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

Chair: Barbara Pendergrass, Vice-chair: Erica Peng, Secretary: Tom Owens, Treasurer: Hope Scott,
Members: Marilynne Mellander, Wendi Gosliner, Charles Marino, 1st Alt. Susan Swift

DRAFT: Minutes June 14, 2006

NOTE: El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council" abbreviated as "ESMAC"
El Sobrante Valley Planning & Zoning Advisory Committee abbreviated as"P&Z"
Moved, Seconded, Passed abbreviated as M(aa),S,P-x,y,z
Moved, Seconded, Failed abbreviated as M(aa),S,F-x,y,z
where aa are initials of councilman making motion, x is votes for, y is votes against and z is abstentions

Pledge led by Susan Swift

Meeting called to order 7:03 pm.

Note: Erica Peng absent on business. Charles Marino absence not accounted for.

MINUTES:
Marilyn Mellander requested that her comment on EBMUD “dumping” of water from El Sobrante Dam into San Francisco Bay be included into question and answer period of Michelle Blackwell’s presentation. Susan Swift stated that there where several typos but asked if they could be addressed outside of meeting.

Consensus is that the draft Minutes of May 10, 2006 be approved as corrected.

TREASURERS REPORT:
Hope Scott reported that our checking account is now closed.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara Pendergrass introduced our speakers: Patrick Roche, Riva Clark, Terrance Cheung, Linda Wright, Ruth Smrekar, Sgt. Haggard, Eleanor Loynd, Shirley Sharp, Katy Foulkes and Don Delcollo.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Tom Owens presented handout about “East Bay Hills Wildfire Reduction and Resource Management Plan and EIR” and that EBRPD Fire chief promised to contact him regarding citizen work parties to help with fire hazard reduction along EBRPD interfaces coordinated by EBRPD employees.

Marilyn Mellander raised an objection concerning her not being allowed to make a motion regarding the trailers at the El Sobrante Boys and Girls Club at the last meeting.

CONSENT ITEMS:
Motion: To adopt the Consent Items, amended to have separate votes on each item. M(TO),S,P-6,0,0
Motion: To adopt CCI.1: to amend ESMAC bylaws and attach map, M(TO),S,P-6,0,0
Motion: To adopt CCI.2: to send comments on the DEIR for the San Pablo Dam Retrofit. M(TO),S,P-5,0,1

PRESENTATIONS:
Don Delcollo presented the Grand Jury report on “Automatic Aid” which can be found on the web (http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury). He also gave the fire district update for May: 55 code-3 calls, 46 health and rescue, with response times of between 6:45-7:00 minutes from call to on site arrival.

Katy Foulkes informed us that EIR comments on the San Pablo Dam Seismic Upgrade DEIR are due by June 26, 2006. It can be responded to by email (spdameir@ebmud.com). EBMUD will also be installing solar cells on their water treatment plant as part of the transmission upgrade at a cost of ≈$3.2 million, which will be recouped in 2 to 3 yrs in energy savings.

Sgt. Haggard stated that burglaries where up in May while most other crimes where about the same. He was unable to answer questions about armed robberies at Central Market and a question regarding follow-up to fireworks on Allview Avenue.

Patrick Roche presented to the ESMAC members a revised and updated “Downtown El Sobrante Area: Appian Way and San Pablo Dam Rd. – LAND USE DATA ANALYSIS, June 2006”. He then went over the “overview” and “summary” sections, and as illustrations on how to use this document, the sections on Block 1 and Block 14. This document reduces, from a previous report, in both housing and commercial development levels along the corridor.  The reduction is achieved by lowering the allowable housing density and decreasing the commercial “floor area ratio (FAR)”. Commercial development would include both retail and professional business. Questions concerning building “moratoriums” until an amendment is in place where discussed and he promised to get back to us with information concerning the process and the length of time such a process would take. Patrick responded to questions about “why mixed use?” He said that it was based on input from the Chamber of Commerce, the Charettes and the potential use of transportation funds. Certain areas with historical use (fire station, boys and girls club, churches and schools) are not scheduled for changing zoning. Regarding the need for getting feedback from the community, he responded that each change to the proposed general plan amendment requires another costly and time consuming traffic study and analysis. As to the town hall meeting specifically for the presentation of this information to the general public, both Patrick Roche and Terrance Cheung requested that the ESMAC set up a subcommittee for planning and outreach but the topic wasn’t on the agenda, so it had to be put off until next meeting. It was decided that an appropriate date for a town hall meeting would be late September, early October. The answer to a question regarding the ratio of residential to commercial area along the corridor was not immediately available. Questions regarding parks were tabled for discussion at the Special Meeting of the R9 andESMAC on June 22nd. The general plan amendment will not preclude future changes or variances to the zoning but they’d have to be brought before the planning commission and the Board of Supervisors. Patrick Roche stated that if the Board of Supervisors requested him to give presentations to smaller groups, in a addition to a town hall meeting, that he’d make himself available.

