HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-10-1995 Parks and Recreation AgendaI.
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AGENDA
SARATOGA PARRS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
TIME: Monday, July 10, 1995 - 7:30 P.M.
PLACE: Administrative Conference Room City Hall
13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, California
TYPE: Regular Meeting
I. ORGANIZATION
A) Roll Call
B) Minutes (Meeting of June 13, 1995)
C) Posting of Agenda
Pursuant of Government Code 54954.2 the agenda for
this meeting was posted on the City Hall Kiosk on
July 6, 1995.
II. OLD BUSINESS
None
III. NEW BUSINESS
A) Proposed Composting Demonstration Station at El
Quito Park.
B) Review of action items from the Joint
Commission/Council meeting of June 13, 1995.
C) Election of Commission Chair/Vice-Chairperson and
appointment of Secretary to the Commission.
IV. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
A) Hoffman Letter
B) Santa Clara Valley Water District, Adopt-A-Creek
Program
V. ,~~~" COMMISSION AND STAFF REPORTS
A) Commissioner's Reports
Previous Month Council Meeting Report
C) Recreation Department Status Report-Joan Pisani
D) Park Maintenance Division Update-Bob Rizzo
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~~,
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special
assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Parks
Superintendent, Bob Rizzo, at (408) 867-3438. Notification 48 hours prior to the
meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure
accessibility to this meeting.
• M E M O R A N D II M
TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Secretary, Parks and Recreation Commission
SUBJECT: MEETING OF MONDAY JULY 10, 1995
****************************************************************
III. NEW BUSINESS
A) Proposed Composting Demonstration Station at E1 Ouito
Park
Barbara Mansfield will present to the Commission a
proposal for installation of a small composting
demonstration station at E1 Quito Park. The area need
for the station is located next to the City's Community
Garden Plots and the back fence of the park.
• B) Review of Action Items From the Joint Commission/City
Council Meeting of June 13, 1995.
Secretary Rizzo will review with the Commission a number
of action items that the City Council request the
Commission and staff develop and report back to the
Council. Please review enclosed minutes of June 13.
C) Election of Commission Chair/Vice-Chairperson and
Appointing of Secretary to the Commission
As a result of a delay of appointment and re-appointment
of Commission members last October 1994, the Commission
recommended to hold elections at its November 7, 1994
meeting. The Commission can stay on its current twelve
(12) month schedule call for election in November 1995 or
approve election and appointment at this meeting.
Please let Janice know if you will be unable to attend this meeting
(867-3438 Ext. 245)
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• Bob zo, Secretary
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Phone (908) 299-2635
Santa CIarS CORIIty ~ c'~~ ~ ^'~'~.
Home Composting Education Program "~~~~~ ~~~_'
University of California Cooperative Eztension ~ti ~.~ ~ r~.,
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FAX (408)246-7016
68 North Winchester Blvd., Santa Clara, California 95050 TDD (408)247-1371
WEST VALLEY HOME COMPOSTING DEMONSTRATION SITE PROPOSAL
The Home Composting Education Program (HCEP) for
West Valley Cities proposes establishment of a composting
demonstration site at Quito Park in the City of Saratoga.
The goal of the HCEP Master Composters in proposing
the site is to provide a unique recycling and gardening
improvement resource available to all citizens of the community.
' Examples of several types of composting methods, including worm
composting (vermiculture), will be maintained and set-up by
Master Composters and area volunteers.
The site proposed at Quito Park is adjacent to the
Saratoga Community Gardens and a children's recreational area,
which are symbiotic efforts since the composting. arena will be
used for educational purposes. There will be no costs to the
City of Saratoga in the establishment, set-up or maintenance of
the composting demonstration site. All costs will be assumed
by the volunteers to the HCEP.
West Hope Church across the fence from Quito Park and
the proposed site has agreed to allow HCEP to tap into its
garden water line and City of Saratoga Parks maintenance has
indicated there will be no lack of raw material available for
composting through normal Park gardening efforts (these
materials are currently disposed of in the landfill).
