The regular meeting of the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association Board of Directors was held Thursday, May 18, 2006.

1.1 CALL TO ORDER -- President Kathie Ready called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m.

1.2 SALUTE TO THE FLAG - President Ready led the Board and the audience in the pledge of allegiance.

1.3 ROLL CALL - Directors Kathie Ready, Jim Sherman, Wulf Bieschke, Patricia Pebelier and Patrick Ledesma were all present.

2.O MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING -- Director Pebelier moved to approve the minutes from the April meeting, number 1123. Director Bieschke seconds the motion. The minutes are approved unanimously.

3.0 COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES

3.1 CHP Report -- Officer Burkes gave the following statistics for the past month's tickets/citations:

CHP Statistics for April 2006

                                             Total for
Infraction               San Lorenzo      Unincorp. area
Collisions                       22                160
Tickets                         167              1,577 
Parking Tickets                  93                289   
Storage/Impounds                  6                101    
Stolen Recoveries                 1                 18
Traffic Complaints                1                  6
Parking Complaints*              --                 --
DUI Arrests                      15                 52   

*Note that these have been redirected to the Sheriff's office.

Keith Barros wanted to know what the CHP is doing about a burned out car at 15525 Usher Ave in San Lorenzo. He made a call several weeks ago and wanted clarification about whose jurisdiction it would be. Deputy Franco from the Alameda Sheriffs office stated that it was their jurisdiction.

Director Ledesma stated that there is a vacant lot across from Kennedy Park, next to Mc Donalds, that has semi trucks being parked in front of it on an ongoing basis. The CHP officer and the sheriff stated that they would check into this and report back to the Board next month.

3.2 Alameda County Sheriff's Dept. -- Deputy Franco reported the following statistics:

Statistics for Alameda County Sheriff's Office April 2006

                                      Change from
Crime                        Number   last month         Affected Streets                    

Stolen vehicles               16          -3
Attempted Stolen Vehicles                                    
Recovered Stolen Vehicles      5         -10             
Residential Burglary           2          -3              
Commercial Burglary            3          -1                                       
Auto Burglary                  9          +6                         
Grand Theft                    3          +2                     
Vandalism/graffiti             0          -1          
Robbery                        1          -2              

Deputy Franco stated that recently there has been a lot of graffiti that they investigated and reported back to their superiors. This has helped them reinstate their gang task force unit with the department, and they will be working diligently to help identify taggers and prosecute them.

Franco also reported that the strawberry, corn and other produce vendors that are showing up in and around the area. His department has been confiscating the produce, however an hour later, another vendor is at the same spot. His department is now working together with the health department and Alameda County zoning enforcement to help abate these vendors more successfully.

A resident asked what types of permits are needed to make the vendors legal. Franco noted that there are three (3) types of permits needed. A business license, a health permit and one other. He would get the information and bring it back to the Board at the next meeting.

Director Ready reported that there is a scam against the elderly that she heard about in the area. An elderly woman recently went to Albertson's requesting a $900.00 money order. She claimed that she was told she had won $250 thousand dollars, and needed to pay a man only $900.00 for the taxes prior to receiving her winning check. Ready noted that luckily the person at Albertson's convinced this woman not to go ahead with the deal.

A resident questioned whether the rumor about an armed robbery in San Lorenzo was true or not. Franco noted that two men had pulled a gun on a resident on Via Perdido recently. He noted that no one was injured, and the suspects had not been caught yet, however he urged residents to form neighborhood watch groups and to watch out for each other in the Village area. He said that he currently has two neighborhood watch groups running that have been very successful.

Director Bieschke said that there is a motorhome at the foot of Grant Ave. With no tags and no plates and it is filled with garbage. He has already reported it and it is currently tagged. Franco noted that if there is debris in a vehicle, they have to abate any vehicles filled with debris through public works, and some times this takes time, due to the fact that the county waits until it has 5 or 6 of these types of vehicles to put them on one work order. He will make sure that they take care of it.

Director Pebelier asked if there is a noise ordinance policy for someone who plays his or her radio loudly in their driveway. Franco stated that there is a noise ordinance which runs 24 hours. If the noise can be heard farther than 50 feet, then a resident can be cited.

