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CC 08-21-2018 Item No. 25 Regnart Creek Trail - Written CommunicationsFrom:Sylvia M. Gallegos To:Darcy Paul; Savita Vaidhyanathan; Barry Chang; Rod Sinks; Steven Scharf Cc:Jennifer Chu Subject:SUPPORT FOR Regnart Bike Trail (East of DeAnza Blvd. Bike Boulevard) Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 5:05:32 PM Dear Council Members: First -- let me say that I am loving the City's new efforts to build community by creating the music events in our neighborhood parks AND the annual community bicycling event! We enjoyed the kick-off event at Creekside Park. As a resident who grew up and attended Cupertino schools (Eaton, Hyde, and Cupertino HS) and who lives around the corner from Cupertino HS and Sedgwick Elementary, I strongly endorse any bike boulevard plan that would do the following: Create safer routes so that more kids (especially Cupertino HS and Hyde) bike to school. I live around the corner on the route to Cupertino HS, and there is about 15-20 minutes that are NOT safe as cars, students, and bicyclists rush to the high school. More parents would allow their kids to bicycle if there were routes that didn't put them at risk of accidents by road sharing with cars. I am frankly surprised there haven't been more accidents as parents are rushed to get kids to school then head to work. I've seen very testy confrontations and near-misses. Alternative commute for residents. As Cupertino densifies (if it wants to be a place where teachers, firefighters, etc. can afford to live), one of the ways to mitigate the increase in vehicle traffic is by providing safe routes for residents to bicycle around town. Bicycling as alternative commute reduces Cupertino's Greenhouse Gas Emissions. We owe the next generation a planet that is sustainable. I can see that the residents who back up along the segment of the creek trail are up in arms about the proposal -- I have seen their lawn signs -- but I would really encourage the Council to at least try out the proposed path as a PILOT PROJECT that could be evaluated by staff and residents. Obviously address their concerns about privacy and safety by building a wall like the segment next to Creekside Park. The current Creekside Park trail segment shows that it is feasible and safe to have a trail along the backside of residences. Of course the residents who oppose a project will show up in person, but please know that there are many others who support the proposed project. Sincerely, Sylvia Gallegos Total Control Panel Login To: sscharf@cupertino.org From: s-m-g@pacbell.net Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block pacbell.net This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Ying Li To:City Council Subject:I disagree with the proposed Regnart Creek trail! Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 4:17:16 PM Dear Council Members, I am a Cupertino resident, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail for the following reasons: · Safety of trail users on the un-railed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast-moving water after rainy days; this is a narrow path that children will share with bikers · Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path · Increase in traffic and risk to school children due to the creation of an additional crosswalk that Blaney that students would use during rush hour · Security and privacy of the neighborhood residents whose front and backyards border the creek · Loss of habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and cultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to trail users · It is currently quiet at night that we can still hear frogs, insects calling at night. The trail proposal will impact the eco system’s dynamics of the creek. It’s very hard to have this kind of environment in today’s city settings. · Waste of money; there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, and have not been included in the feasibility study · Increasing traffic gridlock for Blaney and East Estate Drive during rush hours. This will likely increase travel time to work. Cupertino became not a working friendly city. If we are also building more new housing in Cupertino, this will be even worst in the future. I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in the neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for children Thanks, Ingrid Li, Cupertino Resident Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: suying1204@yahoo.com Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Rosemary To:Steven Scharf Subject:Please Vote No on Proposed Regnart Creek Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 2:39:47 PM Dear Mr. Steven Scharf, I grew up in Cupertino and have lived here for over 30 years, and I strongly oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail. My family's home is right on the trail with our backyard fence facing the creek and I know that the proposed trail comes with many negative potential consequences and significant risks to users and neighbors. Over the last few years, I've spent time at nearby bike/walk trails and have noticed several alarming issues that come with public space near residences. Some include: Purposely placed piles of dangerous items like thumb tacks to pop bike tires and cause accidents, and nails covered with cheese to harm/kill dogs and other animals Illegal camping/sleeping in the area, increased noise and loitering at all hours Increased litter found in neighboring yards (bottles, cigarettes, food waste) When I was very young, my brother and I went behind our backyard to see the creek, so I know first-hand that it isn’t safe for children, or adults for that matter. The sides are narrow, and the creek is deep. There are many safety concerns with the proposed trail, some of which include: Risks of trail users on the unrailed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days; too narrow for children, adults, and bikers to share Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path Increased security risk and decreased privacy of the neighborhood residents whose yards border the creek Over the last 20 or so years, trees have naturally sprung up and grown large over time behind our house, creating beautiful and functional new landscape and it would be truly heartbreaking to see this taken out to make room for a manmade, newly constructed path. Other environmental concerns include: Loss of habitat for animals, loss of existing trees and plants; paving paradise to put up a parking lot, so to speak Constant litter, which is a nuisance, unsightly, and difficult and expensive to clean up - most of the time it just isn't cleaned up, which is bad for the environment and animals Overall, this project is not one of any urgency or importance to the neighborhoods that would be affected the most. The nearby residential streets and sidewalks that run along the proposed trail have the highest safety ratings and historically low traffic, making this trail unnecessary. It is supposed to create an alternative path but will cost the city a lot of money for something people may not even really use for its intended purpose. Any use would pose increased risk to the residents that are nearest to it, many of whom have spent many decades in this city. While I’m always open to improvement and growth, I believe this is not where Cupertino should be using our valuable resources. I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternative paths in this neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives, creating outdoor programs for children, and finding new ways to support our elderly. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Rosemary Lee Cupertino Resident CC 08-21-2018 Item No. 25 Total Control Panel Login To: sscharf@cupertino.org From: rosiejlee@yahoo.com Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Rosemary To:Barry Chang Subject:Please Vote No on Proposed Regnart Creek Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 2:39:10 PM Dear Mr. Barry Chang, I grew up in Cupertino and have lived here for over 30 years, and I strongly oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail. My family's home is right on the trail with our backyard fence facing the creek and I know that the proposed trail comes with many negative potential consequences and significant risks to users and neighbors. Over the last few years, I've spent time at nearby bike/walk trails and have noticed several alarming issues that come with public space near residences. Some include: Purposely placed piles of dangerous items like thumb tacks to pop bike tires and cause accidents, and nails covered with cheese to harm/kill dogs and other animals Illegal camping/sleeping in the area, increased noise and loitering at all hours Increased litter found in neighboring yards (bottles, cigarettes, food waste) When I was very young, my brother and I went behind our backyard to see the creek, so I know first-hand that it isn’t safe for children, or adults for that matter. The sides are narrow, and the creek is deep. There are many safety concerns with the proposed trail, some of which include: Risks of trail users on the unrailed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days; too narrow for children, adults, and bikers to share Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path Increased security risk and decreased privacy of the neighborhood residents whose yards border the creek Over the last 20 or so years, trees have naturally sprung up and grown large over time behind our house, creating beautiful and functional new landscape and it would be truly heartbreaking to see this taken out to make room for a manmade, newly constructed path. Other environmental concerns include: Loss of habitat for animals, loss of existing trees and plants; paving paradise to put up a parking lot, so to speak Constant litter, which is a nuisance, unsightly, and difficult and expensive to clean up - most of the time it just isn't cleaned up, which is bad for the environment and animals Overall, this project is not one of any urgency or importance to the neighborhoods that would be affected the most. The nearby residential streets and sidewalks that run along the proposed trail have the highest safety ratings and historically low traffic, making this trail unnecessary. It is supposed to create an alternative path but will cost the city a lot of money for something people may not even really use for its intended purpose. Any use would pose increased risk to the residents that are nearest to it, many of whom have spent many decades in this city. While I’m always open to improvement and growth, I believe this is not where Cupertino should be using our valuable resources. I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternative paths in this neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives, creating outdoor programs for children, and finding new ways to support our elderly. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Rosemary Lee Cupertino Resident Total Control Panel Login To: bchang@cupertino.org From: rosiejlee@yahoo.com Message Score: 40 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Rosemary To:Savita Vaidhyanathan Subject:Please Vote No on Proposed Regnart Creek Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 2:38:26 PM Dear Ms. Savita Vaidhyanathan, I grew up in Cupertino and have lived here for over 30 years, and I strongly oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail. My family's home is right on the trail with our backyard fence facing the creek and I know that the proposed trail comes with many negative potential consequences and significant risks to users and neighbors. Over the last few years, I've spent time at nearby bike/walk trails and have noticed several alarming issues that come with public space near residences. Some include: Purposely placed piles of dangerous items like thumb tacks to pop bike tires and cause accidents, and nails covered with cheese to harm/kill dogs and other animals Illegal camping/sleeping in the area, increased noise and loitering at all hours Increased litter found in neighboring yards (bottles, cigarettes, food waste) When I was very young, my brother and I went behind our backyard to see the creek, so I know first-hand that it isn’t safe for children, or adults for that matter. The sides are narrow, and the creek is deep. There are many safety concerns with the proposed trail, some of which include: Risks of trail users on the unrailed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days; too narrow for children, adults, and bikers to share Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path Increased security risk and decreased privacy of the neighborhood residents whose yards border the creek Over the last 20 or so years, trees have naturally sprung up and grown large over time behind our house, creating beautiful and functional new landscape and it would be truly heartbreaking to see this taken out to make room for a manmade, newly constructed path. Other environmental concerns include: Loss of habitat for animals, loss of existing trees and plants; paving paradise to put up a parking lot, so to speak Constant litter, which is a nuisance, unsightly, and difficult and expensive to clean up - most of the time it just isn't cleaned up, which is bad for the environment and animals Overall, this project is not one of any urgency or importance to the neighborhoods that would be affected the most. The nearby residential streets and sidewalks that run along the proposed trail have the highest safety ratings and historically low traffic, making this trail unnecessary. It is supposed to create an alternative path but will cost the city a lot of money for something people may not even really use for its intended purpose. Any use would pose increased risk to the residents that are nearest to it, many of whom have spent many decades in this city. While I’m always open to improvement and growth, I believe this is not where Cupertino should be using our valuable resources. I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternative paths in this neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives, creating outdoor programs for children, and finding new ways to support our elderly. