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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP&R 11-05-1992 Minutes CITY OF CUPERTINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA PRC #13 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014 Unapprov Telephone (408) 252-4505 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION November 5 1992 Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER 1. Regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission called fo or at 7:04 p.m. Call to Order SALUTE TO THE FLAG 2. Flag Salute ROLL CALL 3. Commissioners present: Hopkins, Lohmiller, Quinlan, Hendrickson, Colman, Throne, Roll Call Condon Commissioners absent: None Staff present: Stephen G. Dowling, Director Linda M. Lagergren, Recording Secretary INTRODUCTIONS 4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Resident 5. Resident Deborah Jamison stated, "I wanted to ask about a concern I've had for a number of Deborah years and it has to do with the plot of land behind the Quinlan Center. Several years ago when Jamison the Quinlan Community Center was under discussion, I wrote a letter recommending that the orchard be saved, but other ideas were implemented. Because of the drought we've had barren land for several years. My question is what are the plans and the timeline for that plot of land?" Director Dowling answered, "Let me respond to some of the issues raised and if Commission wishes they can agendize it. We spent a lot of time at the committee level talking about what to do with the grounds surrounding the Community Center structure. We talked a lot about the orchard and an amorist's report indicated that those trees were not worth saving; they were very old and had been uncared for, for a very lung time. And any thoughts of even a token grove of trees was not in the long term interest of the City. A second issue had to do with wanting to provide more green and open space in that park as a whole. As you recall the firmer two thirds of the park that had already been de.elopW are very highly programmed spaces. There is not a lot of open space. One of the things we wanted to achieve was a big chunk of turf for that green relief. At the time we knew that we had a grove of very healthy trees that we could protect and preserve next to Varian Park. So it's true the master plan did call for turf, and ac Deborah mentioned. shortly after the project was awarded the drought hit us and there was %ome talk atx►ut whether or rn►t to plant. The decision was made to go ahead and plant, and the contractor who did the initial planting we went into litigation with because it simply did not take. We held off replanting until the drought situation changed and where we are tixlay is that the Public Works Department has decided to proceaf with the planting in the Fall and let the wet weather irrigate it until it's up by next Spring. It has not been planted yet, because we haven't gotten far enough into the rainy season. I agree it has been an eye sore and an embarrassment." Chairman Hopkins questioned, "If we choose to look at this issue again, what plan do we have to address or amend?" Director Dowling replied, "You would have to look at the approved master plan. What you would be doing essentially is re-opening the public hearing process." Commissioner Lohmiller added, "Having come off 40 plus public meetings in the last four months discussing recreation and open space, that area came up numerous times. It was my opinion when it came up that it was intended as it is still intended, as an open space, where people can come and fly a kite and not for organized use. I think that's very important to the community. It makes for a nice public park and if we can keep it as intended in the plan, I wouldn't see the benefit of discussing it for other uses. This is the thinking after coming off of 40 plus public meetings talking about recreation and open space. If there was some reason that it couldn't be used as intended in the plan, then I think it it should be brought up at that time." Chairman Hopkins said, "After discussion the consensus of the Commission is to see how the grass grows and then if there is a problem, re-visit the issue at that time." Resident Jennie Kennedy expressed, "I am here for item number 9, the letter of resignation Resident form David Condon. I would simply like to say a special "thank you". You have had the right Jennie background to serve as a Commissioner. Your professional occupation, your love of open Kennedy space, people and sports have all contributed to the Commission. You have used very good judgment and you have been very concerned with your involvement. That not only goes for Dave but for all the Commissioners that have served on Parks and Recreation. It is one of the best run Commissions in the City of Cupertino. I thought it was about time that someone said thank you. David, we wish you the best of luck in your endeavors and hope that sometime in the future that you will come back and see fit to serve again. I hope that the Council can find someone to fill that seat that will exercise as good of judgment as we fell that you have." Resident Nancy Burnett said, "At the last Fairgrove neighbors meeting, they finally did get a Resident conclusion on where they would like to have our park. There is that one acre of land, the Nancy Anderson property that does seem to be for sale. The heirs have not quite decided what they Burnett want to do with the land. 1 think it would be very nice if the City could acquire that piece of land as a passive park. The use we perceive is picnic tables and barbecues and small children's equipment. One of our members is going to go house to house to each of the properties that directly adjoin the land and present our ideas to them. We were wondering what we should do next from your point of view, that would he helpful in promoting this idea." Commissioner Colman asked, "Where is this acre of land?" Nancy Burnett replied. "It's on Phil Lane, about one block from Sedgewick School. It has residents on three sides and tares Phil Lane to it's north." Chairman Hopkins remarked. "Since this particular item is assigned to me on the work plan. I can meet with you and your group to talk aN)ut what your needs are and what ought to be done and certainly I can work on the City side and -.cc what is feasible in terms of whether we can maintain a small park and see what altcrnati%es and options we have in terms of Sedgewick and other properties. I would he glad to work with you and your group since this item is ass►gned for me to take the lead " j OLD BUSINESS U. NEW BUSINESS 7. Director Dowling stated, "These are the work plan items we said we were going to do and Work Plan some of the items we have completed and some are in progress and obviously with Commissioner Condon's resignation we will have to discuss reassignment of some of these items. And with that I will turn it back to the Chair." Chairman Hopkins explained, "We will go through the work plan item by item and give a brief update of what is going on in those areas." 