1.1 CALL TO ORDER -- The regular meeting of the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association Board of Directors was held Thursday, June 21, 2007. President 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, Jim Sherman, Margaret Wright, Kathy Martins and Pat Pebelier were present.

2.O MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING -- Director Wright moved to approve the notes taken at Work session number 1150 and the Board minutes of May 17, 2007 meeting Number 1149. Director Pebelier seconds the motion. The Work Session notes and the Board minutes are approved unanimously.

3.0 COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES

3.1 Alameda County Sheriff's Dept. -- Deputy Litsky could not be present due to personal reasons. Deputy Fein reported on the following statistics:

Statistics for May 2007

                                      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 Fein asked the community for comments and concerns. President Bieschke reported on the neighborhood watch groups he has created with the assistance of the community policing and encouraged residents to form their own, or join the ongoing group.

Deputy Fein reported that his department is still conducting its "Operation Shoulder Tap" and they have been very successful identifying and apprehending businesses selling alcohol to minors. Twenty tickets were given this past month for motorists whose radios were in violation of this ordinance. Fein reported that the annual flea market that the Cop Shop holds was very successful. They made over $3500.00 which was one of the best outcomes for this event. Proceeds will go to help pay for the rent of the Cop shop.

Fein noted that stolen vehicles in San Lorenzo are down 30% which is a good sign, he stated that the strawberry and "corner vendors" selling produce are a concern for many San Lorenzo residents. His department is in the process of conducting a "sting" on these vendors.

3.2 CHP -- Officer Rob Tuazon reported on the following statistics:

CHP Statistics for May 2007

                                             Total for
Infraction               San Lorenzo      Unincorp. area
Collisions                        21              151
Tickets                          119            1,043
Parking Tickets                   21              148   
Storage/Impounds                   5               76
Stolen Recoveries                  0                8
Traffic Complaints                                
Parking Complaints                                
DUI Arrests
Total warnings                    n/a             365                                       

Tuazon indicated he is the new community liaison for the CHP and stated that he is working with the community with respect to traffic issues and concerns. President Bieschke asked about a tractor trailer rig being parked in a driveway. Tuazon stated that the CHP does not deal with private property, but could cite the resident if he or she is using the residential roadways to get there. Director Pebelier stated that one of her friends has seen a big rig on many occasions traveling on Grant between Hesperian and Alamitos, where signs prohibiting this are posted. Tuazon noted that he has spoken with all the businesses at the end of Grant Ave, reminding them to speak with their drivers about this issue. He will make a note to patrol this area to look for these rigs who are in violation.

3.3 Supervisor Lai Bitkers Office -- Ruben Briones, Chief of Staff for Superivisor Lai-Bitker introduced himself. He thanked all the residents in attendance for coming to the "Meet and Greet Barbeque" prior to the board meeting. He also noted that if anyone has problems with issues related to San Lorenzo or the county, to contact him at his Oakland office.

3.4 Zoning Enforcement Report (See Attachment B)

3.5 Public Comment - Items Not on the Agenda -- The consensus of the Board was to postpone this item until the end of the meeting due to the BBQ prior to the meeting which pushed back the time for the meeting to begin.

4.0 FINANCIAL REPORT

4.1 Approval of May 2007 Expenditures and discussion of significant variances -- The Administrator reported that the community hall rentals are still on an increase for this year.

Director Martins makes a motion to accept the financial report, Director Wright seconds the motion, carries unanimously.

5.0 LIENS AND VIOLATIONS REPORT -- There have been no liens released since the last board meeting.

May 2007 Violation Report

Number  Violation                              # of Letters

1/19    Inoperable Vehicles in driveway              10
2/22    Recreational veh/trailer in driveway          1
6       Lack of General Maintenance                  19
10      Lawn Height                                  58
11      Dead Trees                                    0
12      Overgrown Vegetation                          1
13      Holiday Lights                                3
14      No signs                                      0
15      Building Exterior                             9
16      Dirt Accumulation                             3
17      Attractive Nuisances                          1
18      Lean/miss fence                               0
20/7    Unpaved parking                               8
21      Working on vehicles                           0
23      Dogs/Cats more than 2                         0
24      Barking dogs                                 (?)
25      Prohibited animals                            0
26      Excess noise                                  1
27      No Home Business                              0
28/99   Other/ comments                              14
99      Multiple violations                          21

