Tag Archives: President’s Message

President’s Message: September 2010

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Stay Alert for Safety

The perception is that Redwood Shores is about as safe as Mayberry, which is close to true. However, there recently has been a spate of vehicular burglaries in the Shores. For example, in the last month there were 12 vehicular burglaries here, about half of which occurred at businesses along Twin Dolphin, the others being at residences (both homes and apartment complexes) across the Shores.

Redwood City Police Officer Kenneth Faljean explained to the RSCA Board that in many of these incidents the cars broken into were unlocked and/or had valuables or cords associated with GPS units or MP3 players in view. Ken also noted that burglars who commit crimes like these are opportunistic and that the best way to avoid being their victim is to lock your car and keep any items of potential interest, including electronics cords, out of sight.

While any crime in the Shores is a concern, Ken provided some statistics to help put things in perspective: while we’ve had 12 vehicular burglaries in the last month, another beat in Redwood City has had as many as 150 in the same period of time. So, on an absolute scale, we’re practically crime free. That said, we can reduce our already low crime rate by taking some simple precautions.

On another safety-related point, Officer Faljean shared some information on traffic citations issued by the Police in Redwood Shores. It turns out that in the last month around a third of the 126 citations issued were for stop sign violations, including rolling stops. Be advised that the police are on the watch for this type of violation, which you can easily avoid by stopping completely at intersections. In addition, the Police pay close attention to crosswalk violations, where a driver proceeds through an intersection when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk. This sort of violation can lead to an expensive ticket, and obviously is dangerous to pedestrians. This is a particularly serious issue now that our two schools are in session. So, please pay attention when you’re at a crosswalk, especially near our schools, and be sure to yield to pedestrians until they are through the crosswalk.

New School Opening

On August 15, I was proud to attend the ribbon cutting and open house for our new school, Redwood Shores Elementary. I hope you had a chance to see it — it’s a beautiful school on an ideal site that will provide a great learning environment for our kids. Its opening ensures that all of our elementary-age children will be able to attend school close to home. As such, the opening of the Redwood Shores Elementary completes Redwood Shores and is a tribute to those in our community who made it possible. This includes the many Shores residents who worked for six years to make this a reality (including the New Shores School Advisory Committee and the Measure C Bond Oversight Committee), and the community as a whole — which overwhelmingly voted for the bonds that paid for the project.

President’s Message: August 2010

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Summer Thoughts

Just last night, around 100 neighbors and I enjoyed a great concert in Marlin Park by the Internationals, a four man band from the South Bay that specializes in German beer garden music (the Lederhosen were a give away). They played plenty of polkas, but they also mixed in some spectacular cowboy yodeling, an Italian favorite, and a good bit of comedy.

The concert was sponsored by RSCA along with Redwood City, and is just one example of the good things that happen in the Shores in the summer. At the same time, a good-sized group was sweating through what looked like a basic-training workout on the basketball court, and a girls’ soccer match was underway on the field. I also was able to check out the new bench that was recently installed near the lagoon (pretty much straight out from where Cringle meets Neptune) as a memorial to LaVerne Atherley, former president of RSCA and long time supporter of Redwood Shores. RSCA wants to thank the City for their help with this, as they approved the location we hoped for, poured the cement base, and installed the bench. We’ll have a memorial plaque installed on the bench soon.

So, some beautiful evening before the end of the summer, take a walk down to Marlin Park and enjoy the view from LaVerne’s bench. It might hit you, just like it hit me last night, how special is summer in the Shores.

A Bit More on the Architectural Design Board (ADB)

I mentioned last month that the Redwood Shores Architectural Design Review Board (ADB) is responsible for overseeing the Codes Covenants and Restrictions (CC&Rs) in a number of Redwood Shores neighborhoods west of Shell Parkway, including the Marlin and Dolphin Park neighborhoods.

This month, I’d like to mention a few specific items that fall under the CC&Rs that might surprise you:

  • Fences: The CC&Rs specify where fences can be installed and how high they can be. Fences that are too tall or are too close to the front property line create visual barriers and are unattractive. For this reason, all fence installations need to be approved by the ADB.
  • Landscaping: The CC&Rs require that all front yards be landscaped and that all landscaping be in good condition, with no dead plants, or weeds. Nothing hurts neighborhood property values like poorly maintained front yards. If you’re property is run down, please take care of it; if you’re planning some landscaping, please submit your plans for ADB approval.
  • Exterior Color Schemes: The CC&R’s require that all changes in exterior color schemes be approved by the ADB. While neighborhoods covered by the ADB don’t have strict color palettes, ADB review is intended to ensure that exterior colors are consistent, which helps maintain a harmonious feel and high property values across all ADB neighborhoods.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

