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P&R 12-07-95CII:¥ OF CUPERTINO~ STATE OF CALIFORNIA 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014 l'elephone (40g) 777-3200 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION City Hall December 7, 1995 CALL TO ORDER 1. Regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission called to order at 7:00 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG 2. ROLL CALL 3. Commissioners present: Commissioners absent: Staff present: Quinlan, Buhler, Hopkins, Lohmiller, Hendrickson None Stephen Dowling, Director of Parks and Recreation Linda Lagergren, Recording Secretary INTRODUCTIONS 4. None. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 5. None UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. None NEW BUSINESS 7. Director stated, "The issue before the commission is to review the Simms house recommendation for city council. The current Master Plan for the property specifies that at the appropriate time utilization of the Simms house would transfer to a preserve related activity. As the commission is aware, since 1991 the Simms house has been used as an alternative housing program by contract with Innovative Housing. The area being talked about in the recommendation is the area behind the Simms house. One of the most significant things the Task Force came to realize after a walk-through last spring with the chief building official, is that in order to make use of the Simms house for something other then residential, it would require a significant amount of modification to the interior particularly the upper floor. The Task Force came to the decision that at this point in time, it is really not a viable alternative to try and restore it to some public use." The director reviewed the recommendations for the Simms property, house, and basement. In summary, what the Task Force is recommending to commission is that we, for the near term, not look to the interior of the upper floor of the Simms house for any park related use and that we focus our efforts on the outdoor space behind the house. Commissioner Lohmiller asked, "Is there funding to do what is asked?" Director replied, "Currently, there is not funding to make those improvements." Commissioner Lohmiller asked why electricity would be needed and the director stated that some of the microscopes require electrical power. PRC # 173 Approved 1/4/96 Call to order Salute to Flag Roll Call Review Simms house recommenda tion from the McClellan Ranch Task Force Commissioner Lohmiller asked, "Would this activity intrude on the resident's privacyT" Director said, "I don't think it would be prohibitive. The only time there would be use of the house would be to access the basement to get equipment and supplies." Commissioner Lohmiller asked, "Why would a restroom be necessary." Director said, "Proximity. There is one at McClellan Ranch across the foot bridge. It was just felt that if we could make it code compliant, it would be more convenient to have one there." Commissioner Lohmiller asked, "Is them an identified program that would use this presently?" Director stated, "We have an educator on the Task Fome and he is confident that school groups could make use of that kind of biology outdoor laboratory setting. Also, our Naturalist has indicated that there is some programs that she could do with that kind of facility." Commissioner Buhler asked what was done to determine the demand or need for this kind of service. The director said that there has been no needs assessment done, but that it is a consensus of those representing the various users. Commissioner Lohmiller stated, "If we approve this we are essentially just changing language in a document and then agreeing to keeping the facility at the current use." Director replied, "Correct. You are saying that should funding become available, the improvements of that wet lab would be desirable." Commissioner Buhler asked for clarification on the section which refers to the Innovation Housing and C.D.B.G. funding. The director stated that if for some reason Innovative Housing can no longer afford this arrangement, then we would have to quickly look at that space and see what we wanted to do with it. The city does not fund Innovative Housing. We have a contract with them to provide the service for us. They receive their funding from a number of sources. So if for fiscal reasons Innovative Housing cannot continue this arrangement, then we don't want it to immediately go to another housing use. We would want to look at it and see what our other options are." Chair Quinlan asked, "Has this plan gone by the Santa Clara Valley Water District and is that property, since it has been elevated over the years, within the one hundred year flood plain?" Director stated, "I'm assuming it is in the flood plain and no the plan hasn't been run by them?" Chair Quinlan asked if there was any thought given if the building is torn down. Director stated that that discussion did come up and again the committee members felt that there would still be a need for an outdoor lab. The long range thought is that someday that building will be tom down and we will build some sort of environmental study, office, or meeting room. A building of some sort should be there when funding is available. Chair Quinlan stated, "I have a concern about having water and electricity available outside of the building from the standpoint of abuse and misuse. It seems that if you are going to do that sort of thing you need to house it somewhere. The problem I have is if you are going to house it, you may run into the problem with Santa Clara Valley Water District for impeding the flow of water through them. I would think that it has to be cleared first. I wouldn't want to approve this without some kind of building where you would be able to lock it up." Director said, That is a valid point. What we have done in other parks, such as Linda Vista, is