CC 07-20-2021 Oral Communications_Late Written CommunicationsCC 7/20/21
Study Session Item #1
Blackberry Farm Golf
Course
Written Communications
1
Cyrah Caburian
From:Karen Cary <karen_cary@hotmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 4:25 PM
To:City Council
Subject:Comment on an item on the agenda
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City Council to Discuss Blackberry Farm Golf Course Feasibility Study Options
STAFF REPORT
Page 6
Nature Experience was one of the key themes garnered from the community outreach for the Parks and
Recreation Master Plan. Expanding access to nature is a top priority for the community. Throughout all
outreach activities, participants consistently favored incorporating nature and increasing access to natural
open space over other potential enhancements. 85% of survey respondents noted that improving access to
natural open space is desired in the City. Where does the 85% number come from? Why was this survey
which directly asks respondents what is desired in their city versus the attached Activity Participation Survey
which generically ask, "Do you or members of your household participate in any of the following recreation &
leisure activities not attached?
1
Cyrah Caburian
From:Rhoda Fry <fryhouse@earthlink.net>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 4:42 PM
To:City Council; Cupertino City Manager's Office; City Clerk
Subject:Comments Study Session 7/20/21 #1 Golf Course
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Dear City Council Members,
In your packet, there is a golf course history that starts at 2014. I hope that you could take a further look back. I am
relying on memory because I do not have time to pull up the documents for the Stevens Creek Corridor Mitigated
Negative Declaration. Since you’re pulling up old plans, I think that these plans need to be pulled up in order to make an
informed decision. There are a few things that I recall that I think you should know.
1. There were naturalized ponds at the golf course that were of interest to the California Department of Fish and
Wildlife because of the wildlife that it supported. The ponds were supposed to remain and now they are gone. I
miss the red‐winged blackbirds that resided there.
2. Part of the original plan was to replace the watering system. At the time it was estimated to cost in the $250K
range. Why did it take so long.
3. Public Works Director Ralph Qualls had said that the City owned water rights at the golf course, but after the
creek work, the golf course switched to San Jose Water Company and the cost of operations increased. The plan
did not mention a switch from onsite water to potable water.
As to costs, if we’re going to talk about money, I think that we need more information:
a) The report mentions the subsidy of the pool/picnic business. Can we please have that information in dollars in
addition to percentages? Is the capital maintenance/improvement cost factored into the cost of the pools?
b) Also, what is the cost of maintaining the golf course vs maintaining Memorial Park? I think they’d be about the
same size. Or what would it cost to maintain it as a forest?
I think that we also need to look at the Blue Pheasant as well as part of the whole picture. I’m glad to see that staff is not
advocating for a huge new restaurant close to homes that would likely suffer from restaurant/bbq fumes. We know that
for reasons unknown, it has been difficult to maintain infrastructure within the City (Memorial Park, fountains at
Quinlan, Barn at McClellan Ranch, etc…). I also don’t think that it would be a good idea to attempt to create new
businesses that would compete with other local businesses. So that leaves us with a simple golf course or a forest.
Due to the wildlife corridor, per the original MND, the site is not well‐suited to night‐time lighting, so I don’t think that
ball fields are the way to go as had been proposed in the past. It seems that golf has had a resurgence, which is nice to
see because it provides a venue that is hard to replicate elsewhere. I’d advocate for either retaining golf or making the
area to be a forest.
Regards,
Rhoda Fry
1
Cyrah Caburian
From:Connie Cunningham <cunninghamconniel@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 6:18 PM
To:City Clerk; City Council
Cc:Cunningham Connie
Subject:CC July 20, 2021: Agenda Item 1, Blackberry Farm Golf Course Feasibility Study Options
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Kirsten: please add this to the written record for public comment on Agenda Item 1, Blackberry Farm Golf Course
Feasibility Study Options
July 20 Special Meeting Agenda Item 1, Blackberry Farm Golf Course Feasibility Study Options ; presentation by Joanne
Magrini, Director of Parks & Recreation
Good evening, Mayor Paul and Councilmembers:
I often walk at McClellan Ranch. Cupertino’s Blackberry Farm and McClellan Ranch are jewels in the increasingly urban
environment of our County. I agree with the position of the Audubon Society letter in Written Communications that you
support the Staff Recommendation for Option 3 ‐ Return the golf course to natural habitat, and with less
interest in Option 1 (minimal repairs to the Golf Course.) since it is much less habitat‐friendly for wildlife.
It is important to note that a Return to nature is the least impactful to the environment. As the South Bay becomes
increasingly crowded with development, it is critical that Blackberry Farm and Stevens Creek be retained as
environmental jewels in our City.
