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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.17.22 PR Comm Packet Agenda CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION TELECONFERENCE MEETING NOTICE Tuesday, May 17, 2022 7:00 p.m. Welcome to the Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission. If this is your first time, the following is a general outline of our procedures: Please note that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this meeting is teleconference only, and will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Governor’s Executive Order N29-20 issued on March 17, 2020, allowing for deviation of teleconference rules required by the Brown Act and pursuant to the Order of the Health Officer of San Mateo County dated March 31, 2020. The public may view or comment during this meeting from a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone: Join Zoom Meeting https://ssf-net.zoom.us/j/89508365024?pwd=QlVRbHVlUVRrOFM4VzFYamlsN2Z3UT09 Meeting ID: 895 0836 5024 Passcode: 315020 The purpose of conducting the meeting as described in this notice is to provide the safest environment for staff and the public while allowing for public participation. Commissioners Battaglia, Burgo, Camacho, DeNardi, Firpo, Lock and Uy and essential City staff will participate via Teleconference. Members of the public may submit their comments on any agenda item or public comment via email or Parks & Recreation main line. PURSUANT TO RALPH M. BROWN ACT, GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953, ALL VOTES SHALL BE BY ROLL CALL DUE TO COMMISSION MEMBERS PARTICIPATING BY TELECONFERENCE. In accordance with California Government Code Section 54957.5, any writing or document that is a public record, relates to an open session agenda item, and is distributed less than 72 hours prior to a regular meeting will be made available for public inspection at the Parks and Recreation Department in the Municipal Services Building. If, however, the document or writing is not distributed until the regular meeting to which it relates, then the document or writing will be made available to the public at the location of the meeting, as listed on this agenda. Public Comment: Please note that dialing in will only allow you to listen in on the meeting. To make a public comment during the Zoom session, join the meeting from your computer or mobile device, enter your name, and request to comment through the “Chat” function and a staff person will add you to the queue for comments and unmute your microphone during the comment period. In the alternative, you may also provide email comments received during the meeting will be read into the record. Please be sure to indicate the Agenda item number you wish to address or the topic of your public comment. California law prevents the Commission from taking action on any item not on the Agenda (except in emergency circumstances). Your question or problem may be referred to staff for investigation and/or action where appropriate or the matter may be placed on a future Agenda for more comprehensive action or report. COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE (3) MINUTES PER SPEAKER. Thank you for your cooperation. Remote Public Comments: Members of the public wishing to participate are encouraged to submit public comments in writing in advance of the meeting. The email and phone line below will be monitored during the meeting and public comments received will be read into the record. The City encourages the submission of comments by 6:00pm on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, to facilitate inclusion in the meeting record. A maximum of 3 minutes per individual comment will be read into the record. Comments that are not in compliance the Commission’s rules of decorum may be summarized for the record rather than read verbatim. Email: [email protected] Electronic Comments received by email will be monitored during the meeting and read into the record. We ask that you limit your electronic comments so that they comply with the 3-minute time limitation for public comment. Parks & Recreation Hotline: (650) 829-3837 Voice messages will be monitored during the meeting, and read into the record. Your voicemail should be limited so that it complies with the 3-minute time limitation for public comment. If you have special questions, please contact the Director of Parks and Recreation. The Director will be pleased to answer your questions when the Commission is not in session. WILLIAM LOCK CHAIRPERSON STEPHEN FIRPO RUTH DeNARDI VICE CHAIR SECRETARY BETTY BATTAGLIA BRITTANY BURGO COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER KRISTY CAMACHO ROBERT UY COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER GREG MEDIATI DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION Agenda CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING Teleconference Meeting Tuesday, May 17, 2022 7:00 p.m. A G E N D A I. Call to Order II. Roll Call III. Pledge of Allegiance IV. Agenda Review V. Approval of Minutes of the April 19, 2022 Meeting VI. Citizen Participation (Citizen comment on items not agendized/informational only) VII. New Business A. General Plan Update B. Classes Program Update C. Concert in the Park Update D. Cancellation of Summer Commission Meeting VIII. Friends of Parks and Recreation IX. Beautification Committee X. Items from Commission XI. Items from Staff A. Calendar of Events B. Administrative Update XII. Adjournment Next Meeting: Regular Meeting: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES FROM TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022 I. CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m. A regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission of the City of South San Francisco was held on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, via teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic and local health orders. II. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Battaglia, Burgo, Camacho, DeNardi, Firpo, Lock, and Uy Absent: All were present Staff: Sharon Ranals, Assistant City Manager Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation Angela Duldulao, Acting Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Joshua Richardson, Parks Manager Kari Jung, Administrative Assistant II Erin O’Brien, Business Manager Brian Noce, Acting Recreation Supervisor Laura Armanino, Recreation Supervisor Kimberly Morrison, Acting Recreation Supervisor Kelli Jo Cullinan, Acting Recreation Manager Kasey Jo Cullinan, Recreation Coordinator Kathleen White, Child Care Master Plan Consultant Prax Duarte, Building Maintenance Supervisor III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Skipped. IV. AGENDA REVIEW: There were no changes to the agenda. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE MARCH 15, 2022, MEETING: Approved by motion. Motion: Commissioner Burgo / Seconded: Commissioner DeNardi. VI. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: None present VII. Old Business: A. Child Care Master Plan Update Acting Deputy Director Duldulao introduced Kathleen White to provide an update on the status of the Childcare Master Plan and the subcommittee’s comments. Commissioner Firpo inquired if current staff, including part-time hourly staff, were allowed to give input to the to the vision as well. Kathleen White deferred to staff to answer further, but explained that there are recommendations for employee enhancement, including access to health care. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of April 19, 2022 Page 2 Supervisor Armanino shared that the master plan concepts have been shared with staff and staff are looking at developing training, internships, and incentivizing teachers to become Master Teachers so they are available to mentor others. The biggest challenge is hiring qualified staff. Commissioner DeNardi inquired if there are advocates that the City has going out to the Downtown / Old Town part of South San Francisco to provide informational and translating assistance to the community for the child care program if they don’t have access to the internet. Kathleen White provided a brief response explaining that the staff available at the general plan meeting were providing translating services, but were not well briefed on the childcare issues and that some additional training could be provided (via Zoom) for future events. Perhaps the promotores could assist with this as suggested. Director Mediati suggested bilingual materials printed and canvased to the neighborhoods would be really helpful. Commissioner Uy found the plan extremely comprehensive and very well done, and thanked Kathleen for her work. Commissioner Burgo inquired how many surveys went out families and what the time period for responses was allowed. She also suggested looking into working with AmeriCorps to help boost staffing levels. Kathleen White shared that the survey was sent to every elementary school family in the school district and in whatever language they chose as their primary language for communication from the school. The Parks and Recreation utilized its email list. The weak areas, as Commissioner DeNardi had mentioned, were families who traditionally don't answer surveys and who would have answered in person questionnaires. Having over 1,000 respondents from South San Francisco parents is a decent sample size. She further commented on the partnerships with the local high schools, community colleges, and especially San Francisco State University as critical considerations for growing staffing as the programs are expanded. Acting Deputy Director Duldulao shared that the Department’s email distribution list has 18,000 subscribers, and that while in person interactions were very limited during the survey period due to COVID, Childcare staff was able to share the survey with parents at the childcare sites. Commissioner Camacho shared that this master plan will serve as a beacon countywide to anyone interested in childcare. She shared ideas about additional partnerships with Boys and Girls Club, creating a task force that is focused on childcare and creating a pipeline for future staff/teachers to be drawn up to through the high schools and possibly Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of April 19, 2022 Page 3 the middle schools. She expressed her support of creating the webpage in Spanish instead of relying on the translate buttons, and incorporating job opportunities, training opportunities as well as informational sections on the value and importance of childcare/preschool in our society when many families consider it a privilege to have a family member caring for the children. Kathleen White expressed her gratitude for the comments and questions provided. She said with the special needs issues that the requirements for care are personalized to each child and can’t be packaged into a generalized offering, and she hasn’t seen that anywhere. Nobody can really say that they specialize in proving care for special needs so much as everyone does their best to make the necessary accommodations as they arise. Commissioner Lock shared thoughts about education reimbursement for staff. Commissioner Camacho shared that when she took the survey, during COVID, her responses are very different than pre- or post-COVID, and this is very much a snapshot. Kathleen White shared that there is an explanation in the comments about the timing of the survey during the COVID quarantine period. She also suggested that the rebound would be slower than most might anticipate when considering availability of immunizations for children and some families are very reluctant to immunize. The childcare picture is evolving towards more of a new kind of normal. Commissioner Lock inquired further about subsidies and whether resident restrictions are influencing our data. Kathleen White shared that the only subsidy or enrollment restriction we have is with the Parks and Recreation programs. VIII. New Business A. Consideration of Movie Night in the Park Film Options Deputy Director Duldulao shared the report prepared by Supervisor Stenhouse. Projected dates for the Movie Night in the Park series are Friday, July 15, and Friday, August 19, 2022. The July movie will be hosted on the Orange Memorial Park Soccer Field with access to the Joseph A. Fernekes Building. Like last year, staff will plan on hosting the August movie at Martin Elementary School ballfield, although permits have yet to be completed. The Department is also considering expanding the scope of activities for the July Movie Night this year in recognition of Parks and Recreation Month. Last year, the Department celebrated a “Field Day” in which lawn games for children were made available, free hot dogs were distributed, and free class demonstrations were performed in addition to a variety of other recreation-related activities that were on display. This year, staff will combine Field Day and Movie Night to make the event a day-long celebration. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of April 19, 2022 Page 4 To enhance the participant experience during Field Day/Movie Night in July, the Department will embrace the City’s Healthy Places for a Healthy City initiative as a theme for the day. Field Day is projected to feature various activities aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles for visitors (i.e., free exercise classes, large motor activities for children, health education from vendors, etc.). To stay consistent with this theme, staff is proposing to feature a movie that follows the same theme of staying active. Space Jam: A New Legacy is being proposed for this reason. For the August movie, staff is recommending the movie Encanto (2021). The Parks and Recreation Department will be supporting and advocating for the City’s Cultures United initiative throughout the year and will consider implementing diversity and inclusion measures in the production of its programs, classes, and events. Although Hispanic Heritage Month spans from September 15 through October 15, the Department would like to acknowledge this diverse group for our August movie night. Many residents who reside in the Martin Elementary School neighborhood are of Hispanic/Latinx backgrounds and staff would like to show a movie that will hopefully represent many of their cultures. The Commissioners offered their support and thanked the staff for their efforts. B. California Parks and Recreation Society District 4 Award Nominations Manager O’Brien shared that the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 4 will honor innovation in programming and outstanding individuals for their professional and volunteer contributions to the fields of parks, recreation and human services. The South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department is proud to share the award winners who will be honored at the May 5, 2022, awards dinner in Los Altos. Distinguished Professional: Kelli Jo Cullinan Volunteer and Sponsor Citation Award: Kiwanis Club of South San Francisco Key to the Community: Senior Connections Newsletter The Distinguished Professional Award is District 4’s highest honor in recognition of lifetime achievement. This award is presented to a professional who has demonstrated leadership and initiative and has made significant contributions to CPRS and the fields of parks, recreation, and human services. The City of South San Francisco is honored to recognize Kelli Jo Cullinan for over 30 years of