— Doug Crisman , RSCA President

President’s Message: July 2010

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Architectural Design Board (ADB)

You most likely know RSCA for the family events we sponsor, such as our Halloween Walk, Eggstravaganza, and summer concerts in Marlin Park. Or, you might be aware of our advocacy for the Shores on issues like levee improvements, or the community meetings and forums we sponsor. We also serve a purpose that is not visible to most of you — we are the umbrella organization for the Redwood Shores Architectural Design Review Board (ADB), which is responsible for overseeing compliance with Codes Covenants and Restrictions (CC&Rs) in a number of Redwood Shores neighborhoods west of Shell Parkway, including the Marlin and Dolphin Park neighborhoods.

If you live in one of these neighborhoods (please ask an ADB member if you’re not sure — see the Pilot for members’ contact information), these CC&Rs run with your property and are binding on you and all future property owners. The CC&Rs are spelled out in a publication that you can purchase from the ADB. If you need a copy, please contact Carol Ford at her email listed inside the Pilot. Among other things, the CC&Rs specify setbacks for structures, the permitted height and position of fences, and landscaping and ground maintenance guidelines. The CC&R’s also require that no building or alterations of dwellings (e.g., one or two-story additions or exterior remodeling) be commenced without ADB approval. ADB procedures, an application for review, and fee information are available at RSCA’s web site (RSCA.ORG). CC&R’s may seem like a bother, but the appealing nature and high property values of Redwood Shores are due in large part to their existence. If your property is subject to the Redwood Shores CC&Rs, please do your part to keep your property values and those of your neighbors high by complying with them. Stay tuned for more information on CC&Rs and the ADB later in the summer, and be sure to submit for ADB review any plans for improvements to your property.

Summer Events

Now that our long, cool, wet spring has given way to real summer weather, you can look forward to attending one of the many outdoor events that will be held in the Shores over the next few months. If music out of doors is your cup of tea, RSCA is co-sponsoring with Redwood City three summer concerts held at Marlin Park. Plan on bringing a picnic to the two remaining concerts on July 22 and August 12, both at 6:00 pm. Other August events include an Open House on August 15 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at our new school (Redwood Shores Elementary) and RSCA’s annual Levee Cleanup, which kicks-off with bagels and coffee at Mariner Park on August 28 at 8:30 am. Moving indoors, our Library is a great place for kids in the summer — and while you’re there you can take in the view from the deck and enjoy a snack or drink from the onsite cafe.

RSCA wishes you and your family a happy, safe and healthy summer.

— Doug Crisman , RSCA President

President’s Message: June 2010

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I mentioned in my article last month that the Belmont Redwood Shores School Board has been considering a number of options for issuing bonds to address facilities issues (e.g., repairs and new classrooms) in the District, most of which are at the Belmont elementary schools and Ralston Middle School.

The School Board met on May 20 to discuss what sort of bond structure made the most sense in view of the District’s facilities needs and also had a good chance of being approved by the voters this November. Last month I described two of the options that were under consideration. Option 1 involved the issuance of District-wide bonds for $69M, which meant that taxpayers in Belmont and Redwood Shores would pay at the same rate ($27 per $100,000 Assessed Property Value) to fund the bonds, even though a very small amount of the funds would be spent in the Shores and we alone in Redwood Shores are already paying $30 per $100,000 APV for Redwood Shores Elementary. Option 2 was far more equitable as it involved the issuance of $58M in bonds in Belmont to fund projects at the Belmont elementary schools and half of Ralston’s needs, and $11M in bonds in Redwood Shores for small projects and maintenance at Sandpiper and the other half of Ralston’s needs. RSCA opposed Option 1 as inequitable, but supported Option 2 as being fair to the Shores.

I speak of these two options in the past tense as both were eliminated from consideration by the School Board at their May 20 meeting! It is a tribute to RSCA’s advocacy on this issue, and Shores residents who got involved by meeting with and writing to School Board Members and speaking at School Board and community meetings, that the Board recognized the inequity of Option 1 and decided to pursue a different course. On the other hand, the Board also ruled out Option 2 as it didn’t raise enough for the Belmont elementary schools. Instead of those choices, the Board decided to focus on a third option, Option 3.

