PSC 11-10-11�--- CUPERTINO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, November 10, 20115 7:00 p.m.
Cupertino City Half, Conference Room A
1. CALL TO ORDER
Commissioner Huang called to order the regular meeting of the Cupertino Public Safety Commission
at 7:07 p.m. -on Thursday, November 10, 2011 in the Cupertino City Hall, Conference Room A,
located at 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014.
11. ROLL CALL
- ornmi sio'ners Present: Tamara Poi (late due to traffic accident)
Andy Huang
Daniel Nguyen
Nina Daruwalla (late duo to traffic accident)
Craig Lee
Commissioners Absent: none
Staff: Captain Carl Neusel, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
Battalion Chief Daron Pi ciotta, Santa Clara County Fire Department
Staff' Absent: None
Other Present. Emily Szeto, Teen Commission, city of Cupertino
Matthew Sordoni, observer, former local police officer
Ill, ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications to discuss at this regular meeting.
IV. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
There was one written communication to discuss at this regular meeting.
1. Email from David Fung regarding concern over the removal of stop signs near Regnart.
There is a lour cost bike transportation plan to remove two stop signs on Rainbow between
Stelling and Bubb to make the street more bike - friendly. David Fung and the PTA are concerned
that this will increase the danger for children crossing the street to and from the school.
Commissioner Lee referred to a transportation plan r-ap, noting that there are not luny bicyclists
in this area but a large number of students cross at the intersections of Weymouth and Yorkshire,
and the stop signs were piaced there to slow traffic down. Mr. Fung and the PTA are worried
about safety and feel the sohool traffic pattern should take precedence over bicycle convenience.
They are further concerned that input from the PTA and the public is not included when such
transportation plans are presented to the city council.
Commissioner Lee asked Capt. Neusel to investigate three items through Public Works: Fiat, ask
how to increase plan visibility, maybe by publicizing on the agenda or through discussion during
plans for a new budget year. Second, find out whir the public does not have more input. Third, if
Public Works removes the signs, would it be possible to ,add a crossing guard?
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. September 8, 2011
ACTION; YES
VOTE: YES
MOTION: Tamara Pew SECONDED: Craig Lee 5 to g
Commissioner Pow motioned to approve the minutes of September 8, 2011 with an amendment
to (VI) O Business 1 WBC Program; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Lee; votes
taken; all in favor to approve the minutes of September 8, 2011 with the correction.
(0) (1): Lesley Reid, Kennedy representative, requests to Comm. Peer....
2. October 1, 2011
ACTION: YES
VOTE; YES
MOTION, Tamara Pow SECONDED: Craig Lee 5 to 0
Commissioner Pow motioned to approve the minutes of October 13, 2011 with three
amendments: (VI) Old Business (1) WBC Program (a) Kennedy Middle School, (VI) Old Business
(1) WBC Program (b) Lincoln Elementary School, and (VIE) Reports (3) Commission Report. The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Lee; voles taken; all in favor to appraye the minutes of
October 13, 2011 with the corrections.
(VI) (1) (a: Lesley Reid is trying to increase participation, ..Lesley Reid in ar7 em ail re comm ended
that barriers...
(Vi )(1)(b): Con7nnissioner Pow informed [the Principal] that there should not be a Volunteer
Crossing Guard Program.
(01)(3): ...to create a short course bike event as pat-t of the Bits Bunny Fun Run.
V1. OLD BUSINESS
1. Discussion of 1I1 alkfflike /Carpool B to School project ongoing (Nguyen)
a. Collins Elementary ehoel
ACTION: Yes
VOTE: N
MOTION* N/A SECONDED- N/A 0 to 0
Commissioner Daruwalla reports that she met with the Collins Elementary PTA representative
to give her the application forms and slideshow presentation. Collins has decided to host are
event the week of January 17 and one in April, piggybacking ing onto Lawson °s scheduled WOW
and BOW events, since many families have children at both schools. They seek $1,000 per
week for a total of $2,000 and ask if there is a ceiling limit because they plan to make
purchases with PTA funds then submit receipts for reimbursement. The representative would
like to provide each of the 700 students with a glow -in- the -dark bracelet or shoelaces for about
$1 per child, and have larger prizes for greater particip ation. The PTA intends to purchase
posters and banners for the events with internal funds.
