San Gabriel

2002 Meetings' Minutes

April 9, 2002, General Meeting Minutes

MINUTES - General Meeting, San Gabriel Neighborhood Association
April 9, 2002

Call to Order and Introductions

SGNA President, Edgar Schrock called the meeting to
order at 6:30 PM and reviewed the agenda with the
members.

Minutes

Nancy Patterson, substituting for Secretary Alice
Jones, summarized the minutes of the last meeting.
The minutes were approved as read.

Treasurer's Report

The Treasurer reported that the treasury currently
holds $136.93. SGNA currently has 74 active members,
an increase of seven new members since February.

Social Committee Report

The newly formed social committee reported on plans
for a gala 4th of July celebration. The festivities
will include a potluck supper of traditional food,
games and a parade of costumed pets. Local businesses
will be asked to donate prizes for games. A raffle
and live music are possibilities. The committee is
seeking additional ideas for activities and volunteers
to organize prizes and the potluck.

Boundaries Committee Report

The committee reports that surveys were distributed
to the Palomar neighborhood, investigating the
interest of residents in merging with SGNA, reforming
their own neighborhood association or remaining
unaffiliated. Surveys will continue to be collected
until April 10. Early returns indicate a preference
for merger with SGNA by a strong majority. A meeting
was held April 3 among members of the Palomar
community to discuss the pros and cons of merger
versus forming their own association. The concluding
vote favored merger, with one dissenting vote opposed
to any association.

The committee recommended an amendment to SGNA
by-laws to expand existing boundaries to add the
blocks south of Bryant to 22nd St. and from Alvernon
to Columbus, excluding only the block immediately
south of Lineweaver School.

Members discussed the pros and cons of the proposed
change:
Arguments in favor of expansion
??˜ San Gabriel is adjacent to three unorganized
neighborhoods. This could prove a disadvantage if the
neighborhood were faced with an undesirable zoning
change or other local issue.
??˜ The proposed boundaries reflect historic and
natural boundaries of the community.
??˜ Expanded boundaries could promote greater
participation in the neighborhood organization.
??˜ People from Palomar are already a part of the
process. They have attended SGNA meetings and have
shown enthusiasm for organizing. Why duplicate the
efforts of formation of a new organization when we all
share common neighborhood concerns and interests?
??˜ Palomar?s old association retains a treasury
containing more than $1,000. A merger would make
these funds available to an expanded organization.
Arguments opposed to boundary changes
??˜ Arguments concerning negative zoning changes
are spurious. Any proposed changes would be subject
to public hearings in which input from unaffiliated
private citizens as well as neighborhood associations
would be sought.
??˜ SGNA has only 74 members from a potential
230+. We are still struggling to build participation
within existing boundaries. Perhaps our efforts would
be better spent building a stronger network in the
existing area rather than expanding our area of
responsibility.

Following this discussion, a motion was made and
passed to place a by-laws change for expanded
boundaries on the agenda for the next meeting.
Members will be given 15-day notice in writing prior
to the vote on May 7.

Police Report/Discussion of Neighborhood Watch

The President introduced an officer of the Tucson
Police Department who presented crime statistics on
the neighborhood, which remain low, although several
break-ins of houses and vehicles were reported. The
officer encouraged members to support Proposition 100
in the upcoming city election. The proposition
expands support for the fire department.

The officer reported the city is conducting a survey
on how to improve traffic enforcement. His comments
inspired a question about the process for seeking a
reduced speed limit on Alvernon. Neighbors noted that
the current speed limit is higher than for other major
streets and reported that most drivers exceed the 40
mph speed limit. Changes to the speed limit can be
initiated by sending a letter to the city?s traffic
engineer. The engineer would then conduct a survey
and investigation on the need for and impact of a
change. Any changes must be in accordance with state
statutes governing speed limits on arterial streets.

In response to another question, the officer reported
that the start-up date for construction of the new
Alvernon & 22nd St. Headquarters is still uncertain.
The issue is on the agenda for the City Council?s next
meeting, and a start-up date as early as next summer
could be announced.

The officer handed out a packet from the city,
describing how to form Neighborhood Watch groups.
These groups have three purposes: encouraging
neighbors to look out for one another, providing
advice on how to secure one?s home, and learning about
crime safety. Neighborhood Watch groups consist of
clusters of about 15 homes, with more than 50% of the
households participating. Studies have shown they are
effective in reducing crime.

The following members responded to the President?s
request for volunteers to lead NW clusters: Nancy
Gamboian Margaret Longo, Robert Redding, Mike Ebert,
and Amy Roads. Additional volunteers are needed to
provide full coverage.

Update on the Park Plan

Robert Just, the city?s Project Manager, issued
requests for proposals. His office decided that the
winning contractor?s plan was too elaborate and over
budget. The contractor has not yet responded to his
request for revisions. This delay has affected the
schedule, which called for a first presentation on May
7. The President clarified that the design shown on
the ballots distributed to residents was an example
and not a completed architectural design. Money for
the park development comes from the proceeds of a bond
issue for the development of new parks.

