The meeting of the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association Board of Directors was held Thursday June 17, 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 audience in the pledge of allegiance.

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

2.0 COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES

2.1 Alameda County Sheriff's Department - The Administrator stated that the Sheriff Deputies were unable to attend but had left a copy of the crime report as well as a wanted poster for an individual who murdered four persons in Hayward.

2.2 California Highway Patrol - Officer Tuazon stated that the citations for this month had increased for the Village area. There were 318 citation for the month of May as compared to 174 at the beginning of the year. Each month it has been on an increase. Officer Tuazon stated that his department has received a lot of calls inquiring about warnings in lieu of citations. He said that there is nothing written in the state law that requires the officers to give warnings. The officer stated that last month his department gave 1533 verbal warnings, which is up 44% from May of 1998 . There were 639 written warnings given for this past month which is up 12% from last May. The DUI's have increased, there were 189 arrests which is a record for the area. Last year at this time there were only 107 arrests. The officer stated that most of these arrests are occurring between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Officer Tuazon stated that his department has been given approval for radar certification for the areas of Bockman and Grant and Channel. They will be increasing patrols in these areas.

The officer also reported that the Royal Sunset High School After-school program was successful and that at the end of the year there were a core group of ten (10) students who regularly used the program.

2.3 Supervisor Gail Steele's Report - Steele had no report. The Administrator asked the Supervisor whether the County was going to do anything with respect to the Oakland Airport Expansion proposal. The Airport had released its final EIR on the proposal, and both the Administrator and Director Spears had gone to the meeting related to the final draft. The Association had questioned some key issues in the Supplemental EIR, which were not addressed in the Final EIR.

Supervisor Steele stated that she had a meeting with the county staff next Tuesday and would be speaking at the next Airport meeting on the 29th of June. The Administrator stated that she is hoping the county will represent the residents of the San Lorenzo area. She was specifically concerned with where noise monitors would be placed. Monitors are noted to be placed within the San Leandro areas, but none are within the San Lorenzo borders. The Administrator pointed out that the cities all have attorneys who represent the interests of the residents, and San Lorenzo does not have an attorney to represent it. Supervisor Steele stated that County Counsel would be reviewing the EIR for validity and would in fact be representing all unincorporated areas affected. Director Partridge stated that she thought there were some noise monitors around Oro Loma which were no longer working. Director Sloan stated that there were noise monitors near Oro Loma and that he thought that they were upgraded and functional. Steele stated that the county has asked for a noise study from the Port and was told that it would be done. She stated that unless this noise study is complete she would not be recommending adoption of the EIR.

3.0 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

3.1 Approval of the Minutes No. 1020, May 20, 1999 and Special Meeting, Minutes No. 1021, June 8, 1999 and 1022, June 15, 1999 - Director Arieta moved that the meeting minutes of the Board and the Special meetings be approved as submitted, Partridge seconded the motion. The motion carries unanimously.

4.0 FINANCIAL REPORT

4.1 Approval of May 1999 Expenditures - Director Slierman made a motion to approve the May 1999 expenditures, (including payroll), Director Arieta seconds. The motion was passed unanimously.

4.2 Discussion of Significant Variances - The administrator reported that there were no significant ariances for the month.

5.0 LIEN AND VIOLATION REPORT - The Administrator reported that there have been four (4) Release of Lien forms signed since the May meeting. The Association currently has 291 cases open.

Violation Report:

Inoperable/Unlicensed vehicle in front or side yard area:    13
Recreational vehicle in front or side yard area:              9
General Maintenance of property:                            109
Vehicle parked on lawn or other unpaved area:                 2
Others:                                                       3

Total Number of Letters Sent in May 1999                    141

6.0 ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT

6.1 San Lorenzo Day at Alameda County Fair June 30 - The Administrator announced that the San Lorenzo Day at the Fair is June 30, 1999. She announced that the Association office has discount tickets to the fair for all residents.

6.2 Report on Washington/Grant Proposal and Embers Hotel Proposal - The Administrator stated that the self-storage proposal at Washington/Grant Avenues went before the Zoning Administrator and was approved with the condition that the structure does not exceed two-stories or 25 feet. The Administrator said she had tried to get in touch with the developers to see if they were still going to go through with the proposal, however, no one has returned her call.

The Embers Hotel Proposal - fourteen neighbors and the Administrator went to the San Leandro Planning Commission. The commission did not approve the proposal, they had the same concerns as many of the neighbors, specifically the size of the hotel. The Administrator stated that she had suggested that they turn the hotel at a 90 degree angel and this would solve the problem for the residents of the hotel looking down into their yards, however, it would require the developer to purchase more land. She was unclear as to what the San Leandro Planning Commission was going to do regarding the project. She had tried to contact city officials, but has been unsuccessful.

