Vice Mayor Peter Bergenza opened the special meeting and said the council would interview candidates for seats on the Great Vallejo Recreation & Park District board and related advisory committees. The council and staff confirmed there is one city vacancy and one county vacancy on the GVRD board; the council plans to make appointments at a regular meeting later this month and to swear in any appointees in December.

Candidates repeatedly front‑loaded youth programming as their chief priority. Jose Feldera said he wants to safeguard the district’s financial support for after‑school programs and ensure continuity for schools that rely on GVRD services. Felicia King said her first step would be “listening to what the community’s primary concerns are” and then working with board members to remove barriers to participation. Other applicants proposed new offerings including targeted teen mental‑health spaces, police‑led PAL‑style mentoring, expanded swim instruction, digital literacy programs for youth and seniors, and resurrecting competitive girls’ softball and district‑level sports to draw families to Vallejo fields.

Several candidates called for clearer communication and outreach. Applicants and councilmembers discussed the need to improve marketing to reach families who now enroll their children outside the city; multiple candidates suggested school‑based outreach and partnerships with nonprofits or local businesses to underwrite scholarships. Staff answered specific timing and workload questions: GVRD regular board meetings typically start at 6:30 p.m. and last into the evening; committee meetings are monthly; appointees are expected to serve on at least one committee. Staff told applicants the board’s first regular meeting with new members would be in December and that the board plans to meet twice a month beginning in January.

Candidates were also asked how they would support residents disproportionately affected by racism, sexism or classism. Answers emphasized outreach, listening, partnerships with community leaders and targeted subsidies or volunteer pathways for families that cannot afford program fees.

The council did not vote at the special meeting. Members said they would return the list of applicants to the regular November council meeting for formal appointment, and they thanked candidates for applying and for describing specific program and outreach ideas.