Residents offer advice, praise to Board at April meeting 

Calm and civility were the watchwords for a GRF Board meeting April 28 that took a turn for the positive from last month's gathering. Business was handled without extensive or divisive discussion, a number of residents offered optimism and appreciation rather than criticism during the Residents Forum, and the entire session was completed in under two hours.

After GRF Board President Diane Mader offered her report, which reviewed at length the status of Creekside (see full report this week), Public Safety Chief Luis Martinez talked about a pilot program his department has under way in response to the Board's request that he look into ways to improve pedestrian safety.

Thanks to a suggestion from Rossmoor resident Philip Wesler, Martinez said Rossmoor would set up a flagged pedestrian crossing on a trial basis. Wesler had seen a similar program in place in Kirkland, Wash., in which pedestrians pick up a brightly colored flag on one side of a street; use it to alert drivers before and while they are crossing; then replace the flags in a receptacle on the other side of the street.

Martinez said he researched the concept and found that several Bay Area cities, such as Oakland and Berkeley, had this program in place and it had been working. It is a "very low cost, very effective" program, Martinez said.

Because the crossing at Tice Creek and Oakmont drives has proven to be a "controversial intersection," Martinez said, this is where he proposed the pilot program be implemented.

However, the program notwithstanding, Martinez said, he has always maintained that "the onus really rests on the residents, guests and employees of Rossmoor to drive safely in Rossmoor."

"Traffic tools such as signs, speed bumps, mirrors, the radar unit from Public Safety, etc. are only aids," Martinez said. "These measures cannot control the person behind the wheel."

Residents offer their thanks

A new tool was introduced prior to the Residents Forum to facilitate timed commentary without the abrupt termination induced by the egg timer. A computer screen with a digital timer, placed in view of resident speakers, showed green for the first two-and-a-half minutes, amber for the next half-minute, and then turned red at three minutes, dispensing an audible, but gentle tone as well.

A few residents revisited thoughts they had shared elsewhere.

Doug Krutilek came back for another plea to the Board to think twice about reducing Dollar pool's hours next winter, citing the Arthritis Foundation's recommendation that shoulder-depth water is important for exercises that relieve arthritis pain. He also thanked the Board for hearing the concerns about Dollar pool.

Tom Martin asked questions he had asked at the Uncensored Chatboard rally the day prior, about whether or not studies had been done on the Creekside facilities. Trust Operations Director Dan Schrantz responded that extensive studies had been done and had been made available in the Creekside presentations, and Director Rita Fredlund offered to make a copy available for Martin.

Don Pettengill and Phoebe Cortessis reiterated requests for more resident advisory committees, which would provide means for interactions between the Board and residents.

Cortessis also added that she thought a hold should be put on the plans for Creekside until the new Board had been seated.

Citing his letter to the News' Residents Forum (April 20), Dick Ward outlined his alternative plan for Creekside in further detail. Relocating the News, Public Safety and the golf cart/golf maintenance facilities could be done on the grassy areas north of the Creekside tennis courts rather than in front of Dollar, he suggested. This plan contains more square footage and an adequate parking area. He asked the Board to seriously consider his proposal.

A News chart listing Rossmoor golf course statistics (April 27, page 36), inspired Walt Lautenberger's comments. He said the statistics present "a bleak picture," as the total rounds played per year seemed to be dropping.

Lautenberger said golfers needed "a wake-up call" and he suggested a more aggressive marketing campaign be implemented. The GRF Board must "apply sufficient oversight to ensure that the problem receives the attention it deserves," he said.

Other speakers offered their thanks to the Board and further positive statements about life in Rossmoor.

At age 89, Eunice Brill said she has seen many changes in her life, and many of those have been here in Rossmoor, where she has lived as an owner for 22 years, and prior to that, as a renter. She said there were times when she didn't get what she wanted (a covered pool, for example), or what she needed (service by paratransit), or what she expected (security from robberies).

Yet, Brill said, "My needs have not been met, but this is a wonderful place to live and I'll still stay here."

Though a resident for a shorter time, Mary Hufford said she has participated in the processes regarding Creekside and she feels the Board has been "extremely thorough." She is impressed with the improvements to the valley that have been made, from the Peacock Hall to Del Valle, she said.

"I have great confidence in this Board," she said. "I appreciate your time I'm not here to micromanage you. I realize that Creekside is in dire need of improvement and I look forward to your thoroughness in continuing to go forward," she said.

