Background
For four thousand years, native Americans controlled their human population to live in harmony with nature in the Santa Clara Valley, eating acorn meal, clams, fish and other plants and animals. Their population remained in the low hundreds. In the 1700's the Spanish explorers passed through our valley, naming it "the valley of the oaks", and calling the Santa Cruz Mountains "Las Montanas Azules (the blue mountains)". Wild oats were transplanted by the hoofs of Spanish cattle herded from Mexico, as well as wild mustard flowers. In 1852, the city of Mountain View was named for the vista of black mountain above the rural valley floor. Between 1898 to 1915 the prune orchard (which includes the 12 acres of the Cuesta Park Annex) was planted by William H. Bubb. The Cuesta Annex is the city's last visual reminder of human interaction with nature which occurred in the first 20 centuries our our valley's history.
construction began. The park was surrounded by 18 acres of
apricot orchards to the south, 12 acres of prune orchard to
the west (Cuesta Annex). Residents assumed orchards were
part of park design. These orchards were privately owned.
The front 3 acres of Cuesta Annex are owned by Ira Higgins,
the back 9 Cuesta Annex acres are owned by Mtn. View school district.
1973 City of Mtn. View buys front 3 acres of annex to
resell to a housing developer, Jules Duc Construction
company. The city intends to land lock the school district
back 9 acres of annex so they will sell it to city for more
housing.
1974 After orchard trees are bulldozed by Jules Duc
Construction, and house foundations and sidewalk with
driveways are poured, residents finally wake up and demand
the construction stop. The city of Mtn. View is forced by
residents to buy back front 3 acres of Cuesta Annex at 4 times the
developer's purchase price. (city pays $243,072).
1979 Council members approve purchase of Mtn. View School
district property to complete acquisition of Cuesta Annex prune
orchard. The school district resists the offer for nine
years, until they sell the back nine acres for
approximately $5 million, paid for by park land in-lieu
fees until 1996. These acres were originally mitigation
acres for lost shoreline park acres proposed for conference
center. In 2000, the conference center and mitigation
obligation is deleted by Mtn. View.
1990-98 Proposals for Cuesta Annex use: water reservoir, golf
driving range, private farm (later became Grant Farm),
access road to El Camino Hospital...
1992 Tom Schoderbeck and Robert Schick attend a Mountain View Parks and Recreation meeting to request the city water the Cuesta Annex fruit trees which are dying in the summer heat. 18 years later, even after the city approves a master plan in 2006, the fruit trees have not been watered, and over 90 standing fruit trees have fallen (or knocked down by contracted weed mowers) between the years 1992-2011.
1997 Councilman Joe Kleitman proposes a skateboard park be built
in annex. Annex users fight it in council meetings, Kim
Merry collects over 100 signatures, Bob Schick buys 1/2 page
newspaper add to mail to city council. Over 70 copies are mailed in. City council moves skateboard park to Rengstorff Park parking.
Bob Schick creates Cuesta Annex Preservation Committee.
in annex. Annex users fight it in council meetings, Kim
Merry collects over 100 signatures, Bob Schick buys 1/2 page
newspaper add to mail to city council. Over 70 copies are mailed in. City council moves skateboard park to Rengstorff Park parking.
Bob Schick creates Cuesta Annex Preservation Committee.
1998 Robert Schick requests permission for residents to volunteer time and money to aquire irrigation equipment for the Cuesta Annex fruit trees and replant new fruit trees. Community Services Director Dave Muella (with a courtesy copy to the city manager) responds in writing stating "'no development or other uses for the Cuesta Park Annex will be considered by the City until after the completion of a master planning process for the site.' We would interpret this policy to include development of the site as an orchard and /or the installation of a formalized irrigation system...." He only allows residents to pull weeds or pick up trash in the annex.
2001 The Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) at Mtn. View council direction includes city parcels of front
3 Cuesta Annex acres and Shoreline Blvd. parcels for police and
fireman housing. Bob Schick helps Old Mountain View
neighborhood work with Cuesta neighborhood under the
umbrella of "Save Open Space Mountain View" (SOSMV) (created by Old Mtn. View neighborhood
residents). All 1997 resident Cuesta Annex protectors join
in. In two months, 1,700 signatures are collected to preserve
Cuesta Annex natural space. The EPC removes Cuesta Annex and
Shoreline parcels from housing element.
2002(?) Nancy Smith, original member of the Cuesta Park Annex
Preservation Committee (1997), helps form Cuesta Park Annex
Neighborhood Association (CPNA) to help neighborhood protect the
Cuesta Annex.
2005 The Cuesta Park Master Process begins.
2006 Two Community Input Workshops: July 29 and August 19
(advertised by city-wide in banners, park signs,
and newspaper)
More than 70 residents participated and created 11
Cuesta Annex map proposals for its future design. The Santa Clara Valley Water
District (SCVWD) participated and informed participants of their flood
detention wishes.
Map 1) "valley of hearts delight"
Map 2) "heritage plan"
Map 3) "community education plan"
Map 4)"organic mixed use meets retention"
Map 5) "minimal II"
Map 6) "cuesta natural area"
Map 7) "preservation & restoration"
Map 8) "if money were no object"
Map 9) "minimal improvements"
Map 10) "active plan"
Map 11)"educational for kids"
From these 11 community drawings, Consulting firm Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey (RHAA) condensed them into 4 annex designs.
Concept A) "minimal improvements, passive use" which has new oaks planted in northeast, northwest, southeast corners, keeps front meadow, existing trees, adds 20 car parking lot into east side of annex.
Concept B) "culture, agriculture and passive use" has new oaks in north-east and northwest corners, existing meadow and oaks, orchard in middle, community garden between meadow and orchard, building by handball courts, 60 car parking lot in east side of annex. (these two concept designs represent elements of 9 of the 11 community drawings).
Concept C) "culture, Agriculture and Active Use" has possible detention and open grass turf in front 1/3 of annex, community garden in middle-east, orchard with structure in south east corner (by handball courts oak trees with picnic sites on west side of annex, 70 car parking lot in east side of annex.
