Parks and Recreation Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes Parks and Recreation Commission Wednesday, September 13, 2017 7:00 PM Council Chambers, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Chair Ralph Kenton called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Kenton led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present: 5 - Vice Chair Henry Alexander III Chair Ralph Kenton Commissioner Irene Gabashvili Commissioner Craig Pasqua Commissioner Daniel McCune Council Liaison Hendricks (absent) STUDY SESSION 17-0882 Review Civic Center Master Plan Concepts and Provide Feedback on Project Alternatives (Study Session) Assistant City Manager, Kent Steffens, and representatives from the City's architect, SmithGroup JJR, provided a presentation and overview of the Civic Center Master Plan Concepts. The presentation described the two alternative concepts as well as the proposed schedule, goals and criteria, site assessment and next steps. Assistant City Manager Steffens invited the Commissioners to share their comments and preferences regarding the Civic Center concepts. Commissioners commented on long-term parking plans, safety and accessibility issues for Public Safety, operational costs between the two concepts, traffic impact on Olive Avenue and tree preservation. Assistant City Manager Steffens noted Commissioners comments and stated the City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes September 13, 2017 City does not have operational costs yet for each concept. However, operational costs will vary based primarily on the amount of underground parking. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. CONSENT CALENDAR 17-0877 Approval of Draft Meeting Minutes of July 12, 2017 Commissioner Alexander moved and Commissioner McCune seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion was presented by the following vote: Yes: 4 - Vice Chair Alexander III Chair Kenton Commissioner Gabashvili Commissioner McCune No: 0 Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Pasqua PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 17-0878 Youth and Teens Program Overview The Youth and Teens Community Services Manager, Michael Muse presented an overview of the City's Youth and Teens program. The Youth and Teens program oversees various programs for toddlers, elementary and middle school students and teens including the Teen Advisory Committee (TAC). In addition, Manager Muse reviewed the unit's various partnerships with local non-profits, businesses and school districts as well as the benefits the program offers to the students and the community. Commissioners inquired about the promotion and marketing of the services, life skills classes and duplication of services with other community programs. Manager Muse indicated social media, school partnerships and having a teen representative at schools are primary sources for promoting the services. Currently, the program provides socialization and school preparation activities for preschoolers, and life skills classes for teens are very limited. His team is actively working on expanding life skills programming for teens. Superintendent Wax stated that the Youth and Teens staff work closely with the school district staff to help City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes September 13, 2017 alleviate duplicate programming. 17-0879 Liquidambar Street Tree Removal Program Overview Superintendent of Parks and Golf, Jim Stark, provided an overview of the Liquidambar Street Tree Removal Program. Superintendent Stark indicated 85 - 90% of complaint calls to the Parks office are related to trees and many are in regards to liquidambar trees. Liquidambar trees are not native to California, and can be problematic due to their production of hard, spherical fruit balls that could present a trip and fall hazard to pedestrians and bicyclists. Council has authorized the removal and replacement of liquidambar street trees in the right of way. However, no two adjacent liquidambar trees on the same property or adjoining properties may be removed in the same fiscal year. The removed liquidambar street tree shall be replaced with a tree that is more suitable to the environment. The City will pay for the removal and replacement of the tree; however, the property owner must apply to the Liquidambar Street Tree Removal Program and pay the tree removal permit fee. Tree removals are done on a first come, first serve basis. Currently, there is an eighteen-month waitlist. Commissioners inquired if liquidambar trees have any value. Commissioners also inquired about the street tree tracking program and if the City has a program for damaged or dying trees. Superintendent Stark indicated liquidambar’s only value is for mulch. The City does not have a tree tracking database that is accessible in the field. However, next year the City is hoping to implement a new tree tracking database that will allow the Trees Division to make updates to the City's tree inventory in the field. Chair Kenton opened the item for public comment, and there being no public comments, closed the item for public comment. STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES None. NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments None. -Staff Comments City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes September 13, 2017 Superintendent Dan Wax indicated there will be a Joint Commission meeting with the Parks and Recreation and the Arts Commissions for the Master Plan for Public Art on December 13, 2017. UPDATE: The Joint Commission meeting with the Parks and Recreation and Arts Commissions will be held on January 10, 2018. Superintendent Stark provided an update on the Playground Renovations Project, the Washington Pool Project, Orchard Heritage Park Project, the Vale Development Park and the Fair Oaks Park Project which includes the Magical Bridge Playground. ADJOURNMENT Chair Kenton adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 4