More positive thoughts came from Lloyd Poche, who said he wanted to thank the Board for the "miniscule" 65 cent increase in the coupon. "I can take that kind of coupon creep anytime," he said.

As volunteer retirees willing to put in hundreds of collective hours, Poche wanted to thank the Board and all those involved in the pending solution of the Rossmoor Medical Center (RMC) transfer, which was a "conundrum," he said.

Pat Hines, who said she is an advocate of long-range planning, also wanted to commend the Board for its action in going ahead with the project. She also wanted to commend the Board for "hard work and diligence" in pursuing the plan for the RMC transfer.

Adopting the self-appointed role of "optimist," Shirley Ellis talked of how she loved to show Rossmoor off to her visiting friends, and how proud she is to take relatives and friends on tours of Gateway, for instance. But, she said, she doesn't show her friends Creekside because a lot needs to be done.

"I just drive by it now," she said.

She said she would rather have an improved Creekside to be proud of than to say, "This place needed upgrading, however we wanted to save money. So we just kinda got by on the cheap. I'm really proud of the money we saved."

Upgrades that are made will be here for a "long, long time," Ellis said. She exhorted residents to "be an optimist."

"Things will be done if we're cooperative," she said.

After presenting a video of a 1965 film on the early years of Rossmoor to the Board to be put in the official archives, Historical Society member John Nutley read a poem he found in a church bulletin. The poem was Mother Teresa's "Do It Anyway."

The poem included the lines, "The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you've got anyway."

Committee reports

William Gerecke of the Audit Committee proposed that the Board consider the recommendation to accept the GRF Audit Report for the year ending Dec. 24, 2004, as submitted by the Foundation's independent audit firm, Moss Adams LLP.

The Board accepted the recommendation.

Emergency Preparedness Committee Chairman Fil Fong said the committee passed a motion to purchase new electrical generators and associated lighting equipment for the four First Aid Posts, and he said the city of Walnut Creek would present its first Emergency Preparedness Fair in September.

Fong thanked GRF administrative assistant Mary Burr for her assistance to the committee and welcomed Deborah Ott from Counseling Services.

There was little to report from the Finance Committee.

In the Policy committee report, Chairwoman Jo MacClelland stated that several items were still under discussion: change in room reservation policies; formation of an ad hoc RV parking lot committee; and allegations of guest use of Peacock Hall.

MacClelland also said the Policy Committee was going to meet with the Aquatics Committee, but that was cancelled due to illness.

Pat Kelly, chairman of the Golf Advisory Committee, also had little to report outside of asking for a statement of appreciation to be made to Jack Ryan, who was leaving the committee after serving six years, and to submit Dr. Ronald Potter's name as appointee to the committee.

Director Ron Moschel asked Kelly about the comments made in the Residents Forum that there was a serious problem due to the decline of rounds being played.

Kelly said that the 70,000 rounds of golf played at Rossmoor last year was hardly "chicken feed in terms of number of rounds." He said contrasting that to the one year (1990) when there were 102,000 rounds played was really not a fair comparison, because 1990 was in the middle of drought years.

He feels the current number is fair, and probably reflects golf across the country.

CEO Steve Adams added that it was important to note the number has been steady for years, and that is in spite of the fact that fees have risen dramatically in the last six or seven years. But costs have gone up to offset, and "in fact revenue has gone up," Adams said.

"Clearly the inclement weather this year has been dramatic compared to the last few years," Adams said. "We've lost over a month's worth of play in the course being shut down so far in the first few months of this year."

Business

There was little in the way of business discussion. Two items of unfinished business were reduced to one when, early in the meeting, it was decided to defer the motion to approve a policy that would prohibit video or audio taping of Board, committee or membership meetings except by or on behalf of the Foundation.

The only other item of unfinished business was the motion to approve making experimental weekend bus service changes permanent. These changes included Dial-a-Bus rather than fixed-route service on Saturdays, and increased Dial-a-Bus service on Sundays.

Schrantz offered some figures that came as a result of surveys taken in February. He said that residents seemed satisfied with the weekend service as it had been implemented during the trial period which had begun in April 2004, with 71 percent claiming satisfaction and eight out of nine respondents saying the bus service met their needs.