Resident Keith Barros noted that he was told one of the strawberry vendors he complained about "had a permit" and so there was "nothing the sheriffs department could do". Franco noted that the deputies need to be better informed and that is why his department has teamed up with other agencies. Next time a deputy misinforms a resident about a vendor, he asked that residents give out his cell number so that the deputies can clarify the information with him.

A resident Mrs. Bash reported that she got a ticket in front of her house at 15741 Hesperian for parking over the two (2) hour limit that was posted. Bash stated that she had never noticed these signs before and stated that she had a lot of company due to her husband being critically ill and being transferred to a hospital out of the area. She said that the only block that these signs are posted in, is that one 15000 block on Hesperian. She asked if residents could have permits or if the signs could be removed. Representative Kevin Dowling stated that his office would conduct a survey with the neighbors to see if the signs could be removed. Director Sherman noted that prior to the pottery store being at the corner of that block, there was a hardware store which generated a lot of traffic and on street parking in front of the residences on that block.

3.3 Supervisor Lai Bitker -- Staff member Kevin Dowling reported that his office has been working with Alameda County Community Preservation to abate the continual problems on the vacant lot on Washington and Grant Avenues. They have cleaned the area, recently again. A resident pointed out that the workman left a big pile of weeds inside the lot and there is trash collecting outside and inside the lot. Dowling said he would report this to county zoning.

He stated that there would not be an unincorporated meeting this month. The San Lorenzo office would also be closed the two weeks following Memorial Day. Dowling stated that there would be a Supervisor Candidate debate for District 3 on Thursday, May 25, 2006 in the San Lorenzo Community Hall at 6:30 pm.

3.4 Zoning Enforcement Report -- Zoning Officer Bruce Babcock was not present at the meeting, but left his monthly report. See Attachment A.

3.5 Public Comment -- Ruben Masa from COMPRE stated that the County Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) will be hearing the item about the Bockman 76 Gas Station's Application for a business permit for a liquor license. Masa announced that his organization is looking for an Administrative Assistant, he handed out a flyer with the information on it.

Resident Keith Barros announced that the Lewelling Widening Project and the "deflector proposal" has reached an impasse The San Lorenzo Unified School District's representative Lowell Shira has been responsive, however the Alameda Public Works has not. He is continuing to urge the county to participate. Barros also stated that he is still continuing to urge County Traffic Engineering to do something about the intersection at Via Rodriguez, Paseo Grande and Via Segundo. He asked the Board that it agendize this item at one of its upcoming meetings.

4.0 FINANCIAL REPORT

4.1 Approval of 2006 expenditures, including payroll, and discussion of significant variances -- The Administrator noted that there were no variances for the month of April, 2006.

Director Sherman makes a motion to approve the April 2006 expenditures. Director Ledesma, seconds, the motion carries unanimously.

5.0 LIENS AND VIOLATIONS REPORTS -- The Administrator reported there have 29 liens released since the April 2006 Board meeting.

April 2006 Violation Report

Number  Violation                              # of Letters

1/19    Inoperable Vehicles in driveway                 12
2/22    Recreational veh/trailer in driveway            12
6       Lack of General Maintenance                     18
10      Lawn Height                                     29
11      Dead Trees                                       0
12      Overgrown Vegetation                             2
13      Holiday Lights                                  13
14      No signs                                         0
15      Building Exterior                                4
16      Dirt Accumulation                               10
17      Attractive Nuisances                             3
18      Lean/miss fence                                  0
20/7    Unpaved parking                                 14
21      Working on vehicles                              3
23      Dogs/Cats more than 2                            1
24      Barking dogs                                     0
25      Prohibited animals                               0
26      Excess noise                                     1
27      No Home Business                                 3
28/99   Other/ comments                                  9
99      Multiple violations                             16
Total                                                  150

6.0 HEARINGS AND VARIANCE ISSUES

6.1 Hearing Dispositions

Revisit the following properties:

a) 1179 Via Lucas -- Review status of stored vehicle and front yard maintenance. All violations cleared; closing.
b) 15866 Corte Angelo -- Review status of stored vehicles and front yard. Vehicles all fine; monitor front yard maintenance for the next 60 days maintenance.
c) 1669 Via Lacqua -- Review front yard maintenance. Fine now; closing.

