February Meeting Summary

Thanks to all the neighbors who attended last night. We had another great turnout.

This month Michelle from Vice Mayor's office attended, providing updates on the following:

1. Creek Week is scheduled for April 13th from 9am to Noon. There will be a couple of volunteer teams that will be cleaning along the East Levee Road (information to follow in the coming months on exact locations), as well as numerous other teams throughout Sacramento County, including a big group at the N. Natomas regional park site.

For more info on Creek Week, please visit: www.creekweek.org.

For more info on N Natomas Creek Week volunteer opportunities outside of those in Valley View Acres, please visit: www.angeliqueashby.com/creek-week-2013 

2.  Skate Park.  The City is soliciting input from skaters on the future of a skate park at Wild Rose Park in N. Natomas. All ages are welcome. There is a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 6pm. For more info, please visit: http://www.angeliqueashby.com/wild-rose-skate-park

3. Flood Control. Michelle provided a throughout update on flood control issues related to Natomas. She fielded many questions from neighbors. Bottom line is that there is hope Congress will authorize the remaining levee improvements for the Natomas basin this year, but with that said  and perhaps more importantly for those of us already living here, there will be flood insurance requirements into the foreseeable future.  That is until improvements are completed that provide a 100-year level of protection for Natomas.  The hope is these improvements are completed within five (5) years after Congressional authorization.

Please visit Vice Mayor Ashby's website for the most updated info on this very important issue:
http://www.angeliqueashby.com/district-one-business/nlip 

In addition to the updates by Michelle, we discussed the following:

1.  Horse Rescue on Carey.   In recent months, there has been some concern by neighbors about the number of horses (and their condition) that suddenly appeared on a parcel on Carey Road. Carimda (pronounced car-eem-da) Gibson attended our meeting last night. She is person behind The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Horse Rescue (http://gbuhorserescue.yolasite.com/), whose rescue operations include this specific parcel on Carey.  Carimda has been working closely with Sacramento County Animal Control to address the concerns of some neighbors. She is a very passionate person who cares deeply about her organization's goals and mission. For those who are interested, I encourage you to visit the rescue's website to learn more. If you have specific questions or concerns for Carimda, please call her directly at 9168072060 or email her directly at carimda@hotmail.com .  She did ask that if folks had an email inquiry to also text her at the previously listed number for quicker response.

2.  Train Horn Quiet Zone Update. Last month we had asked Vice Mayor Ashby's office inquire as to the status of a pending application with the Federal Rail Administration related to creating a train horn free zone starting at Elkhorn Blvd. and extending through the neighborhood and to El Camino Ave. We have been informed that we should see that application approved in the next couple months. I know the neighborhood, particularly those of us close to the levee are anxiously awaiting this application's approval!

3. Benita Womack provided an update on the efforts of our neighbor Tony Trujillo (Barros) working with City Department of Transportation folks on the slurry seal issue that we had discussed at a prior community meeting last September.  That meeting summary can be found here:  http://valleyviewacres.blogspot.com/2012/09/september-meeting-summary.html 

4.  Mosquito Problems. Several neighbors voiced concern over the number of mosquito that suddenly appeared during the period of nice weather before this last storm. With the help of Michelle at Vice Mayor Ashby's office, I have been contacted by the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District (http://www.fightthebite.net/). I will be arranging a neighborhood visit by the Mosquito and Vector Control folks to determine what steps can be taken to minimize mosquito issues in out community.

5. Safe and Sober Grad Night.  Angela Angel provided information on fundraising for Inderkum High School's Safe and Sober Grad Night program. More info can be found here: http://www.inderkumhigh.org/ptsa/html/safe-sober.html 

6.  Annual Valley View Acres Easter Egg Hunt.  As we near the Easter holiday, it's time once again for our community's annual Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by our very own Dennis Boyd.  The event will be at 11:30 on Saturday, March 30th at Dennis' place at 5610 Sorento Road.

That's it for this month.