Board notes: SCNA Board meeting-September 11, 2007

Board votes to spend $9,000 to treat elms in William Curtis Park; annual membership meeting set for Nov. 8
SCNA Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the "Garden" Room of Sierra 2. The next meetings are on Oct. 9 and Nov. 13.

Saving elm trees in the park through timely preventive treatment
Marianne Waindle, former SCNA Board member and tree guru, recommended that SCNA fund Arbor-tect treatment for English elms at the north end of Willliam Curtis Park in effort to save them from Dutch elm disease. Arbor-tect trials have proven successful if the tree is structurally sound prior to treatment. After debate, the Board voted unanimously to allocate up to $9,000 to fund this proposal. If treated prior to infection, the elms could live out their entire lifespan of 200 years or more. In order to be effective, the treatment had to be administered by mid-October.

Former board member remembered
The board was saddened to learn of the passing of former member, John Peters.

President's Report
Board elections and the annual Membership Meeting are slated for Nov. 8. Incumbent board members and others desiring to be considered for the board member slate should inform the Executive Committee.

The fate of the heritage tree on 6th Avenue which a homeowner is seeking to remove as part of a planned home remodel project is unknown at this point. SCNA has taken a position in favor of saving the tree. A decision approving removal has been appealed by neighbors. The Sacramento City Parks and Recreation Commission, assigned to review the decision, has not yet decided due to lack of information on the proposed project.

Executive Director report
Sacramento Philharmonic newest Sierra 2 user; Shred Day set for Oct. 20

Executive Director Julie Gerth announced that the Sacramento Philharmonic is a new renter at Sierra 2 and how pleased everyone was to welcome them. Longtime tenant, Sue Hayden of Hayden Interiors, is vacating her space and All Seasons, All Reasons is taking the space to use as badly needed office to support their successful catering operation. The Board congratulated Julie on her recovery of the overpayment of $3,786 in City utility payments. Julie reported on efforts to set up the ability to transact Sierra 2 business, such as buying wine tasting and home tour tickets and renewing membership via the Sierra 2 website.

Shred Day is set for Oct. 20; and is an exciting new fundraiser and community service event sponsored by SCNA. A locally owned and operated organization called Rapid Information Destruction has volunteered to come to Sierra 2 where neighbors can bring any type of confidential information they want securely destroyed. Donations will be accepted and proceeds will be used to pay for the portable toilets at Curtis Park events. Documents, binders, CDs, video tapes, hard drives accepted with no need to sort!

Wine Tasting-full steam ahead
Bruce Gerth, Wine Tasting Chair, reported that wine tasting planning is going extremely well. A beautiful poster was circulated and tickets will be on sale soon for the signature event to be held on Oct. 13 at Sierra 2. Board members were recruited to sign up as greeters and ticket sellers.

Facilities Committee Report
In a continuing quest to conserve resources, the committee is seeking to discover and plug water leaks from an aging sprinkler system. A disaster and recovery plan is under development.

Planter traffic calming islands need water and care (and some money): Fifth Ave neighbors who have been putting lots of work into hand watering the plants in the traffic calming islands requested funds to buy supplies and new plants if needed. After discussion and appreciation for the hard work of all neighbors supporting islands such as these in the neighborhood, the Board decided to seek a planting plan and a budget from Fifth Avenue neighbors before funding the request.

At the Sept. 10th Neighborhood Concerns Design Subcommittee meeting an overlay design of Curtis Park Village proposal was offered by neighbor Elizabeth McDermott with assistance from Michael Corbett, a sustainable community developer from Davis. Ideas from the discussion and board members will be worked into a letter to the City of Sacramento developed by the Neighborhood Concerns Committee to be presented to the board at its next meeting. The city has asked for the neighborhood's input as part of its Early Project Notification process even though the developer's application is not yet complete.

-Submitted by Andrea Rosen
SCNA Secretary

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