El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council
3769B San Pablo Dam Road, ES 94803 - Meetings 2nd Wednesday of each Month (7:00pm)
El Sobrante Library 4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante

DRAFT: Minutes Apr 13, 2005

Meeting convened at 7:05PM;

Pledge led by Tom Owens.

Present were Erica Peng, Wendi Gosliner, Hope Scott, Ruby Molinari, Marilynne Mellander, Barbara Pendergrass and alternates Tom Owens and Charles Marino. Tom Mason was absent.

Minutes:
Corrections made by Wendi Gosliner and Ruby Molinari; MSA.

Treasurer’s Report:
Hope Scott reported there was $451.95 in treasury and no expenditures in the last month.
Ruby Molinari asked for about $30 to repay Sup. Gioia’s office for paper used by MAC; MSA.
Marilynne Mellander asked about BOS resolution re: incoming MAC funds and reiterated request to see the MAC treasury books held by Hope Scott. Ruby Molinari stated that Terrance Cheung had spoken to the auditor’s office and asked this discussion be put off until the next meeting when Terrance Cheung was present. Discussion ensued.

Presentations:
Sheriff’s Report: Sgt. Krall reported no significant rise in crime. Erica Peng gave him a neighbor’s map concerning drug dealing near corner shell station at Dam Rd. & Valley View. Ruby Molinari reported drug dealing and prostitution at this location and read a neighbor’s report on crime.

Public Comment:
Elizabeth of SPAWNERS reminded everyone that Earth Day was next Saturday. In response to a question, she stated that E. coli monitoring results go to the EPA.
Ruby Molinari suggested we go to Correspondence item 10.19, Bus Route 74: Gabrielle Anicete of Sherwood Forest spoke on the neighborhood concerns regarding AC Transit bus route on Sherwood Forest Dr. and Castro Ranch Rd. Their concerns were noise, speeding buses, and number of buses/day traveling through their neighborhood. Discussion ensued. AC Transit planner Robert De Rosario and another AC Transit employee were present and stated they’d like to be on San Pablo Dam Rd. and addressed Sherwood Forest neighborhood issues. Eleanor Loynd addressed neighbor’s questions about Emerald Hts. Subdivision.
Marilynne Mellander made motion that we write a letter re: neighbor’s concerns to WCCTAC, cc to Sup. Gioia, CHP, City of Richmond and AC Transit to ask for Measure C or other money to reroute bus on San Pablo Dam Rd; MSA.

Consent Calendar
9.1: Lytton Rancheria Casino – Ruby Molinari gave report on Supervisors Gioia and Uilkema meeting of 4/7/05. The money offered to State no longer offered; tribe can go back and apply for slots. Next meeting will be held May 5. All supervisors are in favor of Feinstein bill SB113 regulating urban Indian gaming.
No Consent items 9.1 a, b
9.1c: BOS resolutions 2005/181 and 2005/182 – Ruby introduced these resolutions at this point regarding Indian gaming.
Barbara Pendergrass made motion we support both resolutions; second – motion defeated.
Barbara Pendergrass made motionwe support resolution 2005/181; seconded; discussion ensued – motion defeated.
Charles Marino made motion we table resolution 2005/181 until ESMAC members could read it; MSA.
Barbara Pendergrass moved we support Feinstein bill, resolution 2005/182; MSA w/ 2 nays.
9.2: Tom Owens brought in 3/13/05 W. County times article regarding No Child Left Behind program’s impact on W. County schools. He asked if he would write a letter on behalf of the ESMAC. It was decided that he would write a letter to be considered at the next regular ESMAC meeting. Discussion on emailing letters prior to a meeting and Brown Act ensued.
9.3, 9.4: Mellander and Pendergrass’ ESMAC goals email – Ruby Molinari stated some of these had already been addressed and asked that we prioritize goals including short and long term goals. Wendi Gosliner suggested we discuss goals at ESMAC ‘retreat’. Discussion about including some of the goals only in a Bylaws discussion ensued. Wendi Gosliner volunteered to get a meeting place and email ESMAC members w/ time and location.

Public Comment
Hope Scott asked about the Treasurer’s Report and said we could view her financial records but didn’t want to make this decision ‘on her own’. Discussion ensued about incoming MAC monies and Terrance Cheung reviewed upcoming BOS and auditor’s work to be done on this. Ruby Molinari asked Wendi Gosliner to work with Marie Caryanis of ES Chamber to get grant money for the ESMAC.