Concept D) "active sports" has open turf in front meadow and eastern half of annex. Oak trees with picnic tables remain on western side, 100 car parking lot in east side of annex. (concept C and D represent elements in 3 of the 11 community drawings).
Additionally, 175 city-wide Cuesta Annex Questionnaires were turned in. These questionnaires asked people for their top annex objectives, concerns, strategies, and measures. The top three objectives were:
115 requests to preserve seasonal/natural (healthy) public open space,
88-(small) historic heritage orchard,
80-peaceful, shaded walking trails.
Only 7 people asked for a SMALL historic museum building that blends in, 55 for a barn-like structure for picnics (52 was a group dutch haven neighborhood reply). Only 2 people asked for a flood basin.
Top 4 concerns:
95-increased traffic, sports traffic
79-(don't want) non-natural materials, pesticides,
72-loss of open space to parking lots,
71-don't add intrusive structures.
Top 3 strategies:
86-use alternative playing field sites: shoreline,
72-increase field agreements with schools,
71-upgrade existing fields with artificial turf.
Top 3 measures of success:
73-Great Blue Heron returns to the annex,
71-wildlife remains,
71-preserve nature/plant life (permanently).
On September 13, 2006, the Mtn. View parks and recreation commission (PRC) were presented six annex master plan concept maps by consulting firms RHAA and HDR /Town Planning (HDR): Concept A, Concept B, Concept C, Concept C-1, Concept D, Concept D-1(note how the proportion of most developed plans (D,C) to least developed plans (A,B) has been inverted by the consultants). They heard 19 speakers in favor of concepts C & D, 13 speakers in favor of concepts A & B, before they prioritized the 4 annex options for the city council as: concept C #1, concept D #2, concept B #3, concept A# 4.
At October 24,2006 Mtn. View council study session on Cuesta Annex, public
comments for nature preservation numbered 7,sports field supporters numbered 3.
November 14,2006 Cuesta Annex Master Plan Vote.
Council Members: Kasperzak, Macias, Means, Pear, Perry and Galiotto. Residents in support of Concepts A & B
filled the entire council chambers. SOSMV speaker received a standing ovation for his presentation in support of concept B. Only 7 people in support of playing fields remained sitting. Laura Macias made the motion to approve concept B. No one seconded the motion. Greg Perry made the motion to approve concept B with some kind of turf in the front meadow and no community garden. The council unanimously approved the revised concept B.
2007 April 17,2007 at a Mtn. View city council goal-setting study session a motion is made to have the city council decide if the "cultural/agricultural structure" of concept B be designated a historic museum.
July 10, 2007 the Mtn. View city council defines the concept B structure to be a history museum.
2008 February 2,2008 at St. Timothy's meeting room, Kevin McBride and his wife Justine Fenwick present 4 large RHAA illustrations of how the annex could look with a "natural flood detention basin" in the front 1/3rd of the annex.
Mtn. View Voice February 29,2008 mentions SOSMV and Mountain View Historic Association (MVHA) representatives supporting the RHAA illustrations for an 13' deep Cuesta Annex flood detention basin at this week's council meeting.
September 22, 2008 Draft Cuesta Annex Master Plan Community Meeting.
MVHA presents plans for their Cuesta Annex history museum, SOSMV spokesperson presents illustrations created by RHAA for an annex flood detention basin, Marcia Fein represented community gardeners. According to 9/26/08 MV Voice, 100 people attended, 12 spoke. Many supported the basin, many did not like the museum.
November, 2008 Mtn. View PRC meeting
11/12/08 LA Town Crier article says the Mtn. View PRC recommended a lower height for museum so it will not block views of black mountain..
December 9, 2008 Cuesta Annex Master Plan Vote. Mtn. View City Council Members: Laura Macias, Ronit Bryant, Margaret Abe-Koga, Tom Means, Nick Galiotto, Mat Pear. (Jac Siegel can not vote on the annex because of conflict of interest).
Macias, Abe-Koga,Means, Galiotto, Pear approve a
24 foot deep detention basin and a 35 foot high museum in the Cuesta Annex. Ronit Bryant votes no.
In comparison to the 2006 master plan vote attendance where people had to stand in the isles and sit on the floor, there were only about 18 residents present. One person spoke for SOSMV, One person spoke for the MVHA. Most speakers were in support of community gardens.
SOSMV spokesperson said many SOSMV members did not support the museum building. Less than 3 SOSMV and MVHA members were present.
2009 June 23, 2009. Mtn. View city council meets with city attorney and former council member and MVHA President Nick Galiotto to discuss a lease agreement for the proposed historic museum in the Cuesta
Annex. According to the June 26-28,2009 Daily Post newspaper article, a group of Cuesta neighbors led by Rose Talmage attended to oppose the museum (and the "flood pit") in the annex. Rose Talmage collected 300 signatures against the museum and flood basin in two days.
MVHA spokesperson says it may take 4-6 years for the historic association to raise $6 million for the museum which will be 35 feet high and 10,000 square feet. This article features the same misleading illustration on the MVHA website www.mountainviewhistorical.org/, or www.mountainviewmuseum..org/
The city of Mountain View's "The View" spring/summer 2009
newsletter includes a "Cuesta Annex Master Plan Update that
states the plan includes: a 65 acre square foot detention
basin, pathways, oak woodlands, picnic sites, native
landscaping, 10,000 square foot museum, 1/4 acre
orchard, reconfigured tennis center parking lot.
Numerous newspaper articles written about McKelvey baseball flood detention plans. Numerous letters to editor by Don Letcher criticizing flood detention plans for McKelvey and Cuesta Park.