Regular Scheduled Hearings:

1) 15839 Paseo Del Campo -- Boat stored in driveway. Gone but will monitor and if boat is present again will refer to attorney.
2) 16111 Via Media -- Boat stored in driveway. Refer to Attorney.
3) 16179 Via Media -- Lack of General Maintenance, front yard, maintenance/debris stored out front. Owner came in and spoke with Board, giving 30 days extension to clear all debris in front yard.
4) 16073 Via Paro -- Front yard and fence maintenance. Owner contacted us, giving 30 days to clear all violations and will revisit then.
5) 16065 Via Alamitos -- Front yard maintenance. Gone, closing.
6) 16138 Via Olinda -- Holiday lights. Gone closing.
7) 17158 Via Alamitos -- Lawn maintenance and items stored on porch. Gone closing, but monitoring the watering of front yard.
8) 696 Via Aires -- Motorhome parked on lawn. Gone, closing.
9) 702 Via Aires -- Parking on lawn. Gone, closing.
10) 72 Via Morella -- Lack of General Maintenance, items stored on porch, vehicle parked on lawn. Owner contacted Association, giving owner 30 days to get rid of debris will revisit then.
11) 1426 Via Buena Vista -- Dirt Accumulation out front. Revisit in 30 days.
12) 1620 Bandoni Ave -- Camper shell stored at side of residence. All violations cleared, closing.
13) 18301 Via Arriba -- Lack of General Maintenance, Debris stored in vehicles and between them. Still there; giving owner until Monday and will refer to attorney.
14) 1708 Bockman Rd. -- Lack of Front Yard Maintenance. Yard maintained; closing.
15) 17117 Via Chiquita -- Lack of Front Yard Maintenance. Still working on front yard; Administrator to contact owner and will revisit in 30 days.
16) 16168 Channel -- Lack of front yard maintenance. Front yard now maintained; will open another file for possibly storing vehicle.

6.2 Variances

A) 16042 Via Olinda -- Lattice work in front yard.- The board denied this application, the concern was the type of material used and the way the lattice had been constructed.

Director Sherman moves to approve the Hearings and Variance decisions. Director Bieschke seconds, the motion carries unanimously.

7.0 ADMINISTRATORS REPORT

7.1 Report on Reasonable Accommodations -- The Administrator reported that this item was discussed at the last Unincorporated meeting and there was some very good discussion by all concerned parties. The result was that the county will be taking all the testimony back to the county staff and will come back with a compromise on this issue that will include concerns from all parties.

7.2 Report of County Service Area (CSA) -- The Administrator reported that the original plan for a CSA for the unincorporated was to have one large service area with more services. Residents would be taxed for these services without much input. The Administrator and several Board Members went to several meetings, fighting the formation of this type of CSA. They were concerned that residents would be taxed for services that they are already getting. The county has now changed the CSA to apply only to sidewalks in the unincorporated area. What this means is that the Village area of San Lorenzo will not be affected due to the fact we already have sidewalks in our area. The Cherryland area will be most affected by this. Any other type of CSA for our area would first need to go back through LAFCO prior to it being implemented.

7.3 Informational Items -- The Administrator reminded the people in attendance that the Association is sponsoring a team in the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" this coming Saturday from 10 am to Sunday at 10 am. She encouraged residents to come out and walk to support survivors and to honor those who have lost their lives to cancer. She also pointed out that the entire Board had signed up for walking at least an hour each during late or early morning hours.

8.0 OTHER BUSINESS

8.1 Report on Civic Partners Latest Proposal -- The Administrator stated that she, the Board, and some residents met with Civic Partners over a month ago to discuss the sale of Albertsons and how it would affect its proposal for the Village Square area. (See Attachment B)

The Administrator said that if Civic Partners attracts a "big box" store that the community likes, we may see groundbreaking in the Mervyn's Square Area within the next year. She noted that the Economic Development Committee sees the Village area on Hesperian as a prime place for businesses. They were concerned about signs to attract people to a shopping center. This was discussed and it was decided that a sign could be placed behind Black Angus saying "Home of..." If Albertsons decides to leave, the developer has agreed to give the Association one year to get another store for that area.

The Administrator said that the business from the Lorenzo Theater to Paseo Grande would all stay. Lamps Plus would be given the option to move and the store would be demolished. This area would be our new town square area, where hopefully we would have a new renovated library. The post office would be torn down and its retail store would move across the street to the Mervyns Square area where other businesses would reside. There would be no more than 104 houses/townhomes in the new development with an additional 62,000 square feet of new retail at the old Mervyns site.

