We had very good turnout at our last meeting and we were joined by several members of the Parks Committee.

A few handouts were provided that you may link to below;

• City of Modesto Tree Program for Homeowners. This page allows you to learn more about the process, who to call and vendors that are approved for work in the city. http://www.modestogov.com/prnd/trees/homeowners/
• Greater Modesto Tree Foundation. This website and program is outstanding. There are several helpful resources in this site. The following link will provide you with access to a list of trees that are recommended for planting. http://www.treemodesto.org/care/recommended.asp

The group also discussed a future event and fundraiser with the Parks Committee that will enable us to raise funds for a tree replacement program. More information will be coming out on this program over the next few months.

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Friends of Modesto Dog Park now has a website with information about the proposed dog park and their fundraising efforts. Check them out at www.friendsofmodestodogpark.com.
Their next fundraiser is a 1-mile walk on April 16, 2011, 9 a.m., at 601 W. Morris Ave, Modesto - dogs on leashes are welcome. More information about registration and sponsorships is available on their website. 

The Parks Committee thanks the 15 volunteers who attended the February Virginia Trail Corridor cleanup day. It was a great success.
The next Virginia Corridor Trail cleanup day will be held Saturday March 12, 2011 from 9 am -12 noon. Our cleanup work will focus on the trail section between Coldwell and College. Volunteers should meet at the intersection of Morris and Virginia. Just bring your gloves and a small spade to help with weeding.

The next Parks Committee meeting will held Monday March, 14, 2011 from 6 pm- 7pm. Please contact Richard Cummings for details. We will be discussing our wildflower planting strategy for 2011-12 and opportunities for collaboration with other community groups.

First...we need your help. This committee is very important to our parks, playgrounds and safety. We have a need for more participation on this committee as one of our goals is to become a liaison between the new homeless commission and the residents of our neighborhood. To succeed and become an effective voice that represents our neighborhood sentiment we need more participation. Please join us next month if you are interested.

In our last meeting we discussed three objectives for this committee:

1. Use a blog specific to our area that will update the community about 'what' happens in our neighborhood with regard to Transient, Vagrant and Homeless Persons. Not every 'homeless' person is bad (for those of you who know 'Old School' you know what we mean). The purpose would be to educate the community to recognize the difference between suspicious or inappropriate activity and activity that just represents someone who needed a break for a short while. There is no ulterior motive to this project, rather an opportunity for us all to learn and observe from real time reporting.
2. Create a dialogue between the new "Homeless Commission', the City of Modesto and our community. We realize that with Graceada Park, Enslen Park and the other parks in our neighborhood there is a large number of transient activity. We are also bordered by several social service programs that affect this activity. We want our needs and our voices to be heard and listened to at the City level.
3. Benchmark and Educate about the issues. We have a copy of the Modesto laws for vagrancy, homelessness and transient activity. We want to learn about what other cities are doing and how they are solving thier problems. Whether it is Seattle and a Homeless City or the projects and programs initiated by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. We realize that there is much to be learned from how other cities handle these issues.

Join us this Wednesday evening, March 2, for a CANA Spring Mixer from 6:30 - 8:30pm. The Seasons Event Center has offered a lovely room for us to use. There will be no meeting or agenda, just a gathering of friends and neighbors. Expect good food, drinks and great conversation. Season's is located on the corner of Fairmont and McHenry. Please bring a dish and beverage to share. This is an adult only affair. For more information, contact us at events@canamodesto.com

Looking for a family outing? Join in the "Sunday Stroll" on March 20!  Grab your kids and neighbors and meet up on the Virginia Corridor just East of the Yogurt Mill at 3:00pm. We will walk and roll down to Graceada Park where treats will be waiting...think Yogurt Mill! Stay for some play time and a fun craft for the kids at the park pavilion. 
*Note: In the case of rain, the Sunday Stroll will be moved to 3:00 p.m. on the following Sunday, March 27.

Mark your calendars for May 17, when the Amgen tour races through our streets once again!  Plans are shaping up for a huge neighborhood event centered around the corner of Coldwell and Sycamore.  We will keep you posted as the event committee continues to brainstorm ways to showcase our CANA spirit

Approximately 80 people met at Modesto Police Department and heard discussion from

Coordinators of the Gang Division, Nuisance Abatement, Parks,Recreation, &

Neighborhoods, and Neighborhood Preservation. Listed is an abbreviated list of

highlights from each speaker.

MPDʼs Chief Harden:

• The MPD staff has been reduced by 25% over the last 3 years.

• The city has managed to have a reduction in crime but an increase in auto theft and in

the recent weeks, an increase in gang related crimes.

• Donʼt leave car unattended to warm or cool; donʼt leave items visible and always lock

or garage your car.

• “Raise the bar so crime is not inviting.”