September 22, 2009 Mtn. View city council meeting. Cuesta Annex Master Plan--History Museum component memorandum of understanding with MVHA. The agreement give MVHA 1.5 acres of the Cuesta Annex to build their museum and 1/4 acre orchard for $1 a year for 55 years. The MVHA is responsible for raising funds to build museum. The city will pay for museum insurance and exterior upkeep. All 11 public speakers oppose the museum except for MVHA presenter. Approved by council members: Inks, Kasperzak, Macias, Means, Abe-Koga. Ronit Bryant votes "no", Jac Siegel abstains from vote.
October 22, 2009, Santa Clara Valley Water District(SCVWD) holds informational meeting regarding the proposed 15 foot lowering of McKelvey baseball fields for flood detention. Meeting held at Graham Middle School. A public notice flier announcing the Permanente Flood Detention Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) is on the information table.
In October 23,2009 Mtn. View Voice a SCVWD "Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project" public hearing notice is published. The notice does not mention the Cuesta Annex or McKelvey baseball fields where the detention basins will be built. Bob Schick xeroxes this notice and a copy of Cuesta Annex detention basin blueprint from 2008 and posts them in the Cuesta Annex on October 23. The SCVWD finally posts their notice in the Cuesta Annex (two 8 1/2"x11" sized notices) less than two days before the October 29th public hearing date.
October 29, 2009 SCVWD holds public hearing on their Permanente Creek Flood
detention plan (including the creation of 4 flood detention basins at Rancho San Antonio, Blach Junior High soccer fields, Cuesta Annex, McKelvey baseball fields). Meeting at Mtn. View city hall. Every public speaker at that meeting is opposed to the Cuesta Annex detention basin.
The water district supervisors express their concern that they don't want to support a flood basin the community does not want.
The October 29, 2009 Mtn. View Voice says nothing about the SCVWD public hearing.
November 3, 2009 Mtn. View city council votes to authorize city staff to submit comments to the SCVWD regarding their Permanente Creek Flood Detention DEIR.
November 6, 2009. The Daily Post newspaper reports on
public opposition to the Cuesta Annex flood detention
basin. They print Robert Schick's annex detention before/after images
on the front page. November 17, 2009 Meeting at the SCVWD regarding public outreach of their Permanente Creek
Flood Detention project.
November 17, 2009 SCVWD meeting
"Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project--public outreach Efforts"
Seven residents attend the meeting to complain about the public outreach process for the Cuesta Annex flood detention basin. Representatives from Mtn. View public works department, the Mtn. View city council, MVHA and SOSMV attend the meeting to discredit these seven residents and all residents who opposed the Cuesta Annex detention basin at the SCVWD public hearing on 10/29/09. The Mountain View city manager and mayor submitted letters to the SCVWD invalidating any residents who oppose the detention basin and museum in the Cuesta Annex. SCVWD Supervisor Tony Estremera tries to add another public hearing in January 2010. SCVWD supervisor Patrick Kwok (who represents Mtn. View's district) asks MV city representatives if we need more public input. Former Mtn. View council member and MVHA president Nick Galioto, council member Ronit Bryant (on behalf of absent Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga), council member Mike Kasperzak all say there has been enough public input. The SCVWD board of supervisors close public input, but vote to hold the DEIR public hearing in the city of Mountain View in April, 2010.
November 18, 2009 The Daily News article "7 years later, neighbors still object to park plans" describes the SCVWD 11/17/09 meeting. The article features an illustration of the 35 foot tall museum building beyond the Cuesta Annex flood detention basin, a modified version of RHAA's viewing platform illustration included in the SCVWD DEIR. The spacial distances and size of the museum in the illustration are still inaccurate. The article points out the flood has only a 1% chance of ever happening, and that by the public outreach cutoff, the SCVWD has received 20 statements of support, and 114 responses opposed to the Cuesta Annex detention basin.
2010, the Santa Clara Valley Water District published their Permanente Creek Flood Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) which ommitted all verbal and written opposition to the Cuesta Park Annex Flood Basin presented at both of their 2009 Draft EIR public hearings.
On June 17, 2010, The water district witnesses over 100 residents protest the Cuesta Park Annex and McKelvey Park flood detention basins. Only one resident spoke in favor of the projects. But after Mountain View City Council member Tom Means arrived late to dismiss the opinions of all residents present, and Mountain View City Manager Kevin Duggan likewise dismissed the opinions of protesting residents, the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board unanimously approved the destruction of the Cuesta Park Annex as described in their "Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project" EIR. The water district hinted at the means to which they will trample over the voices of the annex defenders: they will continue to schedule meetings (at which they are paid a $200 stipend of your taxpayer money) to wear out dedicated residents, and they will try to bait defenders of the annex with small consessions for giving up the fight and joining them as annex basin designers. City Manager Kevin Duggan also is trying to bribe residents to walk away from the annex fight with the offer of the district financing a Stevens Creek bridge crossing highway 85.
Newspaper articles covering this meeting appeared in the June 22 San Jose Mercury News, the June 18th Daily News, the July 7th Los Altos Town Crier. Saratoga artist Cyndy Reardon, an annex landscape painter was quoted "It is incredulous to me that in all of the areas in this valley, you've chosen one the most beautiful, natural spots to dig a damn ditch".
On July 9, 2010, Bob Schick's rebuttal to the Mountain View Voice publisher's editorial "Cuesta Annex Basin a Done Deal" is printed side by side with Kevin McBride's "Annex neighbor Backs Flood Basin" letter to the editor.
In the July 2, 2010 Mountain View Voice letter, artist Cyndy Reardon correctly pointed out the arrogance of water district chairman, Richard Santos (found guilty by the civil grand jury of corruption on June 16, 2010). She pointed out that over 80 mature trees will be cut down in the combined projects of a 23' deep detention basin in the front and middle section of the annex(31 standing trees will be clear cut) , the clear cutting of the Cuesta Park Annex tennis Center Parking lot and four additional trees to be removed to fit in a Walgreen's sized 10,000 square foot museum building with additional parking spaces.
In the August 1, 2010 San Jose Mercury Newspaper article, the water district approves their Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project and announces the project (including the annex flood basin) has now entered the "design phase".
