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P&R 04-02-09APPROVED :MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CITY OF CUPERTINO Regular M eeting Thursday, Apri12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Community Hall Council Chamber 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Lee called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Hall Council Chamber, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: David Lee, Debbie Stephens Stauffer, David Greenstein, Darcy Paul Jeanne Bradford arrived at 7:04 p.m. Staff present: Mark Linder, Julia Lamy, Donna Henriques, Karen Levy and Barbara Banfield 4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETII`1GS A. Regular meeting of March 5, 2009 Action: Commissioner Greenstein made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner S~rauffer made an amendment to correct the minutes to add wording to the motion for Item 6A, #1, to include: "to increase the d~~g license fee by $11.00 for Cupertino residents to provide funds for construction of a fenced dog area, on-going maintenance, and enforcement". Commissioner Greenstein made a motion to approve the minutes with the addition. Commissioner P:iul seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-0-1 with Commis:sinner Bradford abstaining. 5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Anne Ng proposed that the Frie~ids of Stevens Creek Trail come to a future Commission meeting to I~resent their on-going support for the new trail. Director Linder said that the Commission would discuss this when they set their work plan for next year. 6. PRESENTATION A. Parks and Recreation Program update by Karen Levy, Recreation Coordinator from the Sports and Fitness Division. Karen Levy gave a presentation on the different classes and programs that she handles through the Sports and Fitness Division. Her responsibilities include: Contractual Classes, Adult Softball Leagues and the Summer Aquatics Program. 7. OLD BUSINESS A. Approve recommendation on the future use of the Simms property. Director Linder gave a brief overview and said that a task force has been formed and they have met twice to discuss the future use of the Simms property and they are now ready to ;give their recommendation to the Commission. The task force included the following participants: Mark Linder, Parks and Recreation Director Jeanne Bradford, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Barbara Bonfield, City of Cupertino Naturalist Joanne McFarlin, Stevens and Permanente Creek Watershed Council Anne Ng, Friends of Stevens Creek Trail Pat Showalter, Santa Clara Valley `Voter District Chris Elias, Santa Clara Valley Water District Shani Kleinhaus, Ecologist Debi Jamison, resident Gail Bower, resident Janet Van Zoren, resident Max Bokelman, resident Director Linder said that the Parks rind Recreation Commission had previously recommended to the Pla~lning Commission to change the zoning of the Simms Property so that it is consistent with the land use policy and that the property will be protected rather than zoned for housing. He said he will follow up with the Planning Commission to make sure that this has been accomplished. He also said that the City Council has requested a joint meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss the Simms and Stocklmeir properties. Barbara Bonfield, City Naturalist, gave a brief history of the Simms house and property and the task force recommendations. 2 Chair Lee asked for public comments: Janet Van Zoren and Deborah Jami;~on said that they support the staff recommendation and removal of thc; Simms house from the property and incorporate the property into the M~~Clellan Ranch Rural and Nature Preserve area. Joanne McFarlin asked that the Commission consider environmental issues first when making their decision. After discussion by the Commissio~iers, it was decided to move this recommendation forward without including any financial planning or funding. Action: Commissioner Greenstein made a motion to accept the Staff recommendation with the addition that the City does not extend the lease on the house past the current lease, which expires in January 2010. Commissioner Stauffer seconded the motion. Commissioner Bradford asked to also add an amendment to extend the work of the task force team to plan the detailed implementation and to collaborate with the Stocklmeir initiative. Commissioner Greenstein agreed with Commissioner Bradford's addition of the friendly amendment. The motion carried unanimously. B. Approve recommendation on the Stocklmeir property. Director Linder introduced Senior F:ecreation Supervisor Julia Lamy, who gave a brief presentation and history of the Stocklmeir property. Chair Lee asked for public commer.~ts and the following people asked to speak: Deborah Jamison said that the City Council excluded the creek restoration from their work plan and she feels that it is important that it be included. Janet Van Zoren said that the creek restoration plan needs to be the top priority because having a healthy creek and watershed environment in order to have sustainable agriculture, is very important. She also said that there should be representation by members of both the Simms and Stocklmeir task forces, on each committee so that they can work together. Shani Kleinhaus said that there are basically three different parts to the resource conservation management plan: the orchard, the trail and the creek. The creek seems to be missing from this plan, but it is really the backbone and connection of the whole project and it is very important that the natural resources of the creek be preserved., enhanced and maintained. 3 Donna Austin, who is on the board of the Cupertino Historical Society gave a brief history of the Stocklmeir family and property. She said that the CHS would like to go "green" and leave the creek where it is and restore the orchard with vegetable gardens and native plants and flowers. The CHS doesn't feel that the house should bf; restored but should be used to display historical furniture in the rooms that: could be viewed through the windows. They would also like to have historical markers along the creek. She supports the staff recommendation. Action: Commissioner Bradford made a motion to accept the staff recommendation with the amendment that the Stevens Creek Corridor Phase II restoration plan should stay intact. Commissioner Greenstein seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. C. Update on the Blue Pheasant and Blackberry Farm Retreat Center office Director Linder gave a brief update on the Blue Pheasant restaurant and said that the Sheriff's office has been monitoring the closing time and they have made five visits at 11:00 p.m. and midnight and the rules are being followed. Director Linder will have afollow-tip meeting with the neighboring residents to give them the Sheriff's report anti discuss further. He also said that the Blackberry Farm Retreat Center is currently being used as an office for some of the Parks and Recreation staff th~it are working in Blackberry now and over the summer. Also, the Retreat Center will be used to house the Park Safety Officers that will be contracted to help patrol the area when the park is re- opened. Currently, the Emergency Services Staff is also housed there. Deborah Jamison asked to speak on the Blue Pheasant restaurant and said that the name should someday be changed to the "Green Heron" and that when the trail and park are completed, that the restaurant should be integrated into the parkland like the restaurants are at ~~horeline Park. 8. MISCELLANEOUS - NO ACTION REQUIRED A. Staff oral reports Director Linder said he met wit}i the SterlingBarnhart area group of eight people, including some children, and they came together to help plan the new park designated for that area. The park should be open and operating in a year and is within budget. B. Commissioner contacts Commissioner Stauffer said she attended the March Mayor's meeting and that it was interesting to hear how the other Commissions conduct their business. She also mentioned tl-e upcoming KaBoom Design Day on 4 April 4, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. and that the KaBoom Build Day will take place all day, on June 6, and that volunteers are still needed. Commissioner Greenstein said that he had been contacted by the Bike and Pedestrian Commission and tha~~ they are working with the Teen Commission and the Public Safi;ty Commission on a Bike and Walk to School Day. They asked if a bi~~ycle safety course could be added to the Parks and Recreation Schedule. Director Linder said that he and Chairperson Lee have added this item to the May 7 Parks and Recreation Commission agenda. 9. ADJOURNMENT -Chairperson Lee adjourned the meeting at 9:28 p.m. Respectfully submitted, t,~~~ ~ Donna Henriques, Administrative Assi:~tant Minutes approved at the May 7, 2009 _regular meeting