Mayor: Neighbor committee ineffective

By Nicole LaPrade

Santa Clara Mayor Patricia Mahan suggested disbanding the Neighborhood University Relations Committee this week, amid complaints from neighbors and city officials that the group has outlived its purpose.

But if NURC leaves, some advocates say, then so may a sounding board for complaints from the neighborhood to resolve off-campus issues.

The suggestion, which is on the agenda for NURC's next meeting in January, came after disgruntled neighbors complained Monday evening that little has been accomplished since the committee was formed 15 years ago.

"The same questions are asked in 2005 that were asked in 1990. Why aren't they coming to any conclusions?" said Claudia Daw, president of the University Neighborhood Group, which represents area residents.

The mayor said that since the former Student Housing Committee was incorporated into NURC four years ago, NURC has completed the tasks to which it was assigned. In fact, the changes presented to the City Council, in the form of noise and parking ordinances, have already been put into effect.

"Pretty much everything we've taken to council, they've enacted, and I wonder if it's appropriate to continue this kind of a forum. As I mentioned, the university responds. The city staff responds. The police respond. I'm not sure if this is a council issue any further," city council member Pat Kolstad said.

Daw said that it's up to Santa Clara to keep students living offcampus under control. During the meeting, Daw proposed implementing student conduct codes at Santa Clara from Brigham Young University and the University of Michigan.

"My hope, because I live here, is that the university will join us as a community," said Daw, a BYU alumnus.

But Associated Students Vice President Jasper Seldin disagreed, saying that looking to other schools for ideas is helpful, but not "importing" policies to Santa Clara.

"The last few (meetings) that I've been to, I just haven't heard any feasible solutions being brought up by neighbors. Santa Clara is a unique campus and if we were to come up with a solution, it would have to be a solution as unique as we are," Seldin said.

Vice Provost for Student Life Jeanne Rosenberger said that because the student population off campus is changing each year, building relationships with neighbors who are long-term residents are important.

That is why Santa Clara has developed literature with suggestions about "being good neighbors."

Kolstad pointed out the literature released by Santa Clara detailing the student code of conduct and consequences that pertain to student behavior, even including details on city ordinances, and commended measures taken by Santa Clara in "policing" itself.

"Students are a part of our community. They're adults. They're welcome here," Mahan, who also lives in the university neighborhood, said at the meeting.

"I'm not disputing that university students go and have a beer once in a while or play their radio too loud once in a while, but those are small issues that can be dealt with," Kolstad said.

He encouraged neighbors to continue calling the police and Santa Clara to report problems.

"Our neighborhood does welcome students into the neighborhood," Daw said.

"But our neighborhood isn't a bar, it's a neighborhood. And it's not a playground for students to scream through the night, because it's not a bar, it's a neighborhood," Daw said.

"(NURC) has become an outlet for our local residents to bring issues forward in the university neighborhood," Rosenberger said.

One neighbor, Rose Zukas, asked that instead there be "another brainstorming session and set new goals for the committee."

"It's time to set new goals for the committee. I think if we were to have new goals and if it were to be more structured and more positive, then it could accomplish more," Seldin said.

Seldin said he was upset at the meeting's "antagonistic atmosphere" brought by neighbors, whom he said were being very "confrontational and angry, even with the mayor."

"I think there's a need for those parties involved -- the city, the police, the university, the neighbors, the residents, the students -- to have a means of communicating openly with an idea of making things better," Rosenberger said. "I don't believe that some of the issues would receive some of the same attention, as far as problem solving, if they were to be addressed at the city council."

The two-hour meeting Monday was held in the Casa Italiana commons.

The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2006, in the City Council chambers, 1500 Warburton Ave.

Contact Nicole LaPrade at (408) 554-4546 or nlaprade@scu.edu.