INCLUDED IN THIS E-NEWSLETTER:

• City 2009/2010 Budget Adopted
• Sidney Pope Memorial Orchid and Onion Awards Presented at Pops in the Park
• Screen on the Green – August
• McKinley Rose Garden Proposed Enhancements Update
• Free Hours of Bike Rentals
• SHPS/ Mercy Construction Update
• Sacramento Fire Department Open Houses

UPCOMING EVENTS
• Neighborhood Services Department Community Hours
• July 4th Fun and Run in River Park
• Friends of the River Event- July 11th
• Taste of East Sacramento – July 12th
• Friends of McKinley Park Tennis Tournament – August 1st and 2nd
• National Night Out – August 4th
• Blood Drive in River Park, August 9th
• St. Mary’s 78th Annual Festival – August 16th
• SOCA Home Tour – September 20th

NEIGHBORHOOD & BUSINESS ASSOCIATION NEWS

City 2009/2010 Budget Adopted

The City Council adopted the final budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2009. In closing a $50 million gap, the Council reduced expenditures by $41.7 million, used $8.3 million in one-time resources, and reduced staffing levels by 383 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. By reaching agreement with the Sacramento Police Officers Association to extend their collective bargaining agreement by 3 years, the City was able to close its funding gap in the Police Department without reducing any police officer positions. Also, on July 3rd the Sacramento Firefighters, Local 522 approved a deal to freeze their salaries for 30 months and delay a 5 percent raise scheduled to take effect July 14 until January 2012, by doing this, they will save the city $10.8 million. Unfortunately, attempts to do likewise with the other union representing most non-safety departments, including Parks and Recreation, were unsuccessful, and as a result the City will be instituting layoffs.

Sidney Pope Memorial Orchid & Onion Awards Presented at Pops in the Park

We enjoyed unseasonably cool temperatures at the first three Pops in the Park concerts this year. Held each Saturday in June, record numbers of people enjoyed free family events with four different genres of music including oldies, blues, swing and country rock. The East Sacramento Improvement Association (ESIA) announced their annual Sidney Pope Memorial Orchid and Onion Awards at the Bertha Henschel concert on June 20th. The Orchid Award was given to 38th Street Neighborhood for their work on the new Setback Ordinance and their “diligence” in maintaining the historical context of the East Sacramento community. In the fall of 2008, a proposal was submitted to demolish an existing home on 38th Street (south of Folsom Blvd) and replace it with a new home that would have extended significantly closer than virtually all of the houses on the street. The new language proposed by the 38th Street neighbors and adopted by Council will trigger design review whenever a house is proposed to be built or expanded in East Sacramento that would be closer to the street than the average setback of the two houses on either side. Also nominated for the Orchid Award were the Neighborhood Retail Center at Alhambra and Folsom Boulevard, home of Peets Coffee and FedEx, which closely followed design guidelines and historical context for this boulevard, and the beautiful new townhomes that Dyer Construction built at the corner of Mission and J Streets, which look like they were built in the same 1930s era as the quads along I and J Streets.

The Onion Award was given this year for the third time to the blighted site of Express Furniture at 5108 Folsom Blvd. Also nominated was the site of Luis Mexican Restaurant building at 1218 Alhambra Blvd. This award is meant to be a good-natured nudge to folks to spruce up their properties.

Screen on the Green - August

Mark your calendars for Screen on the Green free movies in August at four of our District 3 parks.

August 1, 2009 – East Portal Park, 51st & M Streets - Babe
August 8, 2009 – Grant Park, 21st & C Streets – Bee Movie
August 15, 2009 – Babcock Park, 2498 Cormorant Way – Beauty and the Beast
August 22, 2009 – Glen Hall Park, Carlson Drive and Sandburg Drive – The Parent Trap (1961 version)
All movies begin at Sundown
For Details visit: www.sacscreenonthegreen.com

McKinley Rose Garden Proposed Enhancements Update

A second community meeting was held at the McKinley Rose Garden on Saturday, June 20, 2009, to present the proposed enhancements to the McKinley Rose Garden. The enhancements shared by Parks Staff were the result of suggestions and feedback received to date from a previous community meeting as well as many emails and calls. The plan will preserve the Frederick N. Evans Memorial Rose Garden as closely as possible to its existing, historic condition while updating the irrigation system, improving accessibility, and removing diseased or dying roses. The proposed enhancements include an accessible walkway from H Street to the Tiny Tots building, a new rose garden map (accessible), accessible benches with center armrest, wheelchair spaces, an additional (accessible) drinking fountain, concrete planter curbs, bubbler irrigation system and a new brick entry sign. Located in one of the most heavily used parks within the city, the last major known renovation to the garden was in 1973. After an initial meeting generated controversy, I was very pleased to see a renewed spirit of cooperation among neighbors, the City staff, families of memorial plaque holders, and the Sacramento Rose Society. I look for this to generate a renewed volunteerism to help restore the Rose Garden’s luster. Of course, we’ll need to raise most of the money for the renovations from private funds, including increased wedding fees. For more information, contact Jonathan Rewers at 808-7590 or jrewers@cityofsacramento.org

