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Post date: Mar 7, 2015 4:40:08 AM
Attending
From RONA: President Jean Marlowe, V. President Mike Bertram, Officer-At-Large: Marcelle Kube, various neighborhood members
From City of San José, Council District 4 Office: Council Assistant Asim Khan
Lan Diep and Manh Nguyen, candidates for District 4 and Representing Lan Diep: Sonya Lu
Introduction: Lan Diep and Manh Nguyen, City Council Dist. 4
Agenda:
Landscaping and DOT
Email from Greg Gasso of Irvine:
As some of you may have noticed, we planted some star of jasmines in the medians. As of now, this is a temporary as the City is looking into having us add stamped concrete or pavers. We walked both sides of River Oaks Pkwy with the City Public Works inspector and are working on the contracts with subcontractors. We are planning to do the street work, damaged curb and gutter replacement, and replace the pavers on Research and River Oaks this March/April in one mobilization. We expect to be done with Construction by the end of April.
Thanks for the emails and suggestions Mike and Jean. I'll discuss more with our City representatives about this issue. We walked this area (the medians) a couple of months ago with the City and the initial consensus was to use a standard city detail for stamped concrete. We also discussed using a paver similar to what is installed on site and I believe this alternative is being considered. Since this work was going to be a few months out, we asked and received the city's permission to temporarily install the planting that is there now to help with the aesthetics in that area.
I will relay your concerns and see if the City will entertain the idea of keeping the medians as they are currently installed. If this is the route we end up going, IAC will ensure all sprinklers are working and providing water in the appropriate locations. I'll be back in touch.
Discussion regarding the stamped pavers versus brick and planting versus brick:
The neighborhood pays an extra assessment fee to have plants, not bricks in the medians, sidewalks, etc. We fall under maintenance 19, a special district for our neighborhood to have nicer landscaping – trees, flowers, bushes, and pavers (not stamped concrete) decorative lights, paving, etc., and it states in the Engineer’s report that it does not have to be beneficial to the city.
All the apartment complexes pay for this assessment too. 65% of the neighbors voted for this assessment. This was implemented in 2012-13 and is based on the Consumer Index and is perpetual.
One person reported that the landscaping was torn out and gravel was put in along with pavers. Another wondered if it was styled this way to ‘go with’ Irvine’s look. The neighborhood very much wants this neighborhood to continue looking like a neighborhood and not to have a city feel with concrete and bricks, etc. Everyone is agreed that Irvine should look like the neighborhood, not retrofit the neighborhood to look like them. It’s noted that Research looks nice and was done by the city, not by Irvine.
Another asks about the trees being cut down near Zanker. And another pointed out the dead trees in front of Irvine. It is believed that Irvine broke the drip system and now doesn’t want to pay for new trees or fix the drip system.
Mike asked if the neighborhood was willing to fight for this issue if the city threatened to take away the assessment and it was unanimously agreed that we all are willing to pay the assessment and will fight to keep our neighborhood special.
It is decided to contact David Sykes at public works regarding this matter and cc Asim.
Mike and Jean want to meet Margie Matthews. Asim says that she wants to meet with RONA as well.
Bike Way on ROP
Email from John of DOT:
We do not yet have a specific date to implement River Oaks Parkway bikeway modifications. There is still a bit of development activity in the immediate area we are waiting to get closer to completion. We hope to implement the project this Fiscal Year (by June 30, 2014). But we are not yet able to commit to that schedule. I will let you know when we have a specific schedule. Thanks for your interest.
John Brazil, Active Transportation Program
Department of Transportation, City of San Jose
200 E. Santa Clara St, 8th Fl., San Jose, CA 95113
Tel: 408.975.3206, Fax: 408.292.6096
Asim says that the city doesn’t want to do any kind of painting on the road or improvements until all construction is done, as the trucks will damage any repairs or improvements. District 4 has been in touch with public works.
Reminder from Jim Foran:
Irvine also needs to build a ramp to the levee that connects to the bikeway. None of their residents have access through the path between Parkside and Millbrook. It's private access only.
There’s a discussion about the impact on the berm if people are climbing up without a proper walking path. The Water District owns the berm and doesn’t want anyone on the berm, yet the Milpitas side actually has a path along the actual creek, and an apartment complex in Milpitas along the creek has a walkup as well.
Landfill Smell:
Petition?
The concern is that the odor will get worse and that any protest will go unheard because the city always votes to expand it.
Asim notes: It was already approved, but because Milpitas has threatened a law suit, they’ve decided to rehear the issue at the Planning Commission. There have been a lot of complaints to Margie’s office from Fremont to Cupertino, but it’s out of the hands of the City Council, legally. It’s wholly a matter of the Planning Commission. Asim recommends that everyone contact the City Clerk’s office. Margie’s office is trying to find a way to forward the emails, but isn’t sure it can be done, legally.
Handouts:
Previous minutes
Maintenance District 19 River Oaks Area Landscaping and Engineer’s Report
NSJ Approved Residential Unit Allocations Phase 1
The last handout is discussed in regards to Sam Liccardo wanting to break the NSJ Vision Plan in order to build more houses. This leads to questions for the candidates for District 4. We want more jobs, more retail and smart growth. We don’t mind more housing, we just want it to have a strong infrastructure with a balance between retail, jobs, commercial and homes.
Lan Diep and Manh Nguyen both are given an opportunity to speak.
Adjournment
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