Martinez, PG&E planning November tree-planting at Hidden Valley Park; field access and maintenance questions remain

City staff told the joint committee that Martinez and PG&E are coordinating a tree-planting project for November that will place native trees behind Hidden Valley Park and at other parks; the city expects holes to be pre-dug and trees delivered and asked for volunteer crews to help plant and spread soil.

"We're working with PG&E to do some tree planting or offering trees to mitigate some of the trees that they've taken out as part of their safety work throughout the city," a city staff member said, noting native-tree selection and preliminary site scoping.

Separately, a parent and district representatives raised the longstanding question of daily student access to the large grass field next to the school. The parent said students currently have limited grass time and asked whether installing fencing or changing the access arrangement could increase daily outdoor play.

Superintendent Adam Clark said the district and sites schedule routine deferred maintenance and that major renovations come through bond programs. "Our last facility master plan identified, roughly around $2,000,000,000 of needs," Clark said; he added the district passed a prior bond measure of around $150,000,000. He said would investigate the field-maintenance ownership and provide more information.

City and district staff agreed to clarify whether the field is district-owned and city-maintained and to review any permits or maintenance agreements that affect public or school access. No formal change to maintenance agreements was approved at the meeting.