| Reposted by San Lorenzo Express |
MINUTES
SAN LORENZO VILLAGE HOMES ASSOCIATION
MEETING NO. 1109
June 16, 2005
The regular meeting of the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association Board of Directors was held Thursday,
June 16, 2005.
1.1 CALL TO ORDER -- President Kathie Ready called the meeting to order at 7:35 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, Pat Pebelier, Peggy Sheridan and Director Patrick Ledesma were all present.
2.O MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Director Sheridan moved to approve the minutes from the May 19, 2005, meeting Number 1108. Director Pebelier seconds the motion. The minutes are approved unanimously.
3.0 COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES
3.1 Alameda County Sheriff's Dept. -- Deputy Franco gave the statistics for the past month:
Statistics for Alameda County Sheriff's Office May/June 2005
Change from
Crime Number last month Affected Streets
Stolen vehicles 17 +6 Hacienda, Hesperian, Ricardo,
Shirley, Times, Via Aires,
Via Arriba, Via Del Rey, Via El
Monte, Via Manzanas, Via Mesa,
Via Potrero, Via Primero, Washington
Attempted Stolen Vehicles n/a n/a
Recovered Stolen Vehicles 6 0 Bockman, Hesperian, Royal, Via Mesa
Residential Burglary 10 -1 Bartlett, Hathaway, Times, Via
Carmen, Via Cordoba, Via Granada,
Via Manzanas, Via Margarita, Via
Natal, Via Palma, Via Vista
Commercial Burglary 1 -1 Hesperian
Auto Burglary 6 -6 Grant, Paseo Del Campo, Via Bregani,
Via Enrico, Via Mariposa,
Via Pacheco
Grand Theft 6 +2 Bandoni, Hathaway, Hesperian,
Perkins, Shirley, Via Lacqua
Vandalism/graffiti 0 14
Robbery 2 +1 Lorenzo, Paseo Grande
Deputy Franco said that their office has had a lot of complaints about the strawberry vendors who are selling items on the corner of various San Lorenzo neighborhoods and trespassing on property. He noted that the county health and safety codes allow the sheriff's department to cite individuals who are selling food without the proper permits. His department already arrested one individual. With this arrest Franco said that other vendors may take note and move out of the area. Director Sheridan stated that she had stopped and asked one of these vendors whether they had a permit or not and they had showed her one document that looked like it was official. Franco said that for these types of food vendors it takes three (3) separate permits to be legal, having one is not enough.
Director Ready reported on graffiti that happened throughout the area this past weekend and asked that the sheriffs review pictures she had taken of the tagging.
A resident who lives near Lorenzo on Via Enrico asked that the sheriffs or CHP patrol the area more for motorcyclists who are speeding through that area on an ongoing basis. He also reported seeing minors buying liquor and cigarets at Bockman Liquor via adults that are hanging out at that shopping center. Deputy Franco stated that he would check out both of these complaints.
3.2 CHP -- Officer Hahn reported the following statistics for May-June 2005:
CHP Statistics for May/June 2005
Total for
Infraction San Lorenzo Unincorp. area
Collisions 19 151
Tickets 285 2,305
Parking Tickets 36 275
Storage/Impounds 13 167
Stolen Recoveries 4 27
Parking Complaints 31 249
DUI Arrests 44
Director Ledesma thanked the officers for helping to get the stored cars out of the Mervyns parking lot. Director Ready noted that the large semi trucks are still parking on Via Arriba in back of the lot.
3.3 Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker -- Kevin Dowling reported that at the next unincorporated meeting they will have information on sidewalk repair and updates on several ordinances.
Dowling said that the City of Hayward is entertaining a proposal from Target to build a new store at the old Festival Cinema site, near Kennedy park. The Target at Hesperian and Lewelling lost its lease and needs to move by 2006. Cost Plus may share the new retail area with Target. The motel and gas station would also be replaced by these stores, but Carrows Restaurant would remain. Dowling noted that Walmart is planning on moving into the old Target store. He said that the developer for the new Target store presented the plans for the new store and is waiting for the okay.
