Fix Pacifica

San Carlos Fire protection from Cal Fire, really?

2012-02-17T01:28:00.000-08:00

Criticism for excluding Cal Fire from consideration.

From San Mateo Daily Journal/Michelle Durand, 2/16/12. "Grand jury lights into fire choice".

"The full Board of Supervisors should have considered a request by the city of San Carlos to contract fire services and the finance subcommittee that chose not to move the idea forward missed out on roughly $2 million in savings for both, according to the civil grand jury.

The local fire union gave “significant pressure” not to consider the California Department of Forestry and Fire as an outsourcing option, according to the report by the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury, but it stops short of concluding that was a primary reason why supervisors Adrienne Tissier and Carole Groom, the two members of the committee, would not take the idea to the entire board. Regardless, San Carlos Mayor Andy Klein called the report issued yesterday validation of prior claims that county officials were influenced by political pressure. Read more.

Reference - Cal Fire Resource Management. Cal Fire serves San Luis Obispo County.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Closure of San Mateo County long term care facility

2012-02-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

Excerpts from San Mateo County Times/Joshua Melvin, 2/16/12. "San Mateo County supervisors votes to close nursing center; 230 patients to be displaced."

Supervisors Valentine's Day meeting, swell!

Over tearful pleas and angry protests from staff and residents of San Mateo County's public long-term nursing facility, the board of supervisors voted unanimously voted Tuesday to shutter the center. The 5-0 vote to not renew the county's lease with the owners of the Burlingame Long Term Care Facility on Trousdale Drive means laying off as many as 200 workers and moving about 230 disabled, elderly or chronically ill residents. The drawdown of workers and patients -- most of whom are low-income Medi-Cal recipients -- will happen during the next 16 months, officials said in the meeting at the Westin Hotel in Millbrae. ...County officials said they will not close the facility until every patient has been placed in a new home. ...Commenting briefly, supervisors reiterated their concern about safety and cost. Reductions in state health care subsidies in the form of Medi-Cal would require the county to chip in $9 million from its general fund to keep the doors open. Read the full article and view the 2:05 minute video.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Drain Hetch Hetchy reservoir?

2012-02-15T22:08:00.000-08:00

Hetch Hetchy reservoir supplies water for millions of people. Where will they store water? How much would it cost to tear down the dam and restore the valley? Who's paying for it? Will Pacifica's water bill go up to $4.00 a gallon like gasoline? Unbelievable!

Sacramento Bee/Dan Morain, Senior Editor, 2/15/12. "Will San Francisco vote to drain Hetch Hetchy?"

"Suddenly, the fight to restore Hetch Hetchy is getting interesting. U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren, a Republican, reopened the public discussion about draining the reservoir that supplies water for San Francisco by writing a letter to the Interior Department in December. Lungren has never much been associated with the environment, but he faces a well-funded Democratic challenger, Ami Bera, in a swing seat this year.On the question of Hetch Hetchy, he finds himself in cahoots with a lawyer who represents California Democrats, a former California Democratic Party executive director, and a longtime Democratic insider. They're all determined to drain and restore Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park.

"Trying to remedy one of the worst environmental travesties in California knows no partisan bounds," Lungren's campaign aide, Rob Stutzman told me with a straight face, more or less.

Lance Olson, the Democratic attorney, is a director of Restore Hetch Hetchy, as is Kathy Bowler, the party's former executive director. Olson, Bowler and Democratic operative Dan Eaton are organizing a reception next Wednesday evening in downtown Sacramento to discuss "our considerable legal and political efforts – including a 2012 ballot initiative in San Francisco" to retore the valley. A Hetch Hetchy initiative headed for the local San Francisco ballot this November could be a donneybrook. Statewide fights over taxes and capital punishment could pale by comparison. If Lungren wants to join the effort, he no doubt could help sway the dozen or so Republicans who still live in San Francisco."We could use them all," said Eaton, who was chief of staff to Fabian Núñez when Núñez was Assembly speaker, and is offering strategic advice to the coming campaign.

The measure, which would be submitted to the San Francisco city attorney next week, would require the city to embark on a process to put itself "on a path toward reforming San Francisco's 19th century water system … and reversing the damage done to the environment over the last 100 years," said Mike Marshall, executive director of Restore Hetch Hetchy. The bar for placing a measure on the San Francisco ballot is ridiculously low, 9,500 valid signatures. Marshall figures the campaign would cost $500,000, tops. They already have a bona fide celebrity, who narrates a campaign-style video that opens with a majestic shot of Yosemite.

"How would you feel if someone suggested building a dam in Yosemite Valley, flooding a priceless treasure under a giant lake? Well, that's exactly what happened to the Hetch Hetchy Valley. "This is Harrison Ford inviting you to join in the historic campaign to restore the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Help us return this national treasure to the American people." The action hero narrowly escaped Nazis, snakes and mummies when he played Indiana Jones. But he never had to tangle with the likes of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who is among the most formidable opponents of messing with San Francisco's water supply, as I witnessed back in 1987.

As the Reagan administration was drawing to a close, Interior Secretary Donald Hodel leaked his desire to drain Hetch Hetchy to, who else, the New York Times, which gushed about the grand possibilities of restoring wildland 3,000 miles from its Manhattan headquarters. On an autumn day in October 1987, Hodel, wearing cowboy boots and jeans, and then San Francisco Mayor Feinstein, wearing a burgundy-colored dress, squared off atop O'Shaughnessy Dam, with the Hetch Hetchy reservoir as the backdrop. "Yosemite National Park is America's birthright, not any individual city's," Hodel said at the time.

Then as now, Feinstein questioned how to replace pristine Sierra runoff for the millions of people who depend on it. There also was the matter of bugs. If the reservoir were drained, she warned, Hetch Hetchy Valley would revert to a swamp populated by voracious mosquitoes. Hodel responded that mosquitoes were a problem in the days before DEET. Brave words, spoken by a guy who evidently never has tangled with Yosemite's vicious mosquitoes. Eaton and others are convinced that all those problems can be resolved. Besides, the restoration would be employ thousands of construction workers, and be a legacy for politicians who embrace it. No city in America prides itself on its environmental credentials more than San Francisco. If the initiative goes forward, Hetch Hetchy's defenders could have a hard time explaining to some voters why they shouldn't support a process that would lead to the dismantling of O'Shaughnessy Dam. Lungren would be happy to pitch in if environmentalists need help swaying any Republicans still in San Francisco."

Reference - Hetch Hetchy Water System, Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency, (BAWSCA).

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Posted by Kathy Meeh

GENERAL PLAN UPDATE NOTICE OF PREPARATION / DEIR and LCP

2012-02-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

The City of Pacifica is preparing an update to its General Plan and Local Coastal Plan and has determined that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be necessary pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The City of Pacifica requests your input on how the General Plan and Local Coastal Plan update may affect the environment. More specifically, input is being solicited relative to the scope and content of environmental analysis that is relevant to your individual or agency's statutory/regulatory responsibilities in order to ascertain potential impacts of the proposed project.

Specific proposals and revisions for the Pacifica General Plan and Local Coastal Plan update have not yet been determined. However, your input will be taken into consideration during the formulation of the environmental impacts of the General Plan and Local Coastal Plan to be addressed in the EIR. A description of the proposed project, location map, and preliminary identification of the potential environmental effects are contained in the attached materials.

If your agency is a responsible agency as defined by Section 15381 of the State CEQA Guidelines, your agency will need to use the environmental documents prepared by the City of Pacifica when considering your permit or approval for action.

Due to the time limits mandated by State law, you should submit your comments as soon as possible but no later than March 20, 2012, or 30 days after receipt of this notice per CEQA Guidelines Section 15082(b). Please send your written response, along with the name of your agency contact person, to Elizabeth Claycomb, Management Analyst, City of Pacifica Planning Department, 1800 Francisco Boulevard, Pacifica, California 94044. Responses can also be faxed to Ms. Claycomb at (650) 359-5807 or emailed to claycombe@ci.pacifica.ca.us.

A public Scoping Meeting will be conducted on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, at the Pacifica Community Center, 540 Crespi Drive in Pacifica.

If you have questions regarding this NOP or the Scoping Meeting, please contact Ms. Claycomb at (650) 738-7361.

General Plan Update Page:

http://www.cityofpacifica.org/depts/planning/general_plan_update_project/default.asp

Notice of Preparation:

http://www.cityofpacifica.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=4753

Posted by Steve Sinai

Sheriff takes over Millbrae policing effective March 5, 2012

2012-02-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

The San Mateo Daily Journal/Heather Murtagh, 2/15/12. "Sheriff's office set to take over Millbrae police."

"Millbrae’s Police Department is set to close in early March when the Sheriff’s Office takes over after the City Council approved transfer agreements Tuesday evening. In November, the City Council voted to contract for services provided by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. On Tuesday, the council approved two transfer agreements to make it happen — an agreement with the Millbrae Police Officers’ Association and one with the county about property. The goal is for the county to officially take over service at 12:01 a.m. Monday, March 5.

Councilwoman Nadia Holober was the lone dissenting vote for the transfer of assets. She said she opposed the drop in service the new contract would bring to the city. Vice Mayor Gina Papan disagreed noting the city had previously understaffed the department.

Contracting with the county for police services will save Millbrae an estimate $1.693 million in the first year. Those savings will increase in future years over the five-year contract. The city’s current annual budget for the department is $4.258 million. When the budget is changed to include vehicles, safety equipment, overhead costs and other costs, the annual budget is raised to $7.27 million.

The sheriff’s proposal of $4.56 million includes Millbrae’s own police chief and offers jobs for most employees currently in the department.

Millbrae will be given credit for some equipment while charged for others. Ultimately, the difference is an additional cost to Millbrae of $26,808, Police Chief Mark Raffaelli wrote in a staff report. Under the agreement with the police officers, employees will receive a one-time $700 allowance for uniforms and an offer of six-month severance pay, about $48,907.30 per employee, for those who are not hired by the county, according to a staff report by City Manager Marcia Raines. The agreement also outlines how vacation, seniority and compensatory time off will be handled." Read more, unrelated single-use bag ban.

Reference - City of Millbrae, CA, and general city-data. Prior 2/14/12 article.

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh

City economic health requires expertise, competence, and vision

2012-02-14T22:23:00.000-08:00

From Pacifica Tribune, letters-to-the-editor, 2/7/12. "The reality check" by Gil Anda.

"Having a Financing City Services Task Force is all well and good. Disclosing salaries in the Tribune is all well and good, too. However, we need to keep in mind that in 2007 the council fired the city's Finance Director and replaced her with the Human Resources Director. A citizen's task force and a Human Resources Director do not equal the expertise of the Finance Director that was fired. No matter how much we 'Oooh and Aaah' over the salaries of our civil servants, we probably don't have any insight, on a professional level, as to what to do about it.

What impacted me most from the Financing City Services meeting was the graph that showed the downward trajectory of our city's reserve account. After reading past letters stating the need to hang onto various programs, it hit home that if the downward spiral goes downward more than predicted, there may be no option to choose which programs to keep and which to end. There may be no choice as to whether we continue having our own police department or not. If things get bad enough, all our choices could be moot.

The statement that some writers made about Measure L* not being an option is not just wrong, it's in denial. It's a paradigm that has helped to dig the hole that buries us. If we want to be proactive, then we need to keep not only that option but many others open as well. It's time to do more than just cutting city services and raising taxes.

A good place to start is to balance the planning commission. Several months ago we witnessed the planning commission unanimously approve motions that were made while violating the Brown Act. The one planning commissioner who wasn't present at the meeting, an attorney, later made a comment with words to the effect of, "what's the big deal?" The big deal is that we need commissioners that see the need for economic development, not the need for more parks. We need a planning commission that has a respect for the laws that respect the rights of all, not just the interests of a favored political faction. We need a planning commission that can realize that an expeditious planning process is not just in the best interests of a builder, it's in the best interest of us all."

* Measure L was the the 2006 mixed-use quarry development proposal vote which barely failed to pass.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Cost of city safety personnel: Police and Firefighters (2010)

2012-02-14T13:04:00.000-08:00

Sacramento Bee/Data Center/Phillip Reese, 2/14/12. "updated: See what California cities pay police, firefighters."

"While their ranks have thinned due to layoffs and the recession, California police offices and firefighters still typically earn far more than most Californians.

California police officers made, on average, $92,976, including overtime, incentive pay and payouts upon retirement during 2010, according to a Bee analysis of data from the state controller's office. Firefighters and engineers earned, on average, $113,882. Average pay for police captains across the state was $147,940; for fire captains, it was $141,525.

Use this database to see the average pay for firefighters, police officers and their supervisors in nearly every California city and county. Updated Feb. 14 with 2010 data."

Reference: State Controller's Office search from the article. "Average pay is calculated using total wages during 2010 subject to Medicare taxes as reported in Box 5 of each employee’s W-2. The amounts listed may include, but are not limited to, wages, overtime, cash payments for vacation and sick leave, and bonus payments."

Pacifica Police/Firefighter comparison, including San Mateo county (city to city).
Pacifica Police: Officer $114,568, Captain $150,362, Chief $164,287, county.
Pacifica Fire: Fire: Officer $98,363, Captain $130,787, county.

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh

No reason to stay in Pacifica

2012-02-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

More opinions on staying in Pacifica from our friends at TripAdvisor.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60713-i30-k5156219-Pacifica_CA-San_Francisco_California.html#38731149

Posted by Steve Sinai

Valentine's Day is good for the economy!

2012-02-14T00:13:00.000-08:00

From San Mateo Daily News/Nichole Coate, 2/13/12, "Valentine's spirit overwhelms economic mood."

"Despite the gloomy economy, one classic day remains to open wallets as widely as ever. Whether it’s on candy and flowers or a romantic dinner and diamond earrings, people are spending money on Valentine’s Day.

One rose or 12, its the thought.

It’s all about happiness, said San Bruno resident Kelly Furuta as he picked out 12 red roses for his girlfriend yesterday. “It’s something that you really can’t put a price tag on,” he said about the spirit of Valentine’s Day.

12 is better than 1 here.

Business for Valentine’s Day is better than last year at Steiner’s Jewelry in downtown San Mateo, said Manager Tami Ebenhoech. This is despite low sales in the fall and a average Christmas, Ebenhoech said. “We’ve seen a great Valentine’s Day,” said Leslie Rosenberg, co-owner of Carlyle Jewelry in San Mateo.Ebenhoech and Rosenberg said people want to express themselves to their loved ones, now more than ever after Sept. 11, and they don’t want to wait.

San Mateo Florists is one of several area florists experiencing high Valentines Day sales. “We’re extremely busy, and it’s really surprised me,” said Carol Santi, the florist’s bookkeeper. Santi said that although daily business has not fully recovered, and Christmas sales were lower than usual, customers are not hesitating to spend $75 to $100 on flowers for their Valentine. Business is also booming at San Mateo Plaza Florist. Store Manager Sharona Sasounian said that although regular outside orders have remained steady during the past few months, local sales and especially walk-ins have been down about 10 percent. Sasounian said Valentine’s Day sales are about the same every year, regardless of the economy. “Flowers are flowers, and people will always love them,” she said." Read more.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Valentines Day - Love for San Mateo Transit District Redi-Wheels

2012-02-14T00:11:00.000-08:00

San Mateo Daily Journal, 2/13/12. Letter-to-the-editor: Spreading the love for Redi-Wheels, by Patricia Smith (San Mateo).

"In acknowledgement of St. Valentine’s Day Feb. 14, please consider this letter a “Love Letter” to all the people who serve at San Mateo County Transit District Redi-Wheels. From all the phone representatives, the dispatchers, the drivers, the office staff, to the advocates and above all, the taxpayers (I am one too) here in San Mateo County, you have saved my life.

Following an injury accident in November 2011, I had nowhere to turn to be able to see physicians, get to the pharmacy, get groceries, go to the bank, still take my college classes - everything we do in our cars. It is all Redi-Wheels for me now and in the foreseeable future.

Redi-Wheels is the most unbelievable county service you could ever know. Not only have I had rides on weekends, but actually on Christmas Day. The reservationists are kind, the dispatchers are friendly, and the drivers — I love them — they are the “face” of Redi-Wheels. They have even come early “because it is raining.” Thank you — SamTrans and Redi-Wheels. I love you!"

