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Greenbrae Property Owners’ Association (GPOA)
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes and Community Report
Date: October 8, 2002
Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. Directors in attendance
were Michael Hillman, Mark Litwin, Patty Oxman, Matt Dwyer, and Chalayne
Gallinatti. We are very pleased to report that the meeting was also
well attended by members of the Community, including: Woods Memory,
Mark Norton, Gale Serin, Alex Slenkin, Fred Simons, Donna Scriven,
Vince O'Brien, Steve Jaffe, Robert Bloom, and Maria Dulfu.
- The floor was opened to Property Owners appearing to voice comments,
concerns, and complaints:
- Gale Serin (Via la Cumbre) appeared to express her
dismay that an Agreeement reached between herself and her immediate
neighbor, mediated by the GPOA Board at its regular meeting last
July (2001), regarding the maintenance and topping of trees and
shrubs on the neighbor's property to preserve Gale's view of the
Bay, had been breached by the neighbor. Gale claims that, while
the neighbor had agreed to top the trees two or three times per
year (a service that Gale had previously performed for the former
owner of the property at her own expense), he had not done so
at all, resulting in continued degradation of her view. Michael
Hillman has followed up with a letter to the neighbor expressing
the Board's confidence that he would correct the situation within
30 days of receipt.
- Woods Memory (Corte Cayuga) appeared to complain about
the condition of the plantings on the median islands on Corte
Cayuga. His concern is with the inadequate performance of maintenance
under our contract with Gardeners Guild. The Board committed to
refer the matter to our Landscape Committee Chair, Scott Sherman,
for resolution, and to review the commitments for maintenance
under the terms of that contract in general. Regarding the issue
of communicating such concerns to the Board, Scott has over time
organized a group of "Block Captains" to act as a ready liaison
to him. A list of names and contact information for these volunteers
is enclosed.
- Alex Slenkin (North Almenar) appeared to bring to
the Board's attention an incident that occurred August 21 on North
Almenar. Briefly, a Davey Tree crew working under contract with
PG&E in front of 231 N. Almenar waved a motorist past their truck
and chipper and, as the motorist proceeded slowly by the equipment,
a large chunk of debris was hurled at the car, shattering the
right side mirror which ended up in the passenger's lap, exposing
the car's occupants to grave danger and distress. Through extensive
follow up by Mr. Slenkin, neither the Crew Foreman nor any of
the supervisors or business managers at PG&E, have admitted nor
accepted responsibility for the incident in any fashion. Alex
wishes to bring to the attention of all Greenbrae residents his
deep concern for our safety as a result of the negligence and
indifference of PG&E and its contractors working in our neighborhoods.
A detailed letter from Mr. Slenkin regarding this incident and
his follow up is on file with the Board. Interested parties may
obtain a copy by contacting Michael Hillman at 461-5000.
- Vince O'Brien (Via Barranca) appeared on behalf of
the Marin County Bicycle Coalition to discuss several matters
pertaining to cycling in our community. His first item concerns
a Caltrans proposal to close the bicycle pathway along the southbound
onramp from Sir Francis Drake onto Hwy 101 for a period of six
months during the ongoing HOV lane construction. They intend to
detour non-motorized traffic along South Eliseo to Bon Air to
Magnolia to Lucky Drive. If you are opposed to this temporary
closure, Vince suggests you write to:
Mr. Nathan Newell, Senior Engineer
SF BCDC
50 California Street, Suite 2600
SF, CA 94111
Vince's second item concerns a City of Larkspur proposal to create
a pathway across Corte Madera Creek on the east side of 101 with
a connection to the Ferry Terminal. More information can be had
from
Kim Baenisch
Alta Transportation Consulting
415-482-8660
Finally, Vince brought up the Cal Park Tunnel, a Marin County
project to open up the abandoned railroad tunnel between Larkspur
and San Rafael to bicycle and pedestrian traffic. The project
has already received $3.9 million funding, and creates one more
link in the overall SF Bay Trail Project. Contact
Bernice Davidson
County of Marin Engineer/Bicycle Coordinator
415-499-3770
Email me at mhillman@flagstar.com
if you'd like me to forward Vince's detailed exposition of these
projects. Learn more about the Marin County Bicycle Coalition
at www.marinbike.org.
- Steve Jaffe, former GPOA Board President, also came
by to share some thoughts. First, having had direct experience
with, and recognizing the Board's ongoing struggle with, issues
of CC&R enforcement among homeowners, Steve brought with him information
pertaining to the Marin County Probation Department's Mediation
Services Division. Many of their services (counseling & consultation)
are offered at no cost, and others on a nominal sliding scale.
Homeowners involved in seemingly unsolvable disputes may wish
to contact this organization at 499-7454. Steve went on to report
to the Board on the results of last September's review by the
Larkspur Planning Commission of the proposal to develop the site
of the Union 76 Station at La Cuesta as a mini-mart with permit
to sell alcoholic beverages. Most Greenbrae residents will be
pleased to know that the proposal was voted down 3-0. Finally,
Steve complained of the numerous cars "parked" (stored) on the
winding portions of Los Cerros above Manor Road (particularly
a red and white VW van). These cars create a real hazard to uphill
and downhill traffic as they approach adjacent to them. Please
consider the inconvenience and danger to your neighbors when you
elect to keep your driveway clear of vehicles for your own sake.
By the way, while we are unaware of any specific ordinance or
traffic law related to uphill versus downhill right-of-way, please
consider the following. Typically, a vehicle whose progress is
obstructed by a parked car on its side of the street should yield
to opposing traffic not similarly obstructed, i.e. pull over when
your way is blocked to yield to oncoming cars. However, when the
opposing traffic is coming down a steep hill, realize that you
probably have somewhat more control of your vehicle and yield
to downhill traffic even if the obstruction is in his/her lane.
This is a frequent Greenbrae situation and, we think, just a matter
of common courtesy.
- Dr. Robert Bloom (Corte Baristo) reported his dismay
over the extremely noisy, obstreperous, and inconsiderate behavior
of his neighbor on Paseo Way. While we're hardly stacked up like
Manhattan cliff dwellers here in Greenbrae, we're close enough
to make a little thoughtful circumspection when out of doors the
right thing to do. The Board recommended that perhaps Dr. Bloom
could utilize Mediation Services to work this one out.
- Maria Dulfu (Corte Dorado) appeared with a vexing problem.
Her uphill neighbor's predecessor built a wood retaining wall
above her driveway. A corner of her drive adjacent to the street
is an easement on the neighbor's property. Upon survey, it was
determined that part of the wall lies on her property. The issue:
is maintenance/replacement of the wall her responsibility or his?
The Board's position in the matter was that, since the wall was
originally built by the neighbor's predecessor on his property
(i.e., notwithstanding the easement), since it is affixed to his
house by tiebacks, and since it retains his dirt (thereby preventing
a nuisance over the easement), the wall and its maintenance belong
to the uphill neighbor.
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