CC MIN 04122022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Assistant Director Crose reported public feedback supports a cricket location somewhere in the City but not at Muirwood. She advised staff is recommending removing Muirwood as the near-term solution and conducting further research for other options, such as Bernal Community Park. In response to Councilmember Balch, Landscape Architect Gruber advised the Alisal Elementary School cricket pitch has a radius of about 150 feet. In response to Councilmember Balch, Assistant Director Crose confirmed a 180-foot radius is considered a safe area for players ages 11 and under. In response to Councilmember Balch, Landscape Architect Gruber reported an artificial field would be an option due to easier maintenance and noted the cricket community prefers natural turf. He confirmed the Staples Ranch site could receive recycled water while Bernal Park could not. He confirmed there would be no change in water usage if the field were at Muirwood because it is an existing park. In response to Councilmember Balch, Assistant Director Crose confirmed that Muirwood Park currently hosts City-programmed youth soccer and other contracted sports. She advised there is less City programming than in other parks. In response to Councilmember Balch, Assistant Director Crose advised upper Bernal is not large enough to hold a cricket pitch. She reported she has not researched if the park adjacent to Donlon Elementary School is large enough for cricket. Landscape Architect Gruber confirmed staff did look at Donlon but it was not considered as a potential site because it is not City property and the City does not have a Joint Use Agreement for the property with PUSD. Councilmember Balch directed staff to investigate if Donlon could be an option. In response to Councilmember Balch, Assistant Director of Library and Recreation Crose reported the City's cricket participation numbers are similar to its football participation numbers and noted they continue to grow. She advised there is a strong need for a cricket field. In response to Councilmember Arkin, Assistant Director Crose advised the Pleasanton Middle School's field is too small for the 180-foot radius. She explained the City stopped using it as a site due to serious maintenance concerns along with reoccurring natural damage the City found difficult to mitigate. In response to Councilmember Arkin, Assistant Director Crose confirmed the costs associated with the Staples Ranch site would be for a full build-out and not just the field itself. She could not provide an estimate of the cost for just the field. Landscape Architect Gruber expects the costs to be in the $4-8 million range and possibly higher due to a lack of infrastructure. He clarified the basic infrastructure would include restrooms and parking. In response to Mayor Brown, Assistant Director Crose advised grass length would still be a concern with the location in the center of Ken Mercer Sports Park. She advised it remains a major maintenance concern and likely would require more equipment. In response to Councilmember Arkin, Assistant Director Crose confirmed football is primarily played in the fall. She clarified the City typically closes these fields from the end of fall until February or March and would still maintain this window to allow the grass to rejuvenate. She advised cricket could then be allotted the space in the spring. In response to Councilmember Arkin, Assistant Director Crose confirmed there are two options staff could work with at Ken Mercer Sports Park—the underused softball field and the football fields. She confirmed there would be short-term solutions for being 180-foot radiuses. City Council Minutes Page 7 of 18 April 12, 2022