BUENA VISTA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION Minutes of the Meeting Tuesday, March 27, 2012 At the Home of Loui Tucker and Sabine Zappe at 153 Race Avenue
Meeting called to order at 7:15 PM
PRESENT: [9 people present] Members: Brian Habekoss (President) John Leyba (Vice President and NAC Representative) Loui Tucker (Secretary)
Sabine Zappe (Treasurer) Brian Ward (Director)
THE MINUTES
Leo Alvarez Rica Alvarez Terri Balandra
Frances Reyes representing Pierluigi Oliverio’s office
The minutes of the February 28, 2012 meeting were posted on the website and the yahoo group files section. The minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The current balance is $1027.01 of which $534 is CAP Grant.
TERRI BALANDRA’S REPORT ON THE AIRPORT
Terri Balandra gave an extended report on the issue of airport expansion, noise and air pollution, the City’s plan to circumvent appropriate planning regulations as well as current curfew ordinances, skirt environmental reporting requirements, etc.
Essentially, the San Jose City Council is choosing to do development BEFORE appropriate planning.
They are preparing leases for two possible tenants at the airport (24/7 type of business that will gas up and maintain planes) and the new leases do not mention anything about curfews. All it says is “Any new business has to comply with all City ordinances.” City council members want to increase air traffic by throwing the curfew laws out. (Flights to Asia like to take off at 12:45, for example.) More air traffic means more revenue, and the City is desperate for revenue. The sooner they can expand the airport and dump the curfew, the sooner revenues will increase. Twenty-one neighborhood associations are going to affected by the curfew and airport issues, but it is especially important for the communities that live near the airport.
Monday, April 2, Councilmembers Liccardo and Oliverio will be holding a meeting to discuss these issues prior to the Board meeting which is Tuesday, April 3.
SHPNA is writing a letter asking that the City PLAN first, DEVELOP later. They are also asking that the EIR be updated and that leases specifically state there is a curfew, and disclose that there is a lawsuit pending.
Does the BVNA want to sign on the SHPNA letter? Brian Ward made a motion that the BVNA become a signatory on SHPNA’s letter. Brian Habekoss seconded. The motion passed.
NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP
The first neighborhood cleanup was rained out. If we are going to link our neighborhood cleanups to the Litter Pickups on Highway 280 that Loui and Sabine organize, the next one should be April 14.
Minutes of BVNA General Meeting 3-27-2012 Page 2
The plan is to meet at the Park at 9:00 and work for about an hour. Someone needs to get “before” and “after” photos for publicity purposes.
DUMPING AND LITTER ON WILLARD
We haven’t gotten a useful response from the City to our request to get someone from the City to accompany BVNA members to talk with landlords and building managers on Willard about the dumping. Code Enforcement staff is overworked and has no time to visit landlords as we asked. All the property managers know it’s illegal but they do it because they know they won’t get caught. Can we at least put up the signs and see if it will scare off some of them?
It was suggested that we try putting some trash cans on Willard and Scott. This will at least help with the incidental litter. Loui reviewed the history of the three trash cans on Buena Vista (that are still there) as well as the two on Willard and Scott that had been located there but were removed. It was the consensus of the group that we should try again. We are not going to get the City to install public trash cans or pick up the trash, but we could purchase trash cans, some liners, and a lock and chain for each can. We will have to arrange for someone to visit the cans once or twice a month to dispose of the trash that collects. Loui is already doing this for trash cans on Buena Vista and said she would add these two new cans to her route.
John Leyba made a motion to purchase two garbage cans and the appropriate supplies. The motion was seconded by Brian. The motion passed. Loui and Sabine will purchase the cans and supplies and set them up.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
Dues are due! Loui will send out something to the BVNA yahoo group list reminding the readership.
The Neighborhood Watch Meeting is this Wednesday at Brian Habekoss’s house. The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 PM.