Moreland West NA: Community News

There’s a lot of MWNA activities to report, including the installation of two pet waste stations and a garbage can along Student Lane and Fallbrook Ave. This Pet Waste & Litter Reduction Project was made possible by a BeautifySJ grant and partnership with the Moreland School District. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback about these community improvements and have noticed a reduction in pet waste along Student Lane. We still need to do better, however, especially along Fallbrook Ave. The District has stepped up to empty the cans. I challenge dog walkers and all residents to pick up after yourselves and others. Help keep our neighborhood pet waste and litter free!

In August, the MWNA worked with residents of the 1700 block of Fallbrook Ave to organize an evening Block Party –featuring an ice cream sundae bar! — to provide neighbors an opportunity to meet. Residents of the 1800 block of Ensenada Dr are currently planning a community-building event in November. Grant funds from San Jose and Campbell are available to support block parties. If your block would like to host a neighbor meet-and-greet in 2023, let the MWNA know!

Please plan to attend the Moreland West NA Meeting on
Thursday, Sept. 29 from 6:30-8 p.m.  

There will be community updates, time with local police, and we’ll meet Elliot Scozzola, who’s running to represent our neighborhood on the Campbell City Council. The main meeting presentations will be on Residential Recycling Services in San Jose and Campbell. Not sure which items are recyclable? Wonder why certain plastics aren’t accepted? Bring your questions and feedback!

Register for the MWNA Zoom meeting

The El Paseo Signature Project, which includes apartments for 2,300 residents, was approved by the SJ City Council in June. The City and Developer are still determining how to meet the sizable parkland requirement for these new residents. In the meantime, Vice Mayor Chappie Jones has requested that the Sand Hill Property Company host a “visioning session” for the rest of the 30-acre El Paseo de Saratoga Shopping Center site to allow the community to provide input on what we’d like to see (or not see) on the remaining 20+ acres.  Zoom Link: TBA.

• SAVE THE DATE: El Paseo Community Visioning Session via Zoom — Thursday, October 20 at 6 p.m.  

Water conservation is crucial as our region faces prolonged drought and climate change. Planning and investment in our future water supply is also critical. The Santa Clara Valley Water District currently provides clean, recycled water to large customers for irrigation and other purposes. Valley Water plans to increase production of recycled water from 5% to 10% of total supply. This additional water will be piped to nearby percolation ponds, where it will replenish groundwater and eventually make it to our taps. To help residents better understand the water recycling process, MWNA is organizing an in-person tour of the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center near Alviso. Ages 10+ may participate. Email morelandwestna@gmail.com to reserve your space!

• Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center Tour — Saturday, Nov. 12, 10-11:30 a.m.

Finally, MWNA hopes to meet in-person for our Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 17. In addition to a great program, we’ll be holding elections for two Exec Board positions: President and Secretary. We’ll also be looking for at-large representatives for San Jose and Campbell, as well as other neighborhood volunteers who’d like to help plan MWNA meetings and activities in 2023. If you’d like to learn more about volunteering with MWNA, please contact me or any Exec Board member listed on our website: www.morelandwest.org.

~ Community Events & Announcements ~

Pizza My Heart Fundraiser for Latimer School
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 4-9 p.m.
Please support our neighborhood TK-8 school by buying a slice — or a whole pie! — at our neighborhood Pizza My Heart, 850 El Paseo de Saratoga. Funds raised will help pay for classroom supplies, assemblies, field trips and more. Be sure to mention Latimer School when you order. Good on dine in, take out or delivery. Call in your take out or delivery orders at (408) 364-0400. (Does not include online or 3rd party orders.) Thanks for your support!

Campbell State of the City
Thursday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.
Residents are invited to attend Mayor Paul Resnikoff’s State of the City address. The event will be held at the Campbell Community Center in the Orchard City Banquet Hall. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the event begins at 6:00 pm. Please RSVP to mayorstateofthecity@campbellca.gov. Hope you can join us!

LWV’s Campbell Union High School District Candidate Forum
Tuesday, Sept. 27 from 7-8:30 p.m.
Join the League of Women Voters of Southwest Santa Clara Valley to learn more about the Board of Trustees candidates for the Campbell Union High School District, which includes Prospect HS and Westmont HS. This candidate forum is online. Register at https://my.lwv.org/california/southwest-santa-clara-valley

Chipotle Dining Night – 2023 Prospect Grad Night Fundraiser
Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 4-8 p.m.
Please support local high school students by eating Chipotle! Mention “PROSPECT” when you order so a % of sales goes to Prospect Grad Night. If ordering online, use code: L2RLKL4. https://www.prospectptsa.org/GradNight/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Chipolte-flier-for-PHS.pdf. 

Good Neighbor Day
Thursday, September 29
Good neighbors are the key to creating a vibrant and healthy community. The City of Saratoga — our neighbor — has challenged residents during the month of September to work on building stronger neighborhoods. Consider starting small: Say hello to fellow residents while out on a walk, strike up a conversation with the residents next door when you see each other in passing, or offer to keep an eye on a neighbor’s house when they’re out of town. With each friendly gesture, watch your neighborhood transform. For more ideas, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/goodneighbor

Prospect HS’s performance of ANTIGONE
Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 6, 7, & 8
Support local high school students by watching them perform Antigone, a tragedy by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles. Tickets: $10-General Admission; $8-Seniors Citizens. Buy tickets here: seatyourself.biz/prospecttheatre

LWV’s Congressional District 16 (Eshoo/Kumar) Candidate Forum
Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.
Join the League of Women Voters of Southwest Santa Clara Valley to hear from our Congressional District candidates. This candidate forum is online. Register at https://my.lwv.org/california/southwest-santa-clara-valley

