The regular meeting of the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association Board of Directors was held Thursday, September 16, 1999 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium with President Jim Spears presiding over the meeting.

1.1 CALL TO ORDER - President Jim Spears called the meeting to order.

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

1.3 ROLL CALL - Directors Jim Spears, Dorothy Partridge, Jim Sherman, Millie Arieta, and David Sloan were present.

1.4 Ratification of eight (8) Motions from August 19, 1999 Meeting -- Director Partridge made a motion to accept the eight motions from the 8/l9/99 Board meeting, Director Spears seconds. The motion passes unanimously.

2.0 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

2.1 - Approval of Minutes of Meeting No. 1026, Thursday, August 19, 1999 - Director Sherman made motion to approve the minutes, with a second by Director Partridge, the motion passed 3 in favor (Sherman, Partridge, Spears) and two abstentions (Arieta, Sloan).

3.0 COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES

3.1 Alameda County Sheriff's Department - Deputy Shindelus reported that the COP SHOP BBQ was a success and thanked all of those who participated. She stated that currently she and Deputy Bartholomew have been assigned to do surveillance. The deputies have been following cars and people they have noted or it has been reported that there are suspicious activities occurring around or at residences. They were successful in raiding three homes within a neighborhood and confiscated illegal activity and arrested one individual. Deputy Shindelus announced that the next COPS meeting would be Wednesday, October 6,1999 and that Officer Art Owens from the Hayward Police Department would be present to speak about youth gangs.

3.2 CHP Department - Sergeant Bridget Lott reported the statistics for August 1999. There were 250 tickets for the San Lorenzo area out of 1200 tickets for the entire unincorporated area. There were 114 DUI arrests for the unincorporated area of the county. Twenty-four traffic collisions were handled by the CHP in the San Lorenzo area in August. Sergeant Lott stated that now that school is in session the officers are trying to get to as many PTA meetings as possible to discuss safety issues before and after school. The CHP's goal is to have no injury accidents for the school year involving children. The department has posted speed trailers at different school sights. Sergeant Lott also announced that the CHP is implementing a program that would offer free fingerprinting and an ID card to children and their parents. She would let Homes Association know the exact date when this program will begin.

Lott introduced Officer KJ Young who has been participating in the Royal Sunset after-school program Young stated that he has been participating in the program for over a year and what they are trying to do now is to coordinate field trips for the students for the current school year. They are focusing on leadership and educational abilities in this after-school program and want to instill a sense of pride in each of the students. Officer Young stated that the students are trying to coordinate a yearbook for the school this year and one of the students who participated in the after-school program was responsible for creating the school's first mascot.

Director Partridge commended Officer Young for his participation in the after-school program.

3.3 Supervisor Gail Steele - Supervisor Gail Steele said she attended the recent Airport Committee and will forward the list of complaints to the Board members. She pointed out that once again there were no complaints from the San Lorenzo Area. Steele reported that there are two (2) studies presently underway. One related to noise and the other to runway use.

The Administrator suggested that given the guest speakers waiting, that items 4.0 and 5.0 be postponed until after 8.0. The Board Members had no objections.

6.0 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REPORTS

6.1 Business Development Committee (BDC)/appointments - Member Barry Weiss reported for Chair Travis Thoms who was unable to attend the Board meeting. Weiss reported that BDC had a very productive meeting. The Youth Commission presented its suggestions in a draft design for the Village Square, which the conunittee voted to receive and to forward on to the county for its comments.

Weiss stated that Lou Andrade had spoken to the BDC with respect to its upcoming meetings. The next meeting would be on Tuesday, September 21, 1999 at 7:00 p.m., and all residents are welcome to attend.

Weiss said the committee had discussed its future role in the community. The members of the BDC were in agreement to continue to work with the Task Force for the Specific Plan for the Village Square and would be giving monthly updates at each of the BDC meetings. They also targeted three areas that they wanted to concentrate on. These areas were: Redevelopment for San Lorenzo, targeting other problem-commercial areas, and spotlighting neighborhood businesses in the Village Briefs. Sub-committees were formed for each of these items, and they will report back to the group at its October meeting.

Weiss also stated that the conuwttee was resubmitting Kathie Ready's nomination for the Board's consideration for membership on the BDC.

