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CC 2-5-19 Item #14 F - Input on Draft Master Plan, Public Comments, 01.29.19 to 02.03.19CUPERTINO's DRAFT PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM MASTER PLAN Public Input on Draft Master Plan, Public Comments, Jan. 29 - Feb. 3, 2019 #What do you like about the Master Plan? What would you change or add to the Master Plan? Do you have any other comments? (Please be as specific as possible. Include page numbers if known.) Name (optional) Email (optional) 47 I like its robust support for nature, habitat, wildlife and ecological function. I think it is well thought out and is based on having the right goals. So there is nothing I would change or add. Thank you for your hard word. I am a member of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta and I know it supports the plan. Janet Walworth walworthjanet @gmail.com 46 This is a very well put together document. I like the high level to low level presentation. Good job describing and communicating the scope of this effort. I learned some things about the responsibilities of the Parks Department that I did not know. You have clearly put a great deal of time and effort into this plan, so kudos for that. And thank you for the opportunity to provide comments. Regarding themes: Pg 16. Nature experience. I like the decreased emphasis on large lawns, retained natural character, environmental education, and nature programs. We have a variety of wildlife in our parks, and education on wildlife co-existence would be beneficial to residents. Pg 17. Trails and connectivity. Absolutely essential! A continuing communication and education program regarding connectivity will help residents appreciate what exists today, and how to adhere to bike and hiking safety best practices. Also an opportunity to work with Bike/Ped commission, Walk-Bike-Cupertino, and other entities toward mutual goals. Pg 18. Parks and Facilities access. Improving what we have is the priority. Acquiring more/new parks may be prohibitively expensive. Ditto for new items like an aquatics facility; improving and leveraging existing aquatics facilities might be a more practical and timely step. Water conservation: We need to be water conscious in California. The problem will only get worse in the future. Water efficiency and conservation should be foremost in the goals for a Master Plan. In some of the individual items and specific actions this is mentioned (e.g. water play water reclaimation). But I think it is worthy of being a major theme. Californians need to be constantly reminded that water is a precious resource that all of need to conserve. Lead by example in our parks. Air and Noise Pollution: I would like to see the city ban the use of gas- powered leaf blowers. They are polluting devices, both air quality and noise. As it is squarely related to climate change, air quality, conservation, and communing with nature, maybe the parks department can take the lead on this? I can't tell you how many times a nice outing to a park has been shattered by the consistent and obnoxious whine of a leaf blower. Once a leaf blower ban is accomplished, the next step is to ban gas powered mowers. My comments on the Master Plan goals. Pg 36. MP-1, Conservation. 1A- 1E. I strongly agree with the objectives and specifics listed. I noted the comment on working with volunteers and partners to improve/enhance/restore natural areas. I think there are many people in our community that would be interested in volunteering to participate in such activities. I know I would. Community volunteers could be an untapped resource for the parks department. Pg 42. MP-2, Connection. Strongly agree with 2A-2D objectives and specifics. Also an opportunity to work with Bike-Ped commission and others on common objectives. I will note that connectivity includes our city streets, with bike lanes, bike blvds, education on proper riding etiquette for children and adults. Pg 46. MP-3, Equitable access. Agree with A, B, and C. Will note that some 'neighborhoods' like seven springs have their own 'park- like' facilities, and these private facilities should be reflected in the equitable access calculation. Same for school facilities where there are existing agreements on public access/utilization. I'm particularly interested in adult swim (for exercise) opportunities. Lastly, can you give an example of a POPOS (page 48). Do we have any in Cupertino, or the surrounding area? Pg 50. MP-4, Enhancement. A-G, All noble goals. But do we really need WIFI in the parks? One hopes these can be areas where people look up from/get away from their screens. People yakking on their phones on the walking paths is bad enough. Pg 19. Social Gatherings. I liked the pilot program that was done in summer 2018. Some were hits, some misses, but it was fun and definitely could be learned from and used as a template for moving forward. Pg. 20 Extra-ordinary play. How well utilized are our existing facilities? E.g., when I go by the Bocce courts I rarely see them in use. Before we run off the build more, let's make sure that what we have is in good condition, well communicated, and that we track utilization. It would be a shame to provide additional facilities only to see them lie fallow. Pg. 23 Welcoming place and services. Seems like a no-brainer. Improve what we have with the straightforward improvements noted. Pg. 25 The Arts. Count me among the skeptical about Cupertino having its own performing arts center. Huge undertaking, as I am sure Mountain View could confirm. If this is to be done, it is better placed at a site like Vallco and main street rather than memorial park. Pg 56. MP-5, Activity. 5A would seem well served by other organizations. Is there a need for the Parks department to contribute here? 5B- Are these needs unserved today? 5C-5G seem like nice-to- haves. Pg. 62. MP-6, Quality. 6A is a core need and a must! 6B seems like a should. 6C is a must. 6D seems like an action item list well within the Parks department charter to just act on. 6E seems like an action item list as well. 6F seems like a should. 6G is a must. And I suggest connecting with all residents regarding parks info, not just new residents. People need to be regularly refreshed (short attention spans/too much going on to retain). Pg. 70. MP-7, Sustainability. 7A is a core need (must). At the end it all boils down to priorities and the funding to execute the short term tactics and long term strategies. 