• Homeless is not a crime but actions like sleeping in park after 10 p.m. are crimes.

• PLEASE call in suspicious activity. The City needs citizen support more than ever and

that is where Neighborhood Watch becomes vital.

• Triage of calls is done according to seriousness. A stolen bike may not get a rapid

response, but a threat such as a burglary in process will have priority. A self-report can

be done on line for insurance purposes and the city will email a case # back to victim.

• “Gang Injunction” in South Modesto has been successful in reducing activity. Identified

gang members within the area have a list of prohibitive actions to follow like no alcohol

or loitering together.

• Two years ago Modesto adopted a “verified response” before MPD will respond to a

house alarm. There needs to be an eye witness or audible sound.

Gang Coordinator- Robert Gumm: email= gummr@modestopd.com phone=342-9162

• Showed slides of Gang tattoos, graffiti, and highlighted music. Also described each

gang orientation.

• Gangs are known for loitering, intimidation of residents, targeting rival gangs, drug

usage, extortion, graffiti, and increased crimes.

• What you can do: increase lighting(criminals will move on to dark area for break-ins),

surveillance cameras, donʼt allow loitering, cooperate with law enforcement, report

gang & drug activity, timely remove graffiti, network with neighboring properties & have

open discussions with neighbors like in Neighborhood Watch.

• Signs of gangs: graffiti markings, large number of youth hanging out, increased

clothing colors like red, blue and green.

• Gangs think like: “the more you fear me, the more you respect me”.

• 5000 documented gang members in Modesto but probably 10,000 to 12,000.

• Okay to email graffiti photo to MPD before painting over in a timely manner.

• The City program N.E.A.T. works with the graffiti coverage problem.

• Safety Zone “Injunctions” have been used in L.A. area for years. South Modesto has

one in place that has greatly reduced gang activity. The city is working on establishing

zones in the airport area and West Modesto over the next year. It works similar to a

restraining order with no civil liberties with in that area.

• Modesto PD has a website with complete gang information.

• “Project Save” stresses an intervention/prevention to get kids out of gangs

Nuisance Abatement Coordinator- Greg Granis & Bill Hamilton:

• Addresses quality of life issues such the homeless.

• Nuisance Crimes include: public intoxication,panhandling, unlawful lodging in parks or

public areas, indecent exposure, public urination, littering, fires, river pollution.

• Dumpster diving has been a violation for the last 4 years. Please report (hard to catch

offenders).

• Most offenders are homeless, drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally ill. 75% of homeless

usually have alcohol or drug addictions and 6% will refuse all help.

• How to deal with: Donʼt give money (many use for drugs); walk away when

approached; be assertive; donʼt stop.

• Panhandlers can ask for money but canʼt follow you.

• Stanislaus Recovery Center is for alcohol & drug recovery that is a partnership of 17

agencies. The goal is to get people connected to the community.

• Shelters are located at 7th & I, Salvation Army on 9th & D, and Gospel Mission on

Yosemite. If a person is intoxicated, they wonʼt be let in at the Salvation Army shelter.

• Can be reached by email: hamiltonb@modestopd.com granisg@modestopd.com

Parks, Recreation, & Neighborhood Department- Heather Grigsby: volunteer

coordinator

• “Taking it to the Streets” is a city-wide clean-up effort. Created due to the cut back on

funds so the city is seeking support from volunteers. The next dates are: April 2nd,

June 25th, September 17th. The locations will be on the website along with the

registration applications.

• P,R, & N will supply trash bags. No group is too small. Groups can create their own

project, but city has projects for volunteers.

• Graffiti kits are available for check out. Paint is available for big projects. You canʼt

remove graffiti from someoneʼs private property, but you can from public areas.

• “N.E.A.T.” project is “Neighbors Environment Action Team”. In this project you can

sign up to do a certain job for a certain amount of time. Example: College Area

Neighborhood Alliance has adopted 2 sections of the Virginia Corridor to weed & plant

for the next year.

• “Paint Out” is a once-a-month graffiti paintover as a group.

Neighborhood Preservation Unit- Bert Lippert: email: lippertb@modestogov.com

& cell phone 571-5810

• Staff of 3

• Receive 15-30 calls a day with minor complaints. Staff can write a letter & register the

complaint to start process.

• With empty houses, a letter can be sent, but minimal funds are available to board up

houses. Often it is difficult to determine who is responsible for a house. The owner of a

foreclosed house is still the liable party; not the bank.

• The total budget is $10,000 and it took $3,500 to board & clean up just one house this

year.

• There are 680 registered vacant homes in Modesto. Staff is not allowed to enter

vacant yards or houses without permission. So they canʼt write up violations of unseen

things. If a gate is open and there is a pool in back yard, it would be wise to board the

gate shut.

• Green pools can be drained by city, but they wonʼt do until dry weather. Please report

such cases.

