10-28-14 Meeting Minutes

BUTTERFIELD-RIVIERA EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

DATE: October 28, 2014
PLACE: Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, California
MEETING TYPE: BRECA Steering Committee Meeting

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT

Lori Christensen
Bonnie Domeny
Rene Hamlin
Greg Vaughan

1. Welcome from Vice Chair, Rene Hamlin
   There was not a quorum present.
2. Minutes
   1.  September 2014
      Lori Christensen reported that the September and October minutes would be provided in November.
3. Updates
   1. Treasurer’s Report
      No treasurer’s report was provided.
   2. American River Parkway Coalition
      No report was provided.
   3. From the floor
      There were no comments from the floor.
4. Old Business
   1. Corps Mayhew-Gristmill Levee Project
      Joe O’Connor said that there was a BRECA flood control committee meeting. BRECA’s long-standing position is to tie the upstream end of the levee into high ground. Jim Morgan is going to ask for clarification about the elevation of the proposed project. Also, how much lower is the back yard than the levee? Joe also noted that Supervisor Don Notolli was at the meeting and he was not happy with the Corps.

      Bonnie Domley said that she wanted the Corps to fix the problem correctly. The Corps told her that there is a 2-foot by 6-foot gap. She stated that they are going to do what they want to do.

      Greg Vaughan stated that the Corps is raising the level of Folsom Dam and if the lake is full in February or March, then they will let the water out. Greg also noted that the homeowner where a tree was located in her backyard stated that the Corps could cut it down. The Corps representatives were saying that a large part of the Corps design was based on trying to save the tree.

      Lori Christensen said the Department of Water Resources representatives stated that the Community was very well organized and educated on the subject matter. They appreciated that so many people came out and expressed their opinion.

   2. California American Water
      Joe O’Connor stated that Cal Am Water unofficial rate increases are: 0.7% for 2015, 2.6% for 2016, and 3.7% for 2017. These rate increases are not official until the Administrative Law Judge approves them.

      Joe also spoke about Cal Am Water proposed consolidation of the Sacramento water district (58,000 users) with a small district off of I-5 near Dunnigan (350 users). Yolo County is interested is seeing the area grow to 9,000 additional homes in the area. Sacramento users would subsidize Dunnigan and their desire for growth in the area. The Office of Rate Payer Advocates and the legal department of California Public Utilities Commission both want full hearings on the proposed merger. But, there is legislation that promotes the merging of large districts and small districts. Joe is planning on meeting with Supervisor Don Notolli to educate him about the issue. Joe has also sent a letter to the Little Hoover Commission to investigate the possibility that the legislation may have unintended consequences.

      Joe also mentioned that Doris, a woman from Rosemont, has sent letters to the News and Review and the Sacramento Bee about the issue, but so far no newspaper has written an article about the issue.

   3. From the floor
      Bonnie Domeny has been meeting with the California American (Cal Am) Water, General Manager, discussing the poor quality water that she has at her house and in the neighborhood. She wants Cal Am to come to the next meeting and discuss the issue.
5. New Business
   1. BRECA Newsletter
      There was no discussion of the Newsletter.
   2. From the floor
      Greg Vaughan attended an informational meeting on September 30 regarding a Federal Bureau of Prisons Reentry Center. He was impressed with the meeting. It was about locating a prison reentry center in the Sacramento area. The closest ones are in Fresno and Bakersfield. A contractor, instead of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, would run the facility. The parolee would have to get a job within a few weeks and a percentage of what they make goes back into the facility. The facility requires the parolee to check in and out and requires random drug testing. The U.S. Marshals oversee the parolees.

      The residential facility will not be located in the BRECA area. They are looking at the Boys Ranch as a possibility.

6. Meeting adjourned

The next Steering Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2014, location TBD.