1. Sports Center Contract - Completed 2. Sports Center Master Plan Committee Recommendations Commissioner Colman stated, "We came up with a couple of options and it's in progress." Director Dowling commented, "I have to write the report on the four options and let the committee look at that one more time and then it will come back to Commission. Obviously because of our financial situation a lot of the incentives have gone out of this approach, but it is still important to get some plan on the board for long term solutions." Commissioner Throne replied, "We should at least have one more meeting to wrap this up and put it in the file so the next group who looks at this can start from where we left off instead of starting over at the beginning. We should have one more meeting, and then bring it back to Commission and then to Council for their information and then under the current financial scenario it would definitely go into the file." 3. Review Park Dedication Ordinance Director Dowling stated, "It is in progress." 4. Establish Policies for Commercial Sponsorships of Recreation Events or Facilities Commissioner Condon expressed, "There are complexities to this issue that I've just scratched the surface of. The non-profit organization is easy to set up. To mechanically put it in place is the easiest part of it. Deciding on who the players are and who is going to administer the players is the difficult part. There is a degree of complexity on who should he involved. Director Dowling replied, "There are some issues at o what extent it should be staff driven and to what extent it should be community driven. The big question is where do we want to go from here." Commissioner Lohmiller added, "To establish a Foundation you have to have a Beard of Directors." Director Dowling remarked, "One of the things that needs to he determined and clearly identified is what is the role? Is it strictly fundraising or is it more political as well as fundraising? Commissioner Throne suggested, "Let's agendize this for Commission review. We can get some items from the information packet for background material. We can then talk about it and from than maybe some direction can be determined. We can work on this item as a Commission to scope out what we think should happen." Director Dowling commented. "I think it's a good idea for the Commission to read some of the rm)dels, and verbalize from your perspective the direction you see this going and maybe we can get a consensus from that and go back and start working on our me►del " 5 Eight Schomid Siles %la.1er Plan - Completed 6. Sports Field Use Policies Commissioner Lohmiller stated, "We are almost completed. There has been a lot of progress. Director Dowling added, "We have met twice with the youth sports representatives on these concepts and we will be going back to them with a final draft before it comes to you. The fee have been the most controversial issue." 7. Environmental Master Plan for McClellan Ranch Park Chairman Hopkins stated, "It is in progress and the work on the committee is rapidly concluding." Chairman Hopkins remarked that items 8-11 are yet to be started after the General Plan completion. Commissioner Throne commented, "About three months ago someone from Kaiser Permanente was at a Council Meeting and spoke about the Kaiser land. Are we going to discuss this or has it been discussed in the General Plan process. I think it should be something we at least talk about and be aware of. Director Dowling asked, "Shall we put on the agenda a report on the status of the Kaiser Permanente land?" Commissioner Throne added, "We could put it on our work plan and get an update at the next meeting." Director Dowling remarked, "At the very least we can present what has been discussed, preliminary policy statements and you can add any input at that time." MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEET ING Motion 8. Commissioner Quinlan moved and Commissioner Hendrickson seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the October 1 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting as amended. (Commissioner Condon abstained) WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 9. Chairman Hopkins read letter of resignation from Commissioner Condon. MONTHLY REPORTS 10. Director Dowling reported, "I would like to call your attention to three events coming up in November. If you've never been to a swing hand concert you should drop by. We are going to have some craft vendors there. In addition to that the first Holiday Craft Faire will he held at the Quinlan Community Center with 43 arts and crafts vendors. There is also a Holiday Boutique at the Senior Center on the 14th of November. I I There were no community contacts. MISCELLANEOUS 12. There was no legislative update. 13. Chairman Hopkins reported on Mayor's luncheim 14 Director reported in staff oral reports that two of the four 0ty 41wn#.Y1 lots in Seven Springs have been %old ADJOURNMENT 15. At 8:12 p.m. Commissioner Colman moved and Commissioner Throne seconded a motion to Motion adjourn to the regularly scheduled meeting on December 3, 1992 at 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers. Motion unanimously approved. Respectfully submitted, Linda M. Lagergren, Secretary ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk Chairperson