BUTTERFIELD-RIVIERA EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
DATE: October 23, 2018
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
Lynda Hammitt
Gay Jones
Carmen Mitchell
Jim Morgan
Andrea White
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT
James Adams
NUMBER OF GUESTS/MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: 9
1. Call to Order by Chair Lynda Hammitt
2. Guest Speaker from SMUD re: Changes to Electricity Rate Structure
Kaelin Sherrel with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) stated that the SMUD Board has decided to change to a time of day electricity rate structure. This is not supposed to be a rate increase. The idea is to charge more when electricity costs more. The objective is to encourage people to use less electricity during peak hours. Customers have the option to be on a fixed rate. Decisions on that are for a full year. People will get a 30 day notice of the change to time of day rates. Commercial accounts are already on time of day rates, with tiers, so that as businesses use more they pay more.
Carmen Mitchell stated that customers should have been given a vote on this change. Ms. Sherrel responded that customers vote through the elected Board of Directors of SMUD. Lynda Hammitt enquired why time of day rates, and not, for example, the Peak Corps? Ms. Sherrel responded that the Peak Corps is no longer in existence. Jim Morgan enquired whether SMUD is looking at energy storage possibilities. Ms. Sherrel responded that batteries are not economical at present, due to costs over limited lifetimes. Possibly they will become economical by 2020. A member of the audience enquired about a member who has medical needs. Ms. Sherrel responded that they have a medical rate, and the person should contact the SMUD call center.
3. Minutes of September 25, 2018
An amendment was made to the draft minutes of September 25, 2018. Rene Hamlin made a motion to approve the amended draft minutes. Gay Jones seconded the motion. The motion was approved with 5 in favor and 2 abstentions.
4. Questions or Comments from the Membership/Community
There were no questions or comments from the membership or community.
5. Reports
a. Treasurer
Andrea White (Treasurer) presented the BRECA income and expenditures for the year to date. The balance in the BRECA checking account is $4,765.54.
b. CORPAC
Carmen Mitchell reported on the recent Cordova Planning and Advisory Committee (CORPAC) meeting. There were no items directly relevant to the BRECA area.
Gay Jones stated that CORPAC members normally serve for one year. If anyone from BRECA is interested in serving on CORPAC, please contact Gay Jones.
c. Outreach Committee
Rene Hamlin reported that there was no Outreach Committee meeting this month. The next meeting is scheduled for October 29.
6. Old Business
a. Update on BRECA Sign Installation
Lynda Hammitt stated that James Adams had sent an e-mail, and there was no additional information.
b. BRECA Newsletter
Jim Morgan stated that the Newsletter should come out in November, 2018. There was discussion about the articles and pictures for the Newsletter.
c. Cal Am Update
Gay Jones reported that California American Water (Cal Am) had filed a motion on October 22 for transitional rate relief due to the protracted time involved in the General Rate Case. The deadline for comments is October 31. Lori Christensen made a motion that BRECA support the Office of Ratepayer Advocates effort on the transitional rates. Carmen Mitchell seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
d. From the Floor
Andrea White reported that the Cordova Recreation and Park District has invited bids for replacement of pathways in Riviera East Park. They expect to get bids in November and possibly get the work done by next spring. A member of the audience asked whether there were any plans for a dog park in Riviera East Park. Andrea responded that dog parks are expensive, and the Park District is focused on Americans with Disabilities Act compliance right now.
Lori Christensen noted that the last BRECA meeting was held as St. George church. She enquired whether it was appropriate to send an e-mail to Father Hezekias thanking them for use of the church. There was general agreement that this was a good thing to do.
7. New Business
a. County Policy Change re: Illegal Camping
Jim Morgan noted that this issue was discussed at the September 2018 BRECA meeting (see item 3 of Minutes of September 25, 2018). Lynda Hammitt asked whether we should have a County Parks ranger come to a BRECA meeting? Bonnie Domeny raised the concern that rangers might not be aware of all county policies regarding illegal camping. A member of the audience stated that he had talked with rangers, and that they have been told not to issue illegal camping citations. He wants to be proactive. Rene Hamlin stated that the point is that there is no place for homeless people to get shelter. Lynda Hammitt suggested that campers can be cited for other things. Jim Morgan stated that he had heard from two people who attended the most recent Board of Supervisors meeting on the issue. They said that the Board is very concerned about this problem. Supervisors Frost and Peters requested that county counsel investigate whether camping could be prohibited on the Parkway by designating it a “sensitive area.”
Jim Morgan made a motion to send a letter to Supervisor Nottoli expressing BRECA’s concern and asking for his help. Gay Jones seconded the motion. She added that there are three reasons to designate the Parkway a “sensitive area.” These are preservation of the natural environment, safety of campers during a flood event, and impact of campers on flood control measures. Rene Hamlin stressed that we need to be careful about wording, and be sure the tone is nice. Gay Jones stated that she had heard at a Parkway Coalition meeting that rangers are writing citations for other things, like dogs off leash. The motion was approved unanimously. Jim Morgan volunteered to draft the letter.
Bonnie Domeny made a motion to invite a Park Ranger to a future BRECA meeting to discuss policy. Carmen Mitchell seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. Lynda Hammitt to do the invitation.
b. Possible Tire Shop at Bradshaw and Folsom
A member of the audience stated that he had heard that a lease had been signed to open a tire shop on the property at Bradshaw Road and Folsom Blvd. They hope to open by the end of the month.
c. From the Floor
A member of the audience stated that she had seen people driving excessively fast on Bradshaw Road north of Folsom Blvd. She suggested that we should contact Tom Riggin with the California Highway Patrol. Bonnie Domeny suggested that we try to get the radar speed sign positioned nearer to the businesses on Bradshaw Road.
8. Meeting adjourned.
The next meeting will be a Steering Committee Meeting on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at the Rancho Cordova Library.