the parks during specified hours, you maintain control. Please know there are options, if you're just willing to consider them. It would mean the world to my dog and countless others.” Steven Pham – “I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed restrictions on off-leash dog areas in Washington Park. As a San Mateo county resident and regular visitor to the park with my dog, I believe these changes would negatively impact both the local community and the well-being of our pets. Here are several reasons why maintaining off-leash areas in Washington Park is crucial; 1. Outlet for High-Energy Dogs: Off leash areas provide an essential space for dogs to expend their energy. This not only keeps the dogs healthy and happy but also prevents high-energy dogs from acting out in public places. Restricting these areas may lead to more behavioral issues and disturbances in other parts of the community. Personally, playing fetch is how I connect with my dog but this activity cannot be done on leash; 2. Community Building: The off-leash areas foster a welcoming community for dog owners. These spaces are where friendships are formed, and support networks are built. By limiting these areas, we risk losing a valuable aspect of our community life; 3. Minimal Disruption: Dog owners are generally considerate and use these areas responsibly, especially when other people are not using the fields or communal park areas. Punishing the entire community of dog 16 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 owners for isolated incidents is not a fair or effective approach; 4. Economic Benefits: It is possible to maximize the county's revenue from communal spaces while accommodating dog owners. For instance, designating specific areas or times for off-leash activities, such as after work hours, would be more practical and beneficial for working individuals; 5. Community Involvement: Major changes to park rules should involve community input and possibly a vote or inclusion on a ballot. This ensures that the voices of all park users are heard and considered. Well-trained dogs, cared for by responsible adults, are not simply animals to be confined to a leash in large open spaces. They are beloved family members who deserve the freedom to explore and enjoy their environment. Their lives are significantly shorter than ours, yet they live with a joy and enthusiasm that enrich our own lives immensely. By allowing them the space and freedom to run and play, we are not only honoring their needs but also maximizing the precious time we have to connect with them. This connection is invaluable and essential for both the dogs and their owners. In conclusion, I urge the county to reconsider the proposed restrictions and seek a balanced solution that accommodates the needs of dog owners while maintaining the park's communal value. Your attention to this matter and willingness to involve the community in decision-making processes is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration.” Sue Monroe – “Thank you for giving the community an opportunity to share feedback regarding off leash access on the fields adjacent to Washington Park. I moved to the neighborhood 3 years ago after living in San Francisco for 20 years. As I do not have children, I was unsure how I would forge a connection to my new environment. One extremely rewarding way I have done so is through my experiences during the off-leash dog hours getting to know the wonderful members of this community (and their canines). Retaining and marginally expanding access to this off-leash dog time is extremely valued and will continue to be in growing demand as the community and the number of families with dogs increases. This particular parcel of land is preferred over other designated areas (such as Skyline or Ray Park) for various reasons: Centralized location, favorable topography (flat, grassy, large, enclosed) that supports safety and opportunity for proper exercise Access by foot, but also safe parking available The benefits of this access are ample but can be summarized in the following ways: Creation and fostering of individual human friendships and bonds that benefit Burlingame every day. This is a special, caring group that has grown substantially since I lived here… because we have a common love of our dogs, and we have a common place to meet. The fostering of a pet community that is both well exercised and socialized. It makes better canine citizens, which in turn is safer for our community. The ask is not for unbounded access for dog play. Youth sports are a key activity for the fields, and that should absolutely continue. There is ample room for modest compromise, namely carve-outs for specific hours that do not conflict with sports activities. This community is responsible, and in my experience the errant/irresponsible dog owner (or bad behaving dog) is uncommon. If anything, the group gently self-polices in support of positive behaviors and remedies issues if they do arise. Because of this group, we know each other, we’re repeatedly together, and therefore being anonymous is hard (in other words, it naturally reduces the so-called cases of “bad actors”). Having dedicated hours will further reduce those outliers who choose to not follow the rules or guidelines. Ultimately, the residents of this community want to have a voice that is heard and reflected in the policies, activities, and priorities of the city council. Burlingame has an overwhelming number of residents who passionately want to have continued off-leash access to the fields. With this in mind, please give proper consideration to a growing and underserved segment of this community: Put this topic on the local ballot -- let the entire community evaluate and decide, rather than a few council members who may underappreciate its value Hold the dog owners accountable – give us a 17 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 voice and a position on a dog advisory committee (or some equivalent) so we can engage with the city employees to be informed as issues arise and ensure the field is being maintained. Let’s be intentional to collect real and specific local data as part of that accountability. Let’s consider a dog booster group – we’re already informal ambassadors of the off-leash access; let us visibly/publicly show our appreciation to the council for our access to off-leash time while also raising or contributing some bucks for incidental maintenance costs that might be associated with this usage. It is an opportunity for Burlingame to become an example for other neighboring communities, and I hope we can embrace the situation with a willingness to adopt positive and less restrictive solutions.” Teri Handelman – “I understand there's a meeting tonight to discuss banning dogs from the dog park and I'm imploring you to reconsider your position. Dogs in Burlingame have so few places they can go and roam free that it seems like this policy is being put in place by non-dog owners who are lacking in empathy for the plight of these amazing creatures. Most of us don't have huge backyards and need a place for our dogs to learn social skills and run around to get exercise. If you, or anyone on your committee has every gone to a dog park in the morning, you would know it's filled with people who have good intentions and clean up after their dogs. When we see an errant poop, we also pick those up as well. We are good intention people who are willing to come up with creative ideas to help out, for example, we each could pay an additional fee to the city in order to get access to the parks. Please know there are options, if you're just willing to consider them. It would mean the world to my dog and countless others.” Chair Milne closed public discussion. Commissioner Chang inquired if there were any issues aside from what Supervisor Coggins mentioned in the staff report, any examples from parks staff, or experiences with the field with dog owners that have transpired. Parks Superintendent Holtz noted it has been typical of what has been seen in recent years. There are feces issues. It is a daily occurrence. The larger issue is with the turf; Ray Park is particularly damaged by dog urine. Dogs generally urinate over and over in the same spot, which alters the pH and causes the grass to turn yellow. There have also been a couple of dog incidents in the back of Washington Park where patrons request police officer assistance because of either dogs attacking one another or a dog attacking a child. In a lot of instances, it isn’t the actual person who was attacked who wants to prosecute, but it is someone who was nearby and who is very traumatized whether they have a child or not with a child scared of dogs. Dogs also interrupt the park's staff maintenance cycle. Glomstad mentioned that the installation of fencing on the upper field at Cuernavaca Park was explored, but the community did not support it during the public process. However, it may be something that can be explored again if a significant group of people is willing to support it. Village Park was also discussed as an off-leash area, but the neighbors were strongly against it at that time. Staff is aware of the e-bike issues, and they will be discussed in a future Council meeting. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Approval to Modify Washington Main Baseball Field to Accommodate Additional Sports and Age Groups 18 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Glomstad reviewed the staff report. Regardless of the specific sport or City program, each organization has experienced an increase in participation numbers and has increased the seasons in which they play. This has resulted in greater requests for more time on the already highly used City-managed fields each season. Staff has been working on options to increase available field space within the existing supply. The lack of field space also impacts the City's Adult Softball program, which the Parks and Recreation Department runs. Staff has been working with the Burlingame Youth Baseball Association (BYBA) to facilitate a fair division of field space to accommodate both programs. Bayside Park is the only location that can presently accommodate adult softball. This is because of regulations for adult slow-pitch softball regarding base and outfield distance and the need for field lighting for evening play. Currently, Bayside #1 and #2 fields are the only options for adult softball. These fields are predominantly allocated to the BYBA. However, despite the best efforts in scheduling, there still isn't adequate field time for both programs' needs. To address the lack of space and update the Field Use policy, an Ad Hoc Committee comprised of two City Council members, three Parks and Recreation Commissioners, and three City staff is working with the field user organization representatives. Recognizing the financial limitations of expanding field infrastructure, staff have redirected their efforts towards optimizing the utilization of existing fields efficiently and equitably. This has occurred by evaluating each field and, where possible, increasing the number of available slots. In addition, staff looked for opportunities where simple modifications to existing fields could increase usage. When evaluating Washington Main infield, staff noticed that its current configuration caters exclusively to participants aged twelve and older who play baseball, thereby restricting its use to only Burlingame High School (BHS) baseball and the Burlingame Youth Baseball Association (BYBA). By reconfiguring the infield layout, Washington Main would generate additional opportunities for other ages and programs. The field's design features infield grass with a raised pitching mound, resulting in a baseline distance of ninety feet and a pitching rubber placement of 60.5 feet. While this setup suits baseball players aged twelve and above, it excludes participants of all ages in softball and youth baseball under twelve. Introducing a more adaptable baseline configuration would enhance the field's versatility, allowing a broader spectrum of community members to utilize it. Furthermore, removing the pitching mound would further expand the field's appeal across various age groups. Both proposals have the same effect: an increase in the options for youth baseball and all levels of softball. If the Adult Softball League transitioned to use Washington Main, it would free up between 6 to 8 slots a week at Bayside Fields when in season. Washington Main's modification will also potentially lead to higher utilization rates of Washington Main during the weekdays and weekends for softball groups of all levels. Last fall, Burlingame Girls Softball (BGS) was strained for field usage due to flag football on Ray Park between 3:30- 19 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 6:30pm Monday through Thursday. Modifying the field would open slots for BGS at Washington Main in the fall. BYBA would also have additional slots to practice and play games. Proposal 1: Keep a portion of the infield grass and remove the pitching mound. This option would include: 1. Cut the grass back to create a baseline for the different base distances. a. Possible options include 55, 60, 65, 70, 80, and 90 feet, depending on the age of participants. 