we put lock boxes on power soumes, which can be vandalized and we also have an outdoor sink on our bathroom building and for awhile we had to remove the handle and issue that handle to user groups. I don't think it is necessary to enclose it, I think that we would have to look at some security solution for the power and the water. I think there are ways to do that now." Page 2 Review Simms house recommenda tion from the McClellan Ranch Task Force (cont'd) Charles Liggett, 22415 Palm Avenue. "I am on the McClellan Ranch Task Force. I don't think it would be a problem with the electricity and water because the house would be so close to the area that would be used. It is a very good piece of property along the creek. The dimensions aren't conducive to some type of construction because it is long and narrow, but I think some time in the future it would be a very good site for some type of facility. That house is not going to be there forever. There are structural problems with the house. At some time in the future that house is going to be demolished and it would be a beautiful site for something. I think we were in consensus that we would recommend that the affordable housing people stay in that facility at least for another three years because we recognize that the money is not available to do something more grandiose at this time." Commissioner Buhler stated that he felt this city has done such a great job in some areas in working with the school district that he was wondering if there was any value in opening a dialogue with them to see what they need and what might fit with their programs Charles Liggett stated, "When you start deciding what you want to put on that space from an educational standpoint, certainly you are going to go to the experts in that area. You are going to go the people that are interested in natural sciences and determine what their criteria is for a facility. We do have an educator and a naturalist on the Task Force." Commissioner Hendrickson asked if Affordable Housing cost the city anything. Director stated that the city receives revenue from the contract. Commissioner Lohmiller moved to recommend to City Council adoption of the Simms House Amendment to the McClellan Ranch Master Plan. Commissioner Hopkins seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion approved. Chair Quinlan wanted to make a caveat to the motion that caution be taken in regards to the electrical and water outlets, to make sure that they do not encourage improper usage and further to make sure that the improvements that may occur as a result of this amendment are cleared through Santa Clara Valley Water District. Commissioner Buhler added that he would like to encourage the Task Force to take these recommendations to the school district and to open a dialogue with them for their comments. Chair Quinlan stated that the school district may even be willing to participate in some of the instruments that they use. They may even move some things from their classrooms to the facility. Director stated, "This is another project that the McClellan Ranch Task Force has been working on. Very early on in the Task Force work we realized that we needed to spend a considerable effort in reviewing the signage program at McClellan Ranch Park and in that review realized that there is really no central point that a visitor can focus on and gather information about the facility. It made sense to us that the sun dial area could serve that function. The issue before the commission this evening is to review an improvement plan for the sun dial area that accomplishes upgrading that area, providing a centralized information center for the features of the park, providing a starting point for trail users, and providing an educational space." The director reviewed the plan with the commission. Commissioner Hopkins moved to recommend to City Council adoption of the proposed design plan for the information center at McClellan Ranch Park, subject to approval of the Santa Clara Valley Water District review. Commissioner Buhler seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion passed unanimously. Page 3 Charles Liggett Motion Motion MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Commissioner Lohmiller moved and Commissioner Hopkins seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the November 7, 1995 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Alt in favor. Motion approved. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS 10. None MONTHLY REPORTS 1 I. Director reported on the success of the Holiday Craft Faire at the Community Center and the Bicycle Safety program. 12. Community Contacts - Commissioner Buhler announced that attended the Tree Lighting ceremony. Commissioner Hopkins reported on the Breakfast with Santa event. Chair Quinlan reported on the annual event with rotary where needy children are identified and they take them to shop and then to lunch at the YMCA. Chair Quinlan announced that he has been appointed to the County Fair Board. MISCELLANEOUS 13. There was no legislative update. 14. There was no Mayor's breakfast meeting. 15. Director announced that the Commissioner's dinner would be held on February 2, 1996. 16. Commissioner Lohmiller reported on the Creekside Master Plan committee. 17. No new information was presented regarding the McClellan Ranch Task Force. 18. Director reported that the Stevens Creek Trail Task Force would be meeting on Saturday, December 9, 9:00 a.m., to tour the Mountain View trails. ADJOURNMENT 19. Commissioner Hendrickson moved and Commissioner Hopkins seconded the motion to adjourn at 7:50 p.m. to the regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission on Thursday, January 4, 1996, 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers. Ail in favor. Motion passed. Respectfully submitted, L~nda M. Lagergren,'Recor~ ATTEST: City Clerk~~ Chairperson Page 4 Motion Community Contacts StaffReport Motion