April 2001 editor: Larry Ames

~ Wed., May 9th, 7PM ~

• Board Elections
• Panel Discussion: "Willow Glen Traffic", featuring
• Jill Escher, founder/president of "Walk San Jose"
• Leslie Wambach, architect/neighborhood activist in Menlo Park
• a representative from San Jose Streets and Traffic

Hear about a number of ideas that were generated by a WGNA Board subcommittee and presented to the full Board. Removed traffic lanes? Two-way center left-turn lanes? "Traffic chokers"? Round-abouts? Crosswalk lights? Bike lanes? Extra-wide sidewalks? Diagonal parking? The goal is to make downtown Willow Glen safer and more desirable for local residents and visitors. We would like to know your opinion about these ideas and any other suggestions you may have. Come attend our panel discussion at the May 9th General Membership Meeting at 7:00 p.m. and let us know what you think!

Also, come meet the candidates for next year's WGNA Board.

My second year as president will end with the election of a new WGNA Board at our May 2001 general membership meeting. I want to thank the current board and WGNA members for their valuable help and support to me during these past two years.

During my tenure as president, the WGNA Board had important victories in our mission to maintain a high quality of life for Willow Glen. First were our efforts to defend and support the integrity of the City's after midnight restrictions for business operations along Lincoln Avenue. Second, we helped organize residents and made the case for the passage of the City's new design review ordinance concerning monster homes. Third was working closely with Long's Drugs to ensure that its new building on Lincoln Avenue resulted in a positive presence on our downtown and the nearby neighborhood.

I believe that these three subjects are precedent setting and speak to the values that Willow Glen residents want to promote and enhance. In spite of what some might believe, WGNA is not anti-business or anti-development. However, WGNA does demand to be included in any dialogue regarding impacts to Willow Glen's quality of life and expects that when proposals are insensitive to this standard that adjustments will be made to remedy problems.

Again, it has been my sincere pleasure to serve as President of WGNA and I look forward to WGNA's continued tradition defending our community's quality of life under a newly approved board and President.

As you may recall a while back, through some financial support from WGNA and support from WGNA member volunteers, a long neglected landscape strip at the intersection of Meridian Avenue and Fruitdale Avenue was brighten-up with the planting of 10 new plum trees and other bushes. The trees are doing fine and the most of the bushes survived the past winter frosts. Our latest information is that as early as late this year, that Caltrans may provide some finishing touches of their own to our starter bed of plant life. Caltrans plans to add a complete curbing around the trees, installation of a new sprinkler system and some new bushes. Look for that area to get even better.

We have received reports that something is up at the Albertson's shopping center at Bird and Minnesota Avenues. It is rumored that the current businesses are on month-to-month leases only and that it is being contemplated as the site for new housing. This neighborhood shopping center is the location of one of the last surviving independent pharmacies for Willow Glen and has been the destination of thousands of local shoppers for many years. If the Albertson's were closed down it would have a significant traffic impact on the local neighborhood streets. The Bird and Minnesota Avenue neighborhood would not longer be able to drive a short distance or walk to the store, but would be forced to drive to either the Almaden Road or Hamilton Avenue Safeway. In addition, if the site were replaced with new condominiums or homes, then these cars would also be forced to drive to the same stores, which would add new traffic to the area's residential streets. We don't know the truth about this yet, but it has been put onto our radar screen and two current board members live near the store. Let us know if you know anything about this at our WGNA line (408/294-WGNA). This subject will be on our June Board Meeting agenda for discussion.

Pulte Homes recently held a community meeting to discuss a proposal to construct 30 new townhomes at the southeast corner of Delmas and Willow Avenues. Neighborhood residents on Delmas have already expressed concern about the probable increased traffic to Delmas Avenue that 40 to 60 new cars from the site would generate. Again, if Albertson's is closed, these cars will be moving on Bird or Delmas Avenue to Safeway on Almaden Road or on Willow into downtown to the Hamilton Avenue Safeway. WGNA has forwarded a letter to the developer and the planning department to open dialogue about appropriate architecture and scale, traffic and parking measures, landscaping, and a plan that promotes a pedestrian safe environment. Since the townhomes will be sold in the neighborhood of $500,000 ($15 million total), WGNA feels that there is ample opportunity to develop a project that meets the standards of Willow Glen and the nearby neighborhood. We will continue to monitor this project.

