In the 2014 election, Greenbelt Alliance endorsed six ballot measure positions throughout the region. In case you missed our announcement in November, we are ecstatic to share that we won on each of those six endorsements—a clean sweep! We won because many of you donated time and money on behalf of our efforts. Thank you! And of course, thanks to everyone who cast their ballot to protect the Bay Area’s open spaces and to make our cities and towns places we can be proud of.

Of the six wins, we are especially ex-cited that Santa Clara County voters dedicated $120 million over 15 years to protect and manage county open spaces by saying yes to Measure Q. Greenbelt Alliance’s Program Director Melissa Hippard co-chaired the Measure Q campaign with the Peninsula Open Space Trust. This $24 annual parcel tax will help preserve greenbelt lands, in-crease public access, make improvements to parks and trails, protect county water supplies, and fund local environmental education programs. Measure Q will add roughly 15,000 acres of open space pre-serves throughout Santa Clara County.

In total, more than 500 organiza-tions and individuals came together to make Measure Q a success. Of particular note was the support of the Silicon Val-ley Chamber of Commerce, which pro-vided its first-ever public endorsement of an environmental ballot measure. Con-gratulations to all of our supporters and partners who helped make the Measure Q win happen.

The remaining five ballot measure wins include:Dublin voters protected Doolan Can-yon—a gorgeous slice of greenbelt just east of the city—from sprawl by saying no to developer-sponsored Measure T.

Berkeley voters rejected prohibitive restrictions on smart downtown devel-opment by saying no to Measure R.

Union City voters upheld existing voter-approved protections for the hills east of the city by saying no to Measure KK.

San Bruno voters supported down-town revitalization by saying yes to Measure N.

Alameda County voters invested in climate-friendly transportation op-tions by saying yes to Measure BB.

These results show that voters from all over the Bay Area want to protect our open spaces and for our cities and towns to grow in a sustainable way. At Green-belt Alliance, we are thrilled by the clean sweep in 2014. But we cannot become complacent—after all the next election is just around the corner!

MEASURE Q AND MORE BIG BALLOT WINS IN 2014

Winter 2015

Photo: Don DeBold via flickr.com

Hikers, bikers, and wildlife lovers alike are excited about Measure Q in Santa Clara County. Measure Q will help preserve greenbelt lands, increase public access to parks, make improvements to trails, and more.

greenbel t .orgp2 |

Winter 2015 GREENBELTACTION

In September 2014, Greenbelt Alliance sadly announced the passing of long-time board member John Chapman af-ter a nearly year-long battle with cancer. John had served on the Greenbelt Alliance Board since 2003 and as President of the Board from 2009 until September 2014.

John’s love for the Bay Area was un-wavering. He inspired and motivated ev-eryone at our organization to go the extra mile to protect the Bay Area’s amazing landscapes and make our cities and towns

great places. He was an outstanding leader and mentor.

His successor as board chair Andy Barnes, along with Greenbelt Alliance board and staff, has dedicated our work throughout 2015 in John’s honor. We will work tirelessly to ensure John’s vision and love for the Bay Area is manifested in ev-erything we do.

Andy Barnes has served on the Greenbelt Alliance Board of Directors since 2006. He is Principal of Barnes and

Company of San Francisco, providing advisory services on complex urban land-use matters. Among his many credits, Andy is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Business School, and is a former White House Fellow and German Marshall Fund Fellow. He received the Presidential Design Award in 1988 for his contribution to the redevelopment of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Both John Chapman and Andy Barnes’ biographies are available at greenbelt.org.

2014 was quite a year. There were good things like the Giants winning another World Series. There were bad things like the ongoing drought. And there were things that were a little harder to judge—like the “storm of the decade.” The rain was welcome, the flooding not so much.

At Greenbelt Alliance, I am extreme-ly proud to report that 2014 was full of “good things.” Across the Bay Area, great steps were made toward better protect-ing our region’s special open spaces and making our cities and towns great places to live, work, and play.

