The natural features um code language applied not to residential properties that exist. We want it to apply. We're going to lose thousands and thousands of trees across this city if the current ideas backing the comprehensive plan get written in code without any natural features protection. We are asking that they be applied that little mini natural features plans be done for every project in every residential neighborhood on every site. And if there are big trees there, they are either not cut or they're mitigated. We need to increase the cost of that mitigation so that a lot of those big trees survive. Otherwise, we're going to have a whole lot fewer trees in the city when this whole idea that the comprehensive plan intends to pursue is done 20 years from now. There are very few wetlands on existing residential neighborhoods. There are some, including vernal pools, which are very valuable and important.
So our percentage did go up. Uh but that is one thing that we've been kind of targeting with our principles and with our toss. Um and we have been tracking that every month and talking with our toss and our principles about it. We are currently this was December 1st data. We are currently back to 25% as a as a district in special education. So we are making those adjustments. And then this last one, this is also December 1st data. Um, this breaks it down by the schools and then it also breaks it down by the 13 um special education eligibility areas uh that that could qualify for special education support. The big thing to to look at here is from 2018 to 2024, we have doubled the amount of students receiving support through autism through the eligibility of autism. Um and then um the other area is speech impairment.
We're excited to be here. Any other comments? MBTA community list is that going to have any implication for them? It should not. I mean, um, you know, are you aware of that? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. We've worked uh um during the process of MBTA communities legislation. We were engaged since it's been passed and implemented, we've been participating and are in communities where it applies. So there's nothing here other than um furthering that goal that's engendered in the MBTA Communities Act. Yes. So they um so this project um this application um was not part of the MBTA Communities Act then and nor is it part of the MBTA Communities Act now. It is just it would just be under the um uh Pon Street Overland district. Okay. Yes. Okay. That's right. they'll certainly meet the goals of the MBTA. Yeah, I think all that you said sounds so positive and I think as a team we are all looking forward for this project to really come to life.
Um but they did leave a report for us. Uh our seniors are breathing a big sigh of relief as their big capstone night was last week. For anybody who attended, capstone was phenomenal. The projects and the were were so good. We have a table back there of a few just a sampling of a few um capstone projects that students wanted to display. So, please be sure to take a look. The lovely pen I was using earlier is made by a student. We're part of his capstone project. So, take a look. They're really great. Um, we hope you got a chance to view a few samples of the work on the table. If not, see it on the way out. This year's plan included an opportunity for all BHS student and faculty to preview senior projects during the school day with the hopes this helps underclassmen start to generate ideas and and get ready for their big day.
Now through our conversations with Superintendent Sera, what we have asked for is for more time to come up with a thoughtful operating agreement that we can present to the school district in partnership with the district in order to operate a building and ensure that it is viable for you and for the community. Thank you. Good afternoon, Victor Vasquez at Somos. And I want to take the time and appreciation to the administration to the board members for creating a space for us to have dialogue and to really get down and understand what opportunity we have at this moment. I think one of one of the things I want to reassure and Helica talked about this program that she called growing together. that program, the connection was with Elamrock families, Alamrock kids. That was a program for kids who did not have summer opportunities that were academic and cultural and social.
Okay, give us a second. We're I think they're looking into it. your top your top three selections. Yes. So, we're we're voting for our top three selections to move forward and then we we'll see the live data a little bit later, but I know we have some folks that are their their codes are not valid. So, we're working on that. So, just hang tight for a bit. Okay. Yeah. So, if your code is not valid, we're going to reset it and then we'll have you try it again in a bit. So, just hang tight for for a few minutes. They can't vote for the same recommendation twice. So, they have to choose three different ones. I don't know if you guys knew that. So, another another little suggestion. So, again, you're v you're you're selecting your top three, but you cannot select one more than more than once.
