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 of Regular Meeting held July 12, 2006

Meeting called to order at 7:05PM. 
Present were Barbara Pendergrass, Marilynne Mellander, Charles Marino, Wendi Gosliner, Erica Peng, and Susan Swift. Tom Owens absent.

Barbara Pendergrass asked Marilynne Mellander to lead the pledge and to take minutes in Tom Owens’ absence.

Minutes : 
Corrections: Wendi and Barbara asked for corrections to June minutes; minutes M.S,P as corrected.

Treasurer’s Report:
Hope Scott reported the ESMAC’s $100 petty cash from County was sent to Bay Pt. MAC by mistake as ascertained from conversation from Julie Enea.  Barbara Pendergrass requested $300 from El Sobrante Chamber to be sent to ESMAC County account.  ESMAC will get a Treasury statement from County Auditor/Controller’s office.

Public Comment: 
Marilynne Mellander reported conversation with County code enforcement officer Patty Cookson and stated she had received latest Code Enforcement report and new code enforcement officer named Vincent has been hired; also gave update on Santa Rita Rd. and Hilltop Dr. properties.  Eleanor Loynd said three Richmond police officers will be in area due to reassignment of officers; auto-aid between County and Richmond FD will be in effect for 1 year and details are being worked out and inclusion of Pinole is also being discussed. Gene Harvey asked about May Rd. annexation to Richmond; Barbara Pendergrass stated this was done by a previous Supervisor and LAFCO.   Marilynne Mellander asked for a letter to Supervisor Gioia requesting details on May Rd. annexation by the City of Richmond because of the impact on incorporation by El Sobrante. 

Presentations:
P.1 – Lt. Donny Gordon stated crime higher last year at this time and gave details on the “If I were a thief” proactive policing project with flyers being given out by special volunteer worker Bolton to crime prone homes.  Richmond PD now has restructured and is using a community policing model  instead of central deployment; this is why El Sobrante is seeing more police cruisers.  El Sobrante has one deputy dedicated to El Sobrante but deputy can be pulled away for problems in other areas.  Barbara Pendergrass reported more and louder fireworks on this years’ July 4; Lt. Gordon said there were more highly explosive fireworks around.

P.2 – Dist. 1 Report:  Terrance Cheung delayed

P.3 – EBMUD Report:  Michelle Blackwell stated EIR comments are being reviewed for the next month and final EIR should be out late August.

Short Discussion Items:
SD1.1  - Barbara Pendergrass read background info on Board resolution to change Municipal Advisory Council members from elected to appointed; discussion ensued.  She said Supervisor Gioia was willing to consider a resolution relating just to the ESMAC to have only 1 ESMAC member on a committee along with public members.  Barbara Pendergrass said the ESMAC needs public members on committees to act as experts and donate time; the ESMAC would recommend members and the Supervisor would approve.  Barbara moved we approve her motion to write a letter to Supervisor Gioia regarding subcommittee membership; Susan Swift amended motion to include zero ESMAC members  i.e. that subcommittees could be made up of ALL public members.  Discussion ensued;
amendment passed M, S, P by 4-3 vote;
original motion M,S,P by 4-3 vote.  
Discussion by ESMAC members and public ensued about impact of Board resolution on El Sobrante and the idea of asking Supervisor Gioia to speak to ESMAC meeting about the Board resolution.  Barbara Pendergrass stated the Board had sent every MAC a questionnaire regarding MAC operations that she completed and returned; Marilynne Mellander asked that Barbara put a copy of completed questionnaire in the next agenda. 

SDI.2 -  Barbara Pendergrass asked Terrance Cheung to instruct Dist. 1 Secretary to write letter to District Attorney stating no Council members received compensation for period of 1/05 – 12/05.

Presentations (cont.):
P.2 – Dist. 1 Report:  Terrance announced meeting with Linda Wright  and public works on Dam Rd. street lighting project tomorrow.  He announced a youth center in N. Richmond will be opened in vacant building at 41st and Bissell.  Reva Clark asked when public works’ street sweeping will occur; Terrance will check on this.  Charles Marino asked about a failed landscape bond issue brought before El Sobrante voters; Terrance advised he’ll get info from R9 subcommittee.  Marilynne Mellander thanked Terrance for Supervisor’s work on Dam Rd. street lighting.  Wendi Gosliner advised Alhambra Valley Rd. to Castro Rd. bike lane was filled with glass and asked for public works cleanup.  Marilynne Mellander asked for ESMAC to write letter advocating resurfacing of Eastbound left lane on Dam Rd. between El Portal Dr. and Appian Way

Discussion Items:
DI.2  - Wendi Gosliner went over June ESMAC P & Z subcommittee minutes.  Marilynne Mellander expressed concerns of committee’s move to establish a business district on Appian Way via mixed use building.  Wendi stated the P&Z wanted to concentrate ‘smart growth’ in small areas along Appian Way and wanted community suggestions regarding building along Appian Way.  Erica Peng went over ESMAC P&Z subcommittee meeting; they reviewed Patrick Roche’s proposals as presented in July meeting.  Wendi will forward “general plan policies” emailed by County to ESMAC P&Z to ESMAC members; the subcommittee made suggestions. 

