13. Volunteer Service Day
PUBUC INFORMATION OFFICE
CUPERTINO
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE · CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) Tl7~3262. FAX: (408) 777-3366
SUMMARY
Agenda Item No. 13
Meeting Date: November 20.2007
SUBJECT AND ISSUE
Council to consider designating an annual Cupertino CommunitylVolunteer Service Day,
BACKGROUND
Don Allen, Cupertino resident has recommended a Cupertino Community Service Day to City
Manager, David Knapp following a discussion with artist Jim Black at the Veteran's Memorial on
the proper maintenance of the bronze statue,
There are several projects that need periodic tending, but lack city staff and budget to do the work,
Examples include, but are not limited to, the Gazebo in Memorial Park, the Tank House and the
new Veteran's Memorial.
National Volunteer Week is always held in the third week of April unless the spring holidays
coincide, The dates for the next three years follow:
2008 - April 27 -May 3
2009 - April 19-25
2010 - April 18-24
Additional dates Council might consider include:
Cupertino's Incorporation Date: October 10, 1955, falls on a Wednesday in 2008
Join Hands Day: Saturday, May 3, 2008
Flag Day: Saturday, June 14,2008
Make a Difference Day: Saturday, October 25,2008 Or any other date Council deems appropriate,
Staff would propose sending an invitation to all the service clubs, fraternal lodges,
veteran's groups, etc" to spend a day together, working on repairing, refurbishing, painting or
cleaning various facilities identified by city staff as needing TLC. Not only would the city benefit, it
would give all the volunteers an opportunity to get to know one another while supporting their city.
13 - 1
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council establish a Cupertino Community ServiceIV olunteer Day.
Submitted by:
-:~
~ ~~/
Sharon Russ --
Acting Public Information Officer
Approved for submission:
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David W. Knapp
City Manager
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E
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COMMENTS BEFORE CUPERTINO CITY
COUNCIL
November 20, 2007
Good Evening.
I come before you this evening to request your support for
an annual community effort devoted to refurbishing and
maintenance of our community's assets. This started with a
conversation with the sculptor who created the newly
dedicated Veteran's Memorial in Memorial Park.
He suggested that the statue be waxed every six months,
using warm Johnson's wax, followed by a buffing with soft
brushed or clothes. If done consistently, the bronze will
last virtually forever; since the bronze is susceptible to
grime and bird droppings, this is a needed activity. His
next comment was surprising. He said, "no community to
my knowledge, follows this suggestion".
When one thinks about it, this is rather understandable.
City staff is already fully deployed, so there's really no one
who takes personal ownership. And that set me to thinking
about other community assets, such as the Tank House, the
Parrish Gazebo, and numerous other items that simply need
a little TLC. I'm also mindful of an activity in Santa
Cruz. . . annually the community turned out for an annual
clean-up day.
2.
When we purchased a condo there over 30 years ago, we
participated with a work-group that washed and scrubbed
sidewalks in front of the Cooper House. We did it, really,
to meet some of our new neighbors. Incidentally, Santa
Cruz doesn't do that any longer.. . they cancelled it after the
1989 earthquake.
Over a decade ago, Cupertino undertook a rather wonderful
activity... the! C' s; Citizens of Cupertino Cross Cultural
Commission. The idea was to bring people of diverse
backgrounds together in a common activity. Our home
towns don't raise barns any longer, but we could perform
other activities together, almost as a common laying-on of
hands, both to improve our community and to meet our
neighbors.
Several years ago, on Independence Day, De Anza College
held a fund raising event on the roof of the parking
structure overlooking the football field at the college. The
funds raised were used for improvements to the early
childhood education program building. The event was
successful but has not been repeated because De Anza has
been under construction for several years, and the campus
won't accommodate the Fireworks display it held
previously.
3.
But something unique took place during that effort. The
committee leading that effort, chaired by John Giovanola of
Hanson Cement, made a real effort to involve all the
community. Rotary, Lyons, the VFW, American Legion,
Kiwanis, the Masons and the Odd Fellows, even school
groups and Little League and A YSO, were encouraged to
volunteer. Frankly, that's one of the ways we build a
community, by working together.
That file of the participants at the De Anza event still
exists.
And that brings me to my request of you this evening.
Would you be willing to declare a Saturday in Mayas
Community Service Day, recognizing the groups and
individuals who might respond to such a request? If you
would, I think it can be organized and brought to fruition
for the betterment of our community. Such an effort would
be led by volunteers, but with direction and
recommendation from City staff, assuring a cohesive result.
Thanks you for your attention. I would be happy to answer
any questions you might have.
Comments by Don Allen