Much of our success came at the ballot box, where voters made critical decisions about how the Bay Area grows. This past November, we won on every single bal-lot measure position that we endorsed. Bay Area residents overwhelmingly vot-ed to safeguard our greenbelt lands and to create neighborhoods where walking and biking are viable alternatives to driv-ing and where affordable homes can be found. Read more about our election

wins on page 1. We also celebrated a bal-lot box win in June when voters along the Peninsula decided to raise $300 million to fund open space protection with the passage of Measure AA.

Wins didn’t just come at the ballot box. In Mountain View, Oakland, and San Jose, we worked with the city coun-cils and other community leaders to pass important neighborhood plans. Each of these plans will ensure that as new homes are built, they are placed near jobs, pub-lic transit, and other amenities rather than on isolated patches of the greenbelt. Making sure that the development that does happen in the Bay Area happens in

the right way, and in the right places, is just as much part of Greenbelt Alliance’s job as stopping development where it doesn’t belong at all. This holistic ap-proach to protecting the Bay Area’s icon-ic landscapes and making sure the right development happens in the right places is part of what makes Greenbelt Alliance unique. Our wins in 2014 show that this unique approach is working!

In the new year, we are taking on new challenges and building on the momen-tum of 2014. Here’s a sample of what we’re working on this year:

• Championing new policies to protect Sonoma County’s natural and agricul-tural lands,

• Helping local farmers and ranchers thrive,

• Ensuring Contra Costa County’s transportation tax supports climate-friendly transportation and develop-ment,

• And rallying support for climate-friendly and affordable neighbor-hoods in Silicon Valley.

2014 was a great year. Together, we can make 2015 even better.

2015 DEDICATED TO JOHN CHAPMAN

LETTER FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Jeremy Madsen,Chief Executive Officer

Photo: Jennifer Yin via flickr.com

greenbel t .org | p3

Winter 2015GREENBELTACTION

The cost of living for seniors in San Mateo County is the highest in the state. Many seniors live on fixed incomes, making ever-increasing rents a burden. While East Palo Alto has traditionally been a leader in providing homes affordable to all, this community is not immune from skyrocketing housing costs. The Univer-sity Avenue Senior Apartments in East Palo Alto help address these pressing challenges by providing new affordable homes where residents on a fixed retire-ment income can continue to enjoy the community they love and have lived in for years.

We are happy to announce that Uni-versity Avenue Senior Apartments is Greenbelt Alliance endorsed. The new development will create 41 affordable se-nior apartments on University Avenue. Within one-half mile of a library, pharma-cy, park, senior center, bus stop, post of-fice, and market, the cluster of new homes sets the stage for a thriving community.

Since the 1980s, Greenbelt Alliance has offered our endorsement to projects

and plans that enhance the quality of our communities and protects what makes our region special. Our evaluation crite-ria focus on seven goals:

• Efficient Use of Land• Affordability• Walkability• Transportation Options• Environmental Design• Community and Economic Benefits• Community Engagement

For each evaluation, our team pro-vides a careful review of the project de-tails and local context, including consul-tation with experts and local residents. If a project or plan receives our endorse-ment, we help spread the word to com-munity members and decision-makers, providing a trusted confirmation that it’s a smart investment for making the Bay Area an even better place to live.

To date, we have endorsed over 175 housing plans and projects totaling over 70,000 new homes in more than

100 neighborhoods around the region. Protecting the lands and communities that make the Bay Area special is not just about saying “no” to development where it doesn’t belong. It’s also about saying “yes” to the right development in the right places. University Avenue Senior Apartments in East Palo Alto is a great example of development done right. Read more about this project and our endorsement program online at greenbelt.org/endorsement.

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR ANNUAL SAVOR THE GREENBELT & SONOMA LEADERSHIP DINNERS

Thank you to our sponsors, in-kind do-nors, and speakers for helping make two of our annual fundraising events a suc-cess. To learn more about our Sonoma Leadership Council or about Savor the Greenbelt sponsorship opportunities, please contact Donor Relations Officer Lopa Pal at lpal@greenbelt.org.

