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SCTF 03-27-01 City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Study Area A- Trail Alignment Meeting MEETING LOCATION: Cupertino Senior Center, Reception Hall 21251 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino MEETING DATE: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 MEETING TIME: 7:00 p.m. ATTENDANCE: Task Force Members Present Richard Lowenthal, Cupertino City Council Jeanne Bradford, Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commission Susie Brain, Friends of Stevens Creek Trail John Buenz, Meadows Home Owners Association Ann Cleaver, Meadows Home Owners Association John Giovanola, Hanson Permanente Cement David Greenstein, Cupertino Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Mary Jo Gunderson, Linda Vista Neighborhood Scott Hathaway, Deep Cliff Golf Course Steve Haze, Cupertino Historical Society (late arrival) Beez Jones, Stevens Creek Canyon Homeowners John Kolski, Stevens Creek Quarry Chuck Noble, Scenic Circle Neighborhood Task Force Members Absent Craig Breon, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society Dave Constant, Cupertino Swim & Racquet Club Staff Members Ray Chong, Traffic Engineer David Knapp, City Manager Mike O'Dowd, Recreation Supervisor, Blackberry Farm Marie Preston, Parks and Recreation Admin. Secretary Therese Ambrosi Smith, Parks and Recreation Director Consultants Jana Sokale; Environmental Planner Lynne A. Trulio, Ph.D., Wildlife and Wetlands Ecologist These meeting minutes, if not corrected at the next meeting by any party in attendance, shall be acknowledged as an accurate report of the events that transpired at this meeting. Page 1 II. III. IV. VI. VII. VIII. City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Call to Order David Greenstein, Chair called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. Mr. Greenstein gave the audience a brief description of the history of the Stevens Creek Trail and the creation, role, objectives, and project schedule of the Stevens Creek Trail Task Force. February Meeting Minutes The minutes were unanimously approved as drafted. Oral Communications (items not on the agenda) Question: Are these meetings costing the taxpayers money, and how much? Answer: Yes, tax money is paying for this process. The current budget is $80,000. Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Administration Jana Sokale distributed updated roster and final schedule (handouts). The Task Force selected Saturday, April 21 to tour other trail segments. The half-day tour will fall on "State Trails Day." A start time will be announced closer to the day. Feasibility Study Goals Jana Sokale detailed the general study areas of the proposed Trail via enlarged maps. She also presented Feasibility Study Goals for review and refining. She will take the comments and recommendations from the Task Force and the public and incorporate them into a report that will be given at the next Task Force meeting on April 24. Each Task Force member was asked to review the goals, select their top four goals, explain their point of view on each of their selected goals, and forward their comments to Jana Sokale by Friday, April 16. Ms. Sokale will compile these goals and bring them to the April 24 meeting. Biological Findings Lynne Trulio, Ph.D., Wetlands & Wildlife Ecologist was introduced. Dr. Truho took the Task Force through the details of her draft report, "Assessment of Biological Opportunities and Constraints for the Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study." This report was developed early in the process to strategize protection for various species and habitats. Part of her report included a habitat map detailing land features, land uses, and habitat types. Her report highlighted and identified potential ecological restoration opportunities. To develop this report, she did field surveys over the last year, examined existing documents on the area, and held conversations and meetings with knowledgeable local experts. Presentation of Study Area A - Rancho San Antonio County Park to Stevens Creek Boulevard at the Hammond-Snyder Home Jana Sokale presented a slide show of Study Area A from Rancho San Antonio County Park and the Open Space Preserve to Stevens Creek Boulevard at the Hammond-Snyder Home. She discussed Study Area A and the trail alignment recommendations for the site. She presented the handout entitled "Study Area A - Trail Alignment Study Session Summary - Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve to Stevens Creek Boulevard at the Hammond-Snyder Home." Study Area A - Public Comment Page 2 IX. City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trai! Feasibility Stua¥ Paul Metz, a San Jose resident working in Cupertino is excited about trail. He likes the idea of paving from the new Stevens Creek Boulevard bike lanes to the proposed trail route paralleling Permanente Creek. He als0 likes the bike lanes on Crist0 Rey. He has used Cristo Rey to ride his bike. He would like not to be forced off the road onto a path where keeping the required 15 mph is difficult to maintain. Barbara Robben grew up in Cupertino and returns regularly to visit mother at The Forum. She lives in Berkeley and grew up in this area during 40's and 50's. She uses many of the trails in the area. She is a runner and likes the alternatives of the pathway system. She talked with staff following meeting to give further input on handicap access from paved trail to a decomposed granite trail, the little knoll questions about fire and the chain-link fences being installed in the area. Rodney Brown, Cupertino resident, road and mountain biker, and a hiker. He noted that the section planned to go along the existing bike lanes on Foothill Boulevard, where gravel trucks travel is a scary place to ride a road bike. There is a lot of gravel and debris in the bike lanes, unless the street sweepers have gone by recently. He understands that there are other limitations in the area: can't go in the Phar Lap area, the UP trail may not be a viable alternative. He asked that the Task Force look for other alternatives in that area because for cycling on Foothill Boulevard is the scariest portion of his ride. As a