BUTTERFIELD-RIVIERA EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
DATE: May 27, 2014
PLACE: Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, California
MEETING TYPE: BRECA Steering Committee Meeting
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Lori Christensen
Gay Jones
Rene Hamlin
Stan Mofjeld
Jim Morgan
1. Welcome from Chair Gay Jones
2. Minutes of March 25, 2014
Jim Morgan noted that the comment under Welcome from the Chair should say “…due to construction work” (“due” added). He also proposed that the budget approved at that meeting be added to the Minutes. Jim Morgan made a motion to adopt the revised draft minutes. Stan Mofjeld seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
3. Election Results
Joe O’Connor distributed a handout with the results of the recent BRECA Steering Committee Election. Andrea White, Gay Jones, Greg Vaughan, Jim Morgan, Rene Hamlin, Lori Christensen, Rick Sloan, Kelly Cohen, and Paul Bowers were elected to the Steering Committee.
Gay Jones noted that people should think about who would be good in the officers positions for the next meeting.
Bonnie Domeny stated that Paul Bowers misses a lot of meetings and that the By-Laws allow removing members who miss meetings. Jim Morgan read the specific sentence from the By-Laws (Article 4): “If a Steering Committee member misses more than 3 consecutive Steering Committee meetings, the Steering Committee may remove the member from the Steering Committee.” Jim commented that this is a discretionary action. Gay Jones stated that she would put it on the agenda for the next meeting.
4. Reports
a. Treasurer’s Report
Gay Jones stated that Kelly Cohen had sent a Treasurer’s report. The balance in the BRECA bank account is $3,184.16.
b. Nextdoor.com
Rene Hamlin stated that she is trying to have a meeting with the POP (Problem Oriented Policing) officer in the park.
c. American River Parkway Coalition
Gay Jones handed out a Ranger Report for the American River Parkway. She stated that County Parks encourages people to report problems at the “oak leaf” on the County Regional Parks website. She also stated that it had been reported that water flows were going up and down to try to improve fish survival.
d. CORPAC
Gay Jones stated that the Cordova Community Planning and Advisory Council (CORPAC) is the first level of review of proposed projects in our area. Although CORPAC is an advisory body, it has real “teeth” since it can appeal Planning Commission decisions to the Board of Supervisors without cost. For individuals the cost is $5,000. For example, CORPAC will review an update of the zoning code for Transit Oriented Development in the BRECA area. This will include the “farmhouse,” a 14.5 acres property proposed for development. The impact of the project will depend on what gets built. The approved design includes 170 dwelling units, but the approval goes away at the end of this year. BRECA needs to watch this project. An alternative concept to consider is senior housing.
Gay also noted that she is on CORPAC, and there are four (4) vacancies. Citizens are appointed by the County Supervisor.
5. Old Business
a. Discussion of Cal Am Administrative Hearing
Joe O’Connor stated that about 16% of water purveyors in California are investor owned, and regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). At three year intervals there are “General Rate Cases” (GRC) for cost increases. Hearings on the current California American Water (Cal Am) GRC were held in Sacramento on May 12, 2014. Joe went to the 7:00 pm meeting. There was a small turnout of people, and about half were from BRECA. Joe spoke with the Administrative Law Judge who held the hearing, and he stated that he would give the ratepayers a “fair shake.” Gay Jones stated that she went to the afternoon meeting, and there were only a handful of people.
Joe also stated that if we could get 1,000 letters to the CPUC, that would be influential. Greg Vaughan stated that if he had a map of Cal Am areas in Sacramento he could contact the Nextdoor.com groups in those areas.
Joe also noted that the CPUC process is a big tangle of interest groups and politics. For example, water companies support more strict regulations for arsenic because these increase their rate base and profits.
b. Recap of General Meeting/TOD Committee
Gay Jones stated that the BRECA Community General Meeting on April 22, 2014 was great. The meeting was well attended, and there was good back and forth discussion with officials.
Gay suggested that BRECA invite guest speakers to future regular Steering Committee meetings. Possibilities suggested included Regional Transit, Syufy (“The Landing”), Jim Schubert on Folsom Blvd. tree planting, Sacramento Codes, and Transit Oriented Development (TOD). She also suggested a working group of 3-5 people to deal with proposed changes to zoning codes regarding TOD. Andrea White suggested a speaker from the Cordova Recreation and Park District. Greg Vaughan suggested County Planning and The Landing.
Gay suggested a general structure of having a guest speaker, then having the regular business meeting. Greg Vaughan suggested having regular quarterly events, possibly on a different day. Jim Morgan pointed out that finding days to have additional meetings is a problem, because the library community room is heavily booked, and there is additional cost from mailings.
6. New Business
a. Starthistle Removal
Gay Jones stated that BRECA and individuals had done Yellow Starthistle removal for several years. However, this work was put on hold due to the disruptions from levee work. She suggested starting this work again. She noted that there is a big patch of Starthistle at the second mini-restoration planting site near the Mayhew Drain. She suggested having a Starthistle pulling day soon, possibly Saturday, June 21, beginning at 8 or 9 am.
b. From the Floor
Bonnie Domeny requested a summary of the General Meeting for distribution to people who did not attend.
7. Meeting adjourned.
The next meeting will be a Steering Committee Meeting on Tuesday, June 24 at the Rancho Cordova Library.