NOTE:
El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council abbreviated as “ESMAC”
El Sobrante Valley Planning& Zoning is “P & Z”
Board of Supervisors abbreviated as “Board”
El Sobrante as “ES”

Pledge led by Tom Owens

Meeting Called to Order: 7:00pm
Note:Charles Marino, Hope Scott not present.

MINUTES for November 8, 2006
Corrections:
Summary of Actions: Add Jim Mellander to thank you list.
Minutes of November 8, 2006 approved with correction by consensus

TREASURER’S REPORT
No treasurer’s report as Hope Scott was unable to attend.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Marilynne Mellander expressed concern that with the loss of her seat and the change to appointed Municipal Advisory Council’s that independent input into important issues such as redevelopment and rezoning will be made by a few people in concert with higher elected officials.
Mr. Harvey commented on the pay raise voted by the Board Of Supervisors for the Board Of Supervisors. He questioned their effectiveness and wanted to know how the pay raise was going to be funded. He also thanked the ESMAC members and wished everyone happy holidays.
Barbara Pendergrassthanked the members who are ending their terms, Hope Scott, Marilynne Mellander, and Tom Owens, for their work and efforts put into the ESMAC.
Jim Mellander wished to acknowledge his wife, Marilynne Mellander, and her courage to be the lone voice of opposition in many cases. He encouraged everyone to stand up and voice their convictions.

CONSIDER CONSENT ITEMS
no items.

PRESENTATIONS
P.1 Presentation by Lt. Donny Gordon:
Crime is down although it might not seem like since there’s always a spike around the holiday period. Vandalism is up. Calls re: Suspicious circumstances are up (keep up the good work residents of El Sobrante). The capture of a burglar by Pinole police has brought burglary numbers way down in the area.
Susan Swift reported lack of response regarding incident of mail theft along San Pablo Dam Road.
Reva Clark reported that the incident on Appian Way in Oct. concerned a woman that had threatened violence with a gun that was subsequently talked out of it by the Sheriff’s Department.
Mr. Harvey asked if the mail theft shouldn’t be reported to the post office. Lt. Gordon responded that they’d probable not respond for several weeks and that the Sheriff’s Department would at least investigate immediately and forward a report to the proper authorities.
Maggie Owens reported concerns by the El Sobrante Elementary PTA about a group of youths that hang out at night there and are probably responsible for vandalism at the school. Lt. Gordon voiced concern over the lack of coordination with the Sherriff’s Department and school district resource officers.
Jim Mellander stated his opinion that postal officials were useless in regards to mail theft. He expressed concerns over the lack of accurate maps in patrol cars. Lt Gordon replied that they’re working on improving them. Marilynne Mellander asked if the police cars had real time maps and was informed that they didn’t.
Lt. Gordon promised a year end report within two months.

P.4 Presentation by Terrance Cheung Chief of Staff for Supervisor John Gioia:
He thanked the three members finishing their terms.
Santa Rita Road update: two cases opened by Patti Cookson, Sherriff’s Department has been tagging and towing and abatement may begin early next year.
San Pablo Dam Street Lights: one replacement light will be installed by PG&E on their schedule (April?). L100 assessment district preliminary response to survey was favorable, next step of a more formal inquiry should be back by mid January and if  >50% of responses are favorable the area will be incorporated into the L100 lighting District and new light should go up in approximately 8 months. (The assessment will be ≈$15/yr and all property owners in area would have to pay even if they voted not to join but the majority okayed joining the
district).
Tom Owens asked about the commitment that was made to ESMAC concerning shifting some of the money saved by changing MAC’s from elected to appointed positions and he’d like to use some of it to support the ESMAC website (temporary address: http://home.earthlink.net/~boysgames/ESMAC/ ). Terrance Cheung said he’d look into it.
Marilynne Mellander asked about 4355 Santa Rita Road which turned out to be a non-address and is now referred to as 4353 Santa Rita Road. She asked about the number of lights along San Pablo Dam Road and Terrance Cheung replied that depending on the number of properties added to the assessment district there’d be 7 to 14. She also requested a list of who was going to be appointed to the ESMAC. Terrence Cheung replied thatTom Owens, Hope Scott, and Deborah Butler (Secretary’s note: Tom Owens, Mike Daly, and Deborah Butler were appointed at the Dec. 19th Board Of Supervisor’s meeting). Terrance also stated that ESMAC comes up for review in the year 2011. Question regarding Charles Marino’s nonattendance was responded to by stating that he was in an elected seat and he will continue to be a member. Work will continue in finding 2 alternates and R9 members.