2. Removal of the pitching mound. a. Install multiple pitching rubbers at required distances to accommodate baseball and softball at varying age levels. 3. Parks staff would need to change the underground irrigation system to maintain the adjusted area of grass surrounding the unraised pitching mound. 4. Organizations that require an elevated mound would need to have one onsite. Proposal 2: Remove the infield grass and pitching mound. This option would include: 1. Removal of all of the grass. 2. Removal of the current irrigation system (thereby saving water and significant staff time). 3. Removal of the pitching mound. a. Install multiple pitching rubbers at required distances to accommodate baseball and softball at varying age levels. Organizations that require an elevated mound will need to have one onsite. b. Allow the ability to install different base distances with minimal limitations. i. Possible distances include 40, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80 and 90 feet. Glomstad also stated that a third option would be to do nothing and leave the field as is. The fiscal impact of either proposal is $19,580 and $21,640, respectively. Glomstad noted that the Parks Capital Improvement Program Athletic Field Renovation Fund has adequate funds to cover either proposal. Recreation Manager Acquisti noted she wanted to ensure that either of the options was safe for users. She spoke with CIF, California Interscholastic Federation, the organization that runs all the high school programs throughout California. They confirmed nothing in the high school regulations about a grass infield. The National Federation of High Schools rulebook has nothing against portable pitching mounds. If the field is turf, then the pitching mound is portable. Acquisti noted that while it may be safe, it is probable that CIF would not recommend the field for playoffs with the changes as proposed. 20 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Acquisti stated that the average revenue vs. expenditures for the last five years would generally be about $32,000 in revenue due to rentals and for expenditures (maintenance) of approximately $40,462 per year. These totals are for the infield only and do not include water usage. Commissioner Yu asked if the removal of the dirt mound would have any negative repercussions on gameplay. Acquisti noted that portable mounds are safe. However, it is not ideal. Portable mounds have different qualities depending on how much is spent. There is also the work of dragging the mounds in and out, which takes a couple of people to accomplish. Commissioner Holzman asked if every user group would have to have their portable mound. Acquisti noted that BYBA already has portable mounds they use at Bayside Fields. This would only affect the high school. They are the only baseball group that uses Washington Park Field. Holzman stated she thought the idea was to open it so others could use it. Acquisti noted this is the case for organizations with portable mounds. Commissioner Milne inquired if it would be mostly BYBA using the field. Glomstad noted that adult softball could be moved to open up time at Bayside Fields. Milne noted that adult softball needs a dirt infield, so the only proposal that would work for that is proposal two. He inquired what proposal one would accommodate. Acquisti noted this would accommodate other groups with younger participants. Commissioners inquired about the ratio of un-scheduleable adult games in the evenings at Bayside. Staff has limited the league to a cap, as only so many games can be played with the time and space available. Commissioner Wettan asked why adult softball cannot currently play on Washington Field. Superintendent Holtz stated they play at a shorter distance, with the pegs being set up at 90 feet for adult or high school play, so any other group will use a shorter distance. They do not want to slide on grass or dirt. They need to slide on decomposed granite or a clay infield. Because of the infield, these cannot be moved or changed. The other field at Washington is too small for softball play. Commissioner Brunello spent time reading the staff report and talking to knowledgeable people on this subject, and he learned that portable pitching mounds are far from ideal. They are expensive, over $6,000 for a good one, and last a limited time. He also learned that Washington Field is a cherished gem by the community. He does not know that either of the proposals is the best solution. An alternative is putting a fence on Bayside 3 on the short field or moving to wooden bats. He thinks there are alternate ideas out there as options. Commissioner Chang asked if the fiscal impact stated in the staff report was installation and ongoing maintenance. Holtz noted it is just the setup only. Maintenance costs would be less over time than they currently cost. Chang also asked if there were potential drainage issues with either proposal. Holtz noted that all the parks have varying degrees of drainage under them. The proposal would be wet, but not more than it currently is as grass. 21 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Chair Milne opened public comment. Eric Nuss – “I am City of Burlingame employee working as an adult scorekeeper for the softball teams out there for the Dad’s clubs and Wednesday and Thursday nights on the fields. I am a 49- year-old resident of Burlingame, also a 25-year plus coach at Burlingame High School for all levels. I am a big advocate for the youth baseball at BYBA and BGS. My concerns are two-fold, one being moving to a all skim infield for high school level programs is not appropriate regardless of what CIF says or what the state says. There is not one field that us as a high school play on that is all dirt. There is not one field that us as a high school play on that we bring out a portable mound. Yes – is there turf mounds? Yes, but they are not lugging them on and off the field. They are heavy, they are expensive and they are tough to work with. On that note, I would like to flip a hat and provide as a City of Burlingame employee with softball perspective – the dad’s league is a fantastic league, they are all part of BYBA, BSG, and soccer club communities. They are all out there for the right reasons, and it is a true beer dads league. The other two nights are fifty/fifty residents and non-residents, so it is a different level clientele as far as competitiveness, but those groups are great, there are some issues. I see that there is field time available over at Bayside for adult softball by adding a game at the end of each day, say a 9:50 start, and there is no softball out there on Fridays.” Gary Tom – “I am representing BYBA, and to answer the question of whether we would use Washington main, I don’t believe that would be the case. There’s been a couple of times where we asked to for it because there’s and older group that wanted to try playing on 60”/90”, but it’s not a regular occurrence by any means. My issue is the last couple of years, we have been getting squeezed, less and less time, not that we need the time, but the times we are allotted, 3:30 to7pm on Bayside 1 and 2, is not really reasonable because the kids do not get out of school until 3:15 pm. A lot of them take the bus, a lot of them have parents that are working. We are all volunteers in this, so for us to get off work to get there even earlier then we should be makes it difficult. So, what we have asked before is not to cut back anything on adult softball but to start them back at 8pm so we have that extra half hour so we can properly prepare the fields and warm up the kids. We have been cutting back on proper warmups and this can cause injury. We have a 4:45 start game just to get in a full game. Some kids are showing up right on time, so they don’t get a warm- up at all. Some are able to make it, that is maybe a third of the team. The rest of them are running in with shirts untucked, trying to get their shoes on and eating a snack. I really think we can work together on this rather than affect the high school program, which I think is a beautiful field. My son plays varsity baseball, and it is one of the best fields by far.” Meaghan Dunne – “I am with Burlingame Girls Softball; the board spoke, and we are very supportive of not doing anything to that beautiful field. We completely understand how diligently you are trying to find a way to make sure everybody has space, and I can’t tell you how much that is appreciated. I have kids in BYBA, BGS, and BSC, so I get it. I think that we can do a better job as users to try to see where we can help you guys out because I know that it is like jenga. It is managing all these little blocks of time. But I don’t think that disrupting the baseball field is a way of doing it. I spoke with a lot of dads on our board that say they would have less games in our league if it meant leaving the baseball field the same way it is. I think there are other creative ways to do it, and I think that this field that has been there for over a hundred years that is both sentimental to Burlingame as a community, in addition to being just an amazing facility really 22 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 prestigious programs from all over the peninsula come to play at, I think it would be a travesty to disrupt it.” Andrew Alfers – “I am the president of the BHS Athletic Boosters. Largely coming to echo a few salient points made earlier. I am an advocate for student athletes at Burlingame High School. I have coached with BYBA, BGS, and I am a current with BGS and I have played in the adult softball league in the past. That field is a baseball field despite what regulations may say. Making it an all-dirt infield, common sense would suggest, is going to degrade the environment for baseball. The group that uses it the most is the high school baseball team, and would continue to use it the most. And so, to degrade their experience for the benefit of potentially more adult softball just doesn’t add up. So, I ask you to consider that as you consider this proposal.” Steve Pariani – “I grew up here, live here, run my business here and have coached my kids, and with both BYBA and BGS. I remember Washington Park as a dirt field and it was awful. In the winter time is was muddy as can be and in the summer time it was dusty as well. The grass holds water and so it does not run towards home plate. In my opinion, that is one reason not to change it. That is why they built field at Bayside to alleviate the problem with adult softball. My dad used to play adult softball at Washington Park and I used to love to come and watch him but I remember how dusty and awful it was so that is why they build field 2 at Bayside. Field 2 is a beautiful field and is made for softball. That is what it is primarily used for. Washington grass field is one of the most beautiful in the peninsula. I think if you went around, you would not find anything prettier than this. Looking on the Burlingame Historical Society website, you can find photos of the field from 1925, with people playing on this field. It is a historic field, it is a beautiful field and we should cherish that. Change would benefit adult softball, possibly, but we know that it would hurt kid’s baseball. I don’t know about anyone else in this room, but I favor the kids.” Hank Sauer – “I have lived in Burlingame my entire life. I went to Burlingame High, and I played on the old dirt – it was terrible. I was here also when we decided to build field 2 at Bayside, which was going to alleviate the Washington Park field for us to put a grass infield which the City spent a lot of money doing, which BYBA redid after the city did it. To change that to accommodate what is really not necessarily Burlingame softball people because there is enough room at Bayside to accommodate all the Burlingame softball players of which I played 20 years of Burlingame softball. So, to take one of the best baseball fields on the peninsula, the only other I can think of is sunken diamond at Stanford. Even the field up at CSM is not comparable, especially when you take the grandstands into account. So, to change that and to basically go backwards in progression to accommodate what I would say are not resident softball players, and then to ruin the best field on the peninsula, I think, would be a travesty. And if you could go back and talk to the people at the rec center that were involved in that whole thing before and how wonderful it was to see that field be converted from a muddy dirt, dusty field to a beautiful baseball field. To change that would just be terrible, and I don’t think anybody that is involved in baseball or softball or any of our other programs would want that and also, by the way, as long a people pick up after their dogs – we don’t care.” Emails Received: Aaron Lau – “We, Aaron, Ben, and Holden, from the BHS baseball team, write with urgent concern regarding proposed changes to our beloved baseball field—specifically, the plans to 23 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 