Minutes of the Linda Vista Planning Committee
July 28, 2008 at Linda Vista Public Library

The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by LVPG Chair Donna Erickson. The Honor Guard from Boy Scout Troop #985 and Girl Scout Troop #3416 led us in the Flag Salute. A total of 42 were in attendance, Members Present: Bamford, Beckham, Bussell, Castro, Cleary, Cole, Corley, Duncan, Erickson, Hughes, Perwin, Riquelme, Rodriguez, Shannon, Spahitz, Stang, Tomcek, and Wilson. Members Absent: Carini and Morgen. Wilson left at 6:20 p.m. to attend a VFW meeting.

Because most of the audience wanted to hear about Vien Dong and Skateworld, the Chair rearranged the agenda. Government/Agency reps gave brief presentations: (1) Estella Klink from Bayside announced several upcoming Housing workshops including a course on Financial Literacy. ( 2) Katherine Fortner distributed the July Davis Dispatch and announced that Susan Davis would be in town during the August recess. Several workshops are being sponsored by Davis and she will hold aTele-Town Hall meeting. thanked Susan Davis’ office for the excellent service she received in a recent social security snafu (3) Melanie from Lori Saldana’s office handed out the Saldana Sun with comments.

Matt Dolan from InvestCal Reality, LV Shopping Center property managers and owners, introduced Sam Gorou and his son-in-law Marvin Alayse, who purchased the Vien Dong III market lease. Sam told us he had other stores in the community and would like to make this a grocery store with more multi-cultural products to meet all the needs of the community. Sam and his entire family look forward to working with the community; he told us that we could expect improved products and services under his management.

Libby Day from the City’s Redevelopment Agency introduced Maureen Ostrye and Eliana Barreiros. Maureen gave an update with regards to Skateworld. She reported that the Redevelopment Agency Board on 6/17/08 approved a six month lease so that the Agency could review and evaluate the situation. They are also working on an analysis of the Skateworld building – what the most effective and aesthetically pleasing solution would be. They will be providing the planning group monthly reports on their progress.

One of the Board members wondered why the Agency still did not acknowledge what the community desired even after the 2004 Katz Survey. Maureen said that they are still using the survey and just finished the RFP process with unsuccessful results. She reported that they will submit a new RFP request and recommend to the Redevelopment Board that the deed restriction of keeping the property as a skating rink be removed.

Donna Erickson commented that at the Land Use & Housing Committee Meeting, Donna Frye supported a long term lease with option to buy for Skateworld. To date, there appears to be no response from Donna Frye’s office on the apparent shift in direction. Ms. Erickson feels the City needs to pay attention to what the community wants – 80% in the survey said they wanted to keep Skateworld. She further stated that it has an intrinsic value - it provides our youth with a place to go/grow and Mr. Stang often mentors our teens, even offering them jobs. The building is the last remnant of the first shopping center in the US which Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated in 1942/43. Maureen responded by saying that Redevelopment really wants to have the entrance to Linda Vista look beautiful and the Agency is trying to look at new ways to accomplish that by utilizing the Skateworld property differently.

Stang, the Skateworld lessor, recused himself and sat with the audience. He shared about the historical aspect of the building including its WWII roots as a canteen where service men and women and defense workers gathered to relax from the stress of the war. He shared that his family has been leasing the property since 1976 and provides an intrinsic value not only to the children of Linda Vista but to the greater community. Mr. Stang said he would like to continue his operation and submit another RFP with the deed restriction. He reported that in 2007 he paid the City two times the minimum amount required by the lease.

Redevelopment’s Maureen Ostrye related that they had tried to work to resolve the financial challenges but that Skateworld without the sub-leases was not financially viable and could not make it on its own. Mr. Stang interjected that this was not an accurate assessment. Maureen mentioned that the City was subsidizing Skateworld. Several audience and Board members found that statement incredulous and Mr. Stang related that his leases over the years allowed him to rent space to various retailers and collect fees. Maureen concluded by confirming that there would be an updated report given by the redevelopment office to the Linda Vista Planning Group each month regarding this subject.

Roy Hughes had asked a question about the Shopping Center – through eminent domain how much did they pay for it? How long did they retain the property and how much did they get for it? Libby promised to research the subject and report back next month.

The two Action Items: (1) A Motion to Approve the June 23, 2008 LVPG Minutes with any corrections (including additions by Dirk Smith on East Tecolote and Tom Cleary on Thrift Village) was made by Beckham/Castro. Passed unanimously.

(2) After reviewing the City’s 63 page Wireless Facilities Draft Negative Declaration, Ron Tomcek and reported that (a) the dociment was technologically outdated, (b) it by-passed community planning group input, especially, if the Community Plan was “silent” about wireless facilities, (c) gave wireless providers a means to set their own rules, (d) allowed facilities in dedicated park land despite City Charter Section 55. Bamford/Tomcek then made a Motion to Deny the Draft Negative Declaration #42-3542 because it does not comply with council policy. Passed unanimously.

Senior Planner reported that on the City Council approved a boundary change for our planning group, dedicated open space to park land, rezoned RS1-7 land to OP1-1 and re-designated some Open Space land to School. He advised that our Bylaws had been pulled until the Fall. The City Attorney’s office is questioning the City’s right to approve bylaws with Brown Act deviations, therefore, our insertion of “knowingly” is a problem. A Motion was made Castro/Cole to have the Chair invite Deputy City Attorney Marianne Greene to our meeting to explain the Brown Act. Passed 16-0-0

Public Comments: (1) Alex Barrera announced that he would like our support in obtaining a beer and wine liquor license for his new market – La Tiendita de Linda Vista.

(2) Sheila Hardin from CCDC responded to one of our bus tour questions .She answered that CCDC owes the City $11.1 million. In the 2009 budget they plan to repay 7.5M and then continue a repayment each year. Their goal is to have the debt paid off by 2025.

Board Member Announcements: Ron Tomcek on the missing letters of the US Post Office sign; Doug Beckham on Terry Lennon’s Memorial Service; Rick Bussell on the new Mission Bay Ordinance; and on the Korea Cultural seminar (8/5/08).

Former Chair, thanked everyone for our prayers and letters during his illness. Before our Farewell To Pari, she introduced her replacement, Mark Sauer, who was with the Union Tribune for 27 years. Pari sat center stage while the planning group gifted her with a beautiful rainbow colored scarf for wearing “at home or abroad” wherever her travels and adventures take her. She was also presented with a “mantel of green” which expressed our wish that she be surrounded by abundance all of her life. Personal tributes were expressed and we thanked her for putting up with us. Pari shared that she was grateful to us for helping her grow.

Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted for approval by
Kim Shannon, Corresponding Secretary