The motion to maintain the experimental bus service was approved, with eight for and Director Paul Rosenzweig abstaining.

A motion to approve the Mutual Operations Division dividend in the amount of $85,000, to be distributed to the managed Mutuals on a per-unit basis was also passed, with eight voting for and Rosenzweig abstaining.

A unanimous approval was given to the awarding of a paving contract for street maintenance to Silicon Valley Paving in the amount of $342,414, plus a 10 percent contingency to account for actual quantities vs. estimated quantities. This makes a total expenditure of $376,655 from the Trust Estate Fund. The budgeted amount for this item in the Trust Reserve Work Program is $550,000, and the program was approved by the Board on Feb. 24, 2005. See further details on page XX

Residents offer advice, praise to Board at April meeting 

Calm and civility were the watchwords for a GRF Board meeting April 28 that took a turn for the positive from last month's gathering. Business was handled without extensive or divisive discussion, a number of residents offered optimism and appreciation rather than criticism during the Residents Forum, and the entire session was completed in under two hours.

Cemetery District offers special rates to residents 

Community Club to hear about Indian life in Rossmoor area 

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First Mutual adds spa and hot tub policy 

At its April 22 regular board meeting, the First Walnut Creek Mutual board of directors adopted a spa and hot tub policy, effective immediately. The policy is printed below in its entirety. A copy of the policy, which can be inserted into the member's policy manual, can be obtained from Dyann Paradise in the Mutual Board Office in Gateway.

First Mutual discusses share loans, parking concerns at its monthly meeting 

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GRF president's report: How to respond to residents and questions answered on Creekside status and timetable

The following is GRF President Diane Mader's monthly report given at the GRF Board meeting on April 28. She reported on the GRF informational meeting on April 21 and the status of the Creekside development.

Kiwanis fund-raiser proceeds provide funds for respite for Alzheimer's/Parkinson's caregivers 

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Meeting with John Muir staff postponed 

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Much to Know About Rossmoor

What is the Golden Rain Foundation?

Mutual 8 to elect a director to its board

An election will be held this year for one director to serve on the Mutual 8 board of directors to serve a three-year term.

Notice of annual meeting of members of GRF 

Notice is hereby given that the 41st annual meeting of members of the Golden Rain Foundation of Walnut Creek will be held Monday, May 9, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room at Gateway complex, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, California.

Prepare for West Nile virus season: remove standing water from yards 

Experts are predicting Northern California to be the epicenter of West Nile virus (WNV) this year. The virus is transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito and cannot be spread person to person. Mosquitoes become infected with WNV when they feed on infected birds.

Residents can recycle old computers and electronic waste at collection event 

Through the efforts of Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and the Rossmoor Computer Club, an electronic waste collection event will be held in Rossmoor this month.

Residents rally around having a voice with the GRF Board 

At the resident rally sponsored by the yourrossmoor.com Uncensored Chatboard Club on April 27, Peacock Hall was abuzz with residents who had things to say about those directing the course of Rossmoor, from the GRF Board to staff. Little of the commentary included praise.

Rossmoor Republican Club to hear Supervisor Mary Piepho

Rossmoor Republican Club Vice President Diane Bordeaux announces that the speaker for the Wednesday, May 11, dinner meeting is Supervisor Mary N. Piepho.

Several openings on GRF committees

There will be openings on the following Golden Rain Foundation committees this May:

Street maintenance and repaving to start in May. Watch for detours and safety signs 

The street maintenance contract has been approved by the GRF Board at the April 28 meeting. Silicon Valley Paving, Inc., from San Jose, has been awarded the contract. The schedule is to start paving in the second week of May. The major paving activities should be done in three to four working days. Some preparation work might be done a few days before the paving commences and some street painting will follow for a few more days. This won't affect traffic flow or accessibility.

Walnut Creek Library designs can be viewed in Fireside lobby

Rossmoor residents will get their say about the design of the proposed downtown Walnut Creek Library and parking structure on Thursday, May 5. That's when the four proposed designs will be on display in the Fireside Room lobby at Gateway from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Walnut Creek mayor to host first walk for health here in Rossmoor 

As obesity becomes a major health concern to Americans, Walnut Creek Mayor Gary Skrel isn't sitting by idly. He's up and walking and wants Walnut Creek citizens to join his walks. His goal is to increase the health of Walnut Creek residents, including Rossmoor.