Total                                               151

6.0 HEARINGS AND VARIANCE ISSUES

6.1 Hearings

16075 VIA DESCANSO -- Dirt accumulation. Violations cleared, closing.
15726 VIA CORTA -- Multiple/Lack of Gen Maint. Continued to July 2007.
16065 VIA MEDIA -- Multiple/Lack of Gen Maint. Contact Seller, Revisit in 30-60 days.
16081 VIA MEDIA -- General Maintenance of Property, Lawn cut but dry. Send owner watering tips.
16129 VIA PARO -- Multiple/Lack of Gen Maint. All violations cleared, closed.
16177 VIA PARO -- General Maintenance of Property. Most Violations cleared, still need to repair fence; revisit 60 days.
673 VIA MIRABEL -- Attractive nuisances. Giving 30 days to remove all violations.
16082 VIA ALAMITOS -- Lawn height. Violation cleared, closed.
15921 VIA ALAMITOS -- Holiday lights. Violation cleared, closed.
15976 VIA ALAMITOS -- Lawn height. Violation cleared, closed.
15872 VIA ALAMITOS -- Lawn height. Revisit in 30 to 60 days.
935 BOCKMAN ROAD -- Lawn height. Violation cleared, closed.
17032 VIA PASATIEMPO -- Multiple/Lack of Gen Maint. Refer back to code enforcement, Revisit in 30 days.
1051 VIA PALMA -- Inoperable / Unlicensed Vehicle-Illegally Parked. Violation cleared, closed.
1076 VIA HONDA -- Lawn height. Violation cleared, closed.
17262 VIA CHIQUITA -- Lawn height. Violation cleared, closed.
17263 VIA CHIQUITA -- Lawn height. Write to owner and ask for plans within 30 days. Revisit in 60 days.
1627 KELLER AVENUE -- Lawn height. Owner to plant lawn/submit plans prior to 12/07. Revisit at that time.
1778 VIA NATAL -- General Maintenace of Property. Refer to county code and Revisit in 30 days.
16051 CHANNEL STREET -- General Maintenance of Property. Refer to county, check with Redevelopment CCHD regarding Grant then revisit in 60 days.
16172 VIA MILOS -- Other - comments. Wait for Board Policy.
1897 VIA NATAL -- Lawn height. Owner to plant new lawn and tree within 60 days.
2149 BOCKMAN ROAD -- Multiple/Lack of Gen Maintenance, weeds in and around garden. Fine and refer to atty.
16024 VIA HARRIET -- Inoperable / Unlicensed Vehicle in the front or side. Refer back to Code, fine and atty.
16014 VIA HARRIET -- Lawn height. Fine, refer to code and revisit in 30 days.
16095 VIA HARRIET -- Inop vehicles. Car gone, but now trailer in driveway. Send notice for trailer.
16179 VIA ALAMITOS -- General Maintenace of Property. Violation cleared, closed.
17041 VIA ALAMITOS -- LACK OF GENERAL MAINT, TALL LAWN. Fine and revisit in 60 days.
16089 VIA ALAMITOS -- Lack of General Maintenance-parking on lawn. Fine, refer to code enforcement, and revisit in 30 days.

6.2 Variances

1589 Via Escondido Remodel Project/ Second Story Addition -- The administrator stated that there were two (2) homeowners who complained about the proposed second story deck for this addition. One homeowner has subsequently withdrawn his request. The other is still very upset about the balcony and how it would infringe on his privacy. The Board spoke with the applicant and asked them to take out the second story deck due to privacy issues. The homeowner initially agreed to take out the deck , but then requested other options from us due to county requiring the plans to be drawn up again which would incur significant more money and add time to the project. The homeowner agreed to just put up the balcony with a window, no way to actually get onto the balcony, however the Administrator was still concerned with someone being able to access the balcony via the window. The applicant agreed to put up some screening to help with the neighbor's privacy and the neighbor has not been contacted to discuss this new proposal as of yet.

President Bieschke suggested that the issue be carried over to discuss the screening issue with all parties involved. There were no objections from the board.

Resident Howard Beckman asked if the homeowner got county approval first for the second story plans. The Administrator noted that the current procedure requires county approval first. This was outlined by the court when second stories were amended into the CC&Rs. She admitted that this procedure is becoming problematic in terms of some second story plans and the Board may be asking people to submit plans for a preliminary review prior to county approval.

Beckman stated that, in his opinion, second stories already encroach on other people's privacy. He did not understand how a balcony was considered a "special circumstance" with respect to an issue he thought should be reviewed with every second story plan.

15720 via Sonata -- Owner applied for chain link gate with slats to replace existing chain link. Board approved with the contingency that the slat material be identical to what he presented to the board at the work session.

