CTRA Board of Directors Meeting 1/7/05

Meeting called to order at 2:30 by President Kathy Durham. In attendance: Paul Garrett, Paula Sandas, Alexandra McFarland, Kathy Durham, Holly Welstein, Betsy Friebel. Absent: Erika Enos, Margaret Miller, Chuck Malone.

Minutes from the 12/03/04 meeting were accepted.

BOARD PRIORITIES/MAJOR DISCUSSION ITEMS

Libraries: The City Council on 12/13 voted down the proposal to close branch libraries and plan for a single, state-of the art facility in the future. However, proponents of a distributed system will continue to work to ensure that the branch libraries are not cut as part of the budget negotiations coming up. The board discussed taking a formal stand supporting branch libraries but no vote was taken. We agreed that our surveys show that most residents value the CT branch and being able to walk to it. Paula noted that a Steering Committee for the Future of the Library will meet on 1/11. She intends to set up a working group for concerned CT residents after that.

Mayfield Agreement: The agreement between City of Palo Alto and Stanford University concerning soccer fields, housing and development rights in the Stanford Research Park will be the subject of two hearings next week. (PTC will consider the Draft EIR and ARB will consider the design.) Because the EIR is so complex the board is not in a position to comment at present. Kathy has arranged for two city staff members to make a presentation and answer questions at a meeting at her home on Tuesday afternoon. Paul has put up a display, including hard copies of the Draft EIR, at the CT Branch Library. Public comment will be accepted until 1/27/05 and we will encourage residents to become informed.

CT Traffic Calming Trial: There is still no definite start date for installation of the speed tables and circles.

Dates for CTRA Events: A final decision on a date for the CTRA annual meeting, either 3/12 or 3/19, will be made at our next meeting after all board members weigh in. Because Easter and the PAUSD spring break are early this year, the board decided to schedule the spring picnic for 4/23/05, the day after Earth Day, rather than Easter.

OFFICERS' REPORTS

Secretary: Four board members have decided not to continue in office next year: Holly, Paul, Margaret and Donna. Susan Rosenberg, Joan Berman Segall and Linda Mahrt have agreed to serve on the Nominating Committee. Holly is still looking for one or two people from the part of CT between Oberlin and El Camino Real to participate. The first meeting will be 1/13/05.

Treasurer: Paula will meet with Donna and Chuck next week about the 3rd quarter report.

Communication Director: Betsy will plan for a newsletter no later than February 26 so that the slate of officers can be published 2 weeks before the annual meeting date as required by our bylaws.

Government/Stanford Observers: Erika attended the final ZOU R-1 outreach meeting and will report at our next meeting or by email. Kathy noted that there is an upcoming storm drain election-by-mail. The board decided that in both these cases we will not take a formal position, but will work to keep CT residents informed via e-news and our newsletter.

Several board members attended a meeting 12/9/04 about the Munger graduate residence planned for Stanford University. They gave input regarding CT concerns about construction traffic.

After meeting with Jean McCown, Alexandra has decided to do more research on community parking plans in use elsewhere before meeting with the CT Parking Permit Task Force. The planned January meeting will be pushed back to February.

NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be Friday, February 4 at 2:30 pm at Kathy's home.

Respectfully submitted by Holly Welstein, Secretary.