City Council meeting, Monday, March 25, 2013

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local channel 26, also live internet feed, pct26.com.  The meeting begins at 7pm, or shortly there following.  City council updates and archives are available on the City website. 

Widen 1.3 miles, no more bottleneck

City Council Agenda, 3/25/13.  Items listed may include embedded pdf documents, illustration and photographs of interest. Information below is from the city agenda documents.  

A. Closed session, (5:30 pm)
 1. Government code 54956.8.  Conference with real property negotiator. Discussion concerns price and terms of payment.  Agency negotiator:  Stephen Rhodes. Property:  APN 022-300-160, APN 022-330-160, 239 Bonita Avenue.  Negotiating parties: City of Pacifica and Northrop.

											2. Government code 54957.6.  Conference with labor negotiator: Agency negotiator: Ann Ritzma. Employee organizations: Pacifica Fire Fighters Local 2400; Teamsters Local 856 Battalion Chiefs; Department Directors Local 350; WasteWater Treatment Plant Employees Local 856; Miscellaneous Local 856; Managers Local 350.

B.   Open session, (7:00 pm) 

Consent Calendar 

Item 7, discussion before the final EIR, huh?

1.    Approval of cash disbursements. 3/1/13 to 3/13/13, fiscal year 2012/13. 
2.    Minutes of  the 3/11/13 meeting.
3.    California State Department of  Education contract amendments for child care, includes a $40,279 increase to the General Fund, fiscal year 2012/13.
4.     Fassler Avenue pavement striping rehabilitation project, contract awarded to Chrisp Company, $11,650 previously budgeted. 
5.     Authorize staff to advertise for sealed bids for the 2010 Cal EMA, 500 Esplanade storm drain outfall project. Funding:  CalEMA 75%; local match 25%, plus 10% to city for administration, net 15%. Estimated cost $1,600,000, City match $240,000.
6.     Authorize additional analyses for possible site "A" RMC Water and Environment Equalization Basin near Linda Mar Pump Station (temporary storage to reduce sewer overflows), Change order 9, $38,324. This is part of the City Collection System Master Plan (10/11),

Consideration
7.     Direction whether to place the Calera Parkway Project on the Agenda (Councilmember Digre's request).  
8.     Work plans for City Council goals, fiscal year 2013/14.  

Posted by Kathy Meeh 

More talk about California Environmental Quality Act reform

 San Francisco Chronicle/Associated Press/Laura Olson, 3/16/13.  "Support grows for modifying California environment law." 

"California's four-decade-old environmental protection law has been credited with saving habitat, reducing air pollution and giving residents a voice against deep-pocketed developers.  Yet this year, the California Environmental Quality Act has become a target for sweeping changes in the Legislature.

Sure clean air, clean water, but "thanks !"

Democrats who typically align with environmental groups are taking seriously the concerns that have long been raised by business leaders.

The champions of change include Gov. Jerry Brown, who has called reforming the law "the Lord's work." Critics say the act is being used well beyond its intended purpose and instead is employed by unions, activist groups and even rival developers to delay or stop projects they don't like, often at great legal expense to developers.

The law has been amended virtually every year since it was signed in 1970, often in the form of "nipping around the edges and carving out exemptions," said Richard Frank,  a professor of environmental practice in the law school of the University of California, Davis. This time, he sees momentum building behind larger changes to the law.  "There is a shrinking minority of stakeholders that believe CEQA shouldn't be touched or changed at all," he said."   Read article.

Fix Pacifica article reprint - CEQA reform coming, 2/3/13.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Rock-in-a-river laws

I'm not a big fan of Chronicle columnist Debra Saunders, but that doesn't mean she isn't occasionally correct.

She was right on the money with her focus on ineffective laws like the one that will do away with plastic shopping bags in Pacifica come Earth Day.

”These laws are rock-in-a-river laws. They drop a rock in a river and say there, we’ve blocked it. And the river does what rivers do.” The river flows around the rock, the effect is trivial, but it makes people feel good.

http://blog.sfgate.com/djsaunders/2013/03/16/rock-in-a-river-laws/

Posted by Steve Sinai

St Patrick's Day, how to celebrate

WikiHow, "How to celebrate St. Patrick's Day."  

 "St. Patrick's Day was established as a way to recognize Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Originally a religious holiday, it is now practiced on March 17th by many people throughout the world with food, drink and all things green." 11 steps added so far.

