'
JOIN US ON THE NEXT WGNA MEETING FOR APRIL 2019:
HOMELESSNESS, HEALTH & SAFETY, THE ENVIRONMENT, & THE GUADALUPE RIVER
Date: Thursday at 7 pm on 25 April 2019
Location: Willow Glen Community Center, located at 2175 Lincoln Ave.San Jose, CA 95125 (between Malone Rd. & Curtner Ave.)
To see a copy of the meeting agendas, see our web page at Meetings > Meeting Agendas and then click the link for that month, March 2019. This provides a document in PDF format that can be viewed online, as well as printed. Agendas are posted once we come closer to the meeting date.
NATIONAL SAFE ROUTES
"BIKE TO SCHOOL" MONTH RETURNS
THIS MAY 2019 IN WILLOW GLEN
Seasonally, every year, Bike to School month returns in the spring (usually May), and Walk to School Day returns in the autumn.
Stakeholders for a Safe Green Village sponsors and organizes our annual National Center for Safe Routes to School"Bike to School" activities, the next occurring in May 2019. Co-sponsors include Willow Glen Neighborhood Association - WGNA and other groups.
Through the year, and as part of the celebrations, students at our elementary schools receive bicycles, helmets, and razor scooters.
This national event is organized locally by Stakeholders for a Safe Green Village in partnership with the National Center for Safe Routes to School. Our regular co-sponsor is the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association - WGNA.
WHO: PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS for the Willow Glen event include:
Willow Glen Elementary
River Glen School K-8
Ernesto Galarza & Hammer Montessori
Gardner Academy and Washington Elementary
Join children & adults around the world to celebrate the benefits of biking and walking to school:
- Encouraging a child’s next stage of independence
- Physical activity
- Teaching safe pedestrian & bicycling skills to children
- Awareness of how walkable & bikeable community improvements can be made
- Concern for the environment Reducing traffic congestion, pollution & speed near schools
- Sharing time with community leaders, parents & children
- Creating joy and fun!
- Promoting psychological well-being and alertness
- Fostering maturation and responsibility
- Creating habits of activity, empowerment and thinking differently
More info from our previous meetings...
FOLLOW UP on THE HOPE VILLAGE RELOCATION
UPDATE as of Monday 18 March 2019
The Hope Village Relocation to Willow & Lelong Streets was defeated on Monday 18 March 2019.
In a meeting at Gardner Community Center that evening (7:00 PM), Councilmember Dev Davis and Mayor Liccardo announced that a decision at the Santa Clara Valley Water District earlier that afternoon (3:00 PM) would prevent the use of this site for a homeless encampment. The relocation project had also received tremendous disapproval by area residents and stakeholders.
Subsequent meetings on the topic of the Hope Village Relocation to Willow Glen have since been canceled.
WGNA Issues Position Paper on
Hope Village Relocation to Willow & Lelong Streets
SUBJECT: WGNA Position Paper opposing the Hope Village Relocation Proposal at the site of Willow and Lelong Streets.
TO: Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD)
OUR POSITION: The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) strongly urges the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) to deny the requested permit and the use of this site for Hope Village or any similar homeless transitional housing projects.
See the position paper here in PDF document form.
Our Past Meeting on Wednesday 13 March 2019
Hope Village Relocation Community Meeting (Impromptu) w/ WGNA
The night's meeting on Wednesday 13 March was hosted by Willow Glen Neighborhood Association - WGNA at the Elk's lodge. The WGNA board members have since heard many of the concerns of the area residents and stakeholders and published a position paper to the Santa Clara Valley Water District on Monday 18 March 2019.
The last meeting on March 13th was an open house meeting, whereas the city councilmembers, county supervisors, representatives, and departments were invited to attend and speak. The WGNA Board encouraged Councilmember Dev Davis and others from the city of San Jose to participate along with all of the stakeholders in our community in an open house forum. The city chose not to attend, but the county sent its representatives.
IMPORTANT FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS ATTENDED:
Monday 18 March 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Valley District Board Meeting, "Homeless Encampment Ad Hoc Committee", located at 5700 Almaden Expressway. See Agenda here
Monday 18th - 7:00 -9:00 p.m., the first Community Meeting by Dev Davis and the city's Housing Department was planned at the Gardner Community Center, 520 W Virginia Street; but because of a determination made earlier at the Santa Clara Valley Water District, this meeting instead announced the defeat of the Hope Village Relocation to Willow & Lelong Streets. The meeting then ended early.