Like Option 2, Option 3 involves two bonds. The first bond is a District-wide bond ($24.6M) that will provide $18M in funds for Ralston and $150K for the District Maintenance Building, and pay off around $6M in loans taken out by the School District to build the first phase of Sandpiper Elementary. (For more information on the history of Sandpiper, see the related article by Carole Wong inside this issue of The Pilot or go to www.rsca.org for a more detailed timeline of events.) This bond is projected to cost all District taxpayers approximately $10.68 per $100,000 APV. The second bond is a $49M bond for projects at the Belmont elementary schools to be paid for by Belmont taxpayers. Option 3 has not been formally adopted by the School Board (that should happen in early June) and the all-important language for the bond measure is still under development, so it would be premature to draw any conclusions at this point about Option 3. As we did with the levee issue, RSCA will monitor this evolving issue closely and communicate or take additional action depending on what we hear, our goal being a bond measure that addresses District needs and is fair and equitable for Redwood Shores residents.

— Doug Crisman , RSCA President

President’s Message: May 2010

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Books for Redwood Shores Elementary

As you probably know, Redwood Shores Elementary School (‘RSE’) will soon open its doors to students from Redwood Shores and Belmont Shores. RSE is a beautiful facility in an extraordinary setting that will enable our kids and their teachers to realize their full potential. We have this superb new school because in 2005 the voters of Redwood Shores passed $25M in bonds to build it.

RSE is a great facility, but it has some needs that can’t be paid for with bond proceeds. As a long time supporter of our schools, RSCA asked what we could do to help meet these needs. Cherie Ho, RSE’s new principal (and former Sandpiper and Nesbit principal) told us a high priority was financial support for the school’s library collection. We answered this need by pledging $10,000 for RSE’s opening day library collection, and up to an additional $10,000 as a one-to-one match for individual contributions towards the collection. We’ll provide more information on the match opportunity in future editions of the Pilot.

Another School Bond??!! . . . More Taxes??!!

With the opening of Redwood Shores Elementary, the long-standing over-enrollment crisis in the Shores will be at an end. It’s therefore ironic that Belmont is now experiencing overcrowding at its elementary schools and a need for increased classroom space. The Belmont elementary schools and Ralston Middle School are also in need of repairs due to the age of the buildings and deferred maintenance. To address these issues, the School District is preparing to float up to $69M (as of this date) in bonds for various facilities projects, almost entirely at its Belmont schools.

The projects that are likely to be funded are documented in the District’s Master Facilities Plan ($175 M total cost). Top priority projects total $69M, with ~ $49M (71%) going towards new classrooms and maintenance at the four Belmont elementary schools, and ~ $18M (26%) for similar projects at Ralston. Only ~ $2M (<3%) of the $69M total would go to the Shores (all to Sandpiper). In view of the lack of benefits flowing to Redwood Shores schools and that Shores taxpayers will pay nearly half of a District-wide bond (based on assessed property values), how the bonds are paid for is a critical matter.

The District is considering at least two funding options. Option 1 (as currently configured) involves the issuance of District-wide bonds for the entire $69M, which means that taxpayers in Belmont and Redwood Shores would pay at the same rate to fund the bonds (currently, $27 per $100,000 of APV). The RSCA Board objects to this option as inequitable to Shores taxpayers in view of the disparity in benefits and the fact that we would end up paying about the same for improvements at the Belmont elementary schools (around half of $49M) as we did to purchase the land and build Redwood Shores Elementary ($25M)! And, this would be on top of what we alone are paying for the RSE bonds ($30 per $100,000 of APV).

Option 2 (as currently configured) is far more equitable as it involves the issuance of $58M in bonds in Belmont to fund projects at the Belmont Schools elementary schools and half of Ralston’s needs, and $11M in bonds in Redwood Shores for minor maintenance at Sandpiper and the other half of Ralston’s needs. The RSCA Board thinks it is reasonable for Shores taxpayers to fund projects at Ralston since our kids go there for middle school.

Some people object to our position as selfish and hostile to the idea of Belmont and Redwood Shores being a unified school district. To them I respond that it was the District Board itself that divided the District in two so Shores taxpayers would shoulder the entire burden for RSE, with no payment by Belmont. Consequently, it’s only fair for the District to ask Belmont voters to step up and take care of their elementary school needs. Others have objected that the Shores should contribute to improvements at the Belmont elementary schools since Belmont paid for most of Sandpiper. This myth is unfounded in fact and will be debunked in an upcoming edition of the Pilot.

Let no one say that RSCA does not support our schools. We are long-time supporters of School Force and Save the Music. We gave generously to Sandpiper when it was opened. We will give generously to Redwood Shores Elementary. However, as advocates for Redwood Shores, we expect the Shores to be treated equitably by the District. We oppose Option 1 in its current configuration as inequitable. We do, though, support Option 2 as presently configured, which we believe is fair to the Shores. And because Option 2 IS fair, it is far more likely to pass and give the District what it needs to move forward with its facilities plans.