From the article, the embedded "How to celebrate St. Patrick's Day like an Irishman" video is worth viewing, 2:46 minutes.  

By now, you may have missed the "go to church" tip. And by the way, the Irish are not that fond of the color green.   Read article.

Related - Top 10 Reviews/Taylor Thomas, "Top Ten St Patrick's Day Parades".1) New York City, NY, 2) Dublin, Ireland, 3) Chicago, IL, 4) Boston, MA, 5) Savannah, GA, 6) Hot Springs, AR, 7) Holyoke, MA, 8) New Orleans, LA, 9) Scranton, PA, 10) Syracuse, NY.   Reference - Biography.com, St. Patrick, includes a series of six running St Patrick lore videos.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Retired space shuttle Endeavour is at home in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Times/Kate Mather, 3/12/13.  "Space Shuttle gives California Science Center an attendance boost."

Space Shuttle Endeavour

More than 1 million people have visited the California Science Center since space shuttle Endeavour made its debut just over four months ago, far surpassing officials' expectations for the Exposition Park museum.

Endeavor is shuttled over Golden Gate bridge

....  Endeavour arrived in Los Angeles in September 2012 after a celebratory flight piggybacking on a modified 747 over the southern United States and major California landmarks. In October, it crawled along city streets from Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center, a delicate three-day operation that drew hundreds of thousands of spectators.

....  For now, Endeavour is in a temporary display pavilion. But museum officials are busy drawing up plans for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a wing expected to open in about five years.  Read article.

Reference -  California Science Center, 700 State Drive, Los Angeles, CA, open every day of the week, 10 am to 5 pm.  Wikipedia, State agency science center and museum. 

Reference - space shuttle. Endeavor Space Shuttle exhibit.  Wikipedia, history of Endeavor..

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Pacifica Five-O Operation Shoulder Tap

Task Force Teams Arrest 12 in Statewide Shoulder Tap Operation

Submitted by Captain Daniel Steidle
Pacifica PD

Treasures and Trivia of Pacifica 2

How much do you know about Pacifica?
Come have some fun and learn new information about our coastal town at Treasures and Trivia of Pacifica!

This treasure hunt excursion will mimic the “great race” where teams compete against each other for some terrific gifts and cash prizes. 

Let’s see if you can identify unique landmarks and answer historical questions about our town. 

Teams will be given a list of businesses and other destinations, and the trick is to see how quickly your team can get from place to place, correctly answer trivia questions and make it back before other teams. 

The race starts and ends at the Pacifica Spindrift Theatre.
$15 a person until April 1st; after that $20 a person.
Teams of Four suggested and encouraged
Bring your Digital Camera or Cell phone

Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. Your Participation Will Help Three Non-profits in Pacifica.

For more information call Mike O'Neill at 650-359-7190 or email: treasuresandtriviaofpacifica@gmail.com


Click on the link to sign up-

http://www.fixpacifica.com/docs/TTFlyer2013.pdf

Submitted by Susan Vellone

Protect good government in California, the fiscal expense is necessary

The Press-Enterprise, Editorial Opinion, 3/11/13. "Editorial:  Don't impede citizen access to public records." also viewed on the California Chamber website. 

"Public access to official records should not be a casualty of the state's chronic budget turmoil. The governor once again proposes to waive open government rules to save money. But the Legislature should reject that poor trade-off and keep good-government requirements in place.

Keep open access to public records

Gov. Jerry Brown has suggested suspending some provisions of the state's Public Records Act, which guarantees the public access to official documents. Public agencies would no longer have to respond in writing within 10 days to records requests. Agencies would no longer have to help people identify which records contain the information they want, and would not have to provide electronic copies of documents when requested.

Hiding embarrassing or politically damaging public information would become far easier if the state suspended those requirements. Lifting the 10-day limit for a response would enable public agencies to stall on answering requests, and avoid giving any justification for withholding records. People unfamiliar with government would struggle unaided to figure out which records they want. And agencies wishing to hinder access to information could insist that people collect paper records in person, instead of providing electronic copies.

Those provisions of the Public Records Act are state mandates — state-required duties for which the state is supposed to reimburse local government. Suspending the mandates would free the state from paying for those expenses. But the governor has no real idea of how much this would save, because the Commission on State Mandates will not even start computing the potential cost until April.

