MINUTES
parks and Recreation Commission
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 10, 2007 

The Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation Commission met in regular session in the Council Chambers, 456 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale CA 94086, at 7 p.m. with Chair Kinder presiding.

CALL TO ORDER / SALUTE TO THE FLAG

Chair Kinder called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. and led the salute to the flag.

ROLL CALL

CONSIDERATION OF ABSENCE - None

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS - None

CONSENT CALENDAR

1.A.  Approval of Draft Minutes from Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission on September 12, 2007.

MOTION:  Commissioner Oliver moved and Vice Chair Colvin seconded to approve Item 1.A. as presented.

VOTE:  Passed 3-0. Commissioner Harms abstained as he was absent from the September 12, 2007, Commission meeting. Commissioner Chuck was absent for the vote; he arrived at 7:05 p.m.

STAFF RESPONSES TO PRIOR PUBLIC COMMENTS - None

PUBLIC COMMENT - None

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS

2.  Commission Ranking of 2008 Proposed Study Issues

Following are the proposed 2008 study issues to be ranked by the Commission.

Assistant to the Director Merrill reviewed the process for ranking study issues and summarized the key elements of the study issue papers. Staff responded to questions from the Commissioners as noted below.

DPR-02 Care Calling for Seniors

Superintendent Steward explained the difference between Study Issue DPR-02 and the Budget Issue regarding the Care Management Program at the Sunnyvale Senior Center. In response to questions, Superintendent Steward said she would provide Commissioners with a list of organizations that provide this service. Vice Chair Colvin suggested that care calling for seniors could be a volunteer program.

DPR-04 Evaluate Murphy and Orchard Gardens Parksite Housing and Fair Oaks Industrial Complex as Potential Open Space/Recreation Facilities

Assistant to the Director Merrill provided an overview of DPR-04. Chair Kinder inquired as to why the study issues that will be addressed in the Parks and Open Space of the Future Study are coming before the Commission again for ranking. Assistant to the Director Merrill explained the difference between the study issue process and the capital budget process.

DPR-05 Evaluate areas identified as being underserved by open space for potential mitigations

Assistant to the Director Merrill provided an overview of the study issue and explained why Homestead High School is on the list of areas which lack open space.

DPR-06 Consider impacts of providing Sunnyvale resident discounts to City recreation programs for active duty military and their families

Superintendent Steward provided an overview of the study issue which would explore providing a resident discount for active duty military personnel regardless of the location of their residence.

DPR-09 Evaluate Recreation and Open Space Facilities and Amenities and Determine per Capita Guidelines for an Appropriate Balance within the Open Space System

No comments.

The public hearing was opened. There were no public testimonies and the public hearing was closed.

Chairperson Kinder called for motions to drop study issues.

MOTION:  Commissioner Chuck moved and Vice Chair Colvin seconded to drop the following study issues:

·         DPR-02 Care Calling for Seniors

·         DPR-04 Evaluate Murphy and Orchard Gardens Parksite Housing and Fair Oaks Industrial Complex as Potential Open Space/Recreation Facilities

·         DPR-05 Evaluate areas identified as being underserved by open space for potential mitigations

·         DPR-09 Evaluate Recreation and Open Space Facilities and Amenities and Determine per Capita Guidelines for an Appropriate Balance within the Open Space System

AMENDED MOTION: Commissioner Oliver moved to amend the motion to drop study issues DPR-04, DPR-05 and DPR-09 but keep DPR-02 on the list for ranking.

AMENDED MOTION FAILED: The amended motion failed as there was no second to the proposed amendment.

VOTE:  Passed 4-1. Commissioner Oliver voted against the motion as he believes it is a good idea to keep DPR-02 on the list for the Commission to consider and rank.

Chairperson Kinder called for motions to defer study issues.

MOTION:  Commissioner Harms moved to defer DPR-06 Consider impacts of providing Sunnyvale resident discounts to City recreation programs for active duty military and their families. The motion died for lack of a second.

Commissioners ranked the remaining one study issue individually and privately on the provided scorecard. Assistant to the Director Merrill calculated the results of the ranking, and the following information indicates the final action taken by the Commissioners.

MOTION:  Chair Kinder moved and Commissioner Chuck seconded to accept the study issue ranking as noted above.

VOTE:  Passed 5-0.

No one volunteered to represent the Commission at the November 27, 2007, Council public hearing on 2008 potential study issues and budget issues.

3.  Budget Issue: Care Management Program at the Sunnyvale Senior Center

Superintendent Steward provided an overview of the Budget Issue, Care Management Program at the Sunnyvale Senior Center. Commissioners’ questions were answered regarding the current budget and changes over the past year, annual operating costs, impact of receiving additional funding from the Council on Aging Silicon Valley, amount of funding required for FY 08/09, and how the budget issue would change the current service level of the Care Manager. Commissioner Oliver noted that the information in Section 3 of the budget issue report answers many of the questions.

Questions were also answered regarding the duration of the pilot program, number of persons served by in-depth care management assistance services, primary tasks of a caregiver, eligibility requirements to qualify for care management (Currently age 55+ and a Sunnyvale resident; some cities have used age 65+.), source of referrals and selection of individuals for care management, and whether this budget issue would come before the Commission each year.

The public hearing was opened. There were no public testimonies and the public hearing was closed.

MOTION:  Vice Chair Colvin moved and Chair Kinder seconded to recommend that Council consider the Budget Issue, Care Management Program at the Sunnyvale Senior Center.

Chair Kinder said this item seems to directly benefit the citizens who need it the most. Commissioner Oliver supported Chair Kinder’s comments.

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Commissioner Harms made a friendly amendment to recommend that Council consider adding a minimum age requirement for this service.

Vice Chair Colvin accepted the friendly amendment.

Chair Kinder withdrew his second to the motion.

Commissioner Oliver seconded the amended motion.

Chair Kinder explained that some individuals in the program may be under age 65 but need care management services due to mental health issues, and they would not be able to obtain services in the future.

Commissioner Oliver added that the minimum age eligibility requirement would be age 65 but this requirement can be flexible.

RESTATED MOTION:  Vice Chair Colvin moved and Commissioner Oliver seconded to recommend that Council consider the Budget Issue Care Management Program at the Sunnyvale Senior Center and also consider adding a minimum age eligibility requirement of 65 years for the care management service, with the provision that the minimum age eligibility requirement can be flexible.

VOTE:  Passed 5-0.

4.  Commission Work Plan Calendar Review

Commissioners reviewed the work plan calendar for the remainder of 2007.

The public hearing was opened. There were no public testimonies and the public hearing was closed.

No action was taken.

5.  CAPRCBM Award Nominations

There were no nominees for the California Association of Parks and Recreation Commission and Board Members (CAPRCBM) Award for significant tributes to furthering the mission of parks and recreation in improving the quality of life in our community.

The public hearing was opened. There were no public testimonies and the public hearing was closed.

No action was taken.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS

COMMISSION

Commissioner Harms referenced the article in the recent Parks and Recreation Department’s employee newsletter regarding repairs that were made to Ponderosa Park play structure by a group of Boy Scout volunteers. He said he was glad to see that the repairs were made and he enjoyed the newsletter.

STAFF

Superintendent Steward announced the new manager of the Senior Center is Gerard Manuel.

INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS

• Staff Liaison Report
• Memo dated 9/14/07 from Assistant City Manager Robert Walker to Commission Members regarding “Ensuring that Board and Commission Advice to Council is Heard.”
• Miscellaneous Items of Interest

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Kinder adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

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