2
Commissioner Daruwalla re- iterates Collins' need for four 4 - frame signs, approximately
$50-$75 per sign, to help control the school's parking lot during e times of the day or during
special events. They intend to submit a second, separate application for the frames.
Commissioner Lee has three points. First, the highest grant approved for an elementary school
to date is $399, so he believes that 1 1 000 per week is too high. commissioner Pow agrees,
stating that other schools have produced successful programs with far less funds. She would
prefer that Collins reprise the plan to target students that participate, typically only 0 %, She is
open to hear more reason i n g in support of a $2,009 request} but she suggests they submit an
application to provide funds for incentive prizes, banners, flyers, etc. and use PTA funds
instead to provide an item for every child if they wish,
Next, commissioner Lee requests a current accounting of how much remains in the fund.
Captain Neusei referenced a statement reporting that $41,090 remains, not including the recent
$390 grant approved for Lincoln Elementary. Third, Commissioner Lee thinks it is acceptable to
approve funds for the A- frames because it relates to safety issues. He would like the wording to
be consistent with other traffic signs, but Commissioner Daruwalia mentions that the wording
needs to stay flexible because Collins will use the signs for a variety of situations.
b. Lawson Middle School
ACTION: YES
VOTE, YES
POTION: Craig Lee SECONDED: Nina Darwaila 5 to
Commissioner Huang reports that Lawson has submitted two applications for $659 each,
and he obtained the Principal's signature in person to approve the proposed events and avoid
schedule conflicts like last year, Commissioner Luang is impressed that Lawson learned from
}' last year that it is better to host a WOW event in the winter because bike events get washed out
when parents hesitate to allow children to ride their bikes in the rain. Therefore, they will host a
VVO 11 event in the winter and a BOW event in the spring.
Commissioner Lee requests an accounting of how they produce participation numbers and haw
they intend to keep the numbers consistent through the year. Commissioner Nguyen offers that
students volunteer to stand and count participants as they arrive, and that this program can
only encourage behavior change but not enforce it throughout the gear.
c, ,aria Elementary School
ACTION: YES
VOTE: N
MOTION: N/A SECONDED: /A 9 to 9
Commissioner Huang attended the Faria PTA meeting last night, and all decision - makers were
there including the Principal, three staff members and clubs' representatives. He presented the
Alert SCC and WBC Programs. They appreciate that he acknowledges how Faria is unique, in
that their students travel too far to walk or bike so carpooling is the only possible improvement,
They express interest in creating a website to encourage and facilitate more carpooling, so they
can Menage it directly and validate participants for safety. They are aiso open to simple event
ideas like a pizza party or counting carpools for one week. Commissioner Huang emphasized
that they should apply for a grant before the next meeting on January 17, 2012 for budgeting
purposes.
Commissioner Huang also noted how successful the school's i=EF club is, based solely on
parent contributions, with a budget this year of $244,617,31 on top of PTA funds. Their
aggressive fund - raising focus has produced substantial results!
d. Hyde Middle School
ACTION: YES
VOTE, No
MOTION: N/A SECONDED: N/A o to 0
Commissioner Nguyen reports that Hyde is not interested again this year in the WBC Program.