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Rosemary Lee Cupertino Resident Total Control Panel Login To: svaidhyanathan@cupertino.org From: rosiejlee@yahoo.com Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Rosemary To:Rod Sinks Subject:Please Vote No on Proposed Regnart Creek Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 2:37:18 PM Attachments:ATT00001.txt ATT00002.htm Total Control Panel Login To: rsinks@cupertino.org From: rosiejlee@yahoo.com Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Rosemary To:Darcy Paul Subject:Please Vote No on Proposed Regnart Creek Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 2:36:44 PM Dear Mr. Darcy Paul, I grew up in Cupertino and have lived here for over 30 years, and I strongly oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail. My family's home is right on the trail with our backyard fence facing the creek and I know that the proposed trail comes with many negative potential consequences and significant risks to users and neighbors. Over the last few years, I've spent time at nearby bike/walk trails and have noticed several alarming issues that come with public space near residences. Some include: Purposely placed piles of dangerous items like thumb tacks to pop bike tires and cause accidents, and nails covered with cheese to harm/kill dogs and other animals Illegal camping/sleeping in the area, increased noise and loitering at all hours Increased litter found in neighboring yards (bottles, cigarettes, food waste) When I was very young, my brother and I went behind our backyard to see the creek, so I know first-hand that it isn’t safe for children, or adults for that matter. The sides are narrow, and the creek is deep. There are many safety concerns with the proposed trail, some of which include: Risks of trail users on the unrailed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days; too narrow for children, adults, and bikers to share Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path Increased security risk and decreased privacy of the neighborhood residents whose yards border the creek Over the last 20 or so years, trees have naturally sprung up and grown large over time behind our house, creating beautiful and functional new landscape and it would be truly heartbreaking to see this taken out to make room for a manmade, newly constructed path. Other environmental concerns include: Loss of habitat for animals, loss of existing trees and plants; paving paradise to put up a parking lot, so to speak Constant litter, which is a nuisance, unsightly, and difficult and expensive to clean up - most of the time it just isn't cleaned up, which is bad for the environment and animals Overall, this project is not one of any urgency or importance to the neighborhoods that would be affected the most. The nearby residential streets and sidewalks that run along the proposed trail have the highest safety ratings and historically low traffic, making this trail unnecessary. It is supposed to create an alternative path but will cost the city a lot of money for something people may not even really use for its intended purpose. Any use would pose increased risk to the residents that are nearest to it, many of whom have spent many decades in this city. While I’m always open to improvement and growth, I believe this is not where Cupertino should be using our valuable resources. I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternative paths in this neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives, creating outdoor programs for children, and finding new ways to support our elderly. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Rosemary Lee Cupertino Resident Total Control Panel Login To: dpaul@cupertino.org From: rosiejlee@yahoo.com Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Joseph Sun To:City Council Subject:NO to Regnart Creek Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 12:00:46 PM Dear City Council, I’m writing to express my objection to the proposed Regnart Creek Trail. I think this is a bad idea and should be rejected by the City Council. I live along the creek. Currently, we co- exist with the animals that live in the creek (Frogs, possums, squirrels). On rare occasion, they venture into our yards. My fear is with the new bike trail, we’ll disrupt their natural habitat and they will be forced to flee more into our neighborhoods and yards. Furthermore, I don’t want people literally walking behind my house. It’s not safe for our kids and pets. Realistically, I just don’t see the bike trail being used much. We already enjoy the streets, schools and parks offered by the city. Why not put the money (our tax money) into further improvements there? I think the bike trail will just cause more traffic (stop signs on Blaney) and cost money to upkeep, clean and keep safe. Please vote “No”. Thank you for reading and considering my feedback. -Joe Sun Las Ondas Way Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: jt_sun@yahoo.com Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Katheryn Li To:City Council Subject:I disagree with the proposed Regnart Creek trail! Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 9:57:42 AM Dear Council Members, I am a Cupertino resident, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail for the following reasons: · Safety of trail users on the un-railed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast- moving water after rainy days; this is a narrow path that children will share with bikers · Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path · Increase in traffic and risk to school children due to the creation of an additional crosswalk that Blaney that students would use during rush hour · Security and privacy of the neighborhood residents whose front and backyards border the creek · Loss of habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and cultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to trail users · It is currently quiet at night that we can still hear frogs, insects calling at night. The trail proposal will impact the eco system’s dynamics of the creek. It’s very hard to have this kind of environment in today’s city settings. · Waste of money; there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, and have not been included in the feasibility study · Increasing traffic gridlock for Blaney and East Estate Drive during rush hours. This will likely increase travel time to work. Cupertino became not a working friendly city. If we are also building more new housing in Cupertino, this will be even worst in the future. I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in the neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for children Thanks, Katheryn Li, Cupertino Resident -- Katheryn Li B.S. in Industrial Engineering California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (408)-621-6449 Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: katherynyli@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Raja Bhadury To:City Council Subject:Why I"m against the Regnart Creek Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 9:43:53 AM I’ve seen a few comments from those in favor of the Regnart Creek Trail mention that they like being close to nature. The implicit assumption is that this trail and recreational activities on it will be environmentally benign. But will it, really? I can think of at least a couple of ways in which such a trail can be very damaging to the creek and wildlife that depends on it. First, where there are recreational users, there will be food and litter. Those of you familiar with the McClellan Groundwater Recharge Pond have undoubtedly noticed the trash littered behind the 7-Eleven and all over the trail. Some trail users will no doubt do the right thing and use trash cans (assuming they are provided). But many won’t. And this will attract the wrong kinds of animals and birds - those that are habituated to feeding on garbage. The songbirds and occasional herons that I see near the creek today will be replaced by crows and other scavengers. Second, the smallest, most vulnerable creatures that depend on the creek are no match for bikers (even perhaps the more careful ones). Those frogs, toads, salamanders and the tiniest ducklings that live in the creek will probably become roadkill. Some of you might wonder what the fuss is about but I believe they deserve a chance to live peacefully in that creek. And a bike trail is simply not essential right next to the creek. If the council can promise specific steps to minimize the impact of construction on nesting or breeding wildlife, agrees to impose large fines for littering and is willing consider closing the trail during the wet season (which, incidentally, may be safer for young trail users as well), I’d be more open to a Regnart Creek trail. But as it now stands, I cannot support this trail. Regards, Raja Bhadury 10355 Farallone Drive Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: bhaduryr@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Grace Schmidt, MMC To:Lauren Sapudar Subject:FW: Regnart Ditch Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 9:36:08 AM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png image006.png image007.png image008.png image025.png image026.png image027.png image028.png image029.png image030.png image031.png image032.png Print for tonight. Grace Schmidt, MMC City Clerk City Manager's Office/City Clerk's Office GraceS@cupertino.org (408) 777-3224 From: Amy Chan Sent: Monday, August 20, 2018 5:20 PM To: Grace Schmidt, MMC <graces@cupertino.org> Subject: FW: Regnart Ditch Trail Hi Grace: For tomorrow’s meeting. Amy Amy Chan City Manager City Manager's Office AmyC@cupertino.org (408) 777-3212/3314 From: Darryl Stow <darryl_s@pacbell.net> Sent: Monday, August 20, 2018 4:05 PM To: Savita Vaidhyanathan <svaidhyanathan@cupertino.org> Cc: Julia Miyakawa <jemiyakawa@hotmail.com>; Amy Chan <amyc@cupertino.org> Subject: Regnart Ditch Trail Hi Savita, We want to thank you for taking the time to see for yourself and hear from concerned neighbors about the proposed Regart ditch - sorry - Creek Trail. By now, you certainly know the issues of the two sides. And coming as it does right before the election, adds an unfair pressure on and Darcy. For us, the key issues are these: 1. Privacy and security. We told you of our experiences before the creek was fenced of a broken window and other vandalism from rocks and other things thrown into our yard from the creek. After fencing, those issues went away. 2. Safely for the children who may use the trail who might fall into the creek bed, have problems on the isolated sections of the trail and the dangers in crossing Blaney Ave. in the middle of the block. 3. Cost. Is the cost of such a project (we heard $2.2M allocated) worth it for the relatively few that would use the trail? Also, it seems to us the potential liability to the City is significant. 4. The proposed trail is supported to be a secure and safe place for bicycle riders. But those coming from the west side, where much of the push for this proposal seems to be coming from, would most likely have to ride down McClellan Road to get there and we know that McClellan Rd. not a save route for bikes. 5. Finally, and most personal for all of us in the neighborhoods, is we feel like the City is trying to cram this proposal down our collective throats in spite of our concerns - for the supposed "better good of the community". The last time this proposal was put forth many years ago, the Council - in its wisdom - voted down the proposal. Thanks again for listening. Sincerely, Darryl and Dorothy Total Control Panel Login To: amyc@cupertino.org From: darryl_s@pacbell.net Message Score: 25 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block pacbell.net This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Grace Schmidt, MMC To:Lauren Sapudar Subject:FW: Proposed Regnart Creek trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 9:35:53 AM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png image006.png image007.png image008.png image025.png image026.png image027.png image028.png image029.png image030.png image031.png image032.png Print for tonight. Grace Schmidt, MMC City Clerk City Manager's Office/City Clerk's Office GraceS@cupertino.org (408) 777-3224 From: Amy Chan Sent: Monday, August 20, 2018 5:21 PM To: Grace Schmidt, MMC <graces@cupertino.org> Subject: FW: Proposed Regnart Creek trail Hi Grace: For tomorrow’s CC meeting. Amy Amy Chan City Manager City Manager's Office AmyC@cupertino.org (408) 777-3212/3314 From: Darryl Stow <darryl_s@pacbell.net> Sent: Monday, August 20, 2018 4:14 PM To: Darcy Paul <DPaul@cupertino.org> Cc: Julia Miyakawa <jemiyakawa@hotmail.com>; Amy Chan <amyc@cupertino.org> Subject: Proposed Regnart Creek trail Hi Darcy, We want to thank you for taking the time and interest to see for yourself the issues involved in the proposed Regnant ditch - sorry - Creek Trail. We appreciated the opportunity to talk with you this morning about how the neighborhood feels about this proposal. By now, you certainly know the issues of the two sides. And coming as it does right before the election, adds an unfair pressure on and Savita. For us, the key issues are these: 1. Privacy and security. We told you of our experiences before the creek was fenced of a broken window and other vandalism from rocks and other things thrown into our yard from the creek. After fencing, those issues went away. 2. Safely for the children who may use the trail who might fall into the creek bed, have problems on the isolated sections of the trail and the dangers in crossing Blaney Ave. in the middle of the block. 3. Cost. Is the cost of such a project (we heard $2.2M allocated) worth it for the relatively few that would use the trail? Also, it seems to us the potential liability to the City is significant. 4. The proposed trail is supported to be a secure and safe place for bicycle riders. But those coming from the west side, where much of the push for this proposal seems to be coming from, would most likely have to ride down McClellan Road to get there and we know that McClellan Rd. not a save route for bikes. 