P.2 Patrick Roche, Contra Costa County Community Development presentation:
Presented results of forum surveys (35 completed): Support for removal of San Pablo Dam Road couplet, no widening of Appian Way (maintain present configuration), creation of a new mixed use designation, creation of a P1 planning and zoning district, and the ESMAC’s guiding principles as presented at the forums. He discussed the M11 and M12 designation for San Pablo Dam Road and Appian Way. He presented chart comparing original proposal, June proposal and current proposal changes in development. He presented development results of Windsor, CA as a visualization of what could occur in El Sobrante. He requested feed back for beginning the traffic analysis. Susan Swift requested clarification on the state of bicycle use planning in the present proposal, especially San Pablo Dam Road. Marilyn Mellander asked a question regarding zero set back and noted that a previous study of crime in El Sobrante occurred along high density housing such as is being proposed and also questioned about recurrence of redevelopment plans. Patrick Roche noted that with changes in CA law, conditions and cost of studies that it’d be unlikely. Marilynne Mellander also questioned if this type of development was viable.
Barbara Pendergrass inquired if a report similar to the “El Sobrante Crime Analysis 1991-1996” by East Bay Public Safety Corridor Partnership that demonstrated that crime was related to apartment buildings and not mixed use as implied earlier. Patrick Roche replied that it was not something ordinarily undertaken by this type of analyses, as the crime would most likely be related to factors other than land use.
Susan Swift inquired why mixed-use designation was only along the south side of San Pablo Dam Road. Patrick Roche replied that with the proximity to the creek would make such designation difficult and clarified that for future owners or development along the north side to have mixed use would require another general plan amendment.
Tom Owens questioned the changes in numbers for commercial development and Patrick Roche replied that they were due to lot sizes that were missed or neglected in previous proposals.
Wendi Gosliner requested that the Zero set-back be such that they would be neighborhood style and not perfectly uniform to which Patrick Roche replied that would be better addressed in the P1 district zoning than the general plan. Wendi Gosliner pointed out that the proposed pedestrian/bicycle circulation was based on opening the local traffic way between Pitt Way and Hillcrest. Patrick Roche stated that the mixed used designation was contingent on that circulation pattern being available. Wendi Gosliner also asked about the height recommendation being 35’ instead of the ESMAC proposed 27’. Patrick Roche replied that to change the height would be an infringement of the owners’ current rights but maintaining the current height with the stipulation that the developer must show how the development would affect neighbors’ visual corridor and privacy rights and that the housing units had indeed been reduce from 12 to 8 per acre.
Mr. Harvey questioned whether the Windsor model would be applicable to El Sobrante and that the creek was one of the most important assets of the valley and must not be forgotten.
Ruby Molinari asked about a timeline for the general plan amendment. Patrick Roche replied that an environmental review would be necessary before going before the board given that nothing goes astray the EIR would be this spring and the Board Of Supervisors’ review this summer (6-8 months). Rubi Molinari also inquired as to the law requiring general plan amendments to which Patrick Roche replied that the law requires that the general plan be current but gives no time deadlines.
Motion: To approve the traffic analysis be done based upon the numbers presented and reviewed by the ESMAC.  M(TO),S,P- 4,1,0

P.3 Presentation by John Zentner,  Applicant, Canyon Oaks II project.
John Zentner presented plot map of Canyon Oaks II project. 36 unit project, approximately 300 acre project, 21 acres reserved for owner’s later development, approximately 290 acres being put into land bank trust (rezoned from EA (essential agriculture) to CRR (community regional recreation) which would make the land secure from development as much as any zoning in the City of Richmond is) with the rest being developed. Land bank is sold to developers to offset their needs and an easement is placed on the land (potentially transferred to Heritage Land Trust?). He explained how the price is set and what the process of the land trust entails.
Project is punching through escarpment across from Castro Ranch Road and tying into Canyon Oaks I to alleviate dangerous left hand turn from Canyon Oaks I. The project will include a South bound bus turn out to help get the bus traffic off of Olinda Rd and ACC Transit will put in the North bound turn out. The project also includes best management practices C3 program storm water treatment measures (essentially a water holding system (bio-swales) that makes it possible to keep storm water out of waste water treatment) with reduced impervious surfaces by 30%. Design increases safety by reducing road speed and separating traffic from foot traffic. There are no parks included and the park fees will go to the City of Richmond but the developers are trying to dedicate the fees locally, maybe to Kennedy Grove play structure or R9.
Motion: The ESMAC write a letter in support of Canyon Oaks II project design concept as presented. M(MM),S,P – 5,0,0

