03-22-16 Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

BUTTERFIELD-RIVIERA EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

DATE: March 22, 2016
PLACE:  Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, California
MEETING TYPE:  BRECA Steering Committee Meeting

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT

Lori Christensen
Kelly Cohen
Bonnie Domeny
Gay Jones
Jim Morgan
Andrea White

1. Call to Order from Acting Chair Gay Jones
2. Complete Streets Presentation
   Jim Schubert (with Sacramento County Department of Transportation) stated that they are working on a “Complete Streets” project for Folsom Blvd. from Watt Ave. to Bradshaw Road.  He stated that they have a grant to put together a Master Plan, which will hopefully be followed by grants to do actual projects.  He stated that the improvements to Folsom Blvd. that have occurred in Rancho Cordova are similar to the plan for the Watt Ave. to Bradshaw Road section.  He stated that they have been going around doing presentations about the Master Plan.  Complete Streets means streets that accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, mass transit and autos.

   Adrian Engle (Echelon [sp?] Engineering Group) stated that he is a consultant on the proposal.  He noted that he is also the Board President for Walk Sacramento.  He stated that the Master Plan is to be submitted to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in about a month.  He stated that Rancho Cordova is working on Complete Streets projects for Folsom Blvd. to Horn Road and then to Bradshaw Road.  He pointed out that Folsom Blvd. has changed over time: it was originally the highway to Lake Tahoe, but has become a local transportation corridor.  Complete Streets is a further evolution.

   Mr. Engle addressed some of the comments that had come up in presentations.  He stated that they are looking at having separations between the bike lanes and the auto lanes.  He stated that they want to build a sidewalk on the south side of Folsom Blvd. to connect to Light Rail stations, because the sidewalk would be continuous with no driveways, and to improve drainage.  He stated that raised medians with planting slow down traffic.  On the north side, they want sidewalk separated from bicycle and auto lanes, and to consolidate driveways.

   Mr. Engle also stated that they plan to go to the Planning Commission on March 28 and the Board of Supervisors on April 26.  There is a County website: www.sacdot.com/pages/Folsom-Boulevard-Complete-Streets-Master-Plan.aspx.

   There were a number of questions and comments.  One question was about limited space on Folsom Blvd. for all these elements.  Mr. Engle stated that the majority of the project fits in existing right of way.  In some cases they will need additional space on the north side, to be acquired on a willing basis.  Another question concerned separation of bicycles from cars.  Mr. Engle stated that a rigid barrier was not practical because of needed openings.  Mr. Schubert stated that they have bike lanes wider than national standards.  Another question concerned replacing the asphalt, which is in bad condition in some areas, e.g. from Bradshaw Road to Butterfield Way.  Mr. Engle stated that it depends upon the funding sources, and they usually try to get road repair funding in addition to Complete Streets funding.  Another question concerned the center median as a barrier to access to businesses.  Mr. Engle stated that they recognize that left turn lanes will be needed in some places.  Another question concerned undergrounding of utilities.  Mr. Engle stated that maybe some phone lines could be moved underground, but not the high voltage lines, so the pole line would stay.  He also commented that moving the phone lines underground is expensive.  A final question concerned signalizing U-turns.  Mr. Schubert stated that no additional signals are planned.  He also commented that they would be back for the BRECA General Meeting.

3. Minutes of February 23, 2016
   Jim Morgan noted some changes to the draft minutes for February 23, 2016.  Bonnie Domeny made a motion to adopt the amended draft minutes.  Lori Christensen seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously.

4. Reports
   1. Treasurer’s Report
      Andrea White reported that the balance in the BRECA checking account was $4,262.70.
   2. CORPAC
      Gay Jones reported that there are a series of workshops coming up on proposed developments on Jackson Road at the Cordova Planning and Advisory Committee (CORPAC).  There are also proposed amendments to zoning for massage parlors.

5. Old Business
   1. By-Laws Review Committee
      Ken Crawford stated that draft revisions to the By-Laws have been sent out.  Some comments have been received.  The deadline for comments is April 10, although he will not be able to work on them until April 18.  Jim Morgan asked how many people are on the By-Laws Review Committee.  Ken stated that there are two people on the committee.  Jim stated that more people need to be on the committee, and suggested himself and Kelly Cohen.  Ken stated that that would have to be discussed with Rene Hamlin.
   2. Annual General Meeting
      Several presenters have been invited to the BRECA Annual meeting, including the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) officer, and representatives from Cordova Recreation and Park District, the Complete Streets planning effort, and Capital Christian Center.  There were discussions on flyer mailing and food and drinks.
   3. Parkway Coalition
      Gay Jones reported that the American River Parkway Coalition heard from Corey Brown concerning creation of an American River Parkway Conservancy.  Also, Sacramento County will soon ban plastic grocery bags.  There is a new ranger for the Gristmill area.  There was a report on the proposed Corps of Engineers erosion protection measures.  The Coalition is trying to get involved in the process: they want flood control, but also want to minimize harm to the Parkway.
   4. From the Floor
      Jim Morgan gave a brief review of the Corps of Engineers erosion protection proposals.  The Corps has proposed to install rock covering of the river bank (rip-rap) or a launchable rock trench at the levee toe along about 11 miles of the Lower American River.  Either of the alternatives would have severe local impacts on biological resources, recreation and esthetics.  The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) has created a Bank Protection Working Group, consisting of government agencies, consultants, and stakeholders (e.g. BRECA), that is trying to generate a knowledge base to assess whether erosion protection is actually needed in specific areas and to find ways to minimize the impact of the measures to be undertaken.

      Jim also reviewed the proposed SAFCA assessment district.  This proposed district would be a parcel tax for properties that would benefit from a group of flood control improvements that have been proposed.  These proposals include the erosion protection measures discussed above, modifications to Folsom Dam, Sacramento River levee work, widening the Sacramento weir and bypass, and doing work on small streams in north and south Sacramento.  A vote on the assessment district is scheduled in the next couple of months.  Some BRECA area properties will be in the district.

      There was discussion of the Easter Egg Hunt, which went well.  There were many little children.

      Rick Sloan enquired about a new resident flyer.  It was commented that this effort is delayed because there is too much going on.  Lynda Hammett volunteered to take this on.

6. New Business
   1. From the Floor
      Lynda Hammett talked about a neighborhood garage sale, which has been discussed on Nextdoor.com.  She suggested having it in the park.  Andrea White stated that she had discussed the proposal at the Park District.  It would require a Special Use Permit.  One of the questions is whether to charge for spaces.  It would require staff to monitor the event.  Bonnie Domeny suggested a survey on Nextdoor.com.  She stated that people talked to her at the Easter Egg Hunt and were enthusiastic.  Andrea suggested that it could be done at the park and at individual houses, with a joint map.  These are all possibilities.  A committee was formed consisting of Andrea White, Bonnie Domeny, Lynda Hammett, and maybe Rene Hamlin.

      Jim Morgan stated that the Sacramento Transportation Authority is putting together a proposal for a sales tax increase that would pay for additional transportation and related activities in Sacramento County.  There was discussion of whether this was something we want to follow up on.

7. Meeting adjourned.

The next meeting will be a General Meeting on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at the Rancho Cordova Library.