The Gull's Call - Oct/Nov/Dec 2024

CommunityNews

I view my role on the Community Board as the title suggests, Village Representative. I feel it is my duty to be a conduit for the information and ideas that go between the individual HOA Boards and the Community Board. I pass on information, but also ensure that the HOA Boards have a voice with the Community Board. The future of Harbor Bay has a lot in store, from Shoreline renovation projects to the Oakland Airport renovation to the sale of the Harbor Bay Club and beyond. All three of these will have an impact on how our community looks and feels. I would say there is no better way to get educated on the issues that affect our community than by getting involved. Getting involved is easy. Attend a few meetings, learn the issues and put yourself out there. It's a great way to give back.” LEE HARRIS - DIRECTOR, VILLAGE 1-C “One of the things I love most about Harbor Bay Isle is that it combines natural beauty with its walking/bike paths, lagoons, and magnificent views of ‘The City’ and SF Bay. I joined the Community Board to make and keep the place I live a place I want to live in. I view my role on the Community Board as one of providing oversight and guidance in the administration of community business. In addition to other boards I’ve served on, I’ve served as a board member and then President of the Community of Harbor Bay Isle Homeowners Association, and now as Village Representative for the commercial entity. It’s all important and rewarding work. The future of Harbor Bay is promising but full of challenges, one of them being the Harbor Bay Landing Shopping Center. It’s crucial to preserve the unique beauty of the neighborhood while responsibly managing the improvement of Harbor Bay Landing. Volunteering takes dedication and purpose. The best boards are filled with busy people who don’t want to waste their time. So, if you are busy and live here in the Community, join the Board and keep Harbor Bay Isle special.” GARY HOFFER - DIRECTOR, VILLAGE 1 “Years ago, my wife, Katherine, and I saw a real estate ad for a house in Alameda in a place called “Harbor Bay Isle.” As we came down Island Drive, Katherine exclaimed, “I’m home!” And so we were; we bought a house in Costa

Brava and have lived there for 35 years. We love the lagoons, the proximity to the Bay, and the many walk and bike paths. When I first was on the Community Board, from 1995 to 2000, I joined because a major landscape renovation was planned along the lagoon system and I was interested in participating. After retiring from the Costa Brava Board in 2020, an opportunity arose to rejoin the Community Board, and I decided it would be a good way to continue to serve the community. I view my primary role to be a two-way communication channel between the Community Board and the boards of the associations in my village. To do so, I write a monthly summary of the Community Board meetings, and any other important information, to be included in the agenda packages of the association boards. In addition, I attend every association board meeting to answer questions and receive feedback. The association boards are, of necessity, concerned with local, internal matters in order to keep their neighborhoods functioning smoothly. I see the Community Board’s role to be maintaining CHBIOA infrastructure, dealing with issues which are beyond the scope of individual neighborhood associations and being the interface to the outside world: the State, the City of Alameda, the Oakland airport, etc. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time that I have spent in volunteer positions in CHBI, and I believe that others, if they gave it a try, would find it rewarding. There are many opportunities for involvement and need for many kinds of talent. You can run for your neighborhood association’s board or volunteer for a variety of committees, such as landscape, architectural, social, etc. And if your aspirations need a larger canvas on which to operate, run for the CHBI Community Board.” CHERYL PATERSON - DIRECTOR, VILLAGE 3-B “I’ve served on the Board of Brittany Landing Harbor for a number of years and been involved in the EBMUD PSL project since it was first introduced to CHBI. That project, the upgrade of the EBMUD transfer station, and the 50/100 year flood planning are all indicators of the need for our community to upgrade our infrastructure in response to the changing environment. On top of that, the state has imposed housing requirements that stretch our environmental concerns even further as well as require upgrades to health & safety services and the transportation infrastructure. To that end, I volunteered to serve on the Board and continue to support CHBI in preparing for the future.”

October | November | December 2024 17

The Gull’s Call