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SCTF 01-22-02 Approved Minutes City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Tuesday, January 22, 2002 ATTENDANCE: Task Force Members Present Jeanne Bradford, Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commission Susie Brain, Friends of Stevens Creek Trail Craig Breon, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society Ann Cleaver, Meadows Homeowners Association Dave Constant, Linda Vista Park Neighborhood John Giovanola, Hanson Permanente Cement David Greenstein, Cupertino Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Mary Jo Gunderson, Linda Vista Neighborhood Scott Hathaway, Deep Cliff Golf Course Beez Jones, Stevens Creek Canyon Homeowners Chuck Noble, Scenic Circle Neighborhood John Kolski, Stevens Creek Quarry John Buenz, Meadows Homeowners Association Task Force Members Absent Steve Haze, Cupertino Historical Society Richard Lowenthal, Cupertino City Council Staff Members Therese Ambrosi Smith, Director, Parks and Recreation Mike O'Dowd, Recreation Supervisor, Blackberry Farm Marie Preston, Parks and Recreation Admin. Secretary Consultants Jana Sokale, Environmental Planner Bruce Hill, Landscape Architect Call to Order David Greenstein, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes The minutes of November 27, 2001, were unanimously approved with one correction - Jeanne Bradford did not attend the meeting. - III. Oral Communications - None City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Minutes of January 22, 2002 Page 2 Old Business A. Study Area D ~ McClellan Ranch through Blackberry Farm to Stevens Creek Boulevard 1. Blackberry Farm Entrance Bruce Hill introduced the revised conceptual drawings. One version had a trestle bridge crossing and the other had a depressed pathway with two short tunnels crossing beneath the entrance roads. Jana Sokale described the construction of each alternative. It was noted that the tunnel may costs less to build than the trestle. Alex Tsai has seen the alternatives and discussions are still ongoing. Jana Sokale answered clarifying questions from the Task Force. Public Comment: Paul Metz spoke in favor of the Stevens Creek Trail. He is in favor of a trestle crossing. He is not in favor of the tunnel plan. Margaret Limberatos, 20724 Garden Gate Drive spoke in favor of the trail. Barry Feeley, 22043 Baxley Court talked about the Sudden Oak Death Syndrome that may require closing a number of the Bay Area hiking trails according to the State and UC forest pathologists. There is almost 100 percent mortality in oak trees in some of the spots along the Muir Woods and Ocean View trails. Mt. Tamalpais is among the hardest hit and the disease continues to expand in northern California, especially in the Bay Area. Consideration for this problem may need to be incorporated into the design of the trail. Linda Wegner, 10200 Hill Crest Road affiliated with ROMP, wants access on the trail for cyclists, hikers, etc. to keep people off the road. Robert Levy, 10802 Wilkinson Avenue wanted the Task Force to be aware that the owner of the home in Blackberry Farm has to be happy with what he sees. He raised the concern that the tunnel, though cheaper to build, may be more expensive to maintain. He is concerned about flooding of a tunnel turning heavy rains. Kevin lackson, 1557 Fraser Drive, Sunnyvale spoke in support of multi-use trails: Alex Tsai urged the Task Force to consider an alternate route. He said that the space between the creek and his home, either eastbound or westbound, is very narrow. By his measurement, it is around 50' from the property line to the large, old oak tree. City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Minutes of January 22, 2002 Page 3 He stated that he does not know how the trail can fit into the existing road and allow enough of a buffer to his home. He believes that the trestle option will impact the existing view from his home and that trail users will be able to see into his backyard. The depressed tunnel approach raises concerns because he believes it will be too close to his property line. He believes the trail will increase the number of people who already use Blackberry Farm and he will feel that impact. He would like another trail alignment designed for this area when the Blackberry Farm master plan is developed. He stated that he wants more of a buffer zone between his property line and the trail. He asked for the opportunity to review the final plans. He agreed that he is more accepting of the tunnel alternative because it will have less impact on his existing view. Following discussion and review by the Task Force, the following action was taken: ACTION: A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to