The RPNA held its General/Board meeting on 10/20. Key takeaways are as follows:
- Seven residents submitted candidate statements for seven Board seats for terms beginning in January 2023. The Board voted to forgo an election and install those seven individuals into the seven seats. The individuals are: Elise Drakes, David Garcia, Rex Hescock (Incumbent), Marcella Jean-Aiello, Karla Mendoza (Incumbent), Chris Roe, and Joe Thompson. Those individuals join existing Board members (who will be starting the second year of their term): Fatima Thompson, Lisa Cirill, and Brian Haines. Exiting Board members are Allyssa Mader, Tony Mader, Chip Studley, and Marisa Monahan. Congratulations to the new Board members, and we will be in touch with next steps.
- Inna Tysoe was introduced as the coordinator for the RP Review, a new position established by the Board. Inna will be working to ensure the RP Review has good articles of interest to residents. If anyone has any ideas or content, she can be reached at tysoe@tysoes.com
- The River Park annual tree planting will be taking place on Saturday, November 19 from 9am to noon. The RP Canopy Project is seeking volunteers to help plant the ~30 trees expected to be planted that day. See the separate dedicated post for volunteer information or contact Kate Riley at kbriley@surewest.net
- CM Harris joined the meeting. His comments included the fact that River Park will be represented directly by the Mayor’s Office (due to redistricting) once CM Harris is termed out at the end of this year. He also referenced the closure of the Erlewine Gate as a final policy decision due to liability and maintenance concerns and inability to find an alternative workable solution by any entity that was working on the issue. He also mentioned that the American River Flood Control Board is looking to remove the existing stairs.
- School Board Member Leticia Garcia joined the meeting and reported that the School District’s financial situation has improved since her last visit to the RPNA.
- RPNA Treasurer Brian Haines provided an overview of RPNA financials. He is projecting RPNA to end the year running a deficit of ~$3,500, but the organization is still expecting to have ~$34,500 cash on hand.
- Following the meeting, RPNA received an update from the City on the Two Rivers Trail paving project. The City has been coordinating with the Army Corps and CalTrans. Construction is expected to take place Summer 2023, with the goal of completing the project as quickly as possible at the same time as the Army Corps and CalTrans projects with the goal of getting all of the construction done in the neighborhood as soon as possible. Bids will be opened in January, and the construction contract would be awarded in March. Tree and elderberry removal/transplants would occur January/February to stay within allowable permit times.
Our next board meeting is 11/17 at 7:30pm via Zoom. The Army Corps of Engineers will be joining to provide an update on the levee project, and we may have a City update on the Two Rivers Trail also. All residents are welcome to join, and we will distribute an agenda in advance with instructions for how to join.