Posted by Kathy Meeh

More California High School students on track for College

2012-02-13T16:55:00.000-08:00

Knocking-off college courses before we get there.

Silicon Valley Mercury News/Sharon Noguchi, 2/13/12. "More California Students taking, passing AP tests."

"The proportion of California's public high school graduates who took Advanced Placement classes and exams increased from 23 percent to 35 percent over a decade, according to a report from the College Board, the organization administering the exam. In addition, more than 90,000 members of California's Class of 2011 -- or 23 percent of the class -- scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during high school.

That's almost double the number from the Class of 2001, in which only 16 percent scored as high. Exam takers are graded on a 1-to-5 scale, with a 5 being the highest possible score, and many colleges require entering students to have scored at least a 3 on exams to earn college credit. However, despite the significant increase in numbers of students taking and passing AP tests, the numbers lagged among low-income, Latino and African-American students.

Participation in AP classes and exams increased in all three of those groups but not at a rate to close the gap with the overall student body. AP classes are college-level classes offered in high schools. Exams are administered in 34 subjects. To read the "8th Annual AP Report to the Nation" and the California supplement, go to http://apreport.collegeboard.org."

Reference: "How is college different from high school?" Altshuler Enhancement Learning Center graph.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

GGNRA "making nice" with the public at Rancho Corral in Montara

2012-02-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

From Half Moon Bay review/Lily Bixler, 2/13/12. Half Moon Bay Review, 2/13/12.

"During a drizzly Saturday morning "soup and cider social," afriendly Australian Shepherd named Sadie wore a t-shirt with acrossed-out gun that read " Don't Tase my Master." Sadie's ownersHeidi and Jim Csaain wore similarly subversive messages on shirtsmade especially for a Saturday morning community gathering at the end of Coral Reef Avenue, a neighborhood entrance to Rancho Corralde Tierra, with National Parks and Golden Gate National ParksConservancy.

No available Chihuahuas*

The meet-up was planned prior to a Jan. 29 incident where aCoastside resident Gary Hesterberg reported being tased by NationalPark ranger Sarah Cavallaro during a confrontation over walking hisdog off-leash. Local dog owners have protested over what theyconsider excessive force used in the incident. Others have risen tothe defense of Cavallaro, saying she acted appropriately givencircumstances, given the possibility that Hesterberg provided theranger with a false name. "We felt the incident that occurred a few weeks ago was out ofcontrol and inappropriate," Jim Kain said. "You don't shoot someonein the back when they're walking away." He said he was out at thepark Saturday morning to make sure local dog owners keep the rightsto walk their dogs at Rancho Corral.

Incident aside, GGNRA's San Mateo County Community CoordinatorChristine Carey said, the agency was here to meet and greet theneighbors. As such, the park agency provided information about theproperty, hot cider and chowders for humans and dog treats for thecanines.

Risa Galant, an El Granada resident and the owner of a Pyreneesnamed Kyle, said she was delighted when GGNRA bought the property,however things haven't gone as she expected. She explained thatlocals, many of whom have been looking after Rancho Corral over theyears, and the national agency are now dealing with "trustissues." "Showing up and talking is a good step," she said. "They areaware of it and they are choosing to work hard to be (incommunication.)"

GGNRA Spokesman Howard Levitt said the process of mending thattrust will take time. About a dozen of the 40 or so people presentduring the Saturday "soup and cider social" were GGNRA officials.They seemed eager to speak with the community. National Parks is trying to hear from the community about thehistory of local use of Rancho Corral, Levitt said. GGNRA hopes toplan several more gatherings in coming months around theMidcoast.

"Here I am!"

The taser incident aside, there's been ongoing communityfrustration over the last year or so about Golden Gate NationalRecreation Area's purchase of Rancho Corral. Some worry aboutportal access and what having a new national park will do to theneighborhoods that abut the park. Jennifer Harden, Clipper Ridge resident and owner of a muttnamed Ray, said there were, "lots of conversations going on withpeople in green and those not in green. She was referring to thepark officials' forest green uniforms. Harden wondered why thepublic event Saturday was held at the Corral Reef access to thepark. She wants a federal-supported portal from Highway 1 thatleads up the trail before GGNRA starts planning events that willimpact neighbors in the vicinity. GGNRA needs to de-emphasize the ‘porous boundary' to Ranchountil they're ready to manage it," she said. Levitt said GGNRA is trying to find places for people to parkand get access to the land that will not impact theneighborhoods. "We're trying to figure that out by working with the community,"he said."

*Reference to blog comment, 2/12/12, 2:34pm. The picture, of course, is that of Sadie, an Australian Sheppard wearing a T-shirt: "Don't tase my Master".

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Reminder - City Council meeting is Tuesday, 2/14/12, tomorrow night

2012-02-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

Link to City Council meeting agenda.

As Planning Commission Liaison Tomas Clifford said in comments (11:15 am): "The meeting will take place on Tuesday Feb. 14 2012 at 7:00 p.m."

Let us know if you happen to show-up at city council chambers tonight. As Chris Fogel said in comments (10:25 am), its confusing.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Mortgage crisis losses - ultimately we all pay

2012-02-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

Excerpts from San Francisco Chronicle/Carolyn Lochhead, 2/12/12, "Mortgage crisis losses - who pays?

...They say innocent homeowners are suffering collateral damage as the bust feeds on itself. Foreclosures drive down property values, force more homeowners underwater (where they owe more on the mortgage than the home is worth), damage neighborhoods and slow economic recovery. About 2 million homeowners in California are underwater. The attorneys general settlement, announced Thursday, sets aside $12 billion for about 250,000 homeowners, who are behind on their payments, to reduce the principal on their loans or offer short sales. "If you let the market reach bottom, there's going to be a whole lot of unnecessary human wreckage and community and neighborhood wreckage," said Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Greenlining Institute, a housing advocacy group in Berkeley....

....Mark Goldman, a loan officer and real estate lecturer at San Diego State University, said the median price of bank-owned property in California is about half the price of non-foreclosure sales. "When a bank takes a property back, if you're the next-door neighbor the value of your house is probably going to drop 50 percent," Goldman said.* "Is it good to pay off somebody's mortgage?" Goldman added. "That's a very unpopular notion. But is it good to put out the fire at a neighbor's house so your house doesn't burn down?"...

....Who bears the loss depends on who ends up holding the bag. "If the homeowner continues to make their mortgage, in effect they're eating it," Jaffee said. "If they default and hand the house back to the bank, it's the bank that eats it, or the investors who purchased the mortgage-backed securities. It's not a mystery." Read the full article.

* Note: ".. you're the next-door neighbor the value of your house is probably going to drop 50 percent" comment by Mark Goldman does not sound correct to me for our region.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Research - one public-private partnership in California

2012-02-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

Stem-cell research is moving slowly in California. There are the issues of risk and funding. Government often funds what the private sector cannot, will not, or should not.

Sacramento Bee/David Lesher, 2/12/12. "In the future, scientists tell us, stem cells could make the blind see again, help the crippled to walk again and perhaps cure some of our most debilitating diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's and AIDS.

Neurospheres forming connections.

It sounds like science fiction. Doctors wouldn't just manage your damaged or deteriorating body parts, as they largely do today. They could actually repair or replace them, perhaps using your own cells. Hundreds of billions of dollars in annual medical care is at stake as well as millions of lives that might be saved or vastly improved.

The good news is that it's not science fiction. Just last month, the only human trial under way in the United States involving embryonic stem cells reported that eyesight was improved for two legally blind women. And in California, where voters approved a $3 billion bond to support stem cell science in 2004, the president of the state's stem cell agency said he is "optimistic" that at least a few California treatments will prove successful in humans in the next five years.

The bad news in the stem cell field is the growing uncertainty about money and the time it will take to complete a cautious and evolving regulatory process - even after "proof" in human trials is achieved. Those who speculate say that the most advanced stem cell treatments are still probably a decade away from becoming available to patients. And the cost to get them there will far exceed California's $3 billion investment. The hope was that California's bond would jump-start a biotech industry by building the laboratories and seeding early research to a point where private support would take over.

But that point of commercial viability is a moving target as private investors have grown more risk averse and the regulatory path for such radical new therapies is unpredictable. So the biggest question today in the stem cell field is not whether the science will work someday. The big questions are how will we pay for it, how will regulators know when it's ready and when will it happen? "We are at a time when venture capital doesn't invest as early as it used to," said Larry Goldstein, a leading stem cell scientist at UC San Diego. "So the public has to do it. You may not like the system, but that's the system." Read more.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Proposed unincorporated San Mateo County tax on visitors

2012-02-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

Pacifica did pass a ballot measure (11/10) to increase it's tourist hotel tax from 10% to 12%. Tax ethics 101: tax a tourist, they are the "outsiders" who may never return.

Palo Alto Daily News/Bonnie Eslinger, 2/11/12. San Mateo County residents in June may be asked to authorize the county to jack up the tax on hotel rooms and to start taxing commercial parking lot and rental car operators.

"Just kidding, you'll have to pay the tax anyway."

The three tax measures that the Board of Supervisors will review Tuesday would apply only to unincorporated areas, including San Francisco International Airport.

Unless the board expresses reservations, it is scheduled to decide Feb. 28 whether to place the measures on the June primary election ballot. If all three measures are approved, together they would generate almost $13 million in annual revenue for the county.

The supervisors have suggested that the money is needed to help balance the county's budget, which continues to encounter deficits year after year. The county would have faced a $77 million deficit in the 2012-13 fiscal year if it didn't decide to draw heavily from its reserves. And County Manager John Maltbie last month told the board the deficit in the 2016-17 budget is projected at $149 million.

The cost of placing the three measures on the June ballot is estimated at $280,000. One of the measures would increase the Transient Occupancy Tax on hotel rates from 10 to 12 percent. The county currently receives about $1 million a year from that tax and expects to pick up an additional $200,000 annually with the boost.

Help!

The proposed business license fee for operators of commercial parking lots would amount to 8 percent of their gross receipts. The fee would apply to parking facilities in unincorporated areas, including valet parking at restaurants and hotels as well as SFO. They would generate almost $5 million a year, the county estimates.

The third measure would tax car rental companies at a rate of 2½ percent of their gross receipts, for an annual amount estimated at more than $7.7 million.

Although the proposed taxes largely would affect tourists, their passage isn't a sure bet. In November 2008, two similar measures pushed by the county were defeated. Measure Q, an 8 percent parking tax measure, was rejected by 52.6 percent of the voters and Measure R, a 2½ percent rental car tax, went down with 52.9 percent opposed."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Pacifica Ross store evacuated over gas leak

2012-02-11T23:49:00.000-08:00

Michael Cabanatuan

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Pacifica firefighters evacuated a Ross Dress for Less store after a report of a possible explosion that turned out to be a natural gas leak inside the building.

Firefighters arrived at the store at 1410 Linda Mar Blvd. about 8:21 a.m. Saturday and upon entering the building smelled a strong natural gas odor and heard carbon monoxide detectors sounding. They evacuated the building and an adjoining Rite-Aid store and shut down the store's heating system. They also ventilated the building and worked with PG&E to find the source of the gas.

Posted by Steve Sinai

Financing city services proposed sales tax increase - part 1 of 2

2012-02-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

Part 1 of this article re-post deals with the proposed sales tax increase, part 2 deals with the comparative review of highest paid San Mateo county salaries.

Figuring-out city tax and fee solutions.

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, 2/8/12. "Financing City Services Task Force ponders sunset clause for sales tax increase; reviews county salaries." "The Financing City Services Task Force didn't finalize anything during its meeting last Wednesday, but continued to chip away at the information available from city staff. The members discussed potentially setting an end date to the one-half-cent sales tax increase they recommended City Council approve, but the discussion did not end in a decision.

Meanwhile, the debate continued about whether or not it should be offered to the voters in June.
"I have big reservations about the sales tax in June," said Councilmember Mary Ann Nihart. "It is a Republican primary. We've started a good process. I don't want the police put in the same position the fire department was in -- an either/or position." Other task force members disagreed and said they wanted more time for the city to benefit from the extra revenue, especially with the state cutting back.

City staff provided the task force members with three potential scenarios that would all raise the revenue required to balance the budget. Task force members discussed them all, but did not lean one way or the other toward accepting any of them. A salary freeze and other employee compensation changes are included in each option and are valued at $3.7 million. "We are not contributing to COLA anymore," said director of administrative services Ann Ritzma. "That is a cut. If the cost of vision or health care goes up, that's out of pocket. We cap vacation accruals. They are also contributing to their pensions."

Option A would also eliminate Public Works supervisory positions and increase business license fees, the fireworks tax and implement a towing fee increase. It would apply the temporary occupancy tax (TOT) to vacation rentals, update building permit fees and assess a winterization inspection fee. It calls for the establishment of the one-half-cent sales tax on the June ballot. That option raises $1,338,572.

Option B calls for all the same fee increases that are in Option A, but with the outsourcing of the police department instead of the tax. That option raises $1,782,499.

Option C calls for all the fees in options A and B, but no police outsourcing and no tax, and adds reducing staff for swim team, eliminating funding for the Resource Center, the Visitors Center and Pacifica Community Television. Library hours will be reduced. Staff level will be reduced in the police department. Fees will be increased for swimming, swim team and teen program fees. That option raises $788,018.

Marty Anaya, executive director of Pacifica Community Television, faced with the possibility of losing city funding, asked the city manager to tell him how much revenue Pacifica receives from the cable company and to determine how much would be lost if subscribers are lost due to the cut.

Susan Vellone, representing the Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber is engaged in a campaign to bring more visitors to Pacifica, which is expected to generate additional revenue. City Manager Steve Rhodes said sales tax is up in Pacifica, in part due to the new Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market and Walgreens.

The economic development committee continues to meet to come up with ideas, but the next big revenue generator, the Beach Blvd. development, is not expected to be ready until 2016. Any development that could possibly be generated in the Quarry would not be done until 2018, task force member and economic development committee member Sue Vaterlaus said.

Task force members asked city staff to get as much information as possible about how much the county sheriff's office would cost long term to run police services for Pacifica. Representatives from the employee unions expressed their concerns. In the event the county sheriff's office takes over police services, other cities have written into their contracts a guarantee that all employees be hired into the new operation, said union representative Peter Finn. Police evidence technician Melissa Mondragon asked if the city intends to ask the sheriff to absorb all sworn and non-sworn personnel. "Three of our former dispatchers are currently unemployed. We don't want to take any more hits," she said. "We support the half-cent sales tax to protect all the valuable services," said Police Chief Jim Tasa. As the discussion ensued about using the extra sales tax revenue specifically to protect police services, Rhodes said that would change it to a measure requiring a two-thirds majority required to pass. "Also, the state may take something else away between now and then," he said. "There are lots of ways to achieve the goal of hiring everyone, but that will impact our price."

Financing City Services Taskforce Minutes, 2/1/12, follow-up to the Financing city services Open House, 1/11/12.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Financing city services reviews highest county salaries, part 2 of 2

2012-02-11T12:40:00.000-08:00

Part 2 of the financing city services article is comparative review of highest paid San Mateo county salaries. Salaries are expressed monthly, so do the math x 12 for these annual salaries. Does such a "highest paid" city to city comparison within a county mean much of anything? I don't think so, because city size, conditions, relative general staff cost, etc. are not taken into consideration.

Deserves the Red Herring award?

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, 2/8/12. "Financing City Services Task Force ponders sunset clause for sales tax increase; reviews county salaries." "How Pacifica salaries stack up to other San Mateo county cities."

Director of Administrative Services Ann Ritzma gave the task force members information about selected jobs in Pacifica and their rate of pay here and in other cities in San Mateo County. She provided data for City Manager, Finance Director/Administrative Services Director, police officer, fire captain, community development director/planning director, maintenance worker and public works director.

The highest paid city manager is Hillsborough/$27,462 per month, followed by Daly City/$27,318, South San Francisco/$26,172, Belmont/$25,561, San Mateo/$24,975, Redwood City/$24,902, Menlo Park/$24,655, Foster City/$23,551, Brisbane/$23,185, Burlingame/$23,100, San Carlos/$22,642, San Bruno/$22,412, Colma/$21,945, Pacifica/$21,288, Half Moon Bay/$20,973, Millbrae/$20,271 and Atherton/$19,561.