recommend a depressed pathway with two short tunnels under the entrance roads with two provisos: 1) the consultant would continue the dialog with the homeowner in Blackberry Farm to reach a mutually agreeable solution; 2) we recognize that this may be a rather short-term solution given the fact that a master plan of Blackberry Farm has been proposed by the City. This plan may allow the trail to be aligned close to the creek along the eastern bank. 2. Stevens Creek Boulevard Trail Crossing at Phar Lap Drive Jana Sokale described the struggle of developing a trail crossing solution that would be amenable to residents and other users. Previously, a grade-separated tunnel and a fully signalized intersection at Stevens Creek Boulevard and Phar Lap Drive had been considered. She described possible features of a non-signalized intersection that would meet the needs of the neighborhood and trail users, such as: Lighted crosswalk that is activated when pedestrians cross Three-legged crosswalk as primary focus Crosswalks painted brick red Warning indicator lights at both of the hills that descend Median islands installed on both approaches City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Minutes of January 22, 2002 Page 4 Public Comments: |ohn Shalamskas, 139 Ortega Avenue, Mountain View is a member of ROMP and uses the Mountain View portion of the trail to get to work. Spoke in support of multi-use trail. Mike Broman, 10-year Cupertino resident spoke in support of the trail. As a traffic engineer, he strongly recommended lighted crosswalks be activated only when in use by pedestrians or bicyclists because if they are running fulltime, people tend to disregard them. He also recommended installing a traffic signal and painted-on approach speeds for the safest solutions. He said that the in-street pavement lighting works well. He also supports an at-grade crossing at Blackberry Farm instead of a tunnel. Lynn Bonicelli, 10191 Phar Lap Drive appreciates the Task Force's efforts in working with the neighborhood on this issue. She was pleased that no signal light is now being recommended. She spoke in favor of the in-pavement lighted crosswalk, as well as the triggering signal lights. Dale Compton, lives on Phar Lap Drive spoke in support of the solution for the Stevens Creek Boulevard. crossing. He believes it would significantly improve the current traffic situation. He also believes that this solution would work at the Blackberry Farm entrance. John Brazil asked for a pedestrian safe harbor in the crosswalk. Following discussion and review by the Task Force, the following action was taken: ACTION: A motion was made, seconded and unanimously passed to recommended an at-grade trail crossing at Stevens Creek Boulevard and Phar Lap Drive that includes: - A three-legged crosswalk - Ail three legs are painted brick red - The crosswalk spanning Stevens Creek Boulevard is lighted - The pavement lighting is activated by pedestrians and bicyclists - Motorists warning indicator lights at both of the hills - Median islands with pedestrian refuges on both approaches - 3. Trail Use and Surfacing City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Minutes of January 22, 2002 Page Jana Sokale defined a multi-use trail and a single-use trail and the benefits and drawbacks of each as outlined in the December 4, 2001 Workshop Summary. Jana Sokale answered clarifying questions of the Task Force. Public Comment: Paul Metz spoke in favor of multi-use trails and wide shoulders. Ann Ng believes that the trail will not become a major commute route because of where it goes. She does believe that students will use this trail. Supports a multi-use trail. Kevin lackson supports a multi-use trail. Bob Slee, 1185 Elmsford Court bikes frequently to Fremont Older and uses the dangerous Stevens Canyon Road to get there. He supports having a trail that he could bike from his neighborhood to Fremont Older. Lloyd Davis also bikes frequently at Fremont Older and supports a multi-use trail. He believes a single-use trail would exclude many people. He stated that there is more funding available for a multi-use trails. Patty Ciesla, 11990 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills and Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Commissioner representing the Cupertino area - District 5, spoke about keeping the big view in mind. She stated that measures can be taken to minimize multi-use conflicts such as safety features, curves, turns, strategically placed bushes and trees, pull-outs, narrow sections, etc. She briefly discussed the importance of multi-use trails to families and the community. She stated that Santa Clara County has given multi-use trails a high priority in allocating