6.3 Insurance/Audit Proposal - The Administrator stated that there will be no raise in insurance premiums for this year. She asked the Board whether it wanted to get additional bids from other auditors. The Administrator stated that she has been very pleased with Levy & Co. which has been used by the Association for the past few years and stated that they do audits mairdy for homes associations. She said this company is about half the costs of other auditors, the current fees running approximately $1,700 to $1,800. Director Arieta stated that she would like to see some bids from other companies before making a final decision. The Administrator stated she would get these bids back to the Board.

6.4 Other informational items - The Administrator stated that the Board had received a letter from Assemblywoman Ellen Corbett asking for the Association's input on the possible removal of the truck ban on Interstate 580. There would be a meeting held on Thursday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m at Assumption Hall in San Leandro. The Administrator stated that she realized that the item was not on the Association's agenda, however the board could go to the meeting to relay its consensus. Supervisor Steele stated that the City of San Leandro, the City of Oakland and Berkeley are against the lift of this ban.

The consensus of the Board was to leave the ban in place and to relay this at the meeting on the 24th of June. The Administrator stated that she would be out of town, and would not be able to attend the meeting, she asked either one of the Board members, or her staff to attend. Directors Spears, Sherman and Sloan stated that they would try to attend and would let staff know if they could not.

The Administrator stated that the County had sent the Board a letter asking it to participate in a millennium celebration involving children. Director Partridge asked when the deadline to get back to the county was. The Administrator stated that someone should respond by the end of this week, she did not feel this was something the Board or she should be directly involved in coordinating, but wanted to know whether the Board should refer the matter to one of the youth-related groups. Director Arieta suggested the Board refer the matter to the Youth Commission and ask them to take the issue on if it so desired. Emmanuel Santigen, from the Youth Commission, stated that his group is meeting throughout the summer and he would be willing to bring this up to them. The Administrator stated that she would let the County know the matter has been referred to the Youth Commission for input and response.

The Administrator said the Hayward Airport Committee wanted to have a joint meeting with the Board on Wednesday, July 21, 1999 because they have some people coming from out of town and wanted to discuss the proposed development for the Hayward Airport. The Community Hall is not available on 7/21/99, but would be available on July 20,1999. The Administrator would like this meeting to be available for all homeowners and had relayed the new date back to airport officials, but has not heard back from them.

The Administrator said that a homeowner on Via Chiquita had written to the county Public Works department asking about speed bumps on his street. He was advised of the neighborhood traffic calming programs and told that a concurrence by neighbors, the Association and Supervisor Steele was needed, prior to approval.

Director Arieta made a motion to approve the Administrators report, Director Sherman, seconded the motion passes unanimously.

7.0 OTHER BUSINESS

The Administrator announced a new format. She would give a report to the Board, and during or at the end of the report the Board can ask questions, or make comments on the report, after that there will be a period of public comment from the audience, which may have a time limit. Then the item would be closed and a motion would be taken if necessary.

7.1 Election of Vice President - Director Jim Sherman nominated Director Arieta as Vice President, Director Partridge seconded. The motion passes unanimously.

7.2 Proposal to construct 66K sq ft self-storage facility at end of Grant - The Administrator introduced a new proposal she recently received to construct a storage facility across from Oro Loma. The developer is going before the County Planing Commission on June 21, 1999. The Administrator stated that this property is where there used to have modular buildings. The developer is requesting rezoning of the area from heavy industrial to a planned development district. They would be building a 600 square foot storage facility with an office/manager's residence and would like to sell boxes, locks and rental trucks at this location. The plan has been distributed to the Board members and is available to all who are interested.

The Administrator pointed out that there is no guarantee that the storage facility on Washington and Grant will go through at this point because the developer was adamant about three stories for the facility. Also there is also no guarantee with the Embers storage/hotel proposal as to whether it goes in at this time. Director Partridge asked as if recreational vehicles could be stored on this site. The Administrator stated that the plan did have space for RV's. She noted that the entire facility is one story and the units are large.

Resident Nancy Shelvy stated that she does not want any more traffic on Grant Avenue. She was especially concerned with the increase in traffic with recreational vehicles and rental trucks. Resident Travis Thoms stated that he has no opinion at this time, but would want the proposal to be heard by the Business Development Committee for its recommendation. The Administrator pointed out that the Planning Commission will be making a decision on this issue this coming Monday, and there will be no time to get the committee's input. She noted that many of the proposed developments give no notice and thus there is no time for the committee's recommendations. She said Thoms' comments were valid and suggested that the Board consider the role of the Business Development Committee as related to new businesses that come into the area. Director Partridge stated that she did not feel this issue was within the scope of what the Business Development Committee had been charged to do by the Board, which is the development of the Village Square. Director Arieta stated that she felt this development was appropriate for the area where there is commercial and industrial development currently around the site.