670 Via Mirabel -- Owner did not show up. Item continued until next month.

17666 Segundo -- White picket fence around front of residence. Owner was asked to take out the front section and was approved to have two side property line fences with a 7 ft set back from the street. Picket fencing would remain open and would be secured in concrete.

1875 Via Amigos -- Cement in front yard over 50%. Owner is denied application, will be asked to take out 7 feet by the Association and County zoning.

The Administrator reported that the Board had concerns of playground equipment that was being permanently stored in the front yards. She was concerned that the board would have to have a formal policy. However, when she spoke with the attorney he said that the playground equipment is considered a structure and therefore it must be approved to be in the front yard. The board would therefore ask any residents who had playground structures in the front yard to remove them to the back yard and/or remove them from the front of the property. The only exception to this would be the basket ball hoops.

Resident Howard Beckman asked why there was concern now. He thought the board had asked residents in the past to remove the play structures from the front yard. President Bieschke stated that the board wanted to make sure that it was in their right without a policy to ask residents to do this. Bieschke also stated that more and more residents are storing these structures in their front yard and it is concerned not only about the look of neighborhoods doing this but also about safety for the children playing out front.

Director Wright made a motion to approve the Hearings and Variances Director Pebelier seconds. The Motion carries unanimously.

7.0 ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

7.1 Informational Items -- The Administrator reported that they received a notice from the county about a Vector and Disease Control Assessment. She asked if the board was in support of this.

Director Sherman makes a motion to support the proposed Vector and Disease Assessment, Director Martins seconds, the motion carries unanimously.

The Administrator noted that the Oro Loma stickers for the trash cans will be coming out at the end of the month.

8.0 OTHER BUSINESS

8.1 Discussion of Eden Area General Plan

Administrator stated that the Eden Area Plan which has been discussed and revised for the past four years is suddenly being held up in its final revisions due to the El Portal community. This community has concerns with it being included in the Eden Area plan and not the Castro Valley plan, many of its residents have Castro Valley addresses and attend that district's schools.

The Administrator, President Bieschke and Planning Commissioner Kathie Ready all attended a special meeting held regarding this issue. The meeting had over 300 people in attendance, most were from El Portal. Some of these residents were very irate about being part of the Eden Area and not Castro Valley. There was fear that their property values would fall due to this inclusion. They were also concerned about losing their school district affiliation. The Administrator noted that El Portal has always been in the Castro Valley plan and that the Planning Department put them in the Eden plan without any prior discussion with the leaders in this community.

There was a recommendation to go to a one plan option. However the Eden Area Plan and Castro Valley Plan are already like one plan, with many similarities. The main differenced are due to issues related to land use and traffic circulation in the different areas.

Another option would be to leave El Portal out of the Eden Area Plan and let it be included in Castro Valley's plan. If they pull out of Eden Area plan there will be minimal problems and it may give the group the opportunity to write a little more in the Eden Area plan to "spruce up" its objectives and goals.

Ready said that not all of the El Portal community is considered "Castro Valley". She stated that some people have a Castro Valley zip code and have its sanitary service and school jurisdiction. Others have San Leandro zip codes, Oro Loma garbage service and go to San Lorenzo Schools. She was discouraged to see that some El Portal residents had such a bad feeling about San Lorenzo and its community.

Resident Howard Beckman said that he is very disturbed with this issue. He said that it reflects a fundamental problem in terms of the governance of the county. Beckman said that when counties were originally set up they were not structured to operate like a municipal government for a large community like ours. He stated that the Eden Area and Castro Valley plans are virtually identical. The community needs to stop thinking about itself as a single community in San Lorenzo, and collaborate with all the outlining communities it touches. Beckman suggested that the San Lorenzo community and those around us need to take a good look at the way we are governed by the county and harness ourselves behind a single political committee in order to make any affect on what is currently happening under the counties rule.

Resident Keith Barros stated that he would like to unite as one community. He is concerned that the county wants to maximize their "dumping" ground. He stated that he feels the county is putting housing wherever it can. In his opinion, Cherryland and Ashland will be the dumping ground for these houses.

The Administrator pointed out that the community is united on land use issues through the Ordinance Review Committee, which is made up of representatives from Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, San Lorenzo and Castro Valley. This Committee makes recommendations which affect planning and zoning in all areas. This committee has been on "hold" because of staffing problems, but will continue this summer.

