Issue - December 4, 2007

Issue - November 13, 2007

Westwood News Flash

Child Care Assistance Being Offered

Some Options Immediately Available, More on the Way

• Families currently enrolled at Westwood Preschool: Preschool enrollees are being offered extended service on their non-school days and extended times; to participate, families must contact Ellen Weinstein at the preschool.
  
  
• Glassman Center is expanding child care hours: San Diego Parks and Recreation will be expanding child care services at the RB Glassman Center to cover any fire impacted family who needs to drop off and conduct business (including the grocery store). The expanded service is anticipated to begin Wednesday, November 7th; hours are tentatively 10 AM-3 PM, infant care is still up in the air (we are seeking volunteers with credentials in this area to work with Parks & Rec staff); location will be Classroom 1 at the Glassman Center. Service will be provided for 2 weeks and may be continued if an urgent need still exists. Please call first to check availability.
  
  
• Westwood neighbors are stepping forward: Many Westwood families have volunteered to provide childcare in their homes--all we can do is provide a list of those who have offered and what their "credentials" are. Please contact Valerie Brown at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 858/692-2181 if you have a need.
• We are working with the Westwood PTA to find a site at the elementary school to offer a safe option for parents; we are unsure at this point if it will be evenings and/or continuation of Parks & Rec service once they terminate that program; will keep you updated once we know what's decided.

Donation “Shop” at Westwood Club

Loads of choices for those in need! Need volunteers

• Volunteers to help staff the Donation Shop
  
  
• Long-term use of a POD storage unit (or 2) that we will be able to store on the club's grounds to move the shop to and free up the club's space.
  
  
• Loan/donation of hanging racks for clothing and stackable shelves to organize our shop's space more efficiently.

Please contact Valerie Brown at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you can assist in running the donation shop, providing racks or shelving (or have a lead on that) and/or a lead on storage units.

Using Technology to Speed Our Communication

Blog Available Now; Web Site to Launch This Coming Week

We are aware that communicating via paper is a brute force method – especially with displaced families. We are launching electronic ways to stay in touch. One option currently in place is the blog http://westwoodvolunteercrews.blogspot.com/

Simply the Best Real Estate Company is providing a Web site at www.ReBuildRB.com, to go live next week. It will contain lists of family needs, donations, links to resources, volunteer calendar, blogs, charitable help, homes for rent, give-away items, classifieds, and whatever else we come up with that our residents need. We also will link to a variety of other sites so that you can connect from this community resource to a variety of other resources. We hope this will be online and active beginning next week. It is a work in progress and the people putting it together are committed to improving it as we go along.

We also are looking at ways to send the NewsFlash out via email, so you will be able to register on the Web site, giving us your email address, so we can blast news out to you more efficiently.

Westwood Elementary Foundation Fire Fund Combines Forces with Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation Fire Fund

RB Community Foundation Infrastructure Will Speed Distribution Process

The RB Community Foundation is part of the San Diego Foundation, which has a lot of experience distributing donations based on their history with the Cedar fire and other similar events. We are confident that they can handle the process effectively and will make sure that Westwood’s needs are taken care of within the parameters of the Fund’s charter and its level of donations.

For more information on the RB Community Foundation After the Fire Fund, go to www.endowrb.org. You can donate to this fund at www.endowrb.org or San Diego Foundation (check payable to this name), 11770 Bernardo Plaza Court, Suite 206, San Diego CA 92128.

The procedures for requesting funds are still being drafted and will be posted at the Foundation’s and our websites and in our News Flash as soon as they made available.

Town Hall Meeting on Recovery Process Held

City Officials Address Lot Clearing, Erosion Control, and Permitting Process

• Use the city’s central contractor: you can sign up with the City and give them permission to scrape the lot. The portion not covered by your insurance will be covered by the City and state, so there will be no out-of-pocket costs to you. The contractor will also do erosion mitigation and compact the lot for rebuilding.
  
  
• Hire your own contractor: The contractor must be licensed and cleared to handle hazardous materials. You also will need a permit for the lot clearance. Vouchers will be available to cover the cost of dumping fees. If you use this approach, the vouchers must be picked between 11/6 and 11/16 at the RB Recovery Center – after that they will not be available. If you have already paid dumping fees for lot clearance, you will be reimbursed by the City.


• Comments about slabs: The city plans to do a blanket condemnation of all slabs to speed recovery. However, you can hire a licensed inspector to assess your slab, and if it is sound you can appeal the condemnation. This approach that was used during the Cedar fires. Of all the slabs there, only 5 were serviceable.


• For more information:
  www.sandiego.gov/mayor/pdf/debrisfactsheet.pdf - gives details about the program and contacts.
  www.sandiego.gov/mayor/pdf/rightofentrypermit.pdf - the permit document that gives the City’s contractor the right to go onto your property.


• Next steps for you:
  Read the information in the fact sheet and review it with your insurance company before you sign anything.

Erosion control: What you need to know

1. Use the City’s demolition contractor: If you use the City’s demolition contractor to clear your lot, they will take erosion control measures on your property as part of their service; or
   
2. Do it yourself: There are erosion control products available free at the RB Community Recovery Center area. If you need assistance with erosion control, this is something our local Boy Scouts have stepped forward to help with. Please contact Valerie Brown, our Volunteer Coordinator, and she will try to connect you with people to help you get this done.

• Decide whether you are going to use the City’s contractor and have the work done for you. If not, develop your erosion control plan, with help of the City’s experts if necessary.

Permitting to Move Forward: Next Steps

• If you don’t have your plans and want to rebuild the same house: Check with the city, or your builder if they are still in business – they may have a set on file. Contact Kelly Broughton at the number above – there are many architects etc. who are offering pro bono services. If you want to rebuild the same plan, there may be another house in the neighborhood that can be used as a model to draw up blueprints.
  
  
• If you want a new design: Check with Kelly Broughton re: architects who are donating time.
  
  
• IMPORTANT: You need the approval of your HOA before you build. Westwood requires that ALL construction be approved by the Architectural Committee. Before you submit your plans to the City for approval, Westwood’s HOA must approve the plans. The Architectural Committee is expanding and boosting resources to help expedite this process. Proceeding without Architectural Committee approval is a violation of our CC&R’s and may lead to fining or requirements to undo your work, which would be a shame. The form and instructions are available for download at www.rbwestwoodclub.com
  
  
• Incentives to build “green”. SDG&E and the state are offering all kinds of incentives to boost the energy-efficiency of your home. Contact Linda Pratt at SDG&E 858-492-5088 for information.

• Determine whether you are going to rebuild the same floor plan, or make changes.
  
  
• Contact Kelly Broughton’s office if you need architectural support.
  
  
• If you live in Westwood Valley, obtain Westwood Valley HOA approval before submitting plans to the Westwood Club Architectural Committee.
  
  
• Make sure to run your preliminary plans past the Westwood Club Architectural Committee in case course corrections are needed, and get their approval on any final designs before you submit your plans for permitting.