editor: Larry Ames
on Minnesota at Newport.
All four candidates will be there:
In addition, representatives from other races and issues will have tables set up with information: Come and become informed!
Also: Board Elections, and "News from Willow Glen"
Join us at the Willow Glen United Methodist Church Wednesday evening to meet the mayoral candidates, listen to their answers to your questions, hear what they envision for the San Jose of tomorrow. We are pleased to offer our members a close up look at those who wish to lead our city into the 21st Century. A mayor is crucial to the path that will be followed. How will economic prosperity be balanced with quality of life issues? What priorities will be followed for city budgets of the future? How will established neighborhoods like Willow Glen be protected and enhanced? How will we address our traffic problems? There are many questions which need to be asked and, more importantly, need to be answered. Come join us for a lively evening of information and socialization. A short general meeting will be held to introduce the 1998-99 slate of WGNA officers and quickly update you on Association happenings. We will then turn to an hour of political forum followed by tasty treats and good company. The candidates have been invited to stay and mingle, and information on several ballot measures will be available. It's also a great way to meet your neighbors! Our Board wants our members to feel welcomed, and we look forward to visiting with you on Wednesday, May 13th.
The coming months are important ones for the Association. We will be choosing boardmembers, holding a Mayoral Forum on May 13th, celebrating our 25th Anniversary on June 14th, and, with any luck, beautifying the median at 280 and Meridian. Before I go on, I would like to thank the present WGNA Board for their help and support over the past ten months. Each member has brought their own distinct contribution and I appreciate every ounce of advice and support. Four will be leaving the board - Joan Doss, Pat Whiteside, Paulette Ornellas and Dick Schwartz. While they may be stepping down from the board, we value their input and hope that their involvement in WGNA will not end. Pat has promised to continue to lead the Graffiti Abatement Program and Joan's sound advice will only be a phone call away. Paulette promises continued help with mailings, and I hope Dick will be willing to make a contribution or two as well. If more members would dedicate just one year to the board, think of how enriched we would be!
While our board has worked well together this past year, I am pleased with the new slate chosen by the Nominating Committee for the coming year; a slate which endorses the promotion of energetic new members while maintaining stability through those with experience. The Nominating Committee, led by Nell Aiello, included Joan Doss, Linda Herschbach, Virginia Holtz, and Esther Rechenmacher. They phoned numerous potential candidates, encouraging members to come forward and volunteer their time to enhance and preserve our community. On behalf of the WGNA, I thank them for their work. Finding volunteers in our fast-paced society is not easy and it often takes a personal invitation to encourage people to step up to the plate. This is a primary reason why nominating committees are used in organizations such as ours.
As you will note, we also have a member who, although not chosen by the Nominating Committee, would like to be considered for election. Your ballot is found within this Newsletter and it is important to us that you take the time to vote. We view your vote as an endorsement of the work we do in your name. I realize that it is not the same as when there are many candidates to choose from, but by returning your ballot by mail (postmarked by May 13th) or by casting it at our May General Meeting on the 13th, you can lend positive reinforcement to the WGNA Board. We certainly would appreciate your support!
Mark your calendars now for Sunday, June 14th! Plans are underway for our 25th Anniversary Celebration. It will be held in the garden of Becky and Dan Worsham. Becky is a founding mother of WGNA and has graciously offered to host this event as she did five years ago for the 20th Anniversary. Every WGNA member will receive a formal invitation as will those who have been instrumental throughout the years in volunteering their time to make Willow Glen the neighborhood that it is. Officials of government with whom WGNA has worked through the years will also be on our invited list. A casual afternoon affair is being planned, and we are working on a small art display as well. Margaret Hardy, whose son is a local artist, suggested that we have artwork exhibited which depicted Willow Glen life and experiences. The committee liked the idea and Margaret is in the process of contacting local artists. We hope many of you will join us as we commemorate and celebrate the founding of our neighborhood association, an association respected throughout our city for its community spirit.