Dowling also noted that the San Lorenzo Post office will be moving in 2 years as its lease is up. He is trying to schedule a meeting with staff from the post office, the Supervisor and the public to discuss where they plan to move. Post office personnel recently scheduled a meeting in July and would be responsible for notifying the public.
Residents questioned how the Wal Mart would affect our development in the Village Square. Dowling stated that he did not think a super Walmart would fit into the old target store. If they wanted to build a larger store it would have to go through a public hearing and approval process.
Resident Dorothy Partridge asked Dowling to look into what the status is with the property on Washington and Grant. Dowling said he would report back at the next meeting.
3.4 Zoning Enforcement Report -- Bruce Babcock reported on the enforcement of the month. (See Attachment A). He stated that there are 27 cases pending in San Lorenzo. One of violations on the rise is the storage of camper shells on properties.
3.5 Public Comment - Items Not on the Agenda -- Resident Keith Barros went to the meeting where the developer showed the proposal for the new Target. He said that the plans were very impressive. He asked that the board agenize the Village Square plan for the next Board meeting so that we can get an update on what the status is on the development.
4.0 FINANCIAL REPORT
4.1 Approval of May, 2005 expenditures and discussion of significant variances including payroll -- The Administrator reported that there were no variances. Their were two (2) liens released since the last Board meeting.
Director Sherman makes a motion to approve the financial report for May 2005, including payroll. Director Pebelier seconds the motion. The motion carries unanimously.
5.0 LIENS AND VIOLATIONS REPORTS
May 2005 Violation Report
Number Violation # of Letters 1/19 Inoperable Vehicles in driveway 29 2/22 Recreational veh/trailer in driveway 15 6 Lack of General Maintenance 26 10 Lawn Height 65 11 Dead Trees 11 12 Overgrown Vegetation 4 13 Holiday Lights 12 14 No signs 1 15 Building Exterior 1 16 Dirt Accumulation 5 17 Attractive Nuisances 1 18 Lean/miss fence 1 20/7 Unpaved parking 24 21 Working on vehicles 2 23 Dogs/Cats more than 2 0 24 Barking dogs 0 25 Prohibited animals 0 26 Excess noise 3 27 No Home Business 0 28/99 Other/ comments 8 99 Multiple violations 13 Total 192
6.0 HEARINGS AND VARIANCE ISSUES
6.1 Hearings
a) Revisit:
16124 Via Lupine -- Status of remodeling. Gave owner until end of August to renovate, plant lawn.
16020 Via Cordoba -- Paint color. Asking owner to submit plans of any future paint plans, but closing due to the fact that the color has faded.
15750 Via Cordoba -- Asking owner to submit plans for any future paint, but closing due to the fact that the color has faded.
b) 17345 Via Julia --Inop vehicle. Will revisit due to the fact that the notice came back "undeliverable".
c) 17498 Via Arriba -- Front lawn tall and dry. Refer to attorney.
d) 16095 Via Harriet -- Vehicles and debris stored in front yard. Will refer to attorney.
e) 1836 Bockman Rd. -- Items stored in driveway and porch and lawn tall. 30-day extension to have debris and landscaping done.
f) 17127 Via Magdalena -- Lack of Gen. Maint., inoperative vehicle, garage door in need of repair, items stored on porch. 30-day extension to get car smogged (car is registered, owner brought in proof).
g) 664 Paseo Grande -- Excessive working on vehicles. Owner agreed to stop any more work on vehicles.
h) 16198 Via Andeta -- Vehicles stored in driveway. Owner agreed to remove unregistered vehicles within
30 days.