Director Sherman made a motion to accept the nomination of Kathie Ready to the Business Development Committee, Director Arieta seconds the motion. The motion carries with the following vote:

Ayes: Sloan, Arieta, Sherman
Noes: Spears, Partridge

6.2 Task force for Village Square - Weiss reported that the panel had its orientation meeting on September 14, 1999, and it will have its first meeting with the appointed economist and architect on Tuesday, September 21, 1999.

7.0 ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT

7.1 Update on Embers Hotel/Storage - The Administrator reported that Board members Sherman, Spears, and Sloan attended the San Leandro City Council meeting regarding the hotel/storage on Embers where the council agreed to postpone approval of this development until the San Lorenzo neighbors' concerns could be adequately addressed. This evening the Administrator and the neighbors met with the developers of the project. The Administrator asked Ron Groves to summarize the agreement that came from that meeting.

Ron Groves, a resident of Paseo del Rio, stated that the neighbors on his street and surrounding streets who would be most affected by this development came to an agreement with the developer, wherein the storage unit would be moved between the hotel and the creekside residents. The neighbors were all in agreement with this new configuration of the development. Groves thanked the Board members for their support and the neighbors who participated in opposing the development as it was originally presented to San Leandro officials.

Van Huffel stated the sketches are in the Association office for all who are interested to review. She encouraged the Board members to attend the next City Council meeting and show their support for the revised plan.

Director Partridge made a motion to send a letter supporting the revised plan for the Embers Storage/Hotel development as well as forwarding a letter to the San Leandro City Council thanking them for being good neighbors by addressing the San Lorenzo neighbors' concerns. Director Sloan seconds the motion. The motion passes unanimously.

7.2 Other informational items - The Administrator stated that there will be discussion at the next Unincorporated Committee meeting regarding the pipeline that will be installed down Lewelling Blvd. The Administrator stated that she along with Director Partridge have been attending the meetings regarding this pipeline and encouraged residents to attend next Wednesday's Unincorporated Committee meeting, where further information will be given.

A motion was made by Director Sloan and seconded by Director Arieta to approve the Administrator's report. The motion carried unanimously.

8.0 OTHER BUSINESS

8.1 Redevelopment Discussion - Supervisor Steele introduced Mark Lewis and Mark Klebanoff from the city of Union City. Lewis and Klebanoff presented a slide show presentation on redevelopment. Lewis stated that Union City has about 65 thousand people and is growing rapidly. Redevelopment has been an important tool for the city in helping attract developers and people to the area.

Lewis stated that redevelopment needs to be thought of as a tool to help solve community problems and achieve conununity goals. It does this by providing money and helping to accumulate resources to help solve conununity problems and achieve community goals. The process of redevelopment is controlled by the community and has input from the community throughout the process. Redevelopment has the ability to attract new businesses and expand the tax base. It can refurbish old buildings, preserve historical structures and preserve old businesses. It can help small businesses with loans and can provide grants and/or funding to contribute to acquiring facades for older buildings. Both parking lot improvements and traffic improvements can be achieved through redevelopment. Lewis said that affordable housing can be achieved through redevelopment as well as improving neighborhood amenities and helping to fund community centers and/or senior housing.

Lewis gave an example of Union City's Union Landing which has been developed via redevelopment funds. The city has attracted over twenty (20) franchise restaurants to the area as well as a Border's bookstore to the area. Redevelopment has established a new Senior Center for Union City, two resource community centers, which non-profit organizations and schools are using to provide services to residents of the area. Redevelopment has helped to re-establish a renewed sense of pride to the Union City area.

Lewis stated that redevelopment could be used in San Lorenzo for a youth center, to attract a department store, a coffee house and/or to refurbish the Lorenzo Theater. He emphasized the importance of having the citizens of the area participate in the process defining what their vision for the redevelopment area is and what projects they would like to see. Residents should be actively involved in every aspect of the process. There would be a Project Area Committee (PAC) which would be involved in the process working with county staff and the county Supervisors. Lewis stated that commw-iity involvement is key to successful redevelopment.

Questions were raised by audience members regarding how the money is accumulated. Lewis stated that the property tax base in the area is frozen. As the property value of the area increases, the tax increment, is floated out into the future and used in the present day. Lewis stated that if there is an active ongoing redevelopment process, the tax increments accumulate more quickly, and the county or city is able to get its property taxes back sooner. Lewis stressed the importance of citizen participation. He stated that although the County Board of Supervisors has the final approval, what comes before them is a product of citizen participation and recommendations. He stated that county personnel could be helpful in identifying the options for participation for the community.

