.
MINUTES OF THE CITY/SCHOOL
LIAISON COMMITTEE
City Hall/School District
Santa Clara City Hall, City Council Chambers
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 11:45 a.m.
Members Present:
City of Santa Clara:
Mayor, Lisa M. Gillmor (Chair)
Councilmember, Kathy Watanabe
Councilmember, Suds Jain (Alternate)
Santa Clara Unified School District:
Board President, Vickie Fairchild
Board Member, Dr. Michele Ryan
Board Member, Jodi Muirhead
Superintendent, Dr. Gary Waddell
City of Santa Clara Staff:
Assistant City Manager, Cynthia Bojorquez
Dir. of Community Development, Andrew Crabtree
Chief of Police, Pat Nikolai
Assistant Chief of Police, Wahid Kazem
Acting Director of Parks & Recreation, Dale Seale
City Librarian, Patty Wong
Chief Electric Utility Officer, Manuel Pineda
Santa Clara Unified School District Staff:
Director, School Bond Project, Larry Adams
Director of FD & P, Michal Healy
Deputy Superintendent/CBO, Mark Schiel
Public Information Officer, Jennifer Dericco
Roll Call and Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 11:49 a.m. by Chair Lisa Gillmor.
Public Presentations
There were no public presentations.
Item 1. Superintendent’s Reports
This item was deferred to occur after Item 4. Superintendent Gary Waddell and PIO Jennifer Dericco described a new campaign, One Million Acts of Kindness, in which Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) challenged its community to commit one million acts of kindness.
Community members can log their acts of kindness on a SCUSD webpage and on social media.
Item 2. Update on the Healthy Living and Safe Decision-Making Curriculum and Implementation Plan
Assistant Chief of Police Wahid Kazem provided an update and answered questions. Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD) is in the procurement process to retain a third-party company to help build a curriculum.
Item 3. Feasibility of Presenting Potter the Otter in Schools Committee Member Kathy Watanabe gave information on Potter the Otter and how it might be applicable to SCUSD.
City/School Liaison Committee Minutes
November 1, 2023
Item 4. Update on Grants Available to High School Students Related to Energy Efficiency or Renewable Energy Projects
Chief Electric Utility Officer Manuel Pineda gave an update on the item and indicated Silicon Valley Power (SVP) would work with SCUSD to publicize grant opportunities for high school students.
Item 5. Feasibility of Widening the Walkway between Rip Miller Way and Washington Street Councilmember Suds Jain stated he had heard concerns from a constituent about a walkway on SCUSD property. Public comment was received from Joe, a constituent who raised concerns about the width and safety of the walkway. SCUSD indicated it is looking into the viability of the request, and stated that the path is currently ADA compliant.
Item 6. Discussion Regarding Public Accessibility to the Tennis Court at Wilcox High School
Deputy Superintendent/CBO Mark Schiel indicated that the Wilcox High School Tennis Courts project is ongoing, and stated SCUSD is reviewing its facility use fee process. Assistant City Manager Cynthia Bojorquez indicated that a Parks Master Plan identifying recreational needs throughout the City will be launched soon, and tennis courts may be identified as a need during the public engagement process.
Item 7. Update on the Status of Electric Vehicle Chargers at SCUSD Schools Director of Facility Development and Planning Michael Healy indicated SCUSD is finalizing an Electric Vehicle Chargers agreement to bring forward to SVP in the next few months at four school sites.
Item 8. General Updates from Attendees
Community Development Department Director Andrew Crabtree gave updates on the Downtown Precise Plan, the Zoning Code Update, the El Camino Real Specific Plan, the Land Use Plan, the Santa Clara Station Area Specific Plan, the Tasman East Specific Plan Amendment, the Kiley Mission Point Project Environmental Impact Report, and the Benton-Lawrence Interim Housing Project.
Acting Parks and Recreation Director Dale Seale thanked everyone for their support during the Arts and Wine Festival, as well as gave an update on the Master Plan for the City Park System.
Upcoming events include Disney’s Tarzan and the Holiday Tree-Lighting. Westwood Oaks Park is scheduled for completion next year, as is Magical Bridge Playground. He also gave updates on the Fairway Glen restroom, Henry Schmidt Train Park, the Warburton rehabilitation project, and a pickleball pilot.
City Librarian Patty Wong introduced the new Assistant City Librarian, Mila Rianto and announced the new Young Adult Librarian, Karen Guzman. She also stated that with Ashby Senate Bill 321 having passed, SCUSD is now ahead of the game in terms of ensuring all students have a library card by the third grade, and gave an update on Santa Clara Libraries’ expanded hours and events.
Chief of Police Pat Nikolai gave an update on the Police Activities League (PAL)/School Resource Office. The new PAL facility is currently being built across the street from the department. They are transitioning the Explorer Program to rename it as Police Service Aide, and SCPD is working to expand it. He also gave updates on the special events SCPD has presented throughout SCUSD, as well as the Run, Hide, Fight presentations conducted by SCPD throughout the school district.
SCUSD gave updates on multiple items. Board President Vickie Fairchild gave updates on policies for keeping facilities locked, and stated that the groundbreaking for Laurelwood Elementary is moving to Sunnyvale. Director of Facility Development and Planning Healy stated that the school City/School Liaison Committee Minutes
November 1, 2023
master plans for Bracher Elementary, Briarwood Elementary, and Westwood Elementary are up for Board approval, as well as approval for bond construction projects. SCUSD is planning to propose new use fees, which would go into effect June 1, 2024.
Director, School Bond Project, Larry Adams stated SCUSD is moving into the next phase of work at Bracher Elementary and at Briarwood Elementary. SCUSD is currently working on the tennis courts at Wilcox High School. Later this year, there is a plan to replace the concession building, the visitor’s bleacher’s and subsequently the home bleachers and the guest box. Director Adams thanked the Public Works Department for assistance with permitting. At Santa Clara High School, SCUSD demolished the visitor’s bleachers and are updating the stadium lighting. SCUSD is also constructing a new Laurelwood Elementary School at the Patrick Henry Intermediate School site.
Item 9. Proposal of 2024 City-School Liaison Committee Meeting Schedule (5 minutes) The Committee moved the January 3 meeting to January 10, cancelled the July 3 meeting, and otherwise affirmed the draft meeting schedule as submitted. This meeting schedule is included below:
Meeting Date Meeting Time Host/Location
January 10, 2024 11:45 am – 1:15 pm Santa Clara Unified School District March 6, 2024 11:45 am – 1:15 pm City of Santa Clara
May 1, 2024 11:45 am – 1:15 pm Santa Clara Unified School District September 4, 2024 11:45 am – 1:15 pm City of Santa Clara November 6, 2024 11:45 am – 1:15 pm Santa Clara Unified School District
Item 10. Agenda Building for Following Meeting
Councilmember Jain raised the question of whether maker spaces at Santa Clara High School could be made available to the public.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned with a motion by Councilmember Watanabe, seconded by SCUSD Board Member Jodi Muirhead, and unanimously carried.