The Mountain View Historic Association under the leadership of Nick Galiotto and Bob Weaver continue to collect memorabilia and financial donations from members to fill and build the approved Mountain View History Museum in the Cuesta Annex.
At the August 25, 2010 Mountain View Environmental Planning Commission meeting, about 20 residents protest the Santa Clara Valley Water district's proposed Cuesta Park Annex detention basin.
On September 9, 2010, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Mountain View Library Community Room, the water district begins its strategy of "divide and conquer" with the first design workshop focussed on the McKelvey Baseball field flood basin.
On September 16, 2010 6:30-8:30 pm at the Mountain View City Hall Council chambers, the water district did host their workshop to design the destruction of the Cuesta Park Annex's natural and historic orchard topography, animal habitat, mountain views and 31 heritage trees.
September 21, 2010 The water district holds a meeting at Blach Junior High to discuss their proposed flood basin. A majority of neighbors oppose the Blach Basin.
At a October 23, 2010 Cuesta Park Neighborhood Association meeting with Mountain View city council candidates, 5 of the 6 candidates do not support building a museum building in the Cuesta Annex. A majority of the candidates do support digging out a flood basin in the annex.
For the October 27, 2010 public meeting regarding the Santa Clara Valley Water District Rancho San Antonio flood basin, I observed the signs at Rancho San Antonio were not posted at the most used entrances. Also, the words "Rancho San Antonio Flood Basin" were printed 10 times smaller than the words "Clean Safe Creeks". At the meeting, the water district reveals it will cut down all trees that line the eastern border of Rancho San Antonio's equestrian parking lot entrance. A couple of residents were suspicious that the water district has hidden motives for the flood basin project.
In a November 24, 2010 Los Altos Town Crier article, the Los Altos School District fails to support the Blach Junior High school flood basin proposal. The Water District Board members are completely caught off guard by the school board's rejection.
November 29, 2010 the Santa Clara Valley Water District takes input on the initial design workshop for the Cuesta Annex flood basin. About 20 residents express their opposition to the project, even though the water district representative Afshin did not record any non-design related comments on his flip chart. Afshin stated the final annex flood basin design workshop would happen in February 2011.
In March, developer Roger Burnell begins to collect petition signatures in the downtown Mountain View neighborhood to approve his proposal to move the Pearson House into the Cuesta Annex. He also sponsors a front loaded Mounain View telephone survey with a 20 minute introduction, followed by three questions.
In March, Kevin McBride is notified of a city council study session where Roger Burnell will present his proposal to move the Pearson House into the Cuesta Annex. If Kevin did not tell people of the meeting, there would have been no public awareness of this meeting. The city clerk tells people that this topic 3.2 will take place at 5 p.m. (a time most residents cannot attend). The majority of Mountain View residents who did attend this unannounced meeting opposed the museum, and referred to the small 1,000 square foot building approved in 2006's "Concept B". As expected, the newspapers covering this non-advertised meeting announce that a majority of city council members are interested in Roger's proposal to locate the Pearson House in the Cuesta Annex. A meeting where no vote can happen (and therefore has no public noticing in the newspapers) becomes a publicity catalyst for Roger's proposal.
On March 31, 2011, the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Supervisor calendar lists Mountain View's city manager, Kevin Duggan's retirement party as a event to attend.
As of April, 2011, the Santa Clara Valley Water still has not announced the final Cuesta Annex Flood Detention Basin workshop, originally scheduled for February.
On October 18, 2011, the 10,000 square foot, 35' tall Cuesta Annex museum building proposal experienced a setback, when a majority of Mountain View City Council (but still not ALL council members!) voted against moving the dilapidated Pearson House into the middle of Cuesta Annex as step one in constructing the Cuesta Annex museum complex. A key factor in changing the city council's support of the Pearson House move was a joint letter from the Committee for Green Foothills and the Santa Clara Audubon Society opposing the destruction of the Cuesta Annex's natural animal habitat.
Cuesta Annex articles appeared on the Mountain View Voice newspaper's front page: March 4, March 25, May 20 (a photo of the annex), September 16, August 5, October 21, and December 6. There were annex editorials published on March 11 and September 22. There were also seven published letters opposing plans for a Cuesta Annex flood basin and/or a 10,000 square foot museum complex.
There were no published letters supporting either an annex museum complex or flood basin.
A Water District revised flood basin vote scheduled for December 6 was canceled by the Mountain View planning department which authorizes an additional engineering review of the Water District's flood projections. The independent Multech consulting firm confirms the Water District's Permanente Creek High flow data is unreliable. Multech lowers the Water District prediction of 2400 cubic feet of creek water per second down to 2,317 feet per second, after which the Mountain View planning department endorses the Water District's proposed Annex Flood basin. The revised annex flood basin vote was rescheduled for January 17, 2012.
2012
Despite numerous public requests that John Inks be voted in as Mayor, Mike Kaspersak was unanimously appointed mayor by his fellow council members on January 4. Annex supporters opposed the appointment of Mike Kaspersak because of his 2006 support to replace the original natural front annex meadow (Master Plan Concept B) with "some kind of playing turf", and for his dismissive comment "there has been enough public input" at the November 17th, 2009 Santa Clara Valley Water District public hearing when 114 residents expressed opposition to the annex flood basin. In newspaper interviews, Mr. Kaspersak stated he wants to hear from Mountain View residents and invites diverse opinions. His actions during his first week in office say the opposite.
A week before the January 17th Cuesta Annex flood basin vote, only three A-frame signs are posted in the Cuesta Annex to alert the public. No signs are posted in Cuesta Park, nor in any other city park.
