Loading...
P&R 06-01-2023 CITY OF CUPERTINO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 10350 Torre Avenue, Community Hall Thursday, June 1, 2023 7:00 PM APPROVED MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Chair Stanek called the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Cupertino Community Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue and via teleconference. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Carol Stanek, Jennifer Shearin, Sashikala Begur Commissioners absent: Hemant Buch, Seema Swamy Staff present: Rachelle Sander, Jessica Javier, Jenny Koverman, Sonya Lee, Robert Kaufman, Susan Michael, Chad Mosley Guest speakers: Rebecca Flanegan, Michael Freitag, Casey Case CEREMONIAL MATTERS AND PRESENTATIONS 1. Subject: Parks and Recreation Department Summer Events Recommended Action: Receive a presentation on the Parks and Recreation Department summer events. Jenny Koverman, Recreation Supervisor, introduced Robert Kaufman, Recreation Coordinator, to present on the item. Presented on the upcoming Parks and Recreation Department summer events including the Teen Summer Kickoff, Summer Concert Series, Parent’s Night Out, Cultures of the World, July 4th Celebration, Cupertino Campout, and pending the upcoming budget approval, Shakespeare in the Park and Movies in the Park. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. Subject: May 4, 2023 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Recommended Action: Review and approve the May 4, 2023 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting minutes. Commissioner Begur motioned to approve the May 4, 2023 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Vice Chair Shearin seconded. Motion carried with 3 yes and 2 absent. POSTPONEMENTS None ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS None OLD BUSINESS 3. Subject: Update on the community input and conceptual design progress of the Memorial Park Specific Plan project. Recommended Action: Receive an update on the community input and conceptual design progress of the Memorial Park Specific Plan project. Written communications for this item included an email to the commission. Recreation Supervisor Koverman introduced Susan Michael, Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) Manager, to present on the item. CIP Manager Michael provided an overview on the purpose of the item and introduced Casey Case, Principal in Charge from GATES and Associates to present. Presented on the background of the project and introduced Rebecca Flanegan, Outreach Coordinator from GATES and Associates. Presented on the community outreach process that led to the preferred concept plan and introduced Michael Freitag, Project Manager from GATES and Associates. Presented on the preferred draft design concept. GATES Consultant Case reviewed the next steps and ways to stay involved for the project. Chair Stanek requested clarification on the goal of the commission for the item. CIP Manager Michael clarified the goal is to provide feedback on the draft design concept. Commissioner Begur requested clarification on whether pickleball in other cities is popular. GATES Consultant Case clarified that pickleball is very popular across other communities, and the shared use of additional striping to tennis courts is no longer accommodating the demand. Commissioner Begur requested clarification on the shifting of the Senior Center Parking lot. GATES Consultant Freitag clarified the crosswalk would expand approximately 12 feet and be a raised crosswalk to ensure pedestrian safety while allowing bikes to also pass through the park. Clarified that in the existing parking lot, there are parking plant islands that are approximately 20 feet wide that they would reduce in size to shift the parking more north without reducing the quantity of parking stalls. Vice Chair Shearin requested clarification on the plan for bike rack locations given the encouragement of active transportation to the park. GATES Consultant Freitag clarified the plan is highly conceptual at this stage, but ultimately as part of the report and master plan they will provide recommendations for installation of bike racks. Vice Chair Shearin requested clarification on whether encouragement of parking at De Anza was considered instead of adding more concrete to the park given the written comments from the survey. CIP Manager Michael clarified the implementation would be outside of the design scope, but the concept has been discussed and is included in the notes. Vice Chair Shearin requested clarification on consideration for duplication of park amenities in the design – for example, the full basketball court provided there is a brand new one at Wilson Park. CIP Manager Michael clarified they did follow the recommendations in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and then considered the survey responses and public input. Rachelle Sander, Director of Parks and Recreation, clarified the Parks and Recreation Master Plan does specify full basketball courts. Chair Stanek requested clarification on if the softball field is removed, what would be the plan to provide that amenity in Cupertino at another park. CIP Manager Michael clarified that they are responding to the input received given the scope of the project. Director Sander clarified there are other parks with softball fields that still can provide the same opportunity, and the current softball field at Memorial Park is used only 15% of the time for rentals or programs. Chair Stanek requested clarification on when the commission and community will get