A key highlight of the meeting was the unveiling of a comprehensive public engagement policy designed to establish clear guidelines for involving the community in parks and recreation projects. The policy outlines different levels of engagement, categorized as “inform,” “consult,” “involve,” and “collaborate.” Each stage is defined to ensure the public knows when and how they can participate or provide input. For instance, the “inform” stage involves keeping the community updated on decisions without soliciting feedback, such as in situations where immediate action is required for safety reasons. In contrast, the “consult” and “involve” stages seek resident feedback to shape project outcomes, with the former utilizing surveys and the latter encouraging open-ended idea generation for new developments.

Committee members emphasized the need for transparency and the importance of documenting engagement practices, which had previously been informal. The committee proposed implementing a minimum of three engagement methods per project, such as pop-up events, digital surveys, and stakeholder meetings, to ensure diverse community perspectives are captured. This approach aims to create a more inclusive environment where all residents can contribute to the decision-making process.

In addition to the public engagement policy, the committee reviewed updates on the park sign replacement project. The project, initially proposed in October, involves replacing signage throughout the city’s park system, with designs influenced by previous committee feedback. The funding for this initiative is secured through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, and installations are expected to begin in the spring or summer, although the exact timeline remains undetermined.

The committee also deliberated on the Parks and Recreation Committee’s work plan for 2025, which aligns with the city’s strategic goals. Four focus areas were identified: public engagement for park projects, non-traditional park spaces, parks and recreation code ordinances, and the Victoria Recreation Center. Each focus area is designed to enhance community involvement and improve recreational experiences in Victoria.

Public engagement for park projects aims to ensure that parks reflect community needs. The city intends to gather resident feedback for both new developments and upgrades to existing parks. Concerns were raised regarding the measurement of success within the engagement strategies, with suggestions to establish specific goals and participation targets for public engagement events.

The focus on non-traditional park spaces targets underutilized areas within the city’s park system, such as smaller trails and neighborhood pockets. The committee plans to assess these spaces and explore innovative ideas to enhance recreational opportunities. This initiative is scheduled to start in the summer and continue into the fall, aligning with favorable weather conditions for outdoor assessments.

Revisiting the Parks and Recreation code ordinances is another critical focus area. The committee acknowledged that public parks and recreational spaces have evolved over time, necessitating updates to ordinances to reflect contemporary community needs and best practices in recreation and environmental stewardship. The committee outlined goals for this area, including understanding existing ordinances, identifying areas for improvement, and gathering feedback on proposed changes to present to the city council.

Discussions about the Victoria Recreation Center, currently under a contract with the local school district until 2032, highlighted ongoing dialogues regarding the center’s future. The committee recognized the importance of defining the facility’s mission and long-term needs, emphasizing public engagement to gather community feedback. The committee raised concerns about the structure of the public engagement process and the clarity of their role within it. Suggestions were made to refine job descriptions and create a flowchart to illustrate information processing within the committee.

Lastly, the committee discussed the need for clearer definitions in the public engagement policy, specifically regarding language used in documentation. A proposal was made to include the phrase “new project developments” in the policy to better delineate the types of projects covered, distinguishing between new developments and amenity replacements in city-owned parks and trails.