New Business

??˜ Easements: Members noted a need for the
clean-up and improvement of rear utility easements.
The easments are considered private property and not
subject to maintenance by the city. It is possible to
arrange for court-assigned community service
?volunteers? to conduct clean-up. Several suggestions
were made to organize members in a work project aimed
at improving the easements, perhaps as part of
Neighborhood Watch, since numbering houses from the
rear would be an important safety measure.

??˜ Formation of Traffic Study Group: Members
discussed the formation of a traffic study group that
would collect information about traffic issues. The
group will seek opinions and explore options for
traffic abatement, including the availability of
grants for installing such devices as speed bumps.
This group will also look into procedures for changing
the Alvernon speed limit and/or installing a
pedestrian warning light at Alvernon and Hayne and
other crossings. Since the hotel?s guests would
benefit from such a light, the suggestion was made to
enlist the hotel in any lobbying efforts for changes.
Several members reported dangerous incidents involving
attempts to cross the street. Dirk Arnold volunteered
to chair this group.

Waste Water Management Presentation

A member of the city?s wastewater management team and
a representative from Brown and Caldwell, the firm
hired to design the reactivation of the water
treatment plant at Alvernon and 22nd St, explained
their plans to the group. The completed facility will
handle more than 3 million gallons of reclaimed sewer
water, which will be pumped onto the golf course. The
Randolph Park Wastewater Reclamation Facility will in
no way resemble the Roger Road treatment facility,
which is a source of complaints due to noxious odors.
The facility will only handle liquid waste (solids
will be pumped to Roger Road). It will employ newer
technology and a far lower volume of waste. Pumps
will be underground, creating no noise, and all ponds
will be covered, reducing odor and breeding grounds
for mosquitoes. Officials explained that the plant?s
location corresponds to a new trend toward smaller
facilities that treat sewage locally. Truck traffic
will be limited to twice monthly chemical deliveries,
and advanced membrane technology will prevent
discharge of chemicals to the environment. They
denied the facility would negatively impact property
values. The meeting was adjourned following the
conclusion of this report.

Respectfully submitted by Alice Jones, Secretary

September 17, 2002, General Meeting Minutes

September 17, 2002 San Gabriel Neighborhood Association Meeting,

Minutes: taken by Melinda Esparza, for the Secretary

6:30 Called to order

Treasurer's Report

Police Report -- Sgt. Webster
Car thefts/larcenies are happening in the area (largely the Golf Course parking lot). Partying around the Doubletree. Neighborhood Association Presidents had a meeting with TPD about concerns.
a. Need for up to date information about the neighborhoods.
b. Division is focusing on problem of traffic
c. Substation to begin, 1 year to complete. Will be a service center for 140 officers. In answer to a question about noise, Sgt. Webster said that they didn't do siren tests in the neighborhood, and were very aware that they were in the middle of a residential area (as Midtown station is at this time.)

Traffic Committee -- Dirk Arnold
Has met several times, and is researching options and discussing what the committee would like to see happen in the neighborhood. It is time to get additional input from the membership. Contact Dirk to let him know your concerns 319-2322.

Social Committee -- Elliot Schrock
The 4th of July picnic went very well, as was reported in the newsletter, with good participation (80 people), games, events and food.

The neighborhood is now planning a neighborhood-wide potluck, as a chance to get to know more people from Palomar and San Gabriel. The potluck will be October 25th, at 6:30, in Lineweaver multipurpose room.

Neighborhood Watch -- Edgar Schrock
Two Watches have met and been established to date. New signs are already posted on the west end of Montecito for one of them. To get a neighborhood watch started in your area, see Edgar 881-7403.

Discussion of a name change for the Association
A motion was made to name the association "Poet's Corner". It was amended to form a committee to propose names for the Association, and to propose a name at the next meeting of the Association. The amended motion passed. Jackie is the chairperson.

New Business
Maintenance contract for the park is in Edgar's hands, call Edgar to see the contract. There is a line item in it which calls for the Association to carry liability insurance, that wasn't mentioned in the proposal. Edgar will red line that item, and sign and return the contract, but not before the next meeting, to allow an opportunity for the Association to review it in detail.

A Park name is needed, preferably by construction time, late October, 2002, so that it can be added to the sign. A motion was passed to have the naming committee also propose names for the park.

Special Planning session: Neighborhood Action Plan-- Ronni Kotwicka
The meeting moved to a "committee of the whole". Purpose of action plan: learn what's right, what's wrong, where do we want to go. When all the concerns were posted, the top two were tied:
1. Neighborhood beautification
A. street trees,
B. easement cleanup,
C. junk cars,
D. abandoned houses
1. Traffic calming issues
A. speeding
B. loud cars
C. not enough stop signs
D. Pedestrian crossing to the park

2. Crime
A. night time safety
B. noise abatement
c. Vandalism
3. Health concerns
A. mosquitoes
B. cloudy water
4. Business/Community Zoning

It was decided that traffic issues were already before the traffic committee -- so we were already taking action.

