The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:07 p.m.

1. Roll Call

Chairperson Davids called roll.

Twenty members were present for the roll call.Two members arrived shortly after the meeting started.

For voting purposes, twenty-two members were present.

2. Approval of Minutes from October 20, 2005

The minutes were unanimously approved with one change.On the second page, the total vote for lower TL should be 14 rather than 12.

3. Public Comment

Before inviting public comment, Chair Davids welcomed the committee and a large public representation from the community.He stated that the goal of the committee, during this extended three hour meeting, is to formulate one or more recommendations to be presented first to the Park and Recreation Commission for review and comment and then to the City Council for approval.He advised the public that their comments are welcome before and after committee deliberations and that they will have the opportunity to address both the Park and Recreation Commission and the City Council when hearings are scheduled on this matter.

The following citizens spoke during the first period of public comment:

Richard Crow – 148 Glasgow Lane, encouraged a careful and complete review of fiscal considerations including an objective and independent analysis of the financial impact of the recommendation(s).He advocated a long term plan which would yield additional space, such as development of the city owned Crestview site, while reducing demands on existing fields and preserving the limited park space currently available.

Melissa Sargent - 403 Portofino Drive is the president of the Melendy Heights Condo Homeowners Association.She stated that the canyon acts as a natural amphitheater with sound from the parking lot and field below projected to the homes above.She asked that lights not be installed and that noise not exceed current levels.

Fred Martin - 1005 Porto Marino Drive, has lived at this location about 200 yards below the Heather playground for more than 39 years.He confirmed that due to canyon acoustics, playground conversation can be heard and understood at his home.He asked that the residents not be burdened by additional lights and noise but that a new sports complex be built in a commercial area away from residential impacts.

Margaret Warren - 1040 Hewitt Drive, is a new resident who requested that the quality of the Heather neighborhood not be changed by allowing lights and evening play.She also questioned drainage problems which could result if synthetic turf is installed.

Margarit Kirby - 300 Torino Drive, objects to lights and additional play time at Heather.She believes that the peace, quiet and beauty of the neighborhood is being taken away and that the industrial area would be the best place for additional field space.

David Resnick - 416 Portofino Drive, lives in a condo complex overlooking Heather and echoed comments of previous speakers.He encouraged the committee to seek a balanced approach when deciding the future of the neighborhood.

Ken Wrasse - 400 Portofino Drive #3, wants to prohibit lights and minimize sound from the field.He stated that 36 homeowners in his association agree with him.

4. Final Review of Potential Sites

Members were invited to submit any final comments on potential sites for committee review.Member Kevin Holden inquired as to TL plans for a driveway from the Alameda to the school parking area.Member Whiteley responded that the school is considering the driveway, but that its placement should not impact use of the field.

5. Finalize Committee Recommendation(s)

Before inviting discussion leading to a committee recommendation, co-chair Brad Lewis presented an overview of our mandate and goal, summarized as follows:

• The goal is to increase our capacity to accommodate the community’s current and future athletic fields needs.
• In order to accommodate this, as a community we accept the fact that this will create more traffic, noise and parking demands.
• We currently have no existing revenue plan for adding new fields or replacing existing failing fields.We also must recognize that athletic fields are not the only facilities in need of revenue.
• For the good of the community we need to consider the accommodation of the need for greater capacity on our athletic fields; to develop a revenue plan that will realize these goals.
• We want to present a comprehensive plan to City Council that addresses all of these needs so we can ask for immediate consideration and adoption of our proposal.We also want to present any additional proposal(s) that may differ from the majority point of view.

Co-chair Brad Lewis then introduced two proposals for committee review:

Proposal A (based on Field Preference Survey)

This proposal was prepared by co-chair Lewis and Davids based on the field preference survey results with 19 members responding.

Phase 1 (0-2 years)Highlands:synthetic, existing lights

Heather: synthetic, add lights

Lower TL: synthetic, add lights

Total Cost: $4,370,000

Phase 2 (2-5 years)Burton: grass, add lights to Flanagan Field

TL Upper: synthetic, no lights

Central Turf: synthetic, no lights

Total Cost: $1,366,000

Phase 3 (5 years +)New field: Synthetic with lights

Total Cost: $10,000,000

Proposal B

This proposal provides a counter-point to Proposal A for discussion purposes.

Phase 1 (0-2 years)TL Lower:synthetic with lights

Heather: synthetic, no lights

Central Turf: synthetic, no lights

Burton:grass, with lights at Flanagan Field

Total Cost: $3,127,000

Phase 2 (2-5 years) Highlands:new grass, existing lights

Stadium: synthetic, no lights

Crestview: rehab grass, no lights

TL upper: synthetic, no lights

Total Cost: $3,077,000

Phase 3 (5 years +) New field: synthetic with lights

Total Cost: $10,000,000

Co-chair Davids then distributed a handout summarizing anticipated revenue from several sources as follows:

• Measure G $1.4 million
• Sale of Chilton lots $3.0 million
• Sale of Crestview land $8.0 million

Measure G funds will be available July 2007 ($977,000) with a balance of $417,852 during fiscal year 2008 and 2009.The sale of both the Chilton and Crestview land will potentially require rezoning, General Plan and CEQA review.The time required for sale and capture of funds is estimated at three years plus.

