editor: Larry Ames
Why is it that we often put off the most important tasks before us? For the last three months I have been busy with much - appointing new boardmembers, communicating with City Hall, setting agenda's, attending meetings. But what I see as the most important element of this commitment, connecting with our members, is just now being addressed! First, I would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote. I realize that it may seem trivial to send in the ballot when there is only one slate, but to those who have volunteered to be on the board, we do appreciate your vote of confidence. Perhaps, in the future, we can generate enough involvement in WGNA to have more than one person interested in submitting their name for office - a goal I believe worth working towards.
During the coming year, I would like for you to get to know who your WGNA representatives are and we, in turn, would like to hear more from you, our members. All of this will take time, but I'm confident that, with the help of a good board and those of you who are willing to lend a hand, we can better an already good association.
Let me start by telling you a little about myself. I am a native San Josean and have lived in Willow Glen for almost 30 years. My parents and two of my sisters live here as well. My husband, Gary, and I have three sons (24, 21, and 14 years old) who have attended private and public schools in Willow Glen, played little league, been involved in theater, and, in general, have been blessed to live the good life which our neighborhood is known for. I have organize and taught a preschool program at Kirk Community Center for over 10 years. My college degree is in Political Science and it is my love of our American system of representative government that draws me to this kind of work. My other love, the garden, makes me forever thankful to live in a climate where I can putter amongst the flowers for at least nine months out of the year!
I hope to write a brief narration on each of our boardmembers so that you will come to know them, as well. But how are we, the Board, to become better acquainted with our members? We usually meet at 7:00 PM on the second Wednesday of the month at the Willow Glen United Methodist Church on Newport and Minnesota. (Note: This month a school bond oversight meeting interferes, so the WGNA Board meeting is rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 8th, at the usual time and place.) You are always welcomed. Check 294-WGNA, or our web site (http://www.wgna.net) for date and time verifications. Also, watch for our upcoming Fall General Meeting. We will publicize the date well in advance, and attending these biyearly general meetings is important. If you have a concern or comment, please call us at 294-WGNA. I hope you will read our newsletters to keep informed, and to find out how to become more involved in the neighborhood. Opportunities to help in both large and small ways will be listed. We have a specific boardmember, Donna Jones, who will be taking care of our membership, looking for ways to reach out to both new and established members. I believe that together we can act as a positive force in preserving and improving our neighborhood and I look forward to meeting and working with you.
To many of us who dwell in Willow Glen, Founders' Day is the "big event" which brings our community together. For 16 years it has grown. In the beginning, a group of energetic residents put together a craft faire. As the years passed, the parade, a 10K race, the street dance and a car show were added. The celebration became so successful that the Neighborhood Association and the Business Association were asked to take over the responsibility of Founders' Day. Because of its location and financial benefit to the merchants on Lincoln Avenue, the Business and Professional Association agreed to manage the bulk of the event, with WGNA agreeing to host the Willow Glen Historical Walks.
Like many of you, the WGNA Board was disappointed to hear that the street faire portion, usually held on Sunday, was being canceled. Last year's crowd (30,000 to 40,000 on Sunday alone) is a testimony that the Willow Glen spirit is alive and well. We hope that given time to evaluate and to seek professional advice from other successful art/craft festivals, Willow Glen's Founders' Day will be brought back stronger and better than ever.
As for this year's Founders' Day, wouldn't it be wonderful for WGNA to be in the parade? Our secretary, Lynn Repestky, suggested that our presence could be as simple as families marching together, holding placards spelling out the different Willow Glen streets, kids - decorating their bikes in honor of our new bike lanes down Willow. If you would like to rally some of your fun-loving neighbors to answer the call for neighborhood representation, it is not too late. Better yet, if you would like to coordinate this spirited effort, I do not think it would take a lot of time and it could certainly prove to be fun. Anyone interested in this idea, willing to pull together their own street or the whole WGNA effort, please call 294-WGNA, as soon as possible. The Founders' Day parade is the greatest - one of the few sweet, simple, slices of Americana still to be found!
Meet at the Green and White WGNA Tent (Lincoln and Minnesota) Right after the Parade.