— Doug Crisman

President’s Message

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Safety on our Streets
Dear Neighbors, a few months ago I asked motorists and cyclists to be safe and considerate on our Shores streets, and provided some practical guidelines as to what that means: Cyclists should obey the rules of the road like other traffic and be wary of cars; and motorists should share the road, watch for pedestrians and cyclists, and not speed.  Today I repeat the same request to be considerate and safe on our roads. Why am I revisiting this message so soon?

It’s because upon returning home on a Friday evening a few weeks ago I was horrified to see at the corner of Bridge and Marine Parkways a young cyclist down on the street, apparently having been hit by a car making a right turn onto Bridge from Marine.  The cyclist didn’t appear to be seriously injured, which was great, but it could have turned out tragically different.  I only know what I observed, but given the challenging conditions (it was dark so visibility was poor), it is possible that a bit more care on both sides could have prevented the accident.  Thank goodness there wasn’t a fatality or serious injury this time, but to avoid potential tragedies drivers and cyclists need to drive and ride more carefully and cyclists need to wear helmets!  Also, we all need to be exceptionally careful at this particular intersection, which has become busier due to library-related bike and pedestrian traffic.

As an aside, I observed that two ambulances and a fire truck arrived at the scene well ahead of the police.  This created an unsafe traffic situation since no one was directing traffic at the intersection and one lane of Bridge was closed by the emergency vehicles.  I don’t know why the Police were slow in responding, but I and a few RSCA Board members plan on discussing police coverage of the Shores, and other public safety issues, with the Redwood City Police in the near future.

So we can better represent you in this regard, please email me at  about your Shores public safety concerns.  We will raise these issues with the Police and the City, as appropriate, and will report developments in the Pilot and on our web page at www.rsca.org.

Coming Events
RSCA is planning lots of great events for this summer and fall.  This summer we are hosting with Redwood City three Concerts in the Park at a location in the Shores to be announced.  Later in the summer, we and the School District will be holding a community open house at our beautiful new Redwood Shores Elementary School.  We also invite you to participate in RSCA’s annual Levee Cleanup on August 28.  Finally, we’re planning a celebration for RSCA’s 40th anniversary later in the fall.  Follow the Pilot and our web page at www.rsca.org for additional details.

Membership
If you have not yet joined RSCA for 2010, you will soon receive a follow-up membership letter.  Please join us as we celebrate our 40th anniversary of community service in Redwood Shores.

–Doug Crisman

President’s Message

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Dear Neighbors,

I have good news to report about our levees.  As you may recall, at this time last year we were dealing with the news that Redwood Shores would very likely be declared a flood zone since our levees (including those around the San Carlos Airport) were not certified by FEMA as being adequate in the face of dangerous (but rare) high-tides.  To be certified in time, the levees would have to be upgraded by spring 2010, and none of the different entities (Redwood City, San Mateo County, and the San Carlos Airport) responsible for the levees could agree on a plan to do that.  Failing to fix the levees by Spring 2010 would be disastrous to our property values and to our wallets, since Shores residents would be required to carry additional flood insurance.
 
In the face of this serious news, RSCA invited city leaders to our 2009 annual meeting to explain the situation and to answer questions from Shores residents.  We also expected to hear some details as to how Redwood City planned to address the problem, but few details were offered.  We were concerned about the city’s apparent lack of a firm plan and the fast-approaching deadline for certification, so we scheduled a follow-up meeting with city officials to reinforce our concerns and explore levee repair options.  RSCA hosted a community meeting in spring 2009 where, at our urging, city staff presented much better-developed plans & timelines for fixing the levees, including the challenging portion at the end of the airport runway.  This included securing the cooperation of the other government entities and the necessary permits and approvals.

Since then, RSCA has stayed on top of the situation, and the city has executed their plan well.  In fact, if the weather cooperates, it looks as if most if not all of the levee work will be completed by the end of February.  As a result, we are cautiously optimistic that the upgraded levees will be certified by the spring deadline.  This is great news, and we want to thank Chu Chang, Peter Vorametsanti and Grace Le, the city managers and engineers who worked hard and effectively to plan and complete the levee upgrades.  This is also a good example of how RSCA effectively advocates for the needs of Redwood Shores.

Annual Meeting
RSCA is holding our Annual Meeting on February 10 at 7:30 pm at the Redwood Shores Branch Library.  Please attend to hear the latest news from Redwood City and School District representatives.