Last year's survey indicated that you, our readers, would like to hear regularly from our elected officials. Accordingly, we have invited several to write short articles for this newsletter, hopefully the first in an ongoing series.

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It is with pleasure that I write this article for the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association. I'm honored to represent a community that takes such pride in its neighborhoods. I know that by working together we can keep our neighborhoods strong and prosperous. I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the activities that have kept me busy over the past four months.

Councilmembers directly influence policies affecting their district by serving on specific city and council committees. The mayor makes these appointments after meeting with Councilmembers to discuss their priorities. I requested appointments to committees focusing on issues of greatest importance to me: neighborhoods, education, and transportation.

I was pleased with the mayor's appointments. One of the most significant assignments was to the Education, Neighborhoods, Youth, and Seniors Committee, one of the three working committees established by the council. This committee discusses all matters dealing with these four critical areas before going to the entire council for a vote.

I was appointed vice chair of the Traffic Calming Advisory Committee. I'm particularly honored to be on this committee as one of my primary objectives is to reduce the traffic impact in our neighborhoods. This committee focuses on policies that will lead to safer streets. I have held numerous meetings in Willow Glen addressing traffic calming measures for specific neighborhood streets.

Another significant appointment is to the City/Schools Collaborative. I will use my doctorate in education as well as my teaching experience and my eight years on the Community College Board to help improve the city's role in education. Since I have taken office, I have toured many Willow Glen schools, including Bagby, Booksin, Castlemont, River Glen, Willow Glen Elementary, and Willow Glen Middle School. The remaining schools will be visited in May. I support the city-sponsored Homework Centers located in Willow Glen schools and will continue to make sure they are fully funded.

I was excited to be appointed to the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens Task Force. This committee deals directly with policy and funding issues for the largest park and trails network in the city. In addition to creating a large park south of the airport, I want to make sure that people can hike, ride, or jog from Alviso to Lexington Reservoir.

As the Council begins its 2001-2002 budget deliberations, I'm working with Mayor Gonzales to make sure Willow Glen neighborhoods receive the types of programs it needs. These include increased funding for sidewalk, curb, and gutter repairs, tree trimming, dumpster days, crosswalk and street sign installations, Los Gatos Creek trail completion, and parks and library improvements.

Lowering the excessive speeds on Lincoln Avenue continues to be a top priority for me. Already, additional speed and safety signs have been posted on Lincoln Avenue. There has also been increased traffic enforcement, including the use of radar trailers to tell drivers how fast they are going. I am working on other safety improvements, such as lighted crosswalks. I will continue to look at other traffic calming measures that will serve as long-term solutions for Lincoln Avenue.

Finally, I'm pleased to announce that I will soon be opening a Council office on Lincoln Avenue. The office will be open in the early morning, midday and evening hours to provide times for everyone to stop by. Look for forthcoming information on specific days and times.

Please contact me with any specific concerns you have about these or other matters at 277-5166. My email address is Ken.Yeager@ci.sj.ca.us.

I would like to thank WGNA for providing me the opportunity to give an update on my activities. I look forward to working with WGNA's newly elected board to continue to make Willow Glen one of the best places to live in San Jose.

Warm regards. Councilmember Ken Yeager

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Will our electricity be out this summer?

If so, how frequently and for how long?

What can we do to help?

Unfortunately, when the temperature warms up this summer, California will be 3,600 megawatts short of the energy we will need to keep our lights on. 3,600 megawatts is enough energy to power 3.6 million homes.

In addition to the basics (close windows and curtains when you leave home in the morning to keep it cool), here are five simple things that you can do to help ease the power crunch:

a do not do laundry or run your dishwasher between 4:00pm and 8:00pm

a install compact fluorescent bulbs throughout your home - they use 75% less power and last 10 times longer!

a if you have air conditioning, set the thermostat to 78 degrees or higher.

a plan your meals so that you cook and bake several items at once.

a fix leaky faucets - a single faucet dripping hot water costs $1 a month.

These simple energy-saving methods, multiplied by tens of thousands of homes - can and will make a big impact. Set an example in your own home for others to follow and encourage your friends and family to conserve!

