Residents at the El Quito neighborhood traffic-calming meeting agreed to substitute chatter bars for the originally proposed medians at McFarland Avenue in order to cut costs considerably, said Assistant City Manager Lorie Tinfow. Otherwise, it would cost the city $3,000 per median. When the city council approved the project in December 2002, the council also capped the project at $50,000.

As it stands, the request is for four speed humps on McFarland Avenue and four chatter bars each at the McFarland and Paseo Presada intersection and where McFarland crosses Heath Street.

Plans have yet to be finalized. McFarland Avenue residents must submit a petition showing that at least 60 percent of its residents support the project and get written permission from adjacent property owners to allow installation of the speed-reducing devices. Tinfow will submit these documents to the public safety commission at its Feb. 8 retreat.

The same week as the El Quito meeting, staff from the parks and recreation department met with residents twice to discuss an access trail and playground equipment. Last August, the Santa Clara Valley Water District closed off an unofficial access trail running along Wildcat Creek toward Gardiner Park due to safety and privacy complaints from nearby residents. More than a dozen trail lovers came before the city council in November 2002 to request that the city enter into a joint use agreement with the county to reopen the trail.

As had occurred at the city council meeting three months ago, those present at the task force meeting heard from both opponents and proponents of the trail, said Cary Bloomquist, staff liaison to the parks and recreation commission.

According to Bloomquist, the 1991 Parks and Recreation Master Plan—which is undergoing revisions—indicates that the path in question is not an official trail. The master plan recommends that a trail not be put in because it is so close to residential homes. However, Bloomquist noted, the plan is simply a guiding document and not an adopted policy.

"Just because it says something in the master plan doesn't validate it," he said.

The city anticipates inviting a representative from the sheriff's department to its next task force meeting, scheduled for March 6, to provide an "extra level of depth to the task force" and to address safety mitigations, Bloomquist said. At that time, the task force is also hoping that the Santa Clara Valley Water District will provide a survey indicating its property line.

Finally, city staff met with a task force to review a playground replacement project for Wildwood Park. The task force reviewed initial layouts of the play area drawn by a design consultant, provided feedback and requested a safety audit of some of the trees in the area. In addition to replacing playground equipment, the project includes a redesign of the park's layout, with an area designated for 2- to 5-year-olds and one for ages 6 to 12. The next Wildwood task force meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12.