There are relatively few, but some very important woodlands that aren't native forest fragments. There are some native forest fragments that fly over the top of existing housing. By needy forest fragments, I mean something that is a faximile of the ecosystems that grew here prior to the arrival of Europeans in 1824. We need to sustain those things. We need to restore and build upon those things to bring biodiversity, our native biodiversity back into the city. There is no reason that we have to proceed so aggressively to build housing uh that we have to give up our trees and our native forest fragments and the places and open spaces and so on that are part of this city. Now obviously the range of zoning that applies to all of the residences in the city can be condensed. things that are near the downtown, things that are near the transit corridors, clearly, things that are open parking lots, things that are already commercial buildings, things are already big buildings, you can make them bigger.
So the amount of students receiving speech, that number is also on the rise. So those are two areas that we'll continue to look at and see um our programming and and any um additional supports that we need to put in place there, but every other number is kind of staying steady or going down.
Um I'm just curious like I noticed that it's the same design team that worked with us at the beginning. How do we make sure that again with all the projects that we worked at that time I don't remember how where we landed with all the finishes and kind of all the exterior materials and how do we make sure that along the process after all of us are gone that design intent is carried forward with the rest of the planning board. Um so the the design team but the design the team won't come back in front of us after right well if they follow that exactly they should not have to just like trask wouldn't have to if they want to deviate they shall come back here that's right so I think we're fine it's the same as tr to us if there's no changes that's correct that's correct but we will still go through the process of working manager and staff we'll make sure that those fit and finishes and things are something that we submit just for review and in ensuring that uh that those standards are met.
Our jazz, percussion, and concert bands performed a few weeks ago, and our chorus performers have their next show on May 30th. We've been able to record and post all these performances on our YouTube channel. So, if you have missed them, you can view the concerts there. We're also happy to announce we have kicked off our spring season for athletics with softball, baseball, track, golf, and women's tennis. Um, we will move on to unfinished business and we have a bunch of second read policies to approve tonight. So, could we have a motion to approve the following policies non-discrimination 4120.4 4 sections 504 and ADA 5131 student discipline 5145 section ADA students 5145.4 Four, non-discrimination students. 5145.5, prohibition of sex discrimination, including sexbased harassment. 6171.3, the equitable identification of gifted and talented students. And 6205, promotion and retention. Motion to approve without policies. Yes. Second. A second.
So, we created that we didn't, you know, because I think that exemplifies that all organizations have a commitment to serve the students of Alam Rock and the families and to and I want to reassure that as as a very important step. We have a vision of partnership that I want to like briefly just share with our letter. We want to create a partnership that share vision with you and the community. We want to understand the cost. We want to understand the liabilities and come up with a campaign that will bring resources for the building but also for for this Alamrock district. So, I want to thank you for that and um thank you again for for supporting our efforts and I look forward to our next conversations. [Applause] Uh hello, my name is Julia Hernandez and I just wanted to say that we should keep in reopen for the Mayfair community because it once offered many important services and opportunities that we still need today, especially with the current government and political situation, the community, school boards, and the city of San Jose as a whole should come together in every which way possible to reopen this place because it can offer us I'm sorry, a community center of safe space for children as well as gathering spaces not just today but for the future and um want to say that thank you for your time.
So, it's got to be three different um recommendations to move forward. Not Not yet. Okay, hold on. I think he's one of our guys is trying to reset. Okay. So, if your code was not valid, reload and try it again or refresh. Refresh and try again. Nicholas, try it again. Refresh and try again. Refresh. Did it work? Perfect. So, some of them are starting to work. Awesome. Sir, did yours You did it. Does anyone need any assistance? Okay, so looks like we're good. Yes. Anyone need more time? So, we're going to do uh from zero from zero to three. Zero means you know need no time. One one finger for one minute. Two fingers for two minutes.
But if you start going in some of the less dense residential neighborhoods, you're really going to, first of all, get a lot of political flak by cutting down so many trees and doing it by right, as they say. I'm uh I we simply have to protect our natural features in the city as a part of an integral code language part of regulating and controlling how this development proceeds or we're going to wreck our city. And I appreciate there's a need for more people here. You want more tax income? I get those things. Uh but there has to be a balance and that's what most of all what we're saying and an completely uncontrolled progress into the future is not going to work. Sorry to be uh barking. Commissioner Dale, you still have your hand up. Council member Cornell. Yeah. I just I want to maybe turn the temperature down just a little bit.
