HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-18 PSC Agenda PacketPage 1 of 2
Public Spaces Commission
Community Forum
AGENDA
(to be held both at the physical and virtual locations below)
Ukiah Valley Conference Center ♦ 200 South School Street ♦ Ukiah, CA 95482
To participate or view the virtual meeting, go to the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81764322746
Or you can call in using your telephone only:
• Call (toll free) 1-888-788-0099
• Enter the Access Code: 817 6432 2746
• To Raise Hand enter *9
• To Speak after being recognized: enter *6 to unmute yourself
November 18, 2025 - 5:00 PM
1. ROLL CALL
2. INTRODUCTIONS
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.a. Approval of the Minutes for the July 8, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Recommended Action: Approve the Minutes for the July 8, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Attachments:
1. 2025-07-08 Draft Minutes
4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
The Public Spaces Commission (PSC) welcomes input from the audience that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the
PSC. In order for everyone to be heard, please limit your comments to three (3) minutes per person and not more the (10)
minutes per subject. The Brown Act regulations do not allow action to be taken on audience comments.
5. STAFF MEMBER PRESENTATIONS / REPORTS
5.a. Director's Report
Recommended Action: Director's Reports are verbal reports given by the Community Services
Director on the status of Parks and/ or Recreation projects. Updates may include, but are not
limited to, City Council activity updates, grant applications, maintenance projects, recreation
activities of note, and Grace Hudson Museum or Ukiah Valley Conference Center updates.
Attachments: None
6. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS
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7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (DISCUSSION ONLY)
8. NEW BUSINESS
8.a. Conduct a Community Forum to Discuss the Future of Parks in the Ukiah Valley.
Recommended Action: Conduct a community forum to discuss the future of parks in the Ukiah
Valley and solicit public input to inform decisions regarding the improvement of existing parks
and the development of new parks as well as the improvement of public spaces.
Attachments: None
8.b. Discussion, Possible Nomination, and Appointment of a Chair and Vice Chair of the City of
Ukiah Public Spaces Commission (PSC) for One (1) Year.
Recommended Action: Discuss, nominate, and appoint a new Chair and Vice Chair of the City of
Ukiah Public Spaces Commission for one (1) year.
Attachments:
1. Ukiah City Code - Public Spaces Commission (Rules & Regulations)
9. ADJOURNMENT
Please be advised that the City needs to be notified 72 hours in advance of a meeting if any specific accommodations or interpreter services
are needed in order for you to attend. The City complies with ADA requirements and will attempt to reasonably accommodate individuals with
disabilities upon request. Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the City Council after distribution of the agenda packet are
available for public inspection at the front counter at the Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, CA 95482, during normal business
hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing agenda was posted at the main entrance of
the City of Ukiah Annex, located at 411 West Clay Street, Ukiah, California, and at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center, located at 200 South
School Street, Ukiah, California, not less than 24 hours prior to the meeting set forth on this agenda.
Jessika Ramos
11/14/25
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AGENDA ITEM 3a
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Public Spaces Commission
Community Forum
MINUTES
East End of Norgard Lane ♦ Ukiah, CA 95482
Alex Rorabaugh Community Center ♦ 1640 South State St ♦ Ukiah, CA. 95482
Virtual Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81764322746
July 8, 2025 - 5:30 PM
1. SITE VSISIT – 5:30 P.M.
The Public Spaces Commission conducted a site visit and tour of Norgard Lane at 5:30 P.M.
2. ROLL CALL
Public Spaces Commission met at a Community forum Meeting on July 8, 2025, having been legally
noticed on July 3rd, 2025. The meeting was held virtually at the following link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81764322746 and in person at the Alex Rorabaugh Recreation Center
at 1640 South State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482. Commissioner Babbini called the meeting to order at
6:00 p.m. Commissioners Present: Elora Babbini, Steven Ratley, and Joe Scriven.
Commissioners Absent by Prearrangement: Chrystal Thurman. Staff Present: Neil Davis,
Community Services Director and Yvonne Avila, Community Services Administrative Assistant.
3. INTRODUCTIONS
Alex de Grassi and Lucy Kramer.
Commission consensus to hear agenda item 8a out of order.
8. NEW BUSINESS
a. Community Forum to Solicit Input on Desired Features and Plans for a New Park
at the East End of Norgard Lane (6:00PM)
Presenter: Neil Davis, Community Services Director.
Public Comment: Lucy Kramer and Alex de Grassi.