remove the infield grass and pitching mound. These elements are vital to the integrity and safety of our field; the infield grass provides predictable bounces and necessary traction for players, while the pitching mound ensures proper play and reduces injury risks for pitchers. Furthermore, our baseball program serves as a cornerstone for connection in the community and unity in Burlingame. Any alterations would impact not only the Burlingame baseball teams but also the entire Burlingame baseball community. We respectfully urge the City Council to reconsider these changes. We should find solutions that maintain the essence of our field and make the players and coaches a priority. Thank you for your attention and concern for this matter.” Al Delrosso – “Hi, I’m reaching out in regards to tonight’s rec meeting which will be discussing the field use policy update and options for Washington Park. It’s my understanding that letters can be read to the board at the meeting by sending them to you. I am a current resident born and raised in Burlingame, attended BHS (Class of 90), have coached both BYBA, BGS, and currently the Varsity Head Coach for BHS Softball. I’d like to start by saying I find the alternate field use options for Washington Park extremely disturbing and being brought on with little regard for those who play and use the main diamond. Secondly, the history behind that field and what it stands for and has stood for the City of Burlingame. Let’s put everything aside and just say what it is: a baseball field, first and foremost. If we look back, not that long ago, the beautiful grass was removed from this field in order to do the same thing you are proposing now and that is to use it as a multi-use field. Of course, that was before Bayside 2 was opened. I had the pleasure of playing on that S-Hole of a field when it was skinned dirt and a flat mound. Imagine the feeling of pitching a baseball up hill. I wonder if I would have led the PAL in total strikeouts pitching on a raised mound instead of finishing 2nd both my Junior and Senior Years at BHS. The day that Park and Rec decided to update the field and put in Grass and a raised mound was like heaven for me and every former player that had to play on that dirt. To see the field finished by Bob Disco and his crew at that time was an absolute Utopia, and thinking back to when the Burlingame Braves used that park as their home field brought me back to my youth. BHS has built now behind Shawn Scott and that beautiful park a solid program in which players want to come to BHS to play. To alter the field now would hinder the ability of the program to continue to be a destination for players. Don’t change that over beer league softball which I do play here in Burlingame. Don’t wrong the right which brought the field back to its glory.” Alfred Chu – “Please vote “no” on changing the Washington Park Baseball field to accommodate adult softball. We should not prioritize adult recreational sports over opportunities for our resident high school students. Removing the dirt pitching mound and switching to a portable pitching mound increases the risk of injury for our local high school baseball players. We should be creating opportunities and encouraging our youth to participate in their high school sports and not discourage them for the sake of adult softball, many who are not Burlingame residents. Please vote “NO” in this proposal.” Amanda Phillips – “I just received information this morning regarding the proposal to modify the Washington Park Baseball Field into an adult softball field. This proposal is appalling to our kids and community. As I'm sure you are aware, as it has been widely covered in our local news outlets, the BHS baseball team came in first place in our league for both Varsity and JV teams and begin their CCS journey on Saturday. That would not be possible without a baseball field to practice and play on. In fact, the first CCS game will be played at the Washington Park field. The BHS baseball program is outstanding and draws students to BHS specifically for baseball. Members of the 24 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 baseball community have been hoping that due to the success of the baseball program and notoriety the program gives Burlingame, that the parks and rec would actually invest more into the baseball field, such as turfing the field, maintaining/replacing the lights as they often do not work, and creating a separate area for dogs as owners continuously allow their dogs to urinate and leave fecal matter on the field, which is a health hazard. Instead, there is a proposal, not brought to the community with enough notice to respond appropriately or attend the council meeting, to completely eliminate the elements of the baseball field required for practice and games. As indicated in the proposal, adults in the community wanting to play softball have two (2) other field options. BHS student’s baseball players have zero (0) other options. Even if this proposal made accommodations for baseball, such as a portable mound, which it did not, a top-ranked program is not one with a portable mound. Student athletes at this level can be seriously injured on such mounds and it is not a viable option. This proposal strongly violates the public policy of prioritizing the health, safety, and welfare of our youth. Shame on these adults who conjured up this proposal. Our community has enough issues keeping teenagers from substances, gaming, and addictive social media to then take away the field of those dedicated and motivated to the sport of baseball. Even if the council was seriously considering eliminating the ability for BHS students to have a usable field, they should have done it when the updates to the BHS football field and gym were passed so as to allow BHS every possibility to develop a field elsewhere on school grounds. I sincerely hope the majority of council members see this proposal for what it is, an entitled and ignorant group of adults prioritizing themselves over our teenage students and promptly dismisses it. I could not be more disappointed in the lack of insight and concern for the wellbeing of our youth to those involved in preparing this proposal.” Andrew Alfers – “I'm writing to register my opposition to the Staff Recommendation that Burlingame change the configuration of Washington Park's main baseball diamond to remove the grass infield and pitching mound. Doing so would be a profound mistake. Key reasons cited in the staff report proposal, while plausible, are misleading: The report cites that the current configuration of the field limits its use to "only Burlingame High School baseball and the Burlingame Youth Baseball Association." That is clearly a false statement. I live near Washington Park, walking by it frequently. I have observed for years, including this spring, its regular use by some men's baseball teams and youth teams that do not appear to be affiliated with either entity; certainly, men's teams are not. Moreover, I know that private organizations have used it in prior years to practice because my son played for one who practiced at Washington Park. Even if the field space is used primarily by those organizations, it is put to frequent use throughout the year by BHS Baseball and the high school programs offered by BYBA when the Parks & Rec Staff have the field open (note: staff closes it for over two months during the winter). That is a factor in the long- running success of the BHS Baseball program, which is a source of community pride. The report cites that youth softball and baseball would benefit from the reconfiguration. This is misleading. While the reconfiguration would result in more field capacity overall, I coached BYBA Baseball and BGS Softball teams for years and still do for BGS. Washington Main is not a space with field dimensions that teams in either of these organizations need. My understanding is that the leaders of these organizations have communicated the same sentiment clearly to the Parks & Recreation Staff. Additional reasons why this proposal is misguided: I have played in the Burlingame men's softball league in the past. The field space at Bayside is fine for that softball league. I know that other players in the league believe similarly, including those who have written and voiced opposition to this proposal. Cuernavaca Park is in the process of being renovated with synthetic turf that has a softball configuration according to its plans. Its renovation enables it to get more 25 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 frequent use. Leverage it to address the need cited in the proposal. The Washington Park main diamond is a jewel, and it is the only public field configured for baseball. The Burlingame community knows this. Other high school communities recognize it because they want to play at Washington Park. Changing the configuration as proposed would clearly degrade the facility for those who value it. Washington Park main diamond is a unique place on the Peninsula and contributes to what Burlingame residents find valuable about living in our town. You will make a mistake if you approve this proposal. I encourage you to avoid making that mistake.” Andy MacMillan – “Our family was quite shocked this evening to learn that the city council plans to vote tomorrow to eliminate a high school level baseball field from the city of Burlingame without any type of notice given to the community. Washington Park has been the high school baseball field for many decades in this community. High school baseball is not played on a softball field with a temporary mound. It’s not safe and will not enable us to have other schools come to play at our field. This proposal is short-sighted in that it will alleviate a short-term need for more youth fields for baseball and softball only to have no place for these kids to play when they reach high school because you eliminated their high school baseball field! I’ve played softball as part of the adult softball league at Bayside Field. It’s a nice league, and I understand the need for more space. That said, it seems like better alternatives would be to add lighting to more fields or, alternatively, have the games go later into the evening. I’m also an adult league hockey player and often play in late games, that is part of how a community deals with access to limited resources. Eliminating a proper baseball field for our high school team to accommodate adult community softball is unfair to our kids and our community. More important, doing so without involvement from the community is not how things are done in Burlingame, and I hope you will, at a minimum, postpone this decision until feedback from the community can be heard.” Bernie Massey – “Thank you for taking the time to write to us regarding the Washington Park baseball field. Our commissioners will be discussing this topic tonight and so I will make sure that your comments are shared with them. Please feel free to join if you can either on Zoom or live at the community center this evening. We all appreciate the beauty and unique character of the baseball field and believe it is very important to get everyone’s input as we balance the need for additional field space with the longstanding history, tradition, and uniqueness of our special field. I do also want to point out that for the last several months, our city staff has been coordinating field user meetings that include all of the youth sports leaders and high school ADs. So, this is not something we have just raised to the community, but rather an ongoing conversation and one that affords the public an opportunity to comment tonight at our monthly commission meeting. This is the point at which we seek broader input during the decision-making process, and are grateful for your comments. We look forward to your continued participation.” Carolyn Quilici – “I have only just learned that there is a proposal to modify the baseball field at Washington Park to accommodate special interest groups. While the field in its current configuration only serves older kids, that is absolutely the way it should be. Washington Field, with its beautiful ivy and lovingly cared-for infield, is a landmark unique to Burlingame. In this era of synthetic low-performing turf and multi-use fields, Washington Field stands apart with a sense of history and majesty that will be destroyed by altering the infield and pitching mound. It would be a shame to see the historical significance of Washington Park dismantled little by little by non-resident interest groups. Washington Park, as it is, already provides a significant and reliable product to a significant number of youth groups throughout the year. It doesn't make sense 26 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 to sacrifice further financing as well as the park's aesthetics to force-feed an accommodation for adult softball leagues when they already have an alternative field site.” Charles O’Brien – “It has come to my attention that Burlingame Parks & Rec is proposing to remove the dirt mound and infield grass at the Washington Park baseball field to allow it to be used for softball that would be voted