Also on this date, the community was to hear about the "Homeless Tiny Home Community Coming to Tamien this Summer". Further discussion on this related topic is yet to be determined.
Wednesday 20th (CANCELLED) - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Community Meeting / Elks Lodge at 444 W. Alma Avenue (off of Lelong). Dev Davis and the City’s housing department planned on hosting a second community meeting regarding the relocation of Hope Village, because of the frustration by many residents and stakeholders who were put on the wait list for the meeting on March 18th.
Tuesday 26th - 4 pm City Council Meeting Agenda item 4.5 "Hope Village Update" with Mayor Liccardo and the fellow councilmembers, including Councilmember Dev Davis. (The meeting begins earlier, but this agenda item is not to be heard before to 4:00 P.M.). See the Agenda at the city's website here.
[Further discussion on this related topic has yet to be determined, and whether or not it will be removed from the agenda, or discussed in a different context].
4.5 19-120Recommendation:
Hope Village Update.
(a) Accept the staff report on the status of Hope Village; and
(b) Direct staff to return to the City Council with an implementation plan and timeline for a city and county funded development of a new Hope Village.
CEQA: Not a Project, File No. PP17-009, Staff Reports, Assessments, Annual Reports, and Informational Memos that involve no approvals of any City action. (Housing)
NOT TO BE HEARD BEFORE 4:00 P.M.
Attachments Memorandum
Tuesday, March 26 - Santa Clara Valley Water District "Board Meeting", Headquarters Building Boardroom
4:20 p.m. Closed Session and 6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting. See agenda here
For more follow-up questions or other matters related to Hope Village and the state of temporary housing for the homeless, please email editor.wgna@gmail.com and your message will be forwarded to the WGNA Board. WGNA has already made its position on the topic; however, beyond the recent determination, we are interested in helping Hope Village and the homeless beyond the difficult predicament.
More info from our previous meetings...
Thursday 28 March 2019
Planned Fire Station #37 in Willow Glen
The last open house meeting of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association was a Town Hall Meeting with a panel discussion on issues relating to the San Jose Fire Department's proposal to build the new fire station #37 in Willow Glen, long planned on the site near the community center on Lincoln and Curtner Avenues. The panel members will include San José Fire Chief Robert Sapien, Jr.; Councilmember Pam Foley, District 9 (South Willow Glen); and Councilmember Dev Davis, District 6 (Central Willow Glen).
Additionally, we had a chat on the San Jose Fire Museum in downtown San Jose, with its mission on educating the public about the history of the San Jose Fire Department.
Wednesday 13 February 2019
Diridon Integrated Station Concept Plan; &
Update on the 2019-2020 California Legislative Session
The last open house meeting of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association began with a brief review and update of issues by the 2019-2020 Legislative Session by the staff from California Senator Jim Beall's office in the 15th District.
The second part of the meeting included several updates on the Diridon Station Area and the Diridon Integrated Station Concept Plan, a collaborative effort to redesign and expand the station. The four partner agencies working together on the Concept Plan include the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), Caltrain, Santa Clara County's Valley Transit Authority (VTA), and the City of San José.
In the past, WGNA has also hosted meetings on the Google/Diridon Station Area Plan (DSAP), whereas we will continue to expand on that topic here. Google is working on an application for a master plan development, and the City of San José is preparing to review its application in conjunction with an update to the DSAP. Leading the discussion will be Lori Severino, Civic Engagement Program Manager for the city's DSAP.
Welcome to WGNA online!
— An introduction to the website
We've made it even easier for you to follow along with all of the latest events and happenings here in the Willow Glen area of San José, California.
If you're joining us for the first time, welcome! The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association was established in 1973. The organization has kept residents informed on a range of issues from traffic to neighborhood safety, all for the sole purpose of creating a stronger and more tightly-knit neighborhood for people of all ages to enjoy.
This website includes great resources for both residents and occasional visitors. Learn about the history of the area, see what types of businesses and other projects are in development, hear about events where you can meet fellow neighbors and get engaged on critical issues, and become a member to lend your voice to the neighborhood and contribute to the future of Willow Glen.
We organize special community events throughout the year, as well as monthly meetings that often feature guest speakers from around the city. We also work closely with other neighborhood organizations in the area that share our core values. There are numerous ways for you to get involved, and we'd love for you to join us.
Thanks for stopping by, and if there's anything else you'd like to see, don't hesitate to contact us!
