April 7, 2007

Cortese holds neighborhood leaders summit

Vice Mayor Dave Cortese and his staff held a neighborhood leaders summit on March 27.

The purpose of the meeting, held with community members as well as neighborhood association leaders and staff, was to discuss community matters.

In the future, meetings will be held quarterly or annually, depending on matters that arise, that require the attention of neighborhood leaders. This is different than the District 8 Roundtable, which is independent of the District 8 office.

Twenty-three association leaders attended as well as representatives from the police, planning, transportation, the library and District 8 staff members.

SJPD Captain Michael Sterner updated the group on crime in District 8, specifically about the recent spate of nighttime burglaries in the Meadowfair, Ranch, Nieman, Yerba Buena and Delta neighborhoods. The police believe the suspects are Asian males in their early to late 20s. After reminding neighbors to always lock doors and windows—similar to the meetings held earlier this year—he encouraged the community to report suspicious people or vehicles in the early hours of the morning.

DOT traffic engineer Jim Bittner discussed his department’s role in calming traffic throughout neighborhoods. He discussed some of the tools DOT uses to improve traffic safety such as red curbs, stop signs and street markings and the police department’s role in controlling speeders.

Vice Mayor Dave Cortese

Community leaders questioned him about various traffic problems in specific neighborhoods, while District 8 Chief of Staff Rabia Chaudhry suggested that residents submit neighborhood locations in need of curb cuts and other problems to DOT.

Deputy Planning Director Laurel Prevetti updated the group on the status of the Evergreen East Hills Vision Strategy. She also suggested that interested residents attend the city council study session on Monday, April 30 and the council consideration of the EEHVS on May 15.

D8 Community Roundtable president, Jim Zito, explained what the group does and invited anyone interested in joining to attend the next Roundtable meeting. The Roundtable meets monthly, on the second Tuesday of the month from 7-9 p.m. at the Evergreen Public Library on Aborn road. On Tuesday, April 10, a speaker from San Jose’s Planning Department will be there to discuss the General Plan Update and the future of San Jose for the next 20 to 30 years.

Chaudhry also announced several District 8 events including Dumpster Day on April 14 from 8- to 11 a.m. Visit www.sanjoseca.gov/district8/cleanups.asp for more information; Carry the Vision Conference on Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m.- to 5 p.m. at Evergreen Valley College, for information, call (408) 535-4908 or www.carrythevision.org; Junkyard Day, also on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Evergreen and Mt. Pleasant High Schools, call (408) 535-4908 for more information; Rebuilding Together, on Saturday, April 28, an event in which Cortese annually sponsors a District 8 house for rehabilitation. To volunteer, call the council office at (408) 535-4908.