[HOME]
BUENA VISTA NEIGHBORHOOD
Minutes of the July 31, 2007 General Meeting
Meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM
PRESENT: [17 people signed in]
Marcos F. Montes (Vice President)
Mikala Caune (Treasurer)
Loui Tucker (Secretary)
Nick Bui
Joe Carpenter
Tony Harvey
Ken Henning
Scott Hraban
Jesse Hraban
Brent Jensen
Brian Leipzig
Dolores Rodriguez
Robin Rogers
Steve Rogers
Sabine Zappe
Lan Tran (representing City Councilmember Pierreluigi Oliverio’s office)
John Myers (representing County Supervisor Ken Yeager’s office)
TREASURER’S REPORT - No specific report, but balance is approximately $1500. Not all the Home Tour expenses have been paid, specifically the Old House Journal subscription promised to the homeowners, as well as the drawing for the stay at a bed-and-breakfast.
CURRENT EVENTS, STATUS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
In general, the neighborhood association is focused on quality of life issues, specifically population density (new housing development), traffic, parks, annexation by the City of the County pockets, and promotion of the neighborhood through the annual Home Tour.
President Laura Bramschreiber was not present, so past-president Joe Carpenter provided overview of the neighborhood and current projects.
1. Scott-Clifton Park Site. 17,000 square feet. Top soil is contaminated. Owner has agreed to have the top 12" removed and replaced. The City will then purchase.
2. Los Gatos Creek Trail. BVNA is working with several other groups to plan the section of the trail under development, to include exercise area, picnic tables, etc.
3. 513 Page Street. 8-unit project has been reduced to 5 units. The BVNA has asked for community review of the plans. Joe Carpenter will follow up on this.
4. 486 Menker - 2 bedroom-1 bath house with house in the back is for sale and overpriced at $675,000. No signage, shown by appointment only . Probably will be lost in foreclosure. Renter will be out in 30 days. We do not want this property to become a boarded-up neglected structure, which could attract the homeless and gangs. If the bank takes it, BVNA can pressure the bank to keep up the property. Will be watched closely.
5. General Plan. Amendment to change the zoning from R1-R8 for this area. R8 means up to 8 units on the lots. A developer will spot the property, assume 8 units is a given and will then balk if neighborhood objects to such density. BVN is the highest density neighborhood in S.J. We will be asking the City to amend the general plan to reflect R1-R5 instead.
OLD BUSINESS/ISSUES
This section includes questions, answers, and discussion on various topics of interest to those present.
1. Buena Vista @ San Carlos Joe Carpenter responded to a question about this property. This is a car lot and 2 houses. The problem is the City has money to acquire the land but no money to maintain a park if one is built.
2. Community Center on Bascom. Joe Carpenter responded to a question about the status of the new community center. This will be a community center and library at 1000 Bascom. Construction could begin in 6-9 months. The plot across the street (west side) will NOT be developed. City will probably sell it off.
3. Tandem Garages - Historically BVNA has been against any tandem garages because typically one or both parking spaces are used for storage and the vehicles are parked on the streets which are already overcrowded. An idea was proposed that increasing storage will make the tandem parking workable, that if sufficient storage is available, one or more vehicles can be kept in the tandem garage.
Discussion: If storage space is increased, residents will simply acquire more goods and fill the storage space and the tandem garages.
The CC&Rs of the condominium complex can start out stating that vehicles must be kept in the tandem garages, but the CC&Rs can be changed by the homeowners association.
4. Parking Problems. Can permit parking be established? Joe Carpenter responded to this question that it can be done if the residents want it, but there are enforcement costs and the City/County issue must be addressed first. Waiting for annexation may be the best tactic.
5. Abandoned Vehicles on the Street. More needs to be done to ticket and/or tow dead cars, unlicensed cars, unregistered cars, abandoned cars, etc. Once again the recommendation was made to be vigilant and consistent in reporting. Phone numbers provided on magnets from City and County representatives. Also on BVNA website.
6. Traffic Light at Douglas and Meridian. Loui Tucker said she’s created an “action ticket” on Councilmember Pierreluigi Oliverio’s website regarding the need to move the traffic light at Auzerais to Douglas. Lan Tran from Oliverio’s office responded to this issue. Current cost estimate is $500,00 (up from $300,000 just a few years ago). Oliverio’s office provided an 8-month-old report showing current traffic supports moving the light. Developer funding will need to be received and allocated as “the City does not plan to install and remove signals at this time.” (see attachment)
Discussion: There are many accidents happening at Douglas due to the lack of a traffic light. Can Oliverio’s office develop a report showing the accidents for this intersection? It may be a small percentage of the actual accidents as many go un-reported because the participants don’t have auto insurance.
