CC 06-21-2023 Item No. 1. Memorial Park Specific Plan_Supplemental Report
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CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
SUPPLEMENTAL
Meeting: June 21, 2023
Agenda Item # 1
Subject
Consider the Memorial Park Specific Plan conceptual design.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council to:
1) Receive the Memorial Park Specific Plan design updates;
2) Confirm the Memorial Park Specific Plan design direction of the Conceptual Plan;
and
3) Proceed with the Memorial Park Specific Plan schematic design.
Q1: Traffic and parking impact of the proposed plan? The Specific Plan
contains some great features which will attract a lot of users, which would
be great. I wonder whether we need to do an EIR for such a plan? And the
expected increase in parking demand? (Councilmember Chao)
Q1 Staff response: Early in the project’s design process, the Site Assessment and
Outreach Summary report was developed, and it includes parking and traffic analysis.
It is posted to the EngageCupertino.org/Memorial‐Park‐Specific‐plan webpage.
Currently the project team is engaged in the early stages of the environmental
clearance. Prior to final acceptance of the Specific Plan, the project will have completed
the necessary environmental review.
Q2: Since we are likely removing one of the only two softball fields in
Cupertino, Iʹd like to know whether it is possible to provide an alternative
somewhere else? For example, could an existing baseball field double as a
softball field? What adjustment is needed? More girls play softball, so I
hope we consider proposing an alternative location if we are removing the
only softball field in Memorial Park. Note that Iʹm not objecting to the
removal of the softball field, since the replacement is pickle ball and
basketball fields, which I agree is highly popular and will be well utilized.
Iʹm just exploring options so there is still a softball field in Cupertino.
(Councilmember Chao)
Q2 Staff response: The City has two softball fields at Monta Vista Recreation Center.
Additionally, another softball field is available at Kennedy Middle School. These fields
can accommodate fast‐pitch softball, and Kennedy Middle School is capable of
accommodating both women’s and men’s slow‐pitch softball. None of these fields is
equipped with night‐time lighting.
An item to note is that 17 of 18 of the softball teams that registered to use the
Memorial Park Softball field in 2022 were registered as non‐resident teams. The
registered teams for spring of 2023 consist of 15 of 15 non‐resident teams. A resident
team’s roster must consist of 51% or more Cupertino residents. A resident team
receives a discount on its registration fees.
Q3: The proposed plan is really packed with a lot of good features which I
am sure is popular with many residents, but is it a good idea to pack all of
them in one park? What other parks could benefit from some of these
features? Such as pickle ball fields. What other alternate locations might be
more suitable? (Councilmember Chao)
Q3 Staff response: The Specific Plan is consistent with direction provided by the City
Council through the Council‐approved 2020 Parks and Recreation System Master
Plan (PRSMP). The project team followed the community input and direction
ascertained from the PRSMP, which includes suggestions for amenities for each park
in the City (p. A‐3 of the PRSMP Appendices), as well as the best locations for the
amenities in the City (p. F‐14 of the PRSMP Appendices). Planning for these
amenities in a future project does not preclude the City from constructing similar
amenities at other parks.
Q4: From past experience, the City often goes out to seek for ideas to
develop a park, and the Council ends up requesting a minimal option,
which is often not included in the proposed options. This has happened
with the Stevens Creek Corridor plan and others. For the Stevens Creek
Corridor, the Council eventually adopted ʺOption Dʺ with the minimal
design, which was not one of the three options from the consultants. The
reason might be that the majority of people are happy with the current park
and they are not likely to respond with enthusiasm to propose ideas for
change. Thus, the survey data is biased by those who want to see change,
which may be a small portion of the population. Then, the people who like
the park mostly the way it is would only speak up when a concrete plan is
proposed to make a dramatic change which they are surprised to see. Thus, I
wonder whether the staff could propose a minimal option for
consideration? By minimal option, I meant that necessary upgrades of
existing facilities could be included, but donʹt move them around to save
cost of construction. (Councilmember Chao)
Q4 Staff response: Staff is following the direction laid out by the PRSMP and the
Council in adopting the specific plan project. The immense amount of public outreach
provides substantial information on what the community would like to see, however
the Council can deviate from the public feedback and staff recommendation if desired.
Q5: Could DOLA continue to use the softball field since it seems to have
worked out well from the comments we received? Are there other concerns
for this arrangement to continue? (Councilmember Chao)
Q5 Staff response: The current use of the softball field as a DOLA is an unofficial use.
Staff has received complaints from park users about the off‐leash dogs at Memorial
Park. Maintenance and risk/liability would need to be evaluated if the arrangement
were to continue.
Q6: From the proposed concept design, it seems the combined area of the
two playground areas is smaller than the combined areas of the two current
playground areas? But I might be wrong since I donʹt have a map of the
current design. (Councilmember Chao)
Q6 Staff response: The two proposed play areas are of equal or greater area than the
existing play areas. The current design plan is included as Attachment A of the
agenda packet for this item.
Q7: Could we get a map of the current layout of the park? (Councilmember
Chao)
Q7 Staff response: The Site Assessment and Outreach Summary, found here
https://engagecupertino.org/memorial‐park‐specific‐plan, has analysis diagrams of the
existing park, starting on page 24.
Q8: How many hours on average is the softball field used during the course
of the day? (Vice Mayor Mohan)
Q8 Staff response: The permitted use for calendar year 2022 totaled 544 hours of the
3650 hours available in the year (a 15% utilization rate).
Q9: How often are the softball fields in Jollyman Park and Monta Vista
used? (Vice Mayor Mohan)
Q9 Staff response: Jollyman Park’s field is a baseball field. Monta Vista Park softball
field reservations for calendar year 2022 totaled 522 hours of the 3,199 available (a
16% utilization rate).
Q10: Will the new plan result in increased water usage? If yes, does design
include irrigation enhancements? (Vice Mayor Mohan)
Q10 Staff response: This concept plan has not yet identified the level of detail
necessary to measure future water usage. As part of the Memorial Park Ponds
Repurposing project, irrigation improvements were made to enhance the existing
system. However, adjustments to the system will be necessary as new work is done, to
ensure the most efficient use of water for future layouts.
Q11: Since the DOLA park will be fenced, will it be open all day? (Vice
Mayor Mohan)
Q11 Staff response: Currently, fenced DOLAs are open during park hours. For the
proposed DOLA at Memorial Park, operational hours will depend on the size, design
features, layout, and other factors, and would be assessed at the time of
implementation.
Attachments Provided with Original Staff Report:
A. MPSP Preferred Draft Concept 06‐01‐2023
B. MPSP Round 2 Survey Results
C. PRC Minutes 02‐02‐2023
D. BPC Minutes 02‐23‐2023
E. Parks and Recreation Commission Input 06‐01‐2023