The mailed announcement for the January 17th meeting states the annex vote will occur at 6:30 pm, or soon thereafter. In fact, the 5:30 pm. council study session regarding the heated topic of reducing the El Camino Real from four lanes to two for dedicated bus lanes is announced that afternoon in all the local newspapers and predictably, public input lasts until 8:00 pm. Afterwards, public speakers invited to speak 3 minutes for items not appearing on the evening agenda. Adding injury to insult, Mr. Kaspersak announces Cuesta Annex public speakers will be given only 2 minutes of speaking time. Over 20 speakers oppose altering the Cuesta Annex for flood prevention measures, speaker Kevin McBride supports it, and council member Jac Siegel (not allowed to vote on the topic) voices his support for the less damaging Cuesta Annex flood collection culvert. At least two speakers (Engineer Michael Haeden and Bill Lowes) share outside engineering data showing that the current Permanente Creek system can contain a 1% flood event without the Cuesta Annex flood basin or culvert being built. The day prior, Robert Schick submitted written testimony that a modified Permanente Creek diversion channel (built in 1959 which already fixed Permanente creek flooding) can be modified to hold up to 67 acre feet of standing flood water compared to the 37 acre feet the annex flood basin will contain. Not one council member mentions these facts.
During the Mountain View city council discussion following public input, Margaret Abe-Koga states the proposed basin is no big deal, its only "35 feet wide, the size of this room" (it is actually 605 feet wide!), Tom Means (the SJSU economic professor and councilman) states the water district will not return the 2000 bond money back to the voters, so if they're going to spend it, why not spend it it Mountain View, Kaspersak says he wants maximum flood protection, Bryant says that the annex is not being used by enough residents, and supports annex open space "in one form or another", Inks supports an annex culvert if it can be later changed into a basin if needed, Macias opposes a basin and only supports a culvert pipe. The council votes 4-2 in favor of an annex flood basin.
2001 The Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) at Mtn. View council direction includes city parcels of front
3 Cuesta Annex acres and Shoreline Blvd. parcels for police and
fireman housing. Bob Schick helps Old Mountain View
neighborhood work with Cuesta neighborhood under the
umbrella of "Save Open Space Mountain View" (SOSMV) (created by Old Mtn. View neighborhood
residents). All 1997 resident Cuesta Annex protectors join
in. In two months, 1,700 signatures are collected to preserve
Cuesta Annex natural space. The EPC removes Cuesta Annex and
Shoreline parcels from housing element.
2002(?) Nancy Smith, original member of the Cuesta Park Annex
Preservation Committee (1997), helps form Cuesta Park Annex
Neighborhood Association (CPNA) to help neighborhood protect the
Cuesta Annex.
2005 The Cuesta Park Master Process begins.
2006 Two Community Input Workshops: July 29 and August 19
(advertised by city-wide in banners, park signs,
and newspaper)
More than 70 residents participated and created 11
Cuesta Annex map proposals for its future design. The Santa Clara Valley Water
District (SCVWD) participated and informed participants of their flood
detention wishes.
Map 1) "valley of hearts delight"
Map 2) "heritage plan"
Map 3) "community education plan"
Map 4)"organic mixed use meets retention"
Map 5) "minimal II"
Map 6) "cuesta natural area"
Map 7) "preservation & restoration"
Map 8) "if money were no object"
Map 9) "minimal improvements"
Map 10) "active plan"
Map 11)"educational for kids"
From these 11 community drawings, Consulting firm Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey (RHAA) condensed them into 4 annex designs.
Concept A) "minimal improvements, passive use" which has new oaks planted in northeast, northwest, southeast corners, keeps front meadow, existing trees, adds 20 car parking lot into east side of annex.
Concept B) "culture, agriculture and passive use" has new oaks in north-east and northwest corners, existing meadow and oaks, orchard in middle, community garden between meadow and orchard, building by handball courts, 60 car parking lot in east side of annex. (these two concept designs represent elements of 9 of the 11 community drawings).
Concept C) "culture, Agriculture and Active Use" has possible detention and open grass turf in front 1/3 of annex, community garden in middle-east, orchard with structure in south east corner (by handball courts oak trees with picnic sites on west side of annex, 70 car parking lot in east side of annex.
Concept D) "active sports" has open turf in front meadow and eastern half of annex. Oak trees with picnic tables remain on western side, 100 car parking lot in east side of annex. (concept C and D represent elements in 3 of the 11 community drawings).
Additionally, 175 city-wide Cuesta Annex Questionnaires were turned in. These questionnaires asked people for their top annex objectives, concerns, strategies, and measures. The top three objectives were:
115 requests to preserve seasonal/natural (healthy) public open space,
88-(small) historic heritage orchard,
80-peaceful, shaded walking trails.
Only 7 people asked for a SMALL historic museum building that blends in, 55 for a barn-like structure for picnics (52 was a group dutch haven neighborhood reply). Only 2 people asked for a flood basin.
Top 4 concerns:
95-increased traffic, sports traffic
79-(don't want) non-natural materials, pesticides,
72-loss of open space to parking lots,
71-don't add intrusive structures.
Top 3 strategies:
86-use alternative playing field sites: shoreline,
72-increase field agreements with schools,
71-upgrade existing fields with artificial turf.
Top 3 measures of success:
73-Great Blue Heron returns to the annex,
71-wildlife remains,
71-preserve nature/plant life (permanently).
On September 13, 2006, the Mtn. View parks and recreation commission (PRC) were presented six annex master plan concept maps by consulting firms RHAA and HDR /Town Planning (HDR): Concept A, Concept B, Concept C, Concept C-1, Concept D, Concept D-1(note how the proportion of most developed plans (D,C) to least developed plans (A,B) has been inverted by the consultants). They heard 19 speakers in favor of concepts C & D, 13 speakers in favor of concepts A & B, before they prioritized the 4 annex options for the city council as: concept C #1, concept D #2, concept B #3, concept A# 4.
At October 24,2006 Mtn. View council study session on Cuesta Annex, public
comments for nature preservation numbered 7,sports field supporters numbered 3.
November 14,2006 Cuesta Annex Master Plan Vote.