on today. I would like to see the full details of the evaluation of other options. For example, the softball fields by the BHS track appear to be lightly used. Not sure about Ray Park, Cuernavaca, or the softball field next to the Rec Center. (would it be easier / better to add lighting to these fields?) Definitely, more information and communication is needed. I'm hesitant to move forward with this change without further investigation and public input. (many BHS baseball supporters will be at the end-of-year banquet this evening and won't be able to directly voice their concerns.) I'm neither a baseball field nor softball field expert, but would like to understand the priority of sports to be supported (can we actually support them all appropriately). It seems in this case we may be harming the BHS high school teams by removing the mound and grass.” Christian Delay – “I recently read the proposal to alter the Washington Park Baseball Field to accommodate the growth in participation numbers from other sports (primarily Adult Softball). I would urge you to vote against the proposals. I think, first and foremost, this is a lack of foresight and planning on behalf of the City of Burlingame, and the BHS baseball field should not be altered for that as a result. The ideal location for this would have been to transition the Burlingame Golf Center into a multi-use sports complex instead of constructing a Topgolf site. I think there are also other factors: 1) Adults can drive. There are plenty of fields up and down the Peninsula. My recommendation is that adults be more resourceful instead of complaining to Burlingame city council members to alter a HS baseball field; 2) Spending $20k to ruin the only proper baseball field is a very bad look for the City of Burlingame; 3) The proposal does not include a revenue analysis. Will there be more revenue for the City if the changes are made?; 4) The BHS gym was torn down last year which is impacting winter sports and the use of the BHS gym for all students for the next few years. Burlingame children work very hard to play baseball at the high school level. Don't take that away from them; 5) Instead of destroying the city's only baseball field, have you considered modernizing (lights, fencing, etc.) the BHS softball field to accommodate softball practices and games in partnership with BHS?; 6) Modernize Bayside so that Fields #3, #4 and #5 can be used as well. I know there are probably budget implications in the modernization of BHS Softball and Bayside fields, but those are probably better long-term solutions. Again, please save the Washington Park Baseball Field and vote against the proposals put forth by Nicole Acquisti. Thanks for your time!” Cindy Berryman – “Our family is very devastated and unhappy to hear that the main baseball field will be modified to accommodate the adult softball leagues and other sport, etc. The main baseball field has been the iconic field in Burlingame and to take that away from our high school kids and the community is a huge hit for everyone. Please reconsider your decision based on our kid’s safety and environment and not make a decision based on profitably. We all love the natural grass surrounding the field, which has the actual feel of a baseball field, unlike the artificial field.” Dan Lyons – “It’s the Fenway Park of Burlingame and should be maintained as it is currently one of the top fields in the Bay Area. As the world changes, sometimes we realize how special some things are, and if anything, the Burlingame Panthers home field should be deemed historical and 27 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 kept forever in its current condition. From the grandstands to the real grass infield and outfield, this park is truly one of the treasures of San Mateo County.” David Armstrong – “I am writing regarding the proposal to dismantle or 'modify,' according to the staff report, the infield at the Washington Park baseball field - in short, please leave it alone. Please do not take something great and make it mediocre. My family has lived down the street from Washington Park for over a dozen years and in Burlingame longer. I luckily get to walk through the park twice a day at least. I have two kids at BHS, and another will attend soon. One of my kids currently plays for the BHS varsity team, but that, of course, is temporary. Not once in all that time have I felt anything other than appreciation that we had a real and beautiful baseball field there. It's a credit to our town that we should be proud of and a legacy I hope we can leave alone for future families like mine to enjoy. Separately, I also hope that in the future, you will consider actually soliciting input from relevant stakeholders like myself in similar matters. I am glad that someone else caught this and alerted me that I had an hours-long window to write to you, but that should not have been necessary.” Denis Vorrises – “Since this was just communicated to us and the city has not given a reasonable opportunity for the AD at Burlingame and other key district staff to express how dramatically it impacts students who play baseball at Burlingame High School, please read my comments below about why this is not a sensible decision to approve tonight, especially when we cannot attend since the meeting was done right during the most important time for these high school baseball players as they prepare for CCS playoffs, which if these changes do occur may not be an acceptable playing field for a High School program. I would also add that the cost associated with these changes is very underestimated.” Donald Scatena – “The proposal to modify Washington Main Baseball Field to accommodate additional sports and age groups raises several concerns regarding field safety, outfield condition, the use of portable mounds, and current high school field practices. I am the Director of Student Services for SMUHSD, but also, the parent of a senior, Luca Scatena. Luca is a pitcher and plays outfield, so we have first knowledge of the impact of such proposed changes on future athletes. The primary immediate issues are: 1. Changing a field use agreement that's been in place for 100 years, with less than two days' notice; 2. Not notifying the primary users, Burlingame HS, of these monumental use changes; 3. Not doing adequate research related to high school impact for over 100 players and their families. These points highlight why the proposed modifications may not be the best solution for optimizing field usage. 1. Field Safety: The current infield configuration, featuring grass and a raised pitching mound, is designed to provide a stable and safe playing surface for baseball players aged twelve and older. Modifying the infield to a dirt surface introduces significant safety concerns, particularly in adverse weather conditions. Dirt can turn into mud, creating slippery and unstable surfaces that increase the risk of injuries such as sprains, strains, and fractures. Maintaining a grass infield is crucial to reducing these risks and ensuring player safety; 2. Condition of the Outfield: Transitioning to a dirt infield can negatively impact the condition of the outfield. Dirt from the infield can spread to the outfield, leading to uneven surfaces and potential trip hazards. This degradation affects all field users, making the playing surface less predictable and increasing the risk of injury. Preserving a grass or turf infield helps maintain the quality and safety of the entire field. 3. Unsafe Nature of Portable Mounds: The proposal suggests removing the pitching mound to accommodate different age groups and sports, likely necessitating the use of portable mounds for baseball games. Portable mounds can be unstable and move during 28 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 play, posing a safety risk to pitchers who need a consistent and secure footing. This instability increases the risk of ankle injuries and falls. Ensuring that pitchers have a stable mound is essential for their safety and performance. 4. Standard Practices in San Mateo County: No high school program in San Mateo County uses a dirt infield, based on a collective understanding of the safest and most effective field conditions for high school sports. Adopting a dirt infield would place Washington Main out of step with established norms and could disadvantage our athletes by exposing them to unnecessary risks and higher maintenance requirements. Adhering to the county- wide practice of maintaining grass or turf infields ensures a consistent and safe playing environment. General Safety around the Burlingame HS campus Over the past 6 years, Burlingame HS has been targeted with community members' antisemitic messages and propaganda. In each instance of hate, the perpetrators accessed the school's buildings through Washington Park. https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/arrest-made-in-burlingame-high-schoolhate- crime case/article_cec58d2c-f15c-11e9-b372-6bf6722a3398.html https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/burlingame-educators-officials-talk-antihate- efforts/article_b5efba66-a6a3-11ed-9797-eb8d22236f73.html Expanding the evening usage would entertain more slow-pitch softball games for adults. A fun activity, but the parking lot adjacent to BHS would bring more and more adults to the high school. Slow-pitch softball often brings more public drinking and safety concerns. Are the softball leagues exclusive to Burlingame residents? Conclusion While the intention to accommodate more sports and age groups at Washington Main Baseball Field is commendable, the proposed modifications present significant safety and practical concerns. Maintaining the current grass infield and exploring alternative scheduling or field-sharing solutions can better ensure the safety and optimal performance of all field users. Prioritizing player safety and adhering to established best practices are critical to ensuring that modifications do not compromise the quality and safety of our sports facilities. Options are: 1. Keep unchanged and work out a better-shared schedule, or 2. Turf the field, and change the 100+ year history of the park.” Eric Benson – “I would like to voice my concern for the proposals for the changes to the Washington Main Baseball Field at Parks & Rec Commission meeting. My son, who is a Pitcher for the Burlingame High School Baseball team, brought this to my attention and walked me through his concerns as student athlete playing on the field. First, the grass infield provides an improved safety effect for the players due to the hard-hit balls slowing down faster before they reach the pitcher and infielders. If this is all dirt, the speed and higher likelihood of more uncontrolled hops of the ball will add risk to the players (this is not an issue with the adult softball due to the slow pitch aspects and the large ball). Second, having a secure mound to pitch from is critical for stability and provide a strong foundation for the student to avoid any injury. From all the baseball fields I have watched my kids play at over the many years of baseball, I have found the Washington Park ballfields to be one of the nicest from both the players and spectators perspective. I encourage the commissions to take into account these critical items before making changes that will impact the safety and quality of play the high-level baseball players have from such a great field.” Eric Brazeale – “I am currently a senior at Burlingame and have played baseball since my freshman year. Burlingame baseball has created such a large sense of community for me and my teammates. Various people always talk about how nice our field is. Coaches and players from other schools variously compliment the beauty of our home field. The baseball program also brings the city of Burlingame together. Many people always come and watch the games at Burlingame, and 29 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 many young kids come to the games and ask for balls to get signed and to play catch with players. Making this edit at Burlingame would cause for a large loss of community around Burlingame. Also, softball has various locations around to play around the city of Burlingame, and the Washington Park field is one of the only high school regulation fields in the city. Overall the city of Burlingame should keep the beautiful field that we have, and making changes would cause for a large loss of community.” Jennifer Flores and the Flores Family – “I'm a lifelong Burlingame resident, having attended Washington, McKinley, BIS, and Burlingame High School. I am very alarmed to hear of the proposed changes to the baseball field at Washington Park. This matter should have been disclosed to the public prior to consideration. The proposed renovations will render the field unsafe and unusable for practice and games at the high school level. A proper mound is essential at this level of play. A portable mound is not a viable option. We should not be prioritizing non-resident adult softball. There are plenty of fields available that are suitable for adult softball use. Burlingame's high school and middle school baseball athletes rely on