5. Finally, and most personal for all of us in the neighborhoods, is we feel like the City is trying to cram this proposal down our collective throats in spite of our concerns - for the supposed "better good of the community". The last time this proposal was put forth many years ago, the Council - in its wisdom - voted down the proposal. Thanks again for listening. Sincerely, Darryl and Dorothy Total Control Panel Login To: amyc@cupertino.org From: darryl_s@pacbell.net Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block pacbell.net This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Grace Schmidt, MMC To:Lauren Sapudar Subject:FW: Proposed Regnart Creek Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 9:34:34 AM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png image006.png image007.png image008.png image025.png image026.png image027.png image028.png image029.png image030.png image031.png image032.png You may have seen this already for tonight. Grace Schmidt, MMC City Clerk City Manager's Office/City Clerk's Office GraceS@cupertino.org (408) 777-3224 From: Amy Chan Sent: Monday, August 20, 2018 5:21 PM To: Grace Schmidt, MMC <graces@cupertino.org> Subject: FW: Proposed Regnart Creek Trail Hi Grace: For tomorrow’s CC meeting. Thanks. Amy Amy Chan City Manager City Manager's Office AmyC@cupertino.org (408) 777-3212/3314 From: Darryl Stow <darryl_s@pacbell.net> Sent: Monday, August 20, 2018 4:27 PM To: Barry Chang <BChang@cupertino.org> Cc: Julia Miyakawa <jemiyakawa@hotmail.com>; Amy Chan <amyc@cupertino.org> Subject: Proposed Regnart Creek Trail Hi Barry, We have lived in our home on Las Ondas Way which abuts Regnant Creek for 52 years now. As you probably know, most of the neighbors that are also next to the creek are solidly opposed to the proposed trail. A drive down Farallone Dr. will illustrate the point as 13 of the 14 houses on that street display signs opposing the trail proposal. For us, the key issues are these: 1. Privacy and security. We had the experience in the past before the creek was fenced of a broken window and other vandalism from rocks and other things thrown into our yard from the creek. After fencing, those issues went away. 2. Safely for the children who may use the trail who might fall into the creek bed, have problems on the isolated sections of the trail and the dangers in crossing Blaney Ave. in the middle of the block. 3. Cost. Is the cost of such a project (we heard $2.2M allocated) worth it for the relatively few that would use the trail? Also, it seems to us the potential liability to the City is significant. 4. The proposed trail is supported to be a secure and safe place for bicycle riders. But those coming from the west side, where much of the push for this proposal seems to be coming from, would most likely have to ride down McClellan Road to get there and we know that McClellan Rd. not a save route for bikes. 5. Finally, and most personal for all of us in the neighborhoods, is we feel like the City is trying to cram this proposal down our collective throats in spite of our concerns - for the supposed "better good of the community". The last time this proposal was put forth many years ago, the Council - in its wisdom - voted down the proposal. Thanks again for listening. Sincerely, Darryl and Dorothy Total Control Panel Login To: amyc@cupertino.org From: darryl_s@pacbell.net Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block pacbell.net This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Kristen Lyn To:City Council Subject:Regnart Creek Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 9:03:18 AM Attachments:image.png Dear Mayor Paul and City Council Members, I learnt Regnart Creek Trail on May 8, 2018 CUSD Regular Board Meeting. Chelsea Biklen, SR2S Coordinator for Cupertino, and Norma O'Connell, SRTS Coordinator for Sunnyvale, provided an update on the activities and collaboration related to Safe Routes to School in support of CUSD students. CUSD supports Safe Routes to School (SR2S) projects for several years and it improves the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bike to school. CUSD maintains collaborative relationships with our partner cities to work to improve the routes students use to bike and walk to and from schools. Based on Chelsea Biklen's presentation on 5/8/2018 for agenda item 5.1 Update on Safe Routes to School (City of Cupertino), The map below shows how the trail would affect local students. I would like to make sure this email shows my support to build the Regnart Creek Trail. Thanks for reading. Regards, Kristen Lyn Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass From: pan.s.s.2004@gmail.com My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Kristen Lyn To:City Council Subject:Regnart Creek Trail Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 8:59:02 AM Dear Mayor Paul and City Council Members, I learnt Regnart Creek Trail on May 8, 2018 CUSD Regular Board Meeting. Chelsea Biklen, SR2S Coordinator for Cupertino, and Norma O'Connell, SRTS Coordinator for Sunnyvale, provided an update on the activities and collaboration related to Safe Routes to School in support of CUSD students. CUSD supports Safe Routes to School (SR2S) projects for several years and it improves the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bike to school. CUSD maintains collaborative relationships with our partner cities to work to improve the routes students use to bike and walk to and from schools. Based on Chelsea Biklen's presentation on 5/8/2018 for agenda item 5.1 Update on Safe Routes to School (City of Cupertino), The map below shows how the trail would affect local students. I would like to make sure this email shows my support to build the Regnart Creek Trail. Thanks for reading. Regards, Kristen Lyn Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: pan.s.s.2004@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Tien-Chin Li To:City Council Subject:I disagree with the proposed Regnart Creek Trail! Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 8:23:27 AM Dear Council Members, I am a Cupertino resident, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail for the following reasons: Safety of trail users on the un-railed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days; this is a narrow path that children will share with bikers Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path Increase in traffic and risk to school children due to creation of an additional crosswalk that Blaney that students would use during rush hour Security and privacy of the neighborhood residents whose front and backyards border the creek Loss of habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and cultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to trail users It is currently quiet at night that we can still hearing frogs, insects calling at night. The trail proposal will impact the eco system’s dynamics of the creek. It’s very hard to have this kind of environment in today’s city settings. Waste of money; there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, and have not been included in the feasibility study Increasing traffic gridlock for Blaney and East Estate Drive during rush hours. This will likely increase travel time to work. Cupertino became not a working friendly city. If we are also building more new housing in Cupertino, this will be even worst in the future. I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in the neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for children Thanks, Tien Chin Li Cupertino Resident Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass From: tien10108@hotmail.com My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block hotmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Richard Li To:City Council Subject:I disagree with the proposed Regnart Creek Trail! Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 8:19:39 AM Dear Council Members, I am a Cupertino resident, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail for the following reasons: Safety of trail users on the un-railed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days; this is a narrow path that children will share with bikers Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path Increase in traffic and risk to school children due to creation of an additional crosswalk that Blaney that students would use during rush hour Security and privacy of the neighborhood residents whose front and backyards border the creek Loss of habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and cultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to trail users It is currently quiet at night that we can still hearing frogs, insects calling at night. The trail proposal will impact the eco system’s dynamics of the creek. It’s very hard to have this kind of environment in today’s city settings. Waste of money; there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, and have not been included in the feasibility study Increasing traffic gridlock for Blaney and East Estate Drive during rush hours. This will likely increase travel time to work. Cupertino became not a working friendly city. If we are also building more new housing in Cupertino, this will be even worst in the future. I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in the neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for children Thanks, Richard Li Cupertino Resident This email and any attachments are intended for the sole use of the named recipient(s) and contain(s) confidential information that may be proprietary, privileged or copyrighted under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, copy, or forward this email message or any attachments. Delete this email message and any attachments immediately. Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: richardl@xilinx.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block xilinx.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:A-Hsiu Li To:City Council Subject:I disagree with the proposed Regnart Creek Trail! Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 8:15:53 AM Dear Council Members, I am a Cupertino resident, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail for the following reasons: Safety of trail users on the un-railed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days; this is a narrow path that children will share with bikers Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path Increase in traffic and risk to school children due to creation of an additional crosswalk that Blaney that students would use during rush hour Security and privacy of the neighborhood residents whose front and backyards border the creek Loss of habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and cultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to trail users It is currently quiet at night that we can still hearing frogs, insects calling at night. The trail proposal will impact the eco system’s dynamics of the creek. It’s very hard to have this kind of environment in today’s city settings. Waste of money; there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, and have not been included in the feasibility study Increasing traffic gridlock for Blaney and East Estate Drive during rush hours. This will likely increase travel time to work. Cupertino became not a working friendly city. If we are also building more new housing in Cupertino, this will be even worst in the future. I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in the neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for children Thanks, A-Hsiu Li Cupertino Resident Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: ahsiu10108@hotmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block hotmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Dinyar Dastoor To:City Council Subject:Opposition to the opening of Regnart Creek path Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 7:16:47 AM Dear City Council Members, I am writing this email to express my opposition to the opening of Regnart Creek path. Our neighborhood around the proposed Regnart Creek has paved sidewalks and the widest possible bikeable streets and pedestrian paths. ((Farallone, Pacifica, La Mar, Torre, Library field, Wilson Park). These streets are parallel/adjacent to the creek and earned the highest possible score for safety. There is no need to fix a problem that does not exist in this neighborhood. The issues related to safety on the streets for children walking and biking to school are on the west side of Cupertino. A better way to use the available resources would be to address safety issues on the West side where there are sidewalk deficits and the streets don’t receive the high safety ratings (See 2018 Cupertino Pedestrian-Plan Figure 9 for sidewalk inventory). I want to emphasize again. The safety of children is paramount here. Anyone who has walked down the path can clearly see this. It is like biking with 2 feet clearance from a cliff. If an accident would ever happen in future; the city, its citizens and its leaders will become liable for negligence. In spite of all the warnings and insistence that city leaders and planning people walk the trail, it has apparently either not happened or safety concerns have been addressed appropriately. Leaving it to consultants and their report is not enough. This is our city and there is enough feedback that this route is extremely dangerous for kids to use it as a bike lane. To take an informed decision, we would hope for our elected representatives to walk the entire length of the Regnart creek path, physically measure the path at several places to gauge its narrowness, see the impacted homes on Lozano, navigate the crossings on the streets (Blaney, Vicksburg) to get from one end of the trail to another, and then walk on the streets/paths (La Mar, Farallone, Pacifica, Wilson Park) that are currently being used by students and other residents to get around the neighborhood and schools. Facts first - The Regnart Creek path is not going to take the children/bicyclists off the streets. The geography of the creek (not contiguous - cuts off at several places) would require the users to use/cross streets at several places just to get on and off the creek. Children will continue to use our neighborhood’s existing safe streets and sidewalks that provides the shortest, quickest and straightforward path to get to schools. The cost to the City to retrofit the Regnart