UPDATE: WE DID IT!
After 15 months, countless emails with Alameda County policy makers, +50 Google form and in-person signatures, multiple traffic surveys and architectural designs, and one unexpected rain delay, we’ve accomplished a major milestone for our street.
Two speed humps have been installed and we’re already seeing the positive impact to our community’s safety. Many cars are driving with greater care, and from personal experience, it is MUCH safer to exit our community onto the main road as cars must slow down when they approach the humps.
Big thanks to Rick Yeung, Jared Savas , Devin Aceret , Rebeca Fletes Aceret , the residents of The Bungalows, Tracy Lum and residents of the Village Walk and all those from the Alameda County and contactors that made this possible.
Lessons learned…
1) To go far, go together
2) Trust the process (especially when it’s as detailed as our county has made it, check out the blog for all the steps)
3) To motivate a community, you must embody the passion for the cause
We bought our first home in December 2017. Once the HOA was formed I ran for President and was appointed in August 2018. I ran to develop a sense of community and protect our investment.
My term officially ended in October 2020, and after exceeding expectations (WhatsApp group creation & management of over 40 members, quarterly newsletter creation & authoring 4 editions, event coordination, partnering with neighboring HOA, contributing to SB-800 submission for asset protection, etc.) I’m now starting to think beyond my immediate HOA and surrounding neighborhood. My first initiative..
Eliminate reckless & high speed driving activity on our street by working with the Alameda County Public Works Department to research and install traffic calming measures
To give you an idea of what it takes to develop and implement traffic calming measures, here are the steps from our county’s website.
The first step to take as a community was to collecting 2/3rds of the residents of the effected area to sign a petition in support of traffic calming measures. This meant that we had to secure 56 signatures (one signature per household) of the 87 units in the defined area.
After nearly 8 months since sharing our first petition we finally hit our goal. Here’s some of the things that we did…
We still came up short after all of the digital sharing and canvassing. What pushed us over the edge was old fashioned knocking on doors (with masks, clean pens, hand sanitizer, etc.) of units that we knew that didn’t sign the petition and asking them if they’d be interested in making the community safer. I was very fortunate to have help from a fellow concerned neighbor, who also has small children and has been vigilant in reporting reckless drivers, to go door to door with me. I could not have done it with him and his wife, and am super thankful for the help in completing the collection of signed petitions.
For the most part we were able to collect signatures, but one neighbor that declined to sign stood out. She had lived in another community that they tried something similar and failed to get anything done. It was sad to hear how that experience left such a bad taste in her mouth, so much so that participating in our petition wasn’t something that she would be interested in. While I can’t personally reconcile why this neighbor felt the way she did, I can understand why some would be hesitant to try (scroll back up to see that big list for a reminder).
So, what’s next? We’ve received confirmation from the county that they will be developing conceptual designs and presenting the community on next steps. I know this isn’t a guarantee that we’ll have something installed, but we’re one big step closer to finding out what can be done.