Commissioners spent the bulk of the Dec. 4 meeting discussing capital improvements and community engagement for Sarasota Park.

Staff said the project budget listed in the packet totaled $750,000 for planning and implementation, with a $200,000 allocation shown in the first-year CIP for playground work and a separate $50,000 line for a walking path or workout equipment. Commissioners debated whether to spend the $50,000 on a phased starting segment of a perimeter path (with exercise stations integrated) or to install standalone adult exercise equipment. Several commissioners favored designing a path and equipment together so future additions would be seamless rather than placing equipment ad hoc.

Brianna Solis, a recreation coordinator, presented the department’s 2026 activity guide and noted registration and contractor involvement for new classes. Staff outlined a draft SurveyMonkey questionnaire intended to gather community input for the playground design. Commissioners edited the draft in real time: they recommended shortening the survey, removing general open-space questions that could confuse respondents, defining “water element” instead of repeatedly using the word “splash pad,” adding concrete examples for inclusive/ADA elements (surfacing, adaptive swings, ramps), and including a short historical blurb about the Sarasota family’s donation of the park.

Commissioners also discussed survey logistics: run the survey immediately via social media, the city website and ActiveNet e-mails; provide paper copies and a QR code at parks and schools; limit repeat submissions via platform settings; and include an optional final question allowing respondents to leave an email to receive project updates.

Following public comment and deliberation, the commission created an ad hoc playground committee and appointed Sage and Brenda to lead community engagement and design review. Commissioners said the committee would be used to refine the survey, vet design examples, and coordinate outreach to schools and the Ojai Valley News to raise response rates.

Next steps include finalizing the survey wording, launching the survey, convening the newly formed ad hoc committee and bringing a fuller CIP discussion (all parks) to a future meeting.