Input provided to Staff.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. Approval of the Minutes for the May 13, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Scriven/Ratley to approve the Minutes of May 13th, 2025, a Regular Meeting; as submitted. Motion
carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Babbini, Scriven, and Ratley. NOES: None. ABSENT:
Thurman. ABSTAIN: None.
5. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS No public comments were received.
6. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS
No Commissioners reports were received.
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Public Spaces Commission Minutes for July 8, 2025, Continued:
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7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (DISCUSSION ONLY)
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Yvonne Avila, Public Spaces Commission Clerk
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Agenda Item No: 5.a.
MEETING DATE/TIME: 11/18/2025
ITEM NO: 2025-1263
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SUBJECT: Director's Report
DEPARTMENT: Community Services PREPARED BY: Neil Davis, Community Services Director
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Summary:
Background: Director's Reports are verbal reports given by the Community Services Director on the status of
Parks and/ or Recreation projects. Updates may include, but are not limited to, City Council activity updates,
grant applications, maintenance projects, recreation activities of note, and Grace Hudson Museum or Ukiah
Valley Conference Center updates.
Discussion: This report is expected to provide updates in the following areas:
o Volunteer Program
o Climate Resilient Forests Grant Update
o Phase 4 of the Great Redwood Trail Update
o Director Transition
o Upcoming Events and Activities
Recommended Action: Director's Reports are verbal reports given by the Community Services Director on
the status of Parks and/ or Recreation projects. Updates may include, but are not limited to, City Council
activity updates, grant applications, maintenance projects, recreation activities of note, and Grace Hudson
Museum or Ukiah Valley Conference Center updates.
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Agenda Item No: 8.a.
MEETING DATE/TIME: 11/18/2025
ITEM NO: 2025-1262
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
SUBJECT: Conduct a Community Forum to Discuss the Future of Parks in the Ukiah Valley.
DEPARTMENT: Community Services PREPARED BY: Neil Davis, Community Services Director
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Summary: The Public Spaces Commission will conduct a community forum to discuss the future of parks in
the Ukiah Valley and solicit public input to inform decisions regarding the improvement of existing parks and
the development of new parks as well as the improvement of public spaces.
Background: In February of 2025, the Ukiah City Council adopted the Ukiah Parks Gap Analysis. The fifty-
nine-page document was the culmination of a year’s work that included a literature review, a survey that
provided comparison to other Cities’ park systems, a community survey, and a series of focus group
discussions. The analysis studied the current status of parks inside the City limits and also explored the
potential need for parks in the surrounding Area of Interest. The study provided community feedback on the
types of parks and park amenities that are of interest to the citizens of Ukiah.
In November 2024, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 4, a $10 billion Climate Bond
designed to safeguard our communities, natural resources and our future in the face of climate change. From
wildfire prevention and safe drinking water to protecting biodiversity and increasing access to nature, these
funds will support projects that make a real, lasting difference in the lives of people and communities across
California. At least 40 percent of all bond funding is legally required to benefit disadvantaged, severely
disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.
The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) has been tasked with distributing the money and ensuring
accountability. The CNRA has divided the funding into nine “chapters” including water resilience, wildfire and
forest resilience, coastal resilience, extreme heat mitigation, protection of biodiversity, climate-smart
agriculture, parks and outdoor access, and clean air and energy. The funding will be distributed over three
years with $3.3 billion available this year.
Discussion: The Public Spaces Commission (PSC) is tasked with providing advice and recommendations to
Council regarding 1) City-owned properties that are open to the public, free of charge, such as parks, paths,
and public right-of-ways; 2) creeks within the City limits; 3) open spaces within and outside of the City limits
that are undeveloped and conserved or in consideration of future conservation; 4) and the recreational uses of
these spaces. While the City of Ukiah may be interested in pursuing a wide range of Prop 4 funding, the
“chapters” of most likely interest to the Public Spaces Commission include wildfire and forest resilience ($336
million this year), protection of biodiversity ($414 million this year), and parks and outdoor access ($518 million
this year).
City staff expect to see Requests for Proposals (RFP) being released in the next two to eight months and then
continue to be released intermittently over the next three years. Most of these RFPs will ask what the City did
to solicit community input and how the input was adopted as part of the City’s grant request. As such, staff
suggest the PSC conduct a community “mini-charette” to solicit input on the “Future of Ukiah Parks” as a
means to solicit input. A charrette is a focused, immersive workshop that encourages collaboration among
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stakeholders like community members, developers, and design experts. This will provide a baseline of
community input that can be used as staff pursue these grants. It may be possible to have additional
community forums to seek community input on specific grant projects. However, often there is little time
between an RFP being released and its due date. This baseline of community input will help City grant writers
if time constraints preclude the solicitation of grant-specific input.