Council Members: Kasperzak, Macias, Means, Pear, Perry and Galiotto. Residents in support of Concepts A & B
filled the entire council chambers. SOSMV speaker received a standing ovation for his presentation in support of concept B. Only 7 people in support of playing fields remained sitting. Laura Macias made the motion to approve concept B. No one seconded the motion. Greg Perry made the motion to approve concept B with some kind of turf in the front meadow and no community garden. The council unanimously approved the revised concept B.
2007 April 17,2007 at a Mtn. View city council goal-setting study session a motion is made to have the city council decide if the "cultural/agricultural structure" of concept B be designated a historic museum.
July 10, 2007 the Mtn. View city council defines the concept B structure to be a history museum.
2008 February 2,2008 at St. Timothy's meeting room, Kevin McBride and his wife Justine Fenwick present 4 large RHAA illustrations of how the annex could look with a "natural flood detention basin" in the front 1/3rd of the annex.
Mtn. View Voice February 29,2008 mentions SOSMV and Mountain View Historic Association (MVHA) representatives supporting the RHAA illustrations for an 13' deep Cuesta Annex flood detention basin at this week's council meeting.
September 22, 2008 Draft Cuesta Annex Master Plan Community Meeting.
MVHA presents plans for their Cuesta Annex history museum, SOSMV spokesperson presents illustrations created by RHAA for an annex flood detention basin, Marcia Fein represented community gardeners. According to 9/26/08 MV Voice, 100 people attended, 12 spoke. Many supported the basin, many did not like the museum.
November, 2008 Mtn. View PRC meeting
11/12/08 LA Town Crier article says the Mtn. View PRC recommended a lower height for museum so it will not block views of black mountain..
December 9, 2008 Cuesta Annex Master Plan Vote. Mtn. View City Council Members: Laura Macias, Ronit Bryant, Margaret Abe-Koga, Tom Means, Nick Galiotto, Mat Pear. (Jac Siegel can not vote on the annex because of conflict of interest).
Macias, Abe-Koga,Means, Galiotto, Pear approve a
24 foot deep detention basin and a 35 foot high museum in the Cuesta Annex. Ronit Bryant votes no.
In comparison to the 2006 master plan vote attendance where people had to stand in the isles and sit on the floor, there were only about 18 residents present. One person spoke for SOSMV, One person spoke for the MVHA. Most speakers were in support of community gardens.
SOSMV spokesperson said many SOSMV members did not support the museum building. Less than 3 SOSMV and MVHA members were present.
2009 June 23, 2009. Mtn. View city council meets with city attorney and former council member and MVHA President Nick Galiotto to discuss a lease agreement for the proposed historic museum in the Cuesta
Annex. According to the June 26-28,2009 Daily Post newspaper article, a group of Cuesta neighbors led by Rose Talmage attended to oppose the museum (and the "flood pit") in the annex. Rose Talmage collected 300 signatures against the museum and flood basin in two days.
MVHA spokesperson says it may take 4-6 years for the historic association to raise $6 million for the museum which will be 35 feet high and 10,000 square feet. This article features the same misleading illustration on the MVHA website www.mountainviewhistorical.org/, or www.mountainviewmuseum..org/
The city of Mountain View's "The View" spring/summer 2009
newsletter includes a "Cuesta Annex Master Plan Update that
states the plan includes: a 65 acre square foot detention
basin, pathways, oak woodlands, picnic sites, native
landscaping, 10,000 square foot museum, 1/4 acre
orchard, reconfigured tennis center parking lot.
Numerous newspaper articles written about McKelvey baseball flood detention plans. Numerous letters to editor by Don Letcher criticizing flood detention plans for McKelvey and Cuesta Park.
September 22, 2009 Mtn. View city council meeting. Cuesta Annex Master Plan--History Museum component memorandum of understanding with MVHA. The agreement give MVHA 1.5 acres of the Cuesta Annex to build their museum and 1/4 acre orchard for $1 a year for 55 years. The MVHA is responsible for raising funds to build museum. The city will pay for museum insurance and exterior upkeep. All 11 public speakers oppose the museum except for MVHA presenter. Approved by council members: Inks, Kasperzak, Macias, Means, Abe-Koga. Ronit Bryant votes "no", Jac Siegel abstains from vote.
October 22, 2009, Santa Clara Valley Water District(SCVWD) holds informational meeting regarding the proposed 15 foot lowering of McKelvey baseball fields for flood detention. Meeting held at Graham Middle School. A public notice flier announcing the Permanente Flood Detention Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) is on the information table.
In October 23,2009 Mtn. View Voice a SCVWD "Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project" public hearing notice is published. The notice does not mention the Cuesta Annex or McKelvey baseball fields where the detention basins will be built. Bob Schick xeroxes this notice and a copy of Cuesta Annex detention basin blueprint from 2008 and posts them in the Cuesta Annex on October 23. The SCVWD finally posts their notice in the Cuesta Annex (two 8 1/2"x11" sized notices) less than two days before the October 29th public hearing date.
October 29, 2009 SCVWD holds public hearing on their Permanente Creek Flood
detention plan (including the creation of 4 flood detention basins at Rancho San Antonio, Blach Junior High soccer fields, Cuesta Annex, McKelvey baseball fields). Meeting at Mtn. View city hall. Every public speaker at that meeting is opposed to the Cuesta Annex detention basin.
The water district supervisors express their concern that they don't want to support a flood basin the community does not want.
The October 29, 2009 Mtn. View Voice says nothing about the SCVWD public hearing.
November 3, 2009 Mtn. View city council votes to authorize city staff to submit comments to the SCVWD regarding their Permanente Creek Flood Detention DEIR.
November 6, 2009. The Daily Post newspaper reports on
public opposition to the Cuesta Annex flood detention
basin. They print Robert Schick's annex detention before/after images
on the front page. November 17, 2009 Meeting at the SCVWD regarding public outreach of their Permanente Creek
Flood Detention project.