an opportunity to provide input on the design details. CIP Manager Michael clarified when the project is funded and approved for implementation there will be opportunities for input on the specifics. Chair Stanek requested clarification on the number of pickleball courts expected. CIP Manager Michael clarified three courts are included in the draft design concept. Chair Stanek opened public comment. San R. requested the dedicated pickleball courts be placed as far away as possible from the tennis courts due to the noise, the fenced dog off-leash area (DOLA) be as far away as possible from walkways and tennis courts, and supported amenities in line with the data received. Lisa Warren commented that if the softball field at Memorial Park is removed, then it is important that other parks with that amenity do not disappear. Requested clarification on the enhanced entrances and expressed concerns regarding costs associated with shifting a parking lot. Padma supported the addition of a DOLA and grass instead of dirt within the space. Deepa Mahendraker supported the addition of a fenced DOLA and grass instead of dirt within the space. Nori supported the removal of the under-utilized softball field, the addition of an all- inclusive playground with soft rubber surfacing and wheelchair access, relocating the pickleball courts away from the playground, the full basketball court, the passive garden walk, and an improved amphitheater with a wheelchair seating area. Commissioner Begur expressed concerns regarding DOLAs without fencing. Recommended that any DOLAs in the City include fencing and emphasized the importance that the budget include costs associated with fencing. Supported working with De Anza College for the additional parking and suggested using the proposed parking area instead for pickleball potentially. Supported the addition of more benches under trees throughout the park. Vice Chair Shearin supported the bike routes through the park, the consideration taken for traffic flow at the central intersection, and the pickleball courts moved away from resident homes. Expressed concerns regarding duplication of amenities and added that it would be nice to include amenities that are not at other parks. Commented that building another parking lot would encourage more driving – emphasized the climate action goal of encouragement of active transportation and therefore was not in support of adding another parking lot. Supported the fenced DOLA at Memorial Park and commented that not all parks necessarily need to require fencing. Commented that on Presentation Slide 16, the schematic bike routes show Stelling having Class IV lanes, however, noted they have Class II lanes. Chair Stanek requested clarification for the Memorial Park Amphitheatre upgrades. CIP Manager Michael clarified there are no specific details for this design concept. Chair Stanek supported shared resources and duplication of amenities throughout the park. Commented that if there were shared resources, such as a picnic area, within the DOLA it could potentially be larger and include more amenities. Regarding parking, suggested looking into multi-use of the designated Senior Center parking lot. Vice Chair Shearin requested clarification for how the commission feedback will be shared with City Council. Chad Mosley, Interim Public Works Director, clarified that the recommendations from the Commission will be included in the staff report for Council. NEW BUSINESS None STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS Vice Chair Shearin commented on the Mayor’s Commissioners Meeting time change and reported on the Ask a Master Gardener program at the community garden. Chair Stanek reported on the Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall, Community Funding Grants presented at the City Council budget meeting, and the Mandatory Commissioners Handbook Training. Jenny Koverman, Recreation Supervisor, provided the Liaison’s update on the following: - Wilson Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Community Garden and Full- Sized Basketball Court – Friday, June 9 at 11 a.m. outside the Community Garden at 10298 South Portal Ave. - This past Saturday, May 27 the Blackberry Farm Pools opened for the season with 161 swimmers in attendance. Just a reminder that recreational swim is now open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will open Tuesday through Sunday starting June 27. - Summer Concert Series – Reminder to join the City every Thursday for the Summer Concert Series from June 15 to September 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Memorial Park Amphitheatre. - Disco at Dusk Intergenerational Event – Friday, June 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cupertino Senior Center. - Summer Camps Registration – The City has many activities, summer camps, and classes planned for all ages, from toddlers to adults 50+! For more information, visit cupertino.org/recreation. COMMISSIONER ATTENDANCE AT UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS Commissioners to attend the upcoming Mayor’s meetings as follows: June 14 – Chair Stanek July 12 – Commissioner Begur August 9 – Commissioner Buch September 13 – Commissioner Swamy FUTURE AGENDA SETTING Chair Stanek reminded the commission that the July Parks and Recreation Commission meeting was canceled. ADJOURNMENT Chair Stanek adjourned the meeting at 8:24 p.m. to the August 3, 2023 meeting at 7:00 p.m. Respectfully Submitted by, Jessica Javier, Administrative Assistant Parks and Recreation Department Minutes approved at the 08.03.23 regular meeting