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SCTF 05-22-01 City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Drafted Minutes of Meeting Stevens Creek Trail Task Force Study Area B - Trail Alignment Meeting Tuesday, May 22, 2001 ATTENDANCE: Task Force Members Present Richard Lowenthal, Cupertino City Council Jeanne Bradford, Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commission Susie Brain, Friends of Stevens Creek Trail John Buenz, Meadows Home Owners Association Ann Cleaver, Meadows Home Owners Association David Greenstein, Cupertino Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Mary Jo Gunderson, Linda Vista Neighborhood Scott Hathaway, Deep Cliff Golf Course Steve Haze, Cupertino Historical Society Beez Jones, Stevens Creek Canyon Homeowners (late arrival) John Kolski, Stevens Creek Quarry Chuck Noble, Scenic Circle Neighborhood Craig Breon, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society Dave Constant, Cupertino Swim & Racquet Club Task Force Members Absent John Giovanola, Hanson Permanente Cement Staff Members Mike O'Dowd, Recreation Supervisor, Blackberry Farm Marie Preston, Admin. Secretary, Parks and Recreation Therese Ambrosi Smith, Director, Parks and Recreation Consultant Jana Sokale, Environmental Planner Call to Order David Greenstein, Chair, caIled the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. II. April 24 Meeting Minutes The minutes were unanimously approved as drafted. III. Oral Communications (items not on the agenda) - None. IV. Old Business Page City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Me Study Area B - Trail Alignment Recommendations: Jana Sokale reviewed the recommendations and changes to the map of Study Area B. A new trail was added from the quarry floor to the Chestnut Picnic Area in Stevens Creek County Park. The knoll trail from Linda Vista Park to the quarry rim was deleted. Ms. Sokale reviewed responses to the issues and questions raised at the April 24 Task Force Meeting. These included concerns regarding the use of Linda Vista Park as a staging area, the impact of a parking fee at Stevens Creek County Park on proposed staging areas along the Stevens Creek Trail, possible shared parking with school proposed on the quarry site and future trail use and parking demands. Public Comment Jim Bodwin, 22475 Palm. He requested that Linda Vista Park not be made a staging area. He would like to see Stevens Canyon Road widen. Steve Patt, a Cupertino resident. He would like to see the Task Force make a recommendation to the County Parks and Recreation Department regarding the fee program. He does not support the fee policy. He does not feel wider trails are safer in areas of steep terrain. He feels the wider trails encourage higher speeds. Action: Following discussion by the Task Force, Items I and 2 were accepted. Item 3 was placed into Study Area C. This recommendation will be acted upon as a component of Study Area C. The Recommendations were accepted as amended. New Business Study Area C ~ Trail Alignment Review Jana Sokale gave a slide presentation on the proposed areas with a major focus on Study Area C -Linda Vista Park through McClellan Ranch to Blackberry Farm. She distributed "Study Area C - Trail Alignment Summary" and the accompanying trail map for Task Force review and discussion. She presented the proposed trail alignments and features. Councilmember Lowenthal introduced Commander Dave Clifford from the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department. Commander Clifford had just joined the audience. Page 2 City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Mary Jo Gunderson suggested that a meeting be held with the Linda Vista residents whose homes back the old haul road. The Task Force agreed that a community meeting of the Linda Vista Park neighbors needed to be arranged. It was also agreed that there would be no Area C Recommendations on the June agenda. The Task Force also agreed to present the proposed trail routes to the McClellan Ranch Task Force for their review and input. The Task Force meeting schedule will be redone to reflect these meetings. Susie Brain asked if Study Area C should be divided into two parts. Jana Sokale noted that this might be appropriate depending on the outcome of the two new community meetings. The decision could be delayed until this information is known. Council member Lowenthal asked if a multi-use trail could be situated behind the 4-H area. Jana Sokale noted concerns regarding the topography behind the animal pens and proximity to the oak trees. She will do some further evaluations in the area and report in June. Ann Cleaver views McClellan Road as hazardous to bicyclists and walkers. Dave Constant said he did not like the appearance of a signalized intersection in the Stevens Creek valley. John Buenz pointed out that the underpass crossing options at McClellan Road only work with the old haul road alignment. Mary Jo Gunderson did not believe trail users would use Bubb Road. She felt the route was too far away. She requested that a signal be evaluated at McClellan Ranch and Linda Vista Drive. She noted this intersection is busy in the