NOTE:
Board of Supervisors abbreviated as “Board”
El Sobrante as “ES” Note: El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council abbreviated as ESMAC,
El Sobrante Valley Panning & Zoning Advisory Committee abbreviated as ESVPZAC
Moved, Seconded, Passed abbreviated M,S,P – x,y,z
Moved, Seconded, Failed abbreviated M,S,F – x,y,z
where x= votes for, y votes against and z abstentions

DRAFT Minutes for AUGUST 8, 2007

Pledge of Allegiance led by Tom Owens
Meeting called to order at 7:06pm by Barbara Pendergrass, chair
Note: Charles Marino absent, Deborah Butler excused, Mike Daley arrived 7:15pm

PRESENTATIONS
P.1 Presentation by the Contra Costa County Community Development Department in response to questions sent to them by the ESMAC
Community Development representatives were Planners Aruna Bhat and Rosemary Peatras.

• A form, Application Plan, is completed for new homes, new subdivisions, additions, tree removal etc. A planner reviews this form to check for completeness. They have 2 to 3 staff members assigned to complete initial reviews. Once the application is deemed complete it is assigned to a Planner for a detail study. On new homes, sub divisions, and additions, an initial study is completed to determine if a Negative Declaration or an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required to fulfill the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
• An EIR is required if a Negative Declaration cannot mitigate negative environmental factors. There are many categories, example would be excessive noise, traffic etc.
• Actual styles of homes to be built are not required until after the final; approval of a project. 
• PI Districts are an example of deviations to the normal Zoning Ordinances. A PI District can be used to set specific goals for buildings in the PI District. An example would be height limits, types of homes to be built etc.
• A second home can be built on a lot with out a public hearing providing it is no larger than 1000 sq ft.  with a 400 sq ft  garage and no variances.
• Projects are sent to the El Sobrante Valley Planning and Zoning Committee and the ESMAC based on the discretion of the Planner.
• A new park fee schedule was handed out. $7,238 for a single family residence , $5,757 for a Town House, $5, 213 for multi-family and $4,859 for a mobile home. 2nd homes on a parcel are exempt.

P.2 Presentation by the Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department in response to questions sent to them by the ESMAC
Carlos Baltodano, Director of Building Inspection, spoke on questions relating to all three Departments:

• Land Development Departments, Building Inspection, Community Development and Public Works, have an Executive Committee consisting of the Directors from each of the Departments that meet to discuss items relating to Land Development.
• All three departments staff the Permit section. A person building a house for example only has to apply at the one location for the different permits. Inside a house for example, a water heater, a permit can be issued at the one location.
• A computer system tracks the permit process by parcel number as it goes through the three Departments. The system is not available to the public.
• A permit that is requesting a new home etc. goes to the zoning desk first and then to Building Inspection.
• A new home permit must be signed off  by all three Departments.
• The three Departments are looking at complaints from the Community groups.
• Questions regarding large homes on small lots. A 6,000 square foot lot with a large home on it is approved  providing the plan meets the set backs requirements etc. without notification to the Community.  Variances to the ordinances can be approved under certain conditions after notification to the Community.
• View protection. Kensington has a view ordinance that protects a home owners view, however they are the only ones in the unincorporated areas that has view protection. El Sobrante would have to have a new view ordinance to protect a homes view.
• A resident owner can buy a view easement from an adjoining homeowner providing the adjoining homeowner is willing to sell.
• Fences under 6 foot tall require no permit providing they are not in the Public right away.

Building Inspection Department represented by Michael Angelo Silva, Chief Property Conservation Division, in addition to the Director, Mr. Baltodano.

• Mr. Silva gave information on code enforcement. They work with Environmental Health, a branch of the Contra Costa County Health Department, to enforce things like the removal of trash on a property.
• Dumping can be reported by calling 925 335-1111.
• Building Code violations and complaints can be reported to 925 335-1158.

P.3 Presentation by the Contra Costa County Public Works Department in response to questions sent to them by the ESMAC
Public Works Department representative was Bill Fernandez, Senior Civil Engineer.

• The San Pablo Dam Road project is funded by the state Disability Act. They have specific guidelines that do not allow changes to the roadway outside of guidelines   like creating curbs that allow access for the disabled. This project is due to start at approximately the end of next year.
• Traffic. ABAG and the Contra Costa Transportation Agency has guide lines for major roadways. A seventh addition of the manual has been published. They look at projects with 100 or more peak hour trips, cumulative effect and other conditions.
• City of Richmond Development projects that affect County residents and Roads are reviewed if they are sent to the County, however only items like traffic impacts are reviewed. These are projects with Negative Declarations or EIR’s.
• Park Maintenance funds for El Sobrante can be obtained by forming a Special District. A Benefit Assessment study has to be completed prior to forming a Special District and forming one requires a vote of the residents included in the  Special District.
• This Department handles illegal dumping that isn’t on private property. 
• Public Works has a Web site of information on the Department and a procedure manual available for the public.
• Call Jerry Fely for the question on parking on San Pablo Dam Road that interferes with bikers.

 P.4 Lt. Ron Bradley, Bay Station, Crime Report.
Lt. Ron Bradley reported that crime in the area is area is generally down but was troubled by 3 armed robberies (Shell gas station, Rancho Liquor store and J&A Liquor store) as well as 10 residential burglaries.P.5  Presentation by Terrance Cheung Chief of Staff for Supervisor John Gioia, monthly report.P.6  Presentation on East Bay Municipal Utility District Projects- Michelle Blackwell.Michelle Blackwell was not able to be present at this meeting.

• Approval of minutes for March 15, 2007, postponed to next month.
• Approval of Minutes for May 9, 2007

Motion to accept May 9th minutes with correction in P1 to change “Rob” to “Ron”. M(TO),S,P - 5,0,0

• Approval of Minutes for July 11, 2007, postponed to next month.

Public Comment
Marilynne Mellander , Bethal Christian School is not listed on the map of the El Sobrante area prepared by Community Development. She also made a comment about the agenda not going out by email.
Eleanor Loynd commented that the paper didn’t have a good description of the speakers from the three Departments and important items like this should be noted.
Tom has been sending the agenda to the paper. It is recommended that he get together with Terrance and develop a different summary of the topics for the paper.
Terrance also requested a reminder be sent to him regarding getting the library to post the ESMAC meeting on the announcement bulletin board. 

SHORT DISCUSSION ITEMS
SDI.2  El Sobrante Stroll- set up separate meeting on Stroll
Consensus was that a separate meeting regarding the stroll was unnecessary.

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.2  Report from El Sobrante Valley Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee.A report was given on the City of Richmond General Plan by Eleanor Loynd, Chair of the El Sobrante Valley Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee.
The completion date is 2009.The rest of Eleanor’s reports related to on going projects like the extension of the Forrest Green EIR deadline to September 20th for comments and the status of Canyon Oaks II

Adjournment
Motion to adjourn. M(MD),S,P – 5,0,0

Respectfully submitted by Tom Owens, Secretary, ESMAC

 

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