But the amount is likely to be tiny in comparison to the governor's proposed $97.7 billion general fund budget. The state suspended open meeting mandates last year, to save the more than $20 million annual cost. That figure was suspect, as a series of state audits found local governments inflating claims for reimbursement. And those claims were for handling tasks, such as preparing and posting agendas, that happened weekly in many cases. Public records requests are far more sporadic.

Either way, the governor's approach puts fiscal expedience ahead of the public interest. Access to official records is key to understanding what agencies are doing, and crucial to holding government accountable. Such documents provide context and details often missing from public discussion of issues. Concealing records enables abuses, including special interest deals, mismanagement and corruption.

The administration notes that most cities and counties continued to follow open meeting rules even after the state suspended those mandates last year. But doing otherwise would have been conspicuous, and created a political uproar. Blocking public records requests is far easier to do without anyone noticing, because such obstruction would affect individuals on a case by case basis, rather than the broader public all at once.  Yes, local agencies should follow good-government practice regardless of reimbursement. But keeping the mandates would safeguard compliance; lifting the requirements would condone official disregard."

Related -  The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, CA.  Note:  The article State mandates link is a large pdf which may take time to come up on your computer.  The photograph above is from the article.

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Assemblymember Kevin Mullin invitation, March 28, 2013

An invitation for those who haven't seen the notice already. (Jim Wagner).

Problems viewing this E-Alert, click here.

You're Invited to an Open House Please Join Assemblymember Kevin Mullin and Senator Jerry Hill at their District Offices' Open House Thursday, March 28, 2013 4 - 6 p.m. 1528 South El Camino Real #302-303 San Mateo, California Meet the legislators' staff and tour their offices. For more information on this event, please contact the district office at (650) 349-2200, or visit my event page. Kevin Mullin Assemblymember, 22nd District

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Fiona Ma will speak in Pacifica, Saturday, March 16, 2013

Date - Saturday, March 16, 2013
Time - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (best to get there early, parking lot fills up) 
Location - Sharp Park Golf Course Banquet room, back of restaurant
Organization - Pacifica-Daly City Democrats meeting, open to the public

Pacifica Tribune/Barbara Arietta correspondent, 3/5/13.  "Former State Assembly S

peaker pro Tempore Fiona Ma guest at upcoming Democrat's meeting."

....  "Fifteen of 17 new laws authored in 2012 by the former Assemblywoman went into effect on Jan. 1, 2013. These new laws built on Assemblywoman Ma's first two terms, where she focused on creating jobs, securing funding for education and public safety and improving the quality of life in both San Mateo and San Francisco counties.

....  Recently termed out of office, after serving a maximum three terms in the California State Assembly from 2006 through 2012, she is the 112th woman to ever be elected to the California Legislature and the first Asian woman to ever serve as Speaker pro Tempore since California became a state in 1850.

....  Currently Ma is a candidate for the State Board of Equalization's District 2 Seat in 2014.  

All Pacifica-Daly City Democrat meetings are open to the public. A full breakfast is $12; continental $6; coffee $3. However, no purchase is required. The meeting runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. To RSVP, contact Barbara Arietta, president, at 415-246-0775 or email barietta@hotmail.com."   Read article.

Reference -  Fiona Ma for State Board of Equalization. "The Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC) announced that it has selected former Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) as one of two recipients for the annual “Patti Mattingly Award” for 2012.  The Patti Mattingly Award is given to a policymaker who has demonstrated leadership on rural issues and an understanding of the unique challenges that rural communities face."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

City Council Study Session, Wednesday March 20, 2013

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  This city council study session may be televised on local  pct26.com,  but so far the PCT 26 Calendar does not indicate that will happen.   The study session meeting begins at 6 p.m., or shortly there following.  City Council updates and archives are available on the City website.   

Valued Commission and Committee work  

 

Notice of City Council Study Session, "Review of Subcommittee report on Commissions and Committees."  The City Council Subcommittee includes Mayor Len Stone and Mayor Pro Tem Mary Ann Nihart.   Amended notice, adding an Agenda (below):

Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at  6 p.m.

1.  Call to order 
2.  Review of Subcommittee Report on Commissions and Committees

3.  Public Comment

4.  Communications Plan discussion

5.  Adjournment

City Council Subcommittee Report, includes findings, review, goals and recommendations.  