Recommended Action: Conduct a community forum to discuss the future of parks in the Ukiah Valley and
solicit public input to inform decisions regarding the improvement of existing parks and the development of
new parks as well as the improvement of public spaces.
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ARTICLE 1. PUBLIC SPACES COMMISSION
SECTION:
§1000: Creation
§1001: Membership; Appointment
§1002: Term Of Office; Vacancies
§1003: Duties And Powers
§1004: Compensation
§1005: Chairperson; Officers
§1000 CREATION
There is hereby created a Public Spaces Commission. This advisory body shall report to the City Council. (Ord.
783, §1, adopted 1982; Ord. 916, §2, adopted 1990; Ord. 1020, adopted 1999; Ord. 1219, §2, adopted 2022)
§1001 MEMBERSHIP; APPOINTMENT
The Commission shall consist of five (5) at large members who may reside within the City limits or outside the
City limits but within the Ukiah Valley; provided, that a majority, i.e., three (3), of the five (5) Commission
members must reside within the City limits.
All members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. (Ord. 783, §1, adopted 1982; Ord. 890,
adopted 1989; Ord. 916, §2, adopted 1990; Ord. 935, §2, adopted 1993; Ord. 1020, adopted 1999; Ord. 1100, §1,
adopted 2007; Ord. 1159, §1, adopted 2015; Ord. 1219, §2, adopted 2022; Ord. 1252, §1, adopted 2025)
§1002 TERM OF OFFICE; VACANCIES
All appointments to this Commission shall be for a term of three (3) years. Reappointments to the Commission
shall be pursuant to Chapter 4, Article 5 of this division. (Ord. 783, §1, adopted 1982; Ord. 916, §2, adopted
1990; Ord. 1020, adopted 1999; Ord. 1219, §2, adopted 2022)
§1003 DUTIES AND POWERS
The Public Spaces Commission shall provide advice and recommendations to Council regarding (1) City-owned
properties that are open to the public, free of charge, such as parks, paths, and public rights-of-way; (2) creeks
within the City limits; (3) open spaces within and outside of the City limits that are undeveloped and conserved
or in consideration of future conservation; (4) and the recreational uses of these spaces. In addition, the Public
Spaces Commission shall have the power and duty to:
A. Solicit, collate, and analyze public input on the wise use of public spaces.
The Ukiah City Code is current through Ordinance 1259, passed September 3, 2025.
Ukiah City Code §1000 CREATION Page 1 of 2
PSC Agenda Item 8c - Attachment 1
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B. Provide recommendations and advic e to both City s taff and the City Council bas ed on said public input.
C. If deemed necessary by the Commiss ion, form working groups in collaboration with City staff to explore and
formulate advice or rec ommendations on s pec ific areas regarding the wise use of public spaces .
D. Commis s ion activ ities related to solic itation, review, and analy sis of public input s hall be guided by the
Community Outreac h Plan. The Commis sion shall prepare and annually update a Community Outreac h Plan to
be approv ed by City Counc il. The Community Outreach Plan will guide the methodology , s cheduling, and
track ing of the Commission’s c ommunity engagement.
E. The Commis sion shall hold at least six (6) regular meetings per y ear as s cheduled and noticed in
complianc e with the annually updated Community Outreach Plan. It s hall adopt rules for the transac tion of
business whic h s hall be inc luded in the Community Outreac h Plan.
F. The Commiss ion s hall keep a rec ord of its transac tions , findings, recommendations , and any other ac tion
item, whic h rec ord s hall be a public record. (Ord. 783, §1, adopted 1982; Ord. 916, §2, adopted 1990; Ord. 1020,
adopted 1999; Ord. 1219, §2, adopted 2022)
§1004 COMPENSATION
The members of the Commiss ion s hall rec eive no compensation, except suc h trav eling expenses as are
authorized by law. (Ord. 783, §1, adopted 1982; Ord. 916, §2, adopted 1990; Ord. 1219, §2, adopted 2022)
§1005 CHAIRPERSON; OFFICERS
The Commis sion shall elect a chairpers on from among its members for a term of one year and may elect suc h
other officers as it may determine. (Ord. 783, §1, adopted 1982; Ord. 916, §2, adopted 1990; Ord. 1219, §2,
adopted 2022)
The Ukiah City Code is current through Ordinance 1259, passed September 3, 2025.
Uki ah C i ty Code §1004 C OMPENSATION Page 2 of 2
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