BUTTERFIELD-RIVIERA EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
DATE: April 20, 2015
PLACE: Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, California
MEETING TYPE: BRECA General Membership Meeting
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Kelly Cohen
Bonnie Domeny
Rene Hamlin
Gay Jones
Jim Morgan
Rick Sloan
Andrea White
- Welcome from Chair Gay Jones
- County Supervisor Don Nottoli
Supervisor Nottoli stated that the Syufy group is still committed to going forward with The Landing at the site of the drive-in theaters. They are currently working on redeveloping the Howe about Arden site that they also own. Some of the use permits for The Landing are expiring, and the Syufy group are planning to renew the permits with similar uses. Supervisor Nottoli thanked the BRECA Steering Committee and stated that they represent the community well.
- East Area Sheriffs and Rancho Cordova Police
Michael Goold, Chief of Police for Rancho Cordova, stated that community members are an integral part of community safety. He stated that crime overall is going down, primarily robberies and auto theft. However, there has been an increase in felonious assault. Proposition 47, which reclassified some crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, has created challenges. Instead of spending time in jail, the perpetrators now get tickets. Also, the police have lost the ability to collect DNA samples from this group.There were many questions from the audience, and Chief Goold or one of the police or sheriff’s officers responded. One question was what about the recycling thieves. Chief Goold stated that this is going down. The audience disagreed. Chief Goold stated that they must catch people in the act. Taking recyclable materials from County bins is a misdemeanor. Another question concerned a person on Hyannis Way who takes recycling and also steals bicycles. Chief Goold said they are aware of the situation. Another questioner stated that there are also bike thieves on Alcosta Way, and asked if she should send pictures of people. One of the officers responded yes, but be careful not to make yourself a target. Another questioner asked how to get through to the East Area Sheriff’s if you see a crime in progress. One of the officers responded to call 874-5111, option 1. Another person commented that the police and Sheriffs have been to the Alcosta house many times. One officer commented that one time they found 12 people living there. Another question was about increasing the presence of squad cars. Chief Goold responded that they do not have the resources in the County area. They are asking for more funding for Problem Oriented Policing (POP) officers, but are now using patrol officers as POP.Another question concerned a large property that has been abandoned for about 8 years, and is unsecured and used by homeless people. The owner was approached, but was unresponsive. What can be done about this? An officer responded that this sort of thing is best done through County Code Enforcement. They can assess fines and get a response. Supervisor Nottoli commented that there was a house on Mira Del Rio Dr. that was closed and is now reopened, and that administrative penalties can be heavy. Jose Mendez, with County Code Enforcement, commented that the County sometimes ends up being the property manager, mowing the lawns and doing other maintenance. Barry Chamberlin, a Supervisor with County Code Enforcement, commented that Code Enforcement does a lot of different things, from rental housing conditions to non-running cars. He said that the community is their eyes and ears. County Code Enforcement has 25 people for the whole unincorporated county. He stated that 75% to 80% of cases are solved with a letter or inspection. In more difficult situations, there are court processes, but that takes a while.
A further question concerned the motels on Folsom Blvd., and that there are children there, in what is effectively low income housing. One of the officers responded that everyone on the Police/Sheriff’s team knows about Vince’s (Motel). He stated that they go to Vince’s a lot.
- County Parks Rangers
Stan Lumsden, chief of County Parks Rangers, stated that they have 21 rangers. Two of them are assigned to illegal camping. At any given time there are about 400 to 600 illegal campers on the American River Parkway. He stated that the Parkway is very unique, and not many places have anything like it. If someone sees a problem on the Parkway, they can go to the web site sacparks.net and make a report on the oak leaf. Parks will respond. He stated the most common problems are bikes on dirt trails and dogs off leash. An audience person asked where are bikes legal. Chief Lumsden responded that they are only legal on paved surfaces or on the top of the levee, which is considered a maintenance road. Another member of the audience asked if coyotes are protected. Chief Lumsden responded that coyotes and other wildlife are protected, but coyotes will eat almost anything. Another audience person thanked Parks for putting a Port-a-Potty at the Gristmill parking lot and maintaining it.
- Neighborhood Watch
Heidi Herrera, Neighborhood Watch co-ordinator for Rancho Cordova, talked about forming a Neighborhood Watch group. She stated that a Neighborhood Watch involves neighbors getting together and getting to know each other and their routines. Neighbors can then identify suspicious behaviors. Actually forming an official group requires getting roster of people and a map to Ms. Herrera. If someone gets a group of neighbors together, she can come talk to them.A question was asked about getting a Neighborhood Watch sign. Ms. Herrera stated that it costs $30 for the sign and $15 to put it up. Another question was how many people in a Neighborhood Watch group. Ms. Herrera stated that it typically is around 10 to 15 people. A question was asked about the Alcosta Way house and what can be done. Ms. Herrera suggested keeping a record of activities and sending the record to the POP officer. Ms. Herrera also recommended several crime prevention tips, including taking belongings out of your vehicle, leaving porch lights on, and walking around at night carrying a cell phone.
- Meeting adjourned.
The next meeting will be a regular Steering Committee meeting on May 26, 2015, at the Rancho Cordova Library