Alcatraz Avenue Neighborhood Association

September 2001 Minutes

Minutes of Meeting: September 12, 2001, 7:00 p.m.

Location: Over 60 Health Center: 3260 Sacramento St. Berkeley, CA 94703

Attendees:
City of Berkeley: Ronnie Turner, Andrew Rateaver, and Alec Boga
AANA Officers: Ron Casimere (Chair), Andrea Cesar (Communications Coordinator) and Lori Lott (Secretary)
Alcatraz Avenue Neighbors

1. Meeting called to order at 7:20. Roll Call of AANA officers.

2. Introductions of those attending the meeting

3. Reading of the minutes was postponed so that City of Berkeley Update could be done first.

4. City of Berkeley Police Update: Andrew Rateaver and Alec Boga provided a description of police activity. The Special Response Team has been re-detailed to our area. They also informed us that although Casimiro Pierantoni (bike patrol officer) was unable to be in attendence, he is very active in our area, and willing to be contacted about any problems. We will include him on our email announcement for the next meeting.
Responding to complaints voiced at our last meeting, Sgt Rateaver reported that he listened for loud music in cars between the hours of 11 pm and 2 am. There were some that were quite loud, but not so loud that he would stop them unless he had received complaints. He also reported that he brought up our complaints about gunshots at the police team meeting, but it turns out that alot of gunfire reports are actually fireworks.
There were actual reports of gunfire on the 1600 block of Woolsey, but the gun went missing and people wouldn't cooperate, so there was nothing that could be done. Also, one resident reported a significant number of red-light runners (i.e. people passing through the intersection after the pedestrian walk signal changes) at the junction of Adeline and Martin Luther King, and perhaps that the timing of the lights was incorrect .

5. City of Berkeley Update: Ronnie Turner reported that the Progressive Baptist church is proposing Senior Housing, and aquiring properties nearby. Ronnie will keep us updated on proposed projects. Eventually, housing units will be built on the empty lots on Adeline. He also introduced Gordon Choyce again who has acquired the burnt out property in 1600 block of Alcatraz. He has submitted his application for use permit, and notices will be distributed for a public hearing. He presented preliminary plans for a 3 unit, victorian style building. He also reported that arrests were made of people who were using the house as shelter/drug activity. The house has been reboarded, and there has been no other activity.
Ronnie was also asked about the status of the Traffic Engineer position (which still hasn't been filled) and residents reported that there have been additional problems with peoples car's being hit, and traffic accidents along Alcatraz. Complaints were also raised about sewer lines and drains, and the poor condition of the sidewalks along Adeline (as well as a corner property at Fairview and Adeline that is being used as a urinal) Ronnie reports that the housing authority is working to have the alcove at this property blocked off, but they have nothing to say about cleaning the sidewalks. We were told to report all of these problems to Rene Cardin, Director of Public Works via email (rcardinaux@ci.berkeley.ca.us) or regular mail, and to be sure to cc: Ronnie (rturner@ci.berkeley.ca.us).

6. Financial Report: Fredia Smith was attending the CAT meeting on behalf of the AANA, so Lori Lott gave the financial report:
Balance Carried Over = $ 393.73
Current Balance (checking and savings) = $ 392.73

7. Due to the lateness of the hour, a motion was made to pass on reading of the minutes. Motion passed unanimously. Copies of the minutes were distributed.

8. 2001 Initiatives: We need to decide on initiatives and send a copy to our councilmembers and other City officials. Since so few people were in attendence, discussion of initiatives was tabled until the next meeting.

9. Next Meeting is scheduled for October 10 at 7:00 pm at the Over 60 Health Center.

10. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.