Correction
In my January letter I praised the outstanding Christmas lights on Davit between Cringle and Marlin.  Of course, the outstanding seasonal light display was on Dory Lane.  Be sure not to miss it next year! 

— Doug Crisman

President’s Message

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Christmas Lights

I recently helped to judge RSCA’s annual “Light Up the Shores” Christmas Lights competition.  This involved the pleasant task of touring the Shores with other RSCA Board members and reviewing the efforts of fellow Shores residents to brighten up their neighborhoods during this coldest, darkest time of year.  The results were impressive – you can see pictures of some outstanding displays and the addresses of the winners elsewhere in this Pilot and at RSCA.ORG.  It was difficult, but we picked two winners and named a number of honorable mentions to recognize those who went the extra mile in decorating their homes.  The displays ranged from the traditional (thousands of white lights and winter wonderland themes), to the whimsical (huge, illuminated inflatable snow men and penguins in the front yard), to technically impressive (a 30 foot tall Christmas tree and a yard full of lighted displays blinking in time with songs broadcast by radio) and just plain awesome (a towering, lighted tree shining out over the water for all to see from Marine Parkway and beyond).  At two of the homes, the proud homeowners were dressed like Santa and were handing out candy canes.  That’s attention to detail!

I’d also like to laud the residents of Davit Lane between Cringle and Marlin, nearly all of whom put up lights, and many of whom did such a spectacular job that three properties there received honorable mentions.  This is a great example of what neighbors can accomplish when they work together towards a common goal.

Of course, it’s not just the winners who deserve our appreciation.  We were happy to see scores of decorated homes throughout the Shores, and the RSCA Board wants to thank every one of those residents for Lighting Up the Shores.  Please join them next year.

New Year’s Notes

I’d like to call your attention to some Shores events and issues of interest in the New Year.  Number one is our levees.  The city is working to upgrade the levees that ring the Shores and we will post status updates on the project at RSCA.ORG.  As you are probably aware, if the levees aren’t certified by fall 2010 Redwood Shores will be declared a flood zone, which will hurt property values.  This is an issue to pay attention to, and we will continue to do just that on your behalf.

On a happier note, our new elementary school, officially named “Redwood Shores Elementary School,” will welcome its first group of students in September 2010.  I recently toured the school with other community members and was impressed.  We can all be proud of the accomplishment of building this school, which will provide a great learning environment for our kids and be an asset to all of Redwood Shores.

Finally, plan on attending RSCA’s annual meeting, which will be on February 10, 2010 at the Redwood Shores Branch Library.  We’ve planned a full agenda with reports from City and School representatives on these and other important issues.

Submittd by Doug Crisman, RSCA President

President’s Message

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It might be tempting to assign fault in these incidents, but that would miss the main point, which is that bikes and cars are a dangerous mix – for the cyclist!! – especially when any of the parties is inattentive, inconsiderate or just plan reckless.  Compounding the situation in Redwood Shores is our car-oriented lifestyle, which is encouraged by wide Parkways that ring the Shores like a Formula One race course, and our distance from services and shopping, which dictate a trip by car across 101 for most errands.  Moreover, our excellent schools and safe, attractive neighborhoods mean that we have large numbers of families with children who ride bicycles and walk to school and around the Shores.

In view of this potentially dangerous combination of factors, it is highly recommended that cyclists ride with great care, remain attentive to their surroundings, wear appropriate protective gear, and give automobiles the wide berth and healthy respect they merit (being massive, fast, and frequently driven by distracted drivers).

On the other side of the equation, we drivers need to be more aware of and considerate of bicyclists and pedestrians (and wildlife); we also must slow down when driving on Redwood Shores Parkway and Shearwater Parkway, where relatively long stretches between stop signs allow drivers to exceed 50 mph (far above our local speed limit of 35 mph).

I can personally attest to the problem of inattentive drivers on our Parkways, which I observe regularly when attempting to cross Redwood Shores Parkway at Cringle Drive.  As you may be aware, the City has posted an electronic sign at this intersection that flashes a warning when activated by a pedestrian prior to crossing the Parkway.  Having activated this sign on many occasions, I can say without exaggeration that about a third of the cars I encounter on Redwood Shores Parkway ignore this sign completely and drive right through the intersection without so much as sideways glance.  My experience has been confirmed by many others who have attempted to make the same crossing.  I’m wary of cars, so do not expect them to halt.  But children might not be as cautious.  We don’t want our kids, or any other bicyclist or pedestrian, to be injured. So drivers – slow down and drive courteously. And bicyclists – be safe and attentive.  There are enough roadways out here for all of us to share – safely.

Submitted by Doug Crisman, RSCA President