The Administrator noted that a childcare facility for forty (40) children is being proposed at the St Christopher Episcopal Church on Via Toledo in San Lorenzo. She asked the board to give a consensus on this issue since it will be heard by the Board of Zoning Adjustments in two weeks. The daycare would be a state licensed facility according to its application. They currently operate another daycare in San Leandro and have been in business for 8 years with 32 children.

Resident Beckman asked why this is being considered if it is not on the agenda. It would not be fair or lawful for the board to take action on this item at this time.

President Bieschke states that the board will not take any action on the item at this time due to it not being on the agenda.

9.0 PUBLIC COMMENT

Resident Mimi Dean, who is a teacher at Bohannon Middle School, spoke about Measure E and how it is affecting her arts and crafts program at Bohannon. Measure E funds were passed by voters several elections ago and part of the funds were allocated to build new libraries at many of the schools in San Lorenzo. Dean stated that at middle schools, the School District is taking the existing art class rooms and converting them into libraries. She stated that many of the schools need bigger libraries, she is not against this, what she is against is taking the space that is currently being used for art classes and converting it into libraries. She stated that art is just as important as libraries and she asked interested residents to sign a petition she was carrying to help her prevent the district from taking her room.

Resident Keith Barros urged residents to get involved with helping prevent and report graffiti in the area. Graffiti is a huge problem. More residents need to be pro-active and contact the sheriffs department when they see the blight in the area. He even suggested taking a picture and giving it to the sheriffs department. The quicker we are in reporting a problem and taking care of the blight, the sooner we will deter others from this type of vandalism. It urged residents to "take back the neighborhood".

Resident Howard Beckman asked why the first Public Comment on the agenda was skipped until the end of the meeting. He stated that many people cannot stay for the end of the meeting and it is important to allow them to have their say and to be able to leave if they need to. Beckman stated that a few months ago he had suggested creating some new committees. He was told that these committees were discussed in board work session and rejected by the board, but never put on the a monthly agenda for discussion. He said that he would like to know what the board thought about the ideas and to discuss their opinions publicly. Beckman stated that the architectural review committee and the newsletter committee were suggestions to get residents actively involved in the Association. The board can create any committees it wants. He said that it is important to find ways to get people involved directly with the Association and not just with the community at large. His motive was to help the facilitate active involvement by residents with the Association.

Resident Michael Ratto discussed his problem with the Association and the lawsuit that the Homes Association filed against hem. He said that he had gone to elected officials to make them aware of his situation. He stated that the Association should want to settle this and sit down and negotiate with him. He asked the board to give him a date as to when and where it would be willing to meet with him to discuss the issue.

The Administrator stated that Mr. Ratto's questions and letters have been referred to the Attorney. This is still a matter which is currently with the courts and thus cannot be discussed in this venue at this time without the attorney present. She assured Mr. Ratto that he would have a response from the attorney within a week.

Resident Don Clowser congratulated the Board on its "Meet and Greet Barbeque" He noted that this was a great start in getting the community involved.

Resident John Roberts stated that he is concerned with the Sheriffs Department and how some officers are not turning on their sirens or lights when they are heading to a call. He said that he almost had a head-on collision with one of the sheriff's vehicles that did not have either a siren or light on while in pursuit of another vehicle.. He wrote a letter to the Sheriffs department and gave President Bieschke a copy. Roberts said that someone will eventually get hurt and encouraged residents to contact the sheriffs department if they are witness to any patrol cars that are doing this.

10.0 COMMITTEE REPORTS

10.1 Blue Ribbon Steering Committee -- The Administrator reported because President Bieschke was out of town during the last meeting. She stated that there will be a series of town meetings to discuss livability issues the committee has proposed. There will be another meeting here in the community hall to get more input on Tuesday, July 10, 2007. The last meeting was very successful. There was good attendance and many people from local PTAs.

The Administrator stated that there is a huge need for an Unincorporated Manager for Alameda County. She does not see any other way to incorporate the vision the committee has without one.

Resident Kathie Ready urged both the Board and the Administrator to be on the look out for any social exploitation that may occur with this committees suggestions. She does not want to see this committee's ideas turned into policies that hurt the community or its residents.

11.0 COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS -- Director Pebelier thanked all the residents who came to the "Meet and Greet barbeque", Director Martins thanked residents in attendance and encouraged people to talk with each other about what is being done for the community by the Homes Association and to encourage other residents to come to the monthly board meetings. Director Sherman and Director Wright also thanked residents for their participation.

12.0 ADJOURNMENT -- President Bieschke adjourned the meeting 10:04 PM.

RESPECTFULLY Submitted,

Pat Pebelier
Secretary-Treasurer

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