After presentation and discussion of proposals A and B, member Jeff Grace submitted his “common sense” recommendation and requested that it be considered as Proposal C. This proposal is reproduced as follows.

The “Common Sense” Recommendation

There are two major components to this recommendation, short term and long term, each with subcomponents.The items are listed in order of priority for completion.The recommendations are associated with funding sources.

Short Term Recommendations (1-3 years)

1. Highlands Park – Renovate the athletic playing surface at the lower field.The new surface will be artificial all weather turf.Financial impact: $1,685,886 for the initial capital improvement.
2. Heather School Field – Renovate the athletic playing surface.The new surface will be artificial all weather turf. Financial impact:$1,128,840 for the initial capital improvement.
3. Tierra Linda School Field – Renovate the athletic playing surface at the lower field. The new surface to be determined.Financial impact: $1,195,848 for the initial capital improvement.

Long Term Recommendations (3-5 years)

1. New field – Identify and procure a parcel of land for future development into an athletic/park complex. Financial impact: TBD depending on property and plans.
2. Crestview Park – Renovation of playing surface including improved drainage and consideration for artificial surface.
3. Stadium Field (Highlands) – Renovation of playing surface, either natural or artificial turf. Consider lights.
4. Burton Park, Flanagan Field – Addition of lights
5. Central Middle School – Renovations of grass area or consider replacing asphalt with turf, natural or artificial to be determined.

During discussion which followed, member Katherine Tynan suggested a Proposal D which included lower TL as synthetic with or without lights, Central turf as synthetic and a new sports complex type field either on the Crestview land or elsewhere in the city.Shortly before a vote was taken, a final proposal (Proposal E) was suggested by member Michelle Mojas on behalf of the Heather neighbors as follows:

Phase 1 – Use Measure G money plus the proceeds of the sale of Chilton property to:

1. Develop a new grass field on the city owned property on Crestview
2. Renovate grass field at Heather
3. Renovate grass field at Tierra Linda

Phase 2 – Raise bond or other monies to identify land to develop a sports complex (including synthetic turf and lights) on the flat land/industrial area away from residential properties.

With five proposals on the table, and following a wide ranging discussion, co-chair Lewis suggested that members vote on no more than two proposals and that the two proposals with the highest number of votes would be the finalists.Committee members concurred with the following results.

Proposal C with 16 in favor

Proposal A with 11 in favor

Proposal B with 5 in favor

Proposal E with 5 in favor

Proposal D with 4 in favor

Proposals A and C were then reviewed for final vote.There was consensus that both proposals should consider only first phase projects since these would consume the anticipated revenue from Measure G and the sale of Chilton lots.It was noted that Proposal C does not include lights for TL and Heather but that Proposal A does include lights.Both proposals were then consolidated into one Consolidated Proposal with first priority for Highlands to synthetic with existing lights, second priority for Heather to synthetic without lights and third priority for lower TL to synthetic without lights.

On the Consolidated Proposal a vote was taken regarding lights at Heather and TL.For Heather there were no votes to include lights.For lower TL, 7 members favored lights and 10 were against.

The committee then voted on the Consolidated Proposal:

Priority 1: Highlands – convert to synthetic – use existing lights

Priority 2: Heather – convert to synthetic – no lights

Priority 3: Lower TL – convert to synthetic – no lights

The vote was 16 in favor and 6 opposed.The Consolidated Proposal will be submitted as the majority report.

Those voting against were Carol Taylor, Eric Von der Porten, Greg Harris, Katherine Tynan, Michelle Mojas, and Ron Little.

There followed discussion on the objective of securing a new field of sports complex proportions with synthetic turf and lights. As the Consolidated Proposal moves forward, a motion was made to continue the search for land to purchase and develop a sports complex.On the vote, 17 were in favor, 1 opposed and 4 abstained.

A motion was then proposed by member Tynan and seconded by member Mojas that a “darkness easement” be imposed on lighting the Heather field for a period of 20 years.On the vote, 5 were in favor, 14 opposed and 3 abstained.

6. Majority Report

Committee members Jeff Grace and Norm Whiteley will present the majority report and recommendation to the Park and Recreation Commission and the City Council.

7. Minority Report

Committee members Greg Harris and Katherine Tynan will coordinate the preparation of a minority report.This report will be circulated to committee members prior to the submission.The presenters will be determined by the minority members.The minority report will be forwarded to the Commission and Council at the same time as the majority report.

8. Public Comment

Richard Crow – 148 Glasgow Lane

San Carlos High School was closed because of demographics. Was it demographics or lack of vision? What is the vision of this committee?

Mike Ahern - 100 Dundee Lane – corner of Stadium field

The committee is missing opportunity to use current resources and save the grass space that we currently have.

Gregory Alton - 419 Portofino

The noise already is unbearable; the yelling makes it impossible for him to enjoy his deck. The coaches and parents are louder than the kids. To change Heather field is disrespectful to the neighbors.

9. Meeting Adjournment

Meeting adjourned 10:20 PM