Murdock Neighborhood Association Board Meeting

January 11, 2006

The meeting was held at the home of David Gomez. The meeting called to order by President Fanjoy at 7:45 p.m.

Present: All Board members were present – Fanjoy, Murchan, Jones, Johnson, Livezey, Hsieh, and Gomez. Also present: Past-President Steve Chell

The minutes of December 14 were reviewed and approved with the addition of place and guest attending (James Hsieh). Approved minutes will be sent to Siggy for posting on the Website.

Doris reported receipt of a letter from Michelle Carr Crowe thanking her for the note sent on behalf of MNA when her mother, Judy Carr, passed away. She pledged to continue supporting MNA.

Treasurer’s Report:

• There were few changes from last month.
• Current balance is $1,358.16.
• 4 membership renewals and 2 new memberships were received.
• Expenses of $353.93 were paid: postage, summer picnic supplies, maps, Website fees, greeting cards.

Old Business:

Traffic Committee Chair Judy Boehm, President Bob Fanjoy, and member Doug Johnson met with Principal Mains at Murdock-Portal School on December 15, 2005. Also present were representatives from the City of San José Transportation Department and Cupertino Union School District.

• Minutes of the meeting will be revised and posted on the Website.
• City will be doing another traffic study.
• Suggestion that the City train parent and neighborhood volunteers to serve as traffic guards, particularly at the corners of Wunderlich/Castle Glen and Wunderlich/Ora.
• The school district is working on a program with sanctions for parents and students who violate traffic safety rules and procedures.

Emergency Preparedness will be the topic for the April 26 General Meeting.

• Tom Carson will arrange for speaker.
• Larry suggested that we arrange for some vendors to bring in sample materials, products, and literature.
• City has a handout for EP we can copy and distribute.

New (and continuing) Business:

January 25 General Meeting:

President Fanjoy presented a checklist of topics to be covered in planning for the meeting, which will be devoted to a Forum for SJ Mayoral Candidates.

• Insurance: District teachers apparently do not need insurance, nor did Neighborhood Watch meetings held there. However, District is requiring $1 million rider as a condition of use. David Gomez will ask Leslie Mains if school will co-sponsor. If not, Trixie will check with Linda LeZotte's office to see if she can co-sponsor and cover with City rider. David Gomez will contact Edie Miyahara (district teacher) to see if she will sign for the meeting as an employee.
• Candidates have been confirmed by Trixie Johnson. Reed, Chavez, Cortese and Herrera are attending; Chavez will be arriving late due to conflict with State of the County event (dais participant).
• Press release has been prepared. Steve will distribute to Mercury News (will check on availability of political event column) and to Maria Le in Linda LeZotte's office (for the District 1 e-newsletter). Trixie will send Steve George Sampson's e-mail at KLIV radio.
• School outreach: Charles is sending materials to Lynbrook High School and Prospect High School for social studies and journalism teachers. Michael Hsieh (LHS student) is also promoting the event at Lynbrook.
• Confirmed times. Social time and membership sign ups 7 – 7:15 p.m. in the Science Room. Announcements in auditorium 7:15 – 7:30. Forum begins at 7:30 p.m. and must end promptly at 9 p.m.
• Website: Steve will send announcement for posting.
• Format: Trixie and Steve will prepare draft and send to Board for discussion/approval.
• Trixie will send Doris the copy for question cards to be used (no questions from the floor, just in writing).
• League of Women Voters will provide two question screeners, who will work with Larry Murchan. Charles has the LWV contact information.
• Sound system: David will work with school to be sure the system they have will meet our needs. We may need to get mics from Miller.
• Set-up: David Gomez will also discuss the set-up for the stage (including a modesty skirt) and the screening table. We need two tables on the stage for the candidates. The moderator should use a lectern and be to the side. David will clarify if we need to do any of this set-up (or will school personnel do it), and if we can access the auditorium the night before if we are to do the set-up.
• Outreach to neighborhood will include newsletter (discussed later) and street signs that will go up the weekend before. MNA banner (similar to current banner on school fence) will not be available until February, so use for next General Meeting.
• Doris will prepare arrow signs (and masking tape for mounting) to guide attendees through the school to the science room and the auditorium.
• Refreshments: Mark Burns Realtor will provide drinks. Use Safeway scrip for cookies.
• Announcements: Next meeting. Send concerns to website for board attention. Membership dues are due now. We need more block captains to circulate newsletters and flyers. Treasurer's report.
• Need to order more membership cards. Jenny will order.

Newsletter:

• Steve will get paper and be reimbursed. He will check possible use of colored paper and decide if white works better.
• No Chinese translation this time, because of need for early circulation, but definitely for next issue.
• Other articles: Trixie will send a paragraph to expand on the mayoral forum. David and Doris will do stories about the Neighborhood Watch meetings. Steve will select material from Judy Boehm's report on the traffic meeting at the school. Announce date and topic for next General Meeting. Announce the District 1 Candidate Forum in May (date TBD). Use material and pictures from website for a story on the trail opening.
• Distribute ASAP.
• Block captains. Larry will give map to Steve. Put plea in newsletter and mention at meeting. Steve will call if he needs help.

Neighborhood Watch:

• Bob will e-mail Steve and Trixie about possible dates for the park area meeting.
• NW meetings are available only on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
• One suggestion was to have very visible addresses on houses and curbs. However, address painters have been a problem.

Youth Committee:

• Bob will contact Michael Hsieh to discuss.

Lot line issue was discussed.

• The topic has been the subject of e-mail exchanges among Board members and Linda LeZotte's office.
• Larry, Doris, and Trixie will be the subcommittee on this.
• Trixie will contact Cheri in Linda’s office about proceeding, probably with a meeting in February.

Board Meeting Locations:

Based on a sign up sheet, the following schedule is set:

February 8	Trixie
March 8	Jenny
April 12	(still available)
May 10	Charles
June 14	Doris
July 12	(still available)
August 9	David
September 13	(still available)
October 11	(still available)

Thanks to prior hosts: Bob (November), Larry (December), and David (January).

The meeting adjourned at 9:22 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Trixie Johnson, Secretary