| Reposted by San Lorenzo Express |
MINUTES
SAN LORENZO VILLAGE HOMES ASSOCIATION
MEETING NO. 1165
January 17, 2008
The regular meeting of the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association Board of Directors was held Thursday, January 17, 2008.
1.1 CALL TO ORDER -- President Wulf Bieschke called the meeting to order at 7:40 pm.
1.2 SALUTE TO THE FLAG -- President Bieschke led the Board and the audience in the pledge of allegiance.
1.3 ROLL CALL -- Directors Wulf Bieschke, Pat Pebelier, Margaret Wright Jim Sherman and Kathy Martins were all present.
2.O MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING -- Approval of meeting number 1163, December 20, 2007. Director Pebelier makes a motion Director Wright seconded. The motion carries.
3.0 COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES
3.1 CHP -– Officer Tuazon gave the following report.
CHP Statistics for December 2007 [TO BE POSTED WHEN AVAILABLE]
Total for
Infraction San Lorenzo Unincorp. area
Collisions
Tickets
Parking Tickets
Storage/Impounds
Stolen Recoveries
Traffic Complaints
Parking Complaints
DUI Arrests
Total warnings for Castro Valley Command:
3.2 Alameda County Sheriff's Dept. -- Deputy Liskey gave the monthly report.
Statistics for December 2007 [TO BE POSTED WHEN AVAILABLE]
Change from
Crime Number last month Affected Streets
Stolen vehicles
Attempted Stolen Vehicles
Recovered Stolen Vehicles
Residential Burglary
Commercial Burglary
Auto Burglary
Grand Theft
Vandalism/graffiti
Robbery
Deputy Liskey reported that he has been unavailable for meetings due to a special assignment infiltrating a cock fighting ring in East County. He reported that on February 2, 2008, his department will be hosting the youth leadership academy, where awards will be given to children who have shown outstanding leadership in the unincorporated area.
Director Sherman asked how the “Avoid the 21” campaign went this year. Liskey stated that they doubled the arrests this year to nearly 800 DUI. It was a very effective unit this year. Director Martins stated that she had asked law enforcement about the crime in our area and they had stated that it was very minimal, the greatest problem for the San Lorenzo area was stolen vehicles. She asked Liskey to confirm what she had heard. He stated that there is less crime in San Lorenzo Village than the surrounding areas and noted that stolen cars have been the greatest statistic of crime for the area. Liskey also appointed out that for an unincorporated area of our size, we have more patrol cars per unit than most of the surrounding cities.
President Bieschke asked where the technicians have been for street sweeping tickets. Liskey stated that they were pulled from the area in December to help with the “Avoid the 21” campaign, and most recently they have been helping with enforcement of the illegal cock fighting ring they were dealing with in East county. They will be back ticketing for parking in February 2008.
President Bieschke asked Liskey if he could separate the statistics of DUI related arrests from just “drug” related. Liskey stated that they are unable to do this with their current program.
Resident Keith Barros asked what happened to the person who he photographed putting up illegal signs on telephone poles. Liskey did not have a status on the individual. Barrros also asked for an update on the Via Arriba shooting. Liskey had heard that on Tuesday there was an individual shooting from the apartments at 17259 Hesperian, however did not have further details, he will report back.
3.3 Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker -- Staff member Kevin Dowling reported that the area on A street and Garden that has been fenced in will be replaced with a gas station. Dowling stated that at the next unincorporated meeting, Lai Bitker will become the chair. Any agenda items that residents are interested in should be forwarded to her for this calendar year. Lai Bitker’s office wants this to be a meeting that people are interested to come to and are welcoming new agenda items that residents are interested in.
He announced that the San Lorenzo Creek Task Force will be meeting this month and he is still looking into the request by the board as to what recommendations on zoning have come from the Municipal Advisory Councils and Homes Associations and how they were handled by the county and its committees and the Board of Supervisors.
3.4 Zoning Enforcement Report (See attachment C).
3.5 Public Comment -– Cathy Rath reported from COMPRE on a new program for older adults in San Lorenzo (See attachment D).
4.0 FINANCIAL REPORT
4.1 Approval of December 2007 expenditures, including payroll, and discussion of significant variances -- Director Pebelier made a motion to approve the December 2007 expenditures, Director Martins seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
5.0 ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
5.1 Informational Items –- The Administrator noted that the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal related to the Russell City Power Plant. However they are still holding meetings about the East Shore Plant that is being proposed. She said Alice Lai Biker spoke very well for the county at the last East Shore meeting. There are still other issues that need to be discussed about this plant, however the State Energy Commission has the power to make the final decision.