The highest paid director of administrative services in the county is Redwood City/$22,566, Hillsborough/$21,760, South San Francisco/$21,700, San Mateo/$20,703, Daly City/$20,686, Menlo Park/$20,607, Atherton/$19,951, San Carlos/$19,773, Millbrae/$19,700, Foster City/$19,268, Brisbane/$19,120, Burlingame/$18,879, Pacifica/$18,836, Belmont/$18,245, San Bruno/$18,157.

The highest paid police officer is in Redwood City earning $16,040 per month, followed by Colma/$14,899, Atherton/$14,794, . Menlo Park/$14,731, San Mateo/$14,551, Belmont/$14,214, South San Francisco/$13,892, Hillsborough/$13,852, Foster City/$13,651, San Bruno/$13,531, Pacifica/$12,689, Daly City/$12,568, Brisbane/$12,515, Burlingame/$12,468, Millbrae/$11,920.

The highest paid fire captain is in South San Francisco earning $16,512 per month, followed by Redwood City/$16,484, Foster City/$15,745, San Mateo/$15,672, San Bruno/$15,525, Menlo Park/$14,455, Daly City/$14,059, Pacifica/$13,958, Brisbane/$13,402, Millbrae/$12,699 and San Carlos/$12,196.

The highest paid community development director/planning director is in Redwood City/$22,243, Daly City/$20,490, Hillsborough/$20,498, Menlo Park/$19,978, Millbrae/$19,700, Foster City/$19,571, San Carlos/$19,410, Pacifica/$19,386, Atherton/$19,002, Brisbane/$18,566, San Bruno/$18,157, Burlingame/$18,115, Belmont/$17,967, Half Moon Bay/$15,468.

The highest paid maintenance worker is in Colma/$10,093, South San Francisco/$8,429, San Carlos/$8,110, Foster City/$8,068, San Mateo/$7,844, Brisbane/$7,723, Daly City/$7,647, Redwood City/$7,577, Atherton/$7,488, Belmont/$7,359, Menlo Park/$7,254, Pacifica/$7,234, San Bruno/$6,845, Millbrae/$6,567.

The highest paid public works director is in Hillsborough/$22,921, Redwood City/$22,245, South San Francisco/$21,377, San Carlos/$21,304, San Mateo/$20,703, Daly City/$20,490, Menlo Park/$20,450, Atherton/$20,352, Millbrae/$19,700, Brisbane/$19,612, Pacifica/$19,577, Foster City/$19,571, San Bruno/$19,225, Belmont/$18,769."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Transportation money, HR-7. Your easy action is needed.

2012-02-10T14:31:00.000-08:00

Phone call from Barbara a few minutes ago saying this is NOT a good bill. And we should oppose it, because it will eliminated public funding for transportation. Ouch!

Home again on a good highway

I have revised the article. And if you have sent Jackie Speier an email, consider sending another saying you support public funding of transportation, and therefore are against HR-7. Sorry for the confusion, I must have missed the NOT in the cell phone conversation, and the follow-up title wording of the bill seems misleading.

Congressional bill HR-7 is coming-up for vote next Tuesday, February 14th. HR-7 is the "American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012". And, the official title as introduced is: "To authorize funds for Federal-aid highway, public transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety programs, and for other purposes." Guess not! This bill affects monies our county and city receives from the Federal Government.

Please take a few minutes to complete the following e-mail form to support Jackie Speier in her effort to represent all of us.

Step 1. The website email form link.
Step 2. Who are you? Your name, address, telephone, email.
Step 3. Choose the issue: "Transportation".
Step 4. Would you like a written response? "Yes" or "No". The default listed below is "No".
Step 5. Message: Easy suggestions:
               1) short version: Please DO NOT support HR-7, Tuesday, 2/14/12.
               2) Long version: I'm for publicly funded transportation. For the benefit of our county and city, please DO NOT support the HR-7 vote Tuesday, 2/14/12.
Step 6. Click the submit box. That's it, done. The form email form will acknowledge the message was sent and has been received.

References:
HR-7 Congressional Bill, and Congressional Budget Office.
Request for action from Barbara Arietta, San Mateo County Transportation Authority/Citizens Advisory Committee (SMCTA/CAC).

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Proposed desalination projects opposed by environmentalists

2012-02-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

Not enough rain this year, more than we needed last year. Population growing outside Pacifica.. Sea level rising. Where will we get our water? Part of the answer may be advanced desalination. Desalination is currently used in dry areas of the United States and in other countries where water is scarce.

Palo Alto Daily News/Bonnie Eslinger, 2/4/12. "Among many challenges facing the controversial Redwood City Saltworks project, securing water for a community that may have as many as 12,000 homes is high on the list. DMB Pacific Ventures, a new company owned by Arizona-based DMB Associates that wants to develop Saltworks on Cargill's salt flats, has promised not to tap into Redwood City's limited water supply to hydrate the massive 1,436-acre project, which also would include office buildings, stores, schools, playing fields and restored marshlands.

Until recently, DMB has been focusing on a complex maneuver to transfer the rights to 2.7 billion gallons of water a year purchased from a Bakersfield farming collective to a Bay Area water agency for delivery. While the transfer strategy is still "on the table," the company also is examining whether delivering ocean or bay water stripped of salt and other minerals is feasible, said David Smith, DMB Associates' senior vice president. That process is known as desalination. "We're looking at the full universe of options," Smith told The Daily News on Friday.

Desalination eats fishes, solve that.

Although many water agencies and cities are studying desalination as a possible answer to water shortages, Smith acknowledged it's a complicated route. In the North Bay, a proposed desalination plant in San Rafael was successfully challenged in court by environmentalists and others concerned that its potential impact on marine habitat wasn't fully studied. The Marin Municipal Water District recently appealed the court's ruling that the environmental impact report was inadequate. "And while the city of Santa Cruz is currently doing an environmental study for a desalination plan, opponents are gathering petition signatures to put the project before voters for approval.

Rich Mills, a water use and efficiency expert with the California Department of Water Resources, said environmental concerns about desalination are legitimate, such as the potential for fish and other marine life to be sucked into treatment plants. But desalination is being considered out of necessity, he added. "As the demands for water continue to increase and the development of new water supplies becomes more difficult, we're having to research all alternatives -- conservation, water recycling of municipal waste water, desalination and urban storm water runover recovery and use," Mills said. "These are kind of the less-than-mainstream water resources that are being looked at more carefully now."

A DMB-funded consultant hired by Redwood City to do an environmental study of the Saltworks project began investigating desalination as a feasible option last June, said Blake Lyon, the city's senior planner. Questions such as where a plant would go, how big it might be and whether it should provide water only for Saltworks still have to be answered, he said. "There's also a lot of work that needs to be done on the environmental implications, whether there's political support for it, and the funding aspects," Lyon said. But the research was temporarily shelved in November when DMB Associates asked for a timeout while the developer reviews the most recent round of public comments and possibly revises the project. Smith said the company intends to present a revised plan by "early 2012."

Josh Sonnenfeld, a campaign manager with Oakland-based Save the Bay, said DMB's struggles to secure water for the large-scale community prove the project is impractical. "There's also enormous numbers of questions we have about desalination, the impacts on the bay, the potential costs to residents and the energy it needs." The nonprofit has vigorously opposed the Saltworks development plan and advocated for restoration of the area's natural habitat" Really, no solution is better?

References:

Southern California pilot project eco-article, Natural Resources News Service/David Rosenfeld, 1/4/12.

World view. Expensive, but used to off-set critical water shortage, Wikipedia.

"Provide access to clean water" article, National Academy of Engineering.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Housing solutions for the chronic homeless - cheaper, better, more humane

2012-02-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

And our Pacifica Resource Center support prevents many low income people from becoming homeless.

Excepts from Silicon Valley Mercury News/Tracy Seipel, 2/6/12, "Santa Clara County supervisors to consider $1.25 million in vouchers to house 100 chronically homeless."

..."The goal of Housing 1000 is to permanently shelter 1,000 homeless people by 2013, said Jennifer Loving, executive director of Destination: Home, a public/private partnership aimed at ending homelessness in Santa Clara County. ...."It's a cheaper and more efficient and holistic way to end homelessness,'' said Loving. "People don't think that the guy living under the bridge is costing anything,'' said Loving. "But that's absolutely not true.'' Based on other programs in the region, state and nation, Loving estimates that every chronically homeless person in Santa Clara County costs taxpayers $60,000 annually, which could be cut by half if the person were given a permanent place to live. ..."It's not just about giving them a place and walking away from them,'' said Loving. "We want to see if they can become more stable and engaged in our community, and there are lots of ways to do that.''

Vs. a real home

...Experts say that makes sense for a variety of reasons, and not just because it removes homeless people from the harsh and often dangerous conditions of the street. With a permanent place to live, a homeless person can be contacted regularly by a case management team who can check up on their mental and physical health, instead of waiting until the condition becomes more severe or complicated -- and costly. And with a stable address, case managers can determine if homeless people are eligible for Social Security or MediCal, among other benefits they might not be receiving if they're living on the streets. ....San Francisco's Housing First program, for example, has reduced the cost of homeless safety net services from $61,000 a year for an person to $16,000 for those who receive housing. In San Mateo, a collaboration with the city, county and the non-profit Shelter Network resulted in the city spending $4 million to buy and convert a former downtown hotel to house 16 chronically homeless people. Since 2009, its leaders say the project has seen the hotel residents' medical expenses plunge 85 percent, while police contacts have dropped 99 percent."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

NASA air traffic research partnership grant goes to SJSU

2012-02-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

San Mateo Daily Journal/Associated Press, 2/4/12."NASA gives San Jose State $73M for air traffic research". Thankfully progress continues outside Pacifica.

"Well, Houston, I don't think we have a problem".

SAN JOSE — NASA has awarded $73 million to San Jose State University to participate in research on how people interact with new technology that will be introduced during an overhaul of the nation’s air traffic control system. The five-year grant announced this week is the largest award the university has ever received from the federal government, campus spokeswoman Pat Lopes Harris said.

NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View selected San Jose State psychology and human factors professor Kevin Jordan to lead a research project that will also involve Ames scientists, other faculty members and university graduate students. Jordan has collaborated with NASA before on projects integrating human skills with aircraft flight decks, air-traffic management systems and mission planning and scheduling technologies on the International Space Station.

Public and private universities offering graduate degrees in Human Factors — an academic discipline that covers topics such as human error, workplace safety, ergonomics and human-computer interactions — were eligible to compete for the NASA award. NASA has not disclosed if any other schools were considered besides San Jose State, Jordan said.

Among the research areas covered by the grant are the new satellite-based air traffic-control system the Federal Aviation Administration has launched with the goal of reducing flight delays, creating more direct plane routes and reducing aircraft fuel consumption. The partnership also is expected to include work on the U.S. Space Launch System, a new rocket designed to “take astronauts farther into space than ever before,” according to NASA.

With an enrollment of 28,000 students, San Jose State is Silicon Valley’s largest university. The Ames Research Center, located nine miles away, specializes in such aspects of space exploration as supercomputing, heat protection and astrobiology."

Related background information: Next generation air transportation system, Wikipedia.

"Satellite-based air traffic Management ..", Satellite Today/Richard Kusiolek, 9/01/08
"New way to upgrade air control", Wall Street Journal/Andy Pasztor, 4/4/11.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

South San Francisco School Board Trustee absent 1 year

2012-02-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

San Mateo Daily Journal/Heather Murtaugh, 2/9/12. "School board to decide on further trustee's absence."

"How long should an elected official be excused from his or her post? It’s a question going before officials in the South San Francisco Unified School District Board of Trustees this week. Shirlee Hoch, first elected in 1990, took a leave of absence last year starting in August for medical reasons. On Thursday, the board will discuss extending that excused absence through June. Doing so leaves a board often faced with split votes without a tie breaker for nearly a year.

Sick? Time to send a goodbye card.

Hoch said she remains active by talking to the superintendent, board president and community when possible. She is currently recovering from medical problems requiring her to focus on her health at the moment. "If and when I feel I can’t contribute to the board, I would consider resigning,” Hoch said. Trustees seem supportive of giving Hoch time to recover.

“There are five positions on a board for a reason,” said Trustee Phil Weise, noting the extra vote breaks ties. Without it, the board runs less effectively. At the same time, Weise recognized voters have a right to be represented by the person who they supported and he wished Hoch well. Both board President Judy Bush and Trustee Maurice Goodman have no issue with the absence. Goodman pointed to Hoch’s history of service as a reason to allow the absence. Bush agreed and added she wasn’t concerned about working with a four-member board. She also thought the timeline granted would be longer than Hoch would need.

South San Francisco’s policy allows for trustees to be excused. In the bylaw cited for the resolution going before the board Thursday, there is no limitation for such excuse. Other rules discussing reasons that could cause a vacancy allow for up to a year for someone called to serve in the military. There is no time limit when it comes to medical reasons. One consideration is experience. Hoch has been on the board since 1990, something that can be a benefit.

“Shirlee Hoch is a great asset to SSFUSD and our community. Shirlee has shown unstinting dedication to the welfare of our students. Her expertise in analyzing our school district’s budgets has provided invaluable oversight on the public’s behalf,” said Jolene Malfatti, California School Employees Association president for the district. The board meets 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 at the Municipal Services Building, 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco."

Reference - South San Francisco School Board.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

The "Open Meeting Act" includes teleconferencing provisions

2012-02-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

Teleconferencing is legal

It would seem that our city council has a tool available that will enable offsite council members to participate in meetings. Vacations, business conferences, and hospital stays shouldn't prevent the effective operation of government. These and other situations can be accommodated so that all may participate and quorums may be reached.

California Department of Consumer Affairs Public Meetings (Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, Legal Memorandum, 1/6/12. See page 17-19 of this document for a full explanation.

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Recall the "Big Three" is in process - 3 petitions update

2012-02-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

With more paperwork to set-up and organization, this recall effort already looks smart. The recall vote will include three (3) petitions. Three (3) petitions means vote to recall each of 3 city council members: 1) Vreeland, 2) Digre, 3) DeJarnatt. Vreeland is a given, but so are the other two (2). All three (3) city council members, influenced others and voted as a city council majority and "got us into this financial mess".

Want to get involved? Send Therese Dyer an email and join the cause: theresedyer1932@gmail.com.

Pacifica Tribune/Letters-to-the-editor, 2/7/12. "Recall efforts" by Therese M. Dyer. . "Editor: Sorry this letter didn't get in the paper last week -- computer problems, what else? Anyway, thanks for the response to my last one indicating a possible recall.

Here's an update. I've spoken to an attorney and am waiting for his reply to some questions I had before sending him my draft. I've had offers of help with money, signs and petitions, but we still need more to circulate the petitions.

We suffered the pain, now let's all get together as a community and take our city back before it disappears into bankruptcy. I am willing to put up the seed money but I don't want it to fail either. Some of you are giving me advice and I have taken it into consideration, but the Big Three are who got us into this financial mess have to go.

However, there will be three separate petitions, so you can sign one two or three. At the last city council meeting Jim Vreeland was not there, so they had no quorum because Len Stone and Pete DeJarnatt had to recuse themselves. So the assisted living complex did not get a vote, This will continue as long as Vreeland stays gone so I asked the question if there was a solution like a teleconference and the answer was only if he was in Pacifica. So where is he? Doesn't someone owe us an explanation? He has missed 26 meetings that I know of since his re-election. I was so unhappy with the city survey and the way it was handled. I will jump on board with a recall when I receive all your responses."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Recycling numbers are way up in San Mateo County

2012-02-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

Although this San Mateo peninsula article does not include Pacifica, Chris Porter, our Recology General Manager said our composting and recycling numbers are also way up. Sorry if the price seems high, the city needs the money. Maybe the city should incorporate as a charity.

San Mateo Daily Journal/Bill Silverfarb, 2/7/12. "For the first time ever, locals set out more compost than garbage in their bins in 2011, according to a report from the South Bayside Waste Management Authority.