Under beautification, we heard from Scott on Trees for Tucson, Abe Marques reported that easements can be gated, to keep out loiterers, so long as the gates were unlocked for utility access days. We were informed by Sgt Webster that a Community Service Officer would be going through the neighborhood, citing and notifying owners of junk cars, and towing where applicable (unregistered cars in the street, on the easement, or that were hazards for fire, pest, or injury were towable).
Some easement clutter issues were discussed, and that calls had already been made on some of them. It was explained that Ronni Kotwicka and Ward 5 (Abe Marques) were best to call for abandoned houses, easement debris and hazard issues, and 'quality of life' city ordinances like junk cars, noise abatement and noisy cars should be reported to Sgt Webster. Crime should be reported to 911, and if you are concerned about an event in progress in the neighborhood, you can call 911 and ask (for example, "why is the helicopter circling my street?")

Crime is being addressed by the reports from the Police, as well as the formation of Neighborhood Watches. Edgar was collecting e-mail addresses for rapid announcement of issues of concern to the neighborhood, including crime alerts.

Mosquitoes, and water aeration questions could be addressed at a future meeting, if we had Tucson Water, the Golf Course, and Pima County Health Vector Control at the same meeting.

Zoning was raised as a question for the neighborhood, as some members were concerned that they were zoned as r-2, or R-3, when we had thought it was all R-1. Abe Marques said he'd look into the answers as far as he could, but that it was a Codes and Zoning issue.

Jesus Portugal stood and announced that he had a lot on 22nd street that he wanted to rezone from 0-2 to Commercial, for retail space, and would like to discuss what would be the neighborhoods concerns for the lot. Edgar said they had a new agenda item, and it would have to be addressed at the next meeting, in November. The owner stated that would be too late, so a motion was made and passed to hold a Special Association Meeting on the second Tuesday of October, to go over the rezoning proposal. Since the naming committee had been scheduled to present at the "next meeting", it was ruled that they should also be prepared with their recommendations at the October meeting.

Program: Trees for Tucson -- Scott

Announcements:
Edgar Schrock: There would be a Special Association Meeting on the second Tuesday of October, at 6:30, for rezoning and naming issues.
Abe Marques: There is a city Ward redistricting meeting Thursday September 19, 2002, in the Wilmot Library.

Adjourned 8:10

October 8, 2002, Special General Meeting Minutes

Minutes, Special meeting, Oct 8 2002 SGNA
Edgar Schrock, President, presiding called the meeting to order at 1835.
There was no copy of the minutes of the previous meeting.
The treasurer reported an income of $6 from new memberships, bring the total members to 101. There was a balance of $161.93. The social fund contains $12.

Rezoning presentation
I. A presentation was made by Jesus Portugal on a proposed new & used appliance store to be located on the north side of 22nd St, east of the Texaco, on two lots adjoining the child care center on Longfellow.
There was a discussion on the lots.
The store would require a rezoning from O-2 to C-1.
Discussion: What the zoning allows.
Discussion: Details of sketch of store presented by owner of the lots.
Discussion: Walls. Owner suggested 6 feet, taller if desired. Transients, drainage, fencing of easement were discussed.
The desire was expressed to see the plan when presented to the City.
This stage is pre-zoning-hearing; a good-faith effort to avoid problems.
Discussion: lot location
The owner offered biographical details; desire to own own business
Discussion: timing. What neighborhood wants & limits imposed by day care. Do we need more commercial activity? What happens when there changes to or failure of proposed plan?
Statements by owner: Hours 9-6, Mon-Sat. Lights will not affect neighborhood.
Discussion: easement
Owner statement: Replace empty lot with a nice business.
Discussion: Nature of neighborhood & change. Precedent of commerce on north side of 22nd.
Notice discussed: Within 300??™ notice is mandatory of re-zoning. Role of Association is to express opinions. Opposition would have to be expressed by individuals.
Opinion of group requested; no hands in favor; several opposed.

Naming Committee and New Business
II. Naming Committee Report delivered by chair Jackie Fahey.
Recommendation that no change in Association name was moved, and no objection being voiced was approved. Committee recommended park be named San Gabriel Park.

Motion: Petition City to name park San Gabriel Park. Seconded Motion to amend: Name to be Parque Marquez. Seconded. Discussion Motion to table in order to allow adequate public notice. Seconded. Voice vote unclear. Standing vote defeated motion to table. Discussion on amending motion. Voice vote unclear. Standing vote defeated amending motion. (over) Motion to amend name to Montecito Park. Seconded Discussion Standing vote defeated amending motion.. Motion passed to submit petition to City that name be San Gabriel Park.

New business:
Discussion: eyesores Motion made, seconded & approved to have Association write letter to owner of 4041 Camino de la Colina.

Announcements by presiding: More mail theft; steps for protection. Email list for Association news.

Adjourn at 1959.

Respectfully submitted by J.Ingram