the Washington Park field as the only usable field with the 60x90 field dimensions, proper pitching mound and infield configuration. This proposal is simply unacceptable. The city's public high school has 3 baseball teams that need this field to be playable in order to practice and to host games for the PAL. Additionally, many middle school teams rely on the field for practices and games. The field is in high demand for these teams since it is the only full-sized field in Burlingame (60x90) that is suitable for this age group and this sport. At the very least, this idea should have been communicated to the public ahead of time. As homeowners and taxpayers, we have a right to weigh in on these decisions. Having a meeting and a vote today without that transparency is unacceptable. Proper consideration has not been given to all the important factors.” Geraldine and Dan Uharriat – “As former Burlingame High School alumni, a former Burlingame High School Baseball Player, long-time homeowners in Burlingame, parents of a current Burlingame High School baseball player, and another hopeful future high school baseball player, the suggestions to modify the Washington Main infield layout are concerning and we strongly oppose the proposal. Local Kids vs. Non-Residents: The idea that this field needs to be modified to accommodate non-residential adults over local kids who have grown up in Burlingame and have dreamed for the chance to play their home games at one of, if not the best, high school fields in the Bay Area, is preposterous and looks like an ugly revenue generating scheme. It is essential to prioritize local kids who have grown in Burlingame and dream of playing on one of the best high school fields in the Bay Area. Modifying the field to accommodate non-residential adults seem unfair, especially as it will impact local players’ access. No other High School team in the Bay Area plays with an all dirt infield OR a portable mound. The fact that you want to put both at Washington Park is unprecedented and potentially dangerous! Aesthetic, Reputation, and Danger Concerns: First off, why would anyone want to ruin the beautiful grass and Ivy park? Removing the grass infield and clay mound will indeed alter the field’s aesthetics and reputation. Maintaining the field’s beauty and prestige is essential for both local pride and attracting visitors – and how about new/potential Burlingame residents? Additional use of the field can also lead to more wear and tear on the field, affecting its aesthetics and playability. Additionally, poorly maintained dirt can mean anything from canceled games from rainy conditions to injuries from bad hops hitting a player. Portable mounds can be unstable and can be moved during play creating a safety risk to pitchers landing area. It's the most integral part of a baseball field, and is the area that should deserve the most attention. Tax Dollars and Priorities: The modifications seem to 30 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 primarily benefit non-residents, and that raises concerns. Taxpayer funds should ideally prioritize facilities that directly benefit the local community. The tax dollars should not be used to alter a facility primarily to benefit non-residents. The Men’s Adult Softball League already uses Bayside 1 & 2. An alternate solution could be using fields in Millbrae and San Mateo as those teams are playing in our leagues. Additionally, Burlingame Youth Baseball Association (BYBA), Burlingame Girls Softball (BGS), Burlingame Soccer Club (BSC), and American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) already have multiple fields that are adequate and up to their standards. There is no additional options for the High School Boys to play on. Washington is the only High School level field in Burlingame. Wear & Tear and Traffic: Increased usage, especially by non- residents, can lead to wear and tear on the field. Balancing accessibility with preservation is crucial. Traffic and parking issues resulting from non-resident usage need careful consideration due to the location next to the High School. Let’s hope that the decision-makers take these factors into account and make choices that benefit the Burlingame community while preserving the field’s integrity. I hope you will take into consideration the 100+ year history of this Baseball Field.” Galvin Holden – “My family lives in Burlingame, and both my brother and I are alumni of Burlingame High School, and I am a former member of the baseball team. As someone who is very directly connected to the Burlingame community, the baseball team and Washington Park is a pillar of the local community and the high school, and is very important to many people. Washington Park is so beautiful and historical, that BHS has been the host of 3 straight opening round CCS matchups. Washington Park is so amazing that Serra High School refuses to play at THEIR OWN field because they love it so much and would prefer to play at Washington. I know that you are in no way connected to the baseball community that uses the field, because if you did this would never even be a discussion. So as someone who has spent 20 hours a week for 4+ years at that field to you, someone who is trying to appease middle aged softball players, that field is gorgeous and one of its kind. The entire team and coaches work tirelessly to keep it up because of the value it provides. It was a former professional field, and is one of the nicest in the Bay Area. Renovating the infield and removing the hand would instantly destroy all value, that field no longer becomes a baseball field, it is an adult league softball field that people would have to wheel a mound for it to even resemble a baseball field. As a pitcher who has played on thousands of fields, including Excite ballpark where the San Jose Giants and San Jose State play, Washington park is better than that field. I have played so many high school baseball games, and I promise I am not blowing smoke when I say Washington Park is in a tier of its own. As someone who has pitched against Serra twice on Washington Park, those are my fondest memories of high school baseball. Despite the disappointment of losing twice, the memories of a packed Washington Park for a rivalry game are some of the coolest of my life. Grass infields and ivy on the walls is reminiscent of Wrigley Field, it is classic baseball that represents the professional field it used to be. Removing the mound instantly turns it into a softball field. No matter what happens, the vibe and energy that Washington Park will never be the same playing on a softball field. And as a proud baseball alumni, that energy is something I will never forget and hope all future baseball players will get to experience what I did. This action will damage the community, and most importantly future generations of Panthers. Also, I have pitched at twin creeks and countless other soccer-turned baseball- fields with portable mounds, and they suck. The turf mounds are unsafe because of the lack of support and ability for pitchers to use their cleats to plant into the dirt to stabilize their lower half, on turf mounds that consist of a thin layer of artificial turf over wood, the pitcher slides around and is forced to overcompensate with their arm for the lack of lower half drive that is a direct result from the inability to plant and securely transfer energy on a dirt mound. My heart 31 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 plummets whenever I see a turf mound, and every pitcher I have ever met will wholeheartedly agree with me. I am extremely confident that I am not the only person that feels this way, and am sure at this meeting there is a strong contingent representing the baseball community. If you think softball is more important than baseball, the turnout and objection to this meeting should show you that is wrong. If you think that this won’t damage the baseball players, you are wrong and I hope I gave you some points for you to believe it. This leads me to believe that this is fueled by money, and if so, this is a weak idea that will damage the community for years. While I could go on and on about the ways Washington Park has improved my life, this decision isn’t about me, it’s about the kids in little league who go to games with their dad and dream about playing under the lights for the Panthers, it’s about the kids who come back from college and catch up with Shawn Scott, and about the parents and grandparents who come together to watch their son play in front of a thousand people. I deeply hope the council chooses to protect a place that brings joy to so many kids and their families, brings people together, and brings pride to Burlingame and BHS. Sorry for the lengthy email, but if it wasn’t clear already, Washington Park means a great deal to me.” Jamie Cheng – “I learned today that there will be a vote to remove the pitching mound at Washington Park baseball field. I am writing to request that you vote to preserve the field in its current state and prioritize Burlingame High School baseball over adult leagues for out of town residents. We are disappointed and shocked to learn about the proposal to remove the mound. My family has been Burlingame residents since 2010. Our two kids are students at Burlingame High School. Our son first learned to play baseball on the small field at Washington Park and he is now a freshman on the BHS baseball team. It's been an amazing experience watching the team's games at Washington Park this season. We're lucky to have such a beautiful and historic baseball facility in Burlingame. It's a gem in the San Mateo Unified High School District and on the peninsula. The Burlingame Historical Society reports baseball has been played at the field since 1911 (https://burlingamehistoricalsociety.org/wpcontent/ uploads/2021/02/bhso-news-2019-issue-159- insert.pdf). A portable mound is not a viable option for a high school baseball program. The BHS program is very strong and needs proper facilities to train on and play on. Shawn Scott and his staff are fantastic coaches. Both the JV and Varsity teams won first place this season. The Varsity team has two committed Division I college athletes this year. Last week, Scott Feldman, a former Major League Baseball pitcher and BHS alumnus, threw out the first pitch of a game. He's one of several BHS players who have played baseball in college or professionally. If you have not been to a BHS baseball game yet, I invite you to attend the CCS playoff game on Saturday at 11am. The varsity team will be playing Archbishop Mitty and the grandstands will be full. You'll see how special it is for Burlingame High School athletes to represent our city on the baseball field and how important high school baseball is for our community. Please vote against removing the mound or delay the vote to hear additional input from the community. Thank you for your consideration.” Jana Rubin – “I am a Burlingame resident and have a BHS baseball player that uses the field at Washington Park. My family is opposed to the suggested modifications to the field. My understanding is that an all dirt infield and a movable pitching mound both create less safe conditions for the players. Burlingame has ample other parks and play spaces to accommodate various age groups. Please do not approve these modifications.” Joe Levitt – “I have only just learned that there is a proposal to modify the baseball field at Washington park to accommodate more age groups. This is an appalling bad and short-sighted idea. While the field in its current configuration only serves older kids, that is absolutely the way 32 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 it should be. Washington Field, with it’s beautiful ivy and proper dimensions, is a relic and a landmark unique to Burlingame. In this era of crappy artificial turf and multiuse fields, Washington Field stands apart with a sense of history and majesty that will be destroyed by altering the infield and pitching mound. I have a son who has played at every field in Burlingame through the years and is now a varsity player at BHS. When he was younger, the field at Washington Park held a special allure. Something massive and intimidating, but also something inspiring and reason to strive to one day be able to play on its hallowed grounds. Little kids clearly also need a place to play, but they can play anywhere. There must be options other than destroying the legacy of Washington Field.” John Philipopolous – “Thanks for letting me know. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend as we have a CCS lacrosse game at Woodside HS at 7:00 this evening. Our administration team also has other school commitments this evening and our baseball program has their end of season banquet tonight. I only learned of tonight's meeting yesterday just prior to the email you sent me. Other arrangements could have been made to ensure attendance at this critically important meeting had I been aware sooner. I was only aware of the meeting on the 21st prior to that. That being said, I will be logging in via zoom from the lacrosse playoff game and will also be submitting a public comment later this morning. I appreciate and am grateful for the outpour of support that has been shown for Burlingame HS, it's students, the community, and keeping Washington Park in its current state and ensuring that it remains the premier high school baseball stadium in not only San Mateo County, but also the entire Central Coast Section and greater Bay Area. I do encourage everyone to come out and experience a H.S. baseball game at Washington Park this Saturday at 11:00 AM as our team will be hosting Mitty HS in the quarter finals of the Division I C.C.S. playoffs. It truly is a beautiful stadium and remarkable experience for our players, students, families, fans, and community members. In its simplest terms, Washington Park is a community gem and altering it as has been proposed would be tragic. I will definitely be at the meeting on the 21st.” John Sheehan – “I wanted voice my extreme displeasure and disbelief that the Board is recommending the removal of the pitcher’s mound at Washington Park to allow non Burlingame softball players to use the field. Also that this was done without any public comment or input is totally unacceptable and comes across as sneaky and irresponsible. This is not in line with how a transparent government should work. Burlingame High School is currently without a gym for at least two years and now you are proposing no functional baseball field?? Totally unacceptable. Washington Park should be preserved as a Burlingame Landmark. Other options should be taken into account like something at Bayside Park. Shame on you for attempting this without proper public input.” Jolanda Zuger Brazeale – “I am extremely disappointed to hear that both a proposal and recommendation have been made to destroy the main Baseball Field of Burlingame. I feel the suggestion to remove the grass and modify with portable pitching mounds (a safety concern as well) is not in the best interests of the community at large. The proposal as written in the staff report appears to be through the lens of those requesting the change, not demonstrating the lens of those who do not see the value in destroying the integrity of the field as it currently exists. While I understand that the desire to have adults use Bayside and relocating the younger ages to the "big field" may seem like a reasonable motive, it completely disregards the logistics as well as community impact of this type of change. I get it-- Dads want to play softball. They love the sport 33 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 and many were likely baseball boys from back in the day. However, the field at Washington Park has both community as well as historical significance. It is the "Field of Dreams" for many young baseball players and it sets Burlingame apart from all other fields. It is truly a special locale, both the field as well as the surrounding park zones. As a homeowner who was forced at significant personal cost to have a full historical review of my property completed prior to rebuilding due to community concerns of the historical value and impact of the then 1927 original front facade, I can not fathom how the Washington Park Baseball Field (named 1932) in this location since 1920 does not warrant a more thorough consideration of honor and historical status as a grass field baseball diamond of "major league" dimension and quality. Additionally, the impact this would have on the high school experience for current and future students is enormous. The high school must have a quality field. It would significantly diminish the quality of the experience our students and families enjoy and deserve. Please consider a course of action that does not result in the damage proposed in this report. My recommendation is to work on a strategic plan to optimize scheduling for the fields.” Jorge Beltreana – “We all love our American Past Time and enjoy attending games at Washington Park, watching High School Baseball at its best. In fact, this Saturday May 18 at 11 am our BHS Baseball team is facing Archbishop Mitty HS, in the CCS D1 playoff bracket. I will be there to support my twin boys, juniors, as they compete in this amazing field. This is exciting to all neighbors to come to such a beautiful field in its entirely. We hear comments about how historic this field is how they love that it is still the way they used to play or watched their HS Children play from years ago. I see there are 2 options to modify the baseball field and both options include destroying the infield to accommodate for sports that can be played even with the mound in place. Please help conserve history and keep on supporting our High School kids as we have been for years. Please let's keep this beautiful tradition in this amazing field.” Justin Grosch – “This is insanely short sighted, and a terrible recommendation by the committee. Washington Main baseball field serves as the home field for BHS. Bay Area high school baseball is insanely competitive, and BHS regularly hosts some of the best teams in the region. Washington is the only ‘quality’ baseball field in the city. Having a ‘full sized’ grass infield and a permanent raised dirt pitching mound is a requirement for any respectable high school baseball field. Is there no consideration for the BHS student athletes who will play on that field? Is there no sense of pride in what Burlingame represents when we host schools from all over the Bay Area? The proposal to make the grass area smaller shows a complete lack of awareness about the sport of baseball on the part of those making the recommendation. A full dirt infield is downright dangerous for the players at the high school Varsity level. These are ‘nearly’ grown men hitting 80-90 mph baseballs. The grass infield plays a critical role in slowing down the baseball for ground ball hits (as well as allowing for more predictable bounces), making a much safer playing field for the infield position players. My organization does not use Washington Main, and my children will not attend BHS, but I feel compelled to comment on this issue.” Karen Crawford – “I just learned today about the proposal to modify the Washington Park Baseball Field to remove the pitching mound, replace grass with dirt, etc. to accommodate, in particular, an adult softball league. This is devastating news. While the adult softball league has other locations to play, the Washington Park Baseball Field is integral to the Burlingame High School baseball program. For the kids who play there, it is a huge part of their high school experience. It has been the place of many memories and has the potential to create many more 34 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 memories in the future. Seeing the kids proudly donning their Burlingame uniforms, running out on the amazing field and representing Burlingame and the baseball legacy created by Shawn Scott and so many others is inspiring. For some kids playing at Washington Park is a step towards playing in college or the professional leagues, and for others it is the highlight of their baseball career. Doing a half-way remodel, putting in a second-rate mound and replacing grass with dirt takes away the respect of the field. Please do not take this away from the kids.” Kathleen Murray – “Please do not change the BHS baseball field. 1) We should *not* be prioritizing non-resident adult softball over our high school team; 2) Without a proper mound, BHS will essentially be without a functional baseball field. Using a portable mound is dangerous at a high school level and no visiting baseball team will be willing to play on field with a portable mound; 3) The public was not consulted about this proposal and the lack of communication is unacceptable.” Kelsey Armstrong – “I just read about the proposals to change the Washington park baseball field. I am opposed to these proposals. My kids have grown up here and the field has always been great the way it currently stands. Now my sons play baseball for BHS it means even more to keep it a baseball field. They currently don’t have a gym and now a proposed change to the field is very frustrating. It will look so bare and dry without the infield green. We are opposed to this proposal.” Ken Gee – “I'm writing to register my opposition to the Staff Recommendation that Burlingame change the configuration of Washington Park's main baseball diamond to remove the grass infield and pitching mound. Washington Park has served Burlingame High School (BHS) and other leagues in the area for decades. My son is a graduating senior at BHS and some of his fondest memories are the games he has played at Washington Park. An all-dirt infield and a temporary pitching mound are both dangerous for our high school teams and simply a degradation in terms of the class of the field. No high school teams in the Central Coast Conference play on all dirt infields and none employ temporary pitching mounds. I believe a decision to prioritize the use of Washington Park for adult softball leagues that often include non-residents and other “short- timers” in the area over our high school students is misguided. Additionally, the proposal does not explore other viable alternatives to meet the needs of both constituents such as using Cuernevaca Park for adult softball leagues. That being said, the interest of our public high school students should clearly be prioritized over those of adults when evaluating parks. Additionally, many of us have donated to BYBA to fund the batting cage and storage sheds at Washington Park over the last 18 months. The batting cage and storage sheds are used by all of Burlingame’s youth baseball programs, not just the high school team. Our decision to donate was made to benefit future baseball players in Burlingame on a good faith presumption that the field would continue to exist in its current form to benefit our youth. None of us contemplated or envisioned such a proposal when making that decision.” Howard Family – “We are 3 Burlingame brothers who have grown up playing baseball through BYBA, and now we play at BHS. Baseball is our whole life, we play year round, and playing at BHS is our dream. One of the reasons we attend BHS, and not a private school, is because we have the best field and program in the whole league. Our varsity team is the top team in the league this year! Changing it will negatively affect every baseball player in Burlingame. We brothers all want to play baseball in college, we all pitch, and having a moveable mound is NOT the same as a dirt mound. A dirt infield and a moveable mound would not only look terrible, but it would not help 35 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 us train at the highest level to reach our goals. It's also dangerous. When it rains, the dirt gets slippery and clumpy, raising risks of spraining ankles and injuring our knees. A dirt infield is also dangerous for fielding balls -- bad ball hops are common on dirt fields. Grass is much safer and consistent. Moveable mounds can move during pitching, which is very dangerous. Also, spike cleats are not allowed on moveable mounds, so players from our team and other teams would also have to purchase separate turf cleats in order to pitch. We have the best field in the area, and if you change this, not only will top baseball players want to attend other schools for a better facility, but other teams are not going to want to play on our field. There are a lot of fields other sports and ages can use, please do not ruin the best part of the city for us baseball players.” Mark Intrieri – “I have been asked to reach out to you on the issue captioned above. Full disclosure - Mikey is now a Sophomore and is on the BHS baseball team as Griffin was several years back. I am sure you have received, and will continue to receive, alot of fan mail on this topic. Having served on the Elementary School Board for 12 years I know there are always competing concerns, strategies and values which go into decisions such as this and that you must consider the broader perspective rather than the micro concerns of specific special interests. I also recognize that most of us do not have all the facts as you do which is why I personally trust your judgment across the Board. Our City has thrived under your collective leadership. I have reviewed the proposal being presented to the Parks and Rec department this evening. I don't feel qualified to comment on the details of the proposal in terms of logistics, cost/benefit, etc.... except to say that (1) I do feel that adult recreational softball can accommodate and play successfully on the field as it is now, and (2) a temporary pitching mound for High School age players is a bad option. We got by with them at Bayside for BYBA with the younger kids but they are a bad idea for High School age pitchers with serious bio-mechanics. That said, my primary concern is that the Washington Park field is and has always been a true jewel in our Community - known to be the best venue for High School baseball on the Peninsula and possibly in Northern California. If it is not a registered historic site I feel like it could and should be. Modifying it as suggested would ruin it. Change is typically inevitable and the things we love often fade away, but sometimes its ok to preserve things as they are because we know they are special, and find other solutions. I know you will consider the concerns and needs of the entire community and do appreciate that hard decisions need to be made.” Michael Leet – “A historical park should have a grass field!” Michelle Koskella – “I was just informed that the Council will vote tomorrow on a plan to convert the Washington Park baseball field used by BHS to a softball field for adult play. I'm shocked that this is the first I have heard of it, but we were just notified by another baseball parent. Bryce just finished a great freshman baseball season and we were looking forward to 3 more years of him playing there. Tomorrow night is the baseball banquet for all 3 BHS teams, so families will not be available to come to the meeting. However, I want to state my strong opposition to this plan. Supposedly the plan will remove the dirt mound and use a portable mound for baseball? I am told this is not safe for high school baseball and no other teams will come to BHS to play. Given the success of this year's Varsity team (winning league and playing in CCS this weekend), the decimation of the baseball program would be tragic. The Washington park field is the best in the area and we felt so lucky to be able to watch games there. Please vote against this proposal or at least table it until there can be more input from the public and baseball community.” 