Benefits to the City of Saratoga
a. an important environmental/recycling educational tool is
established;
b. potential reduction in the amount of household solid waste
being picked up and disposed of as refuse;
• c. the use of compost in home gardens will improve the
community's soil and the gardener's productivity;
(more)
Funded by Santa Clara County
Agriculture • Community Resource Development • Family and Consumer Science • 4-H Youth • Horticulture • Master Gardeners
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Phone (908) 299-2635
Home Composting Demonstration Site Proposal (2)
d. a demonstrable additional commitment to the mandates of
California State AB 939;
e. grounds maintenance for this part of Quito Park will no
longer be the responsibility of City employees.
HCEP views the Home Composting Demonstration Site as a lasting
City of Saratoga resource, and if permission is granted for use
' of~the site foresees its completion taking about 12 months
from the date of approval.
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ante Clara Couaty .r\~~tl~/,'G
Home Composting Education Program
University of California Cooperative Esteasion tiT^ ~ r~,.
'' FAX (408)246-7016
68 North Winchester Bivd., Sartta Clara, California 95050 TDD (408)247-1371
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submitted by Barbara Mansfield, Master Composter
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Funded by Santa Clara County
Agriculture • Community Resource Development • Family and Consumer Science • 4-H Youth • Horticulture • Master Gardeners
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MINIITES
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
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TIME: Tuesday, June 13, 1995 - 7:00 p.m.
• PLACE: City Hall Administration Meeting Room, 13777 Fruitvale
Ave.
TYPE: Special Meeting/Adjourned Regular Meeting/Jt. Meeting
with Parks and Recreation Commission
SPECIAL MEETING - CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Agency negotiator: Lori Pegg
Employee organisation: Saratoga Employees Associatioa
The meeting nas called to order by Mayor Burger at 6:35 PM.
A. Roll Call - Mayor Burger and Councilmembers Jacobs and Moran
were present; Councilmembers Tucker and Wolfe were absent.
Also present: Harry Peacock, city manager
The city council adjourned from closed session at 7:00 PM and the
Mayor announced that in closed session the City Council had
instructed its negotiating team to execute the proposed Memorandum
of Understanding between the City and SEA for the period from
September 1, 1994, through August 31, 1996, and that the City
Council would formally ratify the MOU at its June 21, 1995, meeting
subject to prior ratification by the SEA. The Mayor then called
the adjourned regular meeting of June 13, 1995, to order.
ADJOIIRNED REGULAR MEETING
• A. Roll Call:
Council Present: Mayor Burger, Jacobs, Tucker, Moran
Staff Present: Peacock, Perlin, Pisani, Rizzo
Commissioners Present: Crotty, Clark, Dutra, Weiner
8. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting
was properly posted on June 9. The notice of adjournment from the
June 7 Council meeting was properly posted on June 8.
C. Joint Meeting Nith Parks and Recreation Commission
1. parks Master Plan Discussion Topics
A. Discussion of Parks and Recreation Facilities Needs
Survey
Recreation Director Pisani presented the February 1995 report and
survey which had been prepared by staff and forwarded to the City
Council in February and discussed at the March Policy Development
Conference.
A member of the public, Al Rotten from the Greenbrier neighborhood,
indicated that when one goes to special interest groups in surveys
you get a special interest answer.
8. Kevin Moran/Azule Park Development
Members of the Commission asked if Park Development Fund money
could be used to retain a consultant to work through the process
• of determining how the park is to be developed, such as a public
opinion consultant or group facilitator? There was no ready answer
to this question.
A number of members of the public addressed the City Council and
the Commission at this point. The major issues which were brought
Citp Council Minutes Z Juna 13, 1995
up were:
1. The list of people to be contacted for meetings regarding
these parks is incomplete and therefore people who wished
• to be notified were not. A sheet of paper was passed
around the room for people to sign up if they wished to
be notified and it was returned to the City Manager.
2. When people bought into the Kevin Moran Park neighborhood
they didn't know that the park could be changed.
