RNCC Meeting Minutes, March 12, 2012
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:02 pm by President Bea Roberson.
2. MSP approval of the Minutes from the February 13, 2012 meeting.
3. Representatives from the following 18 neighborhoods introduced themselves and some gave reports: Carriage Hills North, Coronado, Fairmede/Hilltop, Greenbriar, Hilltop Villages, Marina Bay, May Valley, North & East, Panhandle Annex, Parchester Village, Park Plaza, Pt. Richmond, Pullman, Richmond Annex, Richmond Heights, Richmore Village & Met. Square, Sante Fe and Shields-Reid.
4. Announcements from RNCC PIO: Goretha Johnson announced that will be a pancake breakfast at the Red Oak Victory, a community BBQ at Martin Luther King Jr Park on Saturday, PAL is having their annual luncheon on March 29,2012 at PAL as well as having the Richmond Rockets first playoff game at their gym. There were fliers for the Voices in Cloth 2012, an exhibit of over 200 EBHQ quilts and garments that will take place at the Craneway Pavilion.
5. City Department Heads/City Official Reports:
Public Works: Yader Bermudez passed out his paving and public works schedules for the next two weeks. He talked about what they will be doing during the rain, such as filling potholes, repairing Fire Station 61’s roof and they have almost completed the lighting at Shields-Reid Park. They will put the Booker T Anderson foot bridge out to bid this Friday, 3/16/12.
Engineering Services: Tawfic Halaby spoke about the Via Verde sink hole repair project. They do not want to build the same thing that is there now and collapsed so they are doing a new technique and they must close down a large section of El Portal Drive for 6-8 months. They will have very good detour signs and the work should begin around April 2012.
City Manager/Community Coordinator: Rochelle Monk has finally made her move but she is still part of the City Manager’s office, just a new location. She will begin with interviewing people about the Cities of Service group and will be looking for the residents input. The budget will be coming to neighborhoods soon and she will be contacting NCs to see if they are willing to host these events with other NCs. The NC clean up list is finalized and passed out. LEAP will be having an open house for volunteers. She also sent out the flier for the silly parade.
Mayor’s office: Marilyn Langlois spoke about the AC Transit board meeting being on March 14th in the City Council Chambers @ 5 PM. They rotating Meet the Mayor will start on April 6th in Carriage Hills/ May Valley location. Earth Day is coming soon with many city events as well as a Food Policy Council and the Family Literacy Festival on April 29th at Civic Center. Also, the EPA invites the Community to a meeting about the United Heckathorn Superfund Site on Monday March 19, 2012 from 5:30 to 7:00 with the presentation from 6:00 to 6:30.
Police Department: Deputy Chief A Brown passed out the crime stats that showed a spike in crime for the beginning of this year. He explained that residential burglaries are the biggest crime in Richmond and they still do not have a handle on it. They are in the 5th year of deployment for the community policing policy. They use crime mapping as a big tool as well as Code Enforcement which is a big part of keeping neighborhoods looking good and keeping the crime down.
Code Enforcement: Tim Higares spoke about the “Blight Tour” he took many officials on about the work they still have to do. Much of the “Seed and Weed” grants come from the US Attorney’s office and be seeing what is happening in Richmond they can begin to understand what is needed to make this “Blight” go away. He brought two of his officers, Mark Norman and Alma Munguia and Alma told us about the changes that the Public Safety Committee would like to make. One is stating that all cars over 20 years are “Classic” cars no matter their condition and allowing people work on any one’s car on City streets. Now you are only allowed to work on a car that is registered to you. Now, cars that do not run, have parts missing and just look like a blight, must be removed from public view.
Environmental Manager: Lynne Scarpa spoke about pest control and the rain. She also passed out fliers for the Bring Back the Natives garden tour May 6, 2012. She talked about how we could collect rain water as a way to conserve water during this rainy season.
Planning: Lina Velasco passed out fliers on the livable corridor, the urban greening kick off meeting, as well as the planning project list. She spoke about the General Plan-North Shore consideration coming back to City Council in April. The City is having an Educational Success Forum in April.
6. Presentations:
Invitation to the Chamber of Commerce Mixer by Becky Ross. Becky Ross reminded us of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce event at the Courtyard by Marriott on Thursday, March 15, 2012. The ROC is going to join all of the neighborhood councils and make donations towards their picnics or other events that the neighborhoods have. The Courtyard by Marriott is also having their grand reopening on Tuesday the 13th.
Marin Aggregate by Adam Lenz, City of Richmond: Adam Lenz spoke about a second meeting from the Community Choice Aggregation group at the City Council chambers on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:00. Also on Wednesday morning, March 14, 2012 there will be a Partners for a Healthy Richmond from 8 to 11:30. He also spoke about the 3R Energy Upgrade California. There is still money available soplease make sure your community knows about all the different programs through the City, the State and PG&E.
7. Old Business: None
8. New Business: None
9. Adjournment:at 9:03 pm
Thank you to Richmond Heights and North & East Neighborhoods for the refreshments.
Respectfully submitted by,
Jan Mignone
Recording Secretary