Some of the increase may have something to do with pizza boxes that once went straight to the landfill at Ox Mountain. Those boxes, with greasy bits of food left in them, can now go into the same bin with yard waste and organics. “It is the No. 1 question we get. What to do with pizza boxes,” said Gino Gasparini with Recology. Any cardboard or paper with food contamination now goes into organics, he said.

In 2011, compost collection increased 29 percent compared to 2010 and residential recycling jumped 25 percent during the same period. The increase in composting and recycling has seen garbage disposal decrease by nearly 18 percent from 2010 to 2011, helping to extend the life of San Mateo County’s only landfill at Ox Mountain, Gasparini said. “If it’s in the black cart, it goes straight to the landfill,” Gasparini said.

Recology and our efforts, great!

Recology contracts with SBWMA, or RethinkWaste as it is called now, to provide service to 10 cities and the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. The CartSMART weekly recycle, compost and garbage collection services were launched just more than a year ago after Recology took over the service from Allied Waste. Figures show that Recology hauled more than 75,000 tons of compost in 2011 compared to the 58,000 tons Allied hauled the year before.Recology put in nearly 12,000 tons less garbage into Ox Mountain in 2011 compared to Allied’s figures for 2010.

The new single-stream blue recycling bins have likely proved more convenient for customers, leading to higher diversion rates, Gasparini said. People are becoming more conscious about the importance of recycling and composting, said Monica Devincenzi with RethinkWaste. The next goal is to get the recycling and composting numbers up at larger multi-unit complexes, she said, which lags behind single-family residences in diversion rates.

East Palo Alto residents had the biggest increase in residential recycling, a 80.5 percent increase in 2011 compared to 2010 and Atherton had the biggest increase in residential composting at 49.9 percent during the same period with Burlingame being a close second in composting with a 48.2 percent increase. Atherton residents are doing the best job of diverting their garbage at more than 82 percent. Menlo Park is second at about 73 percent. The state’s goal is to have at least 75 percent of all waste be diverted to compost or recycling by 2020. The current state mandate is 50 percent.

“People are becoming more environmentally conscious,” said Recology’s Robert Reed. “They are doing the right thing.” Not only does recycling and composting help extend the life of landfills, it is also better for the environment, Reed said. Keeping Ox Mountain open as long as possible is a local goal because once it closes the region will have to haul its trash out of the county at a greater expense, Devincenzi said. “The customers deserve the credit when they take the individual action of going for the right bin,” Reed said. RethinkWaste is comprised of Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, the West Bay Sanitary District and unincorporated county areas."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

City Council Agenda, Tuesday, February 14, 2012

2012-02-07T13:39:00.000-08:00

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor. Or, view on local channel 26, also live feed internet www.pct26.com. The meeting begins at 7pm (but usually starts a few minutes late). Agenda, 2/13/12, pages 1-43. Note: the Agenda is dated 2/14/12, and is correct confirmed by City Clerk. President Lincoln's birthday occurs on 2/13/12 and is a Holiday.

Spilled candy - have a "peace" today.

A. Closed session (6:15pm)

1) Labor negotiations, Waste Water Treatment Plant, Local 856.

2) Conference with legal counsel. Anticipated litigation.

3) Conference with real property negotiator, City of Pacifica and Dave Colt.

B. Open session (7:00pm)

Call to order, salute to the flag, commission liaisons, closed session report (if any).

Consent Calendar (pass through), pages 1-2.

1. Approval of cash disbursements.

2. Approval of Minutes (meeting of 1/9/12).

3. Continuation of local emergency proclamation.

4. Wastewater Collection System master plan, change order, $78,700. Extend the project completion date to 10/31/12.

5. Wastewater division, Palmetto Slipline project collection pipe rehabilitation. $50,000 Dexal Construction, Inc..and $49,587 retention released to them for 1/11 completion. Completion of 1st phase, total cost $545,870 (see pages 8, 9). Extend, project completion date to 6/30/12.

6. Route 1 San Pedro Creek Bridge Replacement project, agreement with San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) for the Design (PS&E) and construction phases.

Special presentation

a) Sports Hall of Fame

b) Pacifica School District

Public Hearing

7. Appeal against Assisted Living Center, 96 units, project Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), certified by the Planning Commission (11/21/11) by San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition and Neighbors Concerned about Pacifica and on behalf of Protectors of San Pedro Creek.

8. Palmetto Underground Utility District and ordering removal of overhead structures, wires and facilities and instillation of underground wires and facilities within said district, amendment. No fiscal impact.

Consideration

9. Item Removed (2/7/12) Economic Development Committee City logo for promotional purposes.

10. City Selection Committee Regional Board appointment, effective 2/24/12.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Cal Grants - almost half of for-profit colleges booted

2012-02-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

Students didn't pay back loans.

San Francisco Chronicle/Nanette Asimov, 2/6/12. "Some for-profit colleges booted from Cal Grants."

"A little-known California law has dealt a blow to nearly half of the for-profit college campuses in the state, barring them from offering students a coveted Cal Grant this year.

Good luck, get a good paying job.

The law cracks down for the first time on schools with high student loan default rates, meaning graduates aren't paying back the money they owe even three years after leaving school."It's a sign that the institution did not prepare them for a job so they could repay their loan," said Robert Shireman, who, as deputy undersecretary of education in the Obama administration, oversaw reforms in student lending.

Now, California is tying participation in the Cal Grant program to colleges' three-year student loan default rates. No public campuses are affected by the law, SB70, because none has the toxic combination of a high percentage of borrowers where at least 1 in 4 defaults." Read more.

Reference: 'How to pay off student loans", Wiki How manual, 7 steps, includes video (2:20 minutes).

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Mateo-Foster City proposed school tax is somewhat progressive

2012-02-06T15:02:00.000-08:00

"This is my escape plan."

From San Mateo Daily Journal/Heather Murtagh, 2/6/12. "New school tax nearing June ballot".

"Voters in the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District could see a bond measure of up to $19 per $100,000 of a property’s value on the June ballot.

Survey results of possible voters were generally supportive, which led the board to continue the consideration process of putting a bond measure, which supports facilities, on the June ballot. On Thursday, the board gave the green light for staff to work on a districtwide measure to upgrade facilities such as adding classrooms, upgrading infrastructure and building a fourth elementary school in Foster City. A possible list of projects and more details will be brought back to the board at a future meeting." Read more.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Another La Honda mountain lion spotting, but a good safety reminder

2012-02-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

Want to play?

Today's news from San Mateo county Times, 2/5/12. Nothing much happening, other than the NFL Super Bowl XLVI game.

"A resident spotted a mountain lion Sunday morning near a creek in an unincorporated part of San Mateo County next to La Honda, emergency officials said. The mountain lion was spotted in the vicinity of Alpine Road near Pescadero Creek Road at about 7:05 a.m., officials said.

Residents are advised to never approach a mountain lion. Anyone who encounters a mountain lion should face the animal, make noise, and try to appear larger by waving arms and throwing rocks, emergency officials said. More information about mountain lions is available at www.keepmewild.org."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Consolidation of county services - outsourcing

2012-02-05T12:56:00.000-08:00

Last of these thoughtful Pacifica Tribue, Letters-to-the-editor, 1/31/12, "City services" by Fran Larson

"Editor: Examining the results of the survey on services for Pacifica I was disappointed both in the level of responses (7 percent) from the citizens that were forwarded the "yellow cards" and the obvious lack of information of those 1,474 responding citizens. People normally respond emotionally when they are not furnished the facts. The task force did a terrific job of putting forth the valid questions on the survey but the public was not given enough detail of how passage or failure of each item would really effect the level of services for residents of Pacifica.

Didn't get our questions answered!

The public meeting unfortunately was not organized to furnish information to the citizens that did respond. Obviously, the task force did not expect the vast turnout and the result was a mulling crowd that had little or no opportunity to have discussion of the issues. The chosen impartial facilitator approach was not really effective in this case. Actually, impartial presentations do not result in an informed voter. The task force group took down the names of all citizens that turned out that cold night and I hope there is a plan to contact all those people with additional facts. Standing on the sidelines of the community center room and impartially answering questions was not done effectively nor was that the way to actually inform voters.

In my former southern California community the city forwarded a brochure to all residents explaining fully the effects of proposed changes in taxation policies and some real debate about each issue. Voters need all the facts in order to make informed decisions. I would hope that prior to making the final judgement our city council does make a real try to get more input from voters prior to their taking action on these important measures that will effect the welfare of all families in Pacifica and tries as well to get more information out to the public.

Is this our best answer?

Coming from my experience of living in Los Angeles County I know the value of "functional consolidation" of services. Los Angeles County has about 100 cities now with two large fire departments, Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County. Prior to the '60s there were 66 incorporated cities, all with their separate inefficient fire and police departments. The Bell city fire truck would stop at Bell Gardens city line and say, oops, that is their fire and return to their station. People had been taught that local control was the way to go and every Fire Chief wanted to be supreme in their "pond" and didn't want to consolidate with their next door neighbor and just be a little "frog." They had to be convinced that local control might actually be less effective and more expensive and it took some educating to get that job done.

The County Firefighters took on that battle and in a few years organizing on the Contract Cities was a reality and fire service in Los Angeles County was tremendously improved at less cost and more efficiency. The Sheriff of Los Angeles County followed that example and consolidated police services became a reality. "Outsourcing "is not the proper term for what is being proposed here and elsewhere. Currently that term is feared by our public. Regional services should be encouraged and the fable of "local control" should be dismissed. All citizens need efficiency in services and fairness in taxation."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Financing city services - no real financial solutions, again.

2012-02-04T17:48:00.000-08:00

From Pacifica Tribue, Letters-to-the-editor, 1/31/12, "Financing city services" by Robert Hutchinson

"Editor: Regarding the comments from the recent budget survey, the number one most common opinion I see has something to do with cutting city wages and benefits further. Also, the majority of letters to the editor have been about cutting wages and benefits further.

City Kool-Aid tastes great!

All this time I still haven't seen any hard reporting on the subject by the Tribune. How did the city come up with the $3.5 million number? Are they planning on cutting wages and benefits further when many contracts expire in June? If so, how much?

I think we're being railroaded. First the city hurries and negotiates a small 3 percent wage reduction for most union contracts, then they tell us we're in big financial trouble and give us a rigged opinion poll that conveniently leaves out any mention of wages and benefits which is the highest cost to the city. All this time the city is spinning this data into a fabricated $3.5 million in cuts. Anytime someone mentions wage cuts the city has it's pat answers, "we just made cuts" We can't cut too much or people will leave." Really? In this economy?

Have you seen what we're paying city employees? All the numbers are here:
just subtract 3 percent. And this doesn't include pension payments. Plus, we're paying 100 percent of their health insurance for the employee and all dependents. This is where all our money is going. This is why they want to cut programs to the poor and seniors and raise our taxes AGAIN. And it's only going to get worse unless they deal with it now. Speak up and demand they consider what the people want."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

"Tax Force" recommends half-cent city sales tax

2012-02-04T00:14:00.000-08:00

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, 2/1/12, "Task force recommends half-cent sales tax increase."

"The survey results about which taxes, cuts or revenue generating measures would be acceptable to most Pacificans are in and under review by the Financing City Services Task Force.

City tax riddle to guide our vote.

The task force made its first recommendation to City Council last Wednesday. It unanimously recommended City Council approve a one-half-cent sales tax increase and put it on the June ballot for voters to consider. If voters pass it, the increase in the sales tax is expected to generate $865,000 per year. It requires a simple majority, 50 percent plus one vote, to win. The task force set $700,000 per year for five years, a total of $3.5 million, as its goal to balance the budget and create a 10 percent operating reserve. At a future meeting, the task force is expected to develop a "Plan B" to tell voters what could be cut if the tax doesn't pass. The next meeting is this evening, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the community room at the police department.

"We are trying to save the city," said task force member Susan Getchell Wallace. The 1500 or so people who responded to the survey indicated their preferences for potential taxes and/or potential cuts to city services.Sixty percent indicated approval for a half-cent sales tax increase." Read more, including results of the small sample citizen survey if interested.

Tax model for Pacifica reference: Popeye Taxman, 1:16 minutes, video.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Large illegal cannabis bust in Half Moon Bay (Princeton)

2012-02-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

Half Moon Bay Review/Clay Lambert, 2/2/12, "Authorities make large pot bust on coast". "The San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force executed a pair ofsearch warrants Wednesday night based on the tip of an informant,arresting a Half Moon Bay man and seizing than a $1 million worthof marijuana.

Just "gardening"!

San Mateo County Sheriff's Lt. Larry Schumaker said that37-year-old Lask Tsatsaronis of Half Moon Bay was arrested andcharged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana forsale, theft of utilities and possession of stolen property. Membersof the multi-agency task force searched a warehouse in the 200block of Yale Avenue in Princeton and a home at the 600 block ofMarsailles Way in Half Moon Bay.

The search of the Princeton location turned up more than 1,500marijuana plants, approximately 17 pounds of processed pot and two9mm fully automatic Uzi submachine guns, each equipped withsilencers and high-capacity magazines, according to a release fromthe task force. The search of the Half Moon Bay home revealed twopounds of marijuana, two ounces of concentrated cannabis and sixhandguns, one of which was reported stolen in Suisun City.

The street value of all the cannabis was well in excess of $1.2million, according to the task force. Bail was set at $15,000 and Tsatsaronis has already beenreleased. His arraignment is set for March 5 in the San MateoCounty Northern Superior Court. Commander Marc Alcantera of the Narcotics Task Force said localauthorities had had no previous contact with Tsatsaronis and thatauthorities are actively seeking associates in the drugoperation. "It came together relatively quickly," Alcantera said. "It tookless than a month, but it is certainly not going to stop here."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

California Department of Pesticide Regulation appointment

2012-02-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

San Francisco Chronicle/Associated Press, 2/3/12. "Environmental groups are applauding the naming of a former conservation official as California's new chief pesticide regulator.

Cleaning-up the pesticide regulator

Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Brian Leahy on Thursday to head the Department of Pesticide Regulation. Leahy is the former assistant director at the California Department of Conservation, as well as a former organic farmer.

California's previous pesticide regulator, Mary-Ann Warmerdam, resigned in March to work for Clorox. Her resignation came amid an uproar over the state's approval in December 2010 of a controversial pesticide. Warmerdam had called methyl iodide "the most evaluated pesticide in the department's history," and insisted it could be used safely with strict mitigation measures."

Is methyl iodide poison sprayed on vegetables (main culprit strawberries) a safe organic pesticide? Guess not. Wikipedia., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Report from Food Huddle, 3/8/10. Complaints from Pesticide Action Network. Article from The Atlantic, 1/19/12. Ongoing lawsuit reported in Huffington from CA Watch, 2/3/12.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

California pension reform - Governor Brown to Legislators

2012-02-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

What's happening at California state level, for those who just can't get enough of pension reform.

Piggy bank cutback?

The Sacramento Bee, The State Worker, 2/2/12."Jerry Brown delivers pension reform language to legislators"

Gov. Jerry Brown has sent language for his 12-point pension reform plan to the Legislature's Conference Committee on Public Employee Pensions. The proposals are divided into two groups. The constitutional amendment Brown offered broadly outlines the pension changes more narrowly defined in the language to change state law. The governor's plan won't go forward without two-thirds of the Legislature voting to put the constitutional changes on the Nov. 6 ballot, which would then need voter approval from a majority. The changes would kick in Jan. 1, 2013. Labor agreements that contradict the governor's plan would prevail until the pacts expire.

The statutory language includes these proposals:
• Ends additional retirement service credit purchases, or "airtime."
• Forfeits all or part of pensions for elected officials or civil servants convicted of a felony associated with their offices or jobs.
• Ends retroactive pension enhancements.
• Ends "pension holidays" for employers and employees.

• Mandates that all employees pay "at least one-half" the normal costs for defined benefit plans or the defined portion of a hybrid plan. Employers may not pick up the employee share.

• Limits the hours and wages for retirees who return to government work.
• Calculates benefits based on a 36-month average of an employees' wages.

• Narrows the definition of wages that can be included for pension calculation purposes.