I) 16014 Via Harriet -- Vehicle stored in driveway, lawn tall with weeds and dry, debris on porch. Refer to attorney.
j) 16076 Via Harriet -- Vehicle stored in driveway. Owner faxed proof of registration, will store vehicle elsewhere within 30 days.
k) 17041 Via Andeta -- Lawn tall. Violation resolved, owner will be asked to remove dead bushes.
l) 15752 Via Sonata -- Lack of Gen. Maint., vehicle stored in driveway. Vehicle registered, violation resolved.
m) 97 Paseo Grande -- Vehicle stored in driveway. Vehicles removed.
n) 16171 Via Conejo -- Vehicle stored in driveway. Vehicle to be removed withing 1 week.
6.2 Variances
A) 846Via Manzanas -- Extension of Back yard fence. Approved.
B) 16131 Via Catherine -- property line step fence extending to sidewalk. Approved with conditions.
C) 15905 Via Marlin -- driveway addition. Approved with conditions.
D) 1883 Bockman -- pavers to back of property. Approved with the condition he use a professional to lay the pavers.
E) 1834 Via Carreta -- wrought iron gate for side access. Approved with the condition that if owner stores items behind fence that can be viewed as a CC&R violation, we would cite him.
Director Sherman makes a motion to approved the hearings and variances, Director Ledesma seconds, the motion carries unanimously.
7.0 ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
7.1 Update of Bockman Center -- The Administrator reported that there was nothing to report -- they are trying to coordinate a meeting with the developer in the very near future, hopefully sometime within the next few months.
The Administrator noted that she and President Ready tried to get in to one of the meetings held by a few residents about this development, but both of them were urged not to come. Dowling also tried to attend, but was told not to attend.
Director Sheridan asked who are the members of the committee that are meeting about the center. The Administrator noted that the committee is made up of 30 residents who live near the area and are concerned about the new development.
Director Ledesma noted that he lived near the area and was not invited to the meeting. He said that he would not be interested in a small meeting about the project unless all opinions and issues were discussed and brought into light. He urged residents to listen to the project in total, prior to making any judgments.
Resident, Kelly Pena, who is one of the members of this committee said that this "meeting" was not supposed to be a formal "open" meeting for the public. It was supposed to be a handful of neighbors getting together and talking about the plan for the center. The members urged others not to attend because they had nothing to report and it was not to be a "formal" type meeting. They are at the very 'baby' stages of forming a group to look at the development-no real meeting was planned. She was concerned as to why this "issue" was on the Board's agenda.
The Administrator noted that the issue would have been on the agenda regardless of the community meetings that have been taken place about the issue. The board and the community need constant updates on where the development is.
Director Ready noted that the Board runs under the Brown Act and all items to be potentially discussed or reviewed have to be on the agenda 72 hours prior to the meeting. Keeping this item on the agenda is one way to be able to report on it -- if there is something new to report.
The Administrator said that community meetings that are "closed" do not get much accomplished due to the fact that all sides are not heard. Pena noted that the group did not want to be public about what they were originally planning because it wanted to get the core group together to focus on their individual concerns without other opinions interfering. The Administrator said that when you limit any opposing positions, you hinder the public process and limit the information that is being distributed.
Director Sherman asked how the core group got "invited" to meet. Were members picked? Pena stated it was word of mouth, people who did not want town homes in the area.
Director Pebelier said that everyone in the community should have a voice about this development. She noted that the Board had no prior indication of what was going to be in the center prior to the first meeting. The board was shown a brochure that outlined other developments this agency had worked on. She wanted residents to be clear that there was no prior "viewing" of the developers plan.
Director Ready thanked Pena for her input and reminded her that there were over 400 people at the original meeting. She said that many people since that meeting have emailed the Association office or written letters stating they liked the proposal. Only thirty (30) people actually spoke at the first meeting. The Association as a whole needs to be heard. A small group opposing the development cannot be the voice for all.
