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BPC 07-21-04 -. CUPEI\TINO MINUTES OF THE BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION JULY 21, 2004 REGNART CREEK WALKTHROUGH 1. ASSEMBLING OF COMMISSIONERS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPANTS The meeting assembled at City Hall adjacent to the parking lot at 6:30 P.M. All commissioners except Commissioner Fu were present. Representatives of the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), over whose property the trail would run, were present. City Staff was also present. Once a sufficiently large group of public attendees had gathered and it appeared that all who were coming had arrived, the assembled group entered the Regnart Creek path at the Rodrigues Avenue gate and moved north toward Blaney Avenue. 2. DISCUSSION OF TRAIL CONCEPT AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS The commissioners discussed the trail concept with groups of attendees while walking along the proposed trail route. The attendees replied with their concerns about a public trail along the creek behind private homes. Discussion ensued, including the following comments. Commissioner Walton suggested that a feasibility study for the Regnart Creek trail might be a good way of proceeding. He pointed out that the Mary Avenue Bridge project had been well served by starting with a feasibility study. Fari Aberg, a 16-year resident of Cupertino, noted that there has been a history of vandalism along the path route. She also pointed out that even with the existing SCVWD gates, children would sometimes go into the culvert under Blaney Avenue. This is a concern particularly when water levels in the creek are rising and the current gets going in the winter. Commissioner Paulsen said that consideration could be given to making the trail a seasonal use facility. Robin, a longtime neighborhood resident, asserted that the development in the area will increase the traffic on Blaney, causing a potential safety concern for a connection from the north end of the presently proposed trail to Creekside Park. She said that trails are great in the right setting, but that a trail does not belong in the proposed location. Amit Mathur, a Campo de Lozano resident, indicating the small area between the Campo de Lozano homes and the edge of the proposed trail, said there needs to be more of a setback of the trail from the homes if privacy is not to be lost. He also echoed the security concerns of others. Mike Crawford, a Cupertino resident, wondered if devoting funds to a Regnart Creek trail would be worthwhile, because he did not feel that a trail in the proposed location would be used that much. He agreed with Amit Mathur that privacy of the homes adjacent to the trail Pagelof5 would be a concern. He especially noted the low, open fence behind the creekside units of Campo de Lozano, which presumably was required by the City. It was suggested by some in the group that a high hedge might be an option. One of the public attendees suggested that the assembled group be polled to see who opposed a trail along the proposed route at this point in time. By a raising of hands, it was found that 22 of the 28 public attendees present were opposed to the trail in the proposed location. ....... ......... ....... ...... REGULAR MEETING 1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 7:37 P.M. by Chair David Greenstein. 2. ROLL CALL Bicvcle Pedestrian Commissioners: Koski Staff: Absent: Joe Walton, Geoffrey Paulsen, David Greenstein, May Glenn Goepfert Hua Julia Fu 3. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None 4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES June minutes were approved 6. OLD BUSINESS A. Regnart Creek Trail Commissioner Greenstein thanked all who attended the walkthrough. He expressed his feeling that the turnout was gratifying and the discussion very good and useful. Commissioner Koski also felt that the walkthrough and discussion had been very useful. She noted that safety and liability concerns seemed to be the most prominent issues raised. Commissioner Paulsen said he thought that the walkthrough was part of a good process for getting public input and the salient issues on the table. He also proposed that formation of a Regnart Creek task force be considered as a way of moving the process forward. He echoed Commissioner Walton's suggestion that a feasibility study could be an important step to take in the process. Reacting to an earlier comment about who decides whether a Regnart Creek trail would eventually be approved as a project, Commissioner Paulsen pointed out that the City Council would decide, based upon public input. He also asserted that he would be interested in the Commission receiving crime report information for the area ofthe proposed trail. Page 2 of 5 Commissioner Walton thanked the public attendees for coming tonight, and opined that the discussion underlined for him that the possibility of a Regnart Creek trail presented both an opportunity and a challenge. Indeed, there lies ahead a tremendous amount of work. If the concerns of the neighborhood about a trail cannot be mitigated, then there would be no project. He recited a parallel example of the Mary A venue Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge, which is now in design. There were great concerns on the part of the neighbors to the project, but through a public participation