Old San Rafael Neighborhood Organization

Neighborhood Meeting on March 22, 2007

Mar 28, 2007

Old San Rafael Neighborhood Organization
Special Meeting of the Neighborhood
Barney Ford Heights

March 22, 2007

The meeting was conducted in two parts, a general information session followed by the Special Meeting of the Neighborhood.

General Information Session:

Carol Tuttle welcomed the neighbors and guests, opening the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Candidate Forum

A candidate forum provided an opportunity for candidates for City Council District 8 and Council Person at Large to address the group for approximately 4 minutes each. Represented, either in person or by a surrogate, were Dr. Sharon Bailey, Carla Madison, Greg Rasheed and Darrell Watson as candidates for District 8 and Carol Boigan , Carol Campbell and Doug Linkhart as candidates for the At-Large City Council seat.

A brief question and answer session followed.

The candidate forum was video taped and will be available to view on-line.

San Rafael Tour

Carol Tuttle introduced Walt Hix and Paul Benington to present a Historic Tour of San Rafael.

Walt and Paul presented a slide show highlighting note-worthy residents, architecture, and general history of San Rafael.

Children?’s Hospital Redevelopment

Marty Jones spoke on behalf of a neighborhood committee that has been formed to monitor and work with the various groups involved with the redevelopment of the Children?’s Hospital Site. Children?’s Hospital will vacant the facility in September 2007. Marty indicated that recent presentations did not reflect earlier assumptions about the redevelopment. On-going discussions with the developers are needed to address neighborhood concerns.

Rick Wells from Cherokee Partners presented information regarding the current plans for the redevelopment of the site. Mr. Wells indicated the plans are in a development phase and will likely change, either in response to neighborhood concerns, economic drivers or new uses for the property (in particular as it is currently zoned hospital use, it could remain in this current use with no input required by the neighborhood).

Carol Tuttle emphasized that the neighborhood committee is still open to additional participation of people who would like to influence the redevelopment planning.

Shelly O?’Malley was introduced as a candidate for City Clerk and Recorder.

Special Meeting of the Members of the San Rafael Neighborhood Organization

Paul Brothe called the special meeting to order at 8:45 p.m. Paul Brothe explained the By-laws of the organization call for the election of new Board members at the May meeting of the organization. Because of the immediate need to work with the Children?’s Hospital Redevelopment a more active Board needed to be constituted.

Paul Brothe read the nominations for Board membership: Paul Benington as President, Carol Tuttle as Vice President, additionally as board members - Paul Brothe, James Heath, Marty Jones, Ron Covey, Skip Hibbard, Jeff Newman and Walter Hix.

One additional nomination was received from the floor, but the individual was not present. Without confirmation from the individual the nomination was not accepted.

By a ?“show of hands?” vote, the slate of officers and board members was approved unanimously by the thirty nine members present.

Paul Benington presented a packet of information regarding a proposal for a Zoning overlay. This overlay zoning would provide for future building restrictions within the overlay district. Paul Benington highlighted the process to include: a formal notification letter to all property owners in the affected district, community meetings to discuss the process and concerns, a petition drive for residents to support the application and a final approval required by City Council.

A question and answer session followed.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.