The Administrator went over the ballot counting procedure and announced that the ballots would be accepted if postmarked by January 31, 2008. The counting would be held as a special meeting, done in the Association’s meeting room on Monday, February 4, 2008.
6.0 OTHER BUSINESS (Motion may be required)
6.1 BMX Proposal - Alice Lai Bitker (Timed agenda item 7:45 pm) -- Supervisor Lai Bitker spoke to the board about the issue. She stated that she has worked on this issue since 2005 regarding finding a site for the area.
The BMX operator has agreed to 19 conditions for approval (See Attachment E). The BMX operator will be going before the HARD board on January 28, 2008 to ask for its approval to move forward with their proposal.
Lai-Bitker’s staff person, Kevin Dowling spoke further to some of the questions the Board had brought to his attention. He stated that the reason they are putting a trench in the facility for water is that the water will be used in many capacities and this was the least expensive and best site to trench. from. He noted that Carl Renowitzky, the operator, would have volunteers on the track so that the children will be biking with their appropriate age group.
Renowitzky said that the riders will on the track will be of similar age or skill level. Renowitzky noted that the National Bicycle League is run by parent volunteers who would manage the track. There will be at least 10 parents involved who will be responsible for maintaining the track. They will be getting help from those parents already running successful tracks in other areas like San Ramon. Renowitzky noted that this would be a practice facility only, no races would be held at the track.
Director Sherman asked how close the Skywest townhomes were to the track and whether there would be fencing around the track. Dowling stated that the track is over 380 feet from the townhomes and the area will be fenced in. He noted that the tract is over 200 feet from the nearest San Lorenzo street, Via Coralla.
Director Martins noted that the track would be open only two week days. If there was a greater demand, would you open more days. Renowitzky stated that if there was a demand, they would consider it, however, in his experience, two week days would be sufficient. If they did decide to open additional days, they would need to take the idea back before HARD and the County.
Samantha Blooddhart, the President of the Skywest Townhomes, had some additional questions. She asked what would happen when 30 children or more show up at once. Renowitzky stated that there will be plenty of time for the kids to take turns on the track. The participants will tire quickly and need to rest after being on the track; this allows others to take the track while they rest. He said that this track is quite strenuous; all participants who are “resting” will do so in the staging area until the track is free again.
Bloodhart asked who would be running the water line. Renowitzky stated that as the operator, he will be paying for it and during the summer they will have someone maintaining the track on an ongoing basis. The dirt they use for the track is heavier than normal, and made of clay so that it will not be able to blow around as easily.
Bloodhart noted that Skywest is totally against the portable restrooms. There were restrooms at the site before, which were tipped and eventually removed by HARD. Dowling noted that the restrooms would be inside the fence and weighted, so that they could not be tipped easily. Director Martins asked how the track and these restrooms would be screened from the town homes. Renowitzy stated that there would be a wall screening the restrooms. Director Martin suggested that they put a wall around both restrooms and lock the area when not in use, this would further prevent in vandalism or “tipping”.
Bloodhart asked how high the berms in the track would be. Renowitzky stated that they would be no more than 5 to 5 ˝ feet high. She noted that her Association would like to see the plans when they are more extensive and would like to participate in the landscaping and the choice of screening to be used. She noted that her homeowners are 30 to 40 feet from the ground, with the garages being the bottom floor. They would look directly down on the track. Bloodhart also noted that her Association has concerns about the limits of liability, whether the volunteers would have safety courses that would be recurrent and about the size of the sign that would be on the track.
Renowitzky said that they would have $1 million in liability, all volunteers would have recurrent safety training at the local colleges and the signage for the track would be no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet and would give the contact information for children and parents to call.
President Bieschke noted that any other concerns could be taken up with HARD. Bledhart stated that she would be attending the HARD hearing.
Lai Bitker thanked the Board and Administrator & Skywest for all the questions and participation in the project. President Bischke thanked Lai Bitker and her staff for all their efforts in bringing this project into light. Director Martins made a motion to suggest to HARD that they approve the proposed East Bay BMX track with the conditions outlined. Director Pebelier seconds, the motion carries unanimously.