Trail for public use and creating safeguards for its users and residents living alongside the creek will likely exceed the $2.4 M projected expenses in the feasibility report, notwithstanding the operational costs like regular maintenance, security, additional patrol We are frequently reminded that the city is flush with money and cost is not an issue even if it doubles the estimates ($4M). However, nothing lasts forever, and the residents would wish for the city to be fiscally responsible and use this money on projects that would benefit all of Cupertino – improvements to our existing streets, dedicated bike lanes, more green painted lanes on busy main streets for safety and visibility of the bicyclists. Think of how many streets could have the green paint with the $2.4 million and how many bicyclists would be safer, instead of those millions being wasted on 0.8 miles of a creek path for senseless recreational use and creating safety issues for its potential users as well as the homeowners. It is baffling to believe that anyone who has walked on this creek path would conclude that it is a safe route to school – asking children to go perpendicular on a busy street (Blaney) trying to cross it during peak hours, routing the children, bicyclists, pedestrians together on a narrow ‘tunnel’ like trail where they can be trapped between steep slope on one end and home fences on other end, blocking their escape in case of emergency, is not a ‘safe route’. We would hope that as our elected representatives, you would do a better job at being informed than the people who advocate for the trail month after month in the city council meeting without having walked on the trail. Very often the colorful renderings on flat pieces of paper are misleading and do not reflect the factual geography of the trail. A feasibility report with errors in measuring the width of the trail, omitting key information of streets being currently used, and downplaying the concerns of the citizens who live along the creek and know the hazards, is not a document to be relied on while taking such an impactful decision. If leaders and planners have taken the walk or are planning to, the following questions should have a clear answer and communicated to the community. 1. What is the justification to open the 0.8 miles of Regnart Creek path running along the backyards of homes and cutting through front yards of the homes in some parts, entailing the commonsense defying hazardous crossing on the busy street of Blaney, when it is not going to get the children safely off the streets (since the creek path is not contiguous) AND when we have existing highest rated safe routes for biking (wide residential streets) and walking (wide sidewalks) for all citizens in this neighborhood? 2. Does it make sense to spend millions of dollars to make this trail accessible? – a trail that is just about 0.8 miles,not contiguous, requires users to cross streets at several places (Pacifica/Torre, Blaney, Vicksburg), does not shorten the commute, requires two bridges (to Wilson park) over a flood control ditch to access it; when we have safe existing alternative 3. Is it right to disrupt the neighborhood, risk the safety of residents; adversely affect the habitat of the creek with its wild life; chopping of 17 mature trees in the library field (in addition to chopping trees along the creek and in Wilson Part next to the proposed bridges- to make it use worthy) to build a 0.8-mile narrow unsafe trail when we have the safest neighborhood streets with wide sidewalks and paths along the Wilson park? 4. Does it make sense to endanger the safety of children (since this is promoted as safe routes to schools), by putting them on the narrow ‘tunnel’ like trail which effective traps them between a steep slope on one end and the fences on the other in addition to it not being easily accessible to emergency services and funneling them through the hazardous Blaney crossing. 5. Does it make sense to encumber the city with the liability that this trail entails due to the risks posed to its users as well as the residents along the trail - especially after being forewarned of these risks several times. As City council members we urge you to listen to your constituents living along the Regnant creek. They know their neighborhood well and care deeply about their fellow citizens and children. Thank you for your time. Dinyar Dastoor Cupertino. Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: dinyar.dastoor@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Tong-Ming Lee To:Darcy Paul; Rod Sinks; Savita Vaidhyanathan; Barry Chang; Steven Scharf; City Council Subject:I disagree with the proposed Regnart Creek trail! Date:Tuesday, August 21, 2018 5:24:13 AM Dear Council Members, I am a Cupertino resident, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail for the following reasons: Increased traffic and risk to school children due to creation of an additional crosswalk across Blaney that students would use during rush hour Increased security risk and decreased privacy of the neighborhood residents whose front yards and back yards border the creek Loss of habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and vultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to rail users Waste of money – there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, and have not been included in the feasibility study I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in this neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for children. Thanks, Tong-Ming Lee Cupertino Resident of 30 years Total Control Panel Login To: bchang@cupertino.org From: tmlee_us@yahoo.com Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:shan lu To:Steven Scharf Subject:I disagree with the proposed Reganart Creek Trail Date:Monday, August 20, 2018 6:12:43 PM Attachments:IMG_5016.MOV Dear Steven: I’m writing to raise my concern about Regnart Creek Trail Project that has been proposed by the city council. As a Cupertino resident for 27 years whose property in adjacent to Regnart Creek, I strongly oppose the trail. I’m not against the proposal for the security and privacy concern, or possible elevated noise level. The top two reasons on my concern are environmental impact and pedestrian safety. 1. I have read the feasibility study draft and I think there’s not enough information on the project impact on habitat for animals, especially amphibian species. Most of Cupertino residents may not realize that the creek is the mating bed for frogs. The families whose properties in adjacent to Regnart creek, are pretty familiar with Frogs’ singing in spring. On the feasibility study draft page 22, there are two amphibian species listed as threatened: California red legged frog and California Tiger Salamander. According to CDC’s press release dated on May 1, 2018, illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites increasing in the US. I’m not an expert and I am not able to distinguish the species of the frogs in the creek. All I know is that frogs are an important part of the ecosystem with a role for insect and pest control including mosquitoes, even if the species are not listed as endangered or threatened. I have read a research article published on August 16, 2014, that “traffic noise causes physiological stress and impairs breeding migration behavior in frogs”. (see link below). I hope that we won’t “rush” the project until we’ve gone through an environmental assessment. With the Frog population declines in California, we have to be very careful to avoid any possible irreversible damage. 2. The Wilson Park behind Regnart Creek has baseball field for little league. It is fenced off and there’s no entrance from the park to the creek. A couple of years ago, Boy Scout had organized a cleanup along the creek, there are tons of waste collected. Please kindly stop by during the weekend when the games finished and BBQ done, you will find garbage at baseball seating area. I occasionally cleaned up the area when I walked my dog. (I don’t want my dog pick up from ground). I can image how much I will spot from the creek when the creek is accessible. During the raining season, duck will come to regnart creek. If you still remember the water pond at Memorial Park, you will understand my concern. 3. I have read feedbacks on both support and against the Regart Creek Trail. People support it and mention many times that it will be convenience for commute cyclists. This is one of my biggest concerns. Cyclists, when share road with vehicles, they feel the danger from vehcles. While cyclists share road with pedestrians, it will be very dangerous for pedestrians who walk on the trail. Pedestrians do not walk in city streets with vehicles. Pedestrians walk on sidewalks that afford some level of protection. commuter bicycles and high powered heavy E-Bikes move way faster than those of weekend family recreational biking. The well-known Steven Creek Trail in Mountain View has to impose speed limit to avoid accidents. But it’s difficult to enforce. (See Safety a Big Concern on Stevens Creek Trail, Mountain View Voice, March 6th, 2018). With the high powered heavy E-Bikes and E-scooter more and more popular as commute tool, the proposed Regnart Creek Trail will be dangerous to pedestrians, especially children and seniors. 4. With the projected cost of 2.5 million for only 2/3 miles of bike trail, I think we should seek other alternatives to support and promote bicycling in Cupertino. (Alternative 4/5). I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek Trail proposal, and instead encourage Cupertino residents to use existing alternative paths in our neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for our children. Thank you very much for your time. Shan Lu Cupertino Resident 19913 La Mar Drive P.S. Photos attached as frogs, and video clip of the creek on Feb 20th, 2017. illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites increasing in the US: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0501-vs-vector-borne.html traffic noise causes physiological stress and impairs breeding migration behavior in frogs https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4806738/ Safety a Big Concern on Stevens Creek Trail https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/03/06/safety-a-big-concern-on-stevens-creek-trail Total Control Panel Login To: sscharf@cupertino.org From: lucathyg@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:shan lu To:Barry Chang Subject:I disagree with the proposed Reganart Creek Trail Date:Monday, August 20, 2018 6:10:28 PM Attachments:IMG_5016.MOV Dear Barry: I’m writing to raise my concern about Regnart Creek Trail Project that has been proposed by the city council. As a Cupertino resident for 27 years whose property in adjacent to Regnart Creek, I strongly oppose the trail. I’m not against the proposal for the security and privacy concern, or possible elevated noise level. The top two reasons on my concern are environmental impact and pedestrian safety. 1. I have read the feasibility study draft and I think there’s not enough information on the project impact on habitat for animals, especially amphibian species. Most of Cupertino residents may not realize that the creek is the mating bed for frogs. The families whose properties in adjacent to Regnart creek, are pretty familiar with Frogs’ singing in spring. On the feasibility study draft page 22, there are two amphibian species listed as threatened: California red legged frog and California Tiger Salamander. According to CDC’s press release dated on May 1, 2018, illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites increasing in the US. I’m not an expert and I am not able to distinguish the species of the frogs in the creek. All I know is that frogs are an important part of the ecosystem with a role for insect and pest control including mosquitoes, even if the species are not listed as endangered or threatened. I have read a research article published on August 16, 2014, that “traffic noise causes physiological stress and impairs breeding migration behavior in frogs”. (see link below). I hope that we won’t “rush” the project until we’ve gone through an environmental assessment. With the Frog population declines in California, we have to be very careful to avoid any possible irreversible damage. 2. The Wilson Park behind Regnart Creek has baseball field for little league. It is fenced off and there’s no entrance from the park to the creek. A couple of years ago, Boy Scout had organized a cleanup along the creek, there are tons of waste collected. Please kindly stop by during the weekend when the games finished and BBQ done, you will find garbage at baseball seating area. I occasionally cleaned up the area when I walked my dog. (I don’t want my dog pick up from ground). I can image how much I will spot from the creek when the creek is accessible. During the raining season, duck will come to regnart creek. If you still remember the water pond at Memorial Park, you will understand my concern. 3. I have read feedbacks on both support and against the Regart Creek Trail. People support it and mention many times that it will be convenience for commute cyclists. This is one of my biggest concerns. Cyclists, when share road with vehicles, they feel the danger from vehcles. While cyclists share road with pedestrians, it will be very dangerous for pedestrians who walk on the trail. Pedestrians do not walk in city streets with vehicles. Pedestrians walk on sidewalks that afford some level of protection. commuter bicycles and high powered heavy E-Bikes move way faster than those of weekend family recreational biking. The well-known Steven Creek Trail in Mountain View has to impose speed limit to avoid accidents. But it’s difficult to enforce. (See Safety a Big Concern on Stevens Creek Trail, Mountain View Voice, March 6th, 2018). With the high powered heavy E-Bikes and E-scooter more and more popular as commute tool, the proposed Regnart Creek Trail will be dangerous to pedestrians, especially children and seniors. 