MINUTES
parks and Recreation Commission
JULY 12, 2006
The Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation Commission met in regular session in the Council Chambers, 456 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA at 7 p.m. with Chairperson Lawson presiding.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
ROLL CALL
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Commissioners
Present: |
Chairperson Robert Lawson
Commissioner Howard Chuck
Commissioner Robert Harms
Commissioner Bob Kinder |
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Absent:: |
Commissioner Richard Oliver (excused) |
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Staff Present: |
David Lewis, Director of Parks and Recreation
Cathy Merrill, Assistant to the Director
Scott Morton, Parks Supervisor
Scott Russell, Parks Supervisor |
Commissioner Oliver’s absence was excused in advance at the June 14, 2006, Commission meeting.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1.A. Approval of Draft Minutes from Regular Meeting of May 31, 2006
MOTION: Commissioner Kinder moved, Commissioner Chuck seconded, to approve the May 31, 2006, Parks and Recreation Commission minutes.
VOTE: The motion carried 3-0-1, with Commissioner Harms abstaining.
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2. Election of Commission Officers for FY 2006/2007
Chairperson Lawson opened the floor for nominations for Chairperson for FY 2006/2007.
Commissioner Kinder nominated Chairperson Lawson for a second term. Chairperson Lawson declined as he has taken on other volunteer service.
MOTION: Commissioner Chuck nominated Commissioner Kinder as Chairperson. Commissioner Kinder accepted the nomination.
There were no other nominations for Chairperson, and Chairperson Lawson closed the nominations.
VOTE: The motion carried 4-0.
Commissioner Kinder assumed the responsibilities of Chairperson.
Chairperson Kinder opened the floor for nomination for Vice Chairperson for FY 2006/2007.
MOTION: Commissioner Harms nominated Commissioner Chuck for Vice Chairperson. Commission Chuck accepted.
There were no other nominations for Vice Chairperson, and Chairperson Kinder closed the nominations.
VOTE: The motion carried 4-0.
Commissioner Chuck assumed the responsibilities of Vice Chairperson.
3. Review City of Sunnyvale Code of Ethics
Assistant to the Director Merrill encouraged the Commissioners to review the Code of Ethics. Commissioners had no comments.
Assistant to the Director Merrill noted the recent mandated ethics training provided by the City Clerk’s office, and she reminded Vice Chairperson Chuck that he needed to attend the August training.
Commissioner Lawson asked if it was ethical for Commissioners to accept free lunch tickets to a Senior Center event. Director Lewis responded it is permissible to accept meals of value under $10, but the Commissioners can elect to pay if they desire.
4. Commission Work Plan Calendar Review
Staff pointed out changes to the calendar and responded to questions.
5. Las Palmas Park Pond (Commissioner Kinder)
Chairperson Kinder reiterated why he requested that this item be placed on the agenda.
Parks Supervisor Morton and Parks Supervisor Russell gave a brief overview of the Las Palmas Park pond. They distributed informational materials to the Commissioners regarding Council actions to reduce the Parks Division budget and specific information related to budget reductions affecting the ponds. Staff responded to Commissioners’ questions regarding the process required to request that funds be restored. Supervisor Morton noted that City Council did approve approximately $25,000 to keep water in the pond June through September of each year. Staff also answered questions regarding hazards involving spray pools and dry ponds; staff said they were not aware of complaints regarding safety (other than one incident involving a filled pond and the City was not liable).
In response to questions about the cost being the same if water is in the pond for 9 months (without refilling) as opposed to 4 months, staff said there would be a cost from water loss due to leakage and evaporation over the 9 month period.
Chairperson Kinder thanked Parks Supervisors Morton and Russell for their presentation.
Chairperson Kinder opened the Public Hearing. There were no appearances and the Public Hearing was closed.
6. Wireless Cellular at Lakewood Park (Commissioner Lawson)
Commissioner Lawson said he requested that this item be placed on the agenda because he focused on use of cell towers in the parks when the Commission made their recommendation to Council, but when the Planning Commission took action, they looked at structures. When a question came up at the Planning Commission meeting, a Planning Commissioner said if the Parks and Recreation Commission did not question the building structures, then it must not have been important. Commissioner Lawson would like to know what the ground rules are when one Commission makes a recommendation to another Commission. He thinks the problem is that the process is ambiguous.
Director Lewis apologized to the Commissioners. He noted staff was adamant to have this treated as any other park related project; that is, staff would hold and the cell vendor would attend 3 public meetings. By ordinance, this type of item does not have to go before City Council, but staff advocated that it go before the Parks and Recreation Commission. Director Lewis noted that future cellular antennas may or may not include additional or replacement park amenities such as snack shacks. He said that next time staff will be sure to point out more of the details of the project, but the primary role of the Commission is to look at it from a park perspective and advise whether it is appropriate to have a cell tower in a particular park, as well as determine location of the cell tower. He also noted that there is still the requirement for a lease agreement which Information Technology Department (ITD) negotiates and the City Manager has authority to sign.
Commissioner Harms stated attendees at a public meeting, hosted by the Parks Division regarding commercial use of parks, expressed concern regarding health issues and cellular towers. Commissioner Lawson noted that when the project regarding wireless cellular at Lakewood was before the Parks and Recreation Commission, no members of the public came forward.
Vice Chairperson Chuck asked about the design of the snack shack and asked if staff had input. Supervisor Morton showed plans with a view of the snack shack and noted Little League will benefit with an increase in square footage and there will be a small area for parks storage. Commissioner Lawson expressed surprise that these are conceptual plans; he thought what the Commission saw was building plans. Supervisor Morton clarified that once Planning approves, then there will be construction plans.
Commissioner Lawson recommends that the City should have some discretion in what the snack shack (building) would look like. Supervisor Morton said there is an input process. Commissioner Lawson questioned who and where in the process are aesthetic improvements planned in buildings. He would like to see the terms of the contact, similar to agreements the Commission sees for use agreement with sports groups. For example, during the public hearing, he questioned how many cellular towers would be in the parks. He was told other cellular companies can add to the one tower, but at the Planning Commission meeting it was noted that each cellular company will own their own tower so if others want access, they would install their own additional cell tower.
Director Lewis said that the upcoming Study Issue to “Consider Establishing Council Policy Regarding Commercial Use of Parks” will examine cellular towers going into the parks.
Chairperson Kinder opened the Public Hearing. There were no appearances and the Public Hearing was closed.
7. RTC Process regarding by-pass of Commission (Commissioner Lawson
Commissioner Lawson requested this item be added to the agenda because some Commissioners, including himself, were upset that they were by-passed and not able to provide a recommendation to Council on RTC “Confirm City Council’s Intent Related to Use Fees for Plaza del Sol.” Commissioner Lawson wanted an opportunity to say that when this happens, it is not because staff is trying to by-pass the Commission; but, at times, issues need to go forward without Commission input. Parks & Recreation staff make sure that the Commissioners are aware of the report so they can attend the Council meeting, as individuals, if they choose.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
COMMISSION
Vice Chairperson Chuck welcomed Commissioner Harms to the Commission.
Commission Kinder said he is Vice President of the Silicon Valley Girls Softball League, and he attended a recent meeting of the Sunnyvale Youth Sports Association (SYSA) regarding Peterson Field. Director Lewis shared information about the ongoing meetings and emphasized that the group would like more representatives from Sunnyvale youth sports leagues to attend.
Commissioner Harms shared photos of the Commission booth at the July 4th State of the City event.
STAFF
None
INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS
· Staff Liaison Written Report
· Miscellaneous Items of Interest
ADJOURNMENT at 8:10 p.m.
Chairperson Kinder adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
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