Free Hours of Bike Rentals

Bikes and Bites located at 1013 12th Street, rents bikes to locals and out of town guests to ride around and enjoy Sacramento and all it has to offer. Recently, the Sacramento Air Quality Air District agreed to underwrite 1000 hours of bike rentals. Renters will now receive one hour of free bike rental, when they rent a minimum of two hours. The bike rental programs will lower Sacramento's carbon footprint while creating economic stimulus in the local businesses. For more details go to www.BikesandBites.com

SHPS/ Mercy Construction Update

Soil remediation on the school site continues and is nearing completion. Upon completion, foundational footings will be dug for the new buildings. Tunnel work between the Medical Plaza and Hospital is expected to be complete by August 2009. This month the hospital intends to go out to bid for the structural steel to be used for the Heart Center building and this fall some preliminary foundation work is expected to begin. Future Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) meetings are scheduled as follows: August 18, and November 17.

For updates on the Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP) visit
For more information on the NTMP, visit www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/traffic-engineering/mercy-ntmp.html or contact Debb Newton at 808-6739 or dnewton@cityofsacramento.org. For questions or concerns regarding construction, please feel free to call the construction hotline at 552-6931.

Sacramento Fire Department Open Houses

The Sacramento Fire Department invites you to come by to meet your firefighters and take a station tour. They are holding several open houses throughout the city. Open Houses still to be held for District 3 residents are:

August 29th – Station 4, 3145 Granada Way (off Alhambra)
September 12th – Station 19, 1700 Challenge Way
September 19th – Station 8, 5990 H Street, 2pm-5pm

For more information call 808-1347 or visit www.sacfire.org

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Neighborhood Services Department Community Hours

For your convenience, Neighborhood Services continues to hold community hours in the neighborhood. Feel free to drop by to ask questions, raise concerns and discuss city issues. The following dates and times are scheduled:

Tuesday, July 14th
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Clunie Clubhouse, 601 Alhambra Blvd.

Tuesday, August 11th
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Hagginwood Community Center, 3271 Marysville Boulevard

For more questions, please contact Janine at 808-8193 or jmartindale@cityofsacramento.org

July 4th Fun and Run in River Park

Start your morning with the 33rd Annual Free 4th of July Fun Run in River Park. This is a 5-mile run that winds its way through the River Park neighborhood. The runs starts and ends near Glen Hall Park. There is a half a mile kids run (under 10) that starts at 7:45 a.m. and then the 5 mile runs begins at 8:00 a.m. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. Then mid-morning enjoy the Fire Cracker Parade, the Mere Mortals band, food, games and prizes from 10:00 a.m. until Noon. The parade begins at Caleb Greenwood School at 10:00 a.m. (arrive at 9:30 a.m. to line up). Hot dogs, ice cream and sods will be sold. RPNA is still looking for volunteers for that day. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information about the event, contact lcortez916@yahoo.com.

Friends of the River Event – July 11th

Friends of the River Banks sponsors a gathering at the American River each Second Saturday at 9 am at Sutter's Landing to encourage people, especially families and children, to enjoy and appreciate the wildlife and to spend a little time with nature. On Saturday, July 11th, Greg Kareofelas will lead a “Dragonfly Walk” where you may also see damselflies and butterflies. Binoculars and insect nets will be available for use. Greg will give pointers on how to use nets properly – a useful skill for budding entomologists of all ages. Recommended pre-walk reading: the “California Natural History Guide on Dragonflies” by Tim Manolis. For more information, contact Laurie Litman at llitman@pacbell.net

Below is an inspiring piece written by one of our 10-year old Midtown neighbors:

Come With Me
by Paloma Freitas

What are you doing on this hot summer day? If you like exploring and having fun, get off that couch and come with me to the American River.

We can swim in the cold water, take a hike, play on the beach, and look for baby clams. If we go on a hike, we can look at all of the beautiful plants. If we go at night, we may spot a coyote, if we are lucky. If we take a hike in the daytime, we might see otters, turtles or birds.

If you go swimming, you will have a lot of fun, but you'll have to be careful. Some parts of the river are deep. If we play in the shallow water, we can look for clams under the sand.

The American River is a great place. It's the best place in Sacramento to have fun. So what are you waiting for? Let's go.

Taste of East Sacramento – July 12th

The East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce presents “Taste of East Sacramento” on Sunday, July 12th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Shepard Garden and Arts Center. The event will feature wine tasting along with a taste of some of the best food East Sac has to offer. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Selland’s Market Café, 5340 H Street for $25 or at the door for $30. Proceeds will benefit Pops in the Park. For more information call 452-8011. (note: Limited tickets are available for the event)

Friends of McKinley Park Tennis Tournament, August 1st and 2nd

Support efforts to raise funding for the resurfacing and upgrades to the McKinley Park Tennis Courts. A tournament will be held on August 1st and 2nd at the McKinley facility. Your $75 tax deductible donation includes tournament fee, lunch and a shirt. Checks should be made payable to Friends of McKinley Park Tennis and mailed to PO Box 19463, Sacramento, CA 95819-0463. For more information about the tournament call (209) 483-8430.

