P&R 03-04-2021
CITY OF CUPERTINO
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Teleconference Meeting
Thursday, March 4, 2021
7:00 PM
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Stanek called the meeting to order at 7:02p.m. via remote teleconference.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners present: Carol Stanek, Xiangchen Xu, Gopal Kumarappan (exited the
meeting at 9:30 p.m.), Neesha Tambe, Sashikala Begur
Commissioners absent: None
Staff present: Joanne Magrini, Whitney Zeller, Rachelle Sander
CEREMONIAL MATTERS AND PRESENTATIONS
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Subject: Meeting Minutes for the February 24, 2021 Parks and Recreation
Commission Special Meeting.
Recommended Action: Review and approve the minutes for the February 24, 2021 Parks
and Recreation Commission special meeting.
Commissioner Tambe recommended to amend the minutes to include under Staff and
Commission Reports that Commissioner Tambe noted the office hours are important
and should be continuing.
Commissioner Tambe motioned to approve the minutes with the amendment. Vice
Chair Xu seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously with five votes yes.
POSTPONEMENTS
None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
2. Subject: Review Fiscal Year 2021-22 Community Funding Grant Applications and
Presentation on the Commissioner Evaluation Process.
Recommended Action: Review Fiscal Year 2021-22 Community Funding Grant
applications and receive a presentation on the commissioner evaluation process in the
new Community Funding portal.
Commissioner Kumarappan noted that he is a member of the Library Foundation Board
and recused himself from the item.
Commissioner Tambe noted that she was a past participant in the Asian Pacific
American Leadership Institute program.
Recreation Supervisor, Rachelle Sander, provided a brief overview of the 17
applications received.
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Valkyrie Robotics
Marcus Plutowski and Ashwin Rajesh of Valkyrie Robotics presented information on
their funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Tian Hong Foundation
Susan Shi of Tian Hong Foundation presented information on their funding request to
the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Discovery Counseling Center
Cupertino
Stanley Kuo of Discovery Counseling Center Cupertino presented information on their
funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Tzu Chi Medical Foundation
Chin Hsin Wong of Tzu Chi Medical Foundation presented information on their
funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Dhwani Academy of Percussion
Music
Abhijit Banerjee of Dhwani Academy of Percussion Music presented information on
their funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Kalashree Foundation Inc.
Kiran of Kalashree Foundation Inc. presented information on their funding request to
the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Monta Vista High School Speech
Boosters
Raji Mahalingam of Monta Vista High School Speech Boosters presented information on
their funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Cupertino Library Foundation
Seetha Lakshmi of Cupertino Library Foundation presented information on their
funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Asian Pacific American Leadership
Institute
Michael Chang of Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute presented information
on their funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Curriki
The Commission took a recess from 8:44 p.m. to 8:50 p.m.
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Friends of Deer Hollow Farm
Lauren Merriman of Friends of Deer Hollow Farm presented information on their
funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Santa Clara Valley Audubon
Society
Matthew Dodder of Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society presented information on their
funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from West Valley Community Services
Sujatha Venkatraman of West Valley Community Services presented information on
their funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Chinese American Coalition for
Compassionate Care
Jeanne Wun of Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care presented
information on their funding request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Rotary Club of Cupertino
Orrin Mahoney of Rotary Club of Cupertino presented information on their funding
request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Commissioner Kumarappan exited the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
Staff reviewed the community funding request from Euphrat Museum of Art
Diana Argabrite of Euphrat Museum of Art presented information on their funding
request to the Commission
Commissioners asked clarifying questions
Administrative Assistant, Whitney Zeller, reviewed the evaluation process for the
Community Funding Grant applications and noted that the Commissioners would use
the provided form to individually evaluate each application. Evaluation forms will be
brought to the April 1 meeting where Commissioners will share their rankings to be
compiled by staff, and the Commission will provide their funding recommendation to
City Council.
Commissioner Tambe suggested if possible, to split the agenda item to allow staff time
to aggregate the data.
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS
3. Subject: Monthly Update Reports.
Recommended Action: Receive monthly update reports from the Director of Parks and
Recreation and Commissioners.
Parks and Recreation Director, Joanne Magrini, provided the Director’s update.
Commissioner Tambe commented on the staff who received the California Parks and
Recreation Society awards and was happy they were able to be recognized. She shared
that the Commission had made the recommendation to City Council that the Rancho
Rinconada Recreation and Park District be incorporated into the City, she attended the
March 2 City Council meeting where they discussed the item and that City Council did
not go with the Commission’s recommendation and proceeded with a third option that
the Commission was not presented with. She added that the Commission had asked to
review the presentation to be made to City Council, which was not brought to the
Commission.
Director Magrini responded that timing did not allow for the presentation to be brought
to the Commission prior to going to Council, that the option to wait for further
community outreach that was selected by Council was brought to the Commission in
October and was recommended by staff, and that Commissioners Stanek and Tambe
were in attendance to provide additional information to City Council on the item.
Commissioner Tambe noted that she would like information to be communicated
factually to the community regarding the Rancho Rinconada item and does not want
them to be misinformed.
Chair Stanek shared that she attended the March 2 City Council meeting where they
discussed Rancho Rinconada. She noted that she commented on the presentation and
the recommendation and was able to provide Council with additional information
surrounding the item.
Commissioner Tambe shared that the Cupertino Teen Commission finished their essay
contest and the winners selected were Victoria Hunt with her essay on sustainability
and the runner up was Emma Koch with her essay on a proposed tutoring program.
COMMISSIONER ATTENDANCE AT UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
4. Subject: Commission Ongoing Items and Future Agenda Items.
Recommended Action: Review and provide feedback on Commission ongoing items
and future agenda items.
The Commissioners discussed upcoming meetings, including a Special meeting on March
24 at 6 p.m. which is anticipated to include finalization of the park amenity
improvements, a quarterly update on work program and ongoing items, and Dog Off
Leash Area recommended sites. The Jollyman inclusive playground has been delayed to
April.
Commissioner Tambe moved to add a future agenda item to review the potential
addition of a second regular Parks and Recreation Commission meeting and
subsequently adjusting the Municipal Code. Commissioner Stanek seconded the motion
for it to be added as a future agenda item, schedule to be determined.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Stanek adjourned the meeting at 10:17 p.m. to the March 24, 2021 special meeting
at 6 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Whitney Zeller, Administrative Assistant
Parks & Recreation Department
Minutes approved at the March 24, 2021 special meeting