BUTTERFIELD-RIVIERA EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
DATE: March 27, 2012
PLACE: Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, California
MEETING TYPE: BRECA Steering Committee Meeting
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Lori Christensen
Kelly Cohen
Gay Jones
Stan Mofjeld
Jim Morgan
Rick Sloan
Mary Ann Winters
1. Welcome from Chair Gay Jones
2. Minutes of January and February 2012
Lori Christensen made a motion to approve the draft minutes of January and February 2012. Stan Mofjeld seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
3. Standing Reports
a. American River Parkway Coalition
Gay Jones reported that there were discussions with the new County Parks Administrator Jeff Leatherman and the new head Ranger Stan Lundsford at the recent American River Parkway Coalition meeting.
Joe O’Connor noted that Gay had said that County Parks has agreed to resume picking up trash at the Gristmill entrance to the Parkway. A new County budget is coming up. It is hard to compare to the previous budget due to shifts of responsibilities.
Gay reported that County Parks is proposing a “ranger reserve” program where volunteers would be performing ranger duties without pay. The cost of the program is about $4,300 per reserve ranger for equipment.
b. Treasurer’s Report
Kelly Cohen reported that BRECA has $4,882.54 in the checking account.
c. Lower American River Task Force
Jim Morgan reported that the Corps of Engineers had made a presentation on remaining projects on the Lower American River at the most recent Lower American River Task Force meeting. There are over 20 different projects remaining. Connecting the upstream end of the Mayhew-Gristmill levee to high ground is one of those projects. It is estimated that the connection will be constructed in 2014, assuming funding becomes available.
d. California American Water Rate Case
Joe O’Connor reported on various activities regarding the California American Water rate case, including requests of entities to become parties to the case. Hearings on the rate case have been delayed.
e. Grassroots Working Group
Gay Jones reported that the Grassroots Working Group for County Parks funding is working on a letter requesting the report which was supposed to be produced by the County’s “ad hoc committee” on finance and governance of County Parks.
4. Old Business
a. General Membership Meeting
Gay Jones reported that she had confirmed that the California Highway Patrol and County Sheriff’s East Division/Rancho Cordova City Police will attend the upcoming BRECA General Membership Meeting. It was suggested that BRECA send the Sheriff’s representative a series of questions to be addressed at the meeting. Several questions were suggested.
Details of the meeting were discussed. A flyer will be sent out to the whole BRECA area. Lori Christensen made a motion to approve up to $800 for the flyer. Jim Morgan seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
b. “30,000” Trees
Gay Jones reported that the Sacramento Tree Foundation is attempting to get 30,000 trees planted. There are discussions about doing some tree planting on Folsom Blvd. east of Mayhew.
c. Native Plant Society and Gristmill
Gay Jones reported that she had discussions with Mary Maret with County Parks concerning planting native plants (not trees) in the area just west of the Gristmill parking lot.
5. New Business
a. Easter Egg Hunt
There was discussion about whether to sponsor an Easter egg hunt at Riviera East Park. It was agreed that there is not enough time.
b. Ranger Reserve
(See discussion under Standing Reports: American River Parkway Coalition.) Kelly Cohen made a motion to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors supporting the proposed Ranger Reserve program. Lori Christensen seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
c. Herbicide Application Policy – American River Parkway
Gay Jones stated that there has been a lot of herbicide application in the American River Parkway, for example near the Mayhew Drain and Gristmill entrance. She suggested asking at an American River Parkway Coalition meeting whether there is an herbicide policy for the American River Parkway, and what is that policy. There was general support for posing the question. Stan Mofjeld noted that there needs to be notification of homeowners.
d. American River Parkway Clean Up April 21, 2012
It was noted that there will be a Spring Clean Up on the American River Parkway on April 21, 2012 from 9 am to 12 noon. The nearest location will be Watt Ave. and La Riviera Dr.
e. From the Floor
Rick Sloan stated that the Cordova Recreation and Park District is planning to put up a bench and plant a tree in honor of the maintenance supervisor who was killed recently.
Jim Morgan stated that the Steering Committee election process has started, and nominations should be submitted now. Gay Jones suggested lengthening the nomination period until after the General Membership Meeting to encourage new nominations. It was agreed to do so.
Gay Jones stated that she had read an article that stated that Regional Transit is to extend some routes and times. She wished to restate BRECA support for constructing a Light Rail Station at Horn Rd. for the Rancho Cordova Library. Jim Morgan stated that he did not support doing so, as the Light Rail station becomes an impetus for high-density Transit Oriented Development proposals, which have been a huge problem for BRECA at the Butterfield station. He suggested that bus routes should be expanded instead. After some discussion, no action was taken.
6. Meeting adjourned.
The next meeting will be a General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at the Rancho Cordova Library.