He may approach them again after winter break because they are in a good focaticn for the
program to be a success. Commissioner Pow suggests he try contact through email.
e. Eaton Elementary School
ACTION: YE
VOTE: No
MOTION: N/A SECONDED: N/A o to 0
Commissioner Nguyen reports that he has tried to contact Eaton because they here not
submitted an application for a grant in over a year, but the office is uncommunicative,
Commissioner Daruwafla suggests he find names on the web site and talk to the PTA Chair to
get the appropriate contact information.
f. Sedgrik Elementary School
ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
MOTION: NIA SECONDED: N/A o to 0
Commissioner Lee reports that he left information for the Principal and new PTA leader, Joanne
Taylor. Ms. Taylor thought the Alert SCC Program was cancelled, so Commissioner Lee
verified that it is an active program and they should continue to encourage families to sign -up.
`+ g. RQ—gn rt School
.. ACTION: YES
VOTE: N o
MOTION: N/A SECONDED: N/A o to 0
Commissioner Lee reports that F egnart already has an active walking program with geed
participation, They resist participating in the wBC Program because they feel that incentives
are the wrong approach. The school is located in a safe area, but the bike transportation plan is
a concern as well as ensuring proper street markings and signae,
h. tevens Creek PTO
ACTION: YES
VOTE: No
MOTION: MIA SECONDED: N/A o to
Commissioner Pow confirms that she emailed information to a PTA representative who will
present the WBC Program details at their meeting tonight} since it is in direct time conflict with
this PSC meeting.
i, Kennedy Middle School
ACTION: YES
VOTE: N o
MOTION: NIA SECONDED: N/A o to 0
Commissioner Pow confirms that she did attend the Kennedy PTA meeting for October 2011.
. Lincoln Elementary School
ACTION: YES
VOTE: NO
4
MOTION: N/A SECONDED: NA o to 0
Commissioner Pow confirms that she did attend the Lincoln PTA meeting for October 2011.
She also confirms for Commissioner Lee that grant #16, for Lincoln Elementary School, is paid.
2. Boltage Program progress/updates (Nguyen)
ACTION* YES
VOTE: NO
MOT10N: N/A SECONDED: N/A 0 to
Commissioner Nguyen reviewed recent data for the Boltage Program, pointing out certain
variables such as `tags', and the fact that Lincoln saw a high number of registrants whose activity
remained steady through the year. commissioner Lee is concerned that the schools are very
rear each other and supposes that this may skew the data. Commissioner Nguyen insists that
there is useful data but he needs to learn how to better manipulate queries to refire the data and
make it more meaningful,
Commissioner Nguyen points out as an example that the number of registered children
decreased on this report, which he suspects is due to a problem with date parameters, He also
calls out one tag that appears to have made 205 trips in a 180 -day school year, which may
indicate extra trips on the weekend and need modification or exclusion, Another issue is that not
all distributed tags are then registered on the website to track mileage and accrue incentives, so
this data includes unregistered tags that record only the Number of trips, He intends to learn hove
Boltage calculates one mile and hove to include total numbers of trips on the data report.
Commissioner Lee suggested that if the data is refined, it right be useful during Survey Week or
during WOMBO V Weeks for the schools in the Boltage Program.
3. Report on Surveys to Schools (Lee /Nguyen)
ACTION: YES
VOTE, N
MOTION: N/A SECONDED, N/A 0 to 0
Commissioner Nguyen sifted through the survey bundles collected by the Santa Clara county
Sheriff's Office S O "s as delivered by Captain 1 eusel. Eaton Elementary, Faria Elementary,
Garden Gate Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, F egnart Elementary, Sedgwick Elementary,
Stevens Creek Elementary, and Hyde diddle Schools all completed surveys, The Commission is
surprised that there are no surveys from Kennedy Middle, Larson Middle or Collins Elementary
Schools. captain Neusel will double check with the SRO's to rake sure that all completed
surveys have been submitted.
5. Discuss use of.the Alert SCG Program (Huang)
ACTION: YES
VOTE NO
POTION: N/A SECONDED: N/A 0 to
Commissioner Huang reports that Cupertino currently has 3243 registered in the Alert SC
Program, which is 5.5% and well within the target of 3-6%. This places Cupertino in second place
for registration, behind the competitor Palo Alto that currently has 10.3% registration; although
Palo Alto has been collecting registrations two gears longer than Cupertino,
Commissioner Huang reviewed the findings covered at the October 13, 2011 meeting, including
the valuable feedback from the Teem commission about the PSc "s incentive plan and the fee
details in the new County contract with Alert S.
