Monte Sereno’s new council members were sworn in tonight and the new Mayor and Vice Mayor were appointed.  City Council chambers in Monte Sereno were packed, with standing room only.  Last year, the swearing in was held at Daves Avenue Elementary School.

Bryan had arrived early after dropping Nik off for his Boy Scout Troop meeting so he had a front row seat, perfect to take photos.  The Chief of Police for Los Gatos/Monte Sereno, Scott Seaman, was in full uniform and sat beside Bryan.

There were five candidates running for three seats for City Council in the November 2, 2010 election.  Curtis Rogers, Burton Craig and Marshall Anstandig were elected for a four-year term.

Prior to the swearing in of the new council members, the outgoing Mayor, Don Perry, presented a Proclamation of Appreciation to five citizens of Monte Sereno, including Barbara Allen.  Barbara has been a resident of Monte Sereno since 1962 and has been Chairperson of the Site and Architecture Commission numerous times.  Barbara and Vice Mayor Lana Malloy were on the Site and Architecture Commission when we applied for our Site Development permit on July 16, 2008 (Marshall Anstandig was Chairperson at that time).  Both Barbara and Lana have been to several events at our project site. 

We were delighted to see Mayor Don Perry acknowledge the countless hours of volunteer service that Barbara has contributed to the City of Monte Sereno.

Subsequently, Mayor Don Perry nominated Marshall Anstandig as Mayor.  The nomination passed unanimously.  The new Mayor then nominated council member Susan Garner as Vice Mayor; that nomination passed unanimously.

After a brief recess so the new council members, Mayor and Vice Mayor could take their seats, Mayor Marshall Anstandig called the meeting to order again and asked if anyone in the Council Chambers would like to speak.  Bryan, of course, took the opportunity to welcome the new council members and say how much we enjoy being part of the community in Monte Sereno. 

After the meeting adjourned, Bryan spoke briefly with the former Vice Mayor, Lana Malloy and asked why she declined to serve as Mayor.  Lana explained that it is a very busy time for her as her husband is recovering from a serious bicycle injury.  We know that Lana will be nominated as Mayor before her first term is up.

Andrea M. Chelemengos, City Clerk, on the left swears in Curtis Rogers, Burton Craig and Marshall Anstandig for a four-year term as Council Members for the City of Monte Sereno.

After the sweariing in, the outgoing Mayor, Don Perry (shaking hands with the new Mayor, Marshall Anstandig), congratulated the new Council Members.

The five-person team from Statewide Roofing left our job site at 4:30 pm, after completing the white membrane on the upper-, mid- and lower flat roofs. 

Manny, from MWB Pools, arrived on site today and worked with Izzy, the master trencher, on installing the 6-inch pipe that will take our overflow water when our underground cistern is full, to the storm drain on Winchester Boulevard.

The only problem was that the inspector, Steve Souza, from the Town of Los Gatos wasn’t available to inspect the connection to the back of the storm drain.  Steve will inspect our connection between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon tomorrow.  When we pass this inspection, we can backfill the open trench on Winchester.

Completing Our ‘Cool Roof’

The five-person team from Statewide Roofing are impressive.  First, they know exactly what they are doing and can move quickly and efficiently.  Second, they are always smiling and having fun together.  That really helps with a team spirit, and is somewhat infectious.  Finally, you can see that they all take pride in their work and are always focused on doing a good job.

Installing the 6-Inch Drains to Winchester Boulevard

One of the last components of our water catchment system is to provide the overflow from our 3,677 gallon underground cistern to the storm drain on Winchester Boulevard.  This overflow is to be a 6-inch pipe, going from the cistern to the storm drain.

On Friday, Izzy dug the trench to the storm drain and today Manny and Izzy put the pipe in.  To do so, they have to make a hole in the concrete into the back of the storm drain, which they did. 

The Town of Los Gatos asked us to drill holes in the back of the storm drain and epoxy #3 reinforcing steel (rebar) into the holes.  Then, we will pour concrete into the connection such that the 6-inch pipe is encased in concrete going into the storm drain.  No problem.

We were ready for an inspection before noon today, which we called.  It took until the end of the day before we were advised that the inspection would be between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon tomorrow (Tuesday).

We’re ready …

Hole through the concrete storm drain on Winchester Boulevard. Note the holes drilled around the large hole, which we will epoxy #3 reinforcing steel (rebar) into these holes.

The #3 rebar is epoxied into the concrete and the 6-inch pipe in place.

Waiting for the inspector from the Town of Los Gatos to review our work so we can pour concrete ...