A resident asked about the negative impacts of redevelopment. Lewis stated that there are some negatives with respect to time of the redevelopment project, but that the process is a good way to solve problems with development of an area. It was questioned as to whether schools could benefit from redevelopment funds.

Lewis stated that it used to be that schools would lose out on funds due to redevelopment; however a new law prevents that, and in Union City they have used redevelopment funds to build new schools. A resident questioned what forum the process goes through to get citizen participation. Lewis stated that usually a Citizens Participation Committee (PAC) is formed and that this group allows for citizens to become actively involved in process.

Director Partridge questioned whether a smaller community would have enough tax revenue to generate the redevelopment project. Lewis stated that in South San Francisco, which is a small community, they have been successful in their redevelopment; however it did take longer to get the development in the area. (10 years versus 5 for Union City)

Mrak questioned whether the San Lorenzo area would be limited to just the Village Square and how that would affect funding. Eileen Dalton from Alameda County stated that she is doing a study on redevelopment for a large area of unincorporated Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland, and San Lorenzo and that all of these areas would be incorporated into the redevelopment plan.

The Administrator stated that the Board just got a list of counties/cities who have used redevelopment and will be questioning the parties on this list to provide any negative impacts they may have experienced as a result of the redevelopment process.

8.2 - Lorenzo Theater suggested conditions of approval for 9/8/99 variance hearing - Rodrigo Orduno presented the conditions of approval to the Board (see attached) and updated them on the last hearing on 9/8/99 regarding the Theater. He stated that staff had come up with a list of tentative conditions of approval for the Veterinarian should he wish to establish a vet clinic in the front portion of the theater. Staff had taken the concerns from the last hearing and has recently come up with additional conditions of approval. Orduno stated that the possible HP designation has given further analysis to the application and the EIR negative impact review.

Zoning Administrator Daryl Gray stated that the county has suggested in the revised conditions that the applicant have I million insurance policy to cover any damages incurred while the applicant used the theater as a vet clinic. The $5,000 noted in the original conditions would be used to monitor compliance and repair damage. It was questioned whether both of these conditions would be required of the applicant. Resident Keith Barros stated that his understanding was that the 1 million insurance would be required in addition to the $5,000 in the original conditions.

Director Partridge makes a motion to approve the original and the revised conditions in concept as presented to them, except that condition #8 be revised to state that the applicant would be required to have both a $5,000 deposit along with 1 million in insurance to cover any damage done while he/she did business in the theater. Sloan seconded the motion. The motion carries unanimously.

8.3 Youth Commission Report on Business Development - Emmanuel Satingin presented the San Lorenzo Youth Commission's design for the Village Square. Satingen distributed his plan to the Board members and stated that members of the Youth Commission had worked on the design for approximately eight (8) months. The design included a lawn plaza, greenbelts along the Paseo Grande strip, as well as a historical center to display San Lorenzo's history. The Youths' design had six (6) new houses included along Paseo Grande and Via Arriba to separate the residential area from the commercial area. Director Partridge commended the youth for their work.

8.4 Discussion of Quorum change from 4 members to 3 members - The Administrator stated that it was brought to the Board's attention that any action taken by the Board requires the vote of three (3) Board members; however, four (4) Board members constitutes a quorum per the Association's by-laws. This can pose a problem as per last month's Board meeting wherein three (3) members were present to approve action items, but a quorum (4 members) was not present to officially conduct the meeting. The Administrator had discussed this with the Association's Attorney and he stated that the by-laws can be changed to state that three (3) Board members would constitute a quorum. The procedure is that the by-laws need to be read before the Association Board meeting twice, and the proposed change in the by-laws needs to be published in the bimonthly newsletter for comments.

Arieta made a motion to start the process of changing the Association Board of Directors quorum from four (4) to three (3). Partridge seconded the motion.

Residents voiced their concerns regarding the issue of whether something could be passed or failed with three (3) members present. Director Partridge clarified the concerns by stating that it takes three (3) members to either pass or fail an item that comes before the Board.

The Board voted unanimously to start the process of changing the quorum from four (4) members to three (3).

8.5 Adoption of rules and procedures for the Board Meeting - The Administrator announced that the Board had asked her to draft a procedures policy for the Board meetings in order to conduct more orderly meetings.