All those who dropped off Christmas lights at Tony and Paulette Ornellas' house. After our article in the January Newsletter, bags of lights appeared out of nowhere and Tony was pleased with each new treasure he found!
Jan York Scianna for her service to the Willow Glen community as Councilmember Fiscalini's aide. Jan left in January to work in the private sector and her warm voice and 'telephone smile' will be missed by many.
WGNA members who attended the February 4th meeting concerning founders Day. The meeting, which was held jointly by WGNA and the Business Association (WGBPA), was attended by approximately 30 people who gave input that will be incorporated into the plans for the 1998 fall event.
Member Charles Luckhadt for representing WGNA at Airport Noise Advisory Committee meetings. These are held every four months and Charlie looks after the interests of our area as well as keeping us informed of any information that is pertinent.
All members who give donations to support WGNA. It is a goal of the President to contact each of you by phone to thank you personally. The project of the day often gets in the way of this goal, but be assured that your contributions are noted and appreciated.
At the February 11th meeting, the WGNA Board voted to continue the position of not objecting to a Billiards & Brew (B&B) closing time of 2:00 AM for Friday and Saturday nights, provided conditions and methods of enforcement offered to the neighbors were written into the Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Both John Karamanos, B&B's co-owner, and Meredith Avenue residents were present.
On February 25th, the Planning Commission held a hearing to reconsider B&B's request for late night hours. At this hearing, four Commissioners out of the seven were present, and, had not all four voted in unison, the issue would have been tabled and yet another hearing set. The Commission granted a six months trial period in which B&B will be allowed to stay open until 2:00 AM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The Commission also required them to continue valet parking until 10:00 PM and to donate $5,000 towards a permit-parking study. Because the neighbors were not offered mitigations which would lessen the impact of late night noise and parking, and the inclusion of late hours on a week night, in keeping with our original motion I withdrew WGNA's support for the CUP amendment. The determination in favor of a six months trial period was seen as a positive for B&B, and so we were surprised to read that Karamanos was not happy with the Commission's decision.
We continue to be concerned with the arguments set forth by B&B. Owner and management would have Willow Glen believe that their establishment is being picked on and that this, in turn, will scare off other businesses who wish to locate on Lincoln Avenue. That supposition is ill founded. The issues are, and have always been, late night hours and parking. They were told this from the beginning by then-WGNA President, Larry Ames, and again when they were denied preliminary requests for late night hours by the Planning Department because of the 24 hour policy. In an August 7, 1996 article, the Resident reported that "Joe Guerra, chief aide to District 6 Councilmember Frank Fiscalini, said that the Willow Glen Councilman is unlikely to support late-night operations at the billiard hall."
Prospective businesses are well aware that Lincoln Avenue is booming, and new retail and restaurants are being welcomed with open arms by our community. Relations between the neighborhood and the Lincoln Avenue Business District are very good, and many of the businesses are members of WGNA. Entrepreneurs are smart enough to understand that Billiards and Brew has problems unique to the building they chose (one with no on-site parking) and unique to the kind of business they are trying to establish (one with late night hours in a residential area.)
The parking situation is problematic because they are a large operation that has virtually all of its rightful parking off-site (at Bank of America), and that designated parking is barely being used. Valet parking costs $3.00, and people instead choose to park behind the new mini mall, across the street at the Garden Theater lot, or on Lincoln or Meredith Avenues. Both the lot behind Jamba Juice and the Garden Theater/Aquis are private and legally reserved for the patrons of those businesses who pay for and maintain these parking areas. When Vio Mi Vicino's opens on Lincoln Ave., parking will become even tighter. To ignore this problem and pretend that a few neighbors are "just causing trouble" is irresponsible. WGNA is aware that businesses as well as neighbors have complained about the situation. Admitting that the problem exists and then offering some mitigation such as free valet parking would be a beginning. It would show in action, and not just in words, that B&B is truly interested in solving the problem which they are creating.
