The regular meeting of the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association Board of Directors was held Thursday, November 20, 2003.

1.1 CALL TO ORDER -- President Kathie Ready called the meeting to order at 7: 40 at 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, Enrique Barboza and Peggy Sheridan were present.

2.O MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING -- Director Sheridan moved to approve the minutes from the October 2003, meeting Number 1085. Director Pebelier seconds the motion. The minutes are approved unanimously.

3.0 COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES

3.1 CHP -- No officer was present, the following statistics were left for October 2003:

CHP Statistics for October 2003

Infraction           San Lorenzo      Total Unincorp. area

Collisions               14                 120
Tickets                 253                1440
Parking Tickets          43                 242
Storage/Impounds         16                  96
Recoveries                0                  11

Total Warnings for Hayward Area CHP: 1,688

Lewis stated that the Thanksgiving dinner donations went very well this year. They collected more funds than last year for the dinners. He thanked all residents who contributed. Lewis announced that the next Community Policing meeting would be on Wednesday December 10, 2003. He also announced that the new Cop Shop should be opening by mid December 2003.

Sondra Lebon, a resident from Via Rodriguez and Via Segundo asked that the Homes Association support the idea of re-doing the intersection at Via Rodriguez, Via Segundo, and Paseo Grande similar to what had been done on the other side of the overpass at Via Mirlo and Paseo Grande. Bob Preston had plans drawn up several years ago with different ideas for this intersection. Ms. Lebon wanted to get another meeting with Mr. Preston and the surrounding neighbors to see what could be done. The Administrator stated that she would help to facilitate this meeting with Mr. Preston about this intersection. All of the Board members voiced their concern about this intersection and the hazards it has caused coming in and going out of the Association parking lot.

Lewis reported on the following crimes statistics for October 2003:

Statistics for October 2003, Alameda County Sheriff's Office

Crime                     Number Change from last month   Affected Street

Stolen vehicles             4             0               Hesperian, Via Media, Culver Pl., Via El Monte
Attempted Stolen Vehicle    1            +1               Via Paro
Recovered Stolen Vehicles   5            +4               Via Hermosa, Via Mercado, Via Mirabel, Paseo del Campo, Via
                                                          Manzanas
Residential Burglary        4            -1               Bartlett Ave,. Grant Ave., Via Primero, Via Walter
Commercial Burglary         2            -1               Hesperian Blvd, Lorenzo Ave
Auto Burglary               3            +5               Via Catherine, Keller, Channel St., Via Rancho
Grand Theft                 2            -4               Via Lacqua, Hesperian
Graffiti                    2            +2               Bockman Rd
Robbery                     1            -1               Bockman/Channel

Director Sherman made a motion to send a letter to the Captain commending Deputy Lewis for his work and dedication to the San Lorenzo Community. Director Sheridan seconded, the motion carried unanimously.

3.3 Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker -- The Administrator reported that staff member Kevin Dowling was at a conference and could not attend the meeting. She noted that there would be an open house at Supervisor Lai-Bitker's San Lorenzo office on Monday December 15, 2003 from 4-7 p.m. she encouraged all residents to attend.

3.4 PUBLIC COMMENT (Items not on the Agenda)

Resident Jim Spears announced that he would be moving out of San Lorenzo after 50 years of residence. He wanted to commend the Board for its policy on not allowing chain link fences across the front yards.

The Administrator thanked Spears for his service as a Board member in the past and his continuous years of volunteering for the Association and the San Lorenzo Community.

Resident Dorothy Partridge announced that the PTA and Safe Ashland are organizing a toy and food drive for the unincorporated area. They have coordinated this with the Alameda County Fire Departments. She asked that residents help with their efforts by donating toys or money to help those residents who are in need.

8.1 Johan Klehs (former Assembly member) -- California Budget Crisis (timed agenda item for 8:00 p.m.) -- Mr. Klehs reported on the California Budget crisis and noted that with the repeal of the DMV tax the crisis will be even worse. The Governor's deficit is over 3.9 billion dollars. He explained the DMV increase was caused in part from the rebate car owners received several years ago. The money for the registration went to fire, sheriff and police services and when these fees were reduced so were the revenues of these departments. With the budget crisis, these departments suffered even more. Klehs spoke about the need for more Universities in California. He explained how there are now not enough Universities in our state to accept the students who are applying. The criteria for accepting students to Universities is now so high, many qualified young people are not able to get into the colleges. He also spoke about the need to maintain and preserve farmland and open space. He noted that if we continue to build on farm land there will not be enough land to raise the fruits, vegetables and livestock needed to feed the people of our state.

