[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6562851,"mediaKeyId","3241745-7c32eaf329f0cc6eda9d072a50d4f04f","parentId",3241745,"title","Commission endorses water‑filling stations, sand volleyball upgrades as top uses for sugar‑sweetened beverage tax funds","audioSeconds",437,"startMs",6218000,"endMs",6655000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3241745-7c32eaf329f0cc6eda9d072a50d4f04f&start=6218&end=6655","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3241745-7c32eaf329f0cc6eda9d072a50d4f04f/thumbnail_6218000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6562851/Albany-City/Alameda-County/California/Commission-endorses-waterfilling-stations-sand-volleyball-upgrades-as-top-uses-for-sugarsweetened-beverage-tax-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562851-2bab5700f9dc96f413d7f6308cf09753/orig.mp4?Expires=1770866035&Signature=K7HNSJsKmtffashSnhRZWaykDZ0HO3LMahF1cyiIoig~l8FQ6m2oPGqSa3YS3CQI7FiomI385kTDmlmaHVrIr5LAZNXTJpYxfsTW06c3~tfBYP4dz45A9iIPA71~xiZDsyKYD6WpnRRMmuhE-TVumJielqAcrRvSnazbiSMXV-MRw57a3DNNEoM7aTnHnI8SmvSmCf6gtBPBEqaI7VYBsl95QmWD~zvFhtDCyoZ9mga49BiP8SxloOTdYXFcq3bJ-aotbuD3uTF5zOU~mni1iBuZf8qfOZUr2sTs8HcWjYSCzfwSCklSB-W8v3jDigH1BFWhKWftWsIqaaPb9PqIwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Albany, CA","date","2025-05-08T23:33:03Z","article","The Parks and Recreation Commission on May 8 endorsed staff recommendations to prioritize water-bottle filling stations and upgrades to a sand‑volleyball facility as uses for Albany’s sugar‑sweetened beverage tax revenue.

Staff presented three priority projects: (1) replace an aging fountain near the pickleball courts at Ocean View Park with a water‑bottle filling station; (2) add a bottle‑filling station along the Greenway/Linear Park to supplement an older decorative drinking fountain; and (3) complete a more fully scoped sand‑volleyball court upgrade, including improved access paths and site work.

\"This is an old aggregate water fountain that kinda works, but mostly doesn't,\" the presenter said of the Ocean View Park fountain, noting the intention to relocate and replace it with an ADA‑accessible bottle filler and a pet water bowl at a more convenient location for court and field users.

Staff estimated the sand‑volleyball project as the largest item and priced a more complete version of the project at about $125,000. The sand court proposal would include upgraded pathways to improve ADA access and address tree‑root damage in existing paved approaches.

For the Greenway, staff said there is an existing decorative fountain whose plumbing is accessible, making a bottle‑filling retrofit a workable option near active exercise areas. When drains are not available, staff said they would install a dry well to manage wastewater from the new fixtures, as done at prior sites.

Commissioners said the projects fit prior commission direction and would be included in materials for an upcoming City Council study session. Staff said the commission need not make a formal presentation to council but members may attend the study session if they wish to speak.

No formal appropriation was made at the meeting; staff will incorporate the commission’s priorities into the city’s presentation to council and into the capital-improvement planning process. The commission recommended moving forward with the water‑filling stations as the primary priority, with the sand‑volleyball site as a secondary capital candidate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission - May 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parks commissioners on May 8 advanced recommendations to use Albany's sugar‑sweetened beverage tax revenue for water-bottle filling stations at Ocean View Park and the greenway plus improvements to a sand-volleyball court and accessibility upgrades.","taxTitle","Albany City, Alameda County, California","taxId",72346,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6562856,"Albany commission backs nominations for three new Priority Conservation Areas to seek regional grants",5359,849000,6208000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3241745-7c32eaf329f0cc6eda9d072a50d4f04f&start=849&end=6208","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3241745-7c32eaf329f0cc6eda9d072a50d4f04f/thumbnail_849000.jpg","/articles/6562856/Albany-City/Alameda-County/California/Albany-commission-backs-nominations-for-three-new-Priority-Conservation-Areas-to-seek-regional-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562856-09fd74d886e0509e192bdd6b45605036/orig.mp4?Expires=1770866035&Signature=dTsBEEJu~5ywy8xIU9iSBAYSx55OIoYzrwwh26kBpfHCYwW9qVFQLXlgN6P~HDg0DUoYXTFJStKzhLDPA7PMJXLp15YNXbN~9Hi1YxwqxOtukHFh91CFpOkS4AFvqEFJwsAGZ6N4hj7yC4gGT~iJHfewQBzisIw~SNIG~Bnr81I4uqu9COmJDmOsOo4CXbXhgM4Tdin39gLDDvo~YFmRStyXcsoKORmL~8Yih0LKGlRAx04jkVZiwURxIsLrkCuDHAzTp0Efw~2VCSI9A2cKEaKKya9bx8uPGSFmPv9sm0EttcuV2FRCwhNw~rnz-xE5tpusc~Lp~H57gUJpYcqrFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks and Recreation Commission on May 8 voted unanimously to recommend that City Council adopt resolutions nominating three new Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) and amend the existing Albany Hill PCA so the city can pursue regional grant funding.