The parking dilemma exacerbates the issue of late night closing, and is controversial because of the close proximity of residents. People walking to their cars after an evening of a few drinks and a good time are not tuned in to the impact their conversations may have, how their voices carry in the dead of the night, how their car horns and alarms disturb people's rest. Neighbors did not complain when they experienced noise because of midnight closings, but they feel that 2:00 AM is asking too much, especially on weeknights. There are city policies and ordinances that support their claims, but the policies, in particular, are open to some interpretation. And so the debate continues.
Other concerns, such as the precedent that may be set, are also valid. With the downtown core just five minutes away, does Willow Glen need a large establishment that stays open until 2:00 AM? What happens when other pubs want to locate on the Avenue? The neighbors have stated, "The residents ... are very concerned that the Willow Glen Lincoln Avenue business area could evolve into a late night entertainment area suffering the many issues experienced in downtown Los Gatos." Should some residents' nightly peace be sacrificed for the desire of others to stay out late? Should San Jose's police force be spread thin in the future, answering calls in Neighborhood Business Districts where entertainment establishments and bars are allowed to stay opened past midnight? These are legitimate questions which deserve thoughtful consideration and the respect of a supportive community like Willow Glen. These neighbors should not be isolated by letter-writing media campaigns against them. Let's stick to the real issues and do our homework before formulating opinions.
On the bright side: Meredith neighbors met with Councilmember Fiscalini to explain their situation and seek advice and direction. The neighbors were organized and presented an outline of their concerns, and Councilmember Fiscalini was attentive and assured the neighbors that his office would investigate and work with the neighbors on the issues presented. Councilmember Fiscalini did not feel that neighbors should have to endure late night noise. All in all, it was a very pleasant evening which left the neighbors hopeful that their Councilmember heard their words and would help them find solutions to their predicament in the coming months.
On March 11th, the Planning Commission approved the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and Site Development for the new Safeway at Hamilton and Meridian. This was the culmination of over six months of negotiations among Safeway, the San Jose Planning Department, and neighborhood elements. The plans were sent to WGNA in September of '97. Richard Zlatunich, representing Safeway, met with members of the Board then and again in October. The proposed Safeway will face Hamilton, and the present Safeway will remain until the new building is ready for use. After reviewing the preliminary plans, the Board sent a letter of comments and concerns. Major issues raised, and the explanations and/or results that were realized are listed below:
1. Traffic patterns in and out of the property along Hamilton, and at the Hamilton/Meridian intersection.
RESULT: The eastern exit is of particular concern because of the Hamilton Ave./Hamilton Way intersection and the curve in the road. Thanks go to Ralph Serpe and members of his neighborhood for urging "right hand turn only" ingress and egress at that access, which will eliminates left hand turns and the safety hazards they would have presented.
In addressing the Hamilton/Meridian intersection, it should be noted that the situation is already at "level E". The traffic analysis indicated that the project would measurably increase the critical volume at the intersection, but not so much as to violate the City's Level of Service Policy. Safeway did agree to fund certain improvements to the intersection which included the installation of a raised median just south of Hamilton, which should reduce the accidents and frequent slow downs caused by south-bound left turns into the parking lot. Safeway also agreed to fund the removal of "pork-chop" islands in the intersection and the installation of new signal equipment.
2. Angled versus 90 degree (straight in) parking.
RESULT: Neither Safeway nor the Planning Department was willing to go with 60 degree parking: it yields fewer spaces per acre than with 90 degree. The City's argument against angled parking is interesting: Because of environmental concerns, they are looking at the amount of asphalt they are permitting. Diagonal parking takes up more space. Problems occur from paving the earth. Rain runs off into gutters and out into the bay, instead of being absorbed into the ground, thereby decreasing the water table and increasing the fresh water runoff into the bay. The warming effect of an increased use of asphalt has also been documented. Therefore, the trend is to realize the greatest number of parking spaces per available area of lot, and economics is not the only consideration.