Standing Committee Reports
8.1: Dist. 1 Staff Report - Terrance Cheung said any incoming money going to the ESMAC is public money and books should be public. Ruby Molinari asked Erica Peng and Wendi Gosliner to work with the Chamber to get a grant for the ESMAC.
8.2: EBMUD – Katy Foulkes left a report as she had to leave early. Ruby Molinari read report: Gretchen Grover is moving to Alaska and EBMUD in the process of hiring a new representative. There is “lots of water.”
8.3: P & Z Report – Eleanor Loynd gave this report.
8.4: WCCTAC – Marilynne Mellander volunteered to attend these meetings
8.5: ES Chamber of Commerce – Tom Mason not present so no report.
8.6: Grants/Fundraising – Charles Marino had nothing to report.
8.7: ESMAC/Sheriff’s Annex Office – Ruby reported that Don Bastin was tired of being the manager.
8.8: Fire District – Eleanor Loynd stated that the County could cede Appian Way Fire Station to Richmond. Asked Ruby Molinari ? (not clear)
8.9: CSA R9 – Hope Scott asked Erica Peng to give reading garden update: Erica said cost, drainage and Fish & Game permit issues need to be resolved; there need to find matching funds as cost estimate is currently running app. $300K. In response to question by Marilynne Mellander, Ms. Peng stated the R9 fund currently has about $4-5K available divided into ‘zones’ for spending but that could be consolidated for an ES park.
8.10: WCAPWG – Ruby Molinari reported Mr. Gomez of ABC attended last meeting and wants to work more closely with community groups; he will be coming every 3 months. Terrance Cheung handed out flyers from Amy Chow on next meeting to be held on 4/18.
8.11: Library – Barbara Pendergrass is representative; no report this time.
8.12: MAC Outreach – Tom Owens reported he is working up a webpage and asked Terrance Cheung about printing up an I Love El Sobrante poster.
8.13: ES Cleanup – Eleanor Loynd, Ruby Molinari, Tom Mason and Barbara Pendergrass met this evening at 6PM. Barbara Pendergras reported: only 1 dumpster will be available; they will write a letter to Sup. Gioia. Last day on Earth Day there were 2 dumpers and ES Cleanup had 3. Terrance Cheung said new management was counting every dumpster going to community. W. County has only 10/yr. and there will be no extras for Earth Day; he explained last year’s extra dumpsters. Terrance suggested combining ES Cleanup with SPAWNERS cleanup might be an option. Marilynne Mellander asked if a letter to RSS from ESMAC would help; Eleanor Loynd also suggested this and Terrance Cheung suggested it be faxed to Sup. Gioia’s office.
8.14: I Love El Sobrante Day – Tom Owens agreed to head this up.

Old Business
11.1: Bylaw Meeting, When? – Erica? Wendi? Stated this was an ongoing concern and should be addressed at the upcoming ESMAC ‘retreat’. Marilynne Mellander asked why the minutes taken at previous Bylaw meetings were not available; Ruby Molinari stated she had her notes from previous Bylaws meetings and stated Michael Baefsky’s minutes may not still be available.

Public Comment:
Ruby Molinari reminded Marilynne Mellander to put ESMAC meeting notice in the paper because the notices hadn’t been posted for 2 months. Jim Mellander agreed with Erica Peng’s previous comments about conduct of ESMAC members and urged ESMAC to spend time on organization and procedures in ‘retreat’. A resident of La Colina Rd. area told about neighborhood petition signed by ‘209 people’ against development of the Young (sp?) property in a creek area. Ruby Molinari stated this matter would be put on next agenda.

Announcements
Marilynne Mellander pointed out flyers for Sen. Torlakson’s ‘Walk & Talk town hall meeting’ on Sat. 5/14 in Pt. Pinole.

Agenda/Speakers for next month
Ruby announced that next month’s agenda would include La Colina Rd. petition matter and continue El Sobrante’s future issues. Barbara Pendergrass asked that we also discuss the traffic issues on Dam Rd. and Appian Way in regard to the Down ES/Appian Way redevelopment plan. Marilynne Mellander volunteered to give a brief presentation of her meeting with Patrick Roche. Terrance Cheung said County traffic studies not done yet so Town Hall meeting is postponed until these are completed. Gene Harvey asked if there was a mutual agreement with Richmond Fire Dept. Erica Peng thanked Jim Mellander for comments. Charles Marino stated ESMAC problems were long standing and suggested more public input. Eleanor Loynd thanked public for showing up. Barbara Pendergrass asked for support of the Chairman.

Meeting adjourned at 9:40AM; MSA.

Respectfully submitted, Marilynne L. Mellander, Secretary, ESMAC