3. Issues relating to E1 Quito Park need to be discussed as
well.
4. The City was thanked for replacing the old play equipment
at Kevin Moran Park but plans should proceed to added
even more facilities of a neighborhood scale.
5. Revin Moran Park should be a neighborhood park both now
and forever.
6. There are members of the community who want to work with
the City to develop a good park for the Kevin Moran area.
7. According to one neighborhood survey, 87~ of the people
polled want no changes to Kevin Moran Park.
8. The City needs to focus on getting people involved; so
' far the City Council has not done that.
9. There is a need to focus on the entire park system, not
just Kevin Moran and Azule.
10. There is a rumor going around that Kevin Moran Park will
be sold to build houses. It was pointed out that this
was an option which had been mentioned if the City were
to not continue developing the rest of Kevin Moran Park
but facility needs could be met by purchasing property
somewhere else in the City and developing it. However,
there was no intention of doing away with Kevin Moran
Park as it now exists.
Councilmember Moran commented that it was time to move forward to
deal with the future park facility needs of the City and suggested
that the City Council's next Town Hall meeting, set for July 8th
be devoted to this topic, that the neighbors be invited if they had
signed up on the list and that the focus be on Revin Moran and
Azule Parks.
Councilmember Tucker stressed there is a need to look at the entire
park system perhaps with a special focus on Kevin Moran and Azule.
The remaining members of the Council agreed to these ideas and
asked that in addition to written notices all the parks be posted
with signs inviting people to attend the Town Hall meeting on July
8th.
C. Parks and Trails Master Plan
Commission Chair Crotty indicated that the key to a revision of the
plan is the decision about the future of Kevin Moran and Azule
Parks. Until those decisions are made, revision of the plan would
be an incomplete effort.
Public Works Director Perlin suggested that the group may wish to
come back to this topic after all the other items are discussed.
Then maybe the City Council could give better direction to the
• Commission regarding revisions to the current plan. Mr. Perlin
indicated that there were some organizational changes to the plan
he would like to see which would make the document easier to
understand and use but these would not impact the substantive
issues which remain to be decided.
• ~ City Council Minutes 3 June 13, 1995
Councilmember Wolfe arrived at the meeting, the time being 8:25 PM.
The City Council agreed that the Commission should identify
specific areas in the plan for updating and to report back to the
• City Council at another joint meeting in November as to the areas
identified for change and what those proposed changes might be, if
possible at that time.
D. Discussion of Open Space Element and Master Plan
Implementation Committee Report
It was noted that at the last joint meeting the recommendations
contained in the report had been reviewed by the City Council but
not adopted. It was agreed that when the City Council and the
Commission next meet that the Commission is to be prepared to
recommend which of the conclusions of the Committee should be
folded into the Parks and Trails Master Plan.
E. Locating a Place for a Community Garden Aithin
~ Existing Park Properties.
The staff was requested to invite the Friends of the Nelson Gardens
and members of the community who are on the list for garden plots
at El Quito Park to the Town Hall meeting as these groups have
special perspectives on park facilities needs which should be
heard.
F. Locating a Doq Run Area within Existing Park
' Properties or Otherwise Dealing with the Issue of
Dogs in the Parks
The Commission asked if the issue of liability had been examined
regarding allowing dogs to run loose in the parks? The City
Manager responded that he would inquire through the City~s risk
manager as to the potential liability exposure this could create
• and whether such a course of action was recommended and if so under
what conditions. Parks and Building Superintendent Rizzo reported
that he had looked into fencing an area under the PG & E power
lines to create a safe dog exercise area, that PG & E seemed to be
willing to cooperate and that it would cost about $6,500 to fence
an area about 1/2 the size of a football field.
Several dog owners spoke to group about this issue indicating they
liked the current situation where they run their dogs free at
Congress Springs Park even though it violates the leash law. The
City Council asked the dog owners present to look at alternative
locales to Congress Springs Park since apparently the owners do not
arrive on foot but drive to the Park with their dogs.
2. Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages at City Parks
Users of El Quito Park on Monday for volleyball, etc. consume
significant quantities of alcoholic beverages according to
neighbors. Therefore the neighbors are seeking the same
restriction on the consumption of alcoholic beverages at El Quito
as currently exist at Wildwood Park. After extensive discussion
as to the options available to the City, the City Council asked the
staff to try direct contact with the people involved first,
stressing the behavior which is unacceptable to the neighbors to
see if the behavior is modified after the matter has been brought
to the offending party's attention. Staff was instructed to report
back to the City Council at its second meeting in July and give a
progress report on the outcome of the intervention effort.
3. Trails
• A. San Juan Bautista De Anaa Trail
Commission Chair Crotty reported the City is supporting the
development of this trail which coincides with the City's plan to
have a trail which runs along the rail road line. Funding for the
project is through the federal Rails to Trails Project. The
problem is that the program may be the target of major cuts in
• city Council Minutes 4 June 13, 1995
funding with the current Congress.
B. City Trail System
• The Commission reported it is working on an "adopt a trail" program
similar to the "adopt a park program" with which the Commission and
staff have had good initial success.
4. Possible Budget Cuts for Parks and Recreation Programs
The Commission indicated that the staff had briefed the Commission
on the issues facing the City Council and the cuts which had been
proposed by staff earlier in the evening.
Bill Weller was introduced as the volunteer recording
secretary for the Commission.
5. Btatus of the Adopt a Park Program
The Commission reported that it has three agreements working, one
to maintain the open space area at Pollard and Quito with Saratoga
Tree Service, one to do maintenance at Kevin Moran Park by Boy
Scout Troop 566, and one to maintain Ravenwood Park by that
neighborhood group. The Commission indicated that the Rotary Club
and community volunteers did a major renovation on the Memorial
Arch over the past few weeks as well.
6. Status of the Creek Beautification Program
The Commission reported the next major event is scheduled for
September 23rd in a joint effort with Sunnyvale as a part of the
coastal cleanup campaign.
7. Role of the Commission With Regard to the City Council
and the Public
• The Commission indicated that it felt that it was comfortable with
the role it was playing and things were going well in terms of its
relationship with the City Council.
D. Set Deadline for Submittal of Final Tree Committee Report
The City Council received a letter from the Parks and Recreation
Commission regarding this matter and it was made part of the
record.
It was moved by Councilmember Wolfe, seconded by Councilmember
Tucker and passed 3-2 with Moran and Jacobs voting NO to declare
the work of the Tree Committee over, to thank them for their
efforts, to accept the guidelines prepared by the Committee as a
reference document and to recognize all who had participated in the
work of the Committee by appropriate resolution.
E. Authorization for Submission of Grant Application to Packard
Foundation by Volunteer Coordinator
Zt was moved by Councilmember Moran, seconded by Councilmember
Tucker and passed 5-0 to approve the submittal of the grant
application and authorized the City Manager to sign the application
on behalf of the City.
F. Other Items
1. Self-Evaluation of the Previous Meeting
The City Council discussed the problems with the audio-visual
capability of the current Council Chambers. Staff was asked to
• look into the possibility of mounting a screen and placing the
overhead and slide projectors at locations where both the Council
and the audience can see the presentations at the same time and
that they are large enough to be seen.
Councilmember Tucker asked to talk about this evenings meeting and
• City Council Minutes 5 June 13, 1995
how to best prepare for the July 8th Town Hall meeting. What
documents should the staff try to dig up for the City Council to
review on the history of the parks, etc.
• It was the consensus of the City Council that the July 8th meeting
should focus on brainstorming and that a second meeting be used to
try to work toward a consensus on future parks and recreation
facility development sometime in September when summer vacations
are over.
2. Agency Assignment Reports
Councilmember Tucker reported on the City's Association meeting.
The City Manager was requested to provide the Council members with
a list of those who would be attending the leadership training
workshop on Friday as there were about four slots open and some
members have an interest in inviting more members from the
community.