3. Zero lot line (no set back) on the building back side.
RESULT: In order to buffer expected impacts, normally a setback is required behind a commercial site adjacent to a residentially zoned parcel. Unfortunately, many of these well intentioned buffer zones have ended up blighted alleys where crime and debris fester in an unseen area of neglect. Instead, Safeway proposed to establish a structure-free easement that would provide access for building maintenance, which would be added to the setback required of the future residential development. This would create a strip of Safeway land to be used by the homeowners as part of their properties: the lots backing up against the building would be 20 feet deeper.
4. Vehicular and pedestrian access between Safeway and the Lenn/Meridian retail center.
RESULT: Many of us have used the access road south from Safeway to jog back and forth from there to Burger King, Blockbusters, the gas station, the post office, etc. The problem is that the easements to build the driveway were never obtained, and when Safeway acquired the land last summer, the courts ruled that no easements were included with the sale of the parcel.
Space is another factor against retaining the driveway. Safeway has a standard blueprint for the new stores they build, and, given the width of their lot, an access road on that side would be problematic. They have planned the loading docks and trash facilities on the west side of the building in order to place them as far as possible from existing and future residences. An additional 5 feet were added to the east setback to move the large structure away from the nearby townhouses. Even if that 5 feet were to be eliminated, the road would still have to be reconstructed to come in further to the west, thus impacting Thritfy's property. Also, Public Works felt there were safety factors involved with the close proximity to the loading docks.
The possibility of pedestrian access between the proposed residential development behind Safeway and the retail center on Lenn looks good. The Planning Department would not okay access from the Safeway site to the retail center at Lenn because they felt that the loading activities, truck circulation, and the secluded nature of a walkway going behind the stores did not meet their safety standards.
5. Preservation of existing mature trees, and plant new large shade trees.
RESULT: Safeway did not fit any of the existing trees into their plans. They did agree upon an increase in the box size of the new trees. The landscape plans include over one hundred trees - bronze loquats, jacarandas, yarwood sycamores, evergreen pears, and California redwoods. With the larger box sizes, we hope that a shaded parking lot will develop quickly.
The local Safeway is now waiting for final approval and the go ahead from central headquarters. Should that happen, construction will begin quickly and a fall completion date has been set. We commend Richard Zlatnich, Safeway's representative, who worked with WGNA and with the Dry Creek Village Townhouses in an effort to incorporate community concerns.
You are invited to participate in National River Clean-up Day, Saturday, May 16th, 9:00 AM to noon at any of several locations near Willow Glen:
the Coyote Creek at Williams Street Park (sponsored by County Supervisor Blanca Alvarado), or
the Los Gatos Creek at Vasona Park or the Coyote Creek at Hellyer Park (with Santa Clara County Parks & Rec. Dept.)
Call 408/299-2040 for the first one, or 408/354-6583 for the others, to RSVP and for details and directions.
The Los Gatos Creek in Willow Glen survived this year's floods pretty well. The Santa Clara Valley Water District is preparing to repair damage from the floods of Jan. 1997, and the City of San Jose is now repairing the Leigh Avenue trail undercrossing. Most of the trees and ground covers are thriving (even the willows that were underwater in January). The City of San Jose recently acquired the property rights to a narrow strip of land behind the Willowbrook Townhomes, so now construction of the trail to Meridian can commence.
Are you concerned about pedestrian/automobile safety on Willow Street near Brahmhall Park (Willow Street Park)? If so, please attend a very important meeting on Thursday, May 14, 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers, Room 205 of City Hall, 801 North First Street. We will be meeting with the San Jose Traffic Appeals Commission to appeal the decision to deny a request for an all-way stop sign at the corner of Camino Ramon and Willow Street (at Brahmhall Park).
The format of the meeting includes presentations from the Streets and Traffic Department, the San Jose Police Dept, as well as input from WG residents. (A note for all Seinfeld fans: Although May 14 is the night of the last Seinfeld episode, discussion is expected to begin by 7:05 PM. Therefore, you can support an important neighborhood issue AND watch the last episode of Seinfeld.)