36 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Niall and Amber Brosnan – “We have only just learned that there is a proposal to modify the baseball field at Washington Park to accommodate more age groups. This is an appallingly bad and shortsighted idea. While the field in its current configuration only serves older kids, that is absolutely the way it should be. Washington Field, with its beautiful ivy and proper dimensions, is a relic and a landmark unique to Burlingame. In this era of crappy artificial turf and multiuse fields, Washington Field stands apart with a sense of history and majesty that will be destroyed by altering the infield and pitching mound. Please take into consideration the community’s (tax payers) voice against this proposal. As long-time residents of Burlingame and 3 kids going through Burlingame High we are completely against the above proposal!! Your efforts should be in preserving the baseball field as it is and not changing it. It is a part of the history of Burlingame and the high school.” Rusty Knudsen – “Please find attached my letter to save the Washington Park Main Diamond from losing its grass infield. I am currently the President of the Burlingame High School Alumni Association and must attend our annual meeting tonight at BHS during your discussion on saving Washington Park's Main Diamond Baseball field. As appropriate, I would like my letter read at the meeting for those in attendance to show my support and concern for the process that would consider going backwards in time after finally getting it right with the addition of grass to this beautiful field. By copy to Hank and Al, if you are in attendance please feel free to read my letter to the commission on my behalf. Thanks in advance.” Scott and Kelly Sayegh – “We are writing in opposition to the plan to make modifications to Washington's Main Baseball Field to accommodate additional sports. We have unique insight into the field situation in Burlingame, as I have continuously been a coach for BYBA, BGS and AYSO (fall and winter programs) over the last 7 years. We are both current BGS board members. I have also coached Flag Football through the Rec Center the past 3 years (2 at Lincoln and 1 for BIS) and we have a daughter who has played for Burlingame Soccer Club the last two years. If we need to find more field space we should start by looking at maximizing the use of our existing fields by improving the process by which organizations reserve fields and not destroying the Washington "BHS" Baseball field to create more field space that would rarely if ever be used. Two years ago we tried to rent Village Park and Franklin fields on a Friday night to have a sports themed birthday party for our son. We were told all the Burlingame fields were reserved by organizations. We ended up having his party at a field in Millbrae. Parents driving by both Franklin and Village Park fields that evening told us no one was on Village and only ½ the field at Franklin were in use. Additionally, I have been playing Adult Dads Club softball through the Rec Center since its inception 6 years ago and last fall I managed 4 teams (3 Lincoln and 1 BIS) in the league so I have a lot of insight on the demand in the Adult Softball Area. The main driver for additional demand is that other towns either don't have leagues anymore or are cutting their leagues down. Multiple teams from other cities are now coming to Burlingame (Millbrae, South City, San Bruno). If we enforce a limit on the number of teams with residents getting priority we could manage demand with what our fields currently support. The cause of recent field conflicts with BYBA is that the Adult Softball umpires pushed for games to start earlier in the spring as they didn't like the 8:05/9:10pm start times of the games. This has forced BYBA weekday games to start 30 minutes earlier (5 vs 5:30) and have a hard end time of 7:15pm to accommodate a 7:30 start for Adult Softball. While hard end times for games may be agreeable to a recreational league like BYBA this is not an option for BHS Baseball games so I don't understand how you would be able to schedule Adult Softball on weekdays at the Washington field. If there is truly more demand for 37 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Adult Softball you could add games on Sunday mornings or afternoons at Bayside where there is field space and would actually be preferred to week nights for a lot of teams. Lastly, we don't understand why the only two options are to tear apart one of the peninsula's premier baseball fields for use when the additional demand can easily be managed by better allocation of our existing fields. As someone who played baseball in high school and has coached it for years, the option to trim the grass back doesn't make sense as you can not play baseball on a 90ft infield with grass that stops halfway which would remove option one. The second option of removing all the grass would ruin a historical and beautiful field for what might be a couple of additional uses a year and should not be an option. The cost, as minimal as it is, would take years to recover due to low usage. We implore you to reject the proposed modifications and instead look into alternate solutions to maximize the usage of the fields we currently have.” Tony and Shannon Delucchi – “We are writing to voice our strong opposition to the proposed modifications to the Washington Park Baseball Field. As a dedicated community member, BGS and BYBA Board Members, and incoming BHS parents, we have significant concerns regarding the impact these changes will have on the programs that use the Washington Park Baseball Field. This field serves as a crucial space for sports, the BHS baseball program, and contributes to the well-being of our Burlingame residents. BYBA and BGS do not need this field. We are frustrated that the proposal included both organizations, when it was previously stated that both of our organizations do not need these fields. If you need incremental space for the adult softball programs, we recommend the expansion of game times at Bayside Field, or give first priority to Burlingame teams and secondary priority to non-Burlingame teams. This proposal appears to be putting the city's desire to increase revenue by expanding the adult softball league through inclusion of more non-Burlingame teams first, ahead of the Burlingame community and the BHS baseball program. We urge you to reconsider the proposed modifications and take into account the perspectives of those who use and cherish this field. Instead of reducing access or altering it in ways that could harm the core usage - the BHS Baseball Program - we suggest exploring alternative solutions that will meet the needs of all stakeholders while preserving the Washington Park Baseball Field for its core, historical, purpose - Baseball. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We hope that we can work together to find a more balanced and community-oriented approach.” Shaun Mc Kall – “Burlingame is an idyllic and quintessential small town and baseball is still the American past time I have only just learned that there is a proposal to modify the baseball field at Washington park to accommodate other groups. There are several fields around the town of Burlingame that many other groups can play on without destroying the hallowed grounds of the baseball field at Washington Park!!! There must be other fields and scheduling options available to our town other than destroying the legacy of Washington Park Baseball Field! It is truly the only field in town able to support the needs of older and bigger athletes for the game of baseball in Burlingame. Making changes to the infield with an all dirt surface and a removeable mound, is an exercise in potential safety hazards for the players. Since this is the only baseball field for Burlingame High School, I think a coordinated effort between the players, coaches, school administration, parents and tax payers would be an equitable solution before you hold a meeting to decide the future of this baseball field. If the City of Burlingame has another option for a regulation size baseball field near the school, with the proper grass or turf surface, please share this information with the residents and tax payers before you take away the best and proper baseball field for the #1 Varsity Baseball Team in the CCS Bay Division! I urge you to be creative to come 38 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 up with other options before you dismantle the best baseball park in Burlingame, to accommodate other non-baseball teams and destroy this classic 100 year old baseball field. Thank you for this consideration." Shawn Silk – “In advance of the scheduled Parks and Recreation meeting later this afternoon I am a concerned Burlingame citizen and parent writing to state my displeasure with the current Park & Recreation Commission's advocacy for the growth of men’s softball at the expense of the Burlingame youth community. Burlingame should focus on its residents first, and foremost, and pay particular attention to the needs of Burlingame youth, and its taxpayers over the requests of outside groups utilizing Burlingame facilities. It has been brought to the community's attention that Parks and Recreation Commission is considering dismantling the Burlingame High School baseball field at Washington Park. Removing the grass infield and proper baseball mound will eliminate a practice field for a sport that trains and prepares countless athletes to play at Division I and II college programs. Moreover, scheduling season play against high schools outside of Burlingame will only be more challenged, if such were to occur, due to the lack of a grass infield; temporary mounds raise great danger at the game speed that high school kids play the sport. Should the City Council take this action, there will be significant community resistance. Finally, over the past few years the local baseball community has observed a significant increase in the number of teams outside of Burlingame playing at the local baseball fields, impacting practice and game times for the local Little League organizations. Is Burlingame prioritizing the needs of its taxpayers in this scheduling? Do Burlingame residents have priority? What percentage of baseball field time is being given to outside Burlingame softball teams? As a member of the baseball community, Burlingame youth baseball is a recognized brand that draws in no small part on its ability to provide baseball facilities for all ages through high school. Removing the one field that allows high school level play will only detract from Burlingame sports.” Stacy O’Grady – “I was just informed that the Parks Department and a handful of people I am unaware of are discussing dismantling the pitching mound and infield to accommodate other recreational activities. My son is currently a freshman at Burlingame High School and a pitcher. A portable mound is dangerous, and I would not like for him to pitch on one. He is also playing 3rd base and can’t imagine how they can play with the infield grass missing. He along with all Burlingame students have been overlooked for years by the city, school district, and now the parks department. It seems that our children have not been considered. Please think about our children that live in Burlingame, and choose to go to public school, and not force them to go private because they are being overlooked.” Steven Lau – “It has come to my attention that there is a vote scheduled tomorrow by the Burlingame Rec Department to allow the removal of the pitching mound and the infield grass at the Washington Baseball field. This cannot happen. The Burlingame High School baseball team needs this baseball field, and removing the mound would greatly alter how baseball is played. A high school pitcher needs a real dirt mound and can get seriously injured pitching from a portable mound. From my understanding, the motivation behind removing the mound is partly to accommodate adult softball. Why prioritize the needs of adults over the needs and safety of our youth and high school baseball teams? I ask for your help in stopping this proposed plan.” Tara Robenalt – “The Washington Park baseball field is one of the most cherished baseball fields in San Mateo County due to its rich history and connection to Burlingame High School. 