Try something new this year!

Check out the www.glencovevallejo.com website. Not only does it highlight our waterfront community, it offers a message board for residents to chat about neighborhood conditions-good and otherwise. Sad to say, a significant portion of the commentary spills into the negative realm. Fortunately, though, some of the website input does reflect positively on our corner of Vallejo!

Litter has been one of the recurring topics of complaint. Thankfully, some of our walkers pick up and bag litter along their routine routes. In other sections of Glen Cove, conscientious neighbors could consider the formation of a Litter Patrol Program for regular block clean up efforts.

Graffiti, supposedly a nice word for damage-with-paint vandalism, is another of the expressed negative concerns. These unwanted markings are increasingly marring our neighborhood's traffic signs and utility boxes. Concerned residents should notify the Vallejo Police Department's Graffiti Hotline at 648-4397 with size and location details-unless it's an in-progress report. If you should happen to see taggers in action before 7 p.m., Monday-Friday, immediately phone 644-4447. If you see such activity after 7 p.m. Monday-Friday or at any time on Saturday and Sunday, please call 648-432l, Extension 0.

Website user grumblings have also focused on issues of property neglect, parking problems, improperly placed trash receptacles, and yearlong Christmas lighting. Do any of these un-neighborly eyesores exist on your street? If so, take a look at the helpful articles-written by Glen Cove Community Association Board Members-on Pages 5, 6, and 10 of this issue. Who knows, perhaps your offending neighbor will read them too!

Help Spiff Up Our Neighborhood!

This is a call to action! The plans for our long awaited Glen Cove Waterfront Park are finally moving toward completion. This is the park that was promised to all Glen Cove residents on property that was required to be set aside for this purpose by the original developers. The plan calls for a low intensity type park designed primarily to preserve and protect the 15 acre site located off of South Regatta on Whitesides Drive along the Carquinez Strait. The intent is to provide for all citizens of Vallejo a safe access for hiking, walking, picnicking, fishing, and communing with nature with a minimum of amenities. Safety and fire hazards would be corrected, and dilapidated buildings removed. This is essential to the safety of surrounding residents. The Master Plan and Draft E.I.R. (Environmental Impact Report) have been completed, and the public has had an opportunity to offer comments several times during the planning period. These documents are available for public review at the Greater Vallejo Recreation District (G.V.R.D.) offices located at 395 Amador Street and on the www.gvrd.org website.

The G.V.R.D. Board is scheduled to review and vote on approval of the final Master Plan and E.I.R. in early March. Normally, it would be expected that a park project such as this would move forward to approval and construction in a fairly routine manner. However, there is some opposition to any development of the entire 15 acre park site by those who believe it would result in disturbance of an archeological site. This issue has been thoroughly addressed in the Master Plan and initial study which make reference to all known archeological research of this area. Accordingly, the E.I.R. specifies the boundaries of the archeological site, which is a small section of the entire park site, and sets forth specific mitigating actions required during park construction to prevent disturbance of sensitive areas. These actions include a protective layer of soil to prevent any disturbance of remaining artifacts.

Despite the careful planning of this project in conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act (C.E.Q.A.), opposition continues from a number of people, most of whom are not Vallejo residents. Their letters have been appearing in the local Times-Herald newspaper urging that this park should not be built and the area left entirely as it is, despite the many safety and preservation issues that currently exist.

If we are going to be successful in finally seeing this area cleaned up and a low intensity park completed, we are going to also have to voice our opinions on this critical issue by writing letters of project support to the Times-Herald Opinion Page's "Your Views" column, as well as to our Mayor and City Council Members because this issue will inevitably be raised to their level. The e-mail and mail addresses for the Mayor and City Council Members are displayed on the back page of this publication..

We urge all Glen Cove residents who are concerned with preserving and protecting this area, making it available for public use, correcting its safety problems, and allowing it to enhance our property values to take action and put your strong support for this project in writing to those who will have a final say on its disposition. Otherwise, the only voices that will be heard are those of the opposition, and even though this project has gone through all the appropriate review steps required by California State law, it could be in jeopardy.