Please note that Staff has noted on page 5 of their report for Option 3 (return to native habitat) that "Any type of facility
that would require lights or may produce sound louder than the sound produced by a golf course, may fail to meet
regulations that protect habitat and wildlife in the corridor. “
The Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation is consistent with this Staff position. The Parks Commission
stated that the public did not support Option 2, the fully renovated golf course.
Understanding that the recommended action is to approve the Staff recommendation, I urge you to consider changing
the direction to focus on Option 3: Return the golf course to natural habitat.
Thank you.
Connie Cunningham
Cupertino Resident and Audubon Society Member
CC 07-20-21
#20
Nomad Transit Contract
Extension, Via-
Cupertino Shuttle Pilot
Program
Written Comments
1
Cyrah Caburian
From:Peggy Griffin <griffin@compuserve.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 5:20 PM
To:City Council
Cc:City Clerk
Subject:2021-07-20 CC Mtg: Agenda Item 20 - Extend Via-Cupertino Shuttle - HEAT MAP INCOMPLETE?
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Dear City Council,
For tonight’s CC meeting, Agenda Item 20 – Extend Via‐Cupertino Shuttle…”Attachment B Ridership Heat Map” does not
include the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station or Kaiser Hospital! To have complete information, you need a complete heat
map!
REQUEST: Please request that the heat map be updated to include these 2 locations outside of Cupertino.
Thank you,
Peggy Griffin
1
Cyrah Caburian
From:Peggy Griffin <griffin@compuserve.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 6:24 PM
To:Kirsten Squarcia; Darcy Paul
Cc:City Council
Subject:2021-07-20 CC Mtg: PLEASE PULL Consent Item #20 - Extend Via-Cupertino Shuttle
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Dear Mayor Paul and City Clerk Kirsten,
I am requesting that you PULL CONSENT ITEM #20 regarding extending the via‐Cupertino Shuttle contract on tonight’s
CC Agenda.
Thank you,
Peggy Griffin
CC 07-20-21
#23
Cupertino
Municipal Water
System Lease
Written Comments
1
Cyrah Caburian
From:Jean Bedord <Jean@bedord.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 9:25 PM
To:City Clerk
Subject:July 20, 2021 Agenda Item #23, Cupertino Water System
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Please include my oral public comments in Written Communications:
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Good evening, Mayor Paul, honorable council members, staff and. welcome to
interim city manager Greg Larson.
My name is Jean Bedord and I am a resident of Cupertino. I am here to comment
on options for the continued lease, sale or city operation of the water system
owned by the city of Cupertino.
I agree with staff recommendation to pursue continuation of a lease at this
time. However, I would urge the city to considering limiting that lease to 10 years
rather than 20 years.
My concern is that the environment for utilities is in flux. San Jose Water Company
was acquired by Connecticut Water Services in 2019. Further consolidation may
occur in the future. The economics of water utilities, as well as other utilities are
changing. Ten years covers 2 council cycles; 20 years covers 4 council cycles….I
question binding future councils that far into the future.
In addition, this asset is valued at $55 million in 2018. It will provide minimal
revenue to the city – it’s simply a service. And frankly, it doesn’t make sense to me
to have three, yes, three separate water companies for a city the size of Cupertino.
Is this the best use of city resources at a time when our infrastructure and most of
our municipal buildings are aging and need deferred maintenance, as well as
expansion to accommodate future city growth? Sale of the property is quite
complicated, and would take four years or so to accomplish. So in addition to
continuing the lease arrangement, can the city begin getting the authorizations to
potentially sell the water system?
2
I urge you to approve the staff recommendation for 10 years, but adding guidance
to initiate steps to consider sale of the water service.
Thank you for your consideration.
Jean Bedord
CC 07-20-21
#25
Community
Relations
Coordinator
Written Comments
1
Cyrah Caburian
From:Jean Bedord <Jean@bedord.com>
Sent:Sunday, July 25, 2021 2:49 PM
To:City Council; Cupertino City Manager's Office; Kenneth Ericksen; Thomas Chin
Subject:Feedback on Agenda Item #25, Community Relations Coordinator (Block Leader) Reorganization
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Mayor Paul and council members, City manager and staff,
I fully support the staff recommendations presented at the city council meeting on Tues. night. I attended not only the
city council meeting, but July 12, 2021 Zoom meeting for Block Leaders. Reorganizing the Block Leader, Neighborhood
Watch, and Citizen Corp programs under the umbrella of the Office of Emergency Management makes a lot of sense to
me. During the power outages, the Citizen Corp did an excellent job, but did not leverage Block Leaders because they
were in a different organization. There will be more power outages and fires, as well as a potential earthquake, so the
entire city needs to be prepared.