Director Arieta made a motion to direct the Administrator to go before the County Planning Commission to speak in favor of the development, Director Partridge seconded the motion. The motion carries with the following vote: Ayes: 4 (Spears, Partridge, Sloan, Atieta), Noes: 1 (Sherman).

7.3 Proposal to use the Lorenzo Theater as an animal clinic - The Administrator stated that prior to the last meeting tile Doctor who wants to purchase the theater had met with the Board and members of the Lorenzo Theater Association regarding using the theater as a vet clinic. After the initial meeting, another meeting was convened. The county, the perspective buyer and some of the Lorenzo Theater committee members attended this meeting. The doctor's proposal would be to turn the upper portion of the theater where there were formally concession stands and an entryway, into a veterinary clinic. He would use only this part for the clinic and install a fake wall between it and the theater area. At some given point, within a ten-year period, the Theater Association would raise enough funds to purchase the theater at a fair market price from the Doctor. The Administrator stated that the Theater Association is currently in the process of working out the negotiations with the prospective owner to eventually purchase the theater. She stated that this item does go before the Zoning Administrator for a preliminary hearing at the end of this month and a final decision will be made by the Zoning Administrator at the end of July. The Administrator stated that she put this item on the Board's Agenda so that it could take one on three (3) actions:

1. No action;

2. Make a motion in support of the Theater Association continuing negotiations with the prospective new owner, encouraging him to meet with the theater group and work out conditions whereby the group can eventually purchase the theater from him within a certain amount of time;

3. Support the prospective owner, because at least he will clean up the property, and ignore the theater group.

The Administrator stated that the Board's motion this evening, if voted upon, would be to encourage the prospective owner to meet with the Theater Association to work out a proposal. There would be no position as to what would happen to the theater until the end of July. The Board had directed her to have a community meeting regarding the theater at that time, so that all parties can be heard.

Arieta questioned whether the Board need to make a motion supporting this meeting. The Administrator stated that it would be helpful if the Board made a decision so that she could bring it before the Zoning Administrator when this item is heard at the end of the month. Director Partridge said she thought an agreement could be reached between the theater group and the prospective buyer. She stated she would like to see the theater restored as a performing arts facility, but until the theater group raises the funds, she would encourage the group to work out something with the prospective owner.

Director Partridge made a motion to encourage the tlieater group and the prospective owner to meet and come up with an agreement that is acceptable to both parties. Director Sloan seconded the motion.

Discussion: Resident Travis Thoms stated that he felt that the Board should not be a go-between and interfere with what the theater group is trying to do at this time. Emmanuel Santigen questioned what the changes to the building would be. The Administrator stated that she understood that the exterior would not be changed except for new paint and a new roof. Diana Rinella read a letter from Steven Stone, from Dublin, California, encouraging the restoration of the Lorenzo Theater. She also stated that there was a third option for the Board to consider and that was to support the Theater Association and its goal of saving the theater as a theater. She questioned that if the theater is used in part, as a vet clinic, as to whether its historical value will be impacted. Lisa Gudjohnsen questioned whether the prospective owner could open up a veterinary clinic some place else? She did not feel the theater was the appropriate site to open a vet clinic. Sandra Anderson stated that she is not in favor of using the theater as a vet clinic. The dignity and the purpose of the building would be marred if it was used in any other way except as a theater. Rinella questioned that if the theater is purchased and used as a veterinary clinic would it not be harder to purchase the building?

Director Partridge stated that she is in support of the theater being restored, and her motion is merely to get the two parties to talk and come to some agreement until such time that the Theater Association can purchase the building. She said the prospective owner seemed willing to work with the group and would clean up the building until the group can buy the theater back from him. Director Sherman said he would support the theater group continue its negotiations with the prospective owner.

        Roll call vote:
        Partridge: Aye
        Arieta: No
        Sherman: Aye
        Sloan: Aye
        Spears: Aye

7.4 Report on Redevelopment Meeting - The Administrator stated that a joint meeting was held regarding redevelopment with county staff, the Association Board and the Business Development Committee. The meeting was held to establish a process and to gather information regarding redevelopment. The Administrator said an initial study will be done by the county in a month or two, and she stated that the Board will not be in a position to vote in favor or against the issue until it hears what the results of the study are. She recommended that the Board try and get a presentation from different city/county officials regarding the pros and cons of redevelopment. She stated that the County is looking at September 1, 1999 as a timetable to start the process. Director Arieta questioned whether the Administrator could contact the different cities who have used redevelopment to find out what various positives and negatives are with the process. Director Sloan said that he felt redevelopment was a good tool. The Administrator stated that she is concerned about the input that the community would be able to give in the redevelopment process. She stated that when a city decides to designate an area for redevelopment, its city council votes and has a say. With San Lorenzo, the Board of Supervisors will have a say, and there are four members who do not represent this area and may not care about what the community wants.