• Establishes a hybrid pension system for new hires. It would replace 75 percent of an employee's income after 30 years of service and a "normal" retirement age of 57 for public safety employees or, for all other workers, 35 years of service at age 67.

• Sets 5 years and 52 years old as the minimum length of service and age that safety classes can qualify for retirement, 57 years old for all other groups.
• Eliminates seats on the CalPERS Board of Administration now occupied by a member of State Personnel Board and an insurance industry representative
• Gives CalPERS board membership to the Department of Finance director.
• Adds an independent health insurance expert and a representative from a contracting agency to the CalPERS board, both appointed by the governor.
• Adds three public representatives to CalPERS' board, two appointed by the governor and
one jointly appointed by the Assembly speaker and the Senate Rules Committee.

• Sets 25 years of service as the threshold to receive 100 percent of the state's retiree health benefit. Applies to new hires only."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Resource Center funding

2012-02-02T22:49:00.000-08:00

Budget meetings will be coming-up soon, remember to fund our Resource Center.

From Pacifica Tribue, Letters-to-the-editor, 1/31/12, "An investment in Pacifica" by Kerstin Connelly

"Editor: What is the most sensible course of action in this current budget crisis for our community? Shall we cut services to the most vulnerable among us by cutting funds to our Resource Center (an agency that helps to feed and serve our elderly, children and unemployed)?

Food programs - daily, weekly, monthly

Each fiscal year the Resource Center receives $83,000 from the city budget. This amount represents a full 25 percent of their funding. Please consider the return they leverage from these funds: the Pacifica Resource Center uses our city funds to bring in over $650,00 in outside funds that directly benefit Pacifica. These funds come in the form of monies for housing, utilities and food assistance that would not otherwise be available to Pacifica. That is nearly an $8 return on our tax dollar! This is an investment that goes right into our community.

They use those funds to provide 250,000 lbs of food to nearly 3,500 residents (that's roughly 10 percent of our population). They also prevent homelessness and shelter to over 100 families. They assist with free tax preparation. They provide Happy Holidays to 258 children through their Adopt-a-Family program and at Thanksgiving serve over 150 Pacifica families. Further, they help the elderly navigate and acquire the senior discounts and affordable housing they deserve. All of this they do with a small staff of four, consisting of a director, a case manager, a direct service manager (who coordinates volunteers) and an office assistant. Due to these tough times, they have seen a 30 percent increase in demand for resources and services in the last year.

Imagine if you will that these safety nets and services be cut. Potential cuts include the elimination of the back to school, Thanksgiving and Adopt-a-Family program. Loss of $160,000 in leveraged resources and nearly 1,000 Pacificans unable to get the vital food, housing and other critical services that help stabilize families and make Pacifica a healthier and safer community.

It is my personal opinion that there is a better solution for the greater good of our community than cutting funding to such a worthwhile organization. I believe we should consider a sliding scale reduction in City employee salaries and a reduction in benefits, which are currently at 100% for employees and their spouses. These ample salaries were increased during the real estate boom time and now need to be reduced to reflect the current financial crisis. This would no doubt be difficult for Pacifica's public employees; however, such a sacrifice would be easier to bare than the hunger that cutting funds to the Resource Center would cause. I hope that our city leaders spare the most vulnerable in our community and serve our city in a spirit of shared sacrifice." Information website: Pacifica Resource Center.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Annual Chamber of Commerce dinner (1/26/12), new officers, awards

2012-02-02T14:19:00.000-08:00

From Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, 1/31/12. "Chamber of Commerce honors outstanding Pacificans".

Chamber of Commerce first building right (Rockaway Beach)

"The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce honored outstanding people in Pacifica in its annual awards banquet and installation of officers Thursday. The banquet at the Lighthouse Hotel was well attended by Pacificans who came out to support their friends and family. It was also well attended by elected officials and their representatives. Don Horsely, San Mateo County supervisor, was there, and representatives from Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Assembly Member Jerry Hill and County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier were present. Chamber CEO Courtney Conlin hosted the presentation and Mayor Pro Tem and Chamber board member Len Stone introduced the honorees.

Chris Porter, manager of Recology of the Coast, a member of the Chamber Circle, spoke of Pacifica's success with recycling, which provided the city with a bonanza of $135,000 delivered during the last City Council meeting.

As the outgoing Chamber president, Porter detailed the work of last year, which included bringing back the very popular Taste of Pacifica, enjoying a run-up to Fog Fest with a Fandango dance party and hosting the first ever golf tournament. A new publicity campaign launched two new Chamber websites and an outreach campaign across the county. New businesses were welcomed into the Chamber family and celebrated with ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Mayor Pete DeJarnatt swore in the new Chamber board members, including incoming president Sandi Anderson. A lifelong Pacifican, Anderson has been in business 37 years. Her Anderson Swim School and Anderson Scuba Diving is known for custom made lessons tailored to the learner. "This is a very exciting year," she said. "There are challenges that lie ahead. It's important to participate in the important work improving business in Pacifica. We will continue a 'shop local' campaign and form a collective to save Sharp Park Golf Course."

Read more - citizen, business and organizational awards.

Related websites: Pacifica Chamber of Commerce. . Zvents, discover things to do.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

County - 2 member supervisor advisory committees goodbye

2012-02-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

The Daily Journal/Michelle Durand, 2/1/12, "Supervisor committees axed." With an eye on cost-savings and efficiency, the Board of Supervisors yesterday unanimously agreed to eliminate its slate of standing committees which they’ve used to vet issues before heading to a full vote.

Another redundant meeting, zzzzz.

“Unfortunately, sometimes good ideas with good intentions find there are unintended consequences,” said Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson. Specifically, the committees could lead to supervisors risking Brown Act violations if they speak with a third member about a topic on which they’ve also discussed at a committee meeting with another member. The open meeting law forbids such conversation outside a public meeting.

Board President Adrienne Tissier suggested replacing the five committees with more town hall and ad hoc groups, saying it will save everybody involved time, promote wider discussions and could provide more direct contact with the public.

The two-member supervisor committees were established in 2007 — finance and operations; environmental quality; criminal justice; housing, health and human services; and legislative — with the hope they would provide focus. Instead, the supervisors said they often led to repeat presentations. Tissier said one example was the receipt of information about state prison and probation realignment which she heard in three different meetings. “I kind of got it after the third time, sure, but it also means staff had to come back three times,” Tissier said.

Supervisor Carole Groom was not “100 percent sure this is the best idea” but deferred to those with more board experience. Both she and Supervisor Dave Pine hoped that with the committees gone they will still receive memos and track data. Although not part of the original recommendation up for vote, County Manager John Maltbie suggested having department heads report to the Board of Supervisors at meetings about any matters going on. The items would be listed much as “county manager report” or “Board members’ committee reports” currently are placed on the agenda.

The committee elimination is the second major change in how the board conducts business since Tissier took over as board president in early January. She has already split meetings into two halves with the first focused on budget and policy issues and the second land issues."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

County - good government includes substantial cash reserves

2012-02-01T12:56:00.000-08:00

Mercury News/Bonnie Eslinger, 2/1/12. "San Mateo County may make most of its budget deficit go away by tapping reserves again."

"San Mateo County once again faces a huge budget deficit as it heads toward a new fiscal year, this time to the tune of about $77 million. And once again county supervisors indicated during a budget discussion Tuesday that rather than bite the bullet and make drastic cuts, they'll likely choose to tap into a reserve account that is replenished annually with excess property taxes.

Cuts, cash reserves, taxes, recovery = survival success

Acting County Manager John Maltbie advised them to remove $53 million from that account and try to cover the rest of the projected deficit through more taxes. According to his memo, the deficit could grow to $146 million by the 2017 fiscal year if reserves aren't tapped, even though the county launched a five-year plan in 2008 to eliminate a structural gap between spending and revenues.

Only Supervisor Dave Pine challenged the recommendation, noting that given the uncertainty of state funding, the county should prepare for the worst by making necessary cuts now. "We're just going to make things more difficult," Pine said. "I just can't believe there's nothing we can cut in the fiscal year."

Maltbie replied that each department already has been asked to look for cost-saving efficiencies that "do not directly affect the level of local services," such as reducing cellphone usage. Board President Adrienne Tissier said she agrees with that strategy. "I don't want to make cuts for the sake of making cuts." Maltbie said that after all the cuts made in recent years the county can ease up next fiscal year, which begins July 1. His memo says that since 2008, more than 500 positions have been eliminated from the county payroll. "There comes a time in an organization where you need to catch your breath," Maltbie said. "Maybe 2013 is that time."

The board directed staff to prepare two tax measures for the June ballot. One would raise the hotel tax in unincorporated areas from 10 to 12 percent, for an annual revenue boost of $200,000. The other would allow the county to charge a 2.5 percent vehicle rental tax and an 8 percent parking lot tax in unincorporated areas, for an annual revenue boost of $12 million.

Money funneled into the reserve account comes from property taxes the county is required by state law to collect for schools and community colleges. Although most counties distribute all that money -- known as Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds (ERAF) -- San Mateo and Marin have such a high tax base they end up with millions of dollars left over each year after paying what's required to schools. This fiscal year the county received $80 million in excess property taxes."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Pleasanton, police union reach tentative agreement on new contract

2012-02-01T00:54:00.000-08:00

By Robert Jordan

Contra Costa Times

Posted: 01/31/2012 08:44:47 PM PST

Updated: 01/31/2012 08:44:48 PM PST

In a continuing effort to corral its mounting pension obligation, Pleasanton reached a tentative agreement with its police union that includes all officers paying their share of retirement costs.

The city and the Pleasanton Police Officers' Association, which consists of 73 sworn police employees, reached the two-year agreement after six months of negotiations. The City Council still must approve the deal and held its first public meeting on the contract Tuesday.

The new deal requires all officers to start paying 3 percent toward their CalPERS pension once the deal is approved, and then 6 percent in July 2012 and the full 9 percent by July 2013.

The police union's current deal expired in May 2011 and had the city paying the officers' 9 percent as well as its own 24.1 percent share.

"In the public discussion we had related to the budget, we talked about reducing our expenses, and one of most effective ways is for employees to pick up the 9 percent," said Julie Yuan-Miu, Pleasanton's assistant city manager and lead negotiator. "That was our goal, and we were very pleased with POA that they worked with us."

The new deal is expected to save the city $2.4 million through the 2013-14 fiscal year. The contract also includes a two-tier system for new employees who can retire at age 55 with 3 percent of their highest annual pay multiplied by their years of service, instead of the current 3 percent at 50 rule. New employees also will have their retiree medical benefits changed, with only the employee being covered until age 65, at which point the employee moves to Medicare. Current retiree medical benefits cover the employee and spouse.

Planning Commission meeting, Monday, February 6, 2012

2012-01-31T22:12:00.000-08:00

Planning Commission Agenda, 2/6/12, computer pages 1-9.

Consent items - None

Public hearings - (1) Use permit and variance, applicant: Verizon Wireless, Yosemite Drive and Humboldt Court (Frontierland Park).

Project Description: Proposal to install a new wireless communication facility in, including a 50 foot tall treepole with six (6) panel antennas and related equipment, at Frontierland Park.

Recommendation and Findings - Approve with conditions (computer pages 8-9).

Other agenda items - none.

Notification of the meeting submitted by Jim Wagner.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

New GGNRA rules. Change of property ownership, butthead.

2012-01-31T13:04:00.000-08:00

Philadelphia Inquirer, Associated Press, 1/31/12."Ranger uses stun gun on man walking dogs off-leash"."MONTARA-- At least one witness is shaking her head in disbelief at a federal park ranger's use of a stun gun over the weekend on a man accused of walking his two small dogs without a leash in violation of park rules.

The National Park Service said the ranger hit Gary Hesterberg with the stun gun on Sunday at Rancho Corral de Tierra in San Mateo County after Hesterberg gave her a false name and then tried to walk away. But Michelle Babcock told the San Francisco Chronicle the ranger never gave Hesterberg an explanation as to why he was being detained and then hit him with the stun gun in the back. "He just tried to walk away," Babcock said. "She never gave him a reason. ... It didn't make any sense."

Hesterberg was arrested on suspicion of failing to obey a lawful order, having dogs off-leash and knowingly providing false information, according to Howard Levitt, a spokesman for the park service. Levitt said the ranger, who has not been identified, asked Hesterberg to remain at the scene, and he repeatedly tried to leave. She was able to stop him after deploying the stun gun, Levitt said.

The ranger was trying to educate residents about the leash requirement, he said. Rancho Corral was recently incorporated into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which last year proposed tighter rules on dogs. Leashes would be required in open spaces where dogs currently roam untethered, and some popular dog-walking areas would be closed to canines entirely under the proposal, which has been criticized by dog owners. Park service officials and environmentalists said they want to protect some 1,200 native plant and animal species, including the Snowy Plover, a federally endangered shorebird."

This story was originally carried by the San Francisco Chronicle-- its "everywhere". Interesting update read on Pacifica Patch, 1/31/12.

Several months ago, I vaguely recall our city council grumbling about GGNRA stipulations, (same city council members who worked to rid this city of these properties). Oh too bad, the properties are gone, and co-existence with GGNRA ownership is more like having "another nation" in your city backyard.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Mateo County Supervisors directing county manager to negotiate for Sharp Park

2012-01-30T17:32:00.001-08:00

1. San Mateo County Supervisors unanimously adopted a Resolution Jan. 24, 2011, directing the County Manager to negotiate with San Francisco to preserve Sharp Park GolfCourse. For full story, and copy of SF Public Golf Alliance letter to theBoard in support of the Resolution, click here.
2. Please Say Thank You. Write letters tothe San Mateo County Supervisors, thanking them for their Jan. 24 SharpPark resolution, and encouraging them to proceed with Sharp Parknegotiations with San Francisco. Say it in your own words. For a list of the Supervisors and their contact information, click here.
And please send us a copy: info@sfpublicgolf.com.

Far& Sure
SanFrancisco Public Golf Alliance
info@sfpublicgolf.com

Donations are greatly appreciated. To donate, please visit our website: Donations Page

We are on Twitter (@SFPublicGolf), Facebook and our website

Submitted by Richard Harris

Perfect vector control storm - warmer weather, new regulations

2012-01-30T11:45:00.000-08:00

From Oakland Tribune/Malthias Gafni, 1/20/12, "Mosquito fogging in jeopardy after new environmental regulations."

Lots of open space here "-- be aware!"

"As fears grow that an unseasonably warm winter could lead to a severe West Nile virus season in the Bay Area, statewide vector control agencies may lose their chief weapon in fighting the mosquito-borne illness. Mosquitoes already have awakened from their hibernation, and a late rain could create the perfect breeding ground for West Nile, just as a federal court ruling imposes strict regulations on the use of mosquito-abatement pesticides. The ruling, which took effect last fall, requires that pesticide use adhere to the Clean Water Act, meaning seasonal fogging may cease in parts of the Bay Area, increasing the chances humans will get infected by the potentially fatal virus, experts say. A bill that would free vector control agencies from the rules is stuck in Congress.

In addition to the regulatory and biological perfect storm, an Asian tiger mosquito infestation in Southern California threatens the rest of the state with the dangerous species, which carries not only West Nile but also dengue fever, known as "break-bone fever" because of the accompanying joint and muscle pains. This mosquito was found in Santa Clara County six years ago but was quarantined before it could spread.

Most people bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile experience no symptoms; however, 20 to 30 percent will contract West Nile fever and flu-like symptoms, including possible paralysis, and less than 1 percent will get a brain-inflammation illness, according to the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District. Since 1999, California has had more than 30,000 reported human cases, with 1,228 deaths.

On Monday and Tuesday, scientists from the state's 65 vector control agencies will meet at their annual conference in Burlingame to discuss two of the biggest issues to hit them in decades. "This is not the time to not allow us to control the mosquitoes," said Deborah Bass, spokeswoman for Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control. "We could definitely see an increase in the number of human cases of West Nile virus," said Dr. Steve Schutz, scientific program manager for the Concord-based agency. Read more.

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Current view of City council meetings and issues in Santa Cruz

2012-01-29T12:09:00.000-08:00

Santa Cruz is building a seawater desalination plant, banning bull frogs, providing shelter for the homeless. Council meetings occur during the daytime.

