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P&R 05-13-04 APPROVED PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CITY OF CUPERTINO REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004 1. CALL TO ORDER Chainnan Brown called the regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 7 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Jeanne Bradford, Rod Brown, Frank Jelinch, Roger Peng, Cary Chien None Therese Ambrosi Smith, Director; Roxanne Earnshaw, Recreation Coordinator; Josh Waldorph, Recreation Coordinator Commissioners absent: Staff present: 4. PRESENTATION A. Blackberry Farm Picnic Center and Golf Course - Coordinators Earnshaw and Waldorph reported on the Blackberry Farm Picnic Gronnds and Golf Course history, operations, catering and entertainment services, and site amenities: The park successfully rnns as an enterprise fund with an operation budget of $800,000, expenses at approximately $700,00, and a profit range of $50,000 to $150,000. Over the past 13 years, $1 million has been invested in improvements. The picnic gronnds are open seasonally, May through September, with the bulk of the season Jnne through August. During this time, reservations bring in over 50,000 customers and general admission brings in another 20,000 customers. The regional breakdown of visitors is: 29% San Jose, 12% San Francisco, 12% from Cupertino. Residents get a price break on season and day passes. The retreat center is a day-meeting space and holds the park's administrative offices. At this center, a full menu is available, as well as A V equipment. The golf course is a 9-hole, par-29 course that sits on 16 acres. Annually, 16,000 ronnds of golf are purchased. In conjnnction with Blackberry Farm Picnic Gronnds, golftournaments are frequently coordinated. Residents get a price break on the use Parks and Recreation Commission May 13, 2004 Page 2 of8 fees. The operating revenue for the golf course is $847,000 with expenses at $600,000, and a profit range of $200,000 to 300,000. Public Comments Deborah Jamison stated there is value in the wildlife habitat in Blackberry Farm. She reported on a bird census she recently participated in and that 24 bird species were fonndjust within the picnic gronnds. She is looking forward to the area being enriched with wildlife in the years to come. 4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - Regular meeting of April 1, 2004 A. Commissioner Chien reported the misspelling of his name in the minutes. ACTION: A motion was made, seconded and unanimously moved to accept the minutes with the changes as noted by Commissioner Chien. 5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Stevens Creek Corridor - potential Water District partnership: Director Smith reported on restoration and funding for restoration in the Stevens Creek Corridor. She reported that the Santa Clara Valley Water District staff is forwarding a proposal to their board on Jnne 15 to start to fonnalize a partnership with Cupertino. After the proposal goes to their board, it will come to the City Conncil. Smith spoke on a lawsuit brought against the Water District by a number of environmental groups for some water release practices and their effects on spawning fish. The FAHCE (Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Collaborative Effort) settlement had a number oftenns relative to the Stevens Creek Corridor and watershed; specifically, that reach of Stevens Creek between the reservoir and Highway 280, which encompasses the Blackberry Farm/McClellan Ranch area. The Creek has some of the worst barriers to fish passage in the system and there is a need for remediation of a small dam structure on Stevens Creek within Blackberry Farm. The settlement also outlines some other desirable outcomes including a pilot project, studies of the geomorphology and hydrology of the creek, and ding a stream-based restoration project for at least 2,000 feet of the creek. Smith said that between the District and the City, those 2,000 feet of Stevens Creek are available, and this was a real opportnnity for the District to try to implement this pilot project all on public land. Smith reported that the District is committed to financing 50 percent of the barrier removal portion of the project. The proposed geomorphology and Parks and Recreation Commission May 13, 2004 Page 3 of 8 hydrology project also fits into the City's goals, and the District has funding sources available to fund this study. Joint project goals include: Development of the master plan for the Corridor that incorporates a restoration plan A plan for phased implementation that would address funding A design that recognizes that construction impacts could invite invasive species and incorporates the management of that issue Looking for a design to maximize a sustainable ecosystem Integrate the restoration in the plan Plan for access management with appropriate routing of paths, points, overlooks, screenings Site-specific interpretive elements The District is also looking for credit for stream rehabilitation offsite because they have some maintenance projects that require offsite mitigation - this will be a negotiation point In development of a partnership, the following steps will be nndertaken: Initial evaluation of the site Agreement between City and District; their share in the restoration project and in-stream work at this phase is about $75,000 Develop a project plan and a two-year budget Complete environmental document