Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council
Building Neighborhoods Block by Block

1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by President Graham at 7:00 p.m.

2. SELF INTRODUCTIONS by each person present.

3. MINUTES of April 14, 2008 meeting-Approved

4. AGENDA REVIEW-Approved

5. NEIGHBORHOOD REPORTS: Eastshore, Fairmede/Hilltop, Greenbriar, Laurel Park, May Valley, North & East, Panhandle Annex, Parchester Village, Point Richmond, Pullman, Quail Hill, Richmond Heights, Richmore Village, Santa Fe, Southwest Annex.

6. CITY OF RICHMOND: Lamont Thompson, speaker;
• New Target scheduled to open in August.
• Announced June 5 Chevron Expansion/Planning Commission Meeting, June 5-Kennedy High School Multi Purpose Room, 7:00 pm.
• Provided Planning Dept. Neighborhood Project handout.

PUBLIC SERVICES: Rich Davidson, speaker;
• Provided Clean Water Project pamphlet.
• Discussed AT & T Lightspeed cable installation in Richmond as a competitor to Comcast entailing: Some trenching in the neighborhoods, bigger electrical cabinets, starting with 14 in the Marina Bay area, 46 boxes to be installed west of 23rd.

MAYOR’S OFFICE: Marilyn Langlois, speaker;
• Progress on Wireless Ordinance.
• Youth Employment in July.
• Tent City scheduled for 5/18-5/25.
• Chevron Expansion Community Forum scheduled for 5/29.

CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE: Bill Lindsay, Rochelle Monk, speakers;
• Requested that Neighborhood Councils submit their newsletters at least 2 weeks before their scheduled meetings.
• Graffiti kickoff of 5/10 well attended and went well, volunteers were provided kits to take back to their respective neighborhoods. Emphasized that NC participation is critical to the success of the program.
• Budget for 2008-2009 balanced, will go before the City Council on 5/20 and 5/27 to be adopted at the 6/17 Council meeting. Standard & Poor’s raised City’s rating from A to A+.

POLICE DEPT. Chief Magnus, Capt. Williams, speakers:
• Provided May 7 COMSTAT Report (Violent and property crime down overall, increase in the Northern District with Beat 8 having the largest problem especially during daytime hours).
• Security cameras currently being installed through out the City.
• New Code Enforcement Pamphlet draft unveiled. Report a Crime reward program in place.
• Civic Center Motel crime decrease. Bait car plan working. CHP finished working with City for now.
• WCCUSD: Paul Ehara, Director of Communications, speaker:
• Budget discussion, $10.4 million estimated to be cut from next year’s budget.
Reviewed joint meeting with Richmond City Council held in April.

BREAK 8:45 Refreshments provided by Richmore Village & Panhandle Annex-THANK YOU!!

7. EXECUTIVE BOARD
• Corresponding Secretary Genser-Maack –RNCC Newsletter/Brochure update.

8. OLD BUSINESS/Committee Reports:
• Zeneca/Stauffer Chemical Site Committee Report by Committee member Bea Roberson-Provided Toxic Site Map of Richmond; Group discussion of ongoing battle for development of the Zeneca site.
• President Graham passed around sign up sheet asking for additional volunteers for Committees.

9. NEW BUSINESS
• Guest Jackie Thompson from Tent City Organization: Tent City Board now established, is now officially registered and recognized as a Non-Profit. Asked for Neighborhood Councils to partner with Tent City in addressing the City’s issues.
• Brief discussion on the City’s siren system for emergencies/non-emergencies.

Meeting Adjourned by President Graham at 9:15 p.m.

James Jenkins, Recording Secretary

NEXT GENERAL MEETING June 9th, 2008
NEXT RNCC BOARD MEETING – May 19th, 2008

1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by President Graham at 7:00 p.m.

2. SELF INTRODUCTIONS by each person present.

3. MINUTES of March 10, 2008 meeting-Approved

4. AGENDA REVIEW-Approved

5. NEIGHBORHOOD REPORTS: Carriage Hills North, Fairmede/Hilltop, Iron Triangle, Marina Bay, May Valley, North & East, Panhandle Annex, Point Richmond, Pullman, Richmond Annex, Richmond Heights, Richmore Village, Santa Fe, Southwest Annex, Downtown Assn, Parchester Village, Laurel Park.