Patrick Roche arrived at 8:25PM
DI.1 - Patrick Roche gave a presentation on possible building moratorium in El Sobrante and handed out list of current building projects and their status and a memo on the prerequisite process to establish a building moratorium; can last up to 22 months max based on very specific findings.  He advised the County is investing in a more sophisticated tracking system for planning and building permits.  He fielded questions on moratorium process, P1 districts and methods used in pre-application reviews.  Patrick Roche said they usually steer applicants to a pre-development review.  He pointed out if general plan supported developer’s building applications they can’t be summarily turned away.   A P1 district is tailored to area’s land use designations; the general plan sets up these districts within the blocks as shown on the diagrams of Dam Rd. and Appian Way.    He reiterated County is looking for ESMAC input on specifics for P1 districts.  Erica Peng asked why certain lots along Appian Way were picked for the mixed use designations.  Patrick Roche explained certain lots had fixed uses e.g churches and Boys and Girls Club; other lots had more potential to encourage mixed use designation.  Those developments currently being built along Appian Way can’t be changed.  Law requires General Plans and both city and County follow same process.  It is mandatory that general plan contain housing, safety, circulation and open space components and identify sites that can support affordable housing; they must be updated every 10 (?) years.  Patrick Roche asked for ESMAC for direction on numbers he presented at the last ESMAC i.e. the square footage for building and if  these figures were close to what El Sobrante wants.  The traffic analysis has to be based on an agreed-upon building square footage and is very expensive.  This was presented on page comparing draft EIR with County changes – reductions in housing numbers.  Erica Peng stated that the ESMAC P&Z subcommittee would walk Appian Way and visualize how his recommended changes would look. He also stated that County had reserved time in August for traffic analysis.  He also urged us that if a Town Hall meeting was to be held this year, County needs this input ASAP.  He also urged ESMAC to leave flexibility for more development in the future.  The current recommendations by County for building are in addition to the developments already in progress. Terrance Cheung urged us to think about when we will have Town Hall meeting; Barbara Pendergrass will put it on August agenda.  It was decided to hold two public meetings tentatively to be held Thursday Oct. 26 and Saturday Oct. 28. (?)

Charles Marino left at 9:30PM

DI.3 – Joint R9/ESMAC meeting:  Susan Swift gave report (hard to hear)?

DI.4 – Development Plan applications:  Barbara pointed out these in agenda packet; no comments at this point.

DI.5 – El Sobrante Cleanup Day: Erica Peng asked Marilynne Mellander to help set this up. Terrance suggested having cleanup day with SPAWNERS which is in September (?)  There are 3 large dumpsters available.

DI.6 – Tom Owens not present to give discuss his meeting with Rick Staska

DI.7 – El Sobrante stroll:  Tom Owens not present.  Barbara Pendergrass said Chamber had waived $50 nonprofit entry fee for ESMAC booth and she will fill out booth application.  Susan Swift passed out “Booth Proposal for ES Stroll” with booth concept ideas.  Questions about fundraiser at booth ensued.  Marilynne Mellander asked for information about general plan to be available at ESMAC booth.  Barbara Pendergrass expressed concern about using Chamber donation for ? 
Motion to accept Susan’s booth proposal amendment to include general plan update information; Barbara Pendergrass made an amendment concerning donation (?) M, S, P.

Public Comment :
10.2w – Marilynne Mellander asked about this letter from Barbara Pendergrass to County Planner Lashun Cross regarding addition of sidewalks and “loss of pasture land” under ‘Agricultural Resources’ heading. 

Marilynne Mellander asked for update on Spanish Trails:  Eleanor Loynd said it was under construction and suggested she call Public Works for update.  Project will stay unincorporated El Sobrante.

Barbara Pendergrass announced salsa dance to be held at Boys & Girls Club on July 22 as a benefit for Friends of Garrity Creek and Boys & Girls Club and Sikh Indian peace parade on Appian Way on July 23 including floats and free food.

Agenda/Speakers for next meeting:
Erica Peng, Barbara Pendergrass and Terrance Cheung will walk Appian Way on 4th Tuesday and she asked that a presentation on this be on next agenda.  She also asked that ESMAC send following letters 1) thank you letter to Patrick Roche for Forest Green EIR comments 2) Tim Jensen, Ass. Civil Engineer Flood Control for seismic upgrade 3) Chamber President for ESMAC contribution and waiving Stroll fee.

Meeting adjourned at 9:58PM

Respectfully submitted, Marilynne L. Mellander

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS:

Meeting called to order at 7:05PM.