CTRA Board of Directors Meeting

7/22/03

Meeting called to order at 7:15 pm. A quorum was present.

In attendance: Grace Liu, Kathy Durham, Laura Forrest, Holly Welstein, Erika Enos, Paul Garrett, Paula Sandas, Alexandra McFarland. Absent: Jonathan Rabinovitz.

Minutes from the 6/5/03 meeting were accepted as revised.

BOARD PRIORITIES

A. Neighborhood traffic study:

Grace reported that one proposal for developing a traffic calming program in College Terrace was submitted to the city. It seems to be a viable proposal and in the coming weeks Joe Kott will negotiate terms in preparation for the City of Palo Alto to execute a contract. Once this happens there will be an opportunity for more CT residents, in addition to those already on the CT Traffic Committee, to be involved in the advisory committee's work. Board members were encouraged to suggest residents from all parts of CT who might be interested. Recent developments following implementation of the Downtown North traffic calming measures remind us that all stakeholders should be kept informed and heard from throughout the process.

B. Parking on College Terrace streets:

The next step for the CT Parking working group will be to get a cost analysis of the various plans (e.g. 2 hr. limits, no-parking during certain hours, resident license plate registration) which will happen in August. On August 20, Alexandra is planning a "communication session" with CT residents who have expressed concerns about parking via the survey, e-mail, or private conversation. This will help define the topics for "focus groups" of CT residents and commercial interests to be held later.

Grace pointed out that the traffic calming and non-resident parking groups will be moving ahead at approximately the same time and should coordinate their efforts so the two groups don't undercut each other's effectiveness. Although the issues are different, they may influence each other and it's important that residents understand the work of each group. Alexandra and Grace will be responsible for this coordination.

C. Mayfield site proposal:

Members of the board met with Jean Snider and Bill Phillips of Stanford Management Company on July 16 to touch base. Although the consensus was that the first neighborhood informational meeting should be held after the November election, the board wants to keep CT residents informed in the interim. Kathy and Paula will prepare an article for our late-summer newsletter. Paul, Alexandra and Laura will assemble a poster-display showing the proposed sites for fields and housing and put it up in the CT library. Paul suggested that as "things start happening" with the proposal, SMC may be willing to maintain a website (as they did with the 2475 Hanover project) that residents could access.

Several CT residents expressed interest in being part of a Civic Affairs Committee, in particular as a result of the publicity of the Mayfield site proposal last month. Erika and Kathy will contact them and try to set up a first meeting sometime in September.

OFFICERS'S REPORTS

A. President:

Kathy pointed out that no further work had been done on planning a CT election forum. The board again discussed co-sponsoring a forum with several other neighborhood associations and again decided to attempt our own in order to focus on local issues. Paula, Erika, Kathy and Alexandra will work on this. In addition, we will publicize through e-mail or newsletter the October 2 forum to be held at the Cultural Arts Center.

B. Vice-President:

There will be a memorial for Jim Culpepper at 4:30 pm on August 31 at the CT library. Paula moved that CTRA contribute $100.00 towards the purchase of a tree to be planted there. Erika seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

C. Treasurer:

Paula submitted a Treasurer's report for the first quarter showing total assets of $4671.09 of which $4000.00 is reserve. Now that Grace's PTA responsibilities at Escondido are over she will be assuming the budget and banking responsibilities. They will work together to formulate an updated list of donors.

Paula moved to formally accept the budget that we have been operating under since April. Alexandra seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

D. Social Coordinator:

Laura will post at JJ&F a call for artists to exhibit at the Labor Day picnic. John Cassidy has agreed to m.c. the bubble blowing contest. Plans for a live band are still not firm.

E. Government/University Observers:

Paul noted that there will be a formal opening of 2475 Hanover sometime in September.

Erika agreed to attend the Palo Alto Neighborhoods' Retail Forum on July 31. She will, however, be unable to attend the hearing on [[[ ?-August 7-?]]] concerning University Lutheran Church's variance request. Kathy and Paula will ensure that a CTRA representative is present.

F. Communication Director:

Kathy explained that she and Jonathan will meet this week and e-mail the board with an updated plan for an August newsletter.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on September 2 from 7:15 to 9:00 pm at Alexandra's home.

Respectfully submitted by Holly Welstein, Secretary, CTRA.