FOCAP
Fair Oaks Community ACTION Partnerships
Minutes (not in order of speaking)
from
Wednesday, June 29th, 2022
Christy Wallace, of Fair Oaks Community Garden, Hosting at the Garden
Attendees:
Keith Walter, FOVEC and FOFLA
Scott Evans, Meraki
Mike Aho, FORPD
Pete Schroeder, Rotary
Christy Wallace, Fair Oaks Community Garden
4:00 Pete’s Welcome & Introductions
· Sac. County. Supervisor Chief of Staff - Vanessa - Absent
· FORPD – Mike Aho
§ Week after next, begins the first round of interviews for the new position of Arts & Entertainment Manager. They have an incredibly qualified batch of applicants and are excited about getting this person on board.
§ Concerts in the Park events now allow food and drink to be brought inside the fenced boundaries, just no glass containers. Dogs are still not allowed although they are welcome outside the fencing. The change was due to many complaints, reduced attendance and few in-area food and drink sales on the event nights.
§ Village Park Construction news: Work has begun. Grubbing (removing the grass) is underway. The Park staff will be hand watering the trees for the entire construction duration. The Theater is being worked on, too. A few rows of bench seats are being taken out to make for ADA accommodations.
§ Completion of entire project, current estimate, by December 2023.
§ Planned for October (date to be determined) is a very upscale fine-dining dinner to be held outdoors at the Horticulture Center and it will also involve the Fair Oaks Community Garden. Big money sponsors are being solicited for help. The funds raised will be earmarked for spectacular, upgraded lighting for Christmas in the Village.
· Chamber – Absent but sent in news:
§ Progressive Dinner on July 6th
§ Food Truck Mania & Classic Car show at Fair Oaks Park on July 7th
§ The Honorary Mayor’s Race is running until Sept 30th. They each have events going on to raise money for the community.
Candidates:
1. Dr. Elizabeth Swan OD
2. Jen Rogers, designee
3. Wesley Collins, Financial Planner, designee
§ Chamber is “looking for any group, business, schools, churches, organizations, etc. – if they are planning on doing some type of event in December, we want to add it to our Christmas in Fair Oaks event. There is a form to be filled out on the Chamber website. We are looking for things to do for the community in December. We want to fill the calendar again with 3 days of activities.” Please contact the Chamber by email at: info@fairoakschamber.com
· Inner Wheel - absent
· FOFLA – Per Keith, is in “maintenance mode” due to lack of opportunity to sell ice cream at the Concerts in the Park.
· Women’s Thursday Club - Absent
· F.O. Historical Society –
Per Pete, FOHS is giving out walking tour info but are considering a better brochure for those who want to see the historical sites. The building is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
· American Legion/VFW – Absent
Per Pete, Sandy Seddon-Rice (our FOCAP attendee!) is now president of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary.
· FOWD
Per Mike Aho:
The Water District is about to break ground on replacement of the water main which now runs under the Park grounds in the village. It will be rerouted, and traffic will be disrupted on the streets affected near the clubhouse (likely Main, California and Temescal streets). Current estimate of completion is by July 7th. During this work, businesses will be open, and sidewalks will be accessible.
· F. O. Library - absent
Per Pete, Thom Gruneisen has been promoted to a regional position and the new manager is in place. The new supervisor is Greg Freeman (gfreemen@saclibrary.org). He is on leave currently, but per Thom, we will be seeing him at FOCAP soon. Our next FOCAP meeting, 7.27.22 at 4:00pm, will be hosted by the F. O. Library!
· F.O. Cemetery District
§ Memorial Day Ceremony was well-attended. Supervisor Rich Desmond was the one dignitary who attended. General attendance was excellent. Next year will be “normal.” 🤞
§ The District is looking for more land for expansion. Anyone with possible leads can contact the District office.
· F. O. Community Gardens
Per Christy:
§ The Garden has had 3 gardeners recently vacate their spots (one involuntarily, two voluntarily) and those on the waiting list of about 7 people, are being contacted.
§ Vegetable deliveries to the Fair Oaks Food Bank on San Juan have begun. We have over 100 tomato plants coming into full production. Peppers, squash, beans and potatoes are also coming along nicely.
§ F. O. Community Gardens
Ø After meeting notes from Christy: The ground squirrel population has exploded and is devastating the garden, with those closest to the squirrel condominium in the maintenance yard being especially hard hit.
· F. O. Theatre Festival performing at the Orangevale Grange:
· Rotary Club of F. O.
Per Pete:
§ The Rotary Club sponsors 3 international exchange students and always needs to find host families and nearby high schools who wish to house and teach these visitors. The application process is lengthy so although they have filled
this coming school year’s spots, they are taking applications for the 2023-24 year. To apply, please contact John Carr goldrivercarr@icloud.com. The club also sponsors one local student’s year abroad.
Meraki is encouraged to offer a high school spot.
§ Rotary also has a mentor program going with Meraki (see Meraki’s news for more on that…)
· Rollingwood – absent
Per Pete:
The owners of Rollingwood gifted the Athletic Club to the YMCA. Per Mike, the Y has a track record of acquiring facilities like this and does a good job, has experience and the wherewithal. It usually keeps most of the existing programs (like competitive tennis and swimming teams) and adds things like more kids’ classes and daycare. Already the Club is converting some of its courts to pickleball courts to better align itself with the community’s burgeoning interest in that sport.
· SJUSD – absent
· FOOV Food Bank - Absent
Per Pete:
The Barn still has not been granted a permit so cannot be put into service. The recipients are numbering 40-60 families each Friday and although there are more volunteering groups helping, the line of cars can extend far down the street. The Food Bank needs more food – see flyer below…
· Meraki H. S.
Per Scott:
§ Meraki staff and student body are happy to be on campus 5 days a week versus 3 during the height of the pandemic.
§ KCRA recently did a 6-8 minute news item showcasing Meraki’s beekeeping. After that, their shed was broken into and 5 protective suits stolen. They are working with the Sacramento Area Beekeeper’s Association and have hopes of SABA’s donation of replacement suits.
§ Meraki had ordered three Tuff Sheds to provide needed additional storage. They were to be delivered unassembled so the students could build them, but they arrived on the last day of this year’s school year! The new sheds will be built when the students return for the new year.
§ The Rotary Club Mentor program for interns and mentors from the student body at Meraki needs more Mentors! Contact Steve or Pete.
Ø Interns: Need 5-10 placements in daytime internships 1-2 days per week, September through December to start. If any business or non-profit is looking for a volunteer assistant/intern, please contact Scott with their needs and he will do his best to match up students like he loves to do.
Ø Mentors needed: Meetings are 1 per month at Meraki High School during the school day for 1 hour and the Mentor should provide additional communication surrounding project support. All are welcome to find out more about Mentoring at Meraki. Please fill out this interest form: https://forms.gle/k95zewZKJNerePxJ9
· FOVEC –
Per Keith:
§ 3 topics:
Ø Board meeting Wednesday, July 8th at 5 pm in the upstairs
the community room at the Brahma restaurant.
Ø Music at Mike’s, Wednesday, July 27th. The first one was June 22nd and the music was great! Per Mike, it’s more about creating community than fundraising, with a $10 fee to cover the entertainment.
Ø Each month, on the last Wednesday of the month, a live update on current Fair Oaks events, is streamed via:
FOVEC’s website,
its youTube channel at
and on its Facebook page at:
Next Fair Oaks Village Live Update
Jul 27, 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Online Zoom Event
The best place to know what's happening in Fair Oaks Village and share your ideas!
4:59 — Adjourn
Next Meeting: July 27th, 2022
Location: F. O. Library