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P&R 04-07-11APPROVED MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CITY OF CUPERTINO Regular Meeting April 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Community Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA Note: This meeting will be televised 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Darcy Paul 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. 4. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Darcy Paul, David Greenstein, Marcia St.Clair, David Lee Commissioners absent: David Fung Staff present: Mark Linder, Donna Henriques MISCELLANEOUS — NO ACTION REQUIRED A. Staff oral reports Director Linder reported that he had a follow -up meeting with representatives from Our City Forest. They discussed linking their tree - planting program with Cupertino Block Leaders and possible contractual services. Director Linder said that Earth Day is this coming Saturday, April 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will feature over 80 different vendors and three bands. There will also be a ribbon - cutting ceremony with Seimens for the City's new irrigation controllers at 10:00 a.m. He reported that April 11 will be the first day for 14 -16 year -olds to sign up for the Leader In Training volunteer program with the Parks and Recreation for summer camps and aquatics. Also, the first day for Cupertino residents to sign up for summer recreation programs will be April 19. Director Linder encouraged residents to sign up early for the Big Bunny Fun Run on April 23. The 5K race starts in front of Community Hall at 9:00 a.m. There is also a 2.5K walk and the Huntington Learning Center's, Kids Run at Library Field. If residents register before the day of the race, the fee is a lot less. Director Linder announced again that Cupertino Day, and Opening Day for Blackberry Farm Park, will be on May 7. The barbeque and swimming will be free to all residents. B. Commissioner contacts Commissioner St.Clair reported that she attended the March Mayor's and Commissioners' meeting. She said that each Commissioner reported on the projects their respective Commissions are working on at this time. Chairperson Paul reported that the Stocklmeir Task Force met on March 28 to discuss the proposed locations of the bridge at the end of Stevens Creek Trail in Phase I1. The Task Force decided unanimously to locate the bridge at the "base" location, which was lower on the creek than the other proposed locations.. Director Linder reported that at the April 5 Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to accept staff's recommendation to locate the bridge at the same "base" location. 5. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING A. Regular meeting of March 3, 2011 Action: Commissioner Lee made a motion to accept the minutes as written. Commissioner Greenstein seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously 4 - 0, with Commissioner Fung absent. 6. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS — None 7. PRESENTATION A. Toby Leavitt, Executive Director, with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival Toby Leavitt said that they are a non- profit organization that currently works with the Parks and Recreation Department to offer free Shakespeare in the Park every summer in Memorial Park. They average about one thousand attendees at each of the eight performances. 2 She said that the Parks and Recreation Commission, Library Commission and Fine Arts Commission, along with the Library staff and Parks and Recreation staff, are working with her to present an interactive discussion on the upcoming Shakespeare in The Park play, "Cymbeline ". This discussion would feature actors from the play, as well as commentators on the plot and messages of the play. The community discussion would be held at Community Hall. The dates are being worked on but Toby would like to implement this joint program in June. The Chairperson from the Fine Arts Commission, K.C. Chandratraya, spoke in support of this program and asked if there could be a proposed date in June that would be available to start the discussions. Director Linder said he will work with Chief Librarian, Mark Fink and Toby on the planning and logistics. Chief Librarian, Mark Fink, said that he and his staff are fully committed to making this program happen. They will need to have the event booked at Community Hall because there is not enough space at the Library. Rose Grimes, Library Commissioner, said that she went to the Burlingame Library recently to see the traveling, production of The Tempest and she thought it was very well done. She said that the Library Commission is also in support of having this educational program in Cupertino. Commissioner St.Clair suggested involving the Teen Commission in the educational program. Director Linder said he would speak with the Teen Commission regarding their participation. Director Linder said he will begin work on the possible joint program and will report back to the Commission. In addition, he and Toby will discuss more about the upcoming Shakespeare summer camps that are offered at Union Church in Cupertino to see if Parks and Recreation can help with registration and administration. 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Update on educational program regarding feeding ducks and geese at Memorial Park. Director Mark Linder said that the Commission first addressed this issue in May, 2010 and the Council addressed it in August, 2010. At that time, the Council decided not to go forward with stricter enforcement but to try an increased educational program specifically, multi - lingual signage and educational material. Recently, Public Works has cleaned the ponds at Memorial Park and the City Naturalist, Barbara Banfield has prepared the signage and educational materials. The materials are currently being translated into Spanish and Chinese and will be posted soon. Director Linder said he will monitor how the educational materials are working. Commissioner Greenstein asked what the baseline is now so as to compare future results to see if the materials and new signage are helping to make any progress in reducing the amount of fecal matter at the park. Director Linder said he will work with Park Maintenance workers to determine a baseline to measure the effectiveness of the signage by using the following: How dirty the ponds are now and how often do they have to clean them? How long does it take to clean each time? Track how often Park Maintenance workers see people feeding the ducks and geese Director Linder said he will have the signage and educational brochures translated at the Senior Center and will have Public Works move forward with placing the new signs near the ponds at Memorial Park. Chairperson Paul commented that it would be a good idea to have the signage translated by Senior Center members, in order to ensure that the translations make sense and are understood by the relevant park visitors. Director Linder will report back to the Commission and the Council on the effectiveness of the new signage; and educational materials. 9. ADJOURNMENT - Chairperson Paul adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Donna Henriques Donna Henriques, Administrative Assistant Minutes approved at the May 5, 2011 _ ® regular meeting M