6.2 Update of Hayward Airport Plans - Ross Dubarry (Timed agenda 8:15 pm) -- Bob Bauman Public Works Director of Hayward introduced Ross Dubarry the new manager of the Hayward airport. Dubarry outlined the new improved tracking system at the airport to help reduce noise ( See attachment F).
Dubarry noted that the new system called Airport Noise and Operations Monitoring System (ANOM) will help to educate pilots and take complaints. It will approve the efficiency, pilot education and enforcement. The system will enable the airport personnel to be free of compiling data and reports and will allow them to explore new and innovative ways to reduce noise. The ANOM system will be much more user friendly. They airport hopes to have this system up and running in the next several weeks.
Dubarry reported on the Hayward airports master plan and gave annual operation data. He stated that the aircraft operations at the airport are set to increase and he introduced the project site which would be towards the south end of the airport.
Resident Don Clowser was concerned about the increase. He asked whether these would be small aircraft or jets. Dubarry stated they would be jets, however, the airport would be trying to attract stage three jets which had noise mitigation units . The airport wants to be proactive and make sure that they are complying with the noise regulations.
Director Martins asked whether these new jets using the airport would be required to have more quiet, fuel efficient jets. Dubarry stated that they would not be required, but most of the jets are new and have these functions. The airport does not want to be a problem for San Lorenzo or the surrounding neighborhoods. Director Martins questioned how one anticipates less noise with more planes. Dubarry stated that the noise ordinance has large fines and his office will have to make sure that the jets meet these noise regulations. Dubarry went on to state that the surrounding neighbors may have to put up with some increase in noise.
The Administrator noted that she had received notice from a San Lorenzo resident that these noise monitoring systems are not in good working order and are not in strategic positions to pick up the noise generated by these planes at the airport. This could be one reason why the airport has not been in violation. Dubarry noted that the instruments are placed as near to the end of the runways as possible to pick up landing and taking off noise from planes. All monitors have been working and are tested at least once a year.
President Bieschke asked how the Russell City Energy Plant will impact the airport and the increase in jets. Bowman stated that the energy center is no where near the flight pattern. Hayward did a study and found very few flights were flying over that area. President Bieschke asked how the airport intends to regulate transient jets that may come to fuel up with the new FPOs. Dubarry stated that he did not have that information yet, but once the get it he will come back before the community.
Director Wright asked how many passengers are on these new jets that will be utilizing the airport. Dubarry noted that they would be small numbers; the largest jet could handle 19 persons, but that is the maximum their runway could handle.
Director Martins was concerned about the implementation of the noise ordinance and the safety of the surrounding San Lorenzo residents. How will you insure that the standards, codes and ordinances are adhered to on an ongoing basis? Dubarry stated that the airport has a very aggressive standard for pilots and their control towers to insure that everyone is in compliance. He noted that the airport had recently adopted rules and regulations for operators at the airport. Dubarry noted that the airport does not have control over the airspace. Their legal authority only controls what is on the ground. Dubarry noted that the type of customer the Hayward airport attracts are mainly professionals and their reputation would be damaged if they did not comply with community and ordinance standards.
6.3 Gametime Proposal — Kathy Martins -- Director Martins presented the Business Plan for the proposed basketball tournaments that Mike Gourea would be running out of his facility (See Attachment F).
Director Martins stated that if approved, the facility would be open for registration for San Lorenzo residents only and then if it is not full after three weeks would be open to all other residents. The owner has pushed back his starting time so that the first game would begin at 4 pm instead of 3 pm.
There was a question about the lighting. The owner of the shopping center noted that the lot is lighted all night long. Parking was also questioned. Director Martins stated that she visited the site different times at 12:30 pm and then again at 5pm. At both of these visits there were only 4 cars in the lot. Director Martins also noted that the depth of the property is quite large. Children who participated would be a good distance from the street. Director Martins also noted that the owner has now agreed to staff the facility with paid positions, instead of just volunteers.
Director Wright asked about the loitering issue and cleaning up the area in around the facility. Director Martins stated that in the business plan there is a “code of conduct” that addresses this issue. There will be ongoing monitoring. The owner agreed to post notice at his facility that would outline rules that must be followed that would prohibit littering and loitering. He will give one warning to violators and then they will be kicked out of the program.
Wright makes a recommendation to the BZA that the Gametime proposal be approved with its new regulations and business plan, Pebelier seconds, the motion carries unanimously.
