Minutes, 11.12.2009CUPERTINO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
DRAFT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, Novem bar 12, 2009, 7:00 p.m_
Cupertino City llall, C""Cev�r a Room A
I_ CALL TO OKUL-:K
Commissioner Tamara Pow called to order the regular meeting of the Cupertino Public Safety Commission at
7:09 p_rtt. on Thursday, November 12, 2009 in the Cupertino City I hall, 10300 Torre Avenue, Conference Koom
A, Cupertino, California 95014.
11. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Tamara Pow
1Janiel Nguyen
Nina 17aruwa1la
Craig Loc
Commissioners Absent Charles Caldwell
Staff: Captain "Ferry Calderone, Santa Clara County Sherift s Office
Staff Absent Santa Clara County Fire JErepartu,ent
Other Present: 71" Grade Students of Kennedy Middle School
III. ORAL, COMMUNICATIONS
Students from Kennedy Middle School involved in the Lego Competition presented to the commission their
outline plans to resolve the traffic congestion around their school. '-heir research and study have shown that
driving to school increases pollution by 15 percent (15%) and physical inactivity by 23 percent (23%)_ Their
traffic survey revealed that the parents blocking the droP- FFzones and stopping in the middle of traffic causes
most ofthe congestion. .-he students created a rnup outlining how they can divert traffic to a drop- t_f_ one Frr
vehicles and block off certain streets in the morning and afternoon hours limited to pedestrians and bicyclists_
This would create safety around the school, which will encourage more students to walk or bike to school. --he
students have launched a website: www.sao ohir-cfbrce.or• which focus on safe bike and walk zones and
different environmental issues in the community.
Convtnission er Pow -,,mended the students Ibr their efforts on their presentation and in creating an excellent
plan. There are several issues that have to be taken under consideration, such as, the residents that live around
the school, safety issues with pedestrians and bicyclist sharing the same route, road signs, and emergency
vehicles access of the blocked off areas. Captain -Ferry Calderone recon,ruends that they meet with Public
Works to discuss their plans and the impact that will affect the school and the c ululunity.
IV. WRIT"TF_N COMMUNICATIONS
There were no written communications to discuss at this regular meeting.
V. APPROVAL OF MINLJ"1-135
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I . October 08, 2009
ACTION: YES
VOTE: YES
MOTION: Daniel Nguyen SECONDED: Nina Daruwalla
Votes taken; all in favor to approve the minutes of October 08, 2009.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
1. Radar Speed Signs, further Discussed and Approval of Project Plan
ACTION: YES
VOTE: YES
MOTION: Tamara Pow SECONDED: Nina Daruwalla
a. Further discussions with Council and Mayor Mahoney
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Commissioner Pow met with Mayor Mahoney, Vice -Mayor Chris Wang, and Councilmember Mark
Santoro to discuss further interest in the radar speed signs. Since there are other issues and projects the
PSC can focus on, the radar speed signs may be revisited in the future.
Commissioner Pow motioned to remove the radar speed signs from future agendas; the motion was
seconded by Commissioner Nina Daruwalla; votes taken all in favor to remove the radar speed signs
from future agendas.
2. Discussion of Walk/Bike/Carpool (WBC) to School project ongoing
a. WBC Grant Application from Lawson Middle School
ACTION: YES
VOTE: YES
MOTION: Tamara Pow SECONDED: Nina Daruwalla 3 to 0
1 Abstention
Lawson Middle School requested $400 for printing of flyers and banner to promote students and
parents to walk, bike or carpool to school. Commissioner Pow motioned to approve the grant
application; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Daruwalla; votes taken; Commissioners Pow,
Daruwalla, and Daniel Nguyen in favor of approving the grant application. Commissioner Craig Lee
abstains from placing his vote because the copy of the application was not available for
commissioner's review and due to a lack of a written statement of the grant program.
b. WBC Grant Application from Stevens Creek Elementary School
ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
MOTION: No
SECONDED: No
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Stevens Creek Elementary School requested $2,000 for the Freiker Program to purchase the start-up
software that will record the number of students that walk or bike to school. Commissioner Pow
discussed with the Council regarding this program and there were concerns of the associated ongoing
yearly cost.
