Board Notes- SCNA Board meeting - April 10, 2007

Board to pursue energy conservation measures for Sierra 2; seeks clarification of city's Heritage Tree Ordinance; solicits Congresswoman Doris Matsui for help in reducing train bell noise

Executive Director's Report
Executive Directory Julie Adams-Gerth reported that staff has moved back into a newly renovated office space, which has boosted morale and provided a more organized and comfortable place to work. Flea Market booth sign ups were taken for two days using a new system. Rental revenue for Curtis Hall is at an all time high.

Facilities Committee
The new HVAC system is almost complete. The PG&E recommendation to install energy saving film on the west facing windows of Curtis Hall will be done in the near future. Room-specific thermostats which are centrally programmed are being considered; they are expensive but would dramatically reduce energy waste and lost revenue. Great Beginnings has until June 30 of this year to spend the balance of SCNA's October 2000 donation of $5,000 for playground equipment. The Art in Public Places program notified SCNA that $18,000 will be made available for art on or about the Sierra 2 Center; a jury will soon be formed to select the artwork.

Development Committee
Software to track membership data has been purchased. More members are needed. Lots of summer events planned such as an expanded Music in the Park. Membership renewals continue to be strong.

Neighborhood Concerns Committee
At the request of the committee, the board approved $500 to be donated to the ECOS Litigation Fund to support a possible lawsuit challenging an EIR expected to be released soon regarding the impact of a CalTrans proposed addition of HOV lanes to Highway 50.

A developer request for a permit to remove a healthy heritage tree from the property at 2987 Franklin Boulevard was denied and SCNA actively opposed the permit request. At the committee's request, the board voted to send a letter to the city expressing concern over the current lack of notice given to adjacent neighbors when city staff determines a tree is outside the ordinance's definition of a "heritage tree." With no notice, there is no opportunity to request a hearing.

The city's action on the ordinance considering front yard fruit and vegetable gardens similarly was in line with SCNA's support for removal of restrictions on this activity.

A new member of the Broadway Partnership will be visiting the Neighborhood Concerns Committee to discuss the effort by Broadway businesses to form a business improvement district. The board approved a letter to Congresswoman Doris Matsui asking for her help in seeking bell shrouds to reduce the noise troubling adjacent homeowners, many of whom have sold their houses due to the length and loudness of the bell soundings.

Senior Committee
Senior Committee members invited everyone (board and neighbors) to the last Friday of the month potluck at the Senior Center. Approximately 340 seniors per month are using the center.

Miscellaneous
First Friday event continues to grow and the April event attracted 200 people. Buffet style food service is causing food shortages, which must be addressed to keep the event affordable and meeting everyone's needs. Plating will be tried to address this situation.

The SCNA Board voted to endorse the attempt to create a lighting assessment district that fills in the missing historic lights in both the Curtis Park and Land Park areas lacking them. Ballots to parcel owners in the proposed assessment district will go out in June. This will involved 800 lights at a cost of $11.5 million.

-- Submitted by Andrea Rosen
SCNA Secretary.

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