A staff member described the Priority Conservation Areas program as a regional tool administered by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). \"Priority conservation areas are designated geographical areas identified and nominated by local jurisdictions and Association of Bay Area Governments or ABAG as significant to be protected and improved to support the Bay Area's regional conservation resilience and sustainability objectives,\" the staff member said.

Staff said PCAs are eligible for specific grant rounds administered by MTC and ABAG, and that, as of 2023, the program had awarded more than $300 million across the Bay Area. The city’s nominations — two on the waterfront (one recreation-only and one recreation-plus-climate-adaptation) and a priority tree‑canopy area tied to the street-tree management plan — were designed to qualify under the program’s updated eligibility rules.

The presenter said the waterfront acreage was split into two adjacent PCAs because the climate-adaptation designation requires at least 75% coverage of mapped vulnerable areas; a larger recreation-only PCA covers higher-elevation portions that do not meet the 75% threshold for the adaptation layer.

\"Recognized PCAs are eligible to apply for funding for projects within the PCA,\" staff said, noting that a forthcoming PCA grant round will include approximately $8 million in competitive funds for projects that meet program goals.

After brief questions from commissioners about whether PCA designation would restrict future development, staff said the designation does not alter local zoning or preclude development: it simply makes areas eligible for regional conservation and resilience funding. \"It in no way undermines or otherwise alters a city or a jurisdiction's ability to move forward with current zoning or future zoning amendments or development plans,\" a staff member said.

Commissioner Chan moved to recommend the City Council adopt a resolution to submit the nominations; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with all present commissioners recorded as \"Yes.\" Staff will forward the adopted resolution and nominations to ABAG by the June 13 submittal deadline and said ABAG/MTC staff will integrate the new and amended PCAs into Plan Bay Area 2050 later this year.

The commission’s support makes the city eligible to seek PCA grant funds when the program opens its next competitive round later in 2025.","The Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously May 8 to recommend that City Council adopt resolutions nominating two waterfront PCAs and a priority tree-canopy PCA so the city can apply for regional PCA grant funding.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6562861,"Residents, Friends of Albany Hill recall activist Carol Fitzgerald at commission meeting",297,143000,440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3241745-7c32eaf329f0cc6eda9d072a50d4f04f&start=143&end=440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3241745-7c32eaf329f0cc6eda9d072a50d4f04f/thumbnail_143000.jpg","/articles/6562861/Albany-City/Alameda-County/California/Residents-Friends-of-Albany-Hill-recall-activist-Carol-Fitzgerald-at-commission-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562861-3dbf2602565c3ebe2cce65b082351d68/orig.mp4?Expires=1770866035&Signature=H-x4od2OAPLu2sTnaOY3vMJ96enRgfqfz-SotIRZkhlb3jP1BuEmzITeZ~a5ukOQTTaQNhyk9RYO5b~eqYuHJ-9cQ6hHI9cZd~wljxdsNli8NmiKY8PXAGQ8rMCEQK9UYuD1h7qz3bILjTWqumcnDmzS7jGfAY8DzoBRmuRTsXtEZhK37Vvbs1Fx6tC~MlQGITyadZ1wH9USb~u0rsZcp6kk6C46xIImfG3zBZkwwsUTNirhUwiOqBvDg7zqoApkBlsfJM5md7LUinknEq9t99gfDf~5t1gx1hVcb5GJqi7KBWGfn2SY5puOjku1CdVcTIDcKbnIVScVh6HnRWmeGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents and volunteers paid tribute to Carol Fitzgerald, a longtime Albany Hill activist, during public comment at the May 8 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.

\"I'm Margo Cunningham. I'm natural areas manager for the City of Albany. And I learned a couple of days ago that a longtime resident and activist, Carol Fitzgerald, died,\" Margo Cunningham said, identifying herself as the city’s natural areas manager.

Cunningham described Fitzgerald's decades of work organizing volunteers on Albany Hill and restoring native plants. \"She was president of Friends of Albany Hill for decades and did a lot to help Albany Hill over the years,\" Cunningham said, adding that despite recent personal conflicts she recognized Fitzgerald’s impact on local stewardship.

Ralph Pericoli, a board member of Friends of Albany Hill, said Fitzgerald had been active for about 50 years and helped stop development that would have removed open space on the hill. \"She was really instrumental in stopping a lot of the development on Albany Hill,\" Pericoli said, and he described Fitzgerald’s role organizing revegetation and monarch butterfly counts with the Xerces Society.

