(408) 730-7516

(408)730-7516

August 31, 1998

Ms. Pamela Goyan Kittler
838 Rubis Drive
Sunnyvale, California 94087

Dear Ms. Kittler:

First, let me again express my appreciation for your efforts on behalf of the Las Palmas Park neighborhood. It was definitely helpful to sit down and discuss in person the various park/neighborhood concerns identified by you and other neighbors and staff has since had an opportunity to more thoroughly analyze and assess them.

I think it may be best to sort staff’s response into two categories: (1) What can be done soon; and (2) What can be done through enforcement of existing ordinance and/or policy.

What can be done soon?

The following actions should help to reduce those noise, over-crowding and traffic issues noted as the "overriding" concerns of the neighborhood.

RESIDENT SUGGESTION	STAFF RESPONSE
Ban/regulate Astro Jumpers:	"Jumpers" will not be banned, but we will limit their use in all parks to 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This should help reduce noise levels during early morning hours.
Ban use of large tents/shade structures.	Tents and shade structures will be limited to the typical family size of 10’x10’ maximum, with exception only upon approval of the Director of Parks and Recreation (please see "Exceptions" below.)

Increase fees or limit permitted use by non-residents.	Non-residents will no longer be able to rent picnic areas or spray pools. Please note that this does not (nor do we wish to) preclude non-residents from entering our neighborhood parks or enjoying our facilities. It does, however, preclude them from reserving a site, and this should help to discourage large non-Sunnyvale group picnic use in particular. Only Sunnyvale residents and businesses will retain the privilege of reserving picnic sites and spray pools.
Limit the size of permitted groups.	This will be done by decreasing the actual number of tables in the reservable areas of Las Palmas Park and by limiting the size of permitted group picnickers to that of the maximum capacity of any one picnic area (the largest group site at Las Palmas will hold 60) per day. (Again, exception by approval of the Director of Parks and Recreation only)
Increase family type picnic areas.	A few of the tables removed from the group picnic areas will be placed away from the reservable sites to areas throughout the park, allowing families and individuals to picnic some distance away from permitted picnic and play areas. This is consistent with the approach used during the recent renovation of Washington Park.
Decrease Dog Park noise in the morning hours.	This will be done by setting the automated gate to open at 8:00 a.m. and close/lock at 8:00 p.m. This will be a pilot program, with resident reaction monitored and reviewed six months from the date of implementation.
Install speed bumps on Spinosa Drive and ban parking along the west perimeter of the Spinosa Drive parking lot.	Work orders to install speed bumps and to paint the curb red in this area have been placed with the Public Works Department, and this work will be completed once existing pavement slurry seal work is done.

City staff through operational means will take these actions. Those actions which impact existing picnic permits will be delayed as necessary to honor paid contracts through the end of this season (October 1998). Changes to picnic permits and reservations policies will be completed in advance of the next season to be ready for spring 1999.

The removal and installation of picnic tables elsewhere will be worked into operational work schedules. That is, no additional funds for capital projects will be requested, saving all of us a lot of time and energy. This is a good size project, however, and some time will be needed to ensure success. In any case, reduction of the reservable areas must wait until current permit contracts are completed.

"Exceptions": Please note that while each neighborhood park was designed with the need of a specific planning neighborhood in mind, they were not designed or intended for the exclusive use of that neighborhood. And while the primary intent of neighborhood picnic sites is to serve the needs of small neighborhood groups, families and individuals, it is the City’s intent that they also meet the needs of community groups such as co-sponsored senior clubs, Little Leagues, neighborhood associations, schools, and your own City government. These groups often represent numbers larger than the maximum number that any one group picnic site will accommodate, and I want to be clear that authorization to use our neighborhood picnic facilities will continue to be granted to these types of groups regardless of the general permit restrictions outlined earlier. I hope the neighborhood will understand that such events do not occur often, and agree that they are important to the fabric of our community.

What can be done through enforcement of current ordinances and/or policies?

Several of the ideas fall into this category. While many of the noise related issues will likely be mitigated through the actions in Section 1 above, some issues require more direct action. These actions are noted below:

Ban amplified music/live or loud music/public announcement systems: Neighbors can be of great assistance here. Current ordinance prohibits amplified music without a special permit – none of which have been issued in the past year. Even with a permit, amplifiers are limited to 25 watts. Neighbors can, and should, contact the Department of Community Development (during normal business hours) and/or the Public Safety Department (off-hours) to report loud, annoying noise/music in the park, just as they would if it were being generated by a neighbor’s party.

Ban catering equipment: Staff does not recommend this. Catering equipment itself is not easily defined and/or banned. However, barbecues are specifically noted by City ordinance and are not allowed outside of the permanent grills provided in the parks. Furthermore, actions noted in Section 1 to administratively limit large groups should also limit large catered affairs.

Ban large events: Parks are public areas and as such no policy or ordinance may unreasonably restrict persons rights to assemble in the park. Please keep in mind that even the reservable picnic sites are only permitted from April through October of each year and that when not permitted, a first-come/first-serve policy is in effect. This being said though, it is our hope that the limits to reservations and permits noted in Section 1 will effectively reduce the number of large groups in this park.

Impose substantial fines for those who break park rules and/or hire additional staff to enforce park rules and regulations: These actions are not recommended for implementation at this time. Staff does not believe the benefits that could realistically be expected would justify related costs.

Ban alcoholic beverages in parks: While these beverages are not completely banned in parks, their use is restricted by law to beer and wine used in connection with a picnic. Any other use is prohibited. Generally, enforcement by Public Safety officers occurs when drinkers begin to create other problems such as excessive noise, fighting, etc. Staff believes the current laws and ordinances are adequate to address these instances of abuse.

All in all, we have covered quite a bit of ground in a very short time period. Staff is very optimistic, and believes the actions set forth will result in a much more "neighborhood-oriented" Las Palmas Park. Again, thank you for your assistance and leadership in resolving issues that could easily have been divisive and destructive to neighbor relations. I did enjoy meeting with you and am committed to maintaining open communications with the neighborhood. Please feel free to contact me with future questions or concerns at (408) 730-7516.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Walker, Director
Parks and Recreation

RAW/bld

c: Mayor and City Council
    Robert S. LaSala, City Manager
    Regan Williams, Director of Public Safety
    Parks and Recreation Commission
    Parks and Recreation Department Managers

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