funding. lohn Brazil, works for the City of San Jose in the Department of Transportation and is a Board member for the Friends of Stevens Creek Trail, stated that there is more funding available for multi-use trails. The Friends of Stevens Creek Trail has had a vision of a San francisco Bay to Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, and that part of that vision was to include walking and bicyclists. Multi-use trails will reduce the number of vehicles coming to a trail. Encouraging bikes on trails and off the streets reduces the potential of bikes and vehicle collisions. Deborah |amison supports the founding principles of McClellan Ranch Preserve and supports a soft-surface, single-use trail. City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Minutes of January 22, 2002 Page 6 Paul Koski, 22030 Regnart Road spoke in favor of a multi-use trail. Rod Brown spoke in favor of a multi-use trail. He believes that that trail will be an amenity for kids, families, and the community. Cornelia Woodworth, Linda Vista Park neighbor spoke in favor of a multi-use trail. |im Holl spoke in favor of a single-use trail. Robert Levy spoke in favor of a soft-surfaced trail. Steven Patt spoke in favor of a multi-use trail because of the benefits to the whole community. He stated that the location of the Stevens Creek Trail and its length are not att~-active to road cyclists. He believes that mountain bicyclists will use this trail. Following discussion and review by the Task Force, the following actions were taken: ACTION: A motion was made, seconded, and failed that the Task Force recommend a single-use trail with either the natural or all-weather surface for the two and half miles of Study Areas C and D. Vote: 3 Ayes, 9 Nays, and 0 Abstentions. ACTION: A motion was made, seconded, and passed that the Task Force recommend a multi-use, hard-surfaced trail throughout Study Areas Cand D. Vote: 9 Ayes, 3 Nays, 0 Abstentions. B. Petitioners' Request to Expand the Scope of the Study Area Therese Smith asked the Task Force to review the Summary of Alternative Alignments indicated in a petition received on October 2, 2001. The petition stated that, "We the undersigned citizens of Cupertino request the City to include in the feasibility study of the Stevens Creek Trail additional surface street and alternate routes which will reduce negative impacts on nearby residences. Current proposals to extend a regional hiking, bicycling, and multi-use throughway from Rancho San Antonio Park to Stevens Creek Park envision using land adjacent to the banks of Stevens Creek. Homeowners along the Stevens Creek corridor would face impacts to safety, security and privacy of their homes and families. While recreational amenities are desirable in a community, routing a trail through the creek corridor also threatens the sensitive and fragile environmental and historical resources of the area. Due to the extent of urban development along similar stretches of the creek, the City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Minutes of January 22, 2002 Page 7 cities of Los Altos and Sunnyvale have already determined that the trail should not be constructed adjacent to or on private property, and that the needs of the regional trail system could be satisfied using existing surface streets." Following discussion and review by the Task Force, the following action was taken: ACTION: A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously that the Task Force discontinue consideration of the petition, as it is not in the mandate of the Task Force, but to refer the petition to the Cupertino Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). V. New Business A. Review Feasibility Study Schedule Jana Sokale reported that the next business item for the Task Force included review of the Draft Feasibility Report and Draft Initial Study. She noted that the additional neighborhood meetings and workshops have slipped the schedule. She recommended that the March meeting be postponed until both documents are available for review. Jana Sokale recommended that the Task Force meet next on May 21. ACTION: The Task Force concurred to hold the next meeting on May 21. B. Minutes David Greenstein raised the concern of getting the minutes out to the public sooner than the May 21 meeting. It was decided that a Task Force action report could be developed and posted on the website to inform the community of the actions of January 22, 2002. The minutes will be formally reviewed for approval at the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00 PM and the Cupertino Senior Center. IV. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m. to Tuesday, January 22, 2002. Respectfully submitted, reston, Administrative Secretary