LWV’s Pros and Cons on State Ballot Measures
Oct. 9 at 3 p.m. & Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.
Join the League of Women Voters of Southwest Santa Clara Valley to hear arguments for and against state measures on the November 8 ballot. This ballot measure forum is online. Register at https://my.lwv.org/california/southwest-santa-clara-valley

2022 MEF Pumpkin Patch & Grimms Hollow Haunted Trail
Oct. 14-31, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, 4-10 p.m.
The Moreland Education Foundation’s popular Pumpkin Patch & Haunted Trail fundraiser is back at the Moreland Woods, located next to Easterbrook Discovery School at 4835 Doyle Rd. Join in the fun, support Moreland Schools, and consider volunteering: https://www.mefhome.org/patch

2022 Campbell Oktoberfest Fun Run
Saturday, Oct. 15
The Oktoberfest Fun Run (10K / 5K / Kids’ Dash) will be back in-person at the Los Gatos Creek Trail! Enjoy the fun and camaraderie of fellow runners laden in lederhosen and Oktoberfest spirit! Pre-register by 8am on October 10th to receive your free race shirt and race medal. For more info or to register, visit www.campbellca.gov/376/Oktoberfest-Fun-Run. 

Comment Deadline for DEIR for Envision Campbell General Plan and Campbell’s Plan for Housing
Friday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m.
The Public Review Draft General Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Envision Campbell General Plan and Campbell’s Plan for Housing (Housing Element) are now available! 

• The Draft of the General Plan identifies the community’s vision for the future and provides a framework that will guide decisions on growth, development and conservation of open space and resources in a manner that is consistent with the quality of life desired by the city’s residents and businesses: https://morelandwestneighborhood.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/dc05b-campbellgeneralplan_publicreviewdraft_september2022.pdf

• The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with adoption and implementation of the General Plan and Housing Element in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The public review and comment period for the DEIR started Monday, September 12 and will run to Friday, October 28 at 5 p.m: https://morelandwestneighborhood.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/173b3-campbell_gpdeir_compressed.pdf
  
  
• Info on past and upcoming meetings, as well as a copy of the Draft Housing Element may be found on the project website: https://campbell.generalplan.org

Prospect HS Goodwill Donations Truck Fundraiser
Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Do some fall cleaning and support the Prospect High School Parent Teacher Student Association! Bring your donations and e-waste items to the Prospect HS student parking lot. The PTSA earns fundraising dollars by the weight/amount of donated goods. Acceptable donation guide: available here.

Proposed Costco Warehouse at Westgate West
For information and updates, visit the Country Lane Neighborhood Association website at https://countrylaneneighborhood.com/costco-westgate-proposal.

Climate Smart San José
Climate Smart San José charts a plan for how our City will combat climate change. It’s a community-wide initiative to reduce air pollution, save water, and improve overall quality of life. In November, the San José City Council voted unanimously to commit to carbon neutrality by 2030, an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, we must all take part in the fight against climate change. Here are some easy actions you can take to be more Climate Smart:

1. Choose San José Clean Energy’s TotalGreen option which provides 100% renewable electricity 
2. Adjust your thermostat while sleeping or away from home to reduce energy use 
3. Switch out traditional incandescent light bulbs for LED lights 
4. Choose native, drought-tolerant plants to reduce water use 
5. Walk or bike to improve health and reduce pollution 
6. Wash clothes in cold water and dry on low heat

San Jose Tree Rebate
If you live in San Jose, you may be eligible for a Street Tree Rebate of up to $100 for planting a tree in your parking strip. To learn more, see the City’s tree rebate program web page.  A community forest provides many environmental services to the City, including improved mental and physical health, and economic benefits. Will you help re-build the community forest?

Design Standards for Multi-Family Residential & Mixed-Use Projects in Campbell
Over the next six-months, the City will be developing design standards for multi-family residential and mixed-use projects in Campbell. We’re asking for resident participation and feedback: 

• Take our Residential Design Standards Survey 
• Sign-up for Courtesy Email Notifications
• Visit our dedicated Residential Design Standards website 

Sen. Dave Cortese on “2022 State Budget Accomplishments” and “Keeping Our Neighborhoods Clean”

• District budget requests that received funding include $5,000,000 for Martial Cottle Park Improvements; $5,000,000 toward Integrated Data for Student Mental Health Support; $2,200,000 for the Eastside Education Initiative; and $2,000,000 for the Santa Clara County Youth Climate Initiative. 
  
  
• Sen. Cortese brought together California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), City of San José Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services-Beautify SJ, and Santa Clara County Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency (CEPA) for a discussion on governmental resources and services available to communities to ensure our neighborhoods and streets stay clean. They covered Caltrans’ Customer Service Request system, Beautify SJ’s neighborhood clean-ups, the County CEPA’s Household Hazardous Waste Program and more! 

View these recent Town Hall meetings on Senator Cortese’s website at https://sd15.senate.ca.gov. Sign up for Dave’s newsletter at https://sd15.senate.ca.gov/news/newsletters.
Questions? Roy Tongilava, District Field Rep, at (408) 558-1295. 

Omicron Boosters are Here!
Protect yourself from COVID-19 this fall and winter. Boosters available to everyone 12 and older. Free testing and vaccine information at Santa Clara County Public Health website: https://covid19.sccgov.org/covid-19-testing

I hope to see you at the Moreland West NA meeting on September 29!

Amy Cody
President, Moreland West NA