SAVOR THE GREENBELT IN-KIND DONORSBuena Vista Winery

buenavistawinery.com

Frog Hollow Farm froghollow.com

Hafner Vineyard hafnervineyard.com

Volker Eisele Family Estate volkereiselefamilyestate.com

GUEST SPEAKERSAl Courchesne

Frog Hollow Farm

Sophia Chang Kitchener Oakland

SONOMA DINNERGloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards

www.gloriaferrer.com

Hamel Family Wines hamelfamilywines.com

GREENBELT ALLIANCE ENDORSED: MORE HOMES FOR SENIORS IN EAST PALO ALTO

greenbel t .orgp4 |

Winter 2015 GREENBELTACTION

CHASING WATERFALLS IN UVAS CANYONSUNDAY, MARCH 15 | SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Do go chasing waterfalls with us in the South Bay! Led by our

resident elephant seal expert Patti Kenyon, this 4 ½-mile hike

will take us through Uvas Canyon County Park, nestled on

the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

There won’t actually be any elephant seals (they live by the

ocean, silly!), but keep an eye out for critters of the smaller

variety as we walk along Swanson Creek from waterfall to

waterfall. Now good luck getting that TLC song out of your

head.

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Leader: Patti Kenyon

FEBRUARY

THE GIANTS OF BALTIMORE CANYONSUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 / MARIN COUNTY

There are no orioles in Baltimore Canyon, but there are giants! This wooded canyon isn’t a good venue for professional baseball, but it is perfect for a post-Valentine’s Day escape. Our 5-mile hike through the forest will also take us by Dawn Falls, a gorgeous 30-foot cascade.

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.Leader: Terry Chaplin

DOWN BY THE BERKELEY BAYSUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 / ALAMEDA COUNTY

Greenbelt Alliance board member Bob Johnson and Janet Byron will lead this leisurely 6½-mile walk by the water. Come explore Berkeley’s Aquatic Park and Marina with us and learn about its history and evolution. Along the way, we’ll see panoramic views of the bay, birds, houseboats, kites, and more!

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.Leaders: Bob Johnson & Janet Byron

MARCH

COLD WAR MOUNTAINSUNDAY, MARCH 1 / MARIN COUNTY

Don’t worry—last we checked, the Cold War was over. But for you history buffs, this outing includes a visit to a Cold War relic. On top of San Pedro Mountain in Marin sits an abandoned U.S. Army Nike missile site.

This 6-mile hike includes about 1,000 feet in eleva-tion gain, but it’s worth it for the views of the San Francisco Bay and Mount Tamalpais alone.

9 a.m. – noonLeader: Jonathan Marshall

OUTINGS CALENDARWINTER & SPRING 2015

Photo: Kevin Lau via flickr.com

greenbel t .org | p5

Winter 2015GREENBELTACTION

BLACK DIAMOND YOGASUNDAY, MARCH 8 / CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

On this yoga outing, we’ll be unfurling our mats on top of a hill in the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve with sweeping views of the Central Val-ley and Mount Diablo. After yoga and meditation, we’ll peek into one of the old mine entrances as we head back to the trailhead.

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.Leader: Jan Enderle

FERNANDEZ RANCH ROUNDUPSUNDAY, MARCH 22 / CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Join us for a pleasant 3 ½-mile hike at this East Bay open space gem. We’ll loop through Fernandez Ranch on four different quirkily-named trails: the Black Phoebe, Woodrat, Whipsnake, and Windmill trails.

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.Leader: Liz Watson

BAY VISTAS, HISTORY, AND MORE!SATURDAY, MARCH 28 / CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Sandra and Bruce will be leading this 4-mile roundtrip exploration of the natural and cultural history of the Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. We’ll start at Ferry Point, hike a scenic stretch of the San Francisco Bay Trail, and loop up and over the Potrero Hills to enjoy blooming wildflowers and panoramic vistas of the bay.

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Leades: Sandra & Bruce Beyaert

APRIL

CRANE CREEK WILDFLOWER WALKSUNDAY, APRIL 12 / SONOMA COUNTY

We’re pretty sure the saying actually goes “April showers bring April flowers.” Join us on this 4-mile trek through Crane Creek Regional Park. We won’t see any cranes (the park is named after a human, not the bird), but we will see wildflowers, woodlands, the aforementioned creek, and great views of the sur-rounding farms and vineyards.