There was a lot of data there, but any questions that you might have? I would call out to celebrate all of our special education staff. Um, they have worked tirelessly since the pandemic um to make sure that all of our student groups, including special education, um, recover from any academic loss during pandemic time. And it is clear to see in this year's data that we are back or better than what those numbers were. in most categories for pandemic achievement. Um and so that is just a testament to the hard work um that they've been putting in. The other thing I would add is um seeing that graduation rate for our students with disabilities rise so rapidly and um that's it's just testament to a lot of hours of hard work and partnerships with parents and kids and just very proud of everyone. And I was going to call out the same thing.
So the decision that we had when TR submitted will still hold good. That's correct. For your project. That's correct. But again, in that world of what we're communicating, the team, the city, the town team will will understand what we're doing. We'll have given them that information. Please. I make a motion that the planning board approve a request 501 Pond Street, an amendment to general condition number 15 that allows for a transfer to ownership, a change to special condition number one on affordability, which would provide for a potential to increase affordability affordability. Um subject to and approval by town council. Is there a second? Second that and a roll call Katherine Jersey and Trisha Kendall. So um so I can I can start working on that. I'll uh follow up with town council and then we should have back all that information for May 8th which is the next planning board meeting to finalize sign it and then from there I can send you the finalized document.
Um, does anyone have any questions or comments further about these policies? We've had a month more than to review them. How how frequently are they updated or changed on ever or it really depends common or Okay. It is very common throughout the year to have a suite of policies, right? Um it's more typical in the fall because laws tend to get passed and go into effect late summer. Um but this is not atypical. Okay, Chris. Uh any other questions? All those in favor of the motion, please say I. Anyone opposed or abstaining? All right, on to new business. The Bolton Center School Blinds bid waiver. Um, could we have a motion to approve the bid waiver to award John Bole decorating a bid for the BCS blinds that we discussed earlier? I'll make a motion. Thank you, Ria. Second.
[Applause] Hello, my name is Lisette Sanchez. I've been a uh member of SOS Mayfair for over 10 years as a volunteer um as part of the community now part of the board of directors and today I'm here to express um my support to the preservation of the building of Maxa. Maxa was in the past a safest space for the community and it's now a symbol of culture and um hope and we will like for uh we would like to request to extend the process to at least the two months that has been requested for conversations to guarantee that all the voices of the residents in yode are heard. uh Maxa is uh Maxa can continue serving as a grace uh center and it's it will create a space for a lot of kids to develop not only at a safe space but also to be grounded with their culture where they can explore where they can um where they can root for you know their community and also for the parents to feel comfortable at a safe space where also can get the help and the assistance and the healing that they need.
Three fingers for three minutes. Show us what you need. Okay, I see three minutes. So, we're going to go three more minutes. Awesome. So, can we Someone keep track of time?
The idea that we cannot add density in neighborhoods without losing all of the trees and it being devastating is a false is false. And I think that we can agree that as a city we share values and the idea that city leadership or city staff doesn't also live here and care very much about the place where we live and also want to preserve trees is just it's a false equivalency. I just I think that we're saying 20 years from now we will never have another tree because we're going to add some houses. I I'm not sure what's going to happen next week, much less 20 years from now. So, I would just urge caution and maybe care in how we predict things 20 years from now and paint a devastating picture when we could also be having a conversation around the ecological benefits of having more people live here versus commuting here.
I mean, when you look 21 to 22, 58.3% up to 82.6% for graduation. That's very impressive. And I I know that takes everybody working that that that's great. Great progress. Does anyone have any This is an inform item. Does anyone have any additional questions for So, we'll move down under professional staff. It looks like we have one recommendation. Yes, please. Asking for approval for Rebecca Driver to be employed as a unified assistant track coach. I have a motion by Mary Lind. Do I have a second? Second by Cheryl.