Once again, our expert guides are brushing up on their local history and will be leading groups on free walking tours down the venerable streets of Willow Glen. This year's chairperson, Evelyn Ucovich, and Fred Gardner from last year are developing an interesting and informative promenade that will begin at Lincoln and Minnesota, explore Newport and Nevada, and return before the stars come out! Edith Walter and our own boardmember, Paulette Ornellas, complete the team of expert guides. The Founder's Day parade should be over soon after 6:00 pm, at which time our tour guides will move into action. Meet us at the green and white WGNA tent on Lincoln at Minnesota. The historical walks encompass a one mile circle and will take approximately 1 hour. The tours are free, we ask only for your company!
In recent months, WGNA has received several calls by those concerned with "the big birds" flying over Willow Glen. Most of us are aware that the City Council voted for a variation on the "Project Case", the airport expansion plan which allows for full build out of the San Jose International Airport (approximately 2.5 times the present air traffic volume). With this in mind, it is essential for residents of our neighborhoods to ask for strict compliance to the recommended flight paths which have been outlined by the FAA. The prescribed flight track for the normal, northerly landings calls for pilots to head south to Lexington Reservoir and then turn left to follow Freeway 87 into San Jose International. If this pattern is followed, most neighborhoods are spared the noise intrusion. When pilots want to save time or fuel, they deviate from the recommended approach and take a shortcut across Willow Glen. I am in touch with a concerned member who, with the help of Frank Fiscalini's office, is trying to set up a meeting with airport management. In the meantime, if the noise becomes noticeable to you, make sure you register your concern with the Airport Noise Report Line (998-0707). Your remarks will be recorded and act as documentation of the problem. You are also welcomed to leave me a message (294-WGNA). Contact with our members helps us to understand the scope of the problem and makes us better representatives.
Since 1994, the City of San Jose has recognized those residents who, by improving the outside appearance of their property, have added beauty and pride to our community. Willow Glen is known for its well kept homes and businesses and many of our citizens are deserving of an award which recognizes the importance of an attractive city. You may nominate yourself or a neighbor. Award categories are designated according to improvements made to individual properties: Landscape, Structure, Historic Structure, Commercial, and an Overall Neighborhood Improvement category. Don't wait too long; we would like our neighborhood represented. Applications and pictures are due by Oct. 1st. For complete information call: San Jose Beautiful, 277-5208.
Founders' Day - September 13th
Stroll and Shop on the Avenue: 10:00 - 5:00 pm
Parade: 5:00 - 6:00 pm
WGNA Historical Walks: immediately after parade
Street Dance: 6:30 - 10:00 pm
Needed: Columnists, Free-lance reporters, anyone who would like to help with pulling together the newsletter. Someone with imagination who could help us bring together some of the new ideas we would like to try: a small garden article, a new members column, "Historic Willow Glen", perhaps a "look who's in the news" section. We have some thoughts, but we need additional folks who could devote some volunteer time to putting added spirit into this very important tool of communication. Right now, WGNA is publishing a newsletter generally four times a year but, if a number of us helped, we might be able to lighten the load and produce a newsletter every two months. Please think about it. We have some technical help already set up - lay out, printing, collating, etc., but could use any kind of help. Phone Kris at 294-WGNA.
At the WGNA August 13th boardmeeting, approximately 25 persons showed up to voice their concerns over semi-truck and gasoline tankers traveling Willow Street between Lincoln and Meridian. Another 12 neighbors left messages of support on the WGNA answering machine. Residents have seen an increase in semi-trucks using Willow and had contacted Councilperson Fiscalini's office to ask what can be done to ban the big rigs from Willow. The steps outlined by Fiscalini's office were 1)seek support from the Neighborhood Association, 2)contact the Business Association to make sure their input is included and 3)if support is obtained, a traffic count of 16 wheelers and tankers will be scheduled. After hearing testimony and discussion, the WGNA Board voted unanimously to request a traffic count by The Department of Streets and Traffic. After the count is complete and Traffic has issued a report, a public hearing will be held to discuss the request to ban trucks over 5 tons on Willow Street. Residents sited the following reasons as support for their stand: 1) Willow Street is mainly residential, 2) there are commercial alternative routes, 3) Willow Streetis narrow, 4) the bike lane has added bikes, roller bladers, and skateboarders to the traffic mix, and 5) Willow Street Park increases the congestion in the area.