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Planning Commission meeting cancelled, Monday 3/18/13

We're good in Pacifica

Planning Commission notification.

"Notice is hereby given that the regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission of March 18, 2013 has been cancelled." 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Pacifica Index, City Council meeting review, 3/11/13

and other recent civic meetings.

                        Pacifica Index                        

Pacifica Index featured article section

City council meeting of March 11, 2013

"Sewer charges, Recology agreement, and police contracts"

With permission from Chris Fogel, Editor & Publisher

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Surfrider files lawsuit against Martin's Beach owner, two views

Silicon Valley Mercury News/Aaron Kinney, 3/13/13. "Martin's Beach owner sued on behalf of surfer group."

Public access to the beach

Privately owned road, no easement

"HALF MOON BAY -- The heavyweight law firm of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy joined the fight Tuesday over public access to Martin's Beach, filing a lawsuit to force the property's secretive owner to reopen the road to the shore.

The suit, brought on behalf of the Surfrider Foundation, claims property owner Martins Beach LLC broke the law by not getting a coastal development permit before locking a gate off state Highway 101 and closing off public access to the shore. A separate suit to restore access to the beach was filed in October. Martins Beach LLC purchased the property in 2008 for $37.5 million. The owner is widely presumed to be venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who has neither confirmed nor denied the assertion.

Joan Gallo, attorney for Martins Beach LLC, said the owner welcomes the suit. The issue is not a locked gate, Gallo said, but whether the public has the right to access a private road.  "We believe very strongly that the constitutional rights for Martins Beach LLC will prevail," Gallo said."

Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Noack, 3/13/13. "Surfrider files suit against Martin's Beach, move is latest effort to open beach"

Gate at Martin's Beach private road

The lawsuit alleges the gate is illegal because it was installed without getting proper permits. The lawsuit is the third court case questioning whether the public should still have a right to access the secluded beach.   The suit also argues the beach-property owners never had the right to paint over a billboard directing motorists down to the beach.

"An off-road gate barring access down to Martin’s Beach has been the site for protests, vandalism and many acts of trespassing. Now a new lawsuit being put forward by the Surfrider Foundation and activist attorney Mark Massara specifically takes aim at the gate.

Under normal circumstances property owners are required to apply for Coastal Development Permits for modifying the landscape or structures. After Martin’s Beach was sold, the new owner locked the gate, allowing only tenants to travel down the private road. San Mateo County Planning officials warned the beach owner they considered this to be development under the California Coastal Act, and as such, he needed a permit. The owner never applied for a permit for the gate, and county planners have since refused to review other permits for grading work at the property.

The new case follows a similar civil suit last year on behalf of “Friends of Martin’s Beach” that also targets public access at the beach. That case is set for a pre-trial conference next month.
Separately, last month a county superior court judge dismissed a trespassing case against five men who hopped the gate to surf in an act of civil disobedience."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Tom Lantos tunnels at Devil's Slide open at the end of the month

Half Moon Bay Review/Clay Lambert, 3/12/13.  "Devil's Slide tunnels to open last week of March."

 Tom Lantos, 2/1/28 - 2/11/08

Inside a tunnel

"Twin tunnels at Devil’s Slide on Highway 1 will be opened to traffic on March 25 or 26. At 11 a.m. on March 25, dignitaries from across the state will converge with the locals who made it all happen to commemorate the state’s first tunnel proj ect in nearly 50 years. Later that day or early the next morning the tunnels will open to traffic, according to Caltrans spokesman Bob Haus. The state transportation agency made the announcement late Tuesday afternoon, though information on the opening has been leaking out for days.  

....  Moving forward with the tunnels hasn’t always been easy: Their journey has been fraught with controversy as interest groups advocated what they thought best. Some argued vehemently for an inland bypass as early as 1960. Environmentalists opposed that notion, arguing successfully that the tunnels would do the least damage to the area’s fragile ecosystem while guaranteeing a passable roadway.

Tunnels, Pacifica side

The tunnels that stand today were finally made possible in 1995 with the passage of the countywide Measure T. However, ground wasn’t broken for the project until 2005. Contractors from Kiewit Pacific Co. predicted that the entire project would be completed by 2011 for $272 million. The tunnels’ opening date is at least two years late and the final tab was tens of millions of dollars more than initially expected."  Read article.

Related articles -   Mercury News/