Santa Cruz has 7 council members. Note: all present.

Santa Cruz Sentinel/J.M. Brown 1/24/12. "The City Council on Tuesday approved a fifth contract with a San Francisco-based consultant amid ongoing objections from opponents of a seawater desalination plant. Water Department Director Bill Kocher said the $95,000 contract for Kennedy/Jenks would cover work on the project's Environmental Impact Report expected in April, including responding to public comments and questions about the analysis.

The cost will be shared with the city's desalination partner, Soquel Creek Water District. Not including Tuesday's agreement, the city has approved contracts with the firm totaling $1.48 million since the 2009 fiscal year, Kocher said. The firm has billed the city and Soquel Creek Water District for $1.35 million so far, Kocher said, denying criticism the consultant had caused cost overruns.
"Once again you're being asked for a blank check," said Ron Pomerantz, a 2010 council candidate who opposes the plan.

Santa Cruz City Hall

Tuesday, the council also approved a Water Department's request to ban the sale and possession of live American bullfrogs in an acknowledgement that the invasive species threatens the California red-legged frog and spreads disease. A staff report said several pet stores, "the primary center of live bullfrog commerce in Santa Cruz," reported that the ban would not substantially hurt business.

Also Tuesday, the council, under direction from a state law passed in 2007, approved the Public Facilities zoning as one where emergency shelters can be established as a permitted use not requiring a public hearing. The zone includes government-owned lands only, including schools. The ordinance, required of all cities and counties, also identifies the Harvey West industrial area and a former cannery site in Seabright as zones where such shelters, offering a bed for six months or less, can be established though a conditional use permit. The city would be required to find those plans are compatible and not a nuisance to the surrounding neighborhood before granting the permit, a process that would allow for a public hearing."No matter where emergency shelters go, people will be concerned about them," Councilwoman Lynn Robinson said. The council began Tuesday's meeting by watching a video of Mike Tomasi, a former homeless veteran and longtime character at council meetings, giving one of his classic speeches criticizing city leaders. His speeches also often offered praise and ended with "all the love I can throw at you." Tomasi, who died Jan. 16, sat on the front row of most daytime council meetings, and the city placed a large bouquet of flowers at his seat. In a tribute to how Tomasi often greeted them, council members stood in unison to salute the flowers, offering Tomasi a final "Love ya."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Remember factory work? It still exists with skilled demands

2012-01-29T12:00:00.000-08:00

Excerpts from The Atlantic Magazine, January/February, 2012, by Adam Davidson, "Making it in America".

Maddie in the "clean room" smart but unskilled

"....Factories have replaced millions of workers with machines. Even if you know the rough outline of this story, looking at the Bureau of Labor Statistics data is still shocking. A historical chart of U.S. manufacturing employment shows steady growth from the end of the Depression until the early 1980s, when the number of jobs drops a little. Then things stay largely flat until about 1999. After that, the numbers simply collapse. In the 10 years ending in 2009, factories shed workers so fast that they erased almost all the gains of the previous 70 years; roughly one out of every three manufacturing jobs—about 6 million in total—disappeared. About as many people work in manufacturing now as did at the end of the Depression, even though the American population is more than twice as large today...."

"...Across America, many factory floors look radically different than they did 20 years ago: far fewer people, far more high-tech machines, and entirely different demands on the workers who remain. The still-unfolding story of manufacturing’s transformation is, in many respects, that of our economic age. It’s a story with much good news for the nation as a whole. But it’s also one that is decidedly less inclusive than the story of the 20th century, with a less certain role for people like Maddie Parlier, who struggle or are unlucky early in life.".... Read the full article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Clamor grows to rein in California pension benefits

2012-01-28T20:39:00.000-08:00

Gov. Jerry Brown pledges to cut spiraling costs, but key parts of his rollback plan apply mainly to future workers. Activists want quicker action.

By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times

January 28, 2012

Reporting from Sacramento—

Gilbert Robles retired as a state parole agent at age 53, able to collect a $101,195 annual pension — 94% of his final salary. Last year, six months after he retired, the Arcadia resident accepted a political appointment with the same agency that pays an additional six figures.

Scott Hallabrin took retirement as the top attorney for the state's ethics agency on June 29, 2009. The next day, he went back to the same post, as he prepared to watch his pension checks roll in on top of a salary.

Los Angeles school administrator Norman Isaacs got a 35% raise in 2006, the year before he filed for his public pension. The increase sharply boosted his retirement benefits.

Robles, Hallabrin and Isaacs acted within their rights under California's pension rules, which the Legislature's independent budget analyst recently described as "among the most generous in the country." That generosity comes with a price: The main pension system for public employees is expected to cost taxpayers $2.3 billion this year and has long-term obligations that it is $85 billion short of being able to fund.

Gov. Jerry Brown came to office promising to reduce the state's burgeoning pension costs, partly by limiting the kinds of practices that inflated the three employees' retirement incomes. Saying the system is not financially sustainable, the governor has laid out a 12-point plan to change it. He would raise the retirement age, require many employees to contribute more toward their benefits and stop allowing workers to buy retirement credit for years they don't work, among other changes.

Read more...

Posted by Steve Sinai

New Bay Area Map

2012-01-28T14:04:00.000-08:00

Clued-in from a southern California email this morning. The new map is out there on the internet. Pacifica is "Surfers", further south "Dead Surfers". Well that's an improvement for Pacifica. Map from Word Press.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Patch post: City Employee Wage, Benefits Cuts and Budget Reductions

2012-01-27T22:38:00.000-08:00

http://pacifica.patch.com/articles/patch-provides-city-employee-wage-benefits-cut-summaries#pdf-8986257

By special request of Bob Hutchinson

New standards for school cafeteria food beginning Fall, 2012

2012-01-27T14:15:00.000-08:00

From San Francisco Chronicle/Jill Tucker, 1/26/12, "New school food guidelines mean healthier fare."

No more mystery food

"School cafeterias will have to feature a lot more whole grain, fruits and vegetables, and reduce salt, fat and fried foods under new federal rules released Wednesday. The new regulations are the first major changes to school breakfast and lunch standards in 15 years and, for the first time, set maximum calories allowed per meal. That will mean better, healthier food for kids beginning in the fall - and a much bigger grocery bill for schools.

Cafeterias will have to forgo the cheaper enriched grains and opt for the more expensive brown rice, whole-wheat breads and whole-grain pasta. They'll have to offer a variety of fruits and vegetables - red, yellow and green leafy - as well as low-sodium protein or legumes. Federal funding for school meals will depend on it.

Nutrition advocates applauded the new standards for the 32 million children who participate in the national school breakfast and lunch program each day. "Parents can now imagine their children coming home from school with a new found love for spinach, sweet potatoes and whole-wheat spaghetti," said Dawn Undurraga, staff nutritionist with Environmental Working Group, which works on public health issues, in a statement. "That's a positive development that will have a lasting impact as they grow into strong, fit young adults." Read more.

Other references: The Week, 1/26/12, links to Fox News, Guardian, TIME, USA Today, USDA.
And, a conservationist article from Wordpress, 1/14/12.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Keep California green - 5 year balanced tax ballot initiative

2012-01-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

Excerpts from the San Francisco Chronicle/Wyatt Buchnan, 1/25/12. "Gov. Jerry Brown's plan for a ballot initiative that would raise tens of billions of dollars by temporarily increasing the sales tax and the income tax on wealthy Californians has the support of more than two-thirds of likely voters in the state, according to a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.

The poll found 68 percent of likely voters - including majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents - support the proposed initiative, which the administration estimates would generate about $35 billion over five years. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office has projected the measure would raise about $7 billion less. Support indicated by the poll does not mean Brown will have an easy time getting the initiative passed, however, said Mark Baldassare, president and CEO of the institute....

.....Under the governor's proposal, the sales tax would increase by half a cent, and income taxes would increase between one and two percentage points starting with individuals making more than $250,000 per year or couples who together make more than $500,000 per year. The taxes would expire after five years. Steve Glazer, Brown's chief political adviser, said, "It is a positive start to our efforts to promote a balanced budget plan that implements difficult budget cuts along with temporary taxes.".... Read more.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Many local governments will face bankruptcy

2012-01-26T16:06:00.000-08:00

San Francisco Examiner/John Seiler, 1/25/12. "Bankruptcy is the boogeyman haunting governments across America. It’s not a question of whether more cities will file for bankruptcy, but how many. The culprit is a decade of over-spending by governments, especially on pension guarantees, and an economic slowdown that refused to flip into a robust recovery. The money just isn’t there. And it’s not going to be there even if local governments raise taxes while cutting employees and services to the bone.

No coin, all paper, huh?

Things are just going to get worse for municipal finance. Most states, counties, cities and school districts have spent their cash reserves down to the legal minimum. And they have not made contingency plans for another 15 percent decline in revenue in the next year. Consequently, there is the potential for thousands of defaults in the 50,000 municipal bond issuers in the United States. Most cities can cut spending, but they cannot cut principal and interest payments without default and bankruptcy.

Unlike many cities facing bankruptcy, San Jose is well-off. It’s part of the prosperous, high-tech Silicon Valley. But San Jose officials have discussed bankruptcy as a possible option to over-spending. Its prosperity turned out to be its undoing. In the November issue of Vanity Fair magazine, financial writer Michael Lewis wrote, “The city owes so much more money to its employees than it can afford to pay that it could cut its debts in half and still wind up broke.”

One city that did declare bankruptcy was Vallejo, in 2008. Unfortunately, the city missed a grand opportunity to pull itself from fiscal disaster. Government-worker unions made some concessions, such as higher payments by retirees for their health care insurance. However, pension plans for retirees and current city employees, including one that allows police officers to retire at age 50 with as much as 90 percent of their pay, remained untouched.

San Diego still bills itself as “America’s Finest City.” But the city’s pension payments are skyrocketing, from $229 million in 2010 to a projected $318 million in 2015 — 40 percent in just five years. By 2025, the number will be $512 million, a whopping 124 percent increase in 15 years. No wonder City Councilman Carl DeMaio in September turned in 145,000 signatures to put a pension-reform measure on the ballot this year. Instead of pensions, it would enroll most new city employees in 401(k) programs for retirement. It would save the city $1.2 billion through 2040.

What’s dawning on officials is that there’s no panacea to budget problems. As budget realities have started to hit home, most cities now realize that just making tweaks in pension formulas for future hires won’t solve their problems — the mushrooming retirement obligations are just too large. John Seiler is managing editor of Calwatchdog and a former editorial writer for the Orange County Register."

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Regional government employees "average compensation"

2012-01-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

Graph from The Bay Citizen, 9/4/2010

The above Bay Citizen article describes how San Francisco government workers live elsewhere, and therefore spend their money in other cities, such as Pacifica (thank you).

Pacifica city employee compensation, 2010, again.

The following articles describe NO advantage for public-sector workers. Information may depend on who is doing the research:

Economic Policy Institute (EPI) (10, 2010). "California public-sector workers are neither overpaid nor overcompensated."

National Institute on Retirement Security. State and local government employees earn less than comparable private sector employees.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Maybe we need a sustainable city economy, Laurie.

2012-01-25T19:18:00.000-08:00

From Pacifica Tribune, Letters-to-the-Editor, 1/25/12, "City finances" by Laurie Goldberg.

"Editor: I went to the forum on Financing of City Services and was alarmed that many of the proposed cuts were to services that benefit seniors, students, and the Pacifica Resource Center, which serves all Pacificans, but especially people in need. In these hard times with people losing houses, losing jobs to take away funding from such a resource is just unthinkable.

Why not look at our Police Department that has RAV's that they drive on the beach to ticket for dogs off leash? Now where is the funding coming for that? How about the City Manager's salary and others in the city government.

Where is a Robin Hood in these times where so many middle and lower class citizens are struggling to make ends meet? We need accounting of where our hard-earned tax dollars are going. Maybe we need an Occupy Pacifica."

Helping the least among us is admirable. Having a sustainable city would help solve that long-term financial, motivational, and structural deficiency.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Federal government vs private employer salaries and benefits

2012-01-25T18:41:00.000-08:00

The following is an older article about Federal employee salaries and benefits from USA Today is of general interest. For some reason, updated articles seemed less accessible. Federal employee advantage 13% salary, 320% benefits.

USA Today/Dennis Cauchon, 3/8/2010. "Federal employees earn higher average salaries than private-sector workers in more than eight out of 10 occupations, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data finds.

Accountants, nurses, chemists, surveyors, cooks, clerks and janitors are among the wide range of jobs that get paid more on average in the federal government than in the private sector.

Overall, federal workers earned an average salary of $67,691 in 2008 for occupations that exist both in government and the private sector, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The average pay for the same mix of jobs in the private sector was $60,046 in 2008, the most recent data available.

CHART: Federal salaries compared to private-sector These salary figures do not include the value of health, pension and other benefits, which averaged $40,785 per federal employee in 2008 vs. $9,882 per private worker, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Federal pay has become a hot political issue in recent months because of concerns over the federal budget deficit and recession-battered wages in the private sector."

Related reference articles:

The Economist, 1/6/11 "Public sector unions have had a good few decates. Has their luck run out?"

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Grand Jury Report 2009: "Reversing city employee cost"

2012-01-25T15:03:00.000-08:00

Report to San Mateo county cities, June 4,2009. This Report is now 2 1/2 year old. San Mateo county cities are likely making changes. Anyone have an update from Pacifica?

City Hall funded

South San Francisco Staff Report, 8/26/09, PDF, 36 pages. San Mateo County Grand Jury Report "Controlling the trajectory of employee costs", June 4, 2009. Motion to approve.

The following are eight (8) information Tables from the Report you may be interested in viewing:

Table 1, page 7. "Examples of lifetime retirement pensions, not including health care benefits or annual COLAs." Note: Pensions are based upon the last year of work salary, whereas the private sector social security formula is 40% of earned income based upon a lifetime of work, tied to a much older age.

Table 2, page 8. 10, 20, 30 years worked salary examples, includes formula percentage, and annual retirement pension examples. A city employee is vested following 3 years of employment..

Table 3, page 9. List of San Mateo county cities. Their retirement formulas, including safety* and regular employees.pensions. These pensions are based upon the last year of work, or the last 3 years of work.

Table 4, page 10. Cities that have changed retirement formulas for new hires. Three (3) only. These include Belmont, Brisbane, San Carlos.

Table 8, page 12. Comparison of city population with the size of city staff size. City staff numbers do not include part-time or seasonal workers, 2008).

Table 7, page 17. City paid absentee days per year: Example Pacifica, 11 vacation days, 11 holidays, 2 personal days. Total allowed days per year: 4 weeks, 4 days. Plus 2 weeks, 2 days if sick. .

Table 6, page 20. City percentage contribution paid for retirement to CalPERS and OPEBs. Note: The Pacifica safety employee* percentage seems high.

Table 5, page 22. Other post-employment benefits as known.

* Safety employees are police and firefighters.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Go Native fined for deadly, less than responsible crash

2012-01-24T12:36:00.000-08:00

Go Native is a company hired by Pacifica to maintain certain weed abatement services along our streams and back hills. Mistakes happen, but how much is 1 life and 6 injuries worth?

Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Hoack, 1/18/12. "A Montara landscaping company faces more than $21,000 inwork-safety fines following a deadly roll-over crash last year atthe Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. One rider died and six were injured when a Go Native trucktumbled down a steep hillside while heading along a narrow ranchtrail.

The seven men - three of whom are Coastside residents - werepart of a contract work crew hired to spray herbicides at a remotesection of Russian Ridge. Five of the men had no seatbelts, andmost of them were reportedly riding while standing up in the truckbed. The accident occurred when the truck was navigating a narrowsection of dirt road and one of the wheels slipped off the road.The vehicle toppled 300 feet down the hill, ejecting the men ridingin the back. In November, an investigator from the California OccupationalSafety and Health Administration sent a letter informing Go Nativethat it faced safety violations. The violations included illegallyallowing workers to stand up in the back of the truck. The vehiclealso should have been equipped with some kind of guardrail if itwas transporting people, said Patricia Ortiz, a Cal OSHAspokeswoman.