7.2 Update of Marijuana Clinic
The Administrator reported that there will now only be no more than three (3) clinics in the unincorporated west county area, where there once were seven (7). The Board of Supervisors approved one (1) in Cherryland, one (1) in Castro Valley and one (1) in San Lorenzo. The County will be reviewing working policies and histories of the current clinics that are in the area prior to removing the four that need to be shut down to comply with this new ordinance. The Administrator noted that allowing these clinics does conflict with federal law, but unless they are illegally selling the marijuana, the feds will not pursue action against them.
7.3 Other Business -- The Administrator said that she was very upset by a recent Oro Loma flyer that noted to put "recycling cans in the street". The flyer did state that "if you are in a Homes Association you need to check with your staff about its policy", however it has brought more confusion to the issue. John Partridge has been to Oro Loma meetings and never heard about this. The Board has instructed the Association to purchase stickers to put on the carts that say "do not put your cans in the street".
Director Ready said the main reason the board does not want them in the street is because San Lorenzo streets are too narrow, not to mention what happens when pick up day coincides with the street sweeping. Ready did note that Oro Loma was very proactive recently when one of the Waste Management drivers hit a sycamore tree. Staff from Oro Loma came out to the site and made sure and arborist company helped to save the tree.
8.0 OTHER BUSINESS
8.1 EBMUD Committee Action - EBMUD Bayside Groundwater Project -- Director Ledesma and Resident John Partridge reported on the issue. They stated that this project has been in the works for 6 years. The project would store fresh water in underground aquifers in San Leandro and San Lorenzo in the heavy rain years for use in drought years. The original project was to store a large amounts of groundwater, but that has been reduced as this proposal progressed. There would be a community liaison group to oversee how the project was implemented.
Ledesma stated that he and Partridge have suggested support for this project but have some concerns. The method for storing and reusing water for drought years is a good idea. The concern is with the way in which the EIR progressed and how issues that were brought up by the San Leandro Heron Bay Homes Association have not been addressed or disclosed. They are also concerned with the subsidence, ground cracking and swelling of the earth when the water is extracted. Ledesma stated that the 1 million gallons extracted a day would not meet all their needs.
Ledesma noted that when you treat the water while it is being held, there is a potential for the treatment to affect the surrounding groundwater table currently there. He also pointed out that a second phase of the project would have to include more water due to the fact that extracting only 1 million gallons a day would not meet all their needs.
The Administrator noted that the Board is supporting the project only if questions that were outlined in the letter prepared by Ledesma and Partridge are addressed. (See attachment B)
10.0 COMMITTEE REPORTS
10.1 Airport Committee Update -- None. The Administrator noted that Delligatti had be reappointed to the Airport Noise Committee by Supervisor Lai-Bitker.
10.2 Library Committee Update -- Director Pebelier reported that the group decided that the site where the library is now, in San Lorenzo, should be considered as the spot where the "new" expanded library would be, unless a private party or individual donates a lot of land and/or money. Committee member Herb Crowle is investigating whether there is any interest in donating to this facility from outside parties or persons. The committee is going to proceed with the plans that the architect proposed. The committee had looked into other sites but could not find one that as viable as the current location. The library would still be one story with an option for a second story. The parking would be underground. The Administrator noted that the recommendations were made in order to move forward on the Library project. They need to have their proposal ready by June 2006 to apply for funding for a new library. This is one reason they are moving forward on the design of the library and have decided on the location. The committee is hoping to get a bond measure approved by the community to help fund the project which would then get political support and thereby be awarded the grant money needed to complete the project.
9.0 PUBLIC COMMENT -- None.
11.0 COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS -- President Ready thanked all the residents in attendance.
12.0 ADJOURNMENT -- President Ready adjourned the meeting at 9:20 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Pat Pebelier
Secretary-Treasurer
Recorded & Transcribed By: Kathleen Harrigan, Sr. Admin. Assistant
Reviewed By: Nancy Van Huffel, Administrator , Kathie Ready, Board President