4. With the projected cost of 2.5 million for only 2/3 miles of bike trail, I think we should seek other alternatives to support and promote bicycling in Cupertino. (Alternative 4/5). I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek Trail proposal, and instead encourage Cupertino residents to use existing alternative paths in our neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for our children. Thank you very much for your time. Shan Lu Cupertino Resident 19913 La Mar Drive P.S. Photos attached as frogs, and video clip of the creek on Feb 20th, 2017. illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites increasing in the US: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0501-vs-vector-borne.html traffic noise causes physiological stress and impairs breeding migration behavior in frogs https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4806738/ Safety a Big Concern on Stevens Creek Trail https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/03/06/safety-a-big-concern-on-stevens-creek-trail Total Control Panel Login To: bchang@cupertino.org From: lucathyg@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:shan lu To:Savita Vaidhyanathan Subject:I disagree with the proposed Reganart Creek Trail Date:Monday, August 20, 2018 6:08:43 PM Attachments:IMG_5016.MOV Dear Savita: I’m writing to raise my concern about Regnart Creek Trail Project that has been proposed by the city council. As a Cupertino resident for 27 years whose property in adjacent to Regnart Creek, I strongly oppose the trail. I’m not against the proposal for the security and privacy concern, or possible elevated noise level. The top two reasons on my concern are environmental impact and pedestrian safety. 1. I have read the feasibility study draft and I think there’s not enough information on the project impact on habitat for animals, especially amphibian species. Most of Cupertino residents may not realize that the creek is the mating bed for frogs. The families whose properties in adjacent to Regnart creek, are pretty familiar with Frogs’ singing in spring. On the feasibility study draft page 22, there are two amphibian species listed as threatened: California red legged frog and California Tiger Salamander. According to CDC’s press release dated on May 1, 2018, illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites increasing in the US. I’m not an expert and I am not able to distinguish the species of the frogs in the creek. All I know is that frogs are an important part of the ecosystem with a role for insect and pest control including mosquitoes, even if the species are not listed as endangered or threatened. I have read a research article published on August 16, 2014, that “traffic noise causes physiological stress and impairs breeding migration behavior in frogs”. (see link below). I hope that we won’t “rush” the project until we’ve gone through an environmental assessment. With the Frog population declines in California, we have to be very careful to avoid any possible irreversible damage. 2. The Wilson Park behind Regnart Creek has baseball field for little league. It is fenced off and there’s no entrance from the park to the creek. A couple of years ago, Boy Scout had organized a cleanup along the creek, there are tons of waste collected. Please kindly stop by during the weekend when the games finished and BBQ done, you will find garbage at baseball seating area. I occasionally cleaned up the area when I walked my dog. (I don’t want my dog pick up from ground). I can image how much I will spot from the creek when the creek is accessible. During the raining season, duck will come to regnart creek. If you still remember the water pond at Memorial Park, you will understand my concern. 3. I have read feedbacks on both support and against the Regart Creek Trail. People support it and mention many times that it will be convenience for commute cyclists. This is one of my biggest concerns. Cyclists, when share road with vehicles, they feel the danger from vehcles. While cyclists share road with pedestrians, it will be very dangerous for pedestrians who walk on the trail. Pedestrians do not walk in city streets with vehicles. Pedestrians walk on sidewalks that afford some level of protection. commuter bicycles and high powered heavy E-Bikes move way faster than those of weekend family recreational biking. The well-known Steven Creek Trail in Mountain View has to impose speed limit to avoid accidents. But it’s difficult to enforce. (See Safety a Big Concern on Stevens Creek Trail, Mountain View Voice, March 6th, 2018). With the high powered heavy E-Bikes and E-scooter more and more popular as commute tool, the proposed Regnart Creek Trail will be dangerous to pedestrians, especially children and seniors. 4. With the projected cost of 2.5 million for only 2/3 miles of bike trail, I think we should seek other alternatives to support and promote bicycling in Cupertino. (Alternative 4/5). I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek Trail proposal, and instead encourage Cupertino residents to use existing alternative paths in our neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for our children. Thank you very much for your time. Shan Lu Cupertino Resident 19913 La Mar Drive P.S. Photos attached as frogs, and video clip of the creek on Feb 20th, 2017. illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites increasing in the US: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0501-vs-vector-borne.html traffic noise causes physiological stress and impairs breeding migration behavior in frogs https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4806738/ Safety a Big Concern on Stevens Creek Trail https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/03/06/safety-a-big-concern-on-stevens-creek-trail Total Control Panel Login To: svaidhyanathan@cupertino.org From: lucathyg@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Megha Ilango To:City Council Subject:Vote NO on the Regnart Creek Trail Proposal! Date:Monday, August 20, 2018 6:07:01 PM Dear Council Members, I have been a Cupertino resident for the past 16 years, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek Trail for the following reasons: Safety of trail users, as this is a narrow path (reaches as low as 6–7 foot tread width) that elementary schoolchildren will walk on opposite to high school bikers who can travel at more than 20 mph; trail does not meet Santa Clara County Interjurisdictional Trail Design Guidelines that specify 12 foot tread width as a safety standard Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path Increase in traffic and risk to schoolchildren due to creation of an additional crosswalk across Blaney that students would use during rush hour Privacy of the neighborhood residents (total of 82 homes) whose front and backyards border the creek Loss of habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and vultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to trail users Waste of money; there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, making them suitable for Class II or III bike lanes that would complete the 6% of the Loop Cupertino that the Regnart Creek trail is proposed to cover (44% of the Loop already consists of bike lanes on busy surface streets such as McClellan, Stelling and Stevens Creek) For the safety of our children and the community, I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek Trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in this neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives, improving existing bike lanes, and creating outdoor programs for children. Thanks, Megha Ilango Megha Ilango | Cupertino Resident megha.ilango@yahoo.com Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: megha.ilango@yahoo.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:shan lu To:Rod Sinks Subject:I disagree with the proposed Reganart Creek Trail Date:Monday, August 20, 2018 6:06:42 PM Attachments:ATT00001.txt ATT00002.htm IMG_5016.MOV Total Control Panel Login To: rsinks@cupertino.org From: lucathyg@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:shan lu To:Darcy Paul Subject:I disagree with the proposed Reganart Creek Trail Date:Monday, August 20, 2018 6:01:49 PM Attachments:IMG_5016.MOV Dear Mayor: I’m writing to raise my concern about Regnart Creek Trail Project that has been proposed by the city council. As a Cupertino resident for 27 years whose property in adjacent to Regnart Creek, I strongly oppose the trail. I’m not against the proposal for the security and privacy concern, or possible elevated noise level. The top two reasons on my concern are environmental impact and pedestrian safety. 1. I have read the feasibility study draft and I think there’s not enough information on the project impact on habitat for animals, especially amphibian species. Most of Cupertino residents may not realize that the creek is the mating bed for frogs. The families whose properties in adjacent to Regnart creek, are pretty familiar with Frogs’ singing in spring. On the feasibility study draft page 22, there are two amphibian species listed as threatened: California red legged frog and California Tiger Salamander. According to CDC’s press release dated on May 1, 2018, illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites increasing in the US. I’m not an expert and I am not able to distinguish the species of the frogs in the creek. All I know is that frogs are an important part of the ecosystem with a role for insect and pest control including mosquitoes, even if the species are not listed as endangered or threatened. I have read a research article published on August 16, 2014, that “traffic noise causes physiological stress and impairs breeding migration behavior in frogs”. (see link below). I hope that we won’t “rush” the project until we’ve gone through an environmental assessment. With the Frog population declines in California, we have to be very careful to avoid any possible irreversible damage. 2. The Wilson Park behind Regnart Creek has baseball field for little league. It is fenced off and there’s no entrance from the park to the creek. A couple of years ago, Boy Scout had organized a cleanup along the creek, there are tons of waste collected. Please kindly stop by during the weekend when the games finished and BBQ done, you will find garbage at baseball seating area. I occasionally cleaned up the area when I walked my dog. (I don’t want my dog pick up from ground). I can image how much I will spot from the creek when the creek is accessible. During the raining season, duck will come to regnart creek. If you still remember the water pond at Memorial Park, you will understand my concern. 3. I have read feedbacks on both support and against the Regart Creek Trail. People support it and mention many times that it will be convenience for commute cyclists. This is one of my biggest concerns. Cyclists, when share road with vehicles, they feel the danger from vehcles. While cyclists share road with pedestrians, it will be very dangerous for pedestrians who walk on the trail. Pedestrians do not walk in city streets with vehicles. Pedestrians walk on sidewalks that afford some level of protection. commuter bicycles and high powered heavy E-Bikes move way faster than those of weekend family recreational biking. The well-known Steven Creek Trail in Mountain View has to impose speed limit to avoid accidents. But it’s difficult to enforce. (See Safety a Big Concern on Stevens Creek Trail, Mountain View Voice, March 6th, 2018). With the high powered heavy E-Bikes and E-scooter more and more popular as commute tool, the proposed Regnart Creek Trail will be dangerous to pedestrians, especially children and seniors. 4. With the projected cost of 2.5 million for only 2/3 miles of bike trail, I think we should seek other alternatives to support and promote bicycling in Cupertino. (Alternative 4/5). I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek Trail proposal, and instead encourage Cupertino residents to use existing alternative paths in our neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for our children. Thank you very much for your time. Shan Lu Cupertino Resident 19913 La Mar Drive P.S. Photos attached as frogs, and video clip of the creek on Feb 20th, 2017. illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites increasing in the US: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0501-vs-vector-borne.html traffic noise causes physiological stress and impairs breeding migration behavior in frogs https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4806738/ Safety a Big Concern on Stevens Creek Trail https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/03/06/safety-a-big-concern-on-stevens-creek-trail Total Control Panel Login To: dpaul@cupertino.org From: lucathyg@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:K Suresh To:City Council Subject:Adopt Regnart Creek Trail Feasibility Study Date:Monday, August 20, 2018 3:16:23 PM   Dear City Council members:   I am writing to very strongly support the plans for the proposed Regnart Creek Bike Trail.  I understand that the Council will be voting on whether to approve the Feasibility Study during the meeting on August 21, 2018.   I know that many of the residents adjoining the creek have expressed strong objections to the bike/pedestrian trails.  However, I believe that their fears are not based on facts and evidence.  All evidence points strongly towards a huge benefit to the public particularly to people, and especially kids and seniors, who live east of Blaney including the residents who are objecting to the trail.   The objectors have signs posted that state "Protect the Creeks / Consider Safety and Privacy / Use Alternative Paths".  Taking these in order, below are my reading of the facts as gathered by the city staff and consultants and why it argues for proceeding at best speed to implement the trails.   Protect the Creeks: Having a publicly accessible and open trail will more readily deter people who would foul the creek.  Having mostly hidden and inaccessible segments only encourages anyone insistent on dumping in the creek to be able to do so stealthily.  If I were a miscreant seeking to dump into the creek, I would not do it from the Creekside bridge, but in a hidden segment where nobody is likely to be.   Consider Safety: Although I am not aware of any accidents that resulted in serious injury on La Mar or Rodriguez drives I have myself been in occasional near-accidents while riding my bike to work or back along La Mar as drivers pulling out of their driveways have not noticed me.  