excellent service to community members of all ages and abilities and her remarkable leadership and guidance of her staff and co-workers. For the past several years, South San Francisco Kiwanis Club has been an instrumental partner in the success of this fun holiday tradition. This year, Kiwanis volunteers filled key roles such as jolly Santa Claus and the event photographers, provided supplies and printed pictures for every family in attendance, and organized a STEM component. Since the start of the pandemic, the Senior Services team quickly pivoted to find ways to keep the active aging community of South San Francisco engaged and connected. The Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of April 19, 2022 Page 5 quarterly newsletter, previously a subscription-based newsletter, was offered free of cost to all seniors in the community. The newsletter, "Senior Connections," proved to be a vital resource to the seniors, going beyond interesting articles to provide crucial resources, recipes, and even entertaining riddles and brain challenges. Acting Manager Cullinan expressed her support and gratitude to the Senior Services staff for their efforts on the newsletter. She further expressed her thanks to everyone for the nominations. The Commissioners each expressed their gratitude to Acting Manager Cullinan for her many years of service and offered congratulations for her award and upcoming retirement. C. FY2022/23 Operating Budget Update Director Mediati shared that staff recently submitted several new operating budget requests for FY 2022/23, which have been reviewed by the Finance Department and City Manager’s Office and will be presented to the City Council Budget Subcommittee on April 26, 2022, and before the City Council for adoption thereafter. Director Mediati reported that the Parks and Recreation Department’s General Fund budget requests total $516,975 in new funding for supplies and services and $1,207,577 in payroll and benefits. A summary of the Department’s requests was described: Payroll Budget Requests • Building Maintenance Supervisor ($175,700). This position has been identified as critical to oversee custodial maintenance activities, however, with the new Police Station, Library/Parks and Recreation Center, among other initiatives, this was especially prioritized this year. • Building Maintenance Stationary Engineer ($193,234). The Building Maintenance Stationary Engineer was authorized by the City Council in September 2021. At that time, the position was accepted, but funding was not yet allocated. • Upgrade Administrative Assistant II to Management Analyst I ($32,970). This request is to upgrade one of the two vacant Administrative Assistant II positions to a Management Analyst I. • Restoration of Deputy Director ($273,917). This will reinstate the Department’s Deputy Director position, which was unfunded when Greg Mediati was appointed as Director. • Parks Maintenance Worker Positions for Oyster Point ($365,392). This budget request will fully fund three park maintenance positions that were authorized, but not budgeted in September 2021. The positions include: one Lead Park Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of April 19, 2022 Page 6 Maintenance Worker, one Senior Park Maintenance Worker, and one entry-level Park Maintenance Worker. • Restoration of Hourly Park Maintenance Workers ($64,039). This request will reinstate .88 full-time equivalents (FTE) of an hourly Park Maintenance Worker position. This position was erroneously deleted from the Department’s budget last fiscal year. • Upgrade of a Part-Time Seniors Site Coordinator to Full-Time Community Services Coordinator ($66,676). The primary functions of this position are to implement a robust offering of seniors programing and coordinate special events. • Hourly Summer Learning Support Staff ($14,067). This request will fund three staff assigned to an afterschool program for the School District’s Summer Learning Program. • Upgrade of Cultural Arts Specialist ($21,581). This request upgrades the existing 0.5 FTE Cultural Arts Specialist position to 0.75 FTE. Supplies and Services Requests • New Police Station HVAC Preventative Maintenance ($70,000 – one-time). This is for funding to maintain the HVAC systems at the new Police Station. • Building Management System Services ($30,000 – one-time). This request funds annual service and support needed to monitor the City’s Building Management System (BMS). • New Police Station Alarm Monitoring ($800 – one-time). This request funds third-party fire/life safety alarm monitoring, which is required by law. • New Police Station Fire Sprinkler Maintenance ($4,300 – one-time). This request funds quarterly and annual fire sprinkler maintenance, which is required by law. • New Police Station Cleaning Supplies ($5,000). This funds consumable cleaning products associated with the enhanced size of the new Police Station. • New Police Station Pest Control ($1,200). This funds ongoing insect and rodent control for the new Police Station. • Common Greens Operating Fund Budget Correction ($67,200). This restores general maintenance funding for the Common Greens, which was erroneously deleted in the previous fiscal year. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of April 19, 2022 Page 7 • Additional Common Greens Operating Funds ($90,000). Per the direction of the City Council Budget Subcommittee, this allocation will address deferred maintenance and enhancement projects in the Common Greens. • Design Services for Construction Standards ($50,000 – one-time). The City’s Planning and Engineering Divisions have requested that the Parks Division create a standardized packet of construction cut sheets and specifications to reference for developers when building new projects. • Restoration of Funds for CPRS Maintenance Management School ($13,125). These trainings provide staff development in maintenance specific activities that benefit the Department, the City, and the employee which results in a better overall work product, professional development, and staff retention. • Activity Guide Design and Printing Cost Escalation ($4,400). The Department's printing vendor for the activity guide recently increased their fees by 15% due to inflation and increased cost of living. • Restoration of Public Art Allocation ($10,000 – one-time). Prior to COVID, the Parks and Recreation Department had a dedicated fund for the purchase of public art. • Restoration of Special Event Funding ($10,000). This will fully restore the Department’s budget for the Halloween Extravaganza and Movie Night Series. • REAL Program Funding Correction ($950). This budget request is intended to correct a budget reduction that was misapplied to the REAL Program. • Restoration of the Cultural Activities Grant Program ($10,000). In FY 2018-19, Council approved $10,000 for the Cultural Activities Grant Program, a new program established to support community organizations and artists who wish to offer free or low-cost events and activities that will expose the community of South San Francisco to cultural and recreational activities and programming. The program was well-received by the community, and staff is requesting ongoing funding to support the program. • Enhanced Concert in the Park ($150,000). This request will secure necessary appropriations needed for the enhanced Concert in the Park event. Fee Increases In an on-going effort to recover costs for service, address rising inflation and cost of living, and to offset the many operating budget requests proposed by the Department and increases in salaries as a result of labor group negotiations, staff is recommending a 5% overall increase on all City fees. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of April 19, 2022 Page 8 The Department will continue to work with participants to provide scholarships to those in need of financial assistance and continues to offer payment plans to mitigate any financial barriers. Commissioner Camacho made a motion for a 5% Parks and Recreation fee increase. Commissioner Firpo seconded the motion. Commissioners Battaglia, Burgo, Camacho, DeNardi, Firpo, and Uy – voted in favor of the fee increases. Chair Lock voted nay. The motion carried. IX. Friends of Parks and Recreation: Acting Manager Cullinan shared that the Friends are meeting regularly with the next meeting on May 10. She further noted that the group agreed to make a purchase on the donation wall of the new Library and Parks and Recreation Center. X. Beautification Committee: Director Mediati reported that there is nothing new to report. XI. Items from Commission: Vice Chair Firpo suggested that staff explore ways to push the scholarship program in light of the fee increases. Secretary DeNardi offered her agreement with pushing the scholarship program and shared that the new Avalon pathways are wonderful. Commissioner Battaglia expressed that the Commission will miss Acting Manager Cullinan. It took 4 days to read the Childcare Master Plan and noted that it was well done. Commissioner Camacho shared that the egg hop event was wonderful and asked staff to look into the Pacifica pool swim aid program. Commissioner Burgo shared that she’s just getting up to speed with the commission and is looking forward to doing more. Commissioner Uy thanked staff for fixing lights at Orange Park and shared the 3/26 picnic table installation at Sellick Park went well, and requested staff to explain further about the breezeway, feeling that people are confused about the purpose. Chair Lock thanked staff for the tour at the Civic Campus. He requested additional recycled water signs be installed at OMP. He further requested signs posted in front of the pool pointing dog owners to the dog park, reminding them to keep your dog leashed and to pick up after your dog. XII. Items from Staff: A. Calendar of Events Director Mediati provided a brief update of the Calendar of Events. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting of April 19, 2022 Page 9 B. Administrative Updates Acting Deputy Director Duldulao announced that Kasey Cullinan is the Acting Supervisor for Senior Services. Director Mediati announced that Prax Duarte was recently promoted as the new Building Maintenance Supervisor. Manager Richardson shared that the pathways at Avalon Park were recently replaced, the breezeway next to Starbucks should be done within the next month. XIII. Adjournment: 10:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kari Jung, Administrative Assistant II Staff Report DATE: May 17, 2022 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: General Plan Update RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission review relevant chapters of the General Plan and provide feedback to staff. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION A General Plan is the local government’s blueprint for the community’s vision of future growth. Each city in California must prepare a General Plan to guide its future, which serves as a comprehensive long-term plan for the physical and programmatic development of the city. The City of South San Francisco began revisiting the General Plan in early 2019, led by Planning Division staff and a consultant team from Raimi + Associates. A General Plan Community Advisory Committee was established with the purpose of creating a citizens advisory group to provide guidance for programs and policies, and guide the future of South San Francisco development. The Committee is presently comprised of five resident representatives, two Planning Commissioners and an alternate, three business community representatives and an alternate, a school board member and a Parks and Recreation Commissioner and alternate. Commissioner Camacho serves on the committee with Commissioner Firpo serving as the alternate. Relevant chapters of the General Plan are attached to this report. The draft plan in entirety can be found at https://shapessf.com/. Public comments are due May 31. CONCLUSION This item provides opportunity for the Commission to discuss the plan and provide feedback to staff if desired. Planning Division staff will also be present to provide a verbal update on the status of the plan. SHAPE SSF: 2040 GENERAL PLAN ABUNDANT AND ACCESSIBLE PARKS AND RECREATION 10 204 205 CHAPTER 10Abundant and Accessible Parksand Recreation 10 PART II: OUR PLACEImproved Parklands Recreational ServicesClick here to download 237 Opportunity and Access Community Engagement 237 11 236 SHAPE SSF: 2040 GENERAL PLAN CHAPTER 11Equitable Community Services 11 PART III: OUR PEOPLEEQUITABLE COMMUNITY SERVICES 237Click here to download 335 History Culture Identity Urban Ecology 335 15 334 SHAPE SSF: 2040 GENERAL PLAN CHAPTER 15Environmental and Cultural Stewardship 15 PART IV: OUR ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL STEWARDSHIP 335Click here to download SHAPE SSF 2040 GENERAL PLAN Released February 2022 City of South San Francisco Click here to download Staff Report DATE: May 17, 2022 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: R. Devin Stenhouse, Classes Supervisor SUBJECT: Classes Program Update RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission receive an update on the Parks and Recreation Department’s Classes Program. CURRENT PROGRAMMING The Classes Program currently consists of two full-time employees and roughly thirty part-time hourly employees. While its part-time workforce has dramatically decreased since the start of COVID-19 in March 2020, the program has hired approximately nine additional employees since then. The Classes Program continues to recruit, interview, and hire instructors with various backgrounds and skillsets. Classes are offered seasonally and promoted within the Activity Guide, which has information on all upcoming classes, programs, parks, co-sponsored activities, Department initiatives, upcoming special events, and policies among other relevant information. While the production of the Activity Guide was halted summer 2020 through summer 2021, the Activity Guide made its return in fall 2021 and has been seasonally produced since. The Classes Program has a great combination of well-established classes with loyal followings that have existed over the course of several years and in some cases decades, as well as the introduction of new and modern classes that aim to meet the needs of our ever-evolving community. The number of classes varies from season to season depending on instructor and facility availability, but for the spring season, the Program is offering 67 activities that are led by 39 instructors. Each activity is made up of sessions. As an example, “Private Tennis” is an activity, while “Private Tennis with Jaime Pagmanua at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday” is a session. So, tennis instructor, Jaime, teaches twelve sessions this spring season. In total, 200 sessions were produced this spring. Staff Report To: Parks and Recreation Commission Date: May 17, 2022 Subject: Classes Program Update Page 2 In March 2020, the City and the Department put a halt to all its classes and programming. This was only a few weeks after residents completed their registrations for the spring 2020 season which was scheduled to begin March 23, 2020. The program was also in its final weeks of the winter season. Like the rest of society, instructors were not sure of what the future would bring. One month later, discussions of the possibility of starting virtual classes began gaining momentum and by summer, eight instructors gave 10 activities