With the death of Mary Nail, a 56-year-old neighbor attempting to make her way to Brahmhall Park, we are more concerned than ever about the safety of this residential section of Willow Street. Please invest an hour of your time to make a difference. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. PLEASE ATTEND.
[Patsy Neher is Coordinator of "Willow Glen Residents Interested in a Safer Willow Street"]
Councilmember David Pandori and Airport Traffic Relief Alliance (ATRA) co-chair Chip Evans addressed our recent WGNA Board meeting, describing an initiative they are working to have placed on the Nov. ballot. The initiative would require that the airport expansion (i.e., the construction of Terminal "B" or the adding of new gates to the other terminals) must not occur before the Guadalupe Parkway upgrade to freeway status is completed, the Coleman Ave/I-880 interchange is expanded, and the light rail system is brought into the airport via rail. The initiative also mandates that various traffic improvements are to be funded by the airport authority, rather than city or other funds.
The WGNA Board did not take a position on the initiative. We have previously publicly endorsed phasing (completing the freeway before the additional traffic load), and we've asked for some connection to the light rail station (although our position was that a bus or shuttle would be acceptable), but we have not studied the Coleman/I-880 issue nor the funding implications. The Alliance is currently gathering signatures to place their initiative on the ballot and are seeking volunteers to help with their effort. We have invited the ATRA to set up a table at our May meeting, or you can contact them at 408/792-0602 to volunteer or for additional information.
Susnnah Raney, area representative for the nonprofit International Student Exchange program, is looking for volunteers to house some high school students this summer. A group from Austria will be attending Gunderson H.S. July 14 through August 3rd, and a few others will be coming for a longer stay. Host families are only asked to provide a bed, boarding, and a loving environment; the student will be expected to bear his or her share of household responsibilities. The students speak English, are fully insured, and bring their own spending money. In exchange, host families can get partial scholarships for their high school children interested in studying abroad, and discounts for their high school children interested in various tours. Call Susannah at 408/229-1320 for more information.
The Association is continuing efforts to improve the condition of the median area at Meridian and I-280. Over the last several months, our progress has been slowed as CalTrans has been dealing with the affects of our "El Nino" winter on freeway landscaping. However, we have communicated our plans with the appropriate local and regional CalTrans officials. The improvement plans will consist of a centerline of trees with parallel shrubs and flowers on either side along the 200 foot long peninsula of median at the Fruitdale Avenue crosswalk. Based on our discussions, they appear supportive of our ideas to make improvements.
In support of our plans, CalTrans architectural and maintenance personnel recently conducted an "in the field" review to evaluate the general conditions of the targeted area. CalTrans has also provided us a copy of their planting guidelines for our review. CalTrans has concluded that WGNA can best accomplish its landscaping plan through the issuance of single day permits, rather than through the "Adopt-A-Highway" program.
The improvements will be accomplished through a two step process. The first CalTrans permit will be to remove the current dilapidated shrubs and to prepare the soil; the second will be to install the trees and shrubs. Per a request from CalTrans, we are preparing a simple outline drawing of the improvements for CalTran's review and approval. During the next few weeks, we plan to accomplish the removal of the shrubs through contracted support.
Many members have indicated interest in participating in the follow-up planting date. Under CalTrans rules only volunteers 18 years and older can participate. If you have already expressed interest in helping install the trees and shrubs, please expect a reminder call for the upcoming planting date. If you are newly interested in participating, please call us at (408)294-WGNA. With help from you, the Association's members, this area will soon look 100% better.
Q: What are those 2-3' tall plants around Willow Glen (e.g., on Willow, near Glenn) with pointed clusters of pink flowers, and are they flowers or weeds?
