Written Communications
PRC Special Meeting
January 11, 2024
Written Communications
Item #4
Parks and Recreation
Department
Organizational Update
From:Shani Kleinhaus
To:City of Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commission
Cc:Matthew Dodder; City Council
Subject:RE: Parks and Rec Meeting January 11 2023 Agenda Item #4 Organizational Update
Date:Monday, January 8, 2024 9:36:54 AM
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Dear Parks and Recreation Commissioners,
The Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society is located at McClellan Ranch, and counts hundreds
of Cupertino residents as members. We engage with the City of Cupertino in providing and
participating in education and recreation activities and events, and have been stakeholders in
the development of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, adopted in 2020.
Nature was a dominant theme in responses of the Cupertino community to surveys and in
discussions leading to the Plan's adoption. Residents value biodiversity, native trees and
plants, wildlife, and connectivity for wildlife in Cupertino. For many years, City naturalists at
the McClellan Environmental Education Center provided stewardship of natural resources and
of minds - young and old - in Cupertino. The Master Plan envisioned expanding nature to all
parks in the City. Nature in our public lands also contributes to “Quality of Life,” which is one
of five Cupertino council goals
It is therefore disappointing to see that the Parks and Recreation org chart does not include a
biologist, or a naturalist - a person with deep biological education and local nature training -
to continue this important work.
Please consider adding a biologist/ naturalist to the Parks and Rec department - this role is
needed.
Shani Kleinhaus, Ph.D.
Environmental Advocate
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
22221 McClellan Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
650-868-2114
advocate@scvas.org