6.4 Adoption of new fines and fees procedure for CC&Rs as published in 12/07 newsletter -- The Administrator stated that the new fines and penalties went out in the November/December 2007 newsletter (See Attachment G).
This new policy will help to implement fines and collect them. There will be an increase in fines for residents whose properties are in violation of the CC&Rs of up to $500 per month. The board is currently looking into a collection agency to collect these fines.
Director Martins made a motion to adopt the new fines and fees procedures. Director Wright seconds, the motion carries unanimously.
7.0 COMMITTEE REPORTS -— None.
8.0 LIENS AND VIOLATIONS REPORTS -— No liens released since December 2007.
December 2007 Violation Report
Number Violation No. of Letters 1/19 Inoperable Vehicles in driveway 3 2/22 Recreational veh/trailer in driveway 2 6 Lack of General Maintenance 2 10 Lawn Height 2 11 Dead Trees 0 12 Overgrown Vegetation 0 13 Holiday Lights 0 14 No signs 0 15 Building Exterior 1 16 Dirt Accumulation 2 17 Attractive Nuisances 0 18 Lean/miss fence 0 20/7 Unpaved parking 3 21 Working on vehicles 0 23 Dogs/Cats more than 2 0 24 Barking dogs 1 25 Prohibited animals 0 26 Excess noise 2 27 No Home Business 5 28/99 Other/ comments 3 99 Multiple violations 26 Total
9.0 HEARINGS AND VARIANCE ISSUES
9.1 Hearing Dispositions [INCOMPLETE RECORD]
1. 15865 Paseo Largavista - Revisit Lack of General Maintenance.
2. 16106 Via Pinale - Shed build in back yard without plans.
3. 16145 Via Paro - Revisit Front yard maintenance and stored vehicles.
4. 670 Via Mirabel - Revisit ongoing work on house with no plan, lack of maintenance of front yard, debris and trailer stored in front yard.
5. 15787 Via Arroyo - Revisit Maintenance of Yard and stored vehicle in driveway.
6. 670 Via Manzanas - Revisit front yard maintenance.
7. 17316 Via Chiquita - Debris stored at front of property/lack of maint.
8. 17329 Via Chiquita - Lack of Gen. Maintenance/debris in front yard.
9. 17248 Via Melina - Revisit Lack of Maintenance and Working on Vehicles/running business out of residence (street sweeper).
10. 1589 Via Lacqua - Trailer stored in driveway.
11. 16176 Channel - Ongoing Lack of Maintenance problems.
12. 16184 Channel - Ongoing Lack of Maintenance problems.
13. 1778 Via Natal - Revisit Lack of Maintenance/building with no plans and storage of vehicles in front yard.
9.2 Variances
1. 15944 Via Marlin - Revisit Shed, Owner to be present. Site visit needed. Approved with specifications.
2. 1631 Via Lacqua - Revisit shed once again, which has a fireplace inside it. Report to fire for code enforcement.
3. 1780 Via Lucas - 7x9 foot shed with 8 ft peak, 3 feet from fence line. Approved with specifications.
4. 16152 Paseo Del Campo - Application for carport. Owner was not present and did not submit new plans. Denied current application.
5. 16129 Via Paro - Review shed. Owner was asked to take height of shed down to be within shed policy. Owner was not present. Continue for 30 days.
Director Pebelier makes a motion to approve the hearing and variances as read, Director Wright seconds, the motion carries unanimously.
10.0 PUBLIC COMMENT -- Resident Lou Arcelli noted that the hobby store in the Lorenzo Manor shopping center will be moving to San Leandro after 30 years. He stated that the owner, Lisa Lo, has made it impossible for the new owner to remain there.
Resident Mark Winshel asked when the special meeting for the new proposed flood zone would be. Dowling of Lai Bitker’s office stated that the meeting will occur sometime in February 2008, after FEMA makes its recommendations.
11.0 COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS -- Board members announced that they would be meeting with the San Lorenzo School Board on February 1, 2008, to discuss the children and health issues. The next board meeting would be the Association’s annual meeting, before the regular meeting at 7:15 p.m. There will also be a “Meet and Greet” these meetings with food and a raffle. They encouraged residents to attend.
12.0 ADJOURNMENT –- President Bieschke adjourns the meeting at 10:01 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Pat Pebelier
Secretary-Treasurer
Recorded & Transcribed By: Kathleen Harrigan, Sr. Admin. Assistant Reviewed By: Nancy Van Huffel, Administrator, Kathie Ready, Resident