process and through a vehicle of a feasibility study, ways were eventually found to successfully mitigate the concerns of the neighbors. A feasibility study might be the way to go with the present proposed trail project. Commissioner Greenstein expressed his pleasure with the volume of good input from the walkthrough, especially from the creekside residents. He agreed that there is a lot of work ahead and a lot of money potentially involved if there is to be any hope of mitigating the concerns of the neighborhood. He echoed Commissioner Walton on the Mary Avenue Bridge project process, saying the discussion of it started with lots of issues. A task force for the present project should include stakeholders, residents, SCVWD, fire, police, etc., to work out issues of safety, security, and privacy, among others. Commissioner Walton reiterated his call for the formation of a task force consisting largely of neighbors of the proposed project, and a feasibility study. He also proposed that the Commission consider going to the City Council with a recommendation that a feasibility study comprise the first phase ofthe Regnart Creek Trail project when funding becomes available. He and Commissioner Paulsen worked out the wording for a motion on an interim report to Council regarding the public feedback received on the Regnart Creek Trail project, which would include a recommendation that a task force be formed and a feasibility study comprise the first phase of the Regnart Creek Trail project when funding becomes available. ACTION: A minute order based on a motion that an interim Commission report to Council be delivered regarding the public feedback received thus far on the Regnart Creek Trail project, together with the recommendations that a (a) task force be formed and (b) a feasibility study comprise the first phase of the Regnart Creek Trail project when funding becomes available, was approved by the Commission by a 4-0 vote. There were nine speakers on the subject, including: Dave Fishback, a police officer, who expressed concerns about safety and security. He would like to part of a task force. Peggi Jewett, who noted that 22 of the 28 attendees of the walkthrough were opposed to the trail. She would like to be part of the task force. Fari Aberg, who echoed the security and safety concerns the others expressed. Page3 of5 Jennylea Sepulveda, who asked if the City Council will really listen to the local residents when considering whether to pursue the project. She also noted that the SCVWD needs to do more to maintain the creek. She would like to be part of the task force. Amit Mathur, who repeated his concerns about security. He thought that Cupertino has enough parks, so why even spend money on a feasibility study? Robin, who asked if the City will really listen to the citizens who say they don't want the trail. She said there's no way to stop the crime that will ensue if a trail is installed, and the neighborhood won't be a quiet neighborhood anymore if a trail is instituted. Emily Wong, a resident of Campo de Lozano, who noted that her house is very close to the proposed trail. She was concerned with the potential loss of privacy if a continuous trail were to be approved. She said she has already encountered strangers coming to the trail segment behind Campo de Lozano by the access from Rodrigues A venue. She said that the properties along the creek would be devalued if a public trail were installed. Furthermore, she asserted that all eight families now living in the Campo de Lozano development felt the same as she. Gáry Wong, husband of Emily, who said he worries about the safety of children playing in the yard adjacent to the trail. He said the children will not feel safe to play there if the trail goes in. Julia Miyakawe, who lived on Farallone Drive even before the SCVWD fence was installed along the creek, repeated the general concern over security. The commissioners responded: Commissioner Walton said there will have to be an acceptable solution to each issued raised. Commissioner Paulsen put forth that there is, of course, the possibility that the project will never happen if the issues are insurmountable. Commissioner Koski offered that she appreciated the comments. She noted that she lives along another reach of the creek. She wondered if mosquito breeding was a problem or potential health concern with the creek. Maybe, she thought aloud, there are other stretches of the creek that will prove to be better candidates for a trail. Commissioner Greenstein posed the rhetorical question "Why are we doing this?" Others, he guessed, will say why not do it? As a commission, we need to go through the process of examining the appropriateness of a trail in this location, taking the public at large into consideration. Maybe the problems uncovered will be insurmountable. In any case, it's clear that it's going to be a long process. But ultimately it's right to proceed. The commissioners agreed that it would be appropriate to have in hand pertinent crime and fire statistics. Page4ofS 7. NEW BUSINESS School Surveys - Walking School- continue to a subsequent meeting 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Regnart Report Street Smarts Walk to School Day - October 6 9. ADJOUNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 P.M. ~~c . 'I dPd .c .', G enn Goep ert, Sta la1S0n to t e upertmo B1CYC e an e estnan ommlSSlOn Page 5 of 5