D1 L.G. General Business Meeting March 15, 2025 West Valley Branch Library
Steve Ling opened the meeting at 9:18 am.
Meeting Attendees: Steve Ling, D1 L.G. Chair, Gary Cunningham, D1 L.G. Vice-Chair, Jerry Giles,
D1 L.G. Secretary, Betty Kabanek, D1 L.G. Treasurer, and Doris Livezey, D1 L.G. Member-at-Large. Rosemary Kamei, D1 Council Member, J. Fruen, D1 Council Office Chief of Staff, Elizabeth Guimarin, D1 L.G. Emergency Prep Coordinator, Latanya Hilton, Richard Stevens, Daphna Woolfe, Bob Levy, Lloyd Bass, Gary Smith, Amy Cody, Chappy Jones, John Linthacum, Mary Inez Ortega, O Padnyaye Kresi, Parag Padnyaye Kresi, and Captain Tran, S.J. Police Department.
Amy Cody spoke about the Strengthening Your Neighborhood Association program.
Action item:
Motion to accept the 1/18/25 meeting minutes was made by Doris Livezey; seconded by Gary Cunningham; and unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s Report: We have $2,422.24 cash on hand.
Gary Cunningham reported on San Jose’s Measure T.
Round-Table Discussion: Daphna Woolfe, Lloyd Bass, and Amy Cody reported on their neighborhood associations, and Latanya Hilton reported on events/issues at Mitty High School.
Rosemary Kamei: Recruiting for 2 positions. The city budget report is out and a link to it will be sent to the D1 Secretary to distribute to members. Discussed the March 3, 2025 D1 Budget meeting. The 311 service will be brought in-house from the outside contractor. Discussed municipal electric power may be brought in-house. Discussed the Saratoga vision zero implementation and the Saratoga Village project. New neighborhood maps will be created. Discussed CERT & emergency prep. Wants a public meeting on Planning Commission activities. RV food trucks blocking view at Safeway on Payne Ave. Clear Channel is responsible to maintain bus stop canopies. There are no public trash cans on VTA buses.
Captain Tran: D1 made 1,600 emergency calls year-to-date, but most were low priority. Thirty-eight burglaries were reported and three assaults occurred. One person was arrested in the Safeway (Payne Ave.) shooting incident. Gang activity in D1 has increased.
Daphna Woolfe & Bob Levy Parks Presentation: City is not meeting its general plan goals for parks which are a 10-minute walk to a park, 3.5 park acres per 1,000 residents, and equitable access to parks. Park maintenance is backlogged over $500 million. Park staff has declined 18%, but park acreage has increased 22%. Not enough fee income is collected. No money is collected for park improvements. Discounts and credits for downtown and affordable housing developments have reduced fees. No fees are collected from commercial developers. They propose to create a 501 (c)3 nonprofit to revitalize S.J. parks and educate the city council and community on these issues.
Meeting adjourned at 11:15 am.
