Join the HPNA as an Officer and save the Chinook salmon coming to a creek near you!

Hello Neighbors!

We will be voting for officer positions on Oct. 6th which is only 2 days from now for the Hamilton Place Neighborhood Association (HPNA). While I have a received several curious inquiries, we have yet to receive any volunteers to commit to a 1-year role.

If you are interested in becoming an officer (see Appendix A) and having a voice in the HPNA, please don’t hesitate to contact me as soon as possible. We have an interesting advocacy opportunity coming up that any community member can contribute to.

The Chinook Salmon swim several hundred mile (NBC News) through the ocean and into the creek behind our community every fall between October and January to spawn their eggs. If the male or female is poached, they need to swim back to find another mate and come back to lay their eggs.

State Fish and Game Commission Meeting Details
Date: October 11-12, 2023 @ 8:30 AM
Join the Zoom Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81722552033
Raise your hand or submit your questions to speak
Attend in Person: 2455 Masonic Drive San Jose, CA 95125

We have prepared talking points to increase enforcement along the creek in the interest of preserving the environment:

• Test the Los Gatos Creek for human and biowaste pollutants in Los Gatos creek between Leigh and Bascom Ave.

• Request that Fish and Game Commission review with their legal counsel the legal definition of ‘involuntarily homeless’ in the Federal Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in case Coalition on Homelessness v. City and County of San Francisco (Case: 23-15087) to see how this will affect the implementation of their local policies in San Jose for the Los Gatos creek between Leigh and Bascom Ave.

• Develop a joint plan with Success Criteria between Valley Water and Western Division of SJPD to increase clean ups and enforce camping restrictions along side the Los Gatos Creek between Leigh and Bascom Ave.

• Post prominent no camping signs up with fines listed on the trail leading to the Creek between Leigh and Bascom Ave.

The Hot Tip line for the Bay Delta Region is 1-888-334-2258 to report any of the following environmental crimes:

1. Evidence of poaching equipment in the creek (Shopping Carts, Gill nets, Planks of Wood, fishing poles)

2. Poaching

3. Gas cans with no vehicle present

4. Paint or other environmental pollutants.

I hope to see you there!

Thanks,
Sam Lum

President
Hamilton Place Neighborhood Association

Appendix A - HPNA Open Roles

• First Vice President: The First Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in that officer’s absence. Other duties shall be performed as required by the President or the Board.

• Second Vice-President: The Second Vice-President shall perform duties as required by the President or the Board.

• Secretary: The Secretary shall keep minutes of the Neighborhood Association and Board meetings, shall be responsible for notification for Neighborhood Association and Board meetings, shall have the responsibility of Neighborhood Association correspondence, at the direction of the President, and shall maintain archive files. The Secretary will bring to all meetings two (2) years of Board and General meeting minutes, current Articles of Incorporation, By-laws and last two (2) years California Secretary of State’s annual Statements of Information filed after the May Officer and Director elections and HPNA Official Policy and Positions.

• Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be custodian of the Neighborhood Association funds and supervise the handling of funds of any enterprises of the Neighborhood Association. The Treasurer shall chair a budget committee, keep proper financial records, report regularly to the membership and the Board, and pay budgeted requests as directed by the Board. All checks over $1,000 shall require the signatures of two of the following Officers: President, Secretary, or Treasurer. The Treasurer will bring to all meeting two (2) years of HPNA Treasury records so that HPNA Board or members upon request can inspect records to include financial statements, bank statements, other financial statements, IRS 990 and any other California and federal required reports or filings.

• Western Division Police Ambassador: A Police ambassador is a volunteer who serves as a liaison between the community and the Western Division police captain. The Police ambassador’s role is to foster trust and communication, share information and feedback, and promote collaboration and partnership on public safety issues. You will also manage a Neighborhood Watch Whatsapp chat group to drive continuity and unification across all Neighborhood watches in our neighborhood.

• Valley Water District Board Ambassador: A Water District Board Ambassador is a volunteer who represents the interests and needs of the Hamilton Place Neighborhood Association in relation to the water district board. The Water District Board Ambassador’s role is to communicate with the board representative, advocate for more funding and support for the maintenance and improvement of the adopted section of the creek, and collaborate on water conservation and quality initiatives.