morning when students are on the their way to school and residents on their way to work. She also noted that the sidewalks do not extend all the way to McClellan Ranch. This would need to be remedied if the trail were to follow the Linda Vista route. She also noted that nighttime activities at Linda Vista Park create problems for the neighborhood. Steve Haze questioned whether a wooden trestle overpass might work as a grade-separated crossing of McClellan Road. David Greenstein felt that use of Linda Vista Road as the trail route might additionally impact Linda Vista Park. Page 3 City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Susie Brain stated that McClellan Ranch is a jewel. She preferred no paved trails in the park and use of the existing parking area as a trail access point only. Craig Breon stated that he had an off-the-wall idea of possibly closing McClellan Road to all through traffic. In doing this, no underground tunnel or overpass would need to be constructed. The Task Force did not follow-up on this suggestion. Ann Cleaver noted that the McClellan Ranch Task Force should look at the proposed trail routes and provide feedback to the Stevens Creek Trail Task Force. Public Comment Steve Patt, Cupertino resident. He stated that during the week, Linda Vista Park seems deserted. He felt the proposed pedestrian light on McClellan Road near Deep Cliff Golf Course seemed dangerous. He would like to see the trail in Area C not developed for multi-use and that the trail through McClellan Ranch be a soft trail for walkers, strollers, runners, etc. Barry Scott, Baxley Court homeowner with property backing up to the old haul road. He is opposed to having the trail in his backyard. He has experienced trespassers, burglaries and one arson attempt. He would like to see an alternative to the haul road alignment. Joan Cummings, home borders Linda Vista Park. Her family supports biking, and hiking. She stated that the haul road should not be a multi- use trail and she has serious concerns regarding security. She does not want to see more asphalt. Jerome Zis, Saratoga resident, runner/road biker, and mountain biker, lives near UPRR corridor. He stated that he would support a parking fee in staging areas. Council member Lowenthal asked if the County Parks and recreation Department had partnered with cities to provide Venture Passes. Jana Sokale noted that the fee program was new. She will investigate this question and report in June. Jim Bodwin, 22475 Palm. He stated that there are no sidewalks on one side of McClellan Road near the Ranch. He would like to see a trail Page 4 o City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study through the Simms property and a pedestrian bridge cross the creek in the vicinity of the 30' retaining wall on McClellan Road. Rod Brown, La Paloma Drive resident. He is concerned about the alignment going down Hyannisport Drive. He would like to see the alignment go down Linda Vista Drive to McClellan Road instead. He is also concerned about trail users running across McClellan Road at the Ranch if a signalized intersection roadway crossing is selected. Craig Cummings, home borders Linda Vista Park. He wants more detail about the trail alignment through Linda Vista Park. He would like the Task Force to propose a solution to the neighborhood regarding parking problems. He recommended that if a pedestrian light is placed on McClellan Road that it be placed at Linda Vista and McClellan. Michael Ludwig, Scenic Circle resident. He stated that he is in favor of the under crossing at McClellan Ranch or would like to see a signal light at the entrance to McClellan Ranch. He believes that the Bubb Road alignment should be dropped and use of the haul road is the preferred alignment. He stated that the term "on-street" alignment should be "on-sidewalk" alignment. Jana Sokale was directed to: · Evaluate extending the trail along Linda Vista Drive instead of using the Bubb Road alignment. Possibly consider dropping trail directly into McClellan Ranch at this juncture. · Diagram the trail circulation through Linda Vista Park · Prepare design and operations concepts for use of the old ro.ad and Linda Vista Park. Some ideas included: o Limiting parking time o Possible entrance fee with free neighborhood passes o Reducing the elevation of the haul road o Undergrounding utility wires along the old haul road Feasibility Study Goals Action: The top five Feasibility Study Goals were approved as drafted. Final Biological Report Page 5 City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study It was recommended that the California Tiger Salamander and Western Burrowing Owl be removed from the "special status species occurring or likely to occur in the Project Area (page 4)." Action: The biological report was approved as amended. VI. Announcements · Study Area D Tour will be on June 19; an e-mail will go out to Task Force members · Study Area D Study Session will be held June 26 as scheduled · Check out the City of Mountain View's website for their reports Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:05. Re~ ecffully submitted Marie l~reston, Recording Secretary Page 6