National Night Out – August 4th

Join your neighbors and be a part of a nation-wide event against crime on August 4th. National Night Out is a community-police partnership held the first Tuesday of every August. It aims to increase awareness about police programs in communities, promote neighbor to neighbor interaction, and send a message to criminals that they are being watched! If you would like to organize a celebration with your neighbors, please contact Officer Alana Henley, Crime Prevention Specialist, at ahenley@pd.cityofsacramento for more information.

Blood Drive in River Park – August 9th

A Blood Drive will be held in River Park on Sunday, August 9th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 5458 Carlson Drive across from the school. Join the group for coffee, donuts and a BBQ.

St. Mary’s 78th Annual Festival – August 16th

St. Mary’s 78th Annual Festival will take place on Sunday, August 16th from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with lots of attractions for the whole family including arts and crafts, festival booths, bingo, rock climbing, laser tag, water slides, shopping mall, chicken/pasta dinner and other great foods as well as two popular bands, the Q-Balls and Miller Hi Lites.

SOCA Home Tour – September 20th

This year’s SOCA home tour will be held in historic Boulevard Park on Sunday, September 20 (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Tickets may be purchased in advance at several local businesses ($18.00) or at the street fair on the esplanade on 21st Street between F and G Streets on the day of the tour ($20.00). Bicyclists will get a dollar discount ($19.00). Ticket-holders will be given an illustrated brochure with detailed information about the homes and the neighborhood. As in past years, the street fair will feature artisans and information booths. Restored antique cars will be on display throughout the tour’s neighborhood, courtesy of the Sacramento Capitol A’s Model A Club.

The Boulevard Park neighborhood incorporates a mix of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century homes, ranging from single-family residences to the distinctive courtyard-style arrangement of cottages that can be found throughout the city of Sacramento. The homes also vary in size, having served a wide cross-section of Sacramento society, ranging from railroad and cannery workers to doctors, bankers, and businessmen. The core of the neighborhood is a development by a local building firm, Wright and Kimbrough that was constructed on the former site of the city’s race track in the early 1900s. In fact, 2009 marks the centennial for many of the houses in the original Boulevard Park neighborhood, which was bordered by B, H, 22nd, and 20th Streets. The greater Boulevard Park neighborhood also includes some handsome Victorian and Queen Anne residences from the late 1800s. Several homes from the original and greater Boulevard Park neighborhoods have been selected for the 2009 tour. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Joann's Elegant Gifts (1019 L Street), Collected Works Books & Other Fine Gifts (4524 Freeport Blvd.), 57th Street Antique Mall (875 57th Street), and The Avid Reader (16th & Broadway). For more information visit http://sacoldcity.org/?cat=10

NEIGHBORHOOD & BUSINESS ASSOCIATION NEWS

Alkali & Mansion Flats Historic Neighborhood Association. Meetings are held on the Second Thursday of each month, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Boys & Girls Club, 1117 G Street. For more information contact Sean Wright at (916) 806-8198.

East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce: Second Wednesday of each month at various locations, 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Cost $15. For details call Lisa Schmidt at (916) 457-2721.

Hagginwood Community Association: Celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4th , location tba. Next meeting: Wednesday, September 2nd at Joe Mims/Hagginwood Community Center, Tower Room, Meeting Room 1. For more information contact: Bill Maynard, Chair, 508-6025, sacgc@ulink.net or Barbara Stanton, Vice Chair, 927-7446, barbs992@earthlink.net.

McKinley East Sacramento Neighborhood Association (MENA): Board meeting open to the Public, First Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park. Contact: Joe Chavez at chavezjoseph@comcast.net

Midtown Business Association (MBA) Board Meeting – Third Wednesday of each month - 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – 1400 29th Street. For more information, call 442-1500.

River Park Neighborhood Association – Third Thursday of each month, Block Captains 6:30 p.m., RPNA Board 7:30 p.m. at Geneva Room in the Fremont Presbyterian Church at Carlson Drive and H Street. See www.riverparksacramento.net

Midtown Neighborhood Association (formerly WPCANA) – For Updates visit www.sacmidtown.org

Area 1 NRT – Next meeting: Monday, July 20th, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (preceding NAG) at Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street.

Area 1 NAG – Next NAG meeting: Monday, July 20th, Pizza at 6:15 p.m. at Hart Senior Center.

Area 4 Community Partnership Meeting – Next meeting: Monday, July 13th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Robertson Community Center.

Area 4 NRT – Monday, July 13th, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (preceding Community Partnership meeting) at Robertson Community Center.