Vallejo's City Council Members respond to the voices they hear. Often they act to avoid controversy. Please don't let the silent majority of Glen Cove residents create the perception that we don't care. Perceptions often become the reality that politicians respond to. We also need to be alert to notices in the newspaper and on our www.glencovevallejo.com G.C.C.A. website announcing any G.V.R.D. or City Council meetings where the park will be discussed.

It is essential that we attend and speak to show our support. Otherwise, the only voice heard will be that of the opposition. There has been too much effort and time invested in this project to let it slip away because there was no response to the voices of opposition from people who do not live in this city. Please discuss this with your friends and neighbors and encourage their support. Please make sure that all your correspondence and comments identify you as a Vallejo resident.

On January 17th there was a double shocker at Neptune's Court in more ways than one. I am stunned that it happened in our mostly quiet California View Development, just a few hundred yards from my living room. The community as a whole is upset and left with an unsettling feeling.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind some of the Glen Cove residents that, as a community, we are here to lean on each other and watch out for one another. This is as simple as taking a walk around the block, talking to and getting to know your neighbors a little better, becoming familiar with the daily patterns of the neighborhood and being aware and able to recognize when something does not seem right. Please do not be afraid to write down license plates of suspicious vehicles or descriptions of individuals that seem out of place. Call your neighbors and compare notes or call the Vallejo Police Department if you feel the situation warrants it.

There is no undoing what happened on Neptune's Court, and this will weigh heavily on our neighborhood for a long time, but I want to thank each and every one of you who helps keep our community safer by keeping a watchful eye. To the victims' families and friends, my sincere condolences.

Two Glen Cove residents were found slain when Vallejo Police Department personnel responded to a January 17th report.

Both of the male adults had been shot to death inside their 251 Neptune's Court residence. According to the Times-Herald, the pair operated the Dream's Ice Cream Truck business. Efforts were quickly made to assure nearby residents that they were not in harm's way. It is believed that the two victims were deliberately targeted.

To date, according to a V.P.D. spokesperson, no one has been charged with the Wednesday night crime.

Dear CC&R Advisor,

Last year, I got a "Friendly Reminder" tag from my development representatives telling me that my house and yard were not "up to par." Now that springtime is approaching, what can I do to make them look better?

- Waiting For Springtime


Dear Waiting,

Without having seen your house/yard and not knowing the specifics of your situation, we will instead give you a list of what we generally look for when we do our neighborhood inspection:

1) Are your newly-delivered trash, yard waste, and recycle containers visible from the street? They should not be visible unless it is your garbage pick-up day. All other days, they should be in the garage or behind the fence.

2) Are your fences and gates in good shape? Do they need to be painted or repaired?

3) Do you have any litter or debris accumulation in your front yard? Clean up the trash around your property including the street in front of your house.

4) When was the last time your house was painted? Does it need obvious maintenance or structural repair? (Don't forget to check your development CC&Rs before painting-some have building and color restrictions.

5) Do you have inoperable vehicles parked in your driveway, front yard or unsurfaced side yard? Do you have cars with flat tires?

6) Do you have a boat, trailer, or RV parked in your driveway or yard or street?

7) Is your yard in good shape? Is it nicely trimmed and free of weeds? Do you water and fertilize it during the summer/fall seasons and keep it healthy and green?

8) Do you have at least 50% of your front/side yard landscaped with lawn and foliage? This means no more than 50% concrete or other landscaping materials (like white rocks). If you have a triple-wide concrete driveway, this most likely means that you have reached your concrete limit.

All of these things affect your property value, as well as the property values of our entire neighborhood. Springtime is the perfect time to spruce up your front yard and house. Your neighbors will appreciate it!

Sincerely,

G.C.C.A. CC&R Advisory Committee

The Seasons of Christmas: A Dilemma
By Pat Johnson, The Crest Alternate

Our neighbor put up his Christmas lights one cold December day.
The children were delighted to see them hanging there that way.

Today is Cinco de Mayo; his lights are still displayed.
We had no way of knowing he'd put them there to stay.