WGNA is following San Jose's proposed Group Homes Ordinance as it wends its way through the system. United Neighborhoods is hosting another of its public forums on the subject on Thursday, Sept. 18th, at the First Congregational Church on Hamilton at Leigh Ave. You are invited to attend.
In early December, as Willow Glen streets begin to light up with the sparkle of miniature evergreens, our phone begins to light up with calls from enthusiastic neighbors wondering how they, too, might join in this Willow Glen tradition. Since it is important to start early, we thought we would give you the information now, so that planning time can take place before the Christmas rush.
Most streets find it helpful to work through a street captain or committee. This person or group would do the following:
1. Poll your neighbors to see if there is sufficient interest;
2. Contact a tree source as early as September to enable suppliers to pre-order;
3. Contact a source for metal rebar or stakes which are used to secure trees from wind/theft; and
4. Decide on dates and methods concerning an order form and flyer, money collection, tree distribution, and the putting up and taking down of the trees.
Tree Sources: Dave Green, Wholesales Trees (279-2451)
Payless Drug Store, Len Pruss, Manager (266-0333)
These tree providers have been contacted and are ready to take your orders now!
The WGNA Board voted to support a City of San Jose proposal for additional funding for parkland. The proposal was initiated by the directors of three City of San Jose Departments: Public Works; Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, and Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services.
There is a critical need for new parkland, caused by a widening gap between the need for the neighborhood parks to serve new developments, and the City's ability to acquire, develop, and maintain those facilities. That's because one of the major parks funding sources, from the "Parkland Dedication Ordinance" (PDO), hasn't kept pace with the rising land values. The PDO requires residential developers to pay a per unit fee for parks, or alternatively to dedicate land for parks. Affordable housing and housing downtown are exempted because the city needs the former, and there is no available land for parks downtown.
The PDO was established in 1988, when land cost roughly $300k/acre; land now costs ~$500k. The General Plan calls for 3 acres of park per 1000 new residents, but the current fees provide for less than one. The proposal is to amend the PDO to increase parklands with these measures:
Index the PDO free requirement to the land value (so houses in the expensive parts of town provide enough money to buy parkland in those same expensive parts of town)
Amend certain exemptions, and
Amend the credits for recreational improvements such as clubhouses which are not adequate substitutes for public neighborhood parks.
If you are concerned about this issue, contact us and/or your Councilmember (Frank Fiscalini or John Diquisto). The issue is presently scheduled for hearing on Sept. 9, but it is anticipated that the issues will be continued to a later date. Check the WGNA hot-line (294-WGNA) or the web site for late-breaking details.
WGNA continues the battle against the esthetic pollution of graffiti, with regularly scheduled paintouts - we meet at the American Savings Bank on Lincoln, just north of Minnesota, on the first Sunday of every month, at 10 AM. This is a great way to take part in your community, and to help keep it a nice place to live. It's also a great opportunity for students to perform the voluntary community service suggested by local schools. We offer training and supplies, and then you can concentrate your efforts in your particular area. We also offer free supplies for you to keep, should you prefer to paint out graffiti at times more convenient for you - contact WGNA (phone or web-site) for more details.
Orchard Supply Hardware, on San Carlos near Bird Ave., donated to WGNA over 17 cases of spray paint to help us cover up the visual blight. Many Thanks, OSH!
The City of San Jose has also provided supplies: scrubbers, paper towels, and solvent.
At WGNA's August 13th board meeting, Leta Frielander and Dr. Bob Hercshes from the Live Oak Adult Care Services explained the proposed plans for the property at 1147 Minnesota Avenue (the former "Learning Tree"). The Board was pleased to see that much care and thought had gone into the development of this project. The site was the home of a past Willow Glen mayor and holds historical significance for our community. Ms. Frielander assured the Board that their architects have been working with several historical groups to maintain, wherever possible, the authenticity and integrity of the building.