The meeting was adjourned at 11 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
/ ~ ~ /~
Harr}f (Peacock
' City anager
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Anthony & Jane Hoffman
19664 Northampton Drive
• Saratoga, CA 95070
June 27, 1995
1VIr. Bob Rizzo
13 777 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga CA 95070
M ~•
Dear Parks Dept F~zzo:
Tel. (408) 446-3230
The orchard remnants at Kevin Moran and Azule are the last orchard lands connected to public
parks on this side of the valley.
The young children cherish and use extensively these two little undeveloped patches of land. It
provides areas where they can let their imaginations run free and develop on their own natural
terms, without adults telling them the rules and requirements, and regimenting their play.
• One has only to observe what the children have done without adult supervision with the surplus,
undeveloped land under the trees and around the stream at Rainbow park to see creativity
flourishing in its most impressive state. There, without adult interference, the children have
established a very comprehensive motocross track, complete with carefully sculpted tracks of
varying difficulty and configuration, and set up their own safety systems and gradations of
expertise and mentioning in a way no adult would ever have thought of doing. Since it is a
world entirely of their creation, they own it. They are the sole instigators and developers and
maintainers; The self-confidence and realization of knowing they did it, by themseh~es, without
interference from the adult world, is immensely satisfying, and the personal growth resulting
from this experience is incalculable. The most important point here is that it is also not re-
creatable by adults; It must be done on their terms, or it is just another meaningless adult-
structured goal activity.
This valley was built into the successful center of technology and creativity it is by adults who
as children had the privilege to play and dream in the fields and the orchards and the creeks.
We learned to create not strictly from reading a textbook, but from observing the myriad
happenings of nature first hand. This experience is necessary to a child's creative
developement.
iThe children growing up in this area have no concept of what "The Valley of Heart's Delight"
once was, except through these last little bits. This truly vital developmental experience which
is uniquely California should not be denied them, which will happen if adult structured areas are
developed there, but must be made available to them to dig and explore and play in, without
rules and regulations and restrictions.
Not a day goes by that there are not children out there in Kevin Moran and Azule, catching
ladybugs, watching worms dig, observing Raccoon burrows, and in the Spring pulling up lush
yellow flowered sour grass by the handfuls to give to their mothers as loving "bouquets". This
aspect of pure unchanneled learning is totally lacking in the usual orderly, structured park
areas. The experience of an orchard in it's "Natural" Santa Clara Valley state is unavailable
anywhere else. Children get a glimpse and experience of the valley as it once was; The wild
Mustard blooming yellow, the explosion of color when the trees bloom, the smell of Spring and
mud; The sight is all the more spectacular in that it is produced for them entirely by nature,
with minimal artificial manicuring or intrusion by adults. It is a quiet activity, without flash and
posturing, and it is fragile; easily trampled by the push for more highly visible entertainment,
but it is just as necessary and justifiable, and it is only accesible here. And the cost is low, too.
We hope you can see the tremendous value in leaving this area undeveloped, for the children's
sake.
Sincerely,
i
Anthony & J ne Hoffinan
2T~+~ -~
Santa Clara Valley Water District
5750 ALMADEN EXPRESSWAY
SAN JOSE, CA 95118-3686
TELEPHONE (408) 265-2600
FACSIMILE (408) 266-0271
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
June 27, 1995
1Vtr. Bob Rizzo
Parks and Recreation Commission
City of Saratoga
13777 Fruitdale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
Dear Mr. Rizzo:
Subject: Adopt-A-Creek Program
Thank you for your participation in the District's Adopt-A-Creek program. With your help over
the past two years and the efforts of other program volunteers,, a considerable quantity of litter
and debris has been removed from the County's creeks. The efforts of volunteers in this program
provide a great service in their contribution towards a cleaner environment.