Statewide Roofing sent one of their trucks to our job site to retrieve all of the unused materials. Any scraps left over will either be used elsewhere or recycled.

One of the two pipe sleeves that we ordered from BTL Liners, which will go over the 6-inch inlet and outlet pipes for our underground cistern.

Having completed the installation of our the membrane over the flat roofs, the team from Statewide Roofing leaves our job site.

Completed flat roof on the West side of the house.

Completed flat roofs on North side of house.

Completed flat roof over garage. Note how the roof is sloped to the drain on the East (left) side of the garage.

Completed mid level flat roofs around the Atrium.

Completed flat roofs at front of house, looking East.

Completed upper flat roof. Note the pipe on the North side, which can be used in the future for a satellite dish.

View of completed 'cones' for solar photovoltaic panels on upper flat roof.

Bryan picked up 10 bags of concrete mix and 1 bag of mortar mix for the drain system to the storm sewer on Winchester Boulevard.

The open trench on Winchester Boulevard is, once again, buttoned up safely and securely.

The Don and Toni team put a sign up in front of our house on Winchester. We support both Don Perry and Toni Yamamoto as election candidates in the City of Monte Sereno.

It was Los Gatos Little League Day today and we were there with Nik and Kate for the opening ceremonies (Nik is playing AAA on the Red Sox and Kate is playing Machine Pitch with the Orioles). 

After the ceremonies, Jo-Anne walked with Nik and Kate a few blocks to Starbucks to burn some energy and get some coffee.  Our neighbor, Kel Marchbank, was there and said, ‘Saw you guys in the San Jose Mercury News today.’

Way, way cool …

San Jose Mercury News, April 4, 2010

How Eichler’s ‘California Modern’ is going green
By Judy Peterson
Bay Area News Group

When real estate developer Joseph Eichler started building homes in Northern California in 1950, he targeted middle-class home buyers who appreciated the houses’ light and airy architecture that eventually became known as California Modern. With skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto gardens, patios and pools, the houses reflected Eichler’s vision was to “Bring the Outside In.”

Fast forward to the 1960s, when Eichler set his sights on Monte Sereno, building a 16-house subdivision on Via Sereno, off Winchester Boulevard. One of those Eichlers is being rebuilt to reflect what could well be called California Green. The new California style is sustainable, healthier homes, with many homeowners trying to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

Homeowners Bryan and Jo-Anne Mekechuk bought their 1969 Eichler in 1997. At the time, they had no children. Now they have two, plus they needed room for visiting grandparents. So, it was time to remodel.

At first, the couple considered adding a second story.

“A second floor on an Eichler is not appropriate,” Mekechuk says.

Instead, they took the house apart board by board and dug a basement. Even so, Mekechuk says the home will remain true to Eichler’s vision.

“We kept all the design,” Mekechuk said. “The footprint of the house is identical. For example, the garage door is in the same place.”

Well, almost identical. Besides the basement, 18 square feet was added and three windows were moved. But two windows at the front of the home are identical and Eichler’s trademark atrium will be rebuilt.

Mekechuk is reusing 100 percent of the original home’s redwood boarding, while adding structural insulated panels-styrofoam insulation sandwiched between plywood. Mekechuk gets LEED points for that. The LEED rating system gives homeowners points that, when added up, can determine if a house is LEED certified or if it is certified as silver, gold or platinum. Mekechuk is shooting for platinum.

The Mekechuks also get points for holding educational open houses.

But it is the guts of the house itself that will determine if they reach their platinum goal. That’s why a cistern was dug to capture rainwater that will irrigate drought-tolerant plants. Polished concrete floors are a key element as well.

“It’s easy to keep concrete clean, plus it doesn’t trap dust and dander,” Bryan Mekechuk says. The concrete floors are composed of 70 percent slag. “Slag is a byproduct of steel production. Slag usually goes to the landfill,” he adds.

The house will be heated and cooled by a geothermal system.

“Geothermal takes warm water out of the ground and uses it to heat the house through tubing in the concrete floors,” Mekechuk says. “Cooling is the reverse of that.”

Mekechuk also plans to put 48 solar panels on the roof.

“Monte Sereno is really pulling out all the stops to encourage this kind of project,” Mayor Don Perry said at a recent open house. “We’ve waived all permit fees for solar panels. We’re really proud of this project.”

Mekechuk expects his new “Eichler Green” to be completed by late October.

© San Jose Mercury News.

