Loading...
P&R 05-24-01 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CITY OF CUPERTINO REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2001 CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Jelinch called the regular adjourned meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 7 p.m.. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Commissioners absent: Jeanne Bradford, Frank Jelinch, Roger Peng, Edye Stein, Kris Wang None Staff present: Therese Ambrosi Smith, Director Christine Hanel, Recreation Supervisor Don McCarthy, Recreation Supervisor Marie Preston, Administrative Secretary COMMUNICATIONS NOT ON THE AGENDA Oral: Ed Hirshfield, 734 Stendhal Lane, does not want "diminished capacity" at the Sports Center, does not want to see reduced number of tennis courts, and believes the Sports Center is well run. He supports recreational facilities for teenagers and supports another location other than the Sports Center for a skate park, such as at Vallco. Suzanne Becket, 21163 Patriot Way, regarding heavy traffic on Anton Way, believes it poses a real danger to residents and children due to the high rate of speed on that road. Also because people are parking on Anton even with the no parking signs, there is road narrowing and blockage. Large, rattling trucks from Anderson Chevrolet are also using this access. She is looking for a solution such as road bumps to diminish traffic on this street. ACTION: Therese Ambrosi Smith was directed to assist with Ms. Becket's concerns by putting her in touch with the appropriate department. Written: Commissioner Wang forwarded written communication from Sherman Wang to improve the quality and size of the community basketball court at Jollyman Park. Parks and Recreation Commission May 24, 2001 Page 2 of 6 ACTION: The Commission referred this to staff for investigation. Copies of the request should be given to the Commissioners along with staffs report. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Finalize the Memorial Park Special Events Policy for recommendation to the City Council. Therese Ambrosi Smith read a letter into the record from Darryl Lieb regarding use of Memorial Park. She also reviewed the draft use policy and explained the changes. The Commission recommended the following change to the draft: · Add flexibility of holding events less than 3-weeks apart. Public Input Chuck Crane, lives at the Commons. He requested more parking control that would be identified as an official or hired security guard; took exception to the non-adults being used as guards. He suggested charging an assessment by vendors to pay for parking control. Lucille Honig, coordinator the Cherry Blossom Festival, explained that parking guards were stationed at the time the event started, 10 a.m., as designated by the City. She explained that she does not want more restrictions on vendors to hire professionals due to the cost to non-profits organizations holding events. Chairman Jelinch clarified that the policy does not state that "professionals" had to be hired. Charlie McCue, Silicon Valley Shakespeare Festival who produces Free Shakespeare in the Park, asked about the three-week break policy because their event carries over three consecutive weekends. Also, the parking monitor is a concern as this can be a sizable expense. Believes that due to the size of their event, parking has not been a problem. He asked for consideration of a parking monitoring policy that would kick in for larger events. He asked if historical/annual events would be given priority. He complimented the Parks and Recreation staff who have been extremely efficient, straightforward, and comprehensive over the last six years. Chairman Jelinch complimented the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival for their good works in Cupertino. Mr. Jelinch also explained that it was the intent of the Commission that there would be no less activities than we have had in the past - in other words, anyone who has been there in the past, is going to be there in the future. The real issue is whether we are going to put a limit on new groups coming in. Parks and Recreation Commission May 24, 2001 Page 3 of 6 Rod Honig stated that just placing someone there is not going to take care of people parking in the wrong place, and there has be an authority and guidelines to do something about it. Commissioner Bradford requested staff to: Investigate leasing of parking at De Anza College · Limit access on Anton to vehicles loading/unloading · Add "adult" to the requirements of parking monitors Promote parking at Abundant Life Church and/or De Anza College Therese Ambrosi Smith reiterated the proposed permit application process to the Commission. Lucille Honig stated that they have always worked with De Anza College and Abundant Life Church, and believes that other event holders have done the same thing. She has found that both organizations have been supportive in working with events. For her event, the Cherry Blossom Festival, signs are posted at De Anza stating there is a $2 fee. At Abundant Life, their facilities can be used on Saturdays, not Sundays, at no cost. De Anza College keeps the fees collected by De Anza College. In response to Commissioner Bradford's question about possibly limiting access around the park (Alves/Anton loop) to just operational traffic, Mrs. Honig reported that they have been working with the City to alleviate some parking problems. She believes that we are not a good city if we limit all the parking so that there are no facilities for people to use. ACTION: It was unanimously recommended to accept the revisions to the Memorial Park Special Events Policy, with amendments and with additional language noted below: · reworking of the language on the three-week period between events by saying that the three-week period is intended to allow turf and opportunity to recover from the impacts of an event; however, in those instances where that is not a factor, the schedule can be adjusted give the Commission additional authority to add conditions as may be necessary to accommodate very large events NEW BUSINESS Skate Park: Commissioner Bradford recused herself from this discussion due to the fact that she is a homeowner in the