I always shudder to think of what might happen when kids who are smaller and have not developed  defensive riding pass those same driveways.  Although we cannot have dedicated bike lanes everywhere, we do enhance safety by creating them where possible--such as along Regnart Creek.   In terms of the safety of neighbors of the creek, the Mountain View police officers' statements, reports from other areas where there are public bikeways and common sense say that invasion from the back fence is much more probable from a generally inaccessible creek bank than from a well-lit public right of way that is well used.   A recent phenomenon is the establishment of homeless encampments on property that is not generally accessible to the public such as within the clover leafs of the Wolfe/I-280 interchange.  Is it more likely for others desperate for a place to live in Silicon Valley to pitch their tents along today's creek or when there are many members of the public walking or riding there?   Consider Privacy: If the back yards of the neighbors of the creek were unfenced there would, of course, be significant new concerns about privacy.  However, as demonstrated by the design of the trail to the Creekside Park bridge, a suitable fence or wall maintains or even enhances privacy.   In this context, I'd like to point out that I observed during the tour by the consultants of the proposed trail route, most (almost all) of the residents along La Mar had gates installed in their back fences and some mentioned that they used the unpaved trail to take walks or walk their dogs.  Apparently, the privacy they want is to use privately what could be a public right of way for private use.    Alternative Paths What alternative paths are the objectors proposing? To enhance safety for pedestrians and bikers, we could add a physically separate bike lane along La Mar and Rodriguez.  However, this does not solve the problem of driveway collisions as people back out.  Perhaps an underground tunnel?    To enhance the Safety and Privacy of all residents of Cupertino including the neighbors of the creek, we much build the bike paths.  The current objectors will find that not only the value of their property goes up due to their proximity to the trails, but their enjoyment of the property as well.  I did speak to one neighbor who is along the  path to the Creekside bridge and he is very happy that the City built that stretch of trail.   Please do not let unfounded fears prevent you from doing the best for Cupertino.   Thank you.   Best Regards, K Suresh 10591 E Estates Drive   Other voters registered at this address who support the views above: Sundari Suresh Arul Suresh Iyal Suresh Padma Krishnaswami   Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: ksuresh@alumni.stanford.edu Message Score: 30 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block alumni.stanford.edu This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Jennifer Shearin To:GEOFFREY PAULSEN; City Council Subject:RE: Suggest going slower on Regnart Creek Trail Date:Monday, August 20, 2018 1:40:24 PM Dear Mayor Paul and Honorable City Councilmembers, I had a very insightful conversation with Geoff this morning, and I hope to clarify the point he was making below. When I first read it, it appeared to say not to approve the feasibility study and continue on with engineering work. As he explained it to me, his point was the trail feasibility study SHOULD be approved, but make the engineering study phase longer and make sure there were more public meetings and dialogue during that phase. I think this is a good idea; there are many details to be worked out with the plan, and having public input from all interested parties is necessary and should be fruitful. On a side note, there has been quite a bit of public outreach up to this point. There have been several public meetings, private meetings, and dialogue up to this point. These include three large public meetings (one of which was on the physical trail) with City Staff and consultants, a smaller De Palma Lane meeting with City Staff, many Bike-Ped commission meetings where local residents came and spoke, informal meetings in homes and public with residents and BPC commissioners, and of course, the meeting with two City Councilmembers most recently with trail opponents (I don't believe there have been any City Councilmember meetings scheduled with advocates for the trail, only City Staff). Despite all these meetings, I understand that some residents feel they still haven't been heard and the next phase should give them even more opportunities to provide their input. Geoff said that he was planning to come to the City Council meeting tomorrow to clarify this point, but I wanted to make sure that it was clear in case he wasn't able to stay long enough. It looks like it will be a full agenda. Thank you for all your hard work on behalf of our residents! It is appreciated. Best Wishes, Jennifer (Shearin) From: GEOFFREY PAULSEN [geoffpaulsen@yahoo.com] Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2018 10:36 PM To: City Council Cc: Jennifer Shearin Subject: Suggest going slower on Regnart Creek Trail Honorable City Council Members: I spent two hours this afternoon walking with Regnart Creek Trail opponents, and I suggest that we postpone the design phase of the trail. I know you have a heavy agenda for Tuesday evening, so I will spare you the details of their many concerns. As a charter member and former chair of our Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, I was the point person for the previous failure of that trail to move forward, and it failed due to insufficient face-to-face outreach. I think it would benefit the City for this trail project move forward to eventual completion, but at a slow and steady pace so that the local residents can eventually say something like: "I was part of that solution." - or - "I may not like everything about it, but at least you heard me out." I think we need to do a little (probably a lot) more listening. Regards, Geoff Geoffrey Paulsen Private Citizen 408/480-7509 cell Total Control Panel Login To: jshearin@cupertino.org From: geoffpaulsen@yahoo.com Message Score: 50 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Marcia Underwood To:City Council Subject:Regnart Creek Trail Date:Monday, August 20, 2018 11:35:07 AM Dear Council Members, My husband and I are opposed to this trail. We moved to Farallone Drive behind the library in 1974 and at that time the access road was open. Until the fencing went up and the gate was closed kids often threw rocks into our back garden, one time shattering our patio door. Other times they would cross the creek and bang on the fence to annoy our dog. I would hate a return to those days. Personal issues aside there are other problems: This is a riparian area. If any constuction needs to be done it could result in damage to the animals and birds that live there. Not only are there frogs and opossums but also herons hawks and Western bluebirds. There are safety and liability issues. Winter rain and run-off can cause high, swift moving water. Even in the dry weather the creek bed is deep and dangerous. An accident could be deadly and costly. Where the trail would cross Blaney could be confusing being so close to the Rodrigues intersection and dangerous to school children trying to use the crosswalk at rush hour. The trail would pass directly along some residents' fences. This could lead to increased security risks and I have read it makes it easier for someone to get away after commiting a crime. I think having a trail directly behind a garden fence would be unpleasant for homeowners if they are trying to enjoy an afternoon in their garden and noisy bikers or hikers are going by. Imagine yourself at those homes. If bicycle saftey is a concern, perhaps a campaign to educate bicyclists and drivers to be aware and respectful of each other would be useful so that everyone is safe using the existing road routes through Cupertino. For these reasons I respectfully ask you to vote no on the Regnart Trail proposal. Thank you. Sincerely, Marcia Underwood Sent with AquaMail for Android https://www.mobisystems.com/aqua-mail Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: marci@cailean.com Message Score: 50 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block cailean.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Bill Rankin To:City Council Subject:Letter to Cupertino City Council supporting Regnart Creek Trail Date:Monday, August 20, 2018 10:51:28 AM Attachments:image.png 180817 to Cupertino Council in favor of building Regnart Creek Trail - final.pdf Cupertino City Council 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino CA 95014 SUBJECT: Support for Regnart Creek Trail (Item 25 on 8/21/18 Council Agenda) August 17, 2018 Dear members of the Cupertino City Council: Save Our Trails: Connecting Santa Clara County Communities is a California Not-for-Profit Corporation whose mission is “To promote trails in Santa Clara County for the benefit and enjoyment of all.” On behalf of Save Our Trails, I am writing to express our support for the Cupertino’s proposed Regnart Creek Trail. In particular I want to express our support for recommendations by city staff to approve the Feasibility Study and fund continued work on this trail, as detailed in Agenda Item 25 for the forthcoming August 21 Council Meeting. A trail will provide a safe route for children to get to school and to city parks. It will provide an essential link in the city’s bicycle network, as set forth in the city’s 2016 Bicycle Transportation Plan. Furthermore, by opening up the area to the public, a trail will act as a strong deterrent to illicit or anti-social behavior which would otherwise be hidden from public view. Judging by the experience of other cities, we feel confident that the fears of neighbors will prove to be unfounded and that the surrounding neighborhoods will come to view this trail as a valued resource. I want to also point out that this is a crucial early step in the implementation of the 2016 Bicycle Transportation Plan. Nearly every part of this plan has nearby residents who are likely to raise concerns. If the Council accedes to the worst (and probably overblown) fears of residents on this project, what does it say about the ability of the city to implement the remaining parts of the plan? Save Our Trails therefore strongly recommends that the City of Cupertino proceed to design and build the trail as planned. Sincerely, Bill Rankin President, Save Our Trails; Web: www.saveourtrails-scc.org Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: bill@networds.com Message Score: 45 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block networds.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Krishnapriya Raghuveer To:City Council Subject:I disagree with the proposed Regnart Creek trail Date:Sunday, August 19, 2018 11:08:52 PM Dear Council Members, I am a Cupertino resident, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail for the following reasons: Safety of trail users on the unrailed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days; this is a narrow path that children will share with bikers Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path Increase in traffic and risk to school children due to creation of an additional crosswalk Blaney that students would during rush hour Security and privacy of the neighborhood residents whose front and backyards border the creek Loss of habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and vultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to trail users Waste of money; there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, and have not been included in the feasibility study Noise pollution from additional people travelling in trails running behind front yard and backyard I request you to vote against the Regnart creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in this neighborhood. I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for children. Thanks, Priya Raghuveer Cupertino Resident Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: priya.raghuveer@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Diane Reedman To:City Council Subject:Regnart Creek Trail Date:Sunday, August 19, 2018 11:03:04 PM Hello, I'm emailing regarding the proposed trail extension of Regnart Creek. I live on East Estates Drive near LaMar and would be thrilled to be able to ride my bicycle to the Cupertino Library without crossing a busy intersection. Currently I either cross at Blaney and Suisun or at Blaney and Rodrigues, depending on the time of day. If the Regnart Creek Trail was extended, it would be so much safer for the Eaton School students and the Cupertino High students to bicycle to and from their respective schools and homes. Diane Reedman 10610 East Estates Drive Cupertino, CA 95014 Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: dreedman@sonic.net Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block sonic.net This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:GEOFFREY PAULSEN To:City Council Cc:Jennifer Shearin Subject:Suggest going slower on Regnart Creek Trail Date:Sunday, August 19, 2018 10:37:20 PM Honorable City Council Members: I spent two hours this afternoon walking with Regnart Creek Trail opponents, and I suggest that we postpone the design phase of the trail. I know you have a heavy agenda for Tuesday evening, so I will spare you the details of their many concerns. As a charter member and former chair of our Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, I was the point person for the previous failure of that trail to move forward, and it failed due to insufficient face-to-face outreach. I think it would benefit the City for this trail project move forward to eventual completion, but at a slow and steady pace so that the local residents can eventually say something like: "I was part of that solution." - or - "I may not like everything about it, but at least you heard me out." I think we need to do a little (probably a lot) more listening. Regards, Geoff Geoffrey Paulsen Private Citizen 408/480-7509 cell Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: geoffpaulsen@yahoo.com Message Score: 50 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Fari Aberg To:Darcy Paul Subject:I disagree with the proposed Regnart Creek Trail! Date:Sunday, August 19, 2018 8:16:45 PM Dear Mayor Paul, I have been a Cupertino resident, living safely and happily next to the Regnart Creek for 30 years and am 100% against the proposed Regnart Creek trail.   