Commissioner Huang met with lick Kitson at the city meeting last night and learned that
Cupertino's previous alert system EverBridge is submitting a renegotiated propcsal that looks
favorable for Cupertino. The bid will cost 10,00 0 per year for 3-5 years with the fi1rst .six months
free while Cupertino re- acquaints itself with the system. The Ever ridge agreement would allow
Cupertino to have full control and unlimited use of the system, and has already proven to be user-
friendly in contrast to Alert Sic, Commissioner Huang points out that it is Important to have an
alert system that city officials will not hesitate to utilize due to contract ambiguity or bi ding
concerns.
Commissioner Huang confirms that per the user manual Tit is possible for Cupertino to extract the
information its residents have submitted to Alert SCC. This will give Cupertino a head start in
building a new database in a different alert system, It is also possible to engage services through
Ever ridge for informational purposes and remain in the Alert Scc system for County - declared
emergencies. The city of Campbell and the Torn of Los Altos Hills each use two systems
successfully; but captain Neusel highlights the need for caution in operating two different alert
systems concurrently, to avoid sending conflicting messages that may confuse residents in need
of clear instructions.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion of Cellular Newtork coverage in Cupertino and its effect on _Public Safety
Communications
Commissioner Pow reminded the Commission of the Nov 15 Council Study Session regarding
ATT's proposal to enter into a lease with the City. Cornmisioner Pow encouraged the
Commission to attend the study session to support the TICC. captain Neusel said he would
address the Council during the study session to highlight Public Safety concerns with the lack of
cell coverage in certain areas of Cupertino.
VIII. REPORTS
1. Santa Clara County Fire
Battalion Chief Daron Pisciotta provided the October report to the commission. He notes there
was a total fire ions of 11 00 for the month, due to a handful of private property fires including a
panel fire at HP, an RV fire in a parking garage and a kitchen fire, The response time is well
within the four minute guideline. Monthly inspections are ongoing, and public education events
tripled because October was Fire Prevention Month. Commissioner Lee asked for clarification of
the term 91 no incident found on arrival" and B.C. Pisciotta explained that Fire gets dispatched to a
lot of calf that turn out to be EMS related so this report terminology coven those miscellaneous
everts that did not truly require a Fire response, This time of year presents many seasonal issues
such as bird nests and excessive dust burring in fireplaces, just as the Spring presents a rise in
bicycle crashes on newly weathered trails.
2. Santa Clara County Sheriff's office
Captain Neusel summarized the statistical crime report for October.
3. Commission Deport
Commissioner Pow. No report.
Commissioner Daru all : Collins Elern person on PTA oont oted her for
Grant Application forms and WBC program details. Garden Gate plans
on doing a WBC week Jan/Feb 2012,
Commissioner Huang: Commissioner Huang attended the quarterly disaster council
meeting, and the highlights were the citywide drill in Oct w@s focused on the EOC operations and
communications with ARKs, Despite the increase in EOC staff, there were still insufficient
volunteers which only allowed half of the AR Ks to be opened during the drill,
Commissioner Lee; No report.
Commissioner Nguyen: No report.
IX. FUTURE AGENDA FOR NEXT REGULAR MEETING
1. Walk/Bike/Carpool to School Project, ongoing,
2. Boltage Program progress/updates
3. Report on Surrey to Schools
4. Discuss progress on participation in Alert SCC Program
X. ADJOURNMENT
The regular mooting was adjourned at 9 p.m.
X1. NEXT MEETING
. a.
The net regular meeting is schedule on Thursday, December 8, at 7:00 p.m.
SUBMITTED B Y:
Jennifer Roth
Administrative Assistant to Captain Carl Ne sei
November 16, 2011