Is there a lawsuit waiting to happen if an accident victim learns that the City has been put on notice that the intersection is dangerous and failed to provide the light necessary to mitigate the danger?
The traffic light should have been moved when KB Homes project was constructed. The City could get the $500,000 from the KB Homes project at either the Lou’s Village site or the Del Monte site. There could be funds through the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative
It would also help to have either red-painted curbs prohibiting parking on Meridian north of Douglas, or green-painted curbs limiting parking. This would increase visibility of on-coming traffic traveling south on Meridian and could help cars turning from Douglas avoid collisions.
Joe Carpenter believes an on-site meeting with City and County officials is what is needed so they can see the potential problems from traffic as well as jaywalking.
7. Signage for Parks. There are no restrooms at the “private” park at the KB Homes development. This is an old issue that needs to be revisited. The residents consider this “their” park although the signage clearly says it is a public City park. Potential residents were reportedly told this would be a private park. The lack of restrooms means residents of the BVN are unlikely to walk over to use the park, which is what the local residents intended. What can be done at this point?
Discussion: Should the BVNA hold a meeting there, complete with refreshments and lawn chairs? Joe Carpenter stated there is already plumbing in place for the bathrooms, just no buildings.
Cahill Park similarly has no restrooms. The local residents fought to prevent them being included, fearing public restrooms would attract the homeless.
8. Lights on Scott Street. Lights were put in but not turned on. What is the status? Joe Carpenter responded that there was a problem with the voltage. Lights would turn on, but voltage was unnecessarily high, so City decided to swap out. Lights should be on in September.
9. Burbank Theater. It is currently being painted. The owner wants to do TV transmission, capturing Middle Eastern television programs (mostly religious) and re-broadcasting them to locals. It is not zoned for that. Annexation would help.
10. Home Tour 2008. Sally Henning said she is interested in being the head of the Home Tour 2008 committee. That committee needs to get started so that advertisements can be planned for various publications.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Vacant Lot. There is a vacant lot on Laswell that is of concern to neighbors. It is too small for a County park (that section is in the County), but can the owner be talked to about using it for some alternative use – perhaps a community garden?
2. Willard Street Issues. Tony Harvey (lives on Willard) had some specific concerns about (1) noise late at night and (2) garbage cans left in the street 24/7. Others on that street have concerns about abandoned sofas. After talking about which agency to call about which problem, Joe Carpenter reminded everyone of the importance keeping a log of the date and time calls are made, the name of the person contacted, and ask for some kind of project number so that repeat calls can be made to the same person regarding the same project. It is important to follow up if action is not taken. City and county employee will work on a problem if it is kept in front of them. If you are persistent, the problem will be dealt with.
3. Race Street Light Rail Station. There is no parking at this station. The plan is for this station to primarily serve the new housing development(s) going in near the station and residents will walk to the station. There will also be a light rail station at San Carlos and Sunol, and there will be parking there.
4. Elizabeth King. Ken Henning would like to invite Elizabeth King, who was Miss Burbank 1948, to come to a meeting to speak to the BVNA.
5. Trees on Laswell Nick Bui is interested in finding out how to get trees planted on Laswell. The street is very wide, but has not parking strip between the sidewalk and the street. Perhaps “bump outs” can be created and trees planted there. Perhaps “round-abouts” can be planned for the intersections and trees planted there also. It was suggested that Nick start by talking to his neighbors to see how many would be interested, then look into the possibility of getting grant money for the “bump out” and/or “round-about” construction. Our City Forest can be contacted to get the trees planted.
6. Announcement about BVNA Meeting. It was suggested that a small download-able PDF file be created with information about the date, time and location of the next BVNA meeting. Loui Tucker said she would get the flyer made and make it available on the yahoo group documents section and on the BVNA website.
MISC. ANNOUNCEMENTS.
1. National Night Out. There will be a free dinner (burgers and hot dogs, drinks, popcorn) and a free movie (CARS) at Luther Burbank School. The original “cheap date.” 6:30 for food, movie at 8:30 PM. Sheriff and fire department will be in attendance.
2. Adopt-A-Highway The next “Trashathon” is August 18. There will be an email reminder the week before if anyone is interested in joining the crew that picks up litter on Highway 280 between Meridian and Saratoga, including Parkmoor and Moorpark.
3. Burbank Sanitary District Elections are coming up if anyone wants to become an elected official. Joe Carpenter said these positions, although elected, are pretty much guaranteed to anyone who wants to put their name up.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be Tuesday, August 28 at the home of Marcos and Carlos at 463 Menker Avenue (near the park at Scott and Menker).
The meeting adjourned at 9:12 PM.