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P&R 07-10-03 APPROVED PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CITY OF CUPERTINO REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2003 CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Bradford called the regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 7 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Commissioners absent: Staff present: Others present: Jeanne Bradford, Rod Brown, Frank Jelinch, Roger Peng, Kris Wang None Therese Ambrosi Smith, Director; Marie Preston, Administrative Secretary Jana Sokale, Environmental Planner 1. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING - June 5, 2003 ACTION: The minutes were unanimously approved as written. 2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Tony and Grace Toy, 10130 Crescent Road, read their July 10 report that breaks down their concerns regarding tennis court use issues. Grant Cower, 10158 Ridgeway Drive, pass holder of the Sports Center and president of the Cupertino Tennis Club, stated that the current allocation of court time is inequitable and that individuals have frequently and aggressively reserved court #1 for themselves denying reasonable use of that favored court by others. He is in favor of reviewing the tennis court reservation policy. Michael Zimmerman, 870 E. E1 Camino Real, #54, Mountain View, pass holder of the Sports Center and officer of the Cupertino Tennis Club, stated that two people continually monopolize court #1, which has the best lighting. He believes this couple uses aggressive tactics to reserve this court almost exclusively for themselves and their guests. This opportunity may be in the current regulations, so he requested that this policy be reviewed so that all tennis playing pass holders can be accommodated. Parks and Recreation Commission July 10, 2003 Page 2 of 7 Chairperson Bradford stated that the commission cannot discuss this issue, but she did share that she has had an onslaught of emails about this particular subject. This topic will be placed on the Commission's October agenda. 3. WRITTEN - none UNFINISHED BUS1NESS A. Stevens Creek Corridor 1. Small-group presentations: The following groups made presentations on their refined visions for the Stevens Creek Corridor: Community Activity Zone Group-Mark Adams, Janet Van Zoeren, Rusty Britt, Ned Britt, Harold Van Zoeren. They gave a PowerPoint presentation. Their refined drawing will be copied and distributed to the Commission. · Natural and Historic Preservation Committee--Craig Breon. A hard copy of their refined vision points was distributed to the commission. · Cupertino Center for Living History-Christine Jeffers. · Larry Cormier and Norma Agar presented their vision to maintain the golf course. He handed over a petition signed by over 800 users of the golf course who are residents and non-residents and who support the preservation of the golf course. · Representing the Oakdell Ranch Homeowners Association, Tim Chandler, president, opposes making Stevens Creek Blvd. the entrance to the Stevens Creek Corridor, in favor of keeping the golf course, in favor of shortening the hours of the Blue Pheasant, and in favor of adding only pedestrian lights at Bubb and Stevens Creek by the post office. 2. Discussion: Director Therese Smith and Ms. Jana Sokale presented a PowerPoint presentation on ecological restoration opportunities. Director Smith presented a short video that showed where 50 and 100 feet setbacks from top of bank might occur. Commission Comments: Commissioner Jelinch is interested in pursuing other sources of funding for restoration. Ms. Sokale recommended that the commission should request a restoration plan that can be done in phases. Vice Chair Brown requested a map showing potential setbacks. Director Smith answered that that will ultimately happen and surveyors are currently mapping the creek. An accurate map of the creek's centerline will soon be available. Director Smith reported that Alex Tsai, resident facing Blackberry Farm, wanted to remind the commission and others that there are restrictions on the entrance on San Parks and Recreation Commission July 10, 2003 Page 3 of 7 Fernando, and that the driveway easement agreement precludes access after 11 p.m. and before 7 a.m. Chairperson Bradford stated that the goals of the meeting were for the commission to make recommendations on each of the four issues: goals for the creek (riparian) setback, year round use of the park, goals for the size of the picnic grounds, and entry from Stevens Creek Boulevard. Public Comments: Rhoda Fry, 10351 San Fernando Avenue, sees Blackberry Farm as an historic seasonal resort. Spoke in favor of an entrance on Stevens Creek Blvd. and the golf course, against year-round use, and against organized use of the parkland. Roseland Bivings, PO Box 1401, Mountain View, spoke in favor of keeping the golf course. Marylin McCarthy, 10159 Cass Place, spoke on behalf of the Natural and Historical Preservation Committee who do not support changing the entrance to Stevens Creek Blvd.; supports year-round use. Arthur Robertson, 21979 Oakdell Place, is opposed to a Stevens Creek Blvd. entrance. He believes that by eliminating the corporate picnic aspect of the parkland, traffic will be dramatically reduced and eliminate the need and associated costs in changing the park entrance. Thomas Holodnik, 22126 Dean Court, is opposed to a Stevens Creek Blvd. entrance, especially if it means altering the Stocktmeir property. Allen