Director Arieta read the policy for procedures for the Board meetings (see attached). Director Atieta made a motion to adopt the rules and procedures for Board meetings as presented by the Administrator, Director Partridge seconds the motion.

Resident Karen Ready was concerned that the voice of the people would be quashed with time limits and the inability to speak on the issue more than once. Resident Janet Brennan stated that sometimes different residents need to voice the same opinion on one issue to show the Board that there are many residents who feel the same way. Resident Barry Weiss was concerned that the Board have an adequate amount of time to discuss the issue after the public has its input. Does the Board discuss and then open it to the public without addressing the issues brought up in public comment? Resident Ann Mrak was concerned with residents who might need clarification on an issue and want to speak more than once. If they are not allowed the clarification they will never be able to fully understand an issue.

Director Arieta makes a friendly amendment to her motion that the Board adopt the rules and procedures as presented, but that the Board also have a chance to discuss an item after public testimony as well as prior to the testimony so that it can address the public's concerns. The motion carries unanimously.

8.6 - Approval of 2000 SLVHA Board of Directors Election Process - The Administrator read the procedures for the 2000 SLVHA Board of Directors Election (see attached).

Howard Beckman questioned what the procedure is to check ballots against duplicates. The Administrator stated that each ballot is numbered with the homeowner's account number and is recorded into a book upon receipt. Any duplications of the number would be disqualified.

Director Arieta made a motion to approve the 2000 SLVHA Board of Directors Election Process, Director Sloan seconds the motion. The motion carries unanimously.

4.0 FINANCIAL REPORT

4.1 August 1999 Expenditures - Director Sherman moved with a second by Director Arieta, that the Board approve the expenditures for August 1999. The motion was passed unanimously.

4.2 Discussion of Significant Variances - The Administrator said that there were no significant variances to report.

5.0 LIEN AND VIOLATION REPORT - The Administrator reported that no liens have been released, and currently there are 203 cases open.

Inoperable/Unlicensed vehicle in front or side yard area       19
Recreational vehicle in front or side yard area                20
General Maintenance of property                                62
Vehicle parked on lawn or other unpaved area                    5
Others                                                         11
Total Number of Letters Sent in August 1999                   117

9.0 PUBLIC COMMENT

Howard Beckman stated that the Hayward City Council has not been as responsive to San Lorenzo residents' concerns regarding Home Depot as the San Leandro City Council was with the residents opposed to the Embers hotel/storage proposal. The Hayward City Council recently voted in favor of approving the rezoning of the Hayward Airport in preparation for the development of Home Depot off Hesperian and A streets in Hayward. Beckman stated that he felt the traffic study done with respect to this development was inadequate. He wants to challenge the EIR and will be directing a recall for Hayward City Council officials.

Ann Mrak stated that everyone should be reporting aircraft noise to the Oakland and/or Hayward airports. Mrak said that San Lorenzo needs to have a voice with respect to this type of noise. Mrak also stated that she heard that the developers who were proposing the three story storage unit on Washington and Grant have dropped the appeal process and she stated that she thought the lot could be used as a community garden. She asked audience members for support and stated she would be pursuing this in the future.

10.0 COMMITTEE REPORTS

10.1 Youth Resources Committee - Dorothy Partridge stated that the group had met in September and was outlining its goals and areas to focus on for the 99/00 school year.

10.2 Airport Committees - Director Sloan reported that the city of San Leandro is filing suit against the EIR because it did not adequately address the noise issue. Sloan stated that flight patterns have been redirected at night to San Leandro and San Lorenzo rather than Alameda because of that city's objections to the noise being caused by these flights. Sloan also reported that cargo jets are being redirected from San Francisco to Oakland due to an outcry by the Save the Bay organization. There has been a proposal to open up Moffett Field for these cargo planes due to the fact that most of them are carrying cargo for the Silicon Valley area. This may be a more appropriate place for these planes to land. Sloan urged residents to call and voice their objections to the noise of these aircrafts at 510-577-4194 or 1-800-FAA-SURE. He also suggested the numbers for airplane noise be posted in the next newsletter.

10.3 Council on the Prevention of Drinking and Driving - Director Spears stated that the Council is having trouble with funding and may be disbanding in the very near future.

11.0 COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS - None

12.0 ADJOURNMENT - Director Partridge moved to adjourn the meeting, Director Sloan seconds, the meeting is adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dorothy Partridge
Secretary-Treasurer

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