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Belmont Shore Residents Association MINUTES GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING October 14, 2010 The meeting was called to order by Secretary Jeff Miller at 6:00 pm. The other members of the Executive Board present were: Elizabeth Borsting, Julie Dean, Marvin Jones, Jim Lazarus, Treasurer Robert O'Connor, and Heidi Van Horn. President Aileen Colon, Vice President Terence Endersen, and Executive Board members John Forstrom and Adam Hattan were absent. Twenty-three additional BSRA members and visitors were present. The meeting agenda and the minutes of the September 9 meeting were approved. Librarian Debi Gurley announced the new library hours, which are now standard at all city library branches. She described the new children's reading program "Cover to Cover". LBPD East Division Commander Lisa Lopez spoke about the ongoing investigations into four recent "cat burglaries" (involving two suspects) in Belmont Shore. In each case a woman was home alone and discovered the intruder. Residents were advised to take precautions to prevent such incidents and to report suspicious activity to the police. Lopez reported encouraging low numbers of most crimes in the area, with the exception of bicycle thefts, which are high. Several residents spoke about the ongoing problem and hazard of bicycles and skateboards on Second Street sidewalks and asked for enforcement assistance from the police. Sherri Olson, spokesperson from Rite Aid Corporation, spoke about their wish to obtain a license to sell alcohol at their Belmont Shore store. She described the community outreach efforts they are undertaking and their precautions associated with alcohol sales. She addressed numerous comments, complaints, and strong objections from the audience; only two comments were supportive. Gene Rotondo, BSBA President, announced these upcoming events: Chalk Festival on October 23, Halloween Trick or Treating from 4 to 6 pm October 31, and the Christmas Parade on December 4. He explained the neighborhood cleanup initiative by the "Five Bars" (Legends, Panama Joe's Acapulco Inn, Club Evo, and Shannon's Bayshore Saloon) to deal with the detritus left by patrons (beer bottles, vomit, etc.) which consists of employee crews cleaning nearby sidewalks and parking lots at the end of business hours and in the morning. Rotondo can be contacted via cell phone at 310.779.2700 or email at legendssb@aol.com. Julie Maleki from Third District Councilman Gary Delong's office provided the status of several city projects: Second Street repairs in Naples are almost complete, awaiting resolution of a dispute with the contractor, the Termino storm drain work on Park Avenue is scheduled for completion in November, the Vista bicycle lane work is continuing with completion expected in November, additional Second Street bicycle racks and corrals are being considered, and sidewalk repairs will begin in January. Secretary Jeff Miller reported several additional membership renewals have been received. A motion was approved to purchase prepaid photocopy cards from Mailboxes Etc. for approximately $55.00. Treasurer Robert O'Connor reported the checking account balance is about $3,800. Secretary Miller reported the news from the Mayor Foster's office that he plans to appoint Eric Forsberg as the resident representative to the Parking Commission, and not BSRA Vice President Terence Endersen, the applicant endorsed by BSRA. Forsberg has been a member of BSRA since September 2008, but is not known to have ever attended a meeting since then, nor is he known to have ever attended a Parking Commission meeting. No one on the Executive Board, or any BSRA member in the audience, knows him. On the other hand, Endersen is a regular participant in the Parking Commission meetings. The ensuing discussion indicated that the position of the Executive Board is still that Endersen is the appropriate choice and there is no support for the appointment of Forsberg. Aileen will contact the Mayor to convey the Board's position. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm. Submitted by: Jeff Miller, Recording Secretary
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