I would also like to invite you to attend "Energy Summit II" and share ideas for solutions and actions for a bright summer. The public meeting is set for Friday, May 4, 2001 from 7:15 AM - 12 noon at Synopsys Sunnyvale campus. Synopsys is located at 455 North Mary Ave., building 2 in Sunnyvale. Myself, Jim Beall, San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales and the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, will host this meeting. For more information, please contact my office at (408) 299-3924.

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In November 2000, the voters overwhelmingly approved Prop. 36, the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000. The measure was based on the premise that treatment is a superior approach to incarceration for treating substance abuse.

As of July 1, 2001, Prop. 36 mandates that a person who commits a non-violent drug possession offense or who violates a drug-related condition of parole may be eligible for substance abuse treatment in the community in lieu of incarceration.

Prop. 36 does NOT directly affect the laws against drug possession. It only affects the punishment imposed on persons who meet the criteria for eligibility for community treatment.

In broad terms, a person who commits a new non-violent drug possession or under-the-influence offense, or who is on probation for drug possession or under-the-influence offense, or who is on parole with no prior convictions for a serious or violent felony may be eligible for treatment.

County staff estimates that 6,000 to 7,000 persons annually will be eligible for treatment in Santa Clara County. Of this number, 1,700 are estimated to be new clients who do not presently receive treatment.

If you, a loved one, or a friend commits a drug possession or under-the-influence offense, this person will likely be diverted to treatment rather than serving jail time.

The County will also be required to site more treatment facilities (both residential treatment facilities and Sober Living Environments [SLEs]) in the community. This is very difficult to accomplish because many residents resist placing drug and alcohol treatment facilities in their neighborhoods.

The County has a Certification Program for SLEs to ensure that they run quality programs and are "good neighbors." The County expects to use this program as more facilities are placed in the community.

For more information about Guidelines 2000, the Group Home Certification Program, call Deputy District Attorney Julianne Sylva at (408) 792-2523.

For more information on Prop. 36 implementation in this county, call Sally Logothetti, Program Manager II, at 299-3800 ext. 7111.

To make a complaint on an existing group home, call (800) 447-1161.

The Town of Campbell has opened a new 10'-long stretch of the Los Gatos Creek Trail. While the piece is small, its importance is not: it opens up a whole new side of the trail.

When following the trail south from Willow Glen, after passing the Campbell Inn and crossing under Campbell Avenue, don't cross over to the Campbell Park but instead continue straight and stay on the eastern side. About a mile later, where most trail users zigzag across a narrow bridge, instead keep to the left and go past a gate, up to a sidewalk along San Tomas Expressway / Camden Avenue. Follow the sidewalk east a short distance to the traffic light and cross the road. (Caution: the road is ten lanes wide there and the traffic light stops only eight of those lanes!) Once on the south side, go a short distance west. Just as the sidewalk begins to ramp up a bridge, instead take off to the left on a dirt trail through an opening in a fence: this is the new trail segment. This connects with a gravel path along the east side of the creek that goes south for another mile or so. Eventually you will come to several forks in the road: all "lefts" will take you to the Mozart Ave. bike/ped over-crossing of Fwy. 17 at Fwy. 85; all "rights" will bring you across the Los Gatos Creek and back to the familiar pathway; and intermediate choices will bring you to percolation ponds, a bird observation tower, and the quiet Oka/Mozart district of Los Gatos.

Hopefully someday Campbell and the County will get together and construct a trail under-crossing on the east side of the creek at Camden so trail users won't have to face the ten lanes of traffic. For now, the east-side trail will remain "the path less traveled", but still an interesting alternative.

The Willow Glen Beautification Project (WGBP) is a joint venture of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association (WGBPA) and the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA), with the goal of beautifying the community by raising funds to purchase public art to be displayed in Willow Glen.

The Project funded three public art sculptures on Lincoln Ave. The Project has also commissioned three other pieces that were donated to the City of San Jose. These dedications have been done in conjunction with the "Music in the Park" series in Willow Glen. The most recent project is a ceramic tile project at the Willow Glen Branch Library designed by local artist Nina Koepcke with the help of kids from the Library's story hour (the project can be viewed on the Library's website at

http://www.sjpl.lib.ca.us/Branches/wg/mural/default.htm.