39 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 Generations of baseball players, their families, and student fans have created precious memories of playing and watching baseball on this field. While exploring ways to serve the community is appreciated, replacing the baseball mound with a removable one comes at too high of a cost. A portable mound is dangerous for high school baseball. Furthermore, other schools will not play at Burlingame High School if the mound is converted to a movable one. The cost of taking away BHS's baseball field, and the many teams who visit Burlingame to play here is far too high. Furthermore, the safety issues it would present do not seem worth the value described in the proposal. It would be a disservice to the primary community that this field has served for so many generations – Burlingame High School Baseball, the county baseball teams that compete with BHS, and the numerous youth and adult baseball teams that use this field. Not all fields are meant to serve multiple sports, and this one should be preserved for baseball and the safety of its players, especially since it is the only field BHS has access to. The BHS baseball program's dependency on this field makes it unique compared to other community fields, where multi-use arrangements may not have such a significant impact. This proposal may appear to be a minor change that would bring new uses of the field, but it would also take away the primary value it brings our community now --baseball. It would be devastating for the alumni who played here, the students who are playing now, and the future generations of baseball players who have yet to create those memories in Burlingame. Please vote no.” Thad Glavin – “As a long time Burlingame resident, I am VEHEMENTLY opposed to the proposal to get rid of the infield grass and pitching mound at Washington Park. The impact on youth baseball would be devastating. Portable, non-dirt mounds can contribute to pitcher injuries and having dirt infield would make the field ridiculous. Plus, any rain in the spring would dramatically increase the likelihood of the field being unplayable. Especially with Cuernavaca being turfed there are plenty of places for men’s league softball which won’t impact our local youth/high school programs.” Thomas Caulfield – “I am currently an assistant baseball coach at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. I grew up in Burlingame, along with my 6 siblings and additionally my parents and their families. I played 5 years of professional baseball and have 2 brothers that also played professionally. I wear Burlingame on my chest very proudly and attribute all of my success I have had to the times I spent at Washington Park with amazing teammates, coaches and families of the Burlingame community. I am writing to you after hearing a possible (?) proposal of tearing out the mound and dirt infield at Washington Park. I am currently about to coach a game in Portland for my college team and had to reach out to you guys as soon as I could. Washington Park is the reason my family and I have had so much success in our careers. The accessibility of the field was not only life-changing for me, but I know for many others in the past and can be in the future. It is the only field of its kind in the city that has high school/college/professional dimensions. Without the mound and grass infield, there would be no place for local players to come work and possibly live out their dreams, like I did. From what I hear, and I may be misinformed, the change would be for the use of adult softball. From what I understand, adult softball is made up of people from outside of our city, which made it hard to believe that this proposal would cater to those who aren’t city residents and take away from those who are. This comes to me as a complete shock and I am disappointed to see how unaware people proposing this action see Washington Park’s purpose. It tells me that they are naive to the importance this field has on the youth of our community. I will gladly speak to or meet anyone willing to discuss with me on this matter to make it right. This park 40 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 has served baseball for generations in Burlingame. It is a shame to see this in place and I will exercise every right I have to see this not go through.” Thomas Mallen – “I think it would be a mistake to make the proposed renovations to Washington Park baseball field. The historical grandstands at Washington Park are a landmark, and the field that they stand in front of should reflect back the same historical significance. I'd imagine the grandstands at the park went through a proposal process to be raised or saved and the decision was made to preserve the grandstands. The baseball field for which the stands provide a viewing experience from, should have been grandfathered in to always retain its true historical and natural significance as well. The infield of Washington Park should remain grass, and the pitcher's mound should remain made of dirt. This is how we recognize baseball fields on TV. There are studies that show how unsafe portable mounds can be. The city should research these studies before making a decision. Dirt mounds are much safer than turf mounds. Additionally, turf mounds are heavy and awkward to carry, and are difficult to put into place precisely. Portable mounds weigh over 150lbs. Who will be responsible for moving them into place? Our children? Their Parents? Will the City of Burlingame hire a union/non-union worker to move and remove the mound on game days? How much will that cost? The Adult Softball League is asking the City of Burlingame to give them precise and permanent accommodations at Washington Park which is an additional field of play for them. Does the board understand that they would be uprooting precise and permanent accommodations for Burlingame High School, Little League, and BYBA players that have been in place since 1924? Wouldn't that be highly unordinary and unfair? Will the City be indemnified from higher amounts of reported injuries from Little League and high school players because they had to go from planting their foot from one type of surface (dirt) to a completely different type of surface (turf) in order to make what might be a great play? Washington Park should not be turned into an "adult" slow pitch softball field. This pristine natural field has 100 years of history behind it. As it is, it's a jewel of the city just like the Avenue. Each year, High Schools come from all over to play there because of its historical significance. Don't be like San Francisco where they had the Fox Theatre once, and they chose to destroy it for the sake of modernity. Don't make the same mistake they did. Preserve Washington Park! It really is one of the last of its kind. Thanks for your consideration.” Tyson Scofield – “BYBA wanted to send their opinion in response to the proposed changes to Washington Main/BHS Baseball Field. Our organization received several concerned calls regarding the Staff Report. The rumor is that BYBA is pushing for more allocated time at Washington Main, and this is why there are proposed changes to Washington Main. This is not the case, BYBA has not asked for any regular time at Washington Main. I believe we have made 2 one off requests for Washington Main. All of BYBA's needs can be met at Bayside Park. The Staff Report states that if the proposed changes (removing the pitcher's mound and some or all of the grass) go through, organizations such as BYBA could have more practice time there. BYBA would not benefit from this as BHS uses the baseball field daily until 6 PM, and given BYBA is a youth organization, our needs tend to be earlier in the day. The Staff Report also cites that the city run adult softball has limited fields to play their games and that the city has worked with BYBA to work out a fair allocation between BYBA and city run adult softball. Over the last couple of years, BYBA has been forced to start their weeknight games earlier and earlier to make sure we are off of the Bayside fields in order for the city run adult softball games to start. This year we have had to start our games at 4:45 PM in order to finish on time. Preparing and setting up the fields as well as making sure kids warm up enough before their game (to avoid arm injuries) takes roughly an 41 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 hour. This means kids are being asked to be at the field by 3:45 PM. This is almost impossible when the kids get out of school at 3 PM (3:10 PM for BIS). Many kids take the bus home and many parents work making this arrival time extremely difficult. Several of the teams in the city run adult softball program are not Burlingame residents. Burlingame tax paying residents' children are losing valuable field time to non-tax paying adults. In addition, many times when the adult league softball players arrive (not the Dad's Club league) they are smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol before their game. This is not the environment or youth should have to be exposed to playing youth baseball. Washington Main baseball field is a great high school baseball field. Removing the pitching mound and grass is doing a huge disservice to the Burlingame High School baseball program. This is one of the best baseball teams on the peninsula year in and year out, and a place most BYBA parents hope their kids will play when they get to high school. The field has a rich history in Burlingame and is a tremendous place to watch baseball. The proposed changes to the field will likely result in families looking at other schools for their young men to play baseball at. If the driver in this is the city run adult softball program, again, we are talking about many non-tax paying adults dictating how our high school baseball field is maintained. We will do our best to send a representative to the meeting, but for the formal record, BYBA as a user is strongly opposed to both of the proposed changes.” Veronica Philibosian – “As a thirty-year resident of Burlingame I am shocked to just hear now that a proposal to modify the standing high school baseball field is up for debate in a matter of hours. Who would propose this poorly thought out modification I wonder? Not a resident raising a family here! I have two sons at BHS currently and this selfishly thought up plan would impact their love to play baseball and other young boys moving up and entering into BHS behind them. The adults wishing to play softball have other options, let them find another area less impactful on our local community and young. I implore you to abandon this council proposal and think of the safety of the young players who enjoy their games at Washington Park.” Chair Milne closed public comment. Commission discussion included their understanding of the concern of safety for the baseball players and appreciation for staff on the difficulty of the dealing with the increasing demand for field space and for sitting down and floating ideas, even if not popular. They noted it is good to see city staff try to solve the problems and to think outside the box, to not be afraid to put things forward and see what people think. MOTION by Chang to not pursue either option of modification to Washington Main Baseball Field as stated in the staff report. Motion seconded by Brunello. Motion approved 6-0. 8. STAFF AND COMMISSIONER REPORTS a. Parks & Recreation Department Reports Glomstad reported the upcoming events of the Bikeathon on Sunday, May 19, hosted by the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Foundation and the upcoming Sing-a-Long to the movie The Little Mermaid with approximately 142 registered. 42 Parks & Recreation Commission APPROVED Minutes May 16, 2024 b. Commissioners Reports Commissioner Wettan – Thanked Superintendent Holtz for his help and the materials provided for the Mills Canyon bench painting and install of stone paths. Commissioner Yu – No Report Commissioner Holzman – Stated the Muddy Mile event was fun. Commissioner Brunello – No Report Commissioner Chang – No Report Commissioner Milne – No Report FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Field Use Policy 9. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:21 pm. The next meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission is scheduled to be held in person on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 7:00 pm. Respectfully submitted, Joleen Helley Recording Secretary