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P&R 01-05-06 APPROVED P ARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CITY OF CUPERTINO REGULAR MEETING THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2006 1. CALL TO ORDER Chainnan Jelinch called the regular meeting ofthe Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 7 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Jeanne Bradford, Roger Peng, Rod Brown, Frank J elinch, Cary Chien Therese Ambrosi Smith, Director; Mike O'Dowd, Supervisor, Blackberry Fann; Marie Miller, Administrative Assistant Jana Sokale, Environmental Planner Commissioners absent: Staff present: Others present: 4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING A. Regular meeting of December I, 2005 ACTION: The minutes of December 1, 2005, were accepted as written. 5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Stevens Creek Corridor Park - receive presentation of the park plan: Director Smith unveiled the Stevens Creek Corridor Park plan, which includes the re- alignment of Stevens Creek. She reported that the City Council would receive the same infonnation at a special study session on January 17. The Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Collaborative Effort (FAHCE) group will receive the report on January 24. She went further to report that the environmental document (CEQA) will be released in February. This is when the public review will start, and at that time, interested pat1ies, neighbors, agencies and grantors will be notified that the document is ready for review. This review period is 30 days. Public comment is officially collected during that time and then responded to. The Planning Commission will take public comment during a regularly scheduled meeting. Parks and Recreation Commission January 5, 2006 Page 2 of 5 A PowerPoint was shown; its highlights were: · Most significant aspect of the Stevens Creek Corridor Park Plan is re- alignment of Stevens Creek to remove barriers to fish passage and reclaim a more natural alignment. Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) stafr, biologists, hydrologists and geomorphologists have been working to identify the alignment that best achieves the project objectives. · Landscape architect worked with staff to create a community park around an existing business (Blackberry Fann Picnic Grounds), locating pennanent structures out of flood plain, retaining as many trees as possible, and addressing resident concerns. · City Council actions to date have been incorporated into the plan: reducing picnic ground capacity, extend trail from Stevens Creek Blvd. through McClellan Ranch to McClellan Road, and close access from Scenic Circle. · Staff has partnered with SCVWD so that flood control and habitat goals are addressed. · Park will be constructed in three phases. First phase to include park upgrades, trail, creek restoration and barrier removal, 4-H area improved, first phase environmental classroom construction. The second phase will Jikely include more creek restoration in the Horseshoe Bend area. The third phase will extend the park and trail through Stocklmeir property. · Phase one elements (2007 construction) will be: reducing parking to resized picnic facility to 372 spaces, creek re-alignment, entry kiosk, pool/snack area reconfigured, trail, environmcntal classroom. · Funding from grants and city funds are in place to: relocate the maintenancc fàcility, redo the picnic area, remove the barriers to fish passage, construct the first phase of the environmental classroom, enhance native plantings, reconfigure 4-H Club area and community garden, and construct thc traiÎ from McClellan Ranch to Blackberry Fann. · City Council will get review in a study session on January 17, the F AHCE Committee will receive infonnation on January 24, environmental document will be released to the public in February ~ all interested parties will be notified. · Once the environmental review has been completed and pennits will be given, and a cal1 for bids for construction will begin. Commission Comments Commissioners commended staff and consultants on their fine work. Commissioner Bradiord volunteered to attend the City Council study session to provide any historical perspectives that may be needed. Commissioncr Pcng asked what is the expected completion date of the project. Dirt:Ctor Smith rcponed that the plan, at this time, is that at the end of Blackberry's 2006 season (end ofS'~ptember) the park will be closed down for Parks and Recreation Commission January 5, 2006 Page 3 of 5 a year. Construcfion will be done from spring to fàll 2007, and reopen the park in 2008. She also reported that there is chance that this work could begin as early as the coming fa]] with the maintenance building and rest room upgrades through winter. This could allow an abbreviated 2007 season (approximately six weeks) at Blackberry Fann. Then when the stream is at low flow, start the stream work. Whcn the permits arc handed out, there will be a defined window of time ()r In-stream work, which has to do with fish migration and stream now; but the construction schedule would have to be tightly scheduled to do thc work in this manner. 7. MISCELLANEOUS - NO ACTION REQUIRED A. Written Communications: a. Commissioner Bradford discussed emails about dogs in McClellan Ranch and that a "no bicycle" sign was down. Supervisor O'Dowd statcd that he was aware that the sign was vandalized and is being replaced hy the Public Works Departments and it should be up in the next wçck or two. Another sign is being made for the Blackberry Farrn entrance, Commissioner Bradford asked about the monitoring of dogs offleash. Director Smith reported that this problem exists at all the parks. There are leash ìaws, but without a police presence, it is difficult to manage. Commiss.oúe¡ Bradfè,rd says she sees a benefit of having monitoring protocols II, p]ace when the park re-opens. Director Smith discussed ¡he possibay of som: typc of ranger program that is being reviewed. B. Staff Oral Reports: a. rhere is a new tenant for the Cupertino sports Center swimming pool - Calitornia Dolphin Swim School. They are making code lInprovements, as well as provide a new cover to the pool facility. They are planning construction to begin March 7, 2006. DACA has been given a 90-day notice, which is required prior to making any 1111pl'OVen¡CÚls. h. Fourth of.r lily plans will begin in about a month. C. Commissjorwr (',Jmmunity Contacts a. 