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Parks & Recreation 2026/03/25MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION DOWNTOWN ANAHEIM COMMUNITY CENTER 250 E. CENTER ST., ANAHEIM, CA 92805 March 25, 2026 — 6:00 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Greg Martin, Vice Chair Jim Cook Bill Couture Tony Flores Robert Ryan Fred Sigala, Jr. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: CarlottaRhea Clark, Chair STAFF PRESENT: Sjany Larson -Cash, Director Anaheim Sporn, Deputy Director JJ Jimenez, Parks Manager Ana Straabe, Principal Project Planner Kamila Rodriguez, Senior Secretary AGENDA ACTION TAKEN CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair Martin called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Couture led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: Art Castillo thanked the Commission and staff for the recent mural installment at Center Greens and commented on his years of residency in Anaheim. 4. NEW BUSINESS (Taken out of order): a) Approval of Master Plan for Meadow Park: JJ Jimenez, along with Christine Saunders and Matthew Hicks on behalf of OCVIBE, presented the proposal of the Master Plan for Meadow Park. Questions were answered regarding park maintenance, connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods, parking, and construction completion date. Commissioner Ryan made a motion to approve the proposed Master Plan of River Park, seconded by Commissioner Cook. The motion was approved with six votes in favor. 5. SCHEDULED COMMUNICATION: a) Maxwell Dog Park Update: JJ Jimenez provided an update on improvements at Maxwell Dog Park including efforts made by City staff at "The Big Give" annual employee volunteer event held on March 21, 2026. Commissioner Couture thanked volunteers and staff and commented on the positive reaction of park patrons in response to the improvements. Questions were answered regarding plans for new dog parks in District 6, quantity of plants added during the event, and irrigation. Commissioner Sigala left the meeting. 6. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Vice Chair Martin presented the January 28, 2026 Minutes for changes or corrections. Commissioner Ryan made a motion to accept the Minutes, seconded by Commissioner Cook. The motion was approved with 5 votes in favor. Vice Chair Martin accepted the Minutes. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes March 25, 2026 Page 2 6. REPORTS: a) Park Ranger Report — January/February: Anaheim Sporn presented the report and noted several updates to its format, including the addition of new parks and a new category in the final column. This category will rotate monthly to highlight positive activities observed in City parks. She clarified that the "Skate Boarding" data reflects both activity observed in parks where skate park amenities are provided and advisements issued in parks where skateboarding is not permitted. She also noted that the "Syringe" category has been revised to "Syringe/Other" to more accurately capture a range of items associated with substance use that are encountered in parks. Lastly, she provided an update to the Commission regarding coyote sightings reported in December at Eucalyptus Park. a) Recreation, Human & Neighborhood Services Activity Report — December 2025/January 2026: Anaheim Sporn presented the report and highlighted several seasonal initiatives, including the Nutcracker Holiday Craft Village and Tree Lighting, the Community Services Department's annual Adopt -a -Family program, that served 110 families this year, as well as a variety of winter holiday celebrations hosted at Family Resource Centers and through the Older Adults Program. She further noted that, in alignment with a key recommendation from the 2024 Anaheim Youth & Families and Older Adults Needs Assessment, our Youth Programs hosted events that encouraged strengthening relationships and building trust between participants and local law enforcement as a means of enhancing safety. b) Parks Activity Report — January/February: JJ Jimenez presented the report, highlighting ongoing efforts to prepare ballfields for the upcoming baseball season. He also noted the continued partnership with Love Anaheim, including recent park enhancements at Circle Park. JJ reported on the replenishment of sand at the Pioneer Park play area and discussed the limitations associated with the use of this substrate. He further highlighted the ongoing replacement of Park Rules signage with the newly designed version. Additionally, JJ addressed a recent increase in copper wire theft incidents impacting lighting at several parks. He concluded by sharing updates on recent events attended by TreePower staff, as well as the YMCA's Frost Festival held at Brookhurst Park. c) Parks Capital Project Progress Report: Ana Straabe presented the report, beginning with an update on the Brookhurst Splash Pad project, noting that construction has commenced and is anticipated to be completed in late summer 2026. She then informed the Commission of the addition of two new pickleball courts at the Olive Hills Tennis Courts, constructed within previously unused space at the facility. Lastly, she reported that the Rio Vista Park Improvements project has been officially completed. Questions were answered regarding a potential commissioning event for the completed Center Greens mural. 7. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: Anaheim Sporn provided the 2026 Spring Activity Guide to the Commission and highlighted the America 250 poster contest being hosted in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors. Sjany Larson -Cash shared the recent City Council approval of an increase to Park In -Lieu Fees, which will be raised by nearly 100 percent. 8. ADJOURNMENT: Vice Chair Martin adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m.