Holzman, 23000 Stonebridge, asked how much had already been spent on the study of the corridor parkland. Director Smith answered $60,000, which was mostly in kit production. John Buenz, 22115 Dean Court, member of the Stevens Creek Trail Task Force, is opposed to relocating the entrance to Blackberry Farm to Stevens Creek Blvd. He is in favor of developing a natural environment with a passive recreational use. Dale Compton, 22123 Stocklmeir Court, spoke against moving the entrance to Stevens Creek Blvd. Wants to see the Stocklmeir property used in an historical manner. He believes that an entrance on Stevens Creek Blvd. would be dangerous. He urged the commission to get the public more involved in the process. Director Smith commented that once the park elements are nailed down, such as a golf course, a history center, or whatever those elements are, there will be a full evaluation of the parkland. Parks and Recreation Commission July 10, 2003 Page 4 of 7 Deborah Jamison, 21346 Rumford Drive, spoke in favor of keeping the Santa Clara Valley Water District land as part of McClellan Ranch Park, keeping the golf course, and reducing the corporate picnic area. Greg Schaffer, 10190 Byerly Court, wants to know where the Stevens Creek trail will lay. He likes the idea of a soft trail and a crashed granite trail. He is interested in a variable riparian setback. Frank Yap, 11032 Firethorne Drive, spoke in favor of activity zones. His three goals for the parkland are: maximize the appeal, preserve the rich heritage, and provide resources of revenue to the city. He likes the idea of eliminating the golf course and putting in a driving range. Joyce Eden, lives near Hwy. 85 and 280, is in favor of a walking trail. She does not want bicycles in the corridor. She does not believe that the business of the city is revenue generation. She would like to see an Ohlone Indian designation in the parkland. Supports a variable 100-150 feet setback. She's opposed to a Stevens Creek Blvd. entrance. She is supportive of year-round use by reducing corporate picnics to reduce traffic. Jill Halloran, 10780 Alderbrook Lane, is in favor of reducing or eliminating the golf course due to the herbicides and pesticides that are used. She is in favor of a dog park, but not near the creek. Dick Thompson, 22106 Dean Court, is in favor of a greenbelt environment and establishing a resident corridor. He supports the idea of keeping the current entrance on San Femando and removing the group picnic areas completely. He would support a series of walking trails that would connect McClellan Ranch and Blackberry Farm with benched areas near the creek. He sees a retreat center being built on the Simms property. He would like to maintain the golf course. He opposes any vehicular traffic or a dog park on the Stocklmeir property. Director Smith announced that the commission will be reviewing all the visions, written submittals, and submitted testimony. Each commissioner will then select five elements or five visions that most closely reflect what they have heard as consensus items. The commission will turn those in to City Hall by Thursday, July 17. Those items will be drafted into a uniform vision that can be presented to the public at the August 7 meeting. Commission Comments Commissioner Jelinch commented that the park plan cannot be all things to all people and that the land has historical character. He is guided by revenue activities and sources to finance this plan. He would like to see things done in the park in the next few years that can be done with funding from the state and federal governments and volunteers. He believes setbacks should be placed at a minimum, and does not agree with the idea that Parks and Recreation Commission July 10, 2003 Page 5 of 7 there needs to be 50 or 100 feet setbacks. He believes that setbacks should be different in different areas of the park - some places should even be five to 15 feet. He strongly supports restoration of the creek, and stated that if funding is received, this should become a top priority. As for year-round use of the park, he completely supports this goal. He supports moderately cutting down the size of the picnic grounds to maintain its historical company picnic grounds flavor and for the city to continue getting revenue from the park. He does not support the idea of changing the entry to Stevens Creek Boulevard because it might result in traffic and safety problems. He believes it would mean paving over part of the park, which he is not in favor of doing. He would like to keep the golf course like it is. He supports moderate changes to the park. Commissioner Wang supports minimum and variable setbacks. She is pleased them are ' opportunities for grants to do the creek restoration. She supports keeping the golf course. She supports adding a historical center as a year-round facility. She would like to see a permanent skate park at the park. She would like to see the parking area reduced and the picnic grounds reduced and redesigned. She would like to see further study on the entrance on Stevens Creek Blvd. Commissioner Peng thanked the community for coming together in groups. He stated he would not give his position at that time. He did express his thoughts: creek be a main feature with related activities, he would like to understand about the safety concerns and issues of moving the entrance, he is not convinced about a fixed 50 to 100 feet setback, he likes the idea of a year-round living history center. Vice Chair Brown