May 17, 2007

District 10 Report

Coyote Valley development impacts on District 10;
Sports Fields Feasibility Study; Great American Litter Pick-up

By Councilmember Nancy Pyle
Special to the Times

In 2006 the San Jose City Council appointed me as co-chair of the Coyote Valley Task Force to help shape the Specific Plan for any potential growth in Coyote Valley. As a task force leader, I have worked diligently to minimize or eliminate any impacts such as – traffic congestion, noise or environmental degradation – that potential Coyote Valley development could have on our neighborhoods.

I want to assure residents that development in Coyote Valley is a long way off and that the Specific Plan being created by the task force is merely a planning document for when and if the area is developed.

To that end, the draft Environmental Impact Report of the Coyote Valley Specific Plan was released on March 30 for public comment. You may review the document and learn more about the process at www.sanjoseca.gov/coyotevalley or you may review my fact sheet on District 10 impacts at www.sanjoseca.gov/district10. The comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report closes on June 29.

Over the next several months the Coyote Valley Task Force will be meeting to refine the Specific Plan and offer alternatives. I plan to propose alternatives that minimize or eliminate impacts to our Almaden and Blossom Valley neighborhoods. If the Specific Plan is to move forward with my support it will have to successfully avoid these significant impacts to District 10.

Budget Forum
On Saturday, May 5, I hosted the second Annual Budget/Neighborhood Forum. The purpose of this event is twofold. First, to help residents better understand the 2007-2008 Proposed Budget, and second, to provide me with a better understanding of District 10 needs as the city council begins our annual budget process. (See www.AlmadenTimes.com — May 10 issue.)

Community Sports Field Feasibility Study
In March I announced that the city of San Jose and San Jose Unified School District joined efforts to provide additional fields for our organized youth sports. The Leland High School Field Agreement will bring three first-class fields into the inventory for these groups. This new model is now being used in other council districts with various school districts.

However, District 10 is still lacking fields. For that reason I authored the Community Sports Field Feasibility Study. This feasibility study, the first of its kind in California, will provide the city with best practices in other jurisdictions with respect to on-going maintenance, operational issues, permitting and fee structures in an effort to position the city as a premier community sporting environment for both children and adults.

As part of this study, a Community Task Force has been put together to help guide the process and offer input. I would like to thank Frank Ross (Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League), Terry Thompson (Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League) and Mark Osborn (Almaden Little League) for participating in this important process for District 10.

Events
On Saturday, May 19 from 9 a.m. to noon the Great American Litter Pick Up will take place at the Vista Park Community Room (New Compton Avenue and Hyde Park Drive). This is a wonderful opportunity to clean up your neighborhood and spend time outside. Mayor Reed has challenged all council districts to have more than 50 volunteers at this event. Please check my Web site,www.sanjoseca.gov/district10, for more information.

Constituent Services
Last month my office launched a new issue tracking system, which will allow residents to electronically log issues and concerns with my office and track their progress. This 24 hours a day, seven days a week system is available at www.sanjoseca.gov/district10.