Last Night's NAG proves to be informative and contentious.

Last night's Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) meeting started off with a low key police report and not much news on issue updates. The general plan goes to City Council for review on March 3rd. There will be a session of the Preservation Roundtable on March 14th,

The primary announcement was the merger of Marshall School Neighborhood Association and the adjoining New Era Park Neighborhood Association.

A presentation by Doug Huston a Program Analyst with the Solid Waste Division on E-Waste removal was the first agenda item. The city has programs to collect batteries, cfls and other florescent lights that can not go into land fills by law. They and other E-Waste material (computers and accessories and TVs etc.) Can be recycled with the neighborhood clean-up program, at the City of Sacramento Household Hazardous Waste Facility and at E-Waste drop off events. Contact 311 for more information. E-Waste along with appliances can also be recycled at commercial businesses including Appliance Distribution (916-497-0274) and Advanced Computer Recycling Inc. (916-387-9988) where free pick-up appointments can be made.

Next was three presentations by developers vying to be selected by CADA for a project at 16th an N Streets. A presentation was made to the NAG August 07 meeting on this mixed use development. The project was shelved due to the bad economy. It has been restarted. There were complaints about the bulk of the building. The developers stated that this was due to the parameters set out by CADA. For information on public comment contact CADA.

What was probably the most contentious item was a presentation by Bill Thomas, Director of Development, on the merger of the Planning Commission and the Design Review Commission. Mr. Thomas stated that this is being done as a cost saving measure. He also took the position that this was going to happen and then there would be public comment on any other changes. To view Mr. Thomas's presentation material contact Vjones@cityofsacramento.org if you are not on the NAG mailing list. Several attendees loudly if not angrily voiced their concern not only with the commission merger but with the whole process. It was described as un-democratic by several persons. The creation of three commissions, Design Review, Planning and Preservation Review was done only two years ago after more than two years of public participation. There was a compromise that created a balance between citizen, city staff and developer input. Many voiced the concern that this merger changes the balance much more in favor of developers at the expense of the citizens. Expect a strong turnout when this reaches City Council. See City Council agendas and reports at http://www.cityofsacramento.org/clerk/.

The last item dealt with another issue that has raised a great deal of concern with affected neighborhoods. McKinley Village: Neighborhood Views was presented by the East Sacramento Preservation Task Force & McKinley East Sacramento Neighborhood Association. A presentation was made to NAG in 08 by the developer. That presentation did not address key concerns such as traffic impact to the surrounding neighborhoods, flood control and sewage removal problems. It became a heated exchange between attendees and the presenters at times. Last night's presentation covered much the same concerns. Requested mitigations included more access including a second tunnel at Alhambra Street, flood control gates, creation of a transportation district and an independent review of sewage distribution problems. Interested parties can attend another presentation of this information tonight, Tuesday February 24th at Theodore Judah Elementary School, 7:00pm.

A reminder that persons interested in having items on the NAG agenda can contact Janine Martindale, 916-808-8193 or jmartindale@cityofsacramento.org. Anyone can also attend the NAG Agenda Committee which meets the first Wednesday of the month, 12 noon at the Clunie Community Center, East Sacramento Room.