The Willow Glen Beautification Project is currently raising funds and seeking grants for a display of historic photos and murals on Lincoln Ave. The Willow Glen Beautification Project appreciates any donation and is always looking for new committee members. If you would like to be added to our mailing list and informed of upcoming events and dedications, please contact WGBP President Kitty Mason at 468-0100.

If you are moving, please let us know so that we can update our database and assure you uninterrupted service. You are welcome to continue your WGNA membership, even if you leave the state, as an "Associate" member - it's a great way to keep in touch with the old neighborhood through the newsletters and eList postings. And be sure to invite the new residents of your old home to join WGNA as well!

A couple new places of interest:

• Arena Green: The City is just completing a new playground. Located on Autumn St., between the Arena and the creek, it features a tot lot, a play ground, and a very fancy merry-go-round (with music and beautifully carved and painted animals).
• McEnery Park: This is a newly reconstructed park on San Fernando Street, downtown, just east of the Guadalupe River. It features "water play" for kids (and adults as well!). Sprinklers! Sand and running water! It's a great place to take your kids on those hot summer days!
• Santa Teresa Spring: This is at the northern edge of Santa Teresa County Park in far south San Jose. Located near the corner of Manila Dr. and Manila Way, this is a spring-fed pond surrounded by trees. The County has recently improved access to the site with walkways and boardwalks: a great place to sit in the shade and read a book. It is adjacent to the Bernal Ranch, with a restored historic house and barn.

It's hard to say! San Jose is a big city, and there isn't always perfect communication between the various parties.

You can help! If you receive a notice about some project in your area, please let us know. Often those notices are only sent to property owners within 300' of the project site (that's about 6 houses down and one block over), and sometimes the developers and city planners forget to contact the appropriate neighborhood association. Many times the projects are fine, but sometimes a modest intervention by the association can help facilitate an improvement beneficial to both developer and community.

Do you feel that the City Council boundaries have cut you off from Willow Glen? All of Willow Glen used to be in a single Council District, but the lines were redrawn after the 1990 Census, resulting in the southern part of Willow Glen being assigned to another District.

The boundaries are being redrawn again. To quote from the City's website http://www.ci.san-jose.ca.us/redistricting/

To express your thoughts, please contact the San Jose City Clerk's Office at (408) 277-4424, or email to pat.o'hearn@ci.sj.ca.us, or write to the Redistricting Advisory Commission c/o City Clerk, 801 N. 1st St., rm. 116, San Jose, CA 95110.

It's time to perform the annual ritual and elect a new WGNA Board. The back page of this newsletter is your ballot to elect next year's Officers, Board, and Nominating Committee.

As per our bylaws, this year's Nominating Committee (Lupe O'Malley-Chair, Larry Ames, Linda Herschbach, Ann Leever, and Peggy Rossignol) solicited and received nominees from the general membership (see the January newsletter). All qualified and interested nominees are listed on the ballot. The committee then met twice to suggest possibilities and solicit additional volunteers. The result is the excellent slate of candidates before you.

Your vote is important! It gives us the mandate to represent you, our members. It takes only a moment and costs only 34¢ in postage (free if you deliver it when you come to May General Meeting!), and it gives us a valid reply to the inevitable "and who elected you?"

If you have a household membership (as indicated by the "H" on the backside of the ballot), then each of two members of the household may vote: one member marks the choices in the left column, and the other member checks the right column of boxes. If you have an individual membership (with an "I" on the backside), you are entitled to a single vote: use the left column of boxes-any marks in the right column will be ignored. If you are a new member (less than six months), have a non-voting "Associate" membership, or have a complimentary membership (for city/county, churches, etc.), then sorry, but you may not vote (as indicated with an "N"). If your membership has expired (indicated with an "X"), you may vote if you include your renewal.

If time is short, feel free to vote by mail (it must be postmarked by May 9th). Or, better yet, bring the completed ballot to the General Meeting: you'll save postage, and you'll get a chance to meet neighbors and friends and to participate in an interesting and informative presentation.

After allowing time for the post office, the ballots will be collected and tabulated by impartial observers. The results will be posted on the WGNA.NET website, released to the media, and reported in the next newsletter (probably sometime in the fall).