"The employer knew of the dangers that someone could be thrownfrom the truck and suffer physical harm or death," she said. "Thesupervisor was driving the truck at the time of the accident. Hewas in charge of making sure everyone was safely secured." The four violations imposed by Cal OSHA, two of which werelabeled "serious," total $21,800 in penalties, which would go tothe state treasury. The fines were due last month, but the company instead hired anemployment law attorney to appeal the case.

"This company takes this very seriously and we want to make surewe have a thorough understanding before they move forward," said GoNative attorney Lisa Prince. The company was conducting its owninvestigation of the accident, she said, declining to provide moredetails. Go Native managers declined to comment on the violations.

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, the public agencyin charge of Russian Ridge, also received a warning from stateinspectors following the crash. Investigators warned the open-spacedistrict it could face future fines if it didn't provide medicalequipment or radios for its remote workers. The district wasotherwise cleared of any responsibility for the crash. "District staff are deeply saddened by this incident," respondedMROSD spokeswoman Leigh Ann Gessner. "We are confident thatdistrict staff acted appropriately at all times."

References. Go Native, a habitat restoration company, and Russian Ridge Open Space Reserve.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Solar flare may hit satelite communications, GPS today

2012-01-24T12:35:00.000-08:00

Oops, there goes that satellite

"A burst of radiation on the sun's surface may trigger a geomagnetic storm on Earth today that could disrupt satellite communications and the Global Positioning System by mid-morning, scientists at the Space Weather Prediction Center said Monday. The eruption - called a solar flare - has also sent billions of tons of matter streaming toward Earth from the sun's surface at millions of miles per hour in what scientists call a coronal mass ejection, according to Rodney Viereck, a physicist at the center in Boulder, Colo.

The sun goes through 11-year cycles of violent electromagnetic activity marked by intense sunspot regions on the surface, and right now it is moving from a "sunspot minimum" period toward a peak of activity with more intense and frequent magnetic storms during the next few years. San Francisco Chronicle/Science, 1/24/12, read more.

The sun is bombarding Earth with radiation from the biggest solar storm in more than six years with more to come from the fast-moving eruption.

The solar flare occurred at about 11 p.m. EST Sunday and will hit Earth with three different effects at three different times. The biggest issue is radiation, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center in Colorado. The radiation is mostly a concern for satellite disruptions and astronauts in space. It can cause communication problems for polar-traveling airplanes, said space weather center physicist Doug Biesecker. Radiation from Sunday's flare arrived at Earth an hour later and will likely continue through Wednesday. Levels are considered strong but other storms have been more severe. There are two higher levels of radiation on NOAA's storm scale — severe and extreme — Biesecker said. Still, this storm is the strongest for radiation since May 2005... the effects will stick around for a couple of days." USA Today, 1/24/12, read more.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Don't forget - City council meeting tonight, 1/23/12

2012-01-23T11:01:00.000-08:00

Begins at 7 pm, or shortly there after. Link to prior article and agenda.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Chinese lunar New Year 2012 - Year of the Dragon

2012-01-23T10:40:00.000-08:00

"January 23 is Chinese New Year, and heralds the Lunar New Year of the Water Dragon, a once in every 60 years occurrence. The dragon is perceived as a mystical and auspicious creature in Chinese cultures and this year is expected to bring prosperity and transformational change." (Click Z Academy).

2012 year of "prosperity and transformational change"

"Gong Xi Fa Ca! That’s the traditional Chinese New Year greeting that means “wishing you prosperity” in Mandarin. The first day of the Chinese New Year – which begins at midnight on January 23, 2012 – is the most important of Chinese holidays, celebrated by billions in China, and by millions of ethnic Chinese around the world. It’s a celebration that lasts for 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival. Each year is associated with one of twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. For 2012, it’s the Year of the Dragon." Read more from Earthsky/Shireen Gonzaga,1/22/12.

In San Francisco a schedule of 2012 New Year's events is provided by San Francisco Chinatown.com. The annual parade occurs Saturday, February 11th, 5:15pm to 8:00pm. Bleacher seats may be purchased along the parade route. Some of us will view the parade on television.

Posed by Kathy Meeh

Giants win NFC title over 49ers, 20-17

2012-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

From the San Francisco Chronicle/Eric Branch, 1/23/12. "With history within their grasp, the 49ers, a historically mistake-free team, fumbled away their chance to reach their first Super Bowl in 17 years.

Thanks to two fumbled punt returns by Kyle Williams - one in the fourth quarter and the other in overtime - the Giants beat the Niners 20-17 in a rain-soaked NFC Championship Game on Sunday at Candlestick Park." Read more, includes a 3:17 video.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Tribune guest column from 9-27-2010 - op/ed taxes and debt

2012-01-22T21:50:00.001-08:00

City Council's Tax Appetite

Pacifica has lost its way. City Council just doesn't get it. More taxes, however prettied up and marketed, are not the answer. Tax Measure R on the November 2 ballot is another in a long line of misguided tax schemes and actually leads the way for another $6 million in new taxes within 14 months.

California unemployment is over 12%. Property values have fallen. Home sales have dropped. People are struggling to make ends meet. Personal income is flat. People are rightfully very anxious about the future. A recession is not the time to pick the public's pocket.

Here is a critical part of the official ballot statement for Tax Measure R signed by the entire City Council in August 2010:

"Pacifica continues

to spend

more than it receives"

Well, City Council wasn't kidding when they admit to spending more than they receive. It's been going on for years, and certainly made worse by the recession. Just exactly what is the point they are trying to get across with a statement like that? Don't forget, two of the incumbents think they have done such a good job of spending more than they get that they are asking us to re-elect them!

These same 2 have been part of the process of approving salaries and benefits that Council isn't able to fund. Not a ringing endorsement of fiscal responsibility! Salary and benefits are a huge part of our budget, as they are in other municipalities. A large difference is the ability to pay those costs. We can't afford what has been negotiated by our council over the past 12 years.

For the past ten years, Council has been piling up the debt. The total city indebtedness is north of $125,000,000. That's $6,250 per voter.

Employee pension debt alone from years prior to 2009 is $32 million, being paid by the taxpayers. That isn't taking into account the ongoing pension debt piling up today again.

The City Council advertises their economic plan. Council figures this plan will generate $6 million over five years. Take a moment to look at this plan found here:.

http://www.cityofpacifica.org/government/committees/economic_development_committee.asp

It's all of three pages. It contains no due dates for any objective. No revenue expectations are attached to any part of the plan. The committee that produced this holds monthly meetings. No meeting minutes are available to gauge progress. No list of committee members is on the city website, and the parameters or financial background to participate in this process are unknown.

In short, our supposed roadmap out of this Council generated mess is a casual vague plan lacking due dates and revenue targets. The plan is so lacking in detail it would get you flunked out of your high school term paper class. It holds the council to no accountability standards. Give us your money and trust us says Council. You think that's right?

Unfortunately, City Council has taken us for this ride before. In 2004, Council convinced the voters to approve a five year fire assessment tax to support Pacifica fire services. Many people expected an economic plan to be developed while the five year tax was in place to fully support fire services. Wrong. Council immediately laid off three firefighters. No economic plan was developed during the five year tax. Council broke faith.

Over the horizon, in 2011, is the first leg of $6 million in new taxes---a $4 million public safety property tax assessment. This tax is rigged by City Council to get around Prop 13 and will require only a majority vote, not 2/3. Adding insult to injury, only property owners will be allowed to vote. If you are a voter and do not own property, you cannot vote. If you are a renter, you cannot vote. If two spouses are on the title of the house, only one gets to vote. If you own multiple properties in town, you get multiple votes, one for each property. If you are an out-of-town landlord or are an out-of-town corporation (Bank of America anyone?) and own property in Pacifica, you get to vote.

In conclusion, vote No on Tax Measure R in November. The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce authored the argument against this tax. Not a single hotel manager thinks this tax helps Pacifica hotels in a very tough economy. Even San Francisco is rejected new taxes and fees, demolishing the Pacifica Council's argument: well everyone else is raising taxes. Measure R just whets the appetite of City council for more taxes next year, taxes that disproportionally keeps renters, minorities, younger people without houses from voting at all and allows out-of-town corporations to vote. The economic plan the City touts is of no value. Council broke faith by laying off firefighters in 2004 after the five year tax was approved.

We deserve a better, leaner city budget that addresses the tough issues Council has ignored for years.

Jim Wagner & Mark Stechbart

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Shutting down Redevelopment Agencies in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties

2012-01-22T14:46:00.000-08:00

Excerpts from Silicon Valley Mercury News/Tracy Seipel, 1/22/12.

Redevelopment area - Fairmont Hotel

"San Jose's storied redevelopment agency -- the state's second largest as measured by property tax revenue -- will end on Feb. 1 with a whimper, not a bang. Even before last summer, when the state Legislature signed off on Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to shut down all of the state's agencies and divert their funding to pay for schools and local government services, the city's redevelopment agency had axed dozens of positions. Its history of issuing too much debt, recent plunging local property tax assessments and continued cash grabs by the state had prompted those cuts, beginning in late 2009. While that inadvertently helped to dull some of the pain here, other cities are feeling the impact all at once.

...Over the decades in San Jose, the agency financed such downtown marquee projects as the Fairmont Hotel, the HP Pavilion and the convention center. Now, its revenues will just cover the cost of the agency's remaining staff salaries, a handful of projects already approved, and payments on its massive $3.8 billion of debt....

Same area - before Redevelopment

...The state Legislature created redevelopment in 1945 to eradicate blight that hampers economic development in a community. When a blighted area with low property value is developed, its property value increases and the difference, called "tax increment,'' is collected by the agencies. That money is used to issue debt to pay for the next redevelopment project, a process that's helped agencies finance major civic projects, affordable housing, community centers and business and neighborhood improvements.".... Read much more.

Reference. Improving a city through Redevelopment, a comparison:

San Jose 1975 and 2006.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Saving Flood Park Menlo Park style

2012-01-22T12:55:00.000-08:00

Palo Alto Daily News/Bonnie Eslinger, 1/21/12. "To keep Flood Park open, Menlo Park may have to assume ownership of the 21-acre property from San Mateo County and then sell or lease up to a quarter of it, according to a city staff memo to council members.

Flood Park San Mateo County off Highway 101

A private school has expressed interest in building on a corner of Flood and local recreational sports teams have said they would like to make the park their home field, according to Menlo Park Community Services Manager Cherise Brandell. Other groups, including a 4-H Club, also have contacted the city. Someone even floated the idea of using part of the park for a cemetery. "There's lots of possibilities," Brandell said.

The city has indicated it would consider running the park at 215 Bay Road rather than watching San Mateo County close it because of budget constraints. But Menlo Park will have its own fiscal challenges now that the state has decided to dissolve redevelopment agencies and redirect the property tax revenue they collected to schools and other local needs, Brandell said.

The park, which reopened in November after a 13-month closure for a water pipeline project, could cost up to $400,000 a year to operate, according to Brandell. On Tuesday, the city council will be asked to approve a short-term agreement in which Menlo Park would pay the county $150,000 to continue maintaining the park through June 2013 while it explores possible revenue sources. "We want to make sure the park stays open," Brandell said. "We don't want them to close it for a year while we figure out a way to pay to keep it open."

Reference. Flood County Park, Menlo Park. Link includes pictures of the park and a map.
Location. South of Redwood City, East of Atherton, north of Menlo Park. Off of Bayshore Highway 101, on Bay Road, between Marsh Road and Ridgwood Avenue.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Planning another park - no economic benefit

2012-01-22T11:27:00.000-08:00

Pacifica Tribune, Letters-to-the-Editor,1/10/12, "No more parks"."Editor: Recently the city sent out a notice of a meeting slated for tonight regarding necessary budget cuts. Included in this notification is a link for a survey that lists a range of options that encompass cuts to PB&R, senior services, raising utility user taxes and the elimination of our police department, which would be replaced by the county. These are tough choices that unfortunately have to be made at this time.

Pedro Point looking toward Linda Mar Beach

What doesn't make sense at this time is that a five-acre parcel on Pedro Point is being set aside in the General Plan for development into a park. If 50 residential housing units were developed on this property, at an average cost of $700,000 per unit, the property tax revenue to the city would be about $42,000. This amount is just the city's 12 percent share of the 1 percent ad valorum tax on real estate. This doesn't include the addition of special assessments, the benefits of the people living on this property shopping at local stores, etc. If this property were converted into a neighborhood park, the revenue would be $0.00. Actually it would be a negative if we have to pay to maintain it.

This is, of course, a revenue source that may not be realized in the near future. It is long term planning. However, earmarking this property for use as a park is NO planning for our economic future. Given that some of our council members have served for over a decade, isn't it about time that they begin the long-term planning for future revenue and not repeatedly keep coming back to the table with cuts and special assessments? No time like the present."

Gil Anda

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Don't fergit: San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom at Pacifica Democrats, Saturday Morning, January 21

2012-01-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

On Saturday morning, January 21, 2012, San Mateo County Supervisor, Carole Groom, will give a "State of the County" presentation at the monthly breakfast meeting of the Pacifica Democrats. The event will take place in the Banquet Room of the Sharp Park Golf Course Restaurant, Sharp Park Blvd and Hwy 1, in Pacifica.

Carole Groom was elected to the Board of Supervisors in June 2010, after having been appointed in December 2008. She became President of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on January 11, 2011. Prior to her Supervisory position, she served eight years on the San Mateo City Council, including two terms as Mayor, and on the San Mateo Planning and Public Works Commissions. In addition to her current duties as a San Mateo County Supervisor, Groome was elected on January 5, 2012 as Chair of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) Executive Board.

Supervisor Groom’s legislative priorities include universal health coverage, increasing the County’s stock of affordable housing through transit-oriented development, environmental protection, maintaining and preserving our County’s parks, and growing the county's local economy.

Since serving on the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Groom has been instrumental in the creation of the Community Health Reform Advisory Committee, and the development of the first San Mateo County Children and Youth and Family Budget in 2010. She has also spearheaded Active San Mateo County, an annual conference on creating healthy communities, and Streets Alive, an annual countywide event that promotes parks and public spaces.

Supervisor Groom additionally serves on the boards of various regional planning organizations, including City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County(C/CAG), Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Pal Care, San Mateo Police Activities League and community Gatepath. Before joining the Board of Supervisors, Groom was Vice President at Mills-Peninsula Hospital for 18 years.

In her January 21st presentation to the Pacifica Democrats, Groome will recap San Mateo County's important 2011 issues, give an explanation of both the role and function of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, and tell the audience about the upcoming issues for San Mateo County in 2012.

All Pacifica Democrats meetings are open to the public. It is neither necessary to be a club member, nor a Democrat to attend. A full breakfast is offered for $12; Continental for $6; Coffee for $3. No purchase is necessary. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. Meeting runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Seating is between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. For more information or to RSVP, please call 415-246-0775 or email barietta@hotmail.com.

Submitted by Barbara Arietta

Recall three (3) city council members - Vreeland, Digre, DeJarnatt

2012-01-20T11:48:00.000-08:00

10 year city "balanced economy" motto

In a follow-up conversation with Therese today, her intent is to recall 10 year city council three (3): Vreeland, Digre, DeJarnatt. She wants to get started right-away, and will need help. If you're interested in getting involved send her an email.

Pacifica Tribune Letters-to-the-editor, 1/17/12. "Dyer weighs in". "Editor: I'm responding to Elaine Larsen's column, "What I would say if anyone cares to listen." My answer is yes, and I'm responding. I agree with everything you said regarding the lack of leadership in our city council, the environmentalists and the assisted living development. That is why we need the leadership in the media.

I don't have to remind people of the lawsuits, waste of money for consultants, sewer spill fines, etc. only for them to rush to the bank with their fat checks for doing nothing. They are the highest in the county. Vacant buildings, free parking except at the council meetings where if you don't put that stupid piece of paper on your windshield, even though you are in a handicapped space with your handicapped sticker in view, you will get a ticket (but I won my case). My one regret is that when I helped Bernie Sifry gather signatures for term limits it would have been for a recall and it isn't too late.

