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Commission discusses next steps for Barrett Community Center outreach and design refresh
Summary
Commissioners heard an update on community outreach for a potential replacement or renovation of Barrett Community Center and staff said they will re-engage the architect who prepared the 2019 concept design and aim for community design work with the architect over the coming 6–8 months.
Staff provided an update on ongoing community engagement regarding Barrett Community Center and said the city plans to re-engage Group 4 Architects to refresh the 2019 conceptual design and broaden outreach this year.
Staff described the outreach underway as part of the broader Your Voice, Your Belmont community-priority process. The city is using mailed surveys and small-group discussions and will host presentations at community events; staff invited commissioners and residents to host small-group sessions. The presentation said staff will ask community members for input on program priorities, whether the community prefers a modern or historically sympathetic building, and how a facility could serve as an emergency resource or a gathering place.
Staff said the architect engagement and outreach work could take about six to eight months with the aim of having a more concrete design by the end of the year. The Belmont Community Foundation was identified as a potential partner for volunteer outreach and fundraising support. Staff also noted the library and senior center are used as emergency sites today; options for emergency operations include the library (during open hours), the senior center (which has a kitchen and is a designated Red Cross shelter but no showers) and the Belmont Sports Complex for some functions.
Commissioners and youth commissioners encouraged targeted outreach to seniors, teens and middle- and high-school students, suggested partnering with local schools and youth groups, and recommended clear prompts for community conversations so residents know which topics staff seek input on (program types, room sizes and accessibility, emergency-use capability and aesthetics). Several commissioners said visiting recently built centers in Burlingame and Foster City helped clarify design choices and lessons learned.
Staff asked commissioners to promote the Your Voice, Your Belmont mailer and to consider hosting small-group conversations; contact information for staff was provided during the meeting. No formal action was taken; this was a discussion item.