November 17, 2009 SCVWD meeting
"Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project--public outreach Efforts"
Seven residents attend the meeting to complain about the public outreach process for the Cuesta Annex flood detention basin. Representatives from Mtn. View public works department, the Mtn. View city council, MVHA and SOSMV attend the meeting to discredit these seven residents and all residents who opposed the Cuesta Annex detention basin at the SCVWD public hearing on 10/29/09. The Mountain View city manager and mayor submitted letters to the SCVWD invalidating any residents who oppose the detention basin and museum in the Cuesta Annex. SCVWD Supervisor Tony Estremera tries to add another public hearing in January 2010. SCVWD supervisor Patrick Kwok (who represents Mtn. View's district) asks MV city representatives if we need more public input. Former Mtn. View council member and MVHA president Nick Galioto, council member Ronit Bryant (on behalf of absent Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga), council member Mike Kasperzak all say there has been enough public input. The SCVWD board of supervisors close public input, but vote to hold the DEIR public hearing in the city of Mountain View in April, 2010.
November 18, 2009 The Daily News article "7 years later, neighbors still object to park plans" describes the SCVWD 11/17/09 meeting. The article features an illustration of the 35 foot tall museum building beyond the Cuesta Annex flood detention basin, a modified version of RHAA's viewing platform illustration included in the SCVWD DEIR. The spacial distances and size of the museum in the illustration are still inaccurate. The article points out the flood has only a 1% chance of ever happening, and that by the public outreach cutoff, the SCVWD has received 20 statements of support, and 114 responses opposed to the Cuesta Annex detention basin.
2010, the Santa Clara Valley Water District published their Permanente Creek Flood Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) which ommitted all verbal and written opposition to the Cuesta Park Annex Flood Basin presented at both of their 2009 Draft EIR public hearings.
On June 17, 2010, The water district witnesses over 100 residents protest the Cuesta Park Annex and McKelvey Park flood detention basins. Only one resident spoke in favor of the projects. But after Mountain View City Council member Tom Means arrived late to dismiss the opinions of all residents present, and Mountain View City Manager Kevin Duggan likewise dismissed the opinions of protesting residents, the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board unanimously approved the destruction of the Cuesta Park Annex as described in their "Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project" EIR. The water district hinted at the means to which they will trample over the voices of the annex defenders: they will continue to schedule meetings (at which they are paid a $200 stipend of your taxpayer money) to wear out dedicated residents, and they will try to bait defenders of the annex with small consessions for giving up the fight and joining them as annex basin designers. City Manager Kevin Duggan also is trying to bribe residents to walk away from the annex fight with the offer of the district financing a Stevens Creek bridge crossing highway 85.
Newspaper articles covering this meeting appeared in the June 22 San Jose Mercury News, the June 18th Daily News, the July 7th Los Altos Town Crier. Saratoga artist Cyndy Reardon, an annex landscape painter was quoted "It is incredulous to me that in all of the areas in this valley, you've chosen one the most beautiful, natural spots to dig a damn ditch".
On July 9, 2010, Bob Schick's rebuttal to the Mountain View Voice publisher's editorial "Cuesta Annex Basin a Done Deal" is printed side by side with Kevin McBride's "Annex neighbor Backs Flood Basin" letter to the editor.
In the July 2, 2010 Mountain View Voice letter, artist Cyndy Reardon correctly pointed out the arrogance of water district chairman, Richard Santos (found guilty by the civil grand jury of corruption on June 16, 2010). She pointed out that over 80 mature trees will be cut down in the combined projects of a 23' deep detention basin in the front and middle section of the annex(31 standing trees will be clear cut) , the clear cutting of the Cuesta Park Annex tennis Center Parking lot and four additional trees to be removed to fit in a Walgreen's sized 10,000 square foot museum building with additional parking spaces.
In the August 1, 2010 San Jose Mercury Newspaper article, the water district approves their Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project and announces the project (including the annex flood basin) has now entered the "design phase".
The Mountain View Historic Association under the leadership of Nick Galiotto and Bob Weaver continue to collect memorabilia and financial donations from members to fill and build the approved Mountain View History Museum in the Cuesta Annex.
At the August 25, 2010 Mountain View Environmental Planning Commission meeting, about 20 residents protest the Santa Clara Valley Water district's proposed Cuesta Park Annex detention basin.
On September 9, 2010, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Mountain View Library Community Room, the water district begins its strategy of "divide and conquer" with the first design workshop focussed on the McKelvey Baseball field flood basin.
On September 16, 2010 6:30-8:30 pm at the Mountain View City Hall Council chambers, the water district did host their workshop to design the destruction of the Cuesta Park Annex's natural and historic orchard topography, animal habitat, mountain views and 31 heritage trees.
September 21, 2010 The water district holds a meeting at Blach Junior High to discuss their proposed flood basin. A majority of neighbors oppose the Blach Basin.
At a October 23, 2010 Cuesta Park Neighborhood Association meeting with Mountain View city council candidates, 5 of the 6 candidates do not support building a museum building in the Cuesta Annex. A majority of the candidates do support digging out a flood basin in the annex.
For the October 27, 2010 public meeting regarding the Santa Clara Valley Water District Rancho San Antonio flood basin, I observed the signs at Rancho San Antonio were not posted at the most used entrances. Also, the words "Rancho San Antonio Flood Basin" were printed 10 times smaller than the words "Clean Safe Creeks". At the meeting, the water district reveals it will cut down all trees that line the eastern border of Rancho San Antonio's equestrian parking lot entrance. A couple of residents were suspicious that the water district has hidden motives for the flood basin project.
In a November 24, 2010 Los Altos Town Crier article, the Los Altos School District fails to support the Blach Junior High school flood basin proposal. The Water District Board members are completely caught off guard by the school board's rejection.
November 29, 2010 the Santa Clara Valley Water District takes input on the initial design workshop for the Cuesta Annex flood basin. About 20 residents express their opposition to the project, even though the water district representative Afshin did not record any non-design related comments on his flip chart. Afshin stated the final annex flood basin design workshop would happen in February 2011.