The Nominating Committee has solicited and/or received the following slate of nominees. Note that, while the Officer positions were uncontested, there are more nominees for the Elected Board than there are positions, and so it is up to you to select from amongst the candidates. To aid in your decision process, each candidate was requested write a short personal description ("Who am I and how I can help the neighborhood, in 25 words or less") for inclusion in the newsletter. This "voter information pamphlet" makes for interesting reading, showcasing the wide range of qualified candidates residing in Willow Glen.

I have been on the WGNA Board for 6 years, participating in tree plantings, graffiti paint-outs, neighborhood clean-ups, and neighborhood/developer meetings. I have also taken on special projects such as the WG Beautification Project, WG Elementary Traffic, and Candidate Forums (as moderator). I currently serve as Vice-President.

Vision for WGNA: I was raised in Willow Glen and care deeply about retaining the quality of life in our neighborhood. As President, I intend to ensure that WGNA remains a strong association and a voice for the residents.

I would be honored to have your vote.

Born and raised in San Jose; my family owned a cry cleaners on Lincoln Ave. in the '40's. I've been involved with neighborhood cleanups, and have worked with code enforcement. I've just finished serving two terms as 2nd Vice President.

I am a native of San Jose and have an undergraduate degree from San Jose State University and a law degree from Santa Clara University. I am interested in serving on the WGNA Board because of my desire to maintain and improve the small-town quality Willow Glen's historic downtown and residential neighborhoods. I work for the City of Campbell as the Community Development Department, overseeing the Planning, Building and Housing Divisions. My background makes me uniquely qualified to work with the Board on urban design, neighborhood planning and quality-of-life issues.

I have lived in Willow Glen for 40 years and raised five children through the neighborhood recreation programs at Willow Street Park, Broadway Elementary School, Markham Middle School and Willow Glen High School. Along the way I learned how to create change and improvement for our community. Joining WGNA has allowed me to have a real voice in addressing our neighborhood concerns.

I've been a resident and business owner in Willow Glen since 1989. This last year I've served as an appointed member of WGNA, and I'd like to continue serving Willow Glen as a board member for this upcoming year.

V Vote for up to four (4) of the following five (5) candidates:

The "creek trail guy", bike and parks advocate. WGNA newsletter editor, eList coordinator and membership database manager. I design satellites by day.

I have enjoyed living in Willow Glen since 1983. In addition to serving on the WGNA Board this past term, I am a member of the Willow Glen Beautification Project, the Willow Glen Middle and High School Foundation (Board Member), and Walk San Jose (www.walksanjose.org - Board Member). I am currently also working on the WGNA Traffic Calming Subcommittee. I participated in the WGNA effort to extend the Los Gatos Creek Trail (from Blackford to Meridian), as well as several graffiti paint-outs. I look forward to doing as much as I can to enhance Willow Glen!

I moved to Willow Glen 7 years ago. I have been a member of the WG Beautification Projects for 5 years and am currently finishing my term as Vice President. Served as WGNA Secretary for two terms and a member of WGNA for 5 years. I'm interested in the on-going developments of Willow Glen to ensure the charm of our community is preserved, and in the San Jose noise abatement to maintain quality of life in Willow Glen.

My wife, daughter and I love living in Willow Glen. I am committed to the helping WGNA in making our community a safer, better place for all of us to live.

I am a 30-year veteran of the San Jose Police Department. Last year I was a candidate for the District Six City Council seat. At that time, I met many of you on the street, at your homes and at public meetings. During these discussions, I expressed my concern for the safety of our children, condition of our neighborhood library, how construction of homes and businesses should reflect the uniqueness of Willow Glen. Additionally I spoke about solutions to calm traffic in our neighborhoods and the Willow Glen downtown. I want be a voice about making and keeping our neighborhood a beautiful, unique and safe place for our families. That's why I am asking for your vote to the Board of Directors of the WGNA.

The incoming President is to appoint at least two, and up to four, Appointed Board Members of his or her choice.

This is the slate of nominees for the Nominating Committee: these are the folks tasked to assemble a slate of candidates in 2002:

• Larry Ames - Chair
• Kris Cunningham
• J. Michael Gonzales
• Linda Herschbach
• Ann Leever

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