Rancho Santa Teresa Neighborhood Association (RSTNA)

Meeting- June 13, 2025

Notes taken by Sarah Sacchetti

7:00 PM- Bill Wolf welcomes and thanks everyone for coming; goes over agenda.

Agenda

  • George Casey remarks
  • RSTNA updates and Tentative plans for the year
  • Introductions of potential officers and committee chairs
  • 10 minutes for first round of meeting with committee chairs
  • 10 minutes for second round of meeting with committee chairs
  • Final Comments
  • Adjourn by 8:00 PM

Minutes

  • Bill begins by recognizing Emma for securing the room for this meeting and introduces George Casey, city councilman
  • George Casey introduces himself as having grown up in Rancho Santa Teresa.
    • He swam on the swim team at Rancho Santa Teresa Swim and Racquet Club; he went to Santa Teresa Elementary. Because of this, the Rancho Santa Teresa Neighborhood is very important to him.
  • George Casey discusses the passing of the Mayor’s June budget.
    • One controversial item that did not pass was a budget item of tying politician incomes to their performance. George Casey was in favor of this passing, but 7 voted against it.
    • Another controversial item voted on was the “Responsibility to Shelter” initiative. This initiative is aiming to address the issue of homelessness in the city by requiring individuals to accept offered shelter or face potential consequences, including arrest after repeated refusals. This initiative passed.
  • George Casey discusses the importance of emergency preparedness.
    • In proportion to its population, San Jose is significantly understaffed for police and fire
    • Mr. Casey wants to set up associations to support emergency workers if something is happening and we need to mobilize citizens.
    • Mr. Casey discusses CERT, a free 20 hour training for emergency preparedness. CERT teaches how to organize and mobilize.
      • Talk to Emma if interested in CERT.
      • Sign up is online
      • Goal is to have 1000 people signed up for it and trained. Right now there is only 148.
  • RSTNA Updates and Tentative Plans for the Year with Bill Wolf
    • In response to the survery Bill sent out about RSTNA positions and interest, over 60 people signed up.
      • We have volunteers for president, vice president and secretary/treasurer.
      • No volunteers for speed bump committee so it won’t be resolved in the near future.
      • Three volunteered to be on communication committee
      • Leadership team will be voted on eventually
      • Committee chairs will have creative freedom over how often their committee meets
    • General meetings like this one will be on a quarterly basis and they will be reasonably short like this one (an hour)
  • Tables set up in each corner of the room—community action—(tracking what is going on with city council), safety, and communication.
    • For the remainder of the meeting, individuals went to one table and then another to discuss the topic with the committee leader.
  • Meeting adjourned at 7:53.