Terrance Cheung reported that the Richmond City Council will be considering “mutual auto aid” next Tuesday [June 20] and that the county is in negotiation regarding a payment schedule for service inequalities. East Richmond Heights is considering a parcel tax (≈$100/parcel) for a 40 hr resident sheriff and also as a longer-term solution considering annexation into El Cerrito. Question regarding the service difference for new housing developments (which will pay an extra police service fee) and the rest of the unincorporated El Sobrante was tabled for inclusion in next month’s sheriff report. The extra sheriff would be stationed in the area but would be available for other jurisdictions as back up and the hours that the deputy would work wouldn’t necessarily be tied to a “normal” 6:30 to 3:30 shift nor location but could be flexible to meet needs and demands of the community.

SHORT DISCUSSION ITEMS:
SDI.1 Marilynne Mellander, Tom Owens and Hope Scott are up for election this year. Marilynne Mellander was advised that the revision to her information that she had should be given to Supervisor John Gioia’s office.

SDI.2 Motion: To adopt the Bylaws as amended in CCI.1. M(TO),S,P - 5,0,1

SDI.3 Discussion about the roster of R9 containing Richmond residents and spending money in Richmond but the city of Richmond not contributing to the funds of R9 ensued. Also brought up is that if we’re going to discuss Richmond contributing to R9 at the meeting that maybe we should invite one of the city of Richmond’s Park and Rec. staff to represent their side.
Motion: ESMAC write a letter to Supervisor Gioia asking clarification as to the roster of R9. M(MM), no Second motion died.
Motion: Susan Swift amends the ESMAC suggested agenda for joint R9-ESMAC meeting as per our discussion and present it to R9. M(SS),S,P – 5,0,1

SDI.4 Discussion regarding Public Works Department letter regarding lights along San Pablo Dam Rd ensued. Linda Wright, and Ruth Smrekar discussed a meeting with Supervisor John Gioia and a petition that they had gotten signed. They testified that the conclusions reached in their meeting in Gioia’s office had been ignored and wanted to know how the $15.00/yr/parcel assessment was going to be spent. They wanted to know why the county didn’t go to CLUE (?) (The insurance companies are required to report to CLUE when paying money for accidents) and get accident reports that didn’t have police reports.
Motion: Write a letter to Supervisor Gioia’s office requesting a list of options other than annexing into the CAS L-100 lighting district to get lights along San Pablo Dam Rd. M(WG),S,P -  6,0,0
Copies of letter go to Marilynne Mellander, Linda Wright, and Ruth Smrekar.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:
DI.1 ESMAC Land Use Sub-committee minutes not ready for packet, will email them when available.  Oral report of meeting presented. Re-hash of purpose and goals of ESMAC Land Use Sub-committee ensued.

DI.2 Questions about certain projects and accuracy of reports where brought into doubt but inability to direct the rest of the council to the correct pages prevented council discussion. Person was directed to attend P&Z meeting to find corrected information. P&Z problem with Orion Court project is the location of entrance immediately adjacent to Renfrew Court entrance and lack of reference to day care center that should be addressed in the negative declaration.

INFORMATION ITEMS: No questions or comments.

COMMUNITY GROUP UPDATES:
11.3 ESVP&ZAC reported on a Pinole planned development of concern (SD8835 in 2693 Appian Way). Mitigated negative declaration on a (two 3-story, two 2-story town homes and 3600sq ft office building). Did not look at traffic effects.
11.10 Portable trailers at Boys and Girls clubs are still in limbo with questions as to creek setback and tripping hazards that must be addressed. The Boys and Girls Club hosted a very successful dance with approximately 200 attending. The Boys and Girls Club and Friends of Garrity Creek will host a joint concert and dance July 22nd.

SUB COMMITTEE REPORTS:

PUBLIC COMMENT:

OLD BUSINESS:

Marilynne Mellander departed 9:55

Motion: Motion we adjourn. M(HS),S,P - 6,0,0

Meeting adjourned 10:00 pm

Respectfully submitted, Tom Owens, Secretary, ESMAC

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS:

Consensus is that the draft Minutes of April 12, 2006 be approved as corrected.

Motion: To adopt the Consent Items, amended to have separate votes on each item. M(TO),S,P-6,0,0

Motion: To adopt CCI.1: to amend ESMAC bylaws and attach map, M(TO),S,P-6,0,0

Motion: To adopt CCI.2: to send comments on the DEIR for the San Pablo Dam Seismic Upgrade to Supervisor Gioia. M(TO),S,P-5,0,1

Motion: To adopt the Bylaws as amended in CCI.1. M(TO),S,P-5,0,1

Motion: Susan Swift amends ESMAC suggested agenda for joint R9-ESMAC meeting as per our discussion. M(SS),S,P – 6,0,0

Motion: Write a letter to Supervisor Gioia’s office requesting a list of options other than annexing into the CAS L-100 lighting district to get lights along San Pablo Dam Rd. M(WG),S,P -  6,0,0

Motion: Motion we adjourn. M(HS),S,P - 6,0,0