If we outsource the police department we'll have yet another vacant building, won't we, just like the old sewer plant. They haven't even mentioned if this becomes reality what the plans are for that building. I'm all for the assisted living facility since that's what Pacifica has become, a retirement center.
Be sure you attend the meeting tonight at the Community Center at 6:30 p.m. and give them hell. I already sent my survey in, but I plan on attending. Next year will be the same thing unless we change guards, and it's long overdue. They need to step down and finish their term without salaries or benefits or be recalled. Let me know and I'll get it started. You can contact me by email at theresedyer1932@gmail,com See you Wednesday night."

Therese Dyer

Posted by Kathy Meeh

GGNRA moves into El Granada - Rancho Corral de Tierra

2012-01-20T09:59:00.000-08:00

Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Hoack, 1/19/12. "One month after taking control, Golden Gate National RecreationArea officials are installing new gates at Rancho Corral de Tierrato help prevent illegal bonfires and outdoor parties.

Party-time is over, fences go up.

National parks officials on Tuesday put in a new fence at the endof Coral Reef Road in El Granada to block off-road vehicles fromheading onto the back trails. San Mateo County Sheriff's officials say Coral Reef has been aproblem spot where partygoers drive out on old ranch roads to ruralclearings to drink alcohol. Last month, one such party got out ofhand, and Sheriff's deputies ended up delivering several drunkenteenagers to the hospital. Local firefighters were also called outto extinguish a bonfire at risk of spreading along thehillside.

The piles of garbage from last month's revelry still need to becleaned up, GGNRA officials say. They are planning a workday withnearby residents sometime next month to clear out the trash. In themeantime, GGNRA installed the new fences and signs to warn thatopen fires and litter are illegal and punishable with fines."This was the first thing that neighbors asked us to get done,"said GGNRA ranger Alexandra Picavet. "At the very least, this gatewill help people know they've moved onto a different piece ofland."
The new gates will still allow hikers to visit the trails. Similargates could be installed at other entrances to Rancho Corral in theMoss Beach area, Picavet said.

GGNRA fully acquired stewardship of the Rancho Corral property lastmonth as part as $20 million purchase with the Peninsula Open SpaceTrust. At the time of the transfer, parks officials pledged to workwith surrounding communities on developing the park and its trailsystem."

Rancho Corral de Tierra (in Moss Beach and El Granada) references:

Golden Gate National Recreation (GGNRA) properties. Newest property Rancho Corral de Tierra, includes maps.

Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) transfer of 4,262 acres to the GGNRA. Bay Nature Innstitute, 5/25/11, 3:37 minute video.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi drama continues...

2012-01-19T14:54:00.000-08:00

"At times like this I really miss Venezuela." (Elaina Lopez). This article is for those who find that "beating" on past San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi is better justice than not.... you know who you are.

Those "rich" golfers on a public golf course in Pacifica.

From San Francisco Chronicle, Matier and Ross column, 1/19/12. "In an emotional interview on Venezuelan radio, the wife of embattled San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi vehemently denied she had been abused by her husband and said he was the "victim of very dirty politics." "I am not a little Indian girl gringo victim," former Venezuelan telenovela star Eliana Lopez told the Caracas station Noticias24 on Tuesday, four days after Mirkarimi was accused of three misdemeanor charges.

The charges - domestic violence battery, child endangerment and dissuading a witness - stem from an incident that took place at the couple's Western Addition home on New Year's Eve in which Mirkarimi allegedly bruised Lopez's arm. Lopez told a neighbor, who went to police, authorities say. Lopez told reporters Friday at City Hall that "I don't have any complaint against my husband. We are together, and we are fighting this."

In the 20-minute, Spanish-language interview with Noticias24, Lopez said that what happened New Year's Eve was much more complex than has been reported. She said "the richest people in California are behind" an attempt to ruin her husband, according to a Chronicle translation of the interview.
Lopez suggested that her husband's progressive stances on jail issues - his desire to break the "vicious cycle" of incarceration of minorities, the homeless and mentally ill - made him unpopular with certain elements in the city. "They couldn't win the election, so they fired this up as a way to take him down," she said. "They want to destroy his credibility. ... They know this is a political persecution." Read more if you must.

San Francisco Chronicle, Matier and Ross column, 1/18/12. This article links to a CBS news video.
Prior Fix Pacifica article and comments, 1/14/12, the driver's license photo.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

City Council meeting, Monday, January 23, 2012

2012-01-19T12:47:00.000-08:00

A. Closed session (6:15pm)

1) Labor negotiations, Waste Water Treatment Plant, Local 856. Conference with labor negotiator

Building our city revenue 1 car at a time.

2) One potential litigation. Conference with legal council.

B. Open session (7:00pm)

Call to order, salute to the flag, commission liaisons, closed session report (if any).

Consent Calendar (pass through), pages 1-2.

1. Approval of cash disbursements.

2. Approval of Minutes (meeting of 1/9/12).

3. Amend city franchise tow franchise agreement. Add a $50.00 city fee per police citation tow, which is expected to generate $25,000 city revenue per year.

4. Adopt off-leash dog park ordinance, 1220 Linda Mar Boulevard.

Special Presentation

Recology of the Coast update - Chris Porter

Public hearing

5. Two challenge appeals from San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition and Neighbors Concerned about Pacifica against the Assisted Living Center final EIR certification. Recommend to continue to the next meeting, the appeals for the Assisted Living Center cannot be heard. There will not be a city council quorum at this meeting..

6. Appeal of denial of business license for Cannabis Wellness Center, Patient Resource Center and Dispensary.
Consideration
7. Request for Proposal (RFP) professional auditing services for city's CAFR fiscal year 2011 audit. Periodic rebid audit.

C. Adjourn to joint city council/redevelopment agency meeting

1. Approval of minutes 8/8/11.
2. Dissolution of Redevelopment Agency. 1) Resolution that the city serves a successor agency. 2) Resolution adopting an enforceable obligation payment schedule. 2004 Bonds debt service total -$2,626,325. Borrowed from Agency 1985-1994 total -$6,209,971. Grand total debt to be repaid: -$7,749,971 (as of 6/30/11). See pages 56, 57, 65, 66.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

No more 'gimme more taxes'

2012-01-18T11:22:00.000-08:00

Excerpt from Pacifica Tribune "Our Turn" guest columnists, Jim Wagner and Mark Stechbart, 1/17/12.

Door #1 'gimme tax' my choice

"We attended the "open house" sponsored by the city and the Financing City Services Committee on Jan. 11. This meeting was supposed to explain to Pacifica taxpayers our current predicament on financing city services when we have no sustaining local economy. It was quite an affair with a very odd and strange format. We like to think of it as the "Room of Doom," or maybe speed dating. The main topic was which city service would you like to lose? Not the most empowering event we've ever been to but one would suppose was inevitable considering the zero sustainable economic policies of this town for the last 30 years.

Several hundred Pacificans milled about in confusion as to what they were supposed to be doing. Everyone thought a presentation from Council or the Committee would take place with question and answer afterwards. Then maybe a public record would have been made of all comments, like a regular council meeting and a video available to cable TV. No, the arrangement in an overcrowded room was to move from station to station and listen to Financing Committee members explain a revenue predicament that they did not create. No Council member presented anything to the crowd from the podium. It did sound like council members Stone and Nihart were getting an earful from disgruntled citizens. We saw DeJarnatt sneak in and out. Digre was hiding in the back and, as is custom, Vreeland was nowhere in sight." Read the full article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Planning Commission meeting tonight, Tuesday, January 17, 2012

2012-01-17T09:06:00.000-08:00

Planning Commission Agenda, 1/17/12.

No tables, no place to sit..

1. Construction permit extension. Single-family residence, 43 Birch Lane (substandard lot).

2. Construction permit extension. Single-family residence, Oddstad Way and Troglia Terrace (southwest portion).

3. Construction permit extension. Convert 170 existing apartment units into condominium units, 435 Gateway Drive.

Staff Communications: Gorilla BBQ appeal memo.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

70 State Parks to close July 1, 2012 - we did not pass the State tax to fund

2012-01-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

Not passing taxes may be expected to have consequences. Excerpt from Mercury News/Paul Rogers, 1/16/12....."Now, as California Gov. Jerry Brown moves forward with a plan to close 70 state parks by July 1, environmental leaders, political scientists and budget experts say "the Washington Monument syndrome" appears to be at work again.

Hanging-out at a State Beach which may close

Closing a quarter of California's century-old state park system will save only $22 million -- two-tenths of 1 percent of California's $9.2 billion deficit. Attempts at closing parks in other states have resulted in costly vandalism. And business leaders say the closures will cost rural communities and the state millions of dollars in lost taxes from tourism. So why do it? Seeing beloved beaches, campsites and redwood forests padlocked during the summer could help persuade recalcitrant California residents that the state's budget problems are real -- and make them more likely to vote for Brown's tax-hike initiative in November, political experts say.

...In recent months, nine parks -- including Henry Coe in Morgan Hill, Tomales Bay in Marin County and Mono Lake -- have been removed from the closure list after private donations or federal funds were secured to keep them open. But Palmer said it isn't likely Brown will decide to keep the other parks on the list from closing.

In November 2010, voters rejected a plan to keep all the parks open when they turned down Proposition 21, which would have raised vehicle license fees $18 a year to double the state parks budget. Now environmentalists who raised $10 million for that campaign say Californians are about to see the consequences of the measure's failure and Brown's plan. "It doesn't strike me as most thoughtful way to make public policy, but there are a lot of things government does that people take for granted," said Mike Sweeney, executive director of the California Nature Conservancy. "And we may just be in an era where we may need to have a reminder of what services the government provides." Read more. Picture is one corner of Twin Lakes State Beach, Santa Cruz, from Friends of the Harbor Group. .

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Slightly modified comments

2012-01-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

The Blogger software nerds made some modifications to the way comments work. (Google owns Blogger, and Blogger writes the software that runs this blog.) You can now respond directly to a previous comment, and have your comment show up underneath the previous comment - kind of like it works on Patch.

As new software is wont to do, things broke, and some people couldn't see or write comments. I made some tweaks, so hopefully everything's working. If not, send an email to me at fixpacifica@gmail.com.

Thanks,
Your beloved Blogmaster Sinai

Rain is on its way to Pacifica

2012-01-16T14:08:00.000-08:00

Pacifica Pier, photo by Ed U.

Excerpt from the San Francisco Chronicle/Will Kane, 1/16/12. "The cold air is the precursor to a string of low-pressure systems making their way down the West Coast, which will bring rain and wind to the Bay Area and snow to the Sierra, Benjamin said. Rain should begin falling in the North Bay on Wednesday night and spread across the area Thursday, he said.

Heavier rain could move in late Thursday or Friday and continue on and off through the weekend, Benjamin said. The rain is coming from a series of weather systems, the timing and strength of which are difficult to predict. "It could fall really heavy one moment in one place and then give way to gray skies," Benjamin said. "As we get a little closer (to the end of the week), a lot of this will become more definite in terms of timing and inches."

The last major rainfall came over Thanksgiving weekend, so local creeks and rivers will have no trouble handling the runoff. However, nuisance flooding in urban areas is possible because some storm drains have become clogged with leaves and debris during the long dry spell." Read more.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

City sustainability is the priority

2012-01-16T09:36:00.000-08:00

From Pacifica Tribune, letters-to-the-editor, 1/10/12, "Sustainability". "This recession has changed the way most Bay Area towns provide services, raise taxes and support a local economy. Some towns do a much better job than others. High technology firms are in the same economic boat, they are daily changing the way they do business, thinking outside the box and re-inventing themselves to meet new challenges. They realize business as usual as an economic model is over forever. Cities that think ahead with a solid municipal plan will be rewarded. Obsolete status quo towns will be left behind, incurring unsustainable debt, stagnating until they are forced to dissolve themselves.

State, federal and county financial handouts and bailouts are gone. Just like dinosaurs. Town municipal budgets have to be 100% sustained by smart fiscal management. Town structural deficits that get kicked down the road for 10, 20 years and patched up with grants, state fund transfers, bail-outs, creative accounting, layoffs, services reductions, ill-advised JPAs and mergers or simply ignored are no longer tolerated. Council leadership that fosters such fiscal behavior is in trouble. Proof? Two tax measures in past 18 months defeated 2-1 and there is talk of attempting another measure this year!

For far too long a small minority in Pacifica has been pandered to by our officials. Vowing lawsuits, presenting bogus claims, and threatening election reprisals have all driven decision making in this town. Kowtowing to this type of intimidation must end! Editor Larsen's editorial is a bright call for realistic leadership, no more happy talk. Straight talk. What can we afford as a community? Does a council or planning commission action help a town of 40,000 or favor a select few? What is the right thing to do that makes this town a better place over the next 20 years? Or, is this action the easy way out??

Bad habits are hard to break. Does the buck stop at council? What exactly is council doing to help the local economy, and what is the precise proof of that on quarterly basis? Accountability by our officials would be a welcome change. Let's all hope someone's listening at city hall."

Sharon O'Brien

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Martin Luther King, Jr. - holiday, January 16, 2012

2012-01-15T10:15:00.000-08:00

From The Suburbanite/Steven King, 1/15/12. Nice opinion article from Ohio, especially for young adults. The following is an is an excerpt.

. .."... if you want to make a difference in this world – and who among you does not – then you need to know who King was, what he did, what he stood for and his lasting legacy. No matter what field you want to pursue, a knowledge of King will further your career – increase your chances. King, who was assassinated almost 44 years ago in April 1968, led the fight against racial inequality in this country. He believed – and rightfully so – that all people, regardless of their race, color or creed, deserved to be judged on their own merit.

That’s the paint-with-a-broad-brush picture of King, but it doesn’t come close to telling the whole story about him. In fact, it doesn’t indicate the two most important parts of him and what his life really tells us.
King was brave. He wasn’t afraid to push ideas, even if they were tremendously unpopular. Indeed, that’s why he was killed, because there were many who wanted to keep the status-quo and prohibit African Americans from having the same opportunities as whites.

The issues you’ll deal with in your adult live likely won’t carry that kind of historical significance, but even so, it’s never easy to be in the minority. It doesn’t take much to jump in with the big crowd, but it takes a whole lot to stand up to those people. If you really, truly believe in something, though, it’s never wrong to do that, even if your point of view never makes it into the mainstream.

Just think of all the pioneers down through the years and what would have happened – and how different history would be – if they just kept their mouths shut and went with the flow instead of daring to be the opposition. Change is never easy, especially for the people proposing it. But being special isn’t easy, either. If it were, then everyone would have that distinction.

Have the courage of your convictions. Don’t be fearful of standing up – standing out. At the same time, you don’t have to do it – in fact, you shouldn’t do it – through violence, and that was what made King truly extraordinary, even among extraordinary people. He didn’t believe in using the truth – justice and fairness – as a club with which to swing and hit people over the head. He knew violence wasn’t going to prove anything, or change anything, in the long run. That could be done only by changing people’s minds."... Martin Luther King, Jr. was born January 15, 1929; died April 4, 1968, he was 39 years old.

Posted by Kathy Meeh .

MLK, Jr. holiday business service schedule, Monday 1/16/12

2012-01-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

Open or not open for business Monday. From San Francisco Chronicle, 1/15/12.

Federal, state courts and offices Closed
City and county offices Closed
Banks, savings institutions Closed
Post offices Closed, no mail delivery
Schools Closed
Stores Mostly open

For public transportation, and for street parking in San Francisco see the article directly.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

That looks like my driver's license photo

2012-01-14T01:27:00.000-08:00

Posted by Steve Sinai

You Are Invited: Supervisor Carole Groome to report on the "State of the County" at Pacifica Democrat's Breakfast Meeting on January 21,2012

2012-01-14T00:04:00.001-08:00

Problems with comments

2012-01-13T22:01:00.000-08:00

It looks like some folks are still having problems with comments. It's a pretty safe guess that the Blogger programmers decided to "improve" the software, and made a mess of it.

This has happened several other times in the past, and the problems work themselves out after a week or so.

In the meantime, if you're having problems, try another browser. I was having problems with Firefox, but when used Internet Explorer to access the blog, the comments were fine.

Or you can always send comments to fixpacifica@gmail.com and I'll post them for you.

Steve Sinai