Director Sherman asked how California ranks nationally with the amount it spends per child. Klehs noted that California is in the mid-percentile as compared to other states.

4.0 FINANCIAL REPORT

4.1 Approval of October 2003 expenditures and discussion of significant variances -- The Administrator noted that the fines and expenditures for the CC& R fines needs to be corrected for the month. However there were no significant variances this past month.

5.0 LIEN AND VIOLATION REPORT -- The Administrator reported there were two (2) liens released since the October 2003 meeting. She stated that Tona and the County Zoning Department have been inundated since Bruce Babcock has been off ill. They do not have a report this evening but will in the future. The CCR letters for the month were as follows:

October 2003 Violation Report

Number  Violation                              # of Letters

1/19    Inoperable Vehicles in driveway             49
2/22    Recreational veh/trailer in driveway        23
6       Lack of Gen Maintenance                      7
10      Lawn Height                                 13
11      Dead Trees                                   0
12      Overgrown Vegetation                         0
13      Holiday Lights                               0
15      Building Exterior                            2
16      Dirt Accumulation                           13
17      Attractive Nuisances                         3
18      Lean/miss fence                              0
20/7    Unpaved parking                              4
21      Working on vehicles                          1
23      Dogs/Cats more than                          0
24      Barking dogs                                 4
25      Prohibited animals                           0
26      Excess noise                                 1
27      No Home Business                             0
28/99   Other/ comments                              7
Total                                              127

Director Sheridan asked what was being done about 441 Hacienda. Staff person Kathleen Harrigan noted that the residence has been reported to the County and that the file is with the Association's attorney.

6.0 ZONING AND VARIANCE ISSUES

6.1 Variances approved/disapproved at the work session:

A. 15925 Via Descanso -- Cat fanciers permit for four (4) cats. Approved.
B. 1706 Via Redondo -- Shed variance 2 ft setback from rear. Would be 12 by 12 in dimensions with 8 ft walls and a peak to reach a maximum height of 11.5 ft to match existing shed setback and no more than 8 ft walls with 11.5 ft peak approved (to match existing shed). Approved. Size of 12 by 12 approved only due to size of lot (over 6000 square foot lot-bigger than normal San Lorenzo lot which is 50 x 100).
C. 15959 Paseo Largavista -- Side yard fence with 7.5 ft setback from street 4 ft in height; already constructed. Denied.
D. 17380 Via San Ardo -- Back yard shed, over 12 ft at peak. Denied and asked to resubmit plans.
E. Continued: 17403 Via Carmen -- flag on garage; 15968 Via Pinale -- exterior paint; 16153 Via Harriet -- no lawn.
F. 16194 Via Helena -- front yard wrought iron fence. Approved (due to corner lot) with conditions of no spiked poles; all fencing must be blunted.
G. Adding a New T-Ball field adjacent to the other T-Ball field at the San Lorenzo Little League. Approved as long as plans submitted to the Association office showing dimensions and setbacks.
H. 16180 Via Catherine -- 6 ft back yard fence with 1 ft lattice. Approved 6 ft fence only, lattice referred for county approval.

7.0 ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT

7.1 Update on Oro Loma (John Partridge)-- Partridge reported that there was a proposal by LAVMA to Oro Loma to store trucks at the end of Grant. Oro Loma denied this due to the increase of the amount of truck loads that would run along Grant Avenue with the storage of these trucks. He noted that EBMUD will likely be asked next by LAVMA. The Administrator noted that Supervisor Lai-Bitker's staff would be meeting with EBMUD regarding this but she suggested that the Association Board also meet with them to voice the Association's objections to this proposal.

The Board directed the Administrator to write a letter in opposition of allowing storage of any LAVMA trucks in the yards at the base of Grant Avenue in San Lorenzo.

Partridge noted that Oro Loma has started with its new recycling trucks in some of it unincorporated areas. He noted that some of the overall benefits are that you can combine your recycling material and the new trucks are more environmentally desirable. He noted that the bins must be placed out in the street which could make it difficult for the street sweeper and a potential hazard for some cars or pedestrians. Director Ready noted that there is no enforcement power to make residents push these cans back onto their property once the recycling has been picked up. She also questioned what would happen with the excess garbage if it was knocked into the street by a car or pedestrian. She noted that the problems with these new trucks seem to outweigh the benefits for San Lorenzo residents.