Look at future financial resources Commission Comments Commissioner Bradford asked about the obligation of the settlement. Smith answered that there are three watersheds involved, and the part that affects Cupertino has to do with barrier removal for three structures. Fifty percent of the cost of that work to be provided by the District, the City would apply for grant funds for the other 50 percent, barriers will removed, and there will be a 2,000-foot demonstration restoration project within the watershed. Craig Breon gave further details on the settlement. Commissioner Jelinch commented that he thought the City was making a commitment of 50 percent because as the owner, they will be maintaining the area. Chainnan Brown asked about the schedule of the project. Smith answered that the District has already budgeted for barrier removal. Iftheir board is accepting of the agreement, we could probably move the agreement quickly, get our consultants ready to work on the project in late summer, in September or October have regular meetings about the master plan to get the project nailed down, and have an environmental review by spring 2005. Parks and Recreation Commission May 13, 2004 Page 4 of8 Chainnan Brown asked for more infonnation on grant funding. Smith stated that at this point, the following grants have been applied for: Urban Parks Act Grant and a Land and Water Conservation Grant. State goverrunental staff has been down to investigate the project, there is interest, but there is also stiff competition for funds. The state is looking a lot at project readiness, and we are not as ready as if we had an approved environmental document. Smith will be able to give a report on the success of these applications sometime in the fall. The Water District also has grant programs that we can tap into, but it's all a matter of getting project ready she stated. Public Comments Robert Levy asked if the Stevens and Pennanente Creeks planning group, organized by Mondy Lariz to come up with a plan to reduce pollution at the bay ITom the creeks, has had any input on the creek restoration. Smith answered that she was aware of this group and that Barbara Banfield, naturalist at McClellan Ranch, attends the meetings. Smith welcomes this group's participation in the master planning process. Craig Breon, Audubon Society, stated that the partnership is a great opportnnity for the Corridor because of the financial resources the Water District will be able to contribute. He reported that he is the chair of the Water District's environmental advisory committee, which helps to guide where Measure B funding goes to, which is to be partially used for trails and partially used for riparian and wetland restoration projects. Beyond the commitments that come out ofthe FAHCE process, the Water District has ongoing requirements to find additional mitigation sites for long tenn stream maintenance permit - a 10-year pennit to do maintenance of all the streams in Santa Clara Connty. He reported that there is a fair amonnt of money from state and federal sources for threatened and endangered species such as steelhead trout. He encouraged City and District staffto move the process forward. He would like the City to consider the stream from McClellan Road to Stevens Creek Boulevard in the master plan process be considered as one unit. Deborah Jamison stated that she is excited at the prospects of the agreement. She wanted the Commission to know that Western Pond Turtles have been seen in the creek, which she believes is a threatened species and another reason to obtain funds for restoration. She asked for clarification of what 2,000 feet was. Smith answered that the intent is to look at the whole Corridor, so she's nnsure what they measured when the District went out and measure out 2,000 feet. But the agreement says they will pay for 2,000 feet, and does not limit the restoration to just that space. Parks and Recreation Commission May 13,2004 Page 5 of 8 The restoration in the master plan would include the whole length of the creek from McClellan to Stevens Creek Blvd. The District staffis looking to do a red-legged frog study in May, which is why the CEQA review was pushed out so far, so that they had that May window for the study. Director Smith stated that this report was for their infonnation and that the City Conncil will get the same infonnation on May 17. If it becomes an action item, it is expected to be on the Commission's July agenda. Chainnan Brown stated that the Commission is generally supportive of this agreement. B. Commission calendar update: Director Smith reviewed the "Upcoming Events" calendar and asked for consideration to cancel the Jnne 3 meeting, and move the July 1 meeting to July 8. ACTION: A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously moved to accept the revised Upcoming Events, Meetings through October 2004. 