a try within a virtual setting (20 sessions). They were in essence, the guinea pigs to our virtual class experiment. By winter 2021, we hosted 29 activities (58 sessions), which was almost three times of what we started with in the summer with additional outdoor programming at Terrabay Gymnasium and Recreation Center and Orange Memorial Park. While the Classes Program continues to grow, it is still recovering from the pandemic. There are approximately ten instructors who have not returned to the program due to COVID-safety concerns (i.e., some are caring for at-risk seniors or children who are ineligible to be vaccinated). To compare: spring 2019 statistics were as follows: 92 activities (67-spring 2022/37-spring 2021), 53 instructors (39 instructors-spring 2022/28-spring 2021), 296 sessions (200-spring 2022/150-spring 2021), and 1.672 participants (739-spring 2022/578-spring 2021). It can be concluded that while the Classes Program’s numbers are not back to what they were pre-pandemic, there is improvement from where the program was one year ago. Summary The Classes Program has been fortunate enough to have an extremely dedicated workforce with instructors who have made extraordinary accommodations to their programming during the pandemic. Not every activity was transferable to a virtual setting, but the Department was willing to give any of its instructors who wanted to reconfigure their classes to this setting the opportunity to do so. The Department received an overwhelmingly positive response from the public for these accommodations, especially during a time when leisure, recreation, social opportunities, and opportunities to learn were most important in the world. The program will continue to grow and build on the momentum it has developed from the past two years. Staff Report DATE: May 17, 2022 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Greg Mediati, Parks and Recreation Director SUBJECT: Concert in the Park Update RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission be apprised of plans for the 2022 Concert in the Park event at Orange Memorial Park. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION Planning is underway for the 2022 Concert in the Park event held at Orange Memorial Park. At the City Council’s direction, staff is planning an enhanced Concert event and has requested a total project budget of $150,000. The additional budget will allow for increased contractual production costs, management of vendors, and provision of all musical performers, staging, dance floors, and other necessary equipment for a world-class event. The event is envisioned to take place, as it has prior to COVID-19, at Orange Memorial Park on September 24, from approximately 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Due to construction of the new athletic complex at the southwestern quadrant of the park, the event will entirely take place on the soccer field / open lawn adjacent to Orange Pool and the Joseph A. Fernekes Recreation Building. A draft event setup is attached to this report, though this is subject to change. Also new for this year, the concert’s performers, vendors and activities will support the City’s Cultures United Campaign, with a diverse offering of food options, cultural performances, and professional music acts. Family Fun Zone and Other Activities Since the event footprint will be a bit smaller this year, the Family Fun Zone / Children’s Activity area will be relocated to the basketball courts at Orange Memorial Park, the immediately adjacent lawn area, and the interior of the Fernekes Building. Activities are still being explored, however, past events featured giant inflatable slides, rock walls, obstacle courses, bounce houses, a petting zoo, a silent disco, karaoke, Zumba activities, and a photo booth. Staff Report To: Parks and Recreation Commission Date: May 17, 2022 Subject: Concert in the Park Update Page 2 Food and Drink Concessions The Department plans to host a variety of diverse food options. Between five and eight food vendors are being contemplated for the event. The Friends of South San Francisco Parks and Recreation may also participate and serve beer and wine, as they have done historically, raising monies for Parks and Recreation programs and scholarships. Musical Performances Staff is once again working with GFI Entertainment to provide event production support and secure the headlining acts. Two larger professional performers are being sought at this time. Additional details will be provided in a subsequent update to the Commission. Due to space and timing constraints of this year’s event, and the emphasis on cultural performances, high school jazz bands may not be invited to perform. Cultural Performances The Department is coordinating with the South San Francisco Sister Cities Committee and our own co-sponsored and Classes Program groups to present several cultural performances, such as Hawaiian and Tahitian dance, Mexican folk dancing, and Filipino martial arts on the community stage this year. This stage, now as large and visible as the music stage, will be entirely dedicated to cultural acts. Staff anticipates having between four and six groups perform. Vendor Booths Staff was asked to incorporate some elements from the former Day in the Park in this year’s event – most notably the vendor booths. Forty-eight vendor booths have been ordered, and will be placed on the lawn near West Orange Avenue and Colma Creek. An application process is still being developed for soliciting those interested in hosting a tent. Staff anticipates interested groups might include City Departments, co-sponsored groups, service clubs, Renaissance start-up businesses, and other local businesses and non-profits. Based on interest, a lottery system may be needed for certain groups. A nominal fee to participate is also being considered to ensure that those who sign up for the event are committed to attending. CONCLUSION Staff is looking forward to another successful Concert in the Park. Staff welcomes discussion and feedback from the Commission. children's activitiesstagestagevendor tents (48)5-8 food trucks100'50'Sept 24, 2022 Concert in the ParkUpdated 2/18/22dance floordance floor Staff Report DATE: May 17, 2022 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Cancellation of Summer Commission Meeting RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission, by motion, consider cancellation of a Commission meeting during the summer months. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION Consistent with the past practice to cancel one meeting during the summer months, staff is agendizing this item for consideration should the Parks and Recreation Commission wish take action to cancel a regularly scheduled meeting on July 19, August 16, or other date suggested by the Commission. There are no anticipated urgent business items that would prohibit cancellation of one of these meetings. PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT EVENT CALENDAR Month: May 2022 Day Date Event Time Location Sunday 01 Monday 02 Improving Public Places Committee meeting 5:30 p.m. Zoom Tuesday 03 Wednesday 04 Thursday 05 Friday 06 Saturday 07 Sunday 08 Monday 09 Summer Classes Registration Begins (rescheduled to May 16) 6:00 a.m. MSB or online Tuesday 10 Wednesday 11 City Council Meeting 6:00 p.m. Online and MSB Council Chambers Thursday 12 Friday 13 Saturday 14 AAPI Celebration Picnic by Cultures United 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Fernekes Bldg. Sunday 15 Monday 16 Summer Classes Registration Begins (rescheduled) 6:00 a.m. MSB or online Tuesday 17 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting 7:00 p.m. Online Wednesday 18 Thursday 19 Preschool Graduation Cultural Arts Commission