July has come and gone; those lights are far less pleasing.
Relatives who visit can't leave without some teasing.

Our neighbor turned on his Christmas lights; they make a fine display.
The children were delighted; it's almost Christmas Day.

Well, Christmas Day is over, and we can only pray
That this year he'll resolve to put his Christmas lights away!

Vallejo Garbage Service: New Toters
By Ruth O. Fisher, G.C.C.A. Chair

According to the Vallejo Garbage Service, the new waste disposal containers have been delivered throughout the Glen Cove neighborhood. The blue toter, intended to replace the blue bins, is intended for recyclable materials. The gray toter is to be used for household garbage. The 96-gallon green toter is marked for yard waste.

By summertime, it is expected that weekly yard waste collections will replace the every other week format. Additionally, four extra trash pickup days will be provided in 2007. For the first time, larger items such as small furniture pieces and couches will be towed away at no extra charge.

Additional details about the automated service program are available at the www.vallejogarbage.com website and at a new telephone hotline number, 551-2628.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS
By Phillip Johnson, The Crest Representative

One again, as spring approaches, it's a good time to start planning for any needed work in and about your property-things such as fence replacements, landscaping and home improvements.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

A. Home Improvements That Require a Building Permit

1. Construction of a new building or structure.
2. Addition of a kitchen or bathroom.
3. Remodeling of a kitchen or bathroom.
4. Installation or relocation of hard-wired electrical appliances or fixtures.
5. Installation or relocation of gas-fired appliances or fixtures.
6. Installation of a new roof.
7. Addition of a skylight.
8. New windows.
9. Replacement of windows with larger or smaller windows.

B. When a Building Permit is Not Required

1. One-story, detached buildings with a floor area not exceeding 120 square feet.
The location of such buildings must meet the zoning and setback requirements
and not include electrical or plumbing.
2. Fences not over 6 feet.
3. Platforms, non-covered decks.
4. Walks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade.
5. Painting, papering and similar finish work.
6. When in doubt, call the City of Vallejo Building Division before starting
your project (Phone: 648-4374).

LANDSCAPING AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

A. The main goal of our Glen Cove Community Association (G.C.C.A.) is to monitor and help maintain property values through CC&R enforcements. As you may know, each Development in Glen Cove has its own set of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. The CC&R's are there to protect the values of our properties and should be the goal of all neighbors here in to Glen Cove to follow these guidelines.

B. The problems we see the most are related to landscaping issues, such as dead lawns, bushes and trees that need trimming, and litter about the properties. Also, weeds are not attractive, as some seem to think, and it's okay to be seen picking up paper and litter on your property, even if you didn't put it there.

C. Christmas lights are not intended to be displayed on houses throughout the year. Fire hazards and time restrictions on such decorative lighting are highlighted in the "Dear CC&R Advisor" article featured in the November/December, 2006, issue of the G.C.C.A. Newsletter.

D. It's okay to paint your house as the need arises. The original paint is not intended to last through the life of the house.

E. From time to time G.C.C.A. Development Reps. send out "Friendly Reminders" to some because of one or more CC&R violation(s). Often, it's because one or more of your close neighbors has brought the problem to our attention. Rather than getting angry, we are asking for your cooperation. Development Reps. (G.C.C.A. Board Members) are volunteers, working together to uphold the value of what is, for most of us, our most important asset-our homes.

F. Please join us and support your Glen Cove Community Association.

Vallejo City Council Addresses

Mayor Anthony Intintoli mayor@ci.vallejo.ca.us

Vice-Mayor Gary Cloutier garycloutier@sbcglobal.net

Council Member Tom Bartee tbartee@ci.vallejo.ca.us

Council Member Gerald Davis jdavis@ci.vallejo.ca.us

Council Member Stephanie Gomes sgomes@ci.vallejo.ca.us

Council Member Tony Pearsall tpearsall@ci.vallejo.ca.us

Council Member Hermie Sunga hsunga@ci.vallejo.ca.us

Vallejo City Hall, 555 Santa Clara St., Vallejo, CA 94590