7.2 New State Laws for 2004 -- The Administrator stated that there were three (3) new laws that will go into affect starting January 2004. (See attachment A). These laws dealt with the idea that any operating rule must be given to the Association in writing. The Administrator noted that the Association already does this via its bi-monthly newsletter. She stated that the new laws make everything a lot more formal than they currently are. She noted that another law is related to new statutory inspection rights that states that all members have the right to inspect records. The Administrator noted that this has always been the case, however the new law "formalizes" the procedure. The final new law is related to signs, wherein it allows for the residents to "generally display signs", which in our Association had previously not been permitted.

7.3 Informational items -- None.

8.0 OTHER BUSINESS

**8.1 John Klehs, California Budget crisis (set item for 8:00 p.m.)-- See above, timed item.

8.2 Board of Directors Election Information - The Administrator announced that there will be no election this year. There were originally three (3) candidates who submitted nomination forms, however one opted to pull out due to the commitment of time involved. The Administrator said that incumbent Kathie Ready would be reseated in February along with resident Patrick Ledesma who would be a new member to the Board. She congratulated both of these residents.

8.3 Final Approval of the 2004 Delinquent Assessment & Foreclosure Policy -- The Administrator noted that the policy would be the same as last year. (See attachment B). The consensus of the Board was to continue with the Delinquent Assessment and Foreclosure Policy as it was passed last November.

9.0 PUBLIC COMMENT -- Resident Keith Barros announced that there will be a recognition for community volunteers in the unincorporated area at the next Unincorporated Services Committee Meeting. He nominated Board member Kathie Ready. He said that her "passion" for the community and her participation in community concerns were key to his nomination. Barros noted that she has participated in numerous community committees and issues including, the "Save the Lorenzo Theater" project, the Specific Plan for the Village Square, the county's Housing Element, the county tree ordinance as well as redevelopment plans for the Village area. Director Ready thanked him for his support and his nomination.

10.0 COMMITTEE REPORTS

10.1 Airport Committees -- No report.

10.2 Library Committee -- Director Sheridan noted that the architect brought drawings for a new larger San Lorenzo Library that were very impressive. She further reported that the Library Committee passed a motion to write a letter to the Board of Supervisors asking it to support San Lorenzo's application for State grant funding for a new, larger San Lorenzo Library. The committee would like the Association Board to also send a letter to the Board of Supervisors supporting the committee's proposal.

Resident Dorothy Partridge, who is chair of the Library Committee, noted that in order to get the grant there must be a commitment from the community to match the grant with some matching funds. The matching funds needed for the San Lorenzo project would be in excess of 6 million dollars in order for the grant to even be considered. Partridge noted that the committee has asked the county to look into where these funds could be promised from.

Resident Howard Beckman stated that he is dismayed that this proposal is being "pushed" onto the community. He said that with the San Lorenzo proposal, Castro Valley's vi for the grant would be harmed. The residents in Castro Valley have been trying to secure funding for the last 10 years, it does not seem fair to compete with them for these funds. San Lorenzo has just started to seriously look at expanding it library. It has not looked seriously at all its options.

Director Sheridan stated that San Lorenzo has a right to have a new, larger library just as Castro Valley does. She noted that the residents in San Lorenzo are not begrudging Castro Valley anything, but merely securing our right for grant funding. It was noted that if San Lorenzo does not apply for grant funding this coming January, it may lose its right to do so. She supports Castro Valley and its residents in their proposal, but also wants a newer, larger library for our own residents. Sheridan did not see one application was a detriment to the other. It was noted that Castro Valley has already been denied the grant application on two previous tries.

Director Sheridan makes a motion that the Association Board write a letter to the Board of Supervisors supporting the Library Committees' application for State grant monies for the expansion of the San Lorenzo Library. Director Barboza seconds, the motion carries unanimously.

11.0 COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS -- Director Sheridan stated that when she and her husband drove around the neighborhood to review the variances for the work session she was encouraged by all the work being done by homeowners in the area. Many new home owners are fixing up the homes and many of the old homeowners are doing so as well. She felt that this was a positive sign for the Village.

12.0 ADJOURNMENT -- President Ready adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Pat Pebelier
Secretary-Treasurer

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