2011 On February 17, Los Altos developer Roger Burnell presents his plan to move the historic Pearson House from the corner of Villa and Bryant Street in downtown Mountain View into the Cuesta Annex as part of the historic association's proposed 10,000 square foot, 35' tall museum building complex. Roger endorses the current annex plans approved in 2008 for a flood basin and museum. He wants a perimeter fence to surround the museum building and historic house which have motion and heat sensors. 100% of the neighbors attending the meeting oppose the museum complex and fence proposal. His illustrations and comments suggest how the Pearson House will act as a sales office to promote financial support of the larger museum buildings to come.
In March, developer Roger Burnell begins to collect petition signatures in the downtown Mountain View neighborhood to approve his proposal to move the Pearson House into the Cuesta Annex. He also sponsors a front loaded Mounain View telephone survey with a 20 minute introduction, followed by three questions.
In March, Kevin McBride is notified of a city council study session where Roger Burnell will present his proposal to move the Pearson House into the Cuesta Annex. If Kevin did not tell people of the meeting, there would have been no public awareness of this meeting. The city clerk tells people that this topic 3.2 will take place at 5 p.m. (a time most residents cannot attend). The majority of Mountain View residents who did attend this unannounced meeting opposed the museum, and referred to the small 1,000 square foot building approved in 2006's "Concept B". As expected, the newspapers covering this non-advertised meeting announce that a majority of city council members are interested in Roger's proposal to locate the Pearson House in the Cuesta Annex. A meeting where no vote can happen (and therefore has no public noticing in the newspapers) becomes a publicity catalyst for Roger's proposal.
On March 31, 2011, the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Supervisor calendar lists Mountain View's city manager, Kevin Duggan's retirement party as a event to attend.
As of April, 2011, the Santa Clara Valley Water still has not announced the final Cuesta Annex Flood Detention Basin workshop, originally scheduled for February.
On October 18, 2011, the 10,000 square foot, 35' tall Cuesta Annex museum building proposal experienced a setback, when a majority of Mountain View City Council (but still not ALL council members!) voted against moving the dilapidated Pearson House into the middle of Cuesta Annex as step one in constructing the Cuesta Annex museum complex. A key factor in changing the city council's support of the Pearson House move was a joint letter from the Committee for Green Foothills and the Santa Clara Audubon Society opposing the destruction of the Cuesta Annex's natural animal habitat.
Cuesta Annex articles appeared on the Mountain View Voice newspaper's front page: March 4, March 25, May 20 (a photo of the annex), September 16, August 5, October 21, and December 6. There were annex editorials published on March 11 and September 22. There were also seven published letters opposing plans for a Cuesta Annex flood basin and/or a 10,000 square foot museum complex.
There were no published letters supporting either an annex museum complex or flood basin.
A Water District revised flood basin vote scheduled for December 6 was canceled by the Mountain View planning department which authorizes an additional engineering review of the Water District's flood projections. The independent Multech consulting firm confirms the Water District's Permanente Creek High flow data is unreliable. Multech lowers the Water District prediction of 2400 cubic feet of creek water per second down to 2,317 feet per second, after which the Mountain View planning department endorses the Water District's proposed Annex Flood basin. The revised annex flood basin vote was rescheduled for January 17, 2012.
2012
Despite numerous public requests that John Inks be voted in as Mayor, Mike Kaspersak was unanimously appointed mayor by his fellow council members on January 4. Annex supporters opposed the appointment of Mike Kaspersak because of his 2006 support to replace the original natural front annex meadow (Master Plan Concept B) with "some kind of playing turf", and for his dismissive comment "there has been enough public input" at the November 17th, 2009 Santa Clara Valley Water District public hearing when 114 residents expressed opposition to the annex flood basin. In newspaper interviews, Mr. Kaspersak stated he wants to hear from Mountain View residents and invites diverse opinions. His actions during his first week in office say the opposite.
A week before the January 17th Cuesta Annex flood basin vote, only three A-frame signs are posted in the Cuesta Annex to alert the public. No signs are posted in Cuesta Park, nor in any other city park.
The mailed announcement for the January 17th meeting states the annex vote will occur at 6:30 pm, or soon thereafter. In fact, the 5:30 pm. council study session regarding the heated topic of reducing the El Camino Real from four lanes to two for dedicated bus lanes is announced that afternoon in all the local newspapers and predictably, public input lasts until 8:00 pm. Afterwards, public speakers invited to speak 3 minutes for items not appearing on the evening agenda. Adding injury to insult, Mr. Kaspersak announces Cuesta Annex public speakers will be given only 2 minutes of speaking time. Over 20 speakers oppose altering the Cuesta Annex for flood prevention measures, speaker Kevin McBride supports it, and council member Jac Siegel (not allowed to vote on the topic) voices his support for the less damaging Cuesta Annex flood collection culvert. At least two speakers (Engineer Michael Haeden and Bill Lowes) share outside engineering data showing that the current Permanente Creek system can contain a 1% flood event without the Cuesta Annex flood basin or culvert being built. The day prior, Robert Schick submitted written testimony that a modified Permanente Creek diversion channel (built in 1959 which already fixed Permanente creek flooding) can be modified to hold up to 67 acre feet of standing flood water compared to the 37 acre feet the annex flood basin will contain. Not one council member mentions these facts.
During the Mountain View city council discussion following public input, Margaret Abe-Koga states the proposed basin is no big deal, its only "35 feet wide, the size of this room" (it is actually 605 feet wide!), Tom Means (the SJSU economic professor and councilman) states the water district will not return the 2000 bond money back to the voters, so if they're going to spend it, why not spend it it Mountain View, Kaspersak says he wants maximum flood protection, Bryant says that the annex is not being used by enough residents, and supports annex open space "in one form or another", Inks supports an annex culvert if it can be later changed into a basin if needed, Macias opposes a basin and only supports a culvert pipe. The council votes 4-2 in favor of an annex flood basin.
Early 1972, a pool was to have been put in. We lived nearby at the time. Pls note.
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