10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.Leader: Suzanne L. Weakley

Photo: Zoe Meyers

EASY: Appropriate for beginners and families with young children.

MODERATE: Requires a moderate level of fitness. May be appropriate for families with older children.

STRENUOUS: Recommended for those accustomed to frequent physical activity.

BIKING

BIRDS

FARMS & RANCHES

HISTORY

MAMMALS

NATURAL LANDSCAPES

NIGHT OUTING

SMALL ANIMALS

URBAN

WILDFLOWERS

SIGN UP FOR OUTINGS online at greenbelt.org/events or call 415-543-6771 x321. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED unless otherwise noted. Visit greenbelt.org/events for expanded summaries and new additions.

OUR OUTINGS PROGRAM—and all of our work to champion what is special about the Bay Area—is made possible through the generosity of our donors. Please consider making a donation at greenbelt.org/donate.

FIND AN OUTING SUITED TO YOUR SKILL LEVEL AND INTERESTS

greenbel t .orgp6 |

Winter 2015 GREENBELTACTION

Matt Vander Sluis

THE POWER OF PIZZA AND COMMUNITY

It was just another night in the Greenbelt Alliance Walnut Creek office. Or was it? That night, the seductive smell of every-one’s favorite Italian export, pizza, filled the room. The room was also filled with people: Walnut Creek residents, local nonprofit leaders, and Matt Vander Sluis.

Matt understands the importance of food. It’s not just sustenance; it’s a catalyst for gathering and it gets the mind churn-ing. For the people gathered in our East Bay office that night, sharing a few slices was the start of big ideas—and the first step toward shaping their community for the better.

Three years later, that original group of Walnut Creek denizens has become the Coalition for a Vibrant and Inclusive Walnut Creek, or C-VIEW. These days, C-VIEW is focused on ensuring the neighborhood plan for the city’s “west downtown” area makes Walnut Creek more affordable and sustainable with a higher quality of life for all of its resi-dents. Due to the diligence of C-VIEW members, the draft plan released back in November takes a big step toward those goals. The City intends to adopt a final plan by midyear, so C-VIEW is gearing up to help polish the final plan during the upcoming slate of public hearings.

When Matt founded this group back in 2012, the City was kicking off planning

Adam Garcia

THE MAN BEHIND THE MAPS

Even if you are a longtime supporter of Greenbelt Alliance, a name you might not be familiar with is Adam Garcia. Adam is Greenbelt Alliance’s mad scientist, our policy researcher. He is the man behind all those pretty maps you see in reports such as our signature report At Risk: The Bay Area’s Greenbelt—but he’s more than just a smart guy who makes maps.

Today, Adam is working to improve the Bay Area Priority Conservation Area

(PCA) program. PCAs are exactly what they sound like, areas that have been des-ignated as priorities for land conserva-tion. There are currently 101 PCAs scat-tered throughout the Bay Area—you’ve probably been to one and didn’t even know it! Last year, Adam’s work helped Bay Area leaders update the PCA pro-gram. And this year, his work will help us identify at least 20 more PCAs to add to the program by summer’s end.

We are so glad to have Adam on our team! He brings a wealth of knowledge and boundless enthusiasm for helping city planners, residents, and colleagues make a better Bay Area. If you’d like to meet Adam and chat about PCAs, sign up for his bike outings this summer. He’ll give you the grand tour.

1

2

3

1

2

4

AROUND THE GREENBELTOUR IMPACT THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA

greenbel t .org | p7

Winter 2015GREENBELTACTION

for west downtown. He knew it was im-portant to get the local community en-gaged in the process. The goal wasn’t just to get a few residents to show up for community meetings here and there, the goal was to empower people with a strong enough voice to cut through the noise and get city planners and officials to listen.

“We’ve got a fantastic group of people in C-VIEW,” says Matt. “They love their city and are really passionate about wanting to see it become an even better place to live. What’s more, they put their passion into action, investing time and energy to work together for a common goal.”