Judy Peterson, lead writer for the Los Gatos Weekly Times, came to our second Collaborative Informational Session on Wednesday, March 10 and interviewed a number of people.  George Sakkestad came with Judy and took photos of the event.

The Los Gatos Weekly Times just published Judy’s story today (the text of the article appears below).

Way cool.

Attending Monte Sereno’s City Council Meeting

Bryan attended the City Council meeting and took the opportunity to address City Council regarding the sign ordinance.

His comments were noted in the minutes of the meeting.

March 16, 2010 edition of the Los Gatos Weekly Times.

.

Eichler ‘California Modern’ is goin’ green
Couple is updating their 1969 home
By Judy Peterson

When real estate developer Joseph Eichler started building homes in Northern California in 1950, he targeted middle class home buyers who appreciated the houses’ light and airy architecture that eventually came to be known as California Modern. With skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto gardens, patios and pools, Eichler’s vision was to “Bring the Outside In.”

Fast forward to the late 1960s, when Eichler set his sights on Monte Sereno, building a 16-house subdivision on Via Sereno, just off Winchester Boulevard. Today, one of those Eichlers is being re-built to reflect what could well be called California Green. That’s because the new California style is to build sustainable, healthier homes, with many homeowners trying to achieve LEED certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Homeowners Bryan and Jo-Anne Mekechuk bought their 1969 Eichler in 1997. At the time, they had no children. Now they have two, plus they needed room for visiting grandparents. So, it was time to plunge into the money pit that is known as home remodeling.

“We’re building this house to live in for the next 15 years,” Bryan Mekechuk said.

At first, the couple considered adding a second story.

“A second floor on an Eichler is not appropriate,” Mekechuk said.

Instead, they took the house apart board by board and dug a basement. Even so, Mekechuk says the home will remain true to Eichler’s vision.

“We kept all the design,” Mekechuk said. “The footprint of the house is identical. For example, the garage door is in the same place.”

Well, almost identical. Besides the basement, 18 square feet was added and three windows were moved. But two windows at the front of the home are identical and Eichler’s trademark atrium will be rebuilt. Mekechuk was able to reuse 100 percent of the original home’s redwood boarding, while adding structural insulated panels-styrofoam insulation sandwiched between plywood. Mekechuk gets LEED points for that. The LEED rating system gives homeowners points that, when added up, can determine if a house is LEED certified or if it is certified as silver, gold or platinum. Mekechuk is shooting for platinum.

Mekechuk also gets points for holding educational open houses.

But it is the guts of the house itself that will determine if he reaches his platinum goal. That’s why a cistern was dug to capture rainwater that will irrigate drought-tolerant plants. Polished concrete floors are a key element as well. “It’s easy to keep concrete clean, plus it doesn’t trap dust and dander,” Mekechuk said. The concrete floors are composed of 70 percent slag. “Slag is a byproduct of steel production. Slag usually goes to the landfill,” Mekechuk said.

The house will be heated and cooled by a geothermal system.

“Geothermal takes warm water out of the ground and uses it to heat the house through tubing in the concrete floors,” Mekechuk said. “Cooling is the reverse of that.”

Mekechuk also plans to put 48 solar panels on the roof.

“Monte Sereno is really pulling out all the stops to encourage this kind of project,” Mayor Don Perry said at a recent open house. “We’ve waived all permit fees for solar panels. We’re really proud of this project.”

Vice Mayor Lana Malloy was also on hand, pointing out that the city once tried to get Via Sereno designated as a “street of historic significance,” but in Monte Sereno homes must be at least 60 years old before they’re considered historic.

Even if they’re not technically historic, Eichlers set the tone for post-war development in California. Mekechuk expects his new “Eichler Green” to be completed by late October.

To follow Mekechuk’s progress, visit www.eichlervision.com.

© Los Gatos Weekly Times, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers.

We, along with several hundred other people in Monte Sereno and Los Gatos, attended the formal swearing in of our new mayor, Don Perry, and our new vice mayor, Lana Malloy.  Since the City Council Chambers were too small, the special meeting was held at Daves Avenue Elementary School.

The meeting was the absolute shortest on record.  We just made it in time to see the formal swearing in as both Don and Lana took their oaths for office.

We chatted with a number of people after the ceremony, including Don and Lana, the Fultons, Cullinanes, McNeils, Laurie Jones, and others, The lead reporter for the Los Gatos Weekly Times, Judy Peterson, was there and we managed to speak with her for a few minutes as well.

This city council meeting goes on record as the shortest meeting of all times for the City of Monte Sereno.