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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 08-17-04 raw CITY OF CUPEkTINO APPROVED MINUTES CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL Regular Adjourned Meeting Tuesday, August 17. 2004 ROLL CALL At 3:00 p.m. Mayor James called the meeting to order in the Blackberry Farm Retreat Center. 21975 San Fernando Avenue. Cupertino. City Council members present: Mayor Sandra James. Vice-Mayor Patrick Kwok, and Council members Richard Lowenthal. Dolly Sandoval, and Kris Wang. Council members absent: none. Staff present: City Manager David Knapp, City Attorney Charles Kilian, and City Clerk Kimberly Smith. CLOSED SESSION • Sandoval/Lowenthal moved to add this item to the agenda for discussion, since there was an immediate need which had arisen after the agenda had been posted. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: James, Kwok. Lowenthal. Sandoval, and Wang. Noes: None. Absent: None. Mayor James reordered the agenda to discuss item I A next. I.A. Initiating litigation - Government Code Section 54956.9(c). Discussion of Ole Rasmussen and the Blue Pheasant pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2 (b)(2). At 3:00 p.m. Council recessed to a closed session on this topic. At 4:40 p.m. Council reconvened in open session. City Attorney Charles Kilian reported that the City Council had authorized initiation of litigation against the defendant Blue Pheasant Restaurant. RECESS Council was in recess from 4:40 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. STUDY SESSION 1. Discuss the process for evaluating the City Attorney position. • Sandoval said the draft evaluation form was a good starting point, and could be changed over time as necessary. She suggested that the process and timeline be the same as that of the city manager evaluation. P'( u ertino City Council Page 2 August 17, 2004 y • Kwok suggested that goals and performance measure be identified. Wang said it would be good to have an evaluation firm in place, especially so there is a way to indicate when the attorney performs beyond expectations. She asked if the attorney could provide written items of interest for his department the way the city manager did. Kilian said he would do that on a monthly or quarterly basis. Lowenthal said that both the city manager and city attorney section on efficiency should include reports comparing costs. He suggested obtaining the costs from five other cities that were comparable in terms of population and city employees, and those reports would be included under section 8 of future evaluations. Sandoval discussed adding a category on supervision, since the position supervises a deputy city attorney and a secretary. James suggested a section titled "Working Relationship with City Manager and City Council," and it should include both a written and verbal evaluation from the city manager. RECESS • Council was in recess from 4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ROLL CALL City Council members present: Mayor Sandra James, Vice-Mayor Patrick Kwok, and Council members Richard Lowenthal, Dolly Sandoval, and Kris Wang. Council members absent: none. Planning Commission members present: Chairperson Taghi Saadati, Vice-Chair Gilbert Wong (4:35 p.m.), and Commissioners Angela Chen (4:44 p.m.) and Marty Miller. Planning Commissioners absent: Lisa Giefer. Staff present: City Manager David Knapp, City Attorney Charles Kilian, Community Development Director Steve Piasecki, Senior Planner Peter Gilli, and City Clerk Kimberly Smith. STUDY SESSION 2. Joint study session (City Council and Planning Commission) to review a development proposal from Toll Brothers in the Vallco Park planning area for 565 residential units and approximately 50.000-80,000 sq. ft. of retail space on 27 acres. Planning Director Steve Piasecki did a brief orientation and said that this is a • development concept provided for early feedback from the Council members before the applicant submits formal documentation. He said that any residential development on August 17, 2004 Cupertino City Council Page 3 • this site would trigger a General Plan amendment, and that consideration should be given to land use issues, such as activation of Stevens Creek Boulevard, viability of the commercial market square, and the feasibility of a commercial "big box" use; parks and open space, including common open space and a public park; and traffic, parking and circulation issues. Jim Meeks, Toll Brothers, reviewed a series of PowerPoint slides and explained their plans to create a useful park that would be a resource to the community as well as creating a commercial area that would become a destination retail shopping area. Dan Solomon, a consultant specializing in infill projects, explained that they propose 7 acres of housing and 17 acres of mixed-use. with retail uses concentrated in a compact way to activate Stevens Creek Boulevard. as well as relating to the "rose bowl" site and creating a new residential boulevard. Jack Sellman, Architects Orange, discussed various alternatives for the market square, which could include 50,000-70,000 square foot of retail, including two to three major high-end tenants, and some additional food and non-food uses. It would emphasize a strong street presence on Stevens Creek Boulevard and create many walkable connections, especially to Vallco. Dan Solomon discussed the proposed housing types, including two-fronted units that face • both open space and street frontage, a townhouse over a flat on Stevens Creek Boulevard, and some denser, stacked units. Discussion followed regarding the pros and cons of placing a "big box" retailer in this location, and what physical changes would be necessary to the existing road to make that feasible. Meeks said that it would be better to do two medium-size stores of 25,000 square feet each. Randal Mackley, consultant, said that Cupertino has a number of issues, one of which is a lack of fine dining component. He said the proposed concept has a good chance of success and is very flexible, and has buildings of a size that are easy to fill if a tenant leaves. He said the community has tremendous wealth here, and the city should take advantage of that by providing more restaurants. Discussion followed regarding the appropriate amount of retail and parks, the pros and cons of "big box" retailers as opposed to more "mid-size" retailers. the importance of linking this development with others, and the feasibility of creating a "Santana-Row" feel and creating revenue-generating opportunities in what is Cupertino's last large undeveloped area. Jim Meeks summarized the comments made by the City Council and the Planning • Commissioners, which included: Less residential: the location of parks is in question, and the applicant should build more than the minimum require parks, connectivity to other retail sites is important: applicant should work with other retailers; more retail is August 17. 2004 Cupertino City Council Page 4 • important, suggested range is 80,000 to 120.000 square feet; skate park is requested; appropriate density is 45 dwelling units per acre maximum; and three stories are acceptable, but there is resistance to four stories. ADJOURNMENT At 6:25 p.m., the meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, September 7 at 4:30 in City Hall Conference Room A to conduct Teen Commission interviews for Hyde and Homestead, 10300 Torre Avenue. Kimberly Smit City Clerk For more information: Staff reports, backup materials, and items distributed at the meeting are available for review at the City Clerk's Office, 777-3223, and also on the Internet at www.cupertino.or--. Click on Agendas & Minutes/City Council/ Packets. • •