The plan for west downtown will have a huge imprint on how Walnut Creek will grow. Thanks to Matt, C-VIEW will be there every step of the way. To get in-volved in Walnut Creek or to get Matt’s input on community engagement, reach out at mvandersluis@greenbelt.org! We’d love to hear from you.

Dee Swanhuyser

FOR THE LOVE OF SONOMA

Serving on the Board of Directors since 1987, Dee Swanhuyser is our longest-tenured board member—even predating the name Greenbelt Alliance. Dee was also our first North Bay staff member and helped us establish the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, which is creating the 550-mile trail across the Bay Area’s ridge tops.

For decades, Dee has played a vital role in safeguarding Sonoma County’s natural landscapes by helping to establish urban

growth boundaries and community sep-arators—two policies that prevent devel-opment from happening where it doesn’t belong—around all of the county’s cities. With the community separator policies set to expire in 2016 and new propos-als for ranchette developments on the horizon, Dee is more devoted than ever to help us protect this county’s beautiful landscapes.

“My favorite thing about Sonoma Coun-ty is the redwood forest,” Dee says. “We also love river rafting and being in the hills here. To me, being in those environ-ments is the most luxurious thing I could possibly do.”

Nearly 30 years have passed since we first teamed up with Dee and she is still one of our greatest champions, intent on “creat-ing the best Bay Area that we can possibly have.” See how you can help Dee and our North Bay team protect Sonoma County by contacting Program Director Melissa Hippard at mhippard@greenbelt.org.

Uri Pachter

THE PERFECT FIT FOR MOUNTAIN VIEW

It’s impossible not to like Uri Pachter. He’s that guy—the one at the party who gets along with everyone. He’s got mid-western charm and witty east coast sar-casm, but he’s also laid back like a true Californian. He’s relatable to people from all walks of life, and that’s just one of the many reasons he’s the perfect person to lead our work in Mountain View.

In December, Uri’s work in Mountain View resulted in a big success. The City

adopted the El Camino Real Precise Plan, which calls for 1,500 new homes, high-quality bike lanes, and more pedestrian-friendly features. And just for good measure, the City also agreed to significantly increase funding for much-needed affordable homes by adjusting its development fees.

Uri attributes much of his success to his focus on bringing different types of peo-ple and organizations together to work toward a common goal. In Mountain View alone, he convened large groups of local residents and a dozen organizations to shape the neighborhood plan for the El Camino Real corridor.

“In community organizing, I think the most important thing is to meet people where they’re at,” Uri says. “Whether that’s at the public library or the Sunday farmers’ market by Caltrain or a neigh-borhood watch meeting, I want to be there to know what other people care about. That’s the best way to get people with such different experiences to care about something as wonky as urban planning.”

In a way, Uri’s organizing work sums up Greenbelt Alliance—and our support-ers—nicely. We bring people together on behalf of our cities, our towns, the green-belt, and our quality of life. And the is-sue that we work on—how the Bay Area handles growth—is relatable to everyone in the Bay Area, wherever they may be. While Uri empowers communities to make good decisions about how to grow, you, our supporters, empower him to keep up the good work.

On behalf of Uri and the rest of the team, thanks for being a part of Greenbelt Alliance.

3 4

Photo: Stephen Joseph

“GREENBELT ALLIANCE IS A GREAT PARTNER.

THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL THIS YEAR IN HELPING TO

GET THE LOCAL MEASURE Q BALLOT MEASURE PASSED,

WHICH WILL FUND OPEN SPACE FOR GENERATIONS.”GLORIA CHUN HOOPRESIDENT, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SAN JOSE/SANTA CLARA

IN THIS ISSUE: BIG BALLOT BOX WINS | SENIOR HOMES IN PALO ALTO | WINTER & SPRING OUTINGS | AROUND THE GREENBELT

Join the Jack Kent Jr. Legacy CircleNaming Greenbelt Alliance in your will or trust will help ensure that we can continue to protect all that we love about the Bay Area. To give through your will, trust, retirement account, or other vehicles, please contact Lopa Pal, donor relations officer at 415-543-6771 x302 or lpal@greenbelt.org.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO.487

SAN FRANCISCO, CA312 Sutter Street, Suite 510San Francisco, CA 94108

greenbelt.org

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER