San Ramon commission approves Bollinger Canyon Little League–funded scoreboard at Athens Downs Park

The San Ramon Parks & Community Services Commission voted unanimously to approve the installation of a battery-operated lighted scoreboard at Athens Downs Park Field 3, fully funded by Bollinger Canyon Little League. The commission voted 7–0 to accept staff’s recommendation after presentations, public comment and commissioner questions.

Program manager Keith Haas told the commission the scoreboard would avoid trenching or new electrical service because it runs on a lithium-ion battery and has no audible components. He estimated purchase and installation would cost between $10,000 and $13,500 with a roughly $15,000 total commitment when maintenance over the life of the scoreboard is included; Bollinger Canyon Little League will pay upfront costs and ongoing maintenance, staff said. Haas said the league anticipates about a 10‑year service life and that the city would prepare a partnership agreement to ensure permits, installation oversight and maintenance obligations are clear.

Justin, a Bollinger Canyon Little League board member who spoke for the group, said the improvement would help the league host larger tournaments and bring families and visitors to San Ramon. “We don’t take that for granted,” he said, describing the league as a volunteer nonprofit that wants the city to benefit from increased tournament play.

District 57 administrator Vince Salinas, a longtime resident, urged approval during public comment, saying the scoreboard would enable state-level tournaments that bring many families and economic activity to local businesses: "By approving this project, you are matching those values with a direct commitment to our local youth and the pride of our community."

Commissioners pressed staff on community outreach and technical details. Staff said a courtesy notice was mailed on May 28 to properties within a 300‑foot radius (about 11 houses) and that the planning department uses that same notification practice for development applications. Commissioners asked staff to follow up with nearby residents who submitted objections and to mitigate visual impacts; staff and the league said they would offer options such as painting the back of the scoreboard a dark green or black to blend with trees and confirmed the additional identification panel would be limited in size and noncommercial in intent.

Vice Chair Levy asked whether the agreement would protect the city if the league ceased operation; staff said the partnership document can include explicit ownership and transfer/removal clauses and that the city has handled similar transitions in the past. Commissioners also confirmed the scoreboard would be app-controlled to allow temporary shared access for other user groups and that its dimensions would be 4 by 8 feet for the scoreboard face, with an optional 1‑by‑8 foot identification panel that would increase the face to 5 by 8 feet.

With those clarifications, a commissioner moved to approve staff’s recommendation; the motion passed 7–0. Staff will prepare a formal partnership agreement and coordinate permits and installation oversight.

The commission’s vote concludes this agenda item; staff said it will return with the partnership agreement and implementation details for the commission to review or for administrative processing as required.