stated that he has been encouraged by the interest and commitment of groups coming together to work on visions. He does not think expensive ideas should be discarded; the current financial environment will change. He sees the commission's goal as setting a long-term plan. He sees the first priority should be the residents, and the community survey showed that our residents don't use the golf course. He also acknowledged that many non-residents have a strong interest in keeping the golf course, and sees further review of whether or to keep the golf course necessary. The next priority is the creek preservation. Another consideration is to identify other facilities that could meet the needs within our community, such as golf, skate park, gymnasium. The commission should look at the community as a whole and where those things can be met. Specifically, he believes the setback should be variable and a trail use should be able to be accommodated within the setback. He supports year-round use of the park, with the question still remaining as to what kind of use. He supports the eventual elimination of the corporate picnic area. He believes that by eliminating the corporate picnic grounds, the need to move the entrance largely goes away. He would like to see more information on how much traffic the swimming pools generate before making the decision to move the entrance. Chairperson Bradford answered Mr. Robertson's inquiring about a cost benefit analysis in that this part of the visioning process did not have a cost component in it; professionals will perform the cost analysis. She responded to Mr. Buenz's comment that some of the Parks and Recreation Commission July 10, 2003 Page 6 of 7 proposals in the 108 submitted visions were inconsistent with the goals of the Stevens Creek Trail Task Force, as well as some of the goals for the City Council. She explained that this was true, but the vision process did not limit people's input to just conforming to the City Council goals. To answer Mr. Compton's concern about the process, she stated that the commission is trying to narrow the visions down, and once that happens, more detailed conversations will occur. In response to Mr. Schaffer's comment about arbitrary setbacks, she stated that the setbacks were arbitrary and not a recommendation. The setback demonstration was a point of reference for the commission and residents to physically look at the property and get some sense of what 50 and 100 feet would be like as a starting point for discussion. She agreed with Mr. Yap's comment about compromise--the process is all about compromise; it's not about everyone getting 100 percent of what they want. Chairperson Bradford is impressed with the people that have worked on this collaboration. In response to Ms. Eden, the commission and the City Council had majority rulings and approval that the Stevens Creek Trail would be a part of the corridor and that it would be a multi-use trail. The layout of this trail has not been determined. Regarding the goals of the meeting, Chairperson Bradford believes that creek restoration is a number one priority, as well as getting funding to accomplish this goal. She would like to address building restoration as a high priority. She believes that 50 and 100 feet setbacks may not be the appropriate standard; there might be areas where 50 feet would work, but that is not as high of a priority as doing restoration within the creek. She supports year-round use for low-impact activities, such as McClellan Ranch, trails, golfing, and picnicking. She does not support the corporate picnic grounds because she believes there are more thoughtful and creative uses for the land. She would like to get rid of the huge parking lot. She sees leaving the entrance on San Femando, but significantly reducing the parking area. She sees enlarging the parking area at Stevens Creeks Blvd. to allow a second option to get into the park. She does not support a road going from Stevens Creek down to Blackberry Farm. She supports the golf course remaining. The proposed agenda for August will depend on the commission's submittals of July 17. For the September meeting, the agenda most likely will be fine-tuning of visions and the financial overlay. 5. NEW BUSINESS - None MISCELLANOUS - NO ACTION REQUIRED A. Staff oral reports: 1) 4tl~ of July morning events went very well. The Optimists sold more pancake breakfasts than ever before. The parade was well attended. Pam Fury, Whispering Creek Stables, brought her horse and dressed up as Yankee Doodle; this new feature was very popular. B. Community contacts: Parks and Recreation Commission July 10, 2003 Page 7 of 7 1) Chairperson Bradford announced that she has received a great deal of email around the Sports Center issues regarding tennis reservations, and she has received a great deal of email regarding the Stevens Creek Corridor. She met with the Toys per their request and talked with others on the tennis court reservation policy. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Bradford adjoumed the meeting at 9:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marie Preston, Administrative Secretary Televised Council meetings may be viewed live on Cable Channel 26, and may also be viewed live or on demand at www. cupertino, org <http://www. cupertino, org>. Videotapes of the televised meetings are available at the Cupertino Library, or may be purchased from the Cupertino City Channel, 777-2364. Minutes approved at the August 7, 2003, regular meeting.