mountain biker, he asked the Task Force to open the trails to all users. He believes that there won't be a lot of mountain biker use because it is a small trail system, but it would be a good area for families with kids because there would be less traffic. There was a concern about equestrian vs. mountain cyclist issues. There are plenty of places in the area where with the right trail design those issues could be largely mitigated with proper site lines. He asked the Task Force to consider those issues. He asked the Task Force to look at having representatives from other user groups, i.e., mountain cyclists, hikers. He would like an e-mail address to respond to, as well as, a website to access information. Jim Bodwin, Cupertino resident. He is excited about the trail and goes to Fremont Older Open Space Preserve about three times a week. The trail up Stevens Creek Boulevard, toward Hanson-Permanente would be an important link for families with strollers and young children and a possible alternative commute route. Parking may become a problem at the Hammond-Snyder Home because there is no parking available on Saturdays at Rancho San Antonio due to its popularity. He was concerned about opening up an area to horses where they don't now go. If more access is given to the horses, they will cause more environmental damage. Fremont Older Open Space Preserve has a real problem with erosion damage from the horses. Mr. Bodwin felt that by putting in loops for the horses, the city would also be catering to private owners and improving their business. Who owns the stables? Jana Sokale stated that Whispering Creek Stable boards horses for private individuals. They do not operate an equestrian concession. They lease the land from PG&E Company. Councilmember Lowenthal agreed that mountain bikers were potentially underrepresented. Discussion Councilmember Lowenthal asked how the Task Force might arrange for compatibility between off-road bicyclists and horses? Steve Haze commented that the Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail is a paved trail running parallel with a soft surface equestrian trail. The two Page 3 City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study trails are separated by a split-rail fence. Mr. Haze also stated that if a trail is designed appropriately, there can be multi-use: hikers, runners, walkers, equestrians, off-road bikes. He believes decomposed granite (DG) is a good trail surface. Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) does not pave any of their trails and many of the county park systems trails are strictly dirt. It seems that, as a compromise, instead of asphalt or two separate trails, DG as the surface material could be considered. He believes that another issue to consider is the highest priority of the area and what would the appropriate use of the area. Jana Sokale stated that the City of Cupertino will not own or operate these lands and that these lands will be owned by the County of Santa Clara and operated either by the County or by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Their policies will need to be interfaced with what Cupertino wants to do. Their policies provide a trail use and management framework for the Task Force to consider. Jana Sokale asked the Task Force if there were any trails or areas they wished eliminated/changed/added to Study Area A. Steve Haze asked that an alignment be added through the PG&E property going along the rail line corridor because there is a landscaping service which is on the backside of the substation property that went in during the last month. Jana Sokale said she would review this trail alignment and report back at the April 24 Task Force Meeting. Richard Lowenthal requested clarification on the trail alignment alternatives prese:ated along Stevens Creek Boulevard. Ray Chong, Traffic Engineer noted that bicycle lanes were being added to Stevens Creek Boulevard from the intersection of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard to the edge of the residential development. Jana Sokale noted that the trail alignment needs to connect to these bicycle lanes and that two options had been presented for review. The first option includes a Class I trail parallel to Stevens Creek Boulevard that traverses Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department property before connecting to the on-street bicycle lanes at Ridgeway Drive with a new signalized intersection. The second alternative connects trail users to Stevens Creek Boulevard with a signalized intersection at the driveway to the Hammond-Snyder Home. The second alternative would extend the on-street bicycle lanes up the hill to this new intersection. The Task Force directed Jana Sokale to prepare cost estimates for both options and present these alternatives at the April 24 Meeting. Next Steps The Task Force agreed to keep all alignments as noted plus investigate an alignment through the PG&E property along the rail line. Add information to the city's website, including maps. Mariep~cupertino.org is a contact e-mail address for interested parties to receive agendas and/or packets. At the televised April 5 Parks and Recreation Commission, Stevens Creek Trail information will be disseminated. Task Force members to work on their four goals and send back to Jana Sokale by April 16. Task Force should read Dr. Trulio's report and send comments to Jana Sokale by April 16. An upcoming tour schedule will be sent to Task Force members within a week. Transportation and lunches will be arranged for these tours, so RSVP's are important. The Parks and Recreation Commission agenda will be will be sent out to the Task Force members. Page 4 XI. XII. City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study For the next agenda, it was suggested that "public comment" be lOUt on earlier. Have a copy of the Task Force materials at McClellan Ranch Park in the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail office, as well at the main City library. Announcements - None Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m. The next Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Meeting will be held at the Cupertino Senior Center on Tuesday, May 22, 2001 at 7:00 PM. Page 5