Willow Glen Neighborhood Association Meeting
Minutes of Board Meeting
August 13, 2008
Attendees: Larry Ames, President; Hugh Graham, 1st Vice President; Joan Bohnett, 2nd Vice President; Ed Rast, Acting Treasurer; Rod Rankin, Secretary; and Board of Directors; Harvey Darnell, Richard Zappelli, Bill Cardoza, Steve Tedesco and Charles Luckhardt.
Absent: Nell Aiello, Board member.
The meeting was called to order at 7:09 p.m. by President, Larry Ames.
Agenda updates/revisions were called for and none added.
WGNA business matters
Minutes from the previous Board meeting were reviewed. Charlie moved and Bill seconded to accept the minutes into record. Motion carried with 9 votes and Joan abstained.
Treasurer’s Report: There were 13 new members this last month. There is an outstanding invoice due to Willow Glen books. Amounts paid are $1,500 to support Music in the Glen, $200 to United Neighborhoods $250 for Fendor Sound System and $1,500 to the Library Fund.
Investigating auto pay for reoccurring bills. Received $2,300 CAP Grant from San Jose to support Movies in the Park. The cost is $400 per night. Investigating running Historical Movie during Founder’s Day.
Ed motioned and Joan seconded to appoint Nell the new Treasurer. Motion passed unanimously.
Joan motioned and Richard seconded to appoint Ed to a Board Director. Motion passed unanimously.
Steve motioned and Bill seconded to accept Chris’s resignation from the Board. Motion passed unanimously.
Steve motioned and Richard seconded to appoint Bill to the newly vacated Elected Board Director. Motion passed unanimously.
Community Reports
San Jose Police Department - no representative was in attendance.
City/County - Aaron Quigley from the District 6 Council office reminded us that he is there to assist with any questions we might have of the city. He also announced both the Willow Glen and Rose Garden Movie Nights and reminded us of the Public Safety Meeting.
A county representative was not in attendance.
WG Business Association - Michael Mulcahy addressed the board. He introduced Gary Nelson from the WGBA as their liaison to WGNA.
Michael reviewed the upcoming events being held by WGBA. He also talked about the traffic concerns on nearby streets during some of the larger events his organization sponsors.
He also review the proposed CBID and talked about why there was a need for it on Lincoln Ave. Michael asked the Board to endorse WGBA position on the CBID. Ed suggested that WGNA take up this issue at a later time and send it to the Business Committee for further study. Harvey motioned and Richard seconded that the issue of supporting the CBID be agendized for a later meeting.
San Jose Unified School District - no representative was in attendance.
New Business:
Off-site meeting. There was a discussion about a need to have another off-site meeting to continue the work done at the first. Larry will coordinate dates and location.
Fire Station -
Richard suggested that Jean Dresden recap the current situation of the Fire Station issue, Larry chose to review for the audience and Board. Ed offered details of the operating costs of the Fire Stations and the capital shortage in the budget to build Station 37.
An opposition statement has been coauthored by the Vice Mayor and the District 6 Council member. If there are to be rebuttals they must be submitted by Tuesday at 5 PM.
Larry posed the question "Does WGNA want to take a position and if so there should be a small committee formed to write a rebuttal and give Larry permission to sign the rebuttal on our behalf." A motion to consider the question was never made and Larry introduced a discussion period first with the Board and then with the public. It became apparent quickly that the question of yes or no on Measure L was not going to be agreed in the majority.
Harvey at that point with Jean's help proposed that a more neutral statement be drafted. He offered up a rough draft of their thoughts. Harvey made the motion and Steve seconded that we use his position statement as a rebuttal. When the motion was brought to the floor 4 yes (Steve, Harvey, Richard Larry), 4 no (Ed, Joan, Hugh, Rod) and 2 abstain (Charlie, Bill), motion not carried.
Then a motion was made by Ed and seconded by Steve "shall WGNA oppose Station 37? Vote, 6 no (Joan, Hugh, Charlie, Harvey, Ed, Rod) and 4 yes (Steve, Bill, Larry, Richard), motioned carried.
Lots more discussion, Public and Board was allowed.
Next Motion made by Charlie and seconded by Hugh that we write a position paper to the Mayor, City Manager and Council using the spirit of Harvey's draft. Ed proposed a friendly amendment that we mention in the paper Policy 630 calling for more open public discussion and transparency in the future. Hugh also added that we mention that Station 6 will be needed to support future growth. Motion passed unanimously.
More public discussion was allowed. After that, many in the minority moved that we change our mind regarding opposing Station 37. The Secretary reminded the Board that the motion Not to Oppose Station 37 had already passed and unless someone in the majority called for a reconsideration, the motion stands. Joan (in the majority) so moved and Larry seconded. Motion so moved 7 to 3 (Hugh, Ed, Rod).
More Board discussion and lots more public discussion happened. Charlie moved and Joan seconded that we write a rebuttal with Harvey's words that was "informational". Motion passed 7 to 3 (Hugh, Ed, Rod).
Special Meeting with WGBA. This meeting should be in addition to our normal meeting schedule. It was sent to the business committee to coordinate and propose an agenda.
Fall General Membership Meeting. Larry proposed contacting the City Planner to speak about Vision 2040.
Newsletter. Larry called for article suggestion for the Fall Membership Newsletter.
History Book. Joan motioned and Steve seconded that $3,010 be allocated to pay for the reprinting and formatting of the History Book. Motion passed unanimously.
Committee and Project Reports
Due to the lateness of the hour no reports were called for.
Next meeting is scheduled for Sept 10, 2008, Willow Glen Baptist Church @ 7 p.m.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Rod Rankin
Secretary