'é:ommisslOncr Bradford thanked Chainnan Jelinch for his distinguishec1, l2-year public service career in both the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Fine Arts Commission. Chainnan Jelinch stated that he wouid be continuing his public service in support of parks in other forums. b. DirecLJr Smith asked the Commission if they had been contacted regarding the California Cricket Academy. Commissions answered ¡hat they 11<1:: no:. Director Smith reported that the organization is intercstcü in the Tolls Brothers park parcel, down by Vallco. People Parks and Recreation Commission January 5, 2006 Page4of5 are organizing to have that land dedicated as a cricket fàcility. In February, thcrc may be a presentation by this organization 5. ORAL COMMU\IlCA TIONS Commissioner Bradford asked someone in the audience ifthey were here for Oral Communications as ,he had noticed he arrived just after Oral Communications closed. ChailTnan Jelineh agreed to let him speak under this category. Kent Squarcia, Athletic Director, St. Joseph of Cupertino School, spoke on a possible oversight in the Field Use Policy. He stated that he knew a lot of work went into the policy and that he was a part of its development. He would like the Commission to take another look at the policy, as it relates to St. Josephs and possibly amend the policy. He stated that the school is in the city limits, has 306 students; majority of which are Cupertino residents. They have a small and ever changing sports p¡ogram. Some seasons 100 percent are Cupertino residents and in other scasons less than 50 percent. He believes the school falls into a muddled category bccause of mix in participation levels. This policy makes it tough for them to allocate funds f()r field use. The school's field is too small for many activities. Their varsIty soccer and tlag football teams use the Library Field. Total use of the Library Field was 12 days; but because the participation was below 50 percent, Parks and Re-:æation was fi)l'ced to charge them at a Priority 6 level, which was S 1,800. This amount is just about the full budget for the entire school year. The school wm, surprised when they got the bill. He admitted to not understanding how the &chool was viewed and discussed this problem with Director Smith and otha staff. He noted that in the F:.e1d Policy (first page, last purpose), its states that it is to adopt a jjeld schedule that rewards volunteerism and community involvement. He stated that that purpose is what St. Josephs is all about. He also pointed out, on page 4, how Cupntmo residency is calculated, that the policy states that a lot of the organizatiüns u:;;ng (he flClds arc from outside the Cupertino community have youth that are di:ipersed from other communities, and that the fee schedule is eonstructed so thcy can pm1icipate in our community fields and other communitIes. He believes that the policy does not take into account entities such as St. Josephs, who are all about the Cupertino community, even though they have students not fÌ'om Cupertino. Thcy are the only private school that resides in Cupertino; all the other schools a¡e public schools that have their own sports fields. He stated [hat many St. Joseph students are at a disadvantage because their field does not allow home games .- any1hing ovcr the 4th grade has to be done at St. Francis. He asked the Commission to consIder making St. Josephs higher than a Priority 6 in eligibility. Parks and Recreation Commission January 5, 2006 Page 5 of5 Director Smith told the Commission that the policy is based on the residency of participants, not the location of the organization. She does not believe that this is an issue that will be easy to resolve. If the Commission would like staff to come back for another review, they can do it. She is not sure that St. Josephs is unique; any organization could come into town with a Cupertino PO box and make the same claim. When the policy was drafted, it was the intent to get away from thosc situations. Chainnan Jelinch stated that if the Commission wants to take another look at the policy, he would be interested in knowing how this change would affect other groups, such as if the definition of residency to include some kind of an exception dealing with the location of a facility, rather than the residency of the participants. He would want to know what groups would be affected by that and what the consequences would be if an exception were added. He asked if thcre was anything in the policy a1lowing an exception. Director Smith answered that the policy does not allow for an exception. Any change to the policy would require City Council approval. Director Smith asked Mr. Squarcia if there was anything in the school charter that precludes them from charging a user/activity fee for those students outside of Cupertino that could makc up the diffcrence. Mr. Squarcia said they could do that. He pointed out that the school pays for the fields, not the students - though indirectly thcy do via tuition. He stated that tuition barely covers the salaries of teachers and staff. The situation poses the possibility of a declining participation level at thc school. He believes the idea behind the policy is a good one as it helps to defer costs for field upkeep, governs the use of the fields by non-Cupertino people, and he SUpp011s it. But he is concerned that the impact of the policy will negatively affect St. Joseph studeüt's participation. Director Smith said a review of the policy and how it affects others could be done for the next meeting. 8. ADJOURNMENT Chainnan Jelinch adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. Respectfu1ly submitted, ~~ Marie Miller, Administrative Assistant Minutes approved at the February 2, 2006, meeting.