September
9, 2006 Meeting
Preparation
E-mail
summary of the last meeting including note of this one was
sent to each member who has provided a contact e-mail address.
Susan Chu phoned
other members on the
phone contact list.
Attendees
6
members
Meeting
Agenda
Items:
- ice rink still not been to Design
Commission
- Edison land
- Park
pedestrian entrance
- Estado
street lights
- Mayor's
workshop on Sep 16
- adult business controversy
- group homes controversy
- anything
else attendees wish to discuss
The meeting began about 11:20
- ice rink still not been to Design
Commission
- appears that the need to use Edison land is forcing a wait
until
the self-storage project approval is resolved
- Edison land
- The fence posts and old nursery shack are finally gone
- City staff is supposed to issue a report in October regarding
usage of the Edison land and right-of-way. It is not clear
whether this is the usual report specific to the public-storage project
permit application or broader in scope. There has been talk that
there
will be a community meeting after it comes out. But it might also
just be that the public meeting is when the project goes to the city
council.
- Though none of the principles is publicly discussing it, the
linkage between the Edison public storage project and the ice rink
project is becoming more apparent. That if the self-storage
project is blocked that might also derail the ice rink project (a two
for one for those who also oppose the ice rink). But it could
also just cause the ice rink project to be modified and go forward in
some way even less desirable to our neighborhood.
- There is a rumor that the PR firm druming up opposition to the
self-storage proposal is being paid by existing self-storage vendors in
the city. Of course this rumor may be wrong and just
a tactic to degrade the opposition.
- Park pedestrian entrance
- Park's
pedestrian entrance gate was locked all day Saturday August 19th.
Laura Ellersieck complained and once again asked for a number we can
call when it is
left locked when it should not be and it isn't regular city working
hours. No response from parks & rec on that.
Still have no contact info for the park rangers either.
- The
project for street lights on the western segment of Estado Street is
being combined for bids with one for Lomora Street (northwest of
library). Installation is expected in early spring next year.
- Mayor's workshop on Sep 16
- Noted again letter
from the Mayor's office inviting/requesting representatives at a
workshop covering city issues on September 16 in the auditorium of the
Central Library. No one seems to want to go.
- adult businesses
- Discussed
controversy over adult business that is trying to go in where Shakey's
pizza used to be and the staff report to the city council saying that
there is little that can be done to block it.
- group homes
- Discussed
latest in the "group homes" controversy in Upper Hastings.
Apparently there are two homes there. City staff is working on
ordinances that could place some requirements/restrictions where state
law doesn't already override any local law. Not clear to us what
in the current zoning allows for up to 6 renters in a single family
residence under any circumstance.
- anything
else attendees wish to discuss
- discussed some of the
houses in the neighborhood that are up for sale and the housing market
Next meeting is October 14,
same
time, same place.
Adjourned about 12:00 pm.