• There is an ordinance against parking cars on front lawns so report to the city; also

weeds over 12” tall.

Seminar organized by Crime Prevention Officers:

Carla Castro castrocarla@modestopd.com 572-9636

Heather Graves gravesh@modestopd.com 572-9639

Stay connected this year!  The CANA Events Committee will keep you up to date on all there is to see and do in the College area in 2011 including networking opportunities, neighborhood improvement projects and outdoor fun for families!  

Save the date for our first Spring Mixer on Wednesday, March 2 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm.   This is going to be a fun way for us to meet up and chat with neighbors at the Seasons Event Center on Fairmont and McHenry.  Season's is graciously donating their facility.  Details for this event are: 

Date:  Wednesday, March 2

Time:  6:30pm – 8:30pm

Location:  Season's Event Center on Fairmont and McHenry

Potlock food and beverages: Please bring a food item to share and anything you want to drink to share

This is an adults only affair. For more information, contact us at events@canamodesto.com

On Sunday afternoon, March 20, we hope everyone will join in the "Sunday Stroll."  Gather your kids, grandkids and neighbors and meet us on the Virginia Corridor just East of the Yogurt Mill at 3:00. We will walk/ride down to Graceada Park where treats will be waiting!  Stay for some play time and a fun craft for the kids.  *Note: In the case of rain, the Sunday Stroll will be moved to 3:00 p.m. on the following Sunday, March 27.

Mark your calendars for May 17, when the Amgen tour races through our streets once again!  Plans are shaping up for a huge neighborhood event...stay tuned.

In December, the committee evaluated the collector streets in CANA to prioritize the most “needy” streets for re-paving or re-construction.  The following are the results of that study in order of highest need:

#1.       Griswold Avenue, McHenry to Virginia

#2       Virginia Avenue – Needham to Roseburg

#3       College Avenue – Needham to Orangeburg

#4       College Avenue – Needham to Orangeburg

#5       Stoddard Avenue – McHenry to College

#6       Tully Road – 9^th Street to Orangeburg

#7       Princeton Avenue – Virginia to Tully Rd.

#8       Coldwell Avenue – College to Tully

#9       Park Avenue – Needham to Stoddard

The above information has been submitted to the City for review.

The City of Modesto has received federal stimulus funds (ARRA) which can be utilized for re-paving of slurry sealing of roadways. Watch for some action in the near future!

The committee met with Dennis Turner, Public Works Director for the City of Modesto to discuss fund availability for infrastructure repair and replacement.  He explained that the City would be using up Proposition #1B monies throughout the City prior to the June 30^th deadline before exhausting the ARRA funds.

Another evaluation of alleys will be done on the need for repair or seal coating.  A portion of the monies available is collected from the garbage haulers that pay a portion of their revenues to address impacts caused to streets and alleys.

Some areas of the College Neighborhood are “blessed” with Rockwell storm drainage catch basins.  If your Rockwell is not performing well in recent rainstorms let us know.  A properly operating Rockwell should disperse most storms within four to six hours.  The City will be stepping up Rockwell maintenance throughout the City (we have 110,000).

We need you to volunteer for this committee and/or submit your concerns by emailing: infrastructure@canamodesto.com

We are excited at the prospect of having a dog park in our neighborhood. Fundraising efforts by the Friends of Modesto Dog Park continue for the proposed dog park at Elk Park.  There are several ways people can assist in these efforts.  (1) Recycling can be turned in at Modesto Junk and the proceeds will go towards the dog park.  Boyett Petroleum has agreed to match these funds.  An April 16 event is also in the works to collect recycling as well as e-waste and used cartridges and toners.  (2)  Donations may be made out to the Stanislaus Community Foundation #153, and sent to Stanislaus Community Foundation #153, Attn Andy Johnson PRND, P.O. Box 642, Modesto, CA  95353.  

If you would like to help Friends of Modesto Dog Park, please contact Connie at see_pink@hotmail.com or 521-3857.  More information is also available on the Modesto Dog Park facebook.

In January, the Parks Committee adopted the Virginia Corridor Trail between Stoddard and Coldwell through the City of Modesto's N.E.A.T. program.   As part of the effort, the committee will be responsible for trash pickup, pruning and weeding.   To meet its committment, the group has scheduled clean up events on the second Saturday of every month from 9am-Noon.  More than a dozen people attended the group's first cleanup day!  The next event is scheduled for February 12th from 9am-Noon. We will be pruning, picking up trash and cleaning up that section. Please bring your gloves and garden tools and work for as long as you can.

In addition, an anonymous donor has provided funds for the "Mutt Mitts" along the trail.

The next Parks Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 14th from 6pm-7pm at 417 W. Morris.

For more information, please send a note to Richard at canaparks@canamodesto.com