6. CITY OF RICHMOND:

PLANNING DEPT: Lamont Thompson, speaker; Items discussed;
• Chevron Expansion Project, Planning Commission review continued till June 5th which will include tighter conditions, clear mitigations.
• Mr. Thompson took a tour of the Chevron refinery.
• Took into advisement to have more and varied seating, for and against at the June 5th Planning Commission meeting.

ENGINEERING DEPT: Rich Davidson, speaker; Items discussed:
• Sewer laterals. Homes over 20 years old should have laterals checked.
• City will pay for up to one half the cost of lateral repair or replacement up to $3K for homes that had their laterals replaced after July of 2006. City will also do visual inspections but not use the TV method. The City’s Building Dept. can tell homeowners where their laterals are located if not sure.
• Stressed that senior homeowners should be leery of scams regarding lateral inspection.
• City will pay for tree root damage (but not trees located in front yards).
• Receipts for repair should be forwarded to City’s Engineering Dept, attn: Steve Friday.

MAYOR’S OFFICE: Marilyn Langlois, speaker;
• Update on Light Brown Apple Moth Spraying
• Update on the Wireless Ordinance regarding cell phone towers.
• Report on the 4/10 Chevron Expansion meeting before the Planning Commission.
• Reported on the Office of Neighborhood Safety/Boston Ceasefire presentation.
• Noted that community gardens are starting to pop up all over the City.
• Meet with the Mayor-April 25th, Santa Fe NC, MLK Center, 5:30 pm.

CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE: Rochelle Monk, speaker; Items discussed:
• Boundaries of Neighborhood Council handout.
• Update on graffiti abatement-Kickoff will be May 10th, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
• Meeting with the Recreation Dept. on the new Event application. Even though not officially approved the City, ok for neighborhoods to use. Fees still being negotiated.

POLICE DEPARTMENT: Chief Magnus, Captain Eugene McBride, Trish Aljoe from the City Attorney’s office, speakers. Items presented:
• PD Activity handout. Captain McBride reported that crime has been down in the South District.
• City curfew idea presented. City has a curfew ordinance in place, but is restrictive due to constitutional constraints. Requested NC help in identifying youth that would be affected.
• Study Session foreclosed homes and their effect on neighborhoods to be held May 22nd.
• Crime free housing program currently being worked on. (Continued on page 2)

7. GUEST VISITS, PRESENTATIONS: Dr. Bruce Harter, WCCUSD, speaker. Discussed:
• More students enrolling and attending college. Apprenticeship programs being utilized.
• Test scores are improving; however enrollment is declining due to population change.
• 2008 graduations to be held at Contra Costa College.
Dr. Harter or other representative will be added to future monthly RNCC Agendas.

Break: 8:43 p.m. Refreshments provided by the City of Richmond-THANK YOU!!

8. EXECUTIVE BOARD: Mail-4/17, 4/20-4/24 Earthquake training-Alvarado School, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

9. OLD BUSINESS: Committee Reports:
• Crime & Violence-Boston Ceasefire presentation. Still trying to get a meeting with ONS.
• Home Front Festival Committee-Currently in the planning stages.
• NUSA Conference Committee-1 Representative so far.
• RNCC Newsletter Committee-To be discussed at next RNCC Board meeting.

10. NEW BUSINESS:
• Announcement of new Park District Rep. Carl A. Coop.
• REACT Flyer provided-Requesting liaisons from each Neighborhood Council.
• Laurel Park NC-Invitation extended for Library Commission.
• East Bay Regional Park District-Invite to address the RNCC on the upcoming parcel tax renewal.

Meeting Adjourned by President Graham at 9:05 p.m.

James Jenkins, Recording Secretary

NEXT GENERAL MEETING May 12th, 2008
NEXT RNCC BOARD MEETING – April 21st, 2008