The Live Oak Adult Care Center will act as both a daytime facility for the elderly and as the administrative headquarters of Live Oak Services. The operation will be open 5 days a week. Adequate parking has been allotted and a horseshoe design entrance and exit will direct traffic off of Minnesota and onto the site. Ms. Frielander explained that they hoped to be opened by next summer. Realizing the solid planning elements of the project and recognizing the valuable service that the Live Oak Adult Day Care Center will provide for our community, the WGNA Board voted unanimously to send a letter of support to the Planning Department. The Board welcomes the Live Oak Community Adult Day Care Center - its administration, staff, and clients - to Willow Glen.
Willow Glen now has bike paths and bike routes! The City has painted bike lanes on Willow Street, from Blackford School to the Guadalupe Freeway bike path (near Tamien Station). In addition, Bird Ave. has been signed as a bike route that extends north to the arena, and more bike facilities are planned for the area.
The Willow Street bike lane is part of the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The trail will extend eastward from Blackford School to Meridian, but between Meridian and Lincoln the trail leaves the creek and follows Willow Street. At Lincoln, the trail will head north and will return to the creek as it heads downtown.
The bike lane increases safety by providing guide lines as to where cyclists are to go and where motorist should be. But care is still needed: a stripe of white paint won't stop a moving car, and drivers are now more likely to encounter cyclists as the usage increases. By the way: the bike lane is not meant for motorists to pass other vehicles. The lane may be crossed for parking and garages, and (as indicated by the dotted lines), may be used when approaching a right turn at an intersection.
The City of San Jose recently presented the plans for the extension of the Los Gatos Creek Trail from Blackford to Meridian Ave. The trail will cross a bridge from the school to the north bank of the creek, and will go behind apartments and townhouses, and past the San Jose Water Co. wells, before hitting Meridian near the fruit stand. The trail is fully funded, and is scheduled for completion late next year.
Completing the trail to downtown San Jose, where it will join the Guadalupe River at Confluence Point by the Arena, has long been a goal of WGNA, the City, and the County. County Supervisor Blanca Alvarado and Councilmember Frank Fiscalini are actively working to design, fund, and implement this last section of the trail. WGNA is expressing our whole-hearted support. You can help, too, by contacting them (phone or a quick note) to say you are interested, too. They are working hard for the trail, but there are many "squeaky wheels" out there, and it is hard to prioritize the trail if there is little demonstrated and documented support.
WGNA was also peripherally involved in the recent Los Gatos Creek "dry-back" controversy. The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) somewhat arbitrarily decided to stop pumping excess purchased water into the Los Gatos Creek so that it could flow through Willow Glen and out to the Bay. We met with concerned local residents, talked with SCVWD representatives, and then wrote a letter to the SCVWD Board of Directors asking them to consider environmental and community impacts in addition to pure financial concerns when deciding on flow rates. The creek flow has since resumed, and the issue is going to be more thoroughly evaluated. [Note: the SCVWD Board members we talked to were pleased by the controversy: the District's mandate is flood control and water supply, period. They were required to minimize taxpayer expense by stopping the pumping of water into the creek. They want to be environmentally responsible, and would like their official mandate to be changed to include stewardship of the land. The issue may come before the County Supervisors or perhaps the voters in the coming months - WGNA will keep you informed.
President Kris Cunningham
1st Vice President Tiralisa Kaplow
2nd Vice President Pat Whiteside
Secretary Lynn Repetsky
Treasurer Joan Doss
Elected board members: Larry Ames, John Gibbs, Paulette Ornellas, and Dick Schwartz.
Appointed Board Members: J. Michael Gonzales and Donna Jones.
Contact us by phone: 408/294-WGNA (294-9462), write to us at WGNA, PO 7706, San Jose CA 95150-7706, or by the World Wide Web at http://www.wgna.net
Motion of support to investigate and request clarification of the Water District's decision to turn off the flow of water to Los Gatos Creek.
Recommendation to Councilman Fiscalini's office that a traffic count be taken of
Semi-trucks traveling on Willow Street between Lincoln and Meridian.
Letter of approval to Planning Dept. for Live Oak Adult Day Care Center on Minnesota Avenue.
Letter of approval to City Council for Park Land Dedication Fee Ordinance.
Letter voicing neighborhood concerns related to the Group Home Ordinance.
Call us at 294-WGNA for more information