Speakers noted Fitzgerald’s public-art legacy, including a native plants and butterflies mural on the hill, and her work to involve community members in nature events and education.

The commission reopened public comment later in the meeting to allow an online speaker to submit materials by email after technical difficulties prevented remote remarks earlier. Staff provided a city email address for submissions and asked members of the public who could not connect to send comments to pr0sc@albanyca.org.

No formal city action was taken in response to the comments; speakers presented remembrances and notes about Fitzgerald's contributions to Albany Hill conservation efforts.","Friends and city staff remembered Carol Fitzgerald, a longtime Albany Hill activist who recently died, during public comment at the May 8 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6562866,"Albany advisory bodies get refresher on Brown Act, conflicts and remote participation rules",1745,761000,2506000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3241745-7c32eaf329f0cc6eda9d072a50d4f04f&start=761&end=2506","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3241745-7c32eaf329f0cc6eda9d072a50d4f04f/thumbnail_761000.jpg","/articles/6562866/Albany-City/Alameda-County/California/Albany-advisory-bodies-get-refresher-on-Brown-Act-conflicts-and-remote-participation-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562866-ca0e3fda8687f471f14f7240110bac4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770866035&Signature=nK~3f1rg~Wd0iqKv7RNQsWGkKr4~Jfy7-0xlF~-5VN3b0vuEfDBUG37MQVxwes-PM5kXaYygiMGF9yjc0y3V1xqI6~~8XrkQCwrMJoDoIZsY87zBQevRe2E9B44Uza7PdpdNYbuTojI1hRruEWB8X-t2Ako3FxTuRlp5MKtGs2kccdO0cjf5pGPNkpMvugZnchPcLBbbr9QHzjgTo~8svcJ~RJC9AkBA~Wn0UkMe3uktWMxh1w8jNiYPTznzRd0OBC6h1eg917Gik0M1H6G8nml~mriMA0aIyOEZjDN8nWgrdpe2rKaFYmzcJrw1ZsgiA-5BQK4pkV7zzeESoVD6YA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff on May 8 reviewed legal and procedural requirements that govern Albany advisory bodies, telling the Parks and Recreation Commission that members must take care with communications, public records and conflicts of interest.

Jeff Bond, Albany’s community development director, and Anne, the city clerk, presented an overview of advisory-body responsibilities and a refresher on state laws that limit how commissioners can meet and deliberate outside public meetings.

The training emphasized the Brown Act’s ban on serial discussions and coordinated communications that together reach a quorum. \"Anytime four or more of you get together and you start talking about parks, open space, commission responsibilities, you're having a meeting,\" Bond said. The presentation described how an apparently informal chain of one-on-one conversations — sometimes called a serial meeting or a \"hub-and-spoke\" pattern — can create a Brown Act violation.

Presenters also reviewed newer state guidance that allows limited hybrid participation. Under Assembly Bill 2449, commissioners may participate remotely for \"just cause\" (childcare, contagious illness, disability, official travel) or in declared emergency circumstances, but a physical quorum must still be present at the meeting location and cameras must remain on while a member participates remotely.

On ethics and conflicts, staff said the law creates bright-line presumptions at two distances: within about 500 feet a strong conflict is assumed in many cases; beyond 1,000 feet the law generally presumes no conflict. Bond and Anne urged members who are uncertain to consult the city attorney or the state Fair Political Practices Commission. The presenters warned that violations can carry personal fines.

The session covered public-records and social-media risks as well. \"Just be sensitive to what you're putting in writing,\" Anne said, noting that text messages, social-media posts and even emoji can be subject to public-records requests. Presenters recommended routing factual materials to staff so they can be shared publicly without creating an unposted deliberation.

Staff gave practical tips for running advisory-body business: coordinate agenda order with the chair and staff before posting, notify the staff liaison of planned absences to protect a quorum, and use the city’s public-information officer for media inquiries. The city attorney’s recorded video presentation on open-meeting law was cited as a reference for commissioners.

The training filled most of the meeting’s first hour and prompted numerous questions on subcommittees, recusal scenarios and how commissioners should report ad hoc work. Staff said ad hoc (subcommittee) reports may be made by a single member on behalf of that subcommittee, but actions recommended by a subcommittee must be agendized for a future open meeting before the commission may vote on them.

Commissioners did not take formal action on the training; the session concluded with staff offering to follow up on specific recusal questions with the city attorney or, if necessary, the FPPC.","City staff trained commissioners on the Brown Act, conflict-of-interest rules, new remote-participation law AB 2449 and required ethics training during a May 8 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission endorses water‑filling stations, sand volleyball upgrades as top uses for sugar‑sweetened beverage tax funds

Albany commission backs nominations for three new Priority Conservation Areas to seek regional grants

Residents, Friends of Albany Hill recall activist Carol Fitzgerald at commission meeting

Albany advisory bodies get refresher on Brown Act, conflicts and remote participation rules