Meeting 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m. Fernekes Bldg. Online Friday 20 Saturday 21 Junior Giants First Pitch Meeting General Plan Downtown Pop-Up Event 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Online 700 Linden Avenue Sunday 22 Monday 23 Tuesday 24 Wednesday 25 City Council Meeting 6:00 p.m. Online and MSB Council Chambers Thursday 26 Friday 27 Saturday 28 Sunday 29 Monday 30 Memorial Day Flag Ceremony (Breakfast from 8-9:30 a.m. at JFRB, 781 Tennis Dr.; Program at 10 a.m. Veterans' Memorial Eternal Flame) Memorial Day – All Offices/Programs Closed 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Fernekes Bldg./Orange Park Tuesday 31 PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT EVENT CALENDAR Month: June 2022 Day Date Event Time Location Wednesday 01 Pride Month Flag Raising 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. City Hall Front Steps Thursday 02 Friday 03 SSF Ballet Spring Performance TBD TBD Saturday 04 SSF Ballet Spring Performance TBD TBD Sunday 05 Monday 06 Summer Camp and Summer Session Classes begin Tuesday 07 Junior Giants Volunteer Meeting 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MSB Council Chambers Wednesday 08 City Council Meeting OMP Ballfield Groundbreaking (tentative) 6:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Online and MSB Council Chambers Orange Park Ballfield Thursday 09 Friday 10 Saturday 11 New Aquatic Center Workshop #3 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Fernekes Bldg. Sunday 12 Monday 13 Tuesday 14 Wednesday 15 Thursday 16 Cultural Arts Commission meeting 6:30 p.m. Online Friday 17 Saturday 18 Sunday 19 Monday 20 Tuesday 21 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting 7:00 p.m. Online Wednesday 22 City Council Meeting 6:00 p.m. Online and MSB Council Chambers Thursday 23 Friday 24 Saturday 25 Sunday 26 Monday 27 Tuesday 28 Wednesday 29 Thursday 30 PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT EVENT CALENDAR Month: July 2022 Day Date Event Time Location July is Parks and Recreation Month! Friday 01 Saturday 02 Sunday 03 Monday 04 Independence Day Tuesday 05 Wednesday 06 Thursday 07 Friday 08 Junior Giants First Games Saturday 09 Sunday 10 Monday 11 Improving Public Places Committee meeting 5:30 p.m. Tuesday 12 Wednesday 13 City Council Meeting 6:00 p.m. Online and MSB Council Chambers Thursday 14 Friday 15 Parks & Rec Month Field Day & Movie Night Celebration CAC Handcrafted 2D Art & Craft Show 5:30 p.m. TBD Orange Park Soccer Field MSB Saturday 16 CAC Handcrafted 2D Art & Craft Show TBD MSB Sunday 17 Monday 18 Tuesday 19 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting 7:00 p.m. Online Wednesday 20 Thursday 21 Cultural Arts Commission meeting 6:30 p.m. Online Friday 22 Saturday 23 Sunday 24 Monday 25 Tuesday 26 Wednesday 27 City Council Meeting 6:00 p.m. Online and MSB Council Chambers Thursday 28 Friday 29 Saturday 30 Sunday 31 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: April 21, 2022 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Department Update Parks Division Update Grand Avenue Breezeway Update The first phase of work at the breezeway between Third Lane and Grand Avenue near Starbucks is nearing completion after renovation started three weeks ago. This week saw the forming and pouring of concrete for the entirety of the walkway. The old breezeway was completely razed and is being replaced with new concrete and art pavers. The old walkway had a zig-zag alignment, which was difficult to surveille. The new alignment will be a straight run to allow for clear lines of sight for public safety. Additionally, sixteen-foot-tall posts were installed on either side of the walkway to support overhead string lights. Once the concrete has cured, the art pavers will be installed. After this phase is completed, Parks staff will install the string lights and plant the edges of the breezeway with new landscape material prior to reopening. Parks and Recreation Department Update April 21, 2022 Page 2 of 2 Citywide Tree Inventory The Parks Division has been working over the last five months to update its tree inventory. Staff has contracted with Davey Resource Group to perform a comprehensive count and analysis of all City-owned trees in South San Francisco. Each tree will be measured, given a health score, and inspected for hazards. Additionally, each tree will be plotted on an inventory software application called TreeKeeper, which will allow staff to view each tree or vacant tree well, its assigned characteristics and edit them as maintenance or planting is performed. One of the best features of this system is that residents will be able to view a public facing inventory website, where they can learn more about trees in their neighborhood. Completing this inventory is a primary goal of the Urban Forest Master Plan which was adopted in early 2020. An inventory update should be completed every five to seven years to ensure accuracy. Building Maintenance Division Update Corporation Yard Waste Station Repairs Last week, the roll up door at the Corporation Yard waste station failed. The waste station is used by the Public Works Department and Parks and Recreation Department maintenance crews to dispose debris collected around the City. This particular roll up door is used by South San Francisco Scavengers to access the dumpster to be emptied daily. Scavengers staff called and informed the City that they were not able to access the bays, and debris is starting to accumulate. The Building Maintenance team along with a contractor determined that the electrical key switch and the motor for the door failed due to age and environmental conditions. The switch was replaced, and a new motor was ordered. The roll up door will need to be raised and lowered manually until the motor can be replaced, but the area will be secured at night and over the weekends. Grand Avenue Library Vandalism Repairs It was recently brought to staff’s attention that the Grand Avenue Library entrance door was vandalized. This particular door is solid wood with a glass insert. A vandal scratched offensive language and symbols into the glass. Building Maintenance staff tried to polish the glass to remove the offensive graffiti, but was not successful. Staff then measured and ordered a new piece of custom glass for the door. The new pane of glass was manufactured, and Building Maintenance staff was able to remove and replace the glass. New signage for the door will be ordered and installed in the coming weeks. CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: April 28, 2022 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Department Update Annual Parks and Recreation Easter Bunny Photo Hop Recap The 91st annual Easter Egg Hunt, now dubbed the Easter Bunny Photo Hop, took place at the Orange Memorial Park Soccer Field on Saturday, April 9. Starting at 8:00 a.m., groups of pre-registered families participated in the event in 15-minute sessions until 12:00 p.m. Additional families were able to walk-up and participate in the event as space allowed. Participants were greeted by staff at the registration table where they were presented with a pre-filled bag of assorted candy. Hatch Realty Group donated the tote bags imprinted with the City’s seal, as well as donuts to feed staff prior to the event. The event featured an opportunity for each family to spend a minute taking pictures with the Easter Bunny. Small-scale egg hunts also took place after the photo opportunity. Informational tables representing JobTrain, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, SSF Promotores, and the Parks and Recreation Department were also present to distribute flyers, resources, activity guides, and other materials. Inside the Fernekes