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Recommend a name for the "City Center Park" to City Conncil: Director Smith reported that City Conncil has asked that the commission hold a public hearing on naming what has been heretofore referred to as City Center Park at the corner of Stevens Creek and De Anza Boulevards to Cali Mill Plaza. Commission Comments Commissioner Peng asked to know more about the contribution of the Cali Mill to the community. Smith reported that the Cali family operated a feed store and grainery on the plaza's site since the 1920's and it was the first million-dollar business in Cupertino - that was the center of Cupertino, it was the crossroads. Cupertino was an agriculture area and they were the center of the agriculture commerce for the valley. The site was sold in the 1980's. The Cali Mill building was a landmark. For these reasons, it was suggested as a name for the plaza. Commissioner Jelinch noted that the Historic Society recommended not using the word mill and asked what the reason why. Smith answered that she believes they were looking at recognizing the family and were not aware of the City's naming policy. Cali Mill Plaza fits the City's guidelines. Commissioner Chien asked if there were any plans for a marker on the site ifthey choose the Cali Mill Plaza name. Smith answered that there are Parks and Recreation Commission May 13, 2004 Page 6 of8 plans to put acrylic-etched panels on the shade structure, which will reflect certain historic themes. The city architect is working with the Historic Society on what those will depict, and one of them is the mill. Commissioner Chien pointed out that the Historic Society has a great book out that goes back to the beginning of time for Cupertino. He encouraged people to contact the Historic Society to get a copy. Public Comments - none A motion was made, and seconded to accept the name Cali Mill Plaza. Commission Comments: Commissioner Bradford stated that she was surprised by the lack of public input and would have preferred more of a reach-out effort involving the commnnity in the naming process. Chainnan Brown stated that there will be plenty of opportnnity for the public to comment on the name and the process at the City Conncil meeting. Commissioner Peng wanted to confinn that Cali Mill Plaza was more in line with the City's naming policy. Director Smith stated that was correct. She reported that the naming policy has very specific requirements for people as opposed to historical sites. When City Conncil was soliciting donors for the library, it became a very contentious issue about how people's names get attached to public places, and it is something they are not going to do regularly in tenus of naming places after people. Instead, they would like to see things named after historical events, and that's why the suggested name was for a mill then after the family. ACTION: The motion to accept and recommend to City Council the name Cali Mill Plaza passed with: 3 Ayes, 1 No, and 1 Abstention. In clarification, Commissioner Bradford stated that her no vote was not an opposition to the name, but to the lack of public comment at the meeting. 8. MISCELLANEOUS - NO ACTION REQUIRED A. Staff Oral Reports: a. Applications for California Cities Helen Putnam A ward for Excellence - Director Smith stated that the city manager and mayor nominated these efforts for awards and she was bringing them to the Commission's attention, as they had been involved in both the visioning process for the Stevens Creek Corridor Master Plan project and the testing of the Balance or Bust board game. Parks and Recreation Commission May 13, 2004 Page 7 of8 B. b. Grant application updates -were already discussed under item 6.A. Budget update - there will be a City Council study session to review the Parks and Recreation budget on Monday, May 17, 5 p.m. This year the department's budget is projected at $7.6 million budget with $5.4 million in revenue through fees, and supported by the General Fnnd by $2.2 million. She invited their attendance to this meeting. The Fourth of July program will be in the Jnne edition of the Cupertino Scene. The fireworks will be lannched from Cupertino High School with viewing from Creekside Park, and Sedgwick and Hyde Schools with limited entertainment at each of these sites. Parking will be available at Vallco and there will be street closures aronnd Cupertino High School. c. d. Commissioner contacts and comments: a. Commissioner Bradford reported that she had attended the Portal Park opening, the parked looked amazing; she thanked City staff for doing a great job. b. Commissioner Chien mentioned an article in the San Jose Mercury, for the three-day 24th Annual American Indian Arts, Market and Powwow at De Anza College. Commissioner Jelinch commented that on May 22 and 23, the State Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners would be meeting at the Senior Center. He welcomed everyone to come and join in. There will be tour of the Senior Center, the Quinlan Center, and the Sports Center. The board members represent other commissions throughout California. Chainnan Brown reported that he had attended both park openings and he and his family enjoyed them. He has seen a lot of discussion in the media recently about Cricket in the area and he believes that it's great that our Parks and Recreation organization is being a vanguard in this arena. Commissioner Peng reported that he and Chainnan Brown attended the Cherry Blossom festival at Memorial Park. c. d. e. Parks and Recreation Commission May 13, 2004 Page 8 of8 9. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Brown adjourned the meeting. Respectfully submitted ~ 17M; -,~;;1; -' Mar e Preston, AdmmlstratJve Secretary Minutes approved at the July 8, 2004, regular adjourned meeting. Televised Council meetings may be viewed live on Cable Channel 26, and may also be viewed live or on demand at www.cuvertino.orl!. Videotapes o/the televised meetings are available at the Cupertino Library, or may be purchasedfrom the Cupertino City Channel, 777-2364.