PSC 12-09-04
CITY OF
CUPEIQ1NO
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CUPERTINO
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
December 9, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLLCALL
Commissioners Present:
Commissioners Absent:
Staff Present:
Charles Caldwell, Hugh Riddell, Barry Chang, Nolan Chen
Jay Cena
Glenn Goepfert, Assistant Director of Public Works
Visitor:
David Greenstein, Chair of the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None.
REPORTS
Santa Clara County Fire Denartment
Brad Darbro, the newly assigned Battalion 7 chief, informed the Commission that there have
been several retirements recently and the Department is planning an academy to fill vacancies.
A new haz-mat rig, which cost over $400,000, has been acquired for use at the Seven Springs
station. The Department is expects to receive Homeland Security grants to purchase an air-light
unit, which will be specialized in air-bottle filling at fires and also contains a generator system to
create a lighting system to brighten up a nighttime fire scene to daytime levels. Three of these
units are coming to Santa Clara County; one will be in Cupertino and the others will be placed in
the cities of Santa Clara and Mountain View. If any commissioners are interested in seeing the
new unit, Chief Darbro offered to set up a tour or bring the unit to the next meeting. Reports and
statistics for the month of October were distributed; November is still being compiled. October
was an active month in terms of fires. The largest fire occurred at the Valley Green Apartments
on October 22 due to kitchen grease and a lighting fixture; there was about $300,000 damage to
the structure and $80,000 to the contents. There were also single-family structures damaged by
fire on Miller Avenue, Ann Arbor, and North Wolfe Road. A fire that occurred at the pump
house at the DACA swim and racquet club is still under investigation.
Santa Clara County Sheriff
Captain Hirokawa was unavailable, but the November statistical report was distributed to the
Commission.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The June 10 regular meeting minutes were approved as submitted. The September 9 and
November 18 regular meeting minutes were not approved as a quorum of those present for the
meetings were not in attendance.
OLD BUSINESS
I. Monta Vista High Traffic Task Force
Organization and agenda, composition, number of meetings, meeting dates-Letters signed
by the Chairs of the Public Safety and Bicycle Pedestrian Commissions were sent to the
principals of Monta Vista High, Kennedy Middle, and Lincoln Elementary schools. The
letters requested that the principals either attend a meeting or provide input to address
traffic safety problems around the schools.
Bryan Emmert, Assistant Principal, Monta Vista High School, stated that this is also a
concern for the school. They can patrol the parking lots, but there are limited measures
they can take in the street. The District is interested in what can be done by the City.
The new principal has been working with the neighbors to alleviate problems around the
school; articles are included in the bulletin and announcements are made over the
loudspeaker to remind parents to be conscientious and polite when picking up and
dropping off their children. Mr. Emmert has also talked to Lincoln and Kennedy officials
about bicycle safety. Commissioner Chang asked Asst. Principal of Monta Vista High,
Bryan Emmert, to consider improvements, including covering of the bicycle storage
facilities and increasing the size. In response to a question from Asst. Director Goepfert
as to whether the school would have interest in Street Smarts presentations, Mr. Emmert
stated there is interest in the program.
Discussion followed regarding solutions for alleviating traffic around the schools and
how to get information out to students and parents. It was agreed that the next step is to
contact the schools' Parent Teacher Associations. Commissioners agreed that each of
them would select a school and attend that school's January PTA meeting. The
commissioner will extend an invitation for a PT A representative to attend the
Commission's February 10 meeting, along with a representative from each school's
administration. The selections were as follows: Comm. Riddell will attend the Monta·
Vista High School PTA meeting, Comm. Caldwell will attend the Kennedy Junior High
meeting, and Comm. Chang will attend the Lincoln Elementary School meeting. Comm.
Chen will re-send letters to each of the principals inviting them to the Commission's
February meeting.
2. General Plan Public Hearings - Set Date for Public Safety Commission Attendance
Asst. Director Goepfert reviewed information from the previous meeting regarding
suggested dates for the Commission to attend a hearing for the Environmental Resources,
Health and Safety Elements. An item will be placed on the January 13 meeting to discuss
this issue. Commissioners will review the elements and discuss setting a date to attend
the hearings. Asst. Director Goepfert will invite City Planner Wordell to attend the
meeting to answer any questions.
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In response to a point raised regarding deleted portions of the Environmental Resources,
Health and Safety elements, Chair Greenstein stated that when the Bicycle Pedestrian
Commission had issues regarding General Plan elements, they appeared before the
governing body and formally listed points of contention and requested these points be
reinstated.
NEW BUSINESS - None.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
At the January 13 meeting, the Commission will select a date to attend the Planning Commission
public hearings to discus the General Plan Environmental Resources, Health and Safety
Elements.
The Commission will meet with the Monta Vista schools PTA and school officials in February to
discuss traffic congestion.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
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Carol Shepherd v
Administrative Assistant