SHORT DISCUSSION ITEMS
SDI.1 El Sobrante Crime Analysis 1991-1996 produced by the East Bay Public Safety Corridor Partnership. Who is this group? Are they still active? Can a report like this be included in the General Plan?
Covered in P2.

SDI.2 Preparation of the year end report of ESMAC activities.
List of activities in year-end report:  Clean-up Day, El Sobrante Stroll, Fire First Responder Forum, General Amendment Forums, Santa Rita Road problem, Land-use Sub-committee, Website, Bylaws, October fire meeting, response to San Pablo Dam retrofit, Lighting District.
List of goals in year-end report: Increase sheriff’s presence, election of officers, revise bylaws, clean-up day, El Sobrante stroll, website, continue working on Santa Rita Road problem and lighting district, grants, discussions on parks with R9 and City of Richmond, outreach to community, revitalization, increase visibility, set up committees, find staffing for sheriff’s annex.

SDI.3 Material submitted byMarilynne Mellander regarding the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce supporting the ESMAC. Discussion requested by Marilynne in light of email from Tom Butt E-Mail Forum on political contributions by a Chamber of Commerce.
It was pointed out that there are differences in the situations and that the problem if any exists would be for the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce and not the ESMAC. Although in Marilyn Mellander’s opinion the ESMAC should not accept the money in light of potential appearance of impropriety.

SDI.4 Review of the Community Forums held to discuss the proposed General Plan Amendments and a meeting with 2 of the Land Use Subcommittee members, Patrick Roche and Terrance Cheung.

SDI.5 Nomination of two ESMAC members to serve as officers on the non-profit Organization for a Business District Beautification Project.
Tom Owens and Barbara Pendergrass volunteered to participate as officers in for this organization.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
DI.1 Development Plan Applications, Variance reports, Building Modification Requests, Appeals etc. received in the previous month from the Contra Costa County Community Development Department.
DI.1c: SD06-9066 was determined to be the Farris Lane Project. Request for a summary sheet was made once again. Problems include sliding land, traffic and safety because of parking on both sides of narrow road.

DI.2 Report from El Sobrante Valley Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee.
Ruby Molinari and Revi Clark presented the ESVPZAC agenda for the next meeting.

DI.3 Board of Supervisor’s Resolution Accepting the Resignation of Erica Peng from the El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council and appointing 1st Alternate Susan Swift to complete the unexpired seat.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Marilyn Mellander updated the problem concerning flooding on El Sobrante avenue. EBMUD is working on the problem by installing drainage. Marilyn also wanted the ESMAC to get a copy of the county staff report to the internal operations committee (Dec.18).
Barbara Pendergrass thanked Marilynne Mellander and Tom Owens for their service and efforts for ESMAC.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meeting for West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority Board of Directors for Dec. 14th was cancelled.

AGENDA/SPEAKERS FOR NEXT MEETING

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn. M(TO),S,P – 5,0,0
Meeting adjourned 9:32 pm

 

Respectfully submitted, Tom Owens, Secretary, ESMAC
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS:

Meeting Called to Order: 7:00pm

Minutes of November 8, 2006 approved with correction by concensus.

Motion: To approve the traffic analysis be done based upon the numbers presented and reviewed by the ESMAC.  M(TO),S,P- 4,1,0

Motion: The ESMAC write a letter in support of Canyon Oaks II project design concept as presented (conservation land bank, inclusion of a bus stop and relatively small division (36 units as proposed) on 300 acres site). M(MM),S,P – 5,0,0

Motion to adjourn. M(TO),S,P – 5,0,0

Meeting adjourned 9:32 pm

 

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