APPROVED: December 16th, 2005

College Terrace Residents’ Association
Board of Directors’ Meeting Minutes
Monday, November 7, 2005

The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by President Kathy Durham. 
In attendance:  Kathy Durham, Paula Sandas, Hollis Radin, Larry Kavinoky, Erika Enos and John Mark Agosta. Absent: Betsy Friebel (ill), Alexandra McFarland (ill), Sheila Kothari and Nicole Thom.
 
Minutes of the October 3, 2005 Board Meeting were approved as revised.

BOARD PRIORITIES/DISCUSSION ITEMS
Nominating committee:
The board discussed the necessity of forming a nominating committee for next years CTRA Board of Directors. The committee members need to be identified by December so that they may begin meeting in March. The committee should reflect the diversity of College Terrace, including individuals who live in the lower part of the Terrace (near El Camino) and those who have been critical of the CTRA in the past. Numerous names were suggested. Paula will not be running for the board next year and Kathy will not be running for president.

Library Working Group:
Paula reported that the Library Working Group’s meeting with Paula Simpson, the head of the Palo Alto Libraries, went well. A pilot program is planned (hopefully at our branch) to use volunteers to help keep the library open for additional hours.

Traffic Calming:
The board discussed strategies for ensuring landscaping of the traffic circles after they become permanent (July 2007). It will be important to identify a key person in the City staff to help achieve this goal, share our research of creative, low-cost, low-maintainance landscaping ideas, and garner the support of neighborhood residents (especially those near the affected corners) and local organizations such as Common Ground and ReLeaf.

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the Downtown-North barriers become permanent, but the some opposition is expected at the Council meeting next Monday. Staff objects to live landscaping in Downtown-North due to future maintenance cost concerns.

OFFICERS' REPORTS
President:
Due to her new job with the City Transportation Department, Kathy will not be able to represent the CTRA at City Council meetings during the remainder of her term.

Treasurer’s Report:
Our bank balance is currently $3922.52. This is down slightly from last year at this time. We received $130 in voluntary dues in October, for a total of $235 since September.

Social VP:
Despite the rain, 30-35 people showed up for the Candidates and Ice Cream forum on October 15th and it was felt that this event would be worth repeating in the future.

Communications Director:
Many thanks to Betsy for doing such a great job with the newsletter and to all the folks (both retiring and new) who faithfully delivered the printed copies .

GOVERNMENT OBSERVERS
Zoning:
The Planning Commission will be discussing on Wednesday evening (November 9) a “Transit Oriented Development” overlay zone for the California Avenue Business District area. This includes parcels 2000 feet from the train station, except for most single family residential areas. A “Village Residential Zone” is also in development at City Hall. It may be similar to the “transition zone” that we negotiated for the Agilent site. The next Civic Salon (probably in January) should discuss these two new zones.

Stanford Management group may buy back their lease at the Agilent site and we may see changes at the upper end of California Avenue earlier than previously anticipated.

Stanford also notified us of possible changes to 3412 Hillview (on the other side of Foothill Expressway). While this project does not affect us directly, we agreed to let them know that we appreciate being informed.

Stanford Shuttle:
A change of direction and a change in tires have resulted in reduced sound from the shuttle, and an elimination of the turning problem at Stanford Avenue/Escondido Road.

Parking permit task force:
Next meeting will be Monday, November 14th.

Other:
A neighborhood resident has been in contact with County Vector Control regarding roof rats, and we will include information on this subject in a future newsletter.

Next meeting: The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday, December 9th at 3:30 p.m. at Kathy’s house.