Supervisor Steele stated that she would like the Board to consider having Mark Lewis from Union City come and speak regarding how redevelopment has been successful in that city. She stated that redevelopment is done by the community, with input from the residents, and is a long planning process. The advantages she sees are street lighting and potentially improving the Hesperian Blvd. corridor. She also stated that redevelopment could help first time home buyers. She said she would like to work for a consensus from the community and stressed that redevelopment makes things happen for an area. Steele stated that she may have this issue be a topic at the July unincorporated meeting.

Howard Beckman urged the Board to keep an open mind regarding redevelopment and look at all the factors, keeping in mind how this might rezone the area. The feasibility study done by the county will provide information as to whether it is feasible for San Lorenzo.

Director Arieta made a motion to continue gathering information about the redevelopment process for the San Lorenzo area. Director Sherman seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

8.0 COMMITTEE REPORTS

8.1 Business Development Committee - Travis Thoms reported that the committee has nominated three new members to the committee; those individuals are Ron Groves, Sharon Foster, and Kathy Ready. The Administrator asked that these individuals come into the Association office to fill out an application form to present to the Board for consideration.

Thoms stated that the committee met with county personnel regarding redevelopment for the San Lorenzo area. Supervisor Steele is looking into the cost of consultants who would come in and give ideas with respect to development/redevelopment for the area.

Thoms said that the committee is looking into developing a step-by-step process for new development that comes into the area. The Administrator has agreed to outline a process for the committee's consideration on how a potential development proposal would approach the community and the Association once a development proposal is being considered for the area.

Thoms requested that the Board consider moving the Committee reports to the top of the agenda so that the committee may comment on issues that are being considered on the agenda.

8.2 Airport Committees - No report. The Administrator had already talked about the Final EIR for the Oakland Airport expansion.

8.3 Youth Resources Committee - Dorothy Partridge stated that the group had its final meeting and will not meet again until September 1999. The group had reviewed what it accomplished in the past year and was pleased that it helped create a Youth Commission for Alameda County and an after-school program for Royal Sunset Continuation School that was successful. It also worked collaboratively with other agencies such as HARD, the Sheriff's Department and the San Lorenzo Organizing Committee.

8.4 California Highway Patrol Committee - Director Arieta stated that the committee has disbanded due to lack of participation.

8.5 Council on the Prevention of Drinking and Driving - Jim Spears stated that the council had a successful booth at the Cherryland festival in San Leandro and will have another booth at the Zucchini Festival in Hayward in August.

9.0 COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS

Director Spears welcomed newly appointed member, David Sloan to the Board. He also announced that he is resigning from the Business Development Committee and Director Sloan will be taking his place.

Director Partridge updated the Board on the opening of the "Dungeon" on Lewelling in San Lorenzo. She stated that the owner pleaded not guilty at the probation hearing and that there will be a trial in the near future. He has not been able to open his business thus far because of his probation violation.

10.0 PUBLIC COMMENT - Resident Sharon Foster read a letter she prepared recognizing the good work of past Director David Sherman and asking Director Jim Spears to step down. Director Spears stated that he has spent over one and a half (1 1/2) years as a Board member and is not a quitter and would not be stepping down. Director Partridge stated that it was in poor taste to attack Director Spears who has been a dedicated Board member while in office.

John Neth from the Longwood Neighborhood group in Hayward spoke about the possibility of the Board moving Public Comment to the first part of the agenda so that residents would not have to sit thorough lengthy meetings before having their say. He also wanted the Board to be aware of the Home Depot proposal on Hesperian Blvd in Hayward which is going before the Hayward Planning Commission on July 21, 1999. He was concerned that the Board had not been informed of this meeting and would encourage it to write a letter requesting why the Association was not informed. His neighborhood group has been meeting with the St. Joaquim's Church on the issue and the next meeting they will be holding is Wednesday, June 23, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. in the church. He encouraged all interested residents to attend, pointing out that this proposed development could have negative impacts on our residents as well as those in Hayward with respect to the increase in traffic on Hesperian and the types of vehicles traveling to and from this store.

Resident Hugh Logan stated that he has been active with the Hayward group and is concerned about the impact this will have on San Lorenzo residents. He encouraged residents to attend the meeting on the 23rd of June and asked that the Board to place this issue on its next agenda in July. He also stated that he would be willing to prepare something for the Association's next newsletter which would objectively outline the Home Depot proposal and some of the residents concerns with it. He stated that he is concerned with how the City of Hayward has minimized the information distributed to the public regarding this development.

11.0 ADJOURNMENT - Director Partridge made a motion to adjourn the meeting. With a second by Director Jim Sherman. The meeting was adjourned at 10:54 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dorothy Partridge
Secretary-Treasurer

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