I have devoted my life serving Cupertino for over 20 years and seeing my safety, security and privacy is getting close to be taken away from me is deeply bothering me.   I have had many sleepless nights thinking about what might happen if the trail gets open to the public, we will be back to where we were many years back, i.e. crime, burglary, break-ins, kids jumping over the private fences, garbage and waste on the trail, noise during the day and at night, rocks being thrown into our backyards, broken windows, etc.   Having a locked gate next to our house has been a blessing for us which almost has stopped the majority of the crime in our neighborhood and in particular damage to our house. However, even with the locked gate our house has been broken into a couple of times, last being in 2017, with people jumping over the fence from the creek side. Removing the gate will allow easier access by criminals to our home.   Everyone should be safe in one's own home and by allowing the trail open to public it will take away our safety.   There are many other reasons for which opening the trail to public is not a good idea which I am sure you have already heard from other concerned residents along the creek and I will not repeat here, but agree with their concerns.   Please do not allow the existing safe environment, our safety and privacy be taken away from us.   I urge you to please keep our safety, security and privacy in mind when discussing the Regnart Creek trail and vote against this proposal. Instead, you may encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in the neighborhood.   Thank you so much for your consideration.   Regards,   Fari Aberg Cupertino Resident Total Control Panel Login To: dpaul@cupertino.org From: abergfari@gmail.com Remove this sender from my allow list You received this message because the sender is on your allow list. From:Fari Aberg To:Savita Vaidhyanathan Subject:I disagree with the proposed Regnart Creek Trail! Date:Sunday, August 19, 2018 8:13:14 PM Dear Council Member Vaidhyanathan, I have been a Cupertino resident, living safely and happily next to the Regnart Creek for 30 years and am 100% against the proposed Regnart Creek trail.   I have devoted my life serving Cupertino for over 20 years and seeing my safety, security and privacy is getting close to be taken away from me is deeply bothering me.   I have had many sleepless nights thinking about what might happen if the trail gets open to the public, we will be back to where we were many years back, i.e. crime, burglary, break-ins, kids jumping over the private fences, garbage and waste on the trail, noise during the day and at night, rocks being thrown into our backyards, broken windows, etc.   Having a locked gate next to our house has been a blessing for us which almost has stopped the majority of the crime in our neighborhood and in particular damage to our house. However, even with the locked gate our house has been broken into a couple of times, last being in 2017, with people jumping over the fence from the creek side. Removing the gate will allow easier access by criminals to our home.   Everyone should be safe in one's own home and by allowing the trail open to public it will take away our safety.   There are many other reasons for which opening the trail to public is not a good idea which I am sure you have already heard from other concerned residents along the creek and I will not repeat here, but agree with their concerns.   Please do not allow the existing safe environment, our safety and privacy be taken away from us.   I urge you to please keep our safety, security and privacy in mind when discussing the Regnart Creek trail and vote against this proposal. Instead, you may encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in the neighborhood.   Thank you so much for your consideration.   Regards,   Fari Aberg Cupertino Resident Total Control Panel Login To: svaidhyanathan@cupertino.org From: abergfari@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Scott Ding To:City Council Subject:Concerns with Regnart Creek trail Date:Sunday, August 19, 2018 7:34:07 PM Dear City Council, I’d like to express my strong opposition to opening Regnart Creek as a public pedestrian and bike trail with the following reasons: - Safety concern: having such a long trail without any visible openings to the main road, especially after dark, would definitely attract criminal activities. Especially with all the recent break-ins, this trail would make our neighborhood even more unsafe and accessible to criminals. - Unexpected noise will negatively impact our immediate neighborhood, whose backyards are supposed to be very quiet at all times. The bike trail will definitely change their environment and property value as families bought these houses for a lot of money hoping for a quiet, neighborhood ambiance. The noise and constant flow of people using the trail will give us no privacy. This project is not a win-win situation as it has a huge impact on safety and environmental changes to the neighborhood. We do acknowledge that the trail would bring some safety to the potential pedestrians and bikers that would use it; however, 24 years of living in this neighborhood has given my family the experience to know that our current state is in no need of adding a problematic, new trail. Both Lamar St. and Wilson Park are 2 very safe places to bike/walk along. My three daughters have commuted to our house from places near the Regnart trail without any problem. Especially with the newly installed Speed- detectors along Lamar and Vicksburg, it relieves several safety hazards related to fast vehicles. I think it should be an easy decision to say NO to the project as safety is the neighborhood’s highest priority. Being safe is definitely more important than any benefits that this project would bring. Regards, Scott Ding & Chunhua Li 19688 Vicksburg Drive Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: scott_ding@yahoo.com Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Ilango To:Savita Vaidhyanathan Subject:Important comments on proposed Regnart Creek Trail study Date:Saturday, August 18, 2018 9:08:26 PM Dear Council Member Savita Vaidhyanathan, I am a Cupertino resident for the past 16 years. I am concerned about the proposed Regnart trail, and a huge majority of residents (over 90%) in this part of the city share similar concerns. When the City is planning to retrofit a trail in an established residential neighborhood, especially when it affects the serenity and peaceful living of current residents, it is important that their concerns should take priority over the advocacy groups that typically don’t care about the affected residents, unless it personally affects them as well. The residential streets parallel to the creek have the highest safety rating, and traffic is not an issue on these streets. Safe and cost effective alternatives are available using existing surface streets when compared to the multi-million dollar trail (with issues) for a short distance of 3/4th of a mile. The proposed trail has various geographical constraints and impacts the residents along the creek in multiple different ways. The proposed alignment is next to front, side, and back yards of homes along the path. Key issues of major concern are safety and security of the users, privacy and security of neighbors, traffic congestion on Blaney Ave, liability to the city, and loss of habitat. Privacy and security are important to the residents for peaceful living. Differing grading levels, fencing structures, and open access after dark severely affect the privacy and security of residents along the creek. Risk of break-ins, theft and vandalism are higher on dark secluded creek paths. The feasibility study simply does not adequately address these issues, and does not fully account for in cost estimates, possibly to low ball the numbers. Safety of users on a shared use narrow path next to a deep creek (as deep as 12-14 feet) is a major concern, when K-5 children share the path with adult bikers and teenagers that can race over 20 miles per hour. Unlike other cities, Cupertino does not have a policy/guidelines for implementation of shared use trails/bike paths next to creeks. So the feasibility study conveniently cherry picks the lowest width (8-10 ft tread) from different references. Santa Clara County Uniform Interjurisdictional Trail design guidelines specify an optimum tread width of 12 ft or more with 2 ft of shoulders on either side (total of 16 ft) is required (UM 4.53) when significant pedestrian and/or bike traffic is expected on shared use paths to avoid conflict between pedestrians and bikers. Also less than 12 ft wide tread can break up along the edges as result of loads from maintenance vehicles (1003.1), which is a routine occurrence on this trail. In addition, 2 ft clearance from the creek bank is required for installing a split railing that further reduces the available width for the trail. So, the proposed alignment will result in a tread width of 8 ft (or even lower) in multiple segments of the trail violating safety standards (USDOT: “Trails that are 2.4 m (8 ft), which AASHTO recommends only in “rare instances,” were found to have poor levels of service, except at very low volumes”). This is critical when the trail is being promoted for use by school children, teenage and adult bikers; there is not enough width along multiple segments of the trail, which will greatly affect children safety and triggers liability to the city and tax payer dollars. In conclusion the trail does not meet the safety standards of multiple national, state and county guidelines for a shared use path. The nature of the path does not provide adequate access to emergency vehicles inhibiting emergency or medical personal from reaching sections of the trail on time critical situations, affecting user safety. Safe Alternatives: The creek runs along a residential neighborhood with safe surface streets with sidewalks, and access to nearby schools, library and parks. Safe alternatives over surface streets exist in this part of the city at a fraction of the cost (1/24th or $100K for “Alternative 4” per feasibility study) of developing this $2.4 Million trail, for just a 3/4th of a mile that too split into multiple segments with three crossings. Another alternative (East of DeAnza Bike blvd) path exists in the vicinity that has not been documented in the feasibility study (may be “conveniently” left out!). There is a Class III bike lane as part of the Bike Boulevard project that connects the Creekside Park to the City center through Pacifica, Suisun, Clifford, and East Estates Dr. This path provides access to Eaton Elementary from Creekside Park, and Class III bike lane markings are already in place from Creekside to Suisun/Eaton where there is a crossing-guard. Residents already use this path to walk/bike to Eaton. The concept of Cupertino loop can continue on surface streets (Alternative 4). Based on 2016 bike plan, only 56% of “the loop” is on proposed trails, 44% of “the loop” runs on surface streets through major arteries McClellan Rd, Stevens Creek Blvd, Stelling Rd, Tantau Ave and crosses major intersections on Stevens Creek Blvd, Miller Ave and De Anza Blvd. The residential streets (Alternative 4) in our neighborhood are the safest of all (less than 6% of the loop). As per data cited in the bicycle and pedestrian plans, there were no incidents on these alternate streets. Major incidents and traffic problems per those studies were in the major arteries, not on these residential streets. The feasibility study could not substantiate with data on what problems exist in this neighborhood and why such an expensive solution is needed, because no such problems exist here. The proposal is trying to fit a solution to a problem that is non-existent in this residential area. In summary, consider the safety/security of children & residents and privacy of homeowners when retrofitting a trail in an established neighborhood. The residential streets have the highest safety rating, with sidewalks and kids can continue to safely bike and walk to school here. As our elected representatives, I encourage you to address the neighborhood concerns by choosing “Alternative 4” ($100K, on existing residential streets) that greatly meets the objectives of safe biking/walking in the city and saves $2.3 Million of tax payer dollars. The funds can be diverted to broader use to improve bike and pedestrian safety on major arteries and large part of the city streets and boulevards around Cupertino. Ilango Ganga Farallone Dr, Cupertino From:Vivian C. To:Darcy Paul; Rod Sinks; Savita Vaidhyanathan; Barry Chang; Steven Scharf Cc:Ivan Corneillet Subject:Please Read // Regnart Creek Trail Voting on 8/21 Date:Saturday, August 18, 2018 8:58:31 PM Attachments:pastedImage.png Dear Council Members: Mr. Paul, Mr. Sinks, Ms. Vaidhyanathan, Mr. Chang, and Mr. Scharf, My family lives very close to the Regnart Creek in Cupertino. From time to time, we have quietly observed families of ducklings playing in the creek (If we approach too close, the duckling will swim or fly away immediately). We also enjoy listening to the streams when the spring water is running. Those moments are small but priceless since they create strong lasting bounds between city people and nature. My family has attended two public meetings so far on the Regnart Creek proposal and read the feasibility study three times to fully understand the overall proposal as well as the pro's and con's on the alternatives. We believe Alternative 4 or/and 5 are great options to go while supporting the vision of The Loop: Alterative 4 or/and 5 can provide safety to bikers using low cost solutions such as bike line painting, traffic speed control signal, speed bumps, etc. Alterative 4 or/and 5 are best to keep the existing environment intact, saving the habits for animals and trees The "combined estimated cost" for those two options is $400K ($100K+$300K), which is about 1/6 of Alternative 1, 1/3 of Alternative 2, and 1/5 of Alternative 3. As for Alternatives 1-3, we need to put ourselves into our neighbors' shoes: Our neighbors who live on Lozano lanes with their front entrances facing the creek will lose privacy significantly. The mere 10 feet road is very narrow already (since it isn't meant for a trail) so it's very close to those houses which have small lots compared to single families and are not elevated from the street like newer townhomes. On the other hand, if new fences/walls are put up, the home owners will not be able to access the path which they have had since the complex was developed over 15 years ago. Therefore, in the council meeting on 8/21, we'll need your support on Alternative 4 or/and 5, which are great ways to achieve common goals without the cost of others including our nature friends (animals and trees). Perhaps, when you take a short walk along the Regnart Creek near the City Hall, you will also meet new duckling families this fall. Sincerely, Vivian, Ivan, and Sophie Corneillet Total Control Panel Login To: sscharf@cupertino.org From: qyl168@hotmail.com Message Score: 13 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block hotmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Julia Miyakawa To:Savita Vaidhyanathan; Darcy Paul; Barry Chang Subject:Lozano Lane, DePalma as part of Regnart Creek Date:Saturday, August 18, 2018 5:05:58 PM How is this trail justified in light of the narrowness of the trail in front of the houses on mentioned streets? How will the residents feel safe? In buying into this making our city bike and pedestrian friendly are we over looking the privacy of residents. Are you really buying into the reccommendation of staff inorder to get a feather in their cap? Thank you for listening. Julia Miyakawa Total Control Panel Login To: bchang@cupertino.org From: jemiyakawa@yahoo.com Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Sushma To:City Council Subject:Protecting the creeks Date:Saturday, August 18, 2018 10:15:10 AM Hello We live next to the trail and would like to protect the creek and oppose the creation of any sort of trail. Our kids play in the backyard all day during summers and I know some neighbors who even like to camp in their backyards overnight. Creating any trail would lead to a hole in their privacy and thus my family would like to say NO on the bike trails. Please feel free to contact me for any more information. Thanks Sushma Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: sushma.sharma@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Anne Ng To:City Council Subject:YES on regnart creek trail Date:Friday, August 17, 2018 10:55:57 PM Honorable Councilmembers: Sorry I can't make the Council meeting Tuesday night to ask you to please vote to proceed with planning for the Regnart Creek Trail. As I told you in person back in June, it'll be a great low stress, arterial free route for non-motorized residents of all of Cupertino east of Calabazas Creek (including me) to get to the library, City Hall, Wilson Park--and on to DeAnza College, for that matter. It could well help with the parking problem at the library. For the rest of Cupertino, it'll be a fine route to Creekside Park and points east. And, especially for near neighbors, it'll be a great place to take their small children to master walking, running, scooting, skating, and cycling. I regret that a large majority of the residents who will have it over their back fences are opposed to it. I did note with a bit of hope as I pedaled down LaMar yesterday that six homes did not have anti-trail signs in their front yards. I'm confident that most will accept that it's not really a problem once it's built. I hope the City can get them to engage in discussions about specifics of fencing. It would be great if the City could afford to build a uniform fence, with gates for those who choose to have them. I can honestly say I'd welcome a trail over my back fence. I'd want a gate. It has occurred to me that in general those of us who are fortunate enough to be single family home owners in Cupertino have no control over what happens over our back fences because it's not our property. In most cases, we have neighbors over the fence, whose back yard activities we cannot control--unless they are illegal, dangerous, or extremely disruptive. Then we can call out the deputies. So it will be for the trail neighbors. Thanks for serving! Anne Ng 6031 Bollinger Road Cupertino Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: anneng@aol.com Message Score: 47 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block aol.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Katriina Laihia To:City Council Cc:Katriina Laihia; celiahouse@gmail.com Subject:Hyde Middle School PTSA supports Regnart Creek Trail proposal Date:Friday, August 17, 2018 1:54:46 PM Attachments:Scanned Documents.pdf ATT00001.txt Dear City Council Members, The Hyde Middle School PTSA has voted to support the proposed Regnart Creek Trail. Please see attached document for details. Sincerely, Katriiina Laihia, Safe Routes to School parent volunteer for Hyde MS Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: katriina.laihia@gmail.com Message Score: 40 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Pam Schure To:City Council Subject:Support of Regnart Trail Date:Friday, August 17, 2018 5:30:29 AM As a Cupertino resident, I regularly bike around Cupertino for work, to shop or for recreation. The idea of using the creek access roads for biking is wonderful. I fully support this trail. My experience with the access way to Creekside Park from East Estates shows how well this works. There are many children who can use this to safely access schools and play areas in parks more safely. Right now they have to use busy streets to transition from the Rancho Rinconada area to popular spots like the library. A dedicated bike/ pedestrian trail would make the journey shorter and much, much safer. Pamela Schure Leola Court Cupertino Sent from my iPad Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: pam@280group.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block 280group.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:phil Wang To:Barry Chang Subject:Opposition of the proposed Regnart Creek trail Date:Thursday, August 16, 2018 5:10:30 PM Dear Mr. Barry Chang, I am a Cupertino resident, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail for the following reasons: Safety of trail users on the unrailed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days.This is a narrow path that children will share with bikers; Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path; Increase in traffic and risk to school children due to creation of an additional crosswalk across Blaney that students would use during rush hour; Security and privacy of the neighborhood residents whose front and backyards boarder the creek; Loss of the habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and vultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to trail users; Waste of money; there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, and have not been included in the feasibility study; I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in this neighborhood . I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for children. Thanks, Phil Wang Total Control Panel Login To: bchang@cupertino.org Message Score: 20 High (60): Pass From: philwang@me.com My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block me.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:phil Wang To:Savita Vaidhyanathan Subject:Opposition of the proposed Regnart creek trail Date:Thursday, August 16, 2018 5:09:04 PM Dear Savita Vaidhyanathan; I am a Cupertino resident, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail for the following reasons: Safety of trail users on the unrailed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days.This is a narrow path that children will share with bikers; Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path; Increase in traffic and risk to school children due to creation of an additional crosswalk across Blaney that students would use during rush hour; Security and privacy of the neighborhood residents whose front and backyards boarder the creek; Loss of the habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and vultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to trail users; Waste of money; there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, and have not been included in the feasibility study; I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in this neighborhood . I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for children. Thanks, Phil Wang Total Control Panel Login To: svaidhyanathan@cupertino.org From: philwang@me.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block me.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:phil Wang To:Rod Sinks Subject:Opposition to the proposed Regnart Creek Trail. Date:Thursday, August 16, 2018 5:07:21 PM Attachments:ATT00001.txt ATT00002.htm Total Control Panel Login To: rsinks@cupertino.org From: philwang@me.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block me.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:phil Wang To:Darcy Paul Subject:Opposition of the proposed Regnart Creek Trail Date:Thursday, August 16, 2018 5:06:02 PM Dear Mr. Darcy Paul, I am a Cupertino resident, and I oppose the proposed Regnart Creek trail for the following reasons: Safety of trail users on the unrailed trail, especially when the creek has high, fast moving water after rainy days.This is a narrow path that children will share with bikers; Lack of emergency vehicle access to the proposed path; Increase in traffic and risk to school children due to creation of an additional crosswalk across Blaney that students would use during rush hour; Security and privacy of the neighborhood residents whose front and backyards boarder the creek; Loss of the habitat for animals such as opossums, frogs, and ducks; coyotes and vultures that frequent the creek also pose risk to trail users; Waste of money; there are existing residential streets and sidewalks parallel to the trail that have the highest safety ratings and low traffic, and have not been included in the feasibility study; I request you to vote against the Regnart Creek trail proposal, and instead encourage citizens to use existing alternate paths in this neighborhood . I would appreciate if the city put the funds allocated for such a trail to good use elsewhere, such as promoting environmental initiatives and creating outdoor programs for children. Thanks, Phil Wang Total Control Panel Login To: dpaul@cupertino.org From: philwang@me.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block me.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:yimei@chng.org To:City Council Subject:Bike path plan looks nice Date:Thursday, August 16, 2018 10:38:16 AM It will be nice for the kids from the Sedgwick/Hyde/Cupertino High area to be able to bike on it over to the library. Y. Chng Cupertino resident. Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: yimei@chng.org Message Score: 20 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block chng.org This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Frank Chang To:City Council Subject:Please vote "no" to the proposed Regnart Creek trail Date:Thursday, August 16, 2018 9:36:43 AM Dear Cupertino City Council Members, I am a longtime Cupertino resident and have owned and lived in the same home on Vicksburg Drive since 1988. The back of my house faces Regnart Creek and the proposed trail. I oppose this trail proposal for two major reasons: security and privacy. Standing in my kitchen or the upstairs bedrooms, which were my daughters’ rooms when they were growing up and would likely be used as children’s bedrooms by future owners of the property, I have a clear view of the proposed trail. This means without a very tall fence, anyone using the trail could easily look into my house, particularly at night. From a property value standpoint in an increasingly crowded city like Cupertino, having a quiet creek separating our backyard from our neighbors to the back was a selling point for my family when we bought the home 30 years ago. I imagine other home owners along Vicksburg Drive and La Mar Drive feel similarly. I have attended one of the city’s open house workshops and submitted written concerns to the council, but have not heard if the city has a solution to address these serious security and privacy concerns. I, along with many Cupertino residents whose lives would be negatively affected by this proposal, request that you vote against it. Respectfully, Frank Chang Cupertino resident Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: corgi.changa@gmail.com Message Score: 1 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block gmail.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:Gary Shamshoian To:City Council Subject:Please support the Regnart trail Date:Thursday, August 16, 2018 8:48:43 AM Hello, Please support the Regnart trail. I regularly ride my bike between Creekside and Wilson Park, and there are many places of potential accidents with cars that could be avoided. I love the trails in Cupertino near the creek because they provide a bit of nature and fresh air while not significantly damaging the creek environment. Thanks, Gary Shamshoian 18765 Tuggle Ave. Cupertino, CA 9501 408-857-6164 Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: ibdengineering@yahoo.com Message Score: 50 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. From:wendy To:City Council Subject:The Regnart Creek Trail is a great idea! Date:Wednesday, August 15, 2018 9:19:51 PM The Regnart Creek Trail will be of serious benefit to the community and its residents & guests. We need more safe trails for kids to use to walk to school and for everyone to use for exercise and enjoyment. Wendy Peikes 10391 Heney Creek Place Cupertino Total Control Panel Login To: citycouncil@cupertino.org From: wendypei@yahoo.com Message Score: 10 High (60): Pass My Spam Blocking Level: High Medium (75): Pass Low (90): Pass Block this sender Block yahoo.com This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level.