Building, staff and ELS Architects hosted the first of several public outreach events for the new aquatic center. Overall, 500 people participated in the event. This is the second year of conducting the event in this modified format. Although the event was successful, the Parks and Recreation Department will continue to brainstorm ways to improve efficiency and serve more participants to meet the demand for this very popular event. Parks and Recreation Department Update April 28, 2022 Page 2 of 4 Shinkyu Shotokan Karate Tournament Recap The Shinkyu Shotokan Karate Tournament took place on Sunday, April 10 at the Terrabay Gymnasium and Recreation Center. This was the first karate tournament that the Department hosted since 2019. The event served 65 participants who competed in three events: individual katas (detailed patterns of movement), team katas, and kumite (one-on-one competition). Additionally, 13 volunteers assisted with the event to check-in competitors and serve as judges, scorekeepers, lunch servers, and general event support. The event was a success. Most participants were currently enrolled students in the Recreation Division’s youth and adult Shinkyu Shotokan Karate classes, however, many students from two other dojos (Silicon Valley Karate and Shinkyu Shotokan Karate, Newark) also participated. Mayor Nagales and Sensei Sue Miller started the event by addressing the crowd, encouraging competitors, and welcoming friends and families who came to support competitors. Trophies were awarded to the top three competitors in each of the various skill levels. Participation medals were awarded to competitors who did not qualify as one of the top three. The next karate tournament will be on Sunday, August 14 at the same location. Details are currently being developed. Alta Loma Park Mural Update The Skyline College Community Mural Project is underway at Alta Loma Park. Skyline College Associate Professor, Amir Esfahani, and a dozen of his students began prepping and painting the Alta Loma Park bathroom structure on Saturday, April 9. The collaborative design by the Skyline College students is a nod to the rich cultural history of South San Francisco from the past to the present. Professor Esfahani and his students can be found every Saturday, weather permitting, working on this project. The class welcomes visitors and are always happy to discuss their project. The mural is expected to be fully completed by June. Pickleball Open Gym As it is nationally, pickleball is an increasingly popular sport in South San Francisco. Attendance has almost doubled from the winter 2022 season to the current spring 2022 season. This is a drop- in class in which participants do not need to register in advance, but instead pay a daily participation fee of $4. The Department started hosting weekly drop-in pickleball in summer 2018 at the Terrabay Gymnasium and Recreation Center and, except for the several months that the City Parks and Recreation Department Update April 28, 2022 Page 3 of 4 was sheltering in place due to the pandemic, has been operating every Monday evening ever since. The sport was relatively new when introduced in 2018, but facilitator and certified pickleball instructor, Armando Leigh, wanted to share the sport at that time with the residents of South San Francisco. During these open gym sessions, pickleball is not necessarily taught to newcomers as if it were a traditional class, but instead, Armando is present to help facilitate games, answer any questions participants may have about the game, and confirm and/or explain any questionable rules about the game. In addition to the growing popularity of the Monday evening open pickleball sessions, there is also an increase in attendance at the newest outdoor pickleball court at Westborough Park. Most participants frequent the courts on Saturday mornings. This is in addition to the other two pickleball courts operating at Buri Buri Park and Stonegate Park. Because these courts are shared with tennis courts, and conflicts arise at times, the Department is looking into scheduling more dedicated times for open pickleball and possibly formal lessons for the near future. Childcare Program Enrollment Update After School Recreation Program and REAL After School Program Update The Youth Enrichment Services Program accepted applications for the 2022-23 After School Recreation and REAL Programs in February. Families who are currently enrolled receive a priority registration period and 374 families re-enrolled for the 2022-23 school year. In addition, 22 preschool graduates and siblings also received a space in the program. To date, 41 families have been taken off the waitlist with 83 remaining. Due to current limited staff availability and to leave room for potential school transfers that typically occur near the start of the school year, programs are not fully enrolled at this time. Staff hopes to increase enrollment in the coming months. Summer Camp Update Summer Camp 2022 registration took place in March. All three locations are fully enrolled, serving a total of 280 children. The Department is holding 30 spaces for children who will receive scholarships as part of the San Mateo County Summer Enrichment Grant. Teen Camp is full for Sessions 2 and 3 with five spaces remaining in Session 1. There are 112 families on the waitlist for Summer Camp in total. Preschool Enrollment Update The Preschool Early Learning Programs are still operating at reduced capacity at this time, although the Department has moved towards reaching 75% capacity after the new year once the impact of the omicron surge settled down. Due to the rise in positive COVID cases after winter break and spring break, limited staff availability, and the fact that preschool children are not yet able to be vaccinated, many programs are still operating at reduced enrollment. The Department hopes to return to normal operations in the fall pending continued easing of COVID cases and available staffing. Parks and Recreation Department Update April 28, 2022 Page 4 of 4 Week of the Young Child During the week of April 2, the Department’s Preschool Programs celebrated the Week of the Young Child. The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose is to focus attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. The Department’s preschool programs celebrated with a different theme each day. The children, staff, and parents are always excited to see what is planned. Themes this year included nature explorers, music is magic, adventures in gaming, backpacking through the world, pajama day, cooking, pirates, beach time, among others. Each day, teachers arrived early and spent time installing decorations that greeted the children as they arrived. Below are some comments from parents: “Thank you SO much for all of the work and time you put into the “Week of the Young Child!” Our entire family enjoyed the festivities, and it was so nice to feel all the excitement every morning getting ready for school (not to mention it was much easier to move swiftly out the door). Again, we can’t thank you enough, and we hope you all have a restful weekend!” “Zac had such a special, wonderful week with all the themes last week, thank you to all the teachers and team that helped with that!" CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: May 5, 2022 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Department Update Parks Division Update Arbor Day Planting Event Recap On Saturday, April 23, the Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the Improving Public Places Committee, hosted its annual Arbor Day event at Sister Cities Park. Staff and 40 volunteers planted 1,500 native plants and fifteen trees and applied several cubic yards of mulch. The planting project was