Pleasanton parks commission adopts FY2025–27 work plan, adds BPTC role and requests budget metrics

Michelle Croce, assistant director for library and recreation, presented a staff recommendation that the commission adopt a work plan covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, to align Parks & Recreation work with the city budget. The plan lists six primary goals—community engagement and volunteer programs, recreational programming, a parks and recreation budget-impact update, projects and facilities from the facilities master plan, monitoring of Laurel Creek Park services, and a trail/pathway resurfacing program—plus four ongoing annual items including cemetery operations and the library and recreation annual report.

Commissioners sought clarity on process and scope. Commissioner Mendieta asked whether items would route through standing committees and whether items were continuations of prior projects; Croce said committee review will be used as appropriate and that the current work plan is intentionally broader than prior, project-level lists. Croce told the commission that metrics and cost‑recovery information are collected in the library and recreation annual report and will be provided when relevant: "We collect evaluation information... and I will make sure for Heidi that when we bring forward any information that when we have those metrics, we share them here too." The commission asked staff to provide a memo summarizing recent cuts; Croce said Director Heidi Murphy will send a standard memo on the department reductions when she returns to work.

Budget impacts and funding sources were a recurring concern. One commissioner pressed for a combined presentation showing the impacts for both library/recreation and public works, including Measure BB allocations and other grants or state funding. Croce agreed staff would prepare a combined budget-impact presentation drawing from the relevant divisions.

When Commissioners moved to adopt the staff work plan, Chair Lisa Brown offered and the body approved an amendment to explicitly add analysis of trail resurfacing and to ensure the Bicycle, Pedestrian & Trail Committee and the commission have opportunities to provide input on trails. The commission adopted the amended work plan by voice vote.

What happens next: staff will circulate a memo summarizing department cuts and prepare a combined budget-impact presentation (library/recreation and public works) to be scheduled for the commission’s review. The amended work plan will guide commission review and feedback through FY2027.