Director Ready urged residents to patronize Albertsons as it is our only supermarket for residents and its success is dependent upon our homeowners shopping at this facility. Civic Partners has agreed to develop a letter that they would send to every homeowner in San Lorenzo urging them to support a bigger Albertsons in San Lorenzo.

Resident Harry Curlett asked if redevelopment is subsidizing any of the new construction. Director Ready noted that only the housing, signage and the street scapes would be subsidized. There would be a first time home buyer program and renovations of the facades of the existing businesses that would remain. Kevin Dowling noted that the largest cost would be relocating the businesses.

8.2 Selection of Auditor FY 2005-06 -- The Administrator said that every year the Association gets audited. For the past several years the same auditor has been used, Levy and Company. They have submitted a bid for an audit this year. The Administrator asked if the board wants to accept their bid, or acquire additional bids. She noted that they are a very thorough firm. A few years ago the Association used another firm that proved to be not as complete.

Director Bieschke asked if Levy and Co.'s prices had increased. The Administrator noted that if it had it would have been a very small increase, and stated that their bids are always reasonable.

Director Bieschke makes a motion to accept Levy and Co.'s bid for the Association audit of 2005-06, Director Sherman seconds, the motion carries unanimously.

8.3 Second Reading of the By-Laws -- The Administrator noted that the changes have been posted in the Association newsletter and stated that the original changes did not include the "two readings" prior to approval. Mr. Clowser had brought this to her attention at a previous board meeting, and these changes were included in the new amendments. (See Attachment C)

Resident Harry Curlett had some comments and objections about the changes to the By- Laws. The Administrator noted that she had reviewed the changes with our attorney who specializes in Homes Association law and is confident that all the amendments are in compliance with current laws.

Director Ledesma made a motion to approve the second reading of the by-laws. Director Bieschke seconds, the motion carries unanimously.

8.4 Ratification of Budget FY 2006-07 -- The Administrator said that each homeowner would be mailed out a final budget in the next newsletter. A draft budget was mailed out in the March/April 2006 issue. Last month the board approved the final budget, but due to the fact that it was inadvertently left off the agenda, it needed to be ratified at the May Board meeting.

Director Ledesma made a motion to approve the Final Budget of 2006/07 which was mailed out to all homeowners. Director Bieschke seconds, the motion carries.

9.0 PUBLIC COMMENT -- Resident Keith Barros thanked the Board and the staff for their diligence and hard work in helping to secure development in the Village Square area.

10.0 COMMITTEE REPORTS

10.1 Airport Committee -- Resident representative Ernie Delli Gatti reported that after four years on the Hayward Airport Noise Committee they now finally have a continuous broadcast out to all the pilots in and out of the airport reminding them that this area is under noise abatement and they need to fly safe and be cognizant of the noise they are creating. Delli Gatti said it took four years to get this instituted and he is happy to see if finally becoming a reality. Delli Gatti asked if the Olson Company was contacted with respect to the airport and its close vicinity to their proposed development. He urged the Board to start a dialog with the airport and the developer about the potential problems with noise etc. The Administrator mentioned, that the buyer would have this disclosed in their final paperwork, because there was a new law passed that required Realtors to disclose any noise issues in and/or around a property they are selling.

10.2 Library Committee -- Director Bieschke urged everyone in the audience to support Proposition 81 for a general State Library Bond. He noted that this will help with our own library funding and expansion, and will set the stage for applying for funds and grants to expand the San Lorenzo Library. He asked if anyone is interested in helping staff a table at the June 3rd flea market held by the Cop Shop. The library committee will be handing out flyers supporting the proposition.

11.0 COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS

Director Ready thanked the residents in attendance for coming. Director Bieschke stated that he has only been a board member for a few months, but urged residents in attendance to get others involved.

Director Ledesma stated that County Senior Services is looking for volunteers who want to help keep an elder company a few times a week, or run small errands. Anyone who is interested, should contact the Association and get a message to Ledesma.

12.0 ADJOURNMENT -- Director Ready adjourned the meeting at 9:23 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Pat PebelierSecretary-Treasurer

Recorded & Transcribed By: Kathleen Harrigan, Sr. Admin. Assistant
Reviewed By: Nancy Van Huffel, Administrator , Kathie Ready, Board President