a continuation of work that occurred last year along the trail in a phased approach to convert the landscape from an underutilized lawn area into a pollinator corridor with specimen trees. This is the 36th year the City has been recognized as a “Tree City” by the Arbor Day Foundation. Celebrating Arbor Day is a requirement for the “Tree City” designation. In addition to installing trees and plants, the project focused on reducing turf areas to conserve water. This was accomplished by sheet mulching, a process of smothering the lawn with cardboard and compost. The compost used for this project also helps the City reach its organic material recycling requirements established by SB 1383. In addition to a robust planting event, information on native plants, trees, composting, mulching, and various other environmentally conscious landscape activities were provided. Free compost bins courtesy of the Public Works Department were distributed to volunteers in an effort to inform residents of the SB 1383 requirements. Parks and Recreation Department Update May 5, 2022 Page 2 of 2 Building Maintenance Division Update Fire Station 62 Repairs The Fire Department reported to Building Maintenance staff that water infiltrated the Fire Station during heavy rains earlier this year. Building Maintenance staff determined there was a small leak in the roof. Staff proceeded to repair the leak, but unfortunately water had already soaked into the walls and cabinets. The area was cordoned off and staff removed all the damaged cabinets. Once the cabinets were removed it was determined the sheetrock was also damaged. Staff, in coordination with a contractor, removed all the damaged sheetrock. New insulation was installed, and the sheetrock was replaced. Finally, the walls were repainted, and the laundry room was complete. CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DATE: May 12, 2022 TO: Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Department Update Youth Art Show The Cultural Arts Commission recently held its first in-person art gallery exhibit in more than two years. Over 260 visitors enjoyed the 20th live presentation of the Youth Art Show on April 29 and 30 at the Municipal Services Building. The exhibit included 24 entries by South San Francisco Unified School District students and group entries by the hundreds of children participating in the Parks and Recreation Department’s Childcare Programs. The art highlighted National Diversity Month which is observed in April. Friday’s art gallery opening also featured the announcement of the City’s first Youth Poet-in-Residence. The awardee, Chloe Chou, read selections from her body of work. Her poetry is currently available to view in the Municipal Services Building display window as part of the Youth Art Show’s extended exhibit. Due to the pandemic, in 2021 the Youth Art Show was offered as a virtual-only program. For 19 years prior, it was a successful partnership with the South San Francisco Unified School District and featured performing arts demonstrations and craft activities. This year, to ensure a safe indoor environment, adjustments were made to the program. Guests received a small gift bag of art-related items for children in lieu of the traditional reception amenities. The performing arts activities were not included. The extended exhibit of selected entries is on display through Thursday, June 2 at the Municipal Services Building. A virtual exhibit opened on May 7 and runs through June 5 at www.ssf.net/culturalarts. Parks and Recreation Department Update May 12, 2022 Page 2 of 3 Summer Class Registration Date Delayed Due to severe delays on the part of the Department’s vendor for printing and distribution of the Activity Guide, coupled with paper supply shortages, the Summer Activity Guide will be mailed to all residents later than expected. The summer guide was scheduled to be received by the Department on Monday, April 25 and mailed from the post office the same day. Unfortunately, after numerous efforts to accelerate delivery, the Department received the guides on Monday, May 9 – two weeks later than planned. Although the digital version of the summer guide is currently available on the City’s website as well as the Department’s registration page at www.ssf.net/rec-catalog, many residents who are not accustomed to obtaining information from online sources are still without knowledge of the summer schedule. This puts this population at a disadvantage considering the resident registration date was scheduled for Monday, May 9. As a result, the Department delayed the registration date for summer classes to Monday, May 16. While waiting for Activity Guides to arrive, the Department printed several copies of the guide to distribute to City facilities including the Municipal Services Building, Joseph A. Fernekes Recreation Building, Roberta Cerri Teglia Center, Alice Peña Bulos Community Center, Terrabay Gymnasium and Recreation Center, Orange Pool, and the public libraries. Finally, a communications campaign was implemented to inform the public of the new registration dates. Senior Services AARP Tax-Aide Tax Preparation Program The Senior Services Program team worked with the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program to provide free tax services to 483 older adults and seniors this year. Appointments were offered on Mondays and Saturdays from February 7 through April 9. Many of the clients stated that they have been enjoying South San Francisco’s AARP tax services for many years. This was the first in- person service since tax appointments took place in a drop-off format for the past two years due to COVID-19. The clients were incredibly happy to come back in person and many expressed their appreciation for the free service. Most felt more comfortable being able to ask their questions and speak to a volunteer face-to-face. Parks and Recreation Department Update May 12, 2022 Page 3 of 3 Hawaiian Plus Program Performs for Adult Day Care On May 3, the Hawaiian Plus group organized through the Senior Services Program at the Roberta Cerri Teglia Center performed for the Adult Day Care clients. They played their ukuleles while singing beautiful Hawaiian songs. The Adult Day Care clients enjoyed humming and singing along while tapping their feet and swaying in their seats. The Hawaiian Plus performers were kind enough to show participants how to do some Hawaiian dances and gifted them beautiful handmade leis. It brought a smile to everyone’s face as all were able to sing, dance, and enjoy each other’s company. National Afterschool Professionals Week The Youth Enrichment Services Program celebrated National Afterschool Professionals Week from April 23 to April 27. An estimated 10.2 million children participate in afterschool programs each year in the United States, and for every child in an afterschool program there are two more waiting to get in. Every child deserves quality afterschool experiences that positively impact their development. It takes skilled professionals to create these experiences. Research shows that afterschool professionals are the key to program quality that mitigates risk factors and positively impacts youth outcomes. An estimated 850,000 skilled professionals serve young people in afterschool programs each year nationally. Their work and dedication results in increased social-emotional skills, school attendance, and academic performance. The Parks and Recreation Department’s coordinators, supervisors, and hourly staff are the heart of the Department’s afterschool offerings. They provide learning opportunities in a fun, safe, and educational environment and work tirelessly to ensure that children have a high-quality program. Staff were given tokens of appreciation during this week.