P&R 02-07-08MINUTES
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
CITY OF CUPERTINO
REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2008
1.
2.
3.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Bradford called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm at Cupertino Community
Hall, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Commissioners present: Jeanne Bradford, David Greenstein, David Lee
Debbie Stephens Stauffer and Darcy Paul
Staff present: Therese Ambrosi Smith, Donna Henriques
Aki Honda
Also Present: Rebecca Glyn, Landscape Architect of Guzzardo
Partnership, Colin Bly, Guzzardo Partnership,
Jon Moss and Michael Ducote of Prometheus
Chair Bradford reordered the agenda to take up Oral Communications next.
6. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS -none
Chair Bradford reordered the agenda to take up New Business next.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. Proposed park dedication -Villa Serra project
Parks and Recreation Director, Therese Ambrosi Smith, introduced Aki
Honda, Planner, who presented the background and the location of the
Villa Serra Park project. Aki then introduced the Landscape Architect,
Rebecca Glyn from Guzzardo Partnership who presented a preliminary
conceptual design of the proposed park.
On July 3, 2007, the City Council approved the expansion of The Grove
and Villa Serra Apartments. Council required park land dedication on the
southwest corner of Homestead Road and Franco Court. The proposed
park is .75 acres and Prometheus, owners of the apartment complexes, will
fully improve the park and dedicate it to the City as a public park.
Council directed the Parks and Recreation Commission to make
recommendations on the overall park design.
Specific issues regarding the park that Council asked the Commission to
address include:
• a land swap to relocate the City's Traffic Operations
Center-- should a restroom facility be installed in that area
• should there be fencing around the park
• whether or not the 20 parking spaces on the west side of the
park area are needed
Commissioner Bradford asked if any members of the audience would like to
speak. The following individuals stated their concerns regarding the Villa Serra
park proposal:
Ed Alley
Kathy Richardson
Thycaud Subramonian
Their comments included:
• Safety issues since Homestead Road is a very busy street and it
is not safe for young children
• There is no parking on Homestead, so park users would use
the spaces provided in the Villa Serra complex
• Vehicular access to park
• Concern that "undesirable individuals" will be using the park
for smoking marijuana
The Parks and Recreation Commission asked the Prometheus representative, Jon
Moss, if he would be agreeable to having another meeting and inviting more
neighborhood participation. Jon said that it would be good to have more residents
attend and to get their input on the park.
Therese suggested that we have another meeting at the meeting room in the Villa
Serra apartment complex. She will notify the Parks and Recreation
Commissioners as to the date and time the meeting room is available.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Therese Ambrosi Smith reported that the Cupertino Historical Society
supports the idea to construct amulti-use trail through the Stocklmeir
property close to the creek, with a narrow, unpaved footpath crossing the
orchard.
Action: Commissioner Greenstein made a motion to support the
Cupertino Historical Society's suggestion for the historical trail.
Commissioner Paul seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
4. SELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2008
A. Chairperson -Commissioner Stauffer nominated Commissioner
David Greenstein for Chairperson. Commissioner Lee seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
B. Vice Chairperson -Commissioner Bradford nominated
Commissioner David Lee for Vice Chairperson. Commissioner
Stauffer seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
5. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
A. Action: Commissioner Bradford made a motion to amend the minutes
of the last meeting to include the statement from Jennie Yeung, the
Moon Festival organizer, that she would recommend that the Parks
and Recreation Commission deny the permit for the 2008 Moon
Festival to be held at Memorial Park. Commissioner Lee seconded
the motion and asked to have the exact wording of Ms. Yeung
recorded in the minutes from the November 1, 2007 Commission
meeting.
The motion passed 3 - 2 with the new Commissioners Stauffer and
Paul abstaining.
9. MISCELLANEOUS - NO ACTION REQUIRED
A. Director Smith would like to discuss the history of the current the Parks
and Recreation policies regarding facility use, field use and two special
events policies as an educational exercise before she retires in May 2008.
She also suggested that the rules and regulations for Blackberry Farm be
reviewed before the reopening, with special attention to the "dogs on leash
rule." November might be a good month to start drafting these policies.
Director Smith also recommended that the Recreation Coordinators should
plan to attend the monthly Parks and Recreation Commission meetings
and provide the Commission with a brief update of what is taking place in
their various divisions.
B. There were no Commissioner contacts since the Mayor's meetings have
not been scheduled.
9. ADJOURNMENT -Chair Greenstein adjourned the meeting at 8:47 pm.
Respectfully submitted, `
Cam-- ~~2'L''L~_ €~~~~~
Donna Henriques, Administrative Assis an~~
Minutes approved at the April 3, 2008 regular meeting.