I was dismayed by the council deliberations. The Block Leader program is a good program for fostering relationships
between neighbors, NOT a channel for city discourse. My designated Block Leader area is 23 homes, consistent with
social groups. However, on Nextdoor, I can post an announcement / comment / tips and reach 4,238 neighbors just in
the Monta Vista neighborhood. This represents 3,871 households or 67% of all households in the area. I generally post
to all adjacent neighborhoods, some of which are in Sunnyvale and Los Altos, as well as Cupertino, to reach over 20,000
Nextdoor neighbors. Block Leader is not scalable to this level, but could be expanded to meet the needs of our aging
population (1 in 3 households in Cupertino has a resident over the age of 60). Social isolation during the pandemic was a
major issue for our seniors, and that need will continue.
The city already has agency status with Nextdoor, so it reaches all of Cupertino. City presence has significantly improved
in the last couple years, with more frequent postings. The city can see comments on its direct posts, though not
neighborhood chatter about other topics. Encouraging volunteers to be more active on Nextdoor should be
encouraged.
My neighbors have no hesitation in posing questions about city services on Nextdoor, and there is always someone who
can provide a good answer and reference to the city website, which has a wealth of information. There are 3 particularly
useful features:
* Daily Nextdoor Digest delivered to email
* Urgent Alert which goes to registered cell phones as well as online Nextdoor.
* Ask A Neighbor
I've been on Nextdoor for several years as a lead,so would be happy to make a presentation to encourage volunteers to
be more active in this communication channel.
BTW, I question spending over an hour and a half on the dais wrangling over what should have been a routine budget
adjustment, NOT an evaluation of the Block Leader program. This left only half an hour at the very end of the meeting
(council reports got more attention) to discuss the far more important internal audit report, including those sections
directly relating to city council operating at an operational level, rather than a strategic level. Isn't it time to manage
meetings more efficiently? Finishing by midnight is commendable, but time spent on the dais in prolonged discussion of
low priority items also needs to be managed so agenda items do not need to be continued to additional meetings.
2
Regards,
Jean Bedord
CC 07-20-21
#26
Internal Audit Plan
for FY 2021-22
Written Comments
1
Cyrah Caburian
From:Peggy Griffin <griffin@compuserve.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 8:14 PM
To:Kirsten Squarcia
Cc:City Council; Cupertino City Manager's Office
Subject:2021-07-20 CC Mtg: Agenda Item 26 - Peggy's Slides
Attachments:ITEM 26-Audit Process Problem to Fix-Peggys Slide.pdf
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Hi Kirsten,
I plan to speak on Agenda Item #26 ‐ Internal Audit Plan.
If you could show these 2 pages when I speak I would appreciate it.
Thank you,
Peggy Griffin
Example of Contract Invoice submittal and payment problems
HDL Invoices and Payments
for Econ Dev ServicesInvoice
Date Invoice #
Invoice
Amt
Delivery
Method Attn:
Received
Date Received by Approved by:
Approved
Date
Paid
Date
Amount
Paid
12/31/2019 0032867-IN $25,980.00 EMAIL Kristina Alfaro 8/23/2020!!
Angela Tsui (Routed to CMO
and Finance)8/28/2020!!$25,980.00
3/26/2020 0033519-IN $51,000.00 MAIL Kristina Alfaro 6/4/2020!!Zach Korach
Zack Korach,
Finance Mgr 6/4/2020 6/12/2020 $51,000.00
6/30/2020 SIN002352 $60,520.00 EMAIL Finance Dept 8/23/2020!!
Angela Tsui (Routed to CMO
and Finance)8/28/2020 $60,520.00
7/31/2020 SIN002991 $28,290.00 EMAIL Kristina Alfaro 8/24/2020!!
Kristina Alfaro
(routed to CMO on 8/24/20)5/21/2021!!$28,290.00
9/30/2020 SIN004092 $47,770.00 EMAIL Kristina Alfaro 10/14/2020
Kristina Alfaro
(routed to Finance for
processing on 10/14/20)
Zach Korach,
Finance Mgr 10/14/2020 10/16/2020 $47,770.00
11/30/2020 SIN005226 $47,820.00 EMAIL
City of
Cupertino 12/8/2020 Kristina Alfaro 5/21/2021!!$47,840.00
12/31/2020 SIN006203 $17,000.00 EMAIL
City of
Cupertino 1/25/2021
Kristina Alfaro
(routed to CDD on 1/25/21)5/21/2021!!$17,000.00
3/31/2021 SIN008203 $43,350.00 EMAIL
City of
Cupertino
ITEM 26 – Internal Audit Plan for FY 2021-22
REQUEST:
1) 3rd party contractor invoice submittal, approval and payment procedures clarified/tightened up
2) Put procedures in place to
a) Prevent submittal/approval of payments that exceed contracted amounts.
b) Require Accounts Payable Reports submitted to City Council within a month.