A: (1) They are "Jupiter's Beard" (Valerinan rubra), which the Sunset Gardening book describes as "rank, invasive, and much maligned." The flowers come in a dark purplish red, white, or the more common bright pink. They are very hardy, drought-tolerant, and "hard to beat for long, showy bloom in difficult situations." I have not seen them sold in stores, but they "self-sow" from dandelion-like seeds that drift on the wind.
(2) A weed is a plant you don't want where it's growing; a flower is something pretty that you do want. People take great pains to grow calla lilies and palm trees, but I pull them out as weeds when they are growing in my lawn. The Jupiter's Beard is a weed when it grows in the iris bed, but a flower when it grows in that strip between fence and sidewalk: the fact that it volunteered to grow and is happy there is a pleasant plus.
Every good organization needs a logo, a symbol to easily identify it, be it an arched yellow "M" or a curly "GE". Logos are used on letterheads and business cards, and also on tee-shirts and as icons on web pages.
We invite you to participate. Along with the election of the new Board, you can vote in an advisory issue as to WGNA logo you prefer. The choices:
(A): the logo WGNA used a decade ago, and then discontinued. Black and white, it represents the Willow Glen skyline.
(B): the initials W, G, N, and A, in different fonts to indicate the area's diversity, past and future. Colors are golden yellow and red.
(C): again, the initials, bold and solid. Colors are golden yellow, rust red, and black
(D): typical old Willow Glen street scene, using architecture and plantings to indicate the variety in the area. Colors are yellow-green, black and white.
(E): none of the above: go back to the drawing board. Suggested ideas are welcome.
the proposed logos
The selection will be by the Board (influenced by the vote), and will be unveiled at the 25th Anniversary Celebration. The final design may be modified somewhat from that presented here.
[Following is a poem written by a young man who recently moved away from Willow Glen but who remembers his days on Cherry Avenue. The Willow Glen community can feel proud that we provide a safe and nurturing environment in which the children of our neighborhood grow as strongly and brightly as our gardens.]
Do you remember
Some time back
When we were little
How we used to play
Everyday
It seems like yesterday
That Cherry Avenue
Was full of laughter
And water fights
Summer days
And slumber nights
We played guns
from three to dinner
then we sat
On Mike's front porch
And talked
About the weekend
And getting older
And girls
And our deepest dreams
Until our moms'
Voice echoed down the street
That it was time to go home
And do you remember
Putting up those Christmas Trees
And going to Dunkin' Donuts
At 5:00 A.M.
And how we banded together
When we had a problem
But we would gang up on each other
When we were tired of each other
I miss those days when I had no worries
And I'd come home early
To see Chris on the front porch
Excited to see his best friend was home at last
and the way I used to laugh
When Johnny would tell me a joke
But what about those football games
That Patrick took me to every Friday
I miss those days with all my heart
And I wish I had them back again
I cherished my time and my secret seat
Where there sat five boys on Cherry Street
The Nominating Committee has worked hard to present a slate for your approval, and all candidates would appreciate your vote of confidence. When choosing candidates, the Committee looked at factors of commitment to WGNA and its ideals of neighborhood preservation and enhancement, as well as the ability to work with others to get the job done.
You can not vote by e-mail. Paper ballots were mailed to all currently paid members: Renewals and new members may vote in person at the May 13th General Meeting. Paper ballots may be returned by mail, postmarked by May 13th, or cast it in person at the May General Meeting.
Pres. -- Kris Cunningham*
1st VP -- J. Michael Gonzales*
2nd VP -- Ralph Serpe*
Sec. -- Lynn Repetsky*
Treas. -- Margaret Hardy*
Elected Directors: vote for up to 4 (four) Directors
Larry Ames*
June Cooley
John Gibbs*
Tiralisa Kaplow*
Patsy Neher*
Nominating Committee: vote for up to 5 (five), plus an alternate:
Esther Rechenmacher- Chair*
Joan Doss*
Margaret Hardy*
Kitty Mahon*
Ralph Serpe*
Linda Herschbach* -Alternate
* Nominating Committee's recommended slate for '98-99 Board