October 17, 2005 Annual Meeting
Agenda included an addresses by Oakland Chief of Police Wayne Tucker and Area Commander Lt. Lawrence Green who told of changes in the OPD that should prove beneficial to residents in our area. That was followed by District 4 Council Member Jean Quan who updated residents on activities affecting our area, including planned vegetation for the new Highway 13 median. Robbie Neely provided an update on the Strategic Plan, including Traffic & Parking Safety, Support for Public Schools and Neighborhood Beautification. Jay Ward followed with updates on Emergency Preparedness, including a presentation by Harriet Wright, head of the CORE (Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies) program. Dick Spees then presented the feature presentation on Undergrounding, explaining how it will be accomplished in three phases covering approximately 55% of the neighborhood. Helen Nicholas showed the new "Welcome to Piedmont Pines" sign being installed on Mountain Blvd to welcome people to our area. She also obtained ratification from the members present to extend the terms of office for President Dick Spees, Vice President Robbie Neely and Finance Chair Roger Vickery for another 3 years. Roger then provided a snapshot of the finances for the Association. Dick Spees concluded with an Open Mike session to address concerns from the audience.

The meeting was preceded by a free presentation by the Chabot faculty on "the sky tonight." Attendees also had an opportunity to discuss wildfire prevention and school scripp prior to the meeting.

October 18, 2004 Annual Meeting
Agenda included a panel discussion on Measure Y to increase police staffing and programs, crime prevention tips, emergency preparedness classes, utility undergrounding updates, progress on parking and traffic safety issues and ways for the community to support our public schools. Jay Ward, Debbie Foster and Howard Neal were elected as new Board members. The Association bid a very fond farewell to Board Member Bob Meyers, who will continue his work on the Design Review objectives of our Strategic Plan. The membership approved the Association's first increase in dues in decades, from $10 per voting member to a flat $20 per household. Seventy five households were represented at the annual meeting.

June 26, 2004: Dedication of Marj Saunders Park
Much of what is beautiful about Piedmont Pines is directly attributable to the tireless efforts of Marj Saunders. In 2003 more than 100 Piedmont Pines residents petitioned the City to honor Marj's contributions by renaming Sulphur Springs Park (affectionately dubbed “Painted Rocks”) to Marj Saunders Park. On June 26, dozens of neighbors turned out for the dedication of the Marj Saunders Park, and to see the freshly painted rocks, a contribution by local artist Francois Freyman. Speakers, ranging from Parks & Rec, City Council, her family, neighbors all told a similar story: Marj has enriched our lives as our role model for getting things done, and has beautified our community in the process.

Dick Spees brought tears to many eyes with a poem he composed in her honor, and Jean Quan brought a big round of applause when she presented Marj with a City Council Resolution in her honor. There was nary a dry eye when Marj's great granddaughter thanked her for lessons in how to lead a meaningful life.

For more than 50 years, Marj has advocated for open space and lobbied against large and unsafe development. The recent purchase of Castle Canyon by the City was due in no small part to Marj's decades-long battle.She was a strong supporter for the Measure K Open Space bond measure, which later became the source of funds for the City's purchase of the property.

In 1949 she crusaded for the acquisition of the Boys Scouts Camp that is now home to Montera Middle School and Joaquin Miller Elementary School. She also worked on replacing septic tanks with sewer lines, reopening Chelton Road when it was closed by a landslide, defeating a proposed 4-lane highway on Skyline Boulevard, preserving Beaconsfield Canyon (the land surrounding the Painted Rocks), and approval and construction of the Joaquin Miller Community Center project. And the list could go on and on.

Having recently blown out the candles in celebration of her 95th birthday, Marj is a role model for each one of us on living with purpose and dedication to our community. She can be seen every Earth Day putting in hours behind a broom or rake, keeping the park pristine. It's befitting that the park into which she pours her heart and elbow grease bear her name. (See photos of this event here)

May 17, 2004 Community Meeting at Chabot Space & Science Center
More than 200 residents turned out for PPNA's Spring Community Meeting, our best attendance since the hotly debated meetings on utility undergrounding. Chabot hosted the event, and treated the audience to a special show on Mars in the Planetarium, and offered tours of the telescopes after the meeting (unfortunately, fog precluded star sightings).

The Spring Meeting was kicked off by Alex Barnett, Chabot's Executive Director, who walked the audience through a wide array of events and exhibits soon to leave the drawing boards.

Board Member Roger Vickery then reviewed the updated By-laws. This is the first time since 1951 that the association has modified the By-laws. The membership ratified the new By-laws. Click here to review the new By-laws. Major changes include:

• name change from Piedmont Pines Club to Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association (PPNA)
• boundary expansion to include neighborhoods not currently covered by an association or in areas adjoining another association where dual membership is appropriate (see map)
• change in Board from 7 directors to an authorized range from 4 to 15, with 3-year rather than 1-year terms
• new privacy policy, codifying existing practice of using information from members solely for association business and never releasing information to anyone outside the association without permission.

Presentations included lots of neighborhood maps, highlighting: new boundaries, parking and traffic hotspots, streets that are on the "A" list for undergrounding, neighborhoods with existing emergency and crime prevention groups.

Following the Strategic Plan presentations was an overview from the Fire Department on vegetation management and fire preventions.

Dick Spees closed the presentation by wishing Marj Saunders a Happy 95th Birthday and inviting all residents to join her at the dedication of Marj Saunders Park on June 26. The meeting was then opened up for questions and concerns from the audience. (See photos of this event here)

February 21, 2004 Strategic Planning Retreat
For details and background of Piedmont Pines' first-ever strategic planning retreat, click hereTo review the vision, goals, and current progress, click here.