The District permit (93213) issued to you in 1993 for litter cleanup along Saratoga Creek at
Wildwood Park expires on July 16, 1995. To continue your volunteer work, your permit must be
current. If the Commission would like to continue with our adopt-a-creek program, let us know
in writing and we will update the permit. Please let us know if you are no longer interested or
cannot participate in the program.
Thanks again for your support. I can be reached at (408) 265-2607, extension 2253.
Sincerely,
~ ~ ~~,."
Sue A. Tippets, P.E.
Associate Civil Engineer
Design Coordination Division
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San Jose Menury News • Extra • une
Atherton rewards urlkvi foregters
BY DON BRIGNOIA
llerrury Ncwr,Btaff writer
Atherton is so .proud of its "ur-
ban forest" that the town grants
annual best tree awards as the
posh Peninsula suburb's way of
aclrnowledging and spurring re-
forestation and the good care of
trees.
"We really are pleased to rec-
ognize those people who are tak-
ing care of their trees and are
benefiting us all by helping us
sustain our local urban forest,"
said Lorna Wadsworth, chair-
woman of the 11-member Ather-
ton Tree Committee, a volunteer
group, which advises the city
council on matters relating to
trees and reforestation projects.
"Increasingly people are begin-
ning to realize that their trees are
valuable," Wadsworth said. "The
tree committee is trying to pro-
mote more awareness of Califor-
nia's urban forest."
The committee recently handed
~ut 11 Tree Awards for 1996 to
'IncreasinSly people aro
......................................
beSinninS to roalize that
their trees aro valuable.'
-Lorna Wadsworth, chairwoman
Atherton Tree Committer
the residential caretakers of the
town's best nurtured trees.
The winners and type of trees
included, Ellen and Ra<j Joneja,
redwood; Frances L. Williams,
redwood; Susan Hall, copper
beech; Keith Bartel and Janice
Ross, live oak; Frederick and Lor-
raine Mielke, flowering cherry;
Folke and Gudrun Ohlsson, white
oak (valley); Jerry and Gerda Un-
german, goldenrain tree; Yoshimi
and Grace Shibata, fan palm; Didi
and John Fisher, Atlas cedar;
Shirley Eastman, English holly;
and Laird Foshay, deodar cedar.
The trees were judged based on
the following criteria: outstand-
ing specimen, size, condition,
unique or special species, age or
historical significance.
Special categories included the
"best preserved" for a tree for
which special preservation mea-
sure have been taken and the
"best new sapling" ward for a
newly planted tree.
Entries were inspected and
winners picked by the Tree Com-
mittee and the Atherton town
staff.
All were recognized for the
pride Atherton residents have for
their trees and rewarded for real-
izing the importance of maintain-
ing the town's heritage trees,
Wadsworth said.
"Even though Atherton looks
like a very verdant natural for-
est, especially if you are flying
over the area; once you get down
and start looking, you will find
there are many trees in town and
in surrounding towns that are in
trouble," she said. "Atherton has
a number of dead and dying trees
that have not been replaced."
~5anding for police building explored
BY MICHAEL CRONK
1[errury Newu Stat't Writer
Santa Clara's proposed capital
improvements budget includes
• 12.2 million in funding over the
rt two years to construct a new
e administration building -
^^r votQrq refused to fund
'awn a bond
City officials believe Santa Clara needs a new police
buildin~~ but voters airoady have rojectsd a bond issue
................................................................................
to fund construction.
want a new police ~ -- ••• T••dy Nadler said the
buildingt. Oth~ '^~orically fund-
•1 ~T •ove-
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COMMIBBION 1-iEETING ATTENDABCE RECORD
.7
Date: 6/21/95
C'OmID15510n: parks ~ Recreation
Period covered: x January-,Tune 1995
Number of Scheduled Meetings: 5
__
July-December 199
Commissioner
__I<eo Rarnar~
John Clark
Jennifer Crotty
Barbara Dutra
Donna Miller
Marianne Swan
Kathryn Weiner
Number of Absences
4
-0-
-0-
.1
3
1
-0-
Submitted ~ ~~~ c/
By. _..~
Bob Rizzo, Secretary
•