There are three questions and concerns the commission and Captain Calderone have. 1) Is there a
portable unit available to test at different locations; 2) Are they able to obtain other fundings, as
mentioned in their application from the different organizations; 3) The discrepancy of the ongoing
costs as mentioned in the website was different than their presentation to the commission from the
October 08, 2009 regular meeting.
Commissioner Pow will contact Lesley Reid regarding the questions and concerns of the commission.
C. WBC Grant Application from Garden Gate Elementary School
ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
MOTION: No SECONDED: No 0 to 0
The sub -committee approved the grant application from Garden Gate Elementary School for $132 for
shoe tags to encourage the students to participate in the walk, bike, or carpool to school program.
d. Letter to Principal and Teachers
ACTION: YES
VOTE: YES
MOTION: Tamara Pow SECONDED: Craig Lee 4 to 0
Commissioner Pow discussed with the commission how the letter to the principals and teachers should
be presented. Commissioner Pow motioned for the letter to be signed by the chair, printed on the
city's letterhead, and distributed by U.S. mail; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Lee; votes
taken; all in favor of the chair signing the letter on the city's letterhead and mail by the postmaster.
e. PSC Traffic Complaint Reporting
ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
MOTION: No SECONDED: No 0 to 0
Commissioner Lee discussed with the commission documenting traffic complaints. He presented his
draft form and requested the commission to email him with their feedback. This form documents who
�.. is making the complaint, what is the problem, and where is it occurring. The commission discussed
changes to improve the form and creating a name for the form.
This agenda item will continue to next month's regular meeting to discuss the feedbacks from the other
commissioners.
f. Crossing Guards
ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
MOTION: No
SECONDED: No
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Commissioner Pow discussed with the commission the need for more crossing guards throughout all
the schools. In Oakland, a student was killed crossing a street and the district placed a crossing guard
at the location after the incident. The commission discussed the concerns of the city about using parent
volunteers as crossing guards due to liability reasons. Commissioner Pow prefers crossing guards as a
separate agenda item in future regular meetings.
g. WBC Survey Data
ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
MOTION: No
SECONDED: No
Otoo
Commissioner Nguyen discussed with the commission the survey results collected by the SRO's.
Kindergarten grades were not included in this survey because the parents are required to walk the
students to their classrooms. The commission all agreed that the survey form needs improvement due
to misunderstanding the collection instructions on the form. The commission will discuss changes to
the survey form at the next month's regular meeting.
h. Documenting WBC Program
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ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
MOTION: No
SECONDED: No
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Commissioner Lee recommends documenting and archiving the approved grant applications.
Commissioner Pow announced that documenting the approval of the grant application in the minutes is
sufficient. Captain Calderone clarified that the approved grant applications are kept on file by the
city's accounting department after disbursement as an audit trail. Commissioner Nguyen further
clarify that the minutes are online and the approved grant applications may be viewed at the city office
upon request.
3. Discuss coordinating WBC events with Teen and Bike/Pedestrian Commissions
ACTION: YES
VOTE: YES
MOTION: Tamara Pow SECONDED: Daniel Nguyen 4 to 0
Commissioner Pow discussed with Councilman Santoro regarding the lack of interest from the Teen
Commission for a joint involvement with the WBC project. The Teen Commission has their own projects
they are focusing on, and Commissioner Pow emailed Lauren Phillips to inform her of the PSC support.
Captain Calderone announced that the bike racks for Kennedy Middle School are under consideration for
installment.