Commons. Therese Ambrosi Smith reported that the homeowners were in favor of a teen center being constructed at the Sports Center site, they said they needed more information as they were unfamiliar with skate parks and they couldn't make a Parks and Recreation Commission May 24, 2001 Page 4 of 6 solid recommendation one way or the other. Since that meeting, a member of the group researched skate parks and shared the information with the Commons homeowners. He also had prepared a petition that stated, "I support exclusion of a skateboard rink at the Sports Center." It was noted that a vast majority of the Commons residents signed the petition. For the record, a May 22, 2001 letter to the Parks and Recreation Commission, signed by Lutz Haentzschel, President of the Commons of Cupertino Homeowners Association, was read. Public Input Lntz Haentzschel, lives on Congress, thanked Therese Ambrosi Smith for joining them at a homeowners' hearing, stated that she was supportive with their issues, and he appreciated her outreach efforts. The Commons oppose a skate park due to the concerns that were mentioned in the letter: traffic, noise, and juveniles. He urged the Commission to rethink the plan of putting a skate park in the middle of the city right next to a quiet neighborhood. From his last count, 80 percent of the homeowners signed the petition. Chairman Jelinch asked Mr. Haentzschel if he had observed other skate parks. He stated that he had not personally visited other skate parks, but one of his neighbors, Mr. Walkup, had done this. It was Mr. Walkup's observation that these skate parks were situated in very noisy areas to begin with. He acknowledged that the Sports Center does need to make room for everyone, including young people. But there is still concern about a skate park at the Sports Center. Ms. Smith presented a video of the City of Santa Clara's skate park, which is limited to residents with one-day-a-month guest days, the site is supervised, protective gear is mandatory, and ID cards are issued. Also, time slots are scheduled for different age groups. The site is next to a city facility and is fenced. Ed Hirschfeld, 734 Stendhal Lane, stressed that hundreds of people use the Sports Center as it is, and if the area for its current use were diminished in any way, the City would be hearing from a lot from people. Chuck Crane, Commons resident, offered an observation based on his experience playing tennis at the Sports Center and contending with the Abundant Life's skateboard activities that they have had in the summer. He stated that the noise had occasionally interrupted the tennis games. Also, their music was loud and disruptive. Chairman Jelinch stated that whatever kind of skate park was put in, it would be quite different from what was at the church. The church used wood constructed, non-permanent equipment, and on a non-engineered site. Parks and Recreation Commission May 24, 2001 Page 5 of 6 Elena Herrera, Senate Way, suggested that the users of the Sports Center should have an opportunity to be notified. She stated there is support for a teen center, but concern about putting in a skate park. Ms. Smith reported that all parts of the City will be involved in the decision of a skate park - Sports Center users/members, Commons, skaters, everyone who will want to have input when the facility is redeveloped. Chairman Jelinch stated that this night's public input was an important part of the process and that a professional will be brought in to assist in the gathering of information, as well as comments from other factions of the community. Later in the year, a recommendation will be made of where the park will go, if we should/should not have it, conditions, etc. Ed Hirschfeld stated that he felt that he was misunderstood; he is not opposed to a skate park, but not at the Sports Center. He would like to see a partnership "quid pro quo" at Vallco. He doesn't believe that we will find that the community will stand for substantial changes of the Sports Center. Commissioner Stein raised concern about a possible overload of the Memorial Park/Sports Center area. Commissioner Peng requested more data before a recommendation could be made. He would like to know what the sound levels are at the City of Santa Clara skate park and its impact on the neighborhood. Chairman Jelinch stated that more data will be collected, more meetings will be scheduled, and once the decision is made with fully informed Commission, a recommendation will be made. At the end of discussions, Commissioner Bradford rejoined the Commission. Sports Center. Along with Don McCarthy and Christine Hanel, Therese Ambrosi Smith presented a slide show of their visit to the Monterey Sports Center. This site was selected because it is a financially successful site that does not put a drain on the city's general fund. She described their services and programs. MISCELLANEOUS - NO ACTION REQUIRED Staff Oral Reports: Jackie Baddeley, Case Manager at the Senior Center, provided a comprehensive report on the Senior Center services, programs, and future plans of the Center. She reported on input received from a Senior Center survey that also reached out to the Chinese community. There have Parks and Recreation Commission May 24, 2001 Page 6 of 6 been 500 new members since the opening of the remodeled Senior Center. Commissioner Peng complimented the Senior Center staff, and especially Jackie Baddeley, for reaching out to the Chinese community. Chairman Jelinch said that this was a good illustration of the dedicated, high caliber people who work at the Senior Center. Therese Ambrosi Smith reported that Jackie Baddeley has been studying Mandarin on her own time for two years and is taking a 9-week unpaid leave of absence to take a Mandarin immersion class. Legislative Update: None Community Contacts: Commissioner Wang forwarded an item for the Cupertino Scene. Commissioner Bradford said that she was invited to speak at the Cupertino Kiwanis on June 4 and that the staff was assisting in gathering information for this presentation. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted Marite Preston, Recording Secretary Approved at the July 12, 2001, Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.