Parks & Recreation 2023/10/25MINUTES
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Ryan Balius, Chair
Tony Flores, Vice Chair
CarlottaRhea Clark
James Cook
Lynn Cudd
Greg Martin
Fred Sigala, Jr.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
BROOKHURST COMMUNITY CENTER
2271 CRESCENT AVE., ANAHEIM, CA 92801
October 25, 2023
STAFF PRESENT:
Sjany Larson -Cash, Director
Anaheim Sporn, Community Services Manager
JJ Jimenez, Parks Manager
Ana Straabe, Principal Project Planner
Marissa Granados, Community Services Coordinator
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Balius called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Cudd led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: A public speaker stated that he was from the indigenous
community and that he works with Virginia Carmelo of the Tongva tribe. The speaker thanked the Commission
for the presentation to council and for the inclusion of the native community. The speaker also requested a Native
American mural at the new skate park area.
4. SCHEDULED COMMUNICATION: None.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Chair Balius presented the September 27, 2023 Minutes to the Commissioners
for changes or corrections. Commissioner Clark made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Vice Chair
Flores. The motion was approved with 7 votes in favor; Chair Balius accepted the minutes.
6. REPORTS:
a) Park Ranger Report — August: Anaheim Sporn presented the report and updated the commission on Park
Ranger recruitment efforts. 120 applications were received, 60 passed initial qualification checks, 27 were
invited to interview and 7 candidates were offered positions. The new hires bring the department closer to the
goal of 15 new Park Rangers. Anaheim highlighted the numbers including a decrease in park patrons.
Anaheim also noted that there is a full-time vacancy in the coordinator position that oversees the Park
Ranger Program.
Questions were answered regarding the application qualification process and promoting within for the full-
time vacancy.
b) Recreation, Neighborhood & Human Services Activity Report — August/September: Anaheim Sporn
presented the report and highlighted the Family Movie Night honoring Chicano and Hispanic Heritage
months at the Brookhurst Community Center, Concerts to the Max, Volunteen program, Active Older Adult
programming, and "Mini-Med School" in Youth Programs.
Questions were answered regarding programming at Energy Field Park, Concert to the Max stage placement
and Pearson Park Amphitheater concert series performers.
c) Parks Capital Project Progress Report: Ana Straabe presented the report and highlighted the Brookhurst
Teen Center, Center Greens Park, and Rio Vista Park restrooms.
Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes
October 25, 2023
Page 2
Questions were answered regarding the art components of the OC River Walk project, barbecues in public
parks and the Rio Vista shade structure.
Ex-officio member Jose Paolo Magcalas of the Anaheim Elementary School District made a comment that he
would also like to see indigenous art in Anaheim parks.
Ana Straabe included a final update regarding the Kaboom! build at Peter Marshall Park on Saturday,
December 9.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
a) Director Sjany Larson -Cash informed the commission of the Capital Project Presentation that was made to
the City Council at the October 17 meeting.
Anaheim Sporn provided marketing material and information for the Dia de los Muertos event on Friday,
November 3 and the Fall Festival and Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 28.
JJ Jimenez responded to a question from Commissioner Sigala regarding decomposed granite.
Commissioner Martin expressed concern about trash in the parks and the number of cans available.
Commissioner Clark and Chair Balius expressed gratitude to staff and fellow commissioners for their work on
the council presentation.
8. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Balius adjourned the meeting at 6:54 p.m.