7B is a core need (must). I'm hoping the guidelines say to get rid of thirsty lawns in favor of drought tolerant landscaping. 7C is a core need (must). Keep in mind that there may be community volunteers that can participate in these types of activities. 7D “a must. Can't do everything, can't do it alone, so leverage! 45 The pond area in Memorial Park should NOT be repurpsoed. Rather it should be put back into operation. The ponds were a beautiful part of hte park and should be retained. #What do you like about the Master Plan? What would you change or add to the Master Plan? Do you have any other comments? (Please be as specific as possible. Include page numbers if known.) Name (optional) Email (optional) 44 Good ideas Access to the Parks: specifically: in the last 20 years the City has done nothing to improve the non-existent sidewalk (i.e. rough area which is not safe for seniors or children) on Orion Lane/Stelling intersection, despite many discussions with the City. The lack of a proper sidewalk makes access to Jollyman Park unsafe and difficult for many who live in the Orion Lane areas. And it's made worse by large traffic volume and drivers who do not observe stop signs. And poor crosswalk signage and controls for crossing Stelling. So: what is the City going to do to improve SAFE ACCESS to Jollyman Park in the next 20 years from this neighborhood? This aspect seems to be missing from the plan. 43 I support the Plan's vision which aspires to 'create an inspiring, lively, healthy, diverse and sustainable community by connecting our residents to outstanding parks, nature and one another'•; I support the mission to restore, preserve, and protect our creeks, meadows, trees and natural areas'•, and look forward to the implementation of the goal of 'Conservation: Protect nature, trees and natural areas in parks and throughout the city to support wildlife, ecological functions and a stronger connection to Cupertino's natural environment'•. Well done. So glad you listened to SCVAS and the community rather than just creating sports fields. 42 Very environmentally respectful, as it seeks to enhance our native natural treasures, along with our enjoyment of them. Thank you for all the work you put into creating this exceptional plan with its robust support for implementing its Vision. Mark R. Brux furrybeast@in ame.com Page 2 of 3 #What do you like about the Master Plan? What would you change or add to the Master Plan? Do you have any other comments? (Please be as specific as possible. Include page numbers if known.) Name (optional) Email (optional) 41 Paved areas in nature settings where I can roll my 88 year old father along in his wheelchair. He has lived in Cupertino since 1956, and getting out and reminiscing about the Cupertino parks is still important to him. Swimming pools! Swimming lessons and rec swim at DeAnza and Monta Vista pools were a huge part of my childhood. There should be many pools and they should be open year-round. Ever hear of Wim Hof and cold thermogenesis? No need to heat them to high temperatures. Add solar panels to help heat for free. The plan to have 3 community gardens. Many people in Cupertino do not have the big backyards of yesteryear. And there is still a yearning to put one's hands into the soil and grow something to eat. Provide more opportunity for people to be able to do that. Even if it is just in a community way where volunteers can come help to work a communal piece of land Mon Wed Sat mornings from 8 to 10am or some such. Seattle, Cotati and Petaluma (and I am sure many more communities) now have food forest parks. It would be nice if one or more of the gardens could have permaculture food forest areas. Fun would be a section of natural edibles. My Dad's backyard in Cupertino is still a bit wild and has lots of Miner's lettuce in it, for instance. California poppies are edible, wild rose hips, etc. Also, I know fruit trees are messy, but they are so much fun. Please plant more fruit trees in community areas. Did you know that there are tall collard trees? The leaves are edible collard greens. They can be used as standing trees or hedges. So can pomegranate bushes. Or artichokes. etc. Every fence and wall could have fruit trees espalied onto them. There should be many swimming pools and they should be open year-round. Ever hear of Wim Hof and cold thermogenesis? A cold swim is highly conducive to the production of brown fat and therefore weight loss. Advertise that so there is No need to heat them to high temperatures. Add solar panels to help heat for free. Figure out how to maintain parks without pesticides and herbicides and irrigate using water saving methods and then advertise what you are doing right. Have volunteer days. Have a master gardener program. Have an open-pollinated heirloom seed library. Do a seed and scion swap festival with the California rare fruit growers like this http://crfg- redwood.org/events/scion-exchanges/ Cupertino was filled with fruit orchards when I was a kid. In fact both sides of Steven's Creek blvd all the way down into what is now Santana Row was orchard. When the orchards started to be abandoned, we would glean from them and then can the fruit and make jam. Bring back some of Cupertino's fruit tree legacy for new generations to enjoy. Varian park would be a good place for that. My dad worked at Varian in Palo Alto for 32 years and used to drive Varian's children to school on his way in to work. He says Varian had lots of fruit trees on his property in Cupertino. Memorial park also used to be a fruit orchard when I was a kid. http://www.anseladams.org/orchard-santa-clara-mp104.html Teach fruit canning and jam making classes. Have blackberry bushes. We used to pick blackberries by wading into Steven's Creek near Blackberry farm during the summer when the water was low and the banks were filled with berries. We made wonderful blackberry pies with them. Can children today still pick blackberries in Cupertino and make pie? Blackberries make great edible hedges, although, admittedly they do tend to spread. Sandi Percell sandirosep@ me.com 40 Protections of creeks and wildlife. I also like that so many people were brought into the conversation when creating the plan, including the Loma Prieta chapter of Sierra Club. Continued efforts at providing places for trash and particularly recycling plus water conservation in restroom facilities. Kathy G. Page 3 of 3