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P&R 11-06-08APPROVED MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CITY OF CLJPERTINO Regular Meeting Thursday, November ti, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Community Hall Council Chamber CALL TO ORDER Chair Greenstein called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Community Hall Council Chamber, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: David Greenstein, Jeanne Bradford, David Lee, Darcy Paul, and Debbie Stephens Stauffer Staff present: Mark Linder, Donna Henriques, Susan Lewis Julia Lamy and Tom Walters 4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETIrJGS A. Regular meeting of October 2, 2008 Action: Commissioner Bradford made a motion to approve the minutes, with an amendment to add the meeting notes as an attachment to the minutes. Commissioner Stauffer seconded the motion. The motion carri~zd 4-0-1, with Commissioner Lee abstaining. 5_ ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Deborah Jamison asked when the Commission would be discussing the policies for the new Stevens Creek Trail. Director Linder said that the item will lie discussed at the December 4, 2008 Commission meeting. David Klinger asked why Cupertino re:>idents were charged to use athletic fields in Cupertino parks or schools. Director Linder said that field use fees were charged to the leagues who lease the fields, not to the individual residents. 6. PRESENTATION A. Susan Lewis, Recreation Coordinator for the Youth and Teen Division, gave a presentation on the programs that her Division offers. -The programs include: the Afterschool Enrichment Program, Summer Camps, Nature Camps, Contractual Camps and year-round Contractual classes. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Update the process for :>tudying options for off-leash policy for dogs in City parks. The following individuals spoke on this issue: Seema Lindskog, Bertrand Teplitxky, Carol Miller, Sherry Fang, Judy Klinger, Judy Harrison, Dave Klinger, Eric Wilson, Anand, David Fung, Claudette Miller. Their comments included: • Dog parks are n~~t the optimal solution • Possibly open ul~ creek trails in other areas • Possible transition plan in fringe areas • In favor of fenced-in area in neighborhood parks • Have possible o:Ff--leash area in back area of Linda Vista Park • People enjoy so<:ialization with other dog owners and feel there are more opportunities for them to interact in local parks • Some residents have had off-leash dogs "come after them" at Hoover Park • "Care to" petition site has several signatures that are not valid • By a show of hands in the audience, there are two known dog bite attacks in Cupertino • Dogs act "more aggressive" when off-leash • Dogs need lots of exercise • Fringe area dog parks will be under-utilized by dog owners because they prefer going to their neighborhood parks • Each neighborhood park should have fenced-in areas or specific times that dogs can run off-leash • David Fung presented a Council staff report from April 2008, and also presented a petition entitled "No Change to Existing Cupertino Dog Ordinances" and is signed by 1 1 O petitioners • People should h~-ve training on how to react if being chased by dogs • Off-leash dog owners are trained and so are their dogs • Everyone should try to be neighborly and work together on this issue Following further discussion by the Commissioners, a motion was made. Action: Commissioner Stauffer made a motion to accept the following staff recommendations, as noted in the staff report for Item 7A: • Select a date in January 2009 for another community study session. • Determine the scope of mailing postcards to residents and manner of informing Neighborhood Block Leaders for public meeting notice to Cupertino residents. • The next community study session would be a facilitated discussion. • The community study session participants would be asked to comment on all identified undeveloped parcels of land that could accommodate afenced-in dog park. • The community study session participants would be asked to determine what type of process a neighborhood would have to complete for that neighborhood park to be considered for a fenced-in or unfenced-in dog park. Action: Commissioner Stauffer lidded an amendment to the motion that the timing of the community study session should be after the January 8, 2009 regular Commission meeting and should include "all parcels" on the fourth recommendation bullet. Commissioner Bradford secondE:d the motion. The motion carried 4 - 1 with Commissioner Paul voting Rio, on the basis of incomplete consideration of options for fenced dog parks. 8_ NEW BUSINESS A_ Discuss and develop optioris for future use of Simms property. The following individuals spoke on this issue: Deborah Jamison, Janer Van Zoeren and Gail Bower. Deborah Jamison and Janet Van Zoeren's said not to include renewing the. current lease. They would prefer that the house be demolished and presex-ve the land, and/or make it a green area and incorporate the land into the park. They also distributed a handout with a map of the property, a report on their recommendations for the Simms property and an email from Joanne McFarlin, Outreach Coordinator for Steven: 8z Permanente Creek Watershed Council. Gail Bower said she would also like to see the house removed and return the land to its native and natural environment and would like to add more natural open space to the park. Action: Commissioner Bradford made a motion to accept staff s recommendation that the short term, existing use for the Simms property and house continue. Commissioner Paul seconded the motion and added that the Commission look into the possibility of changing the current lease in a timely manner. The motion carried unanimously. B. Review current festival application process and consider possible changes in the process. Director Linder presented a staff report regarding the current festival application process and recommended that no changes be made to the policy. Action: Commissioner Bradford made a motion to accept the staff recommendation. Commissioner Stauffer seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-0-1 ~+vith Commissioner Paul abstaining and requesting that Council provide more guidance as to the possible changes_ 9. MISCELLANEOUS - NO ACTION REQUIRED A. Staff oral reports Director Linder distributed a letter from Terry Greene, City Architect, regarding the current guidelines and rules for the contractors working on the Stevens Creek Corridor Par)c. This letter is being mailed to Cupertino residents in the neighborhood o F the construction area of the park. B. Commissioner contacts -none presented 10. ADJOURNMENT -Chair Greenstein adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Res jp~ec-tfully submitted_ , Donna Henriques, AdministrativeliAssi:;tant Minutes approved at the January 8, 20(79 regular meeting.