Commissioner Pow motioned to remove this agenda item from future regular meetings; the motion was
seconded by Commissioner Nguyen; votes taken, all in favor to remove this agenda item from future
regular meetings.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Public Safety Commission Work Plan
a. Lehigh Cement Factory
ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
MOTION: No SECONDED: No 0 to 0
Commissioner Pow discussed with the commission the situation of the Lehigh Cement is not within
the jurisdiction of the city, but it is affecting the citizens of Cupertino. The Council plans to monitor
their activity and they have developed a committee to oversee this problem.
b. Day Care Traffic Issues
ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
MOTION: No
SECONDED: No
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Commissioner Pow discussed with the commission the concern of traffic around day care because of
the recent incident at the Chinese school. Captain Calderone announced that the City is reevaluating
different aspects of the current policies and protocols of the day care licenses and if they are complying
with state and federal standards.
c. School Resource Officers (SRO) Issues
ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
MOTION: No
SECONDED: No
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Commissioner Lee requested information on the roles and responsibilities of the SRO's versus parent
„~ volunteers, and if they are doing enough to prevent crimes at the schools. Captain Calderone clarified
that the SRO's and deputies are involved with the activities during and after school hours. If the
schools make requests for special safety education than the SRO's and deputies will provide those
resources. Commissioners Daruwalla expressed her satisfaction and commended the SRO's for their
efforts working with the schools and the students.
d. Crossing Guards
ACTION: YES
VOTE: YES
MOTION: Tamara Pow SECONDED: Daniel Nguyen 4 to 0
Commissioner Pow discussed with Vice -Mayor Wang the crossing guard issues of training and
volunteers, such as, parents from the schools and from the senior center. Due to recent safety and
liability issues, parent volunteers from Stevens Creek and Garden Gate Elementary Schools have been
removed from crossing guard duties. Vice -Mayor Wang suggested a crossing guard training program
similar to the city's CERT Program. This training program may certify and insure volunteers by the
crossing guard company, the city, or the district. The program should develop strict parameters and
guidelines to cover the safety and liability issues. Vice -Mayor Wang suggests, and would organize a
meeting with the superintendent, Mayor Mahoney, Captain Calderone, and others to discuss how to
develop this program.
Commissioner Pow motioned to include crossing guards in future agendas; the motion seconded by
Commissioner Nguyen; votes taken; all in favor to include crossing guards in future agendas.
Commissioner Daruwalla volunteered to gather information on the crossing guard issues.
VIII. REPORTS
1. Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office
Captain Calderone reports that everything is the same as last month's report and response times are still
within the goal of the city. Burglaries from vehicles are still prevalent, residential burglaries increased
last month, but still low compared to the past. Several automobile thefts occurred at Cupertino Square
and they are currently investigating the incidents and placing bait vehicles in the area. Citations for
moving violations and citations issued at the schools slightly increased, and speeding citation remains
consistent. Automobile accidents have increased drastically. In August, accidents increased from 54 to
81, and 72 in October. The accident on Stevens Creek Boulevard on Tuesday, the bicyclist was not
wearing a helmet, the driver is a student attending De Anza College, and the incident is still under
investigation. There are more vehicle accidents than bicycle accidents in front of De Anza College due
to the number of students running late and driving at high speeds. There were two (2) vehicle pursuits;
first pursuit occurred on Steven Canyon Road and Montebello Road, first suspect was under custody and
second suspect captured later with the volunteered assistance from the quarry; second pursuit occurred
while on regular patrol of the neighborhoods. Both incidents, the deputies came upon the suspects
breaking into vehicles.
2. Commissioner Report
Commissioner Pow announced that the Mayor's meeting was cancelled. Commissioner Daruwalla
volunteered to attend the next Mayor's meeting.
IX. FUTURE AGENDA FOR NEXT REGULAR MEETING
1. Walk/Bike/Carpool to school incentive program
2. Public Safety Commission Work Plan
3. Crossing Guards
X. ADJOURNMENT
The regular meeting was adjourned at 9:38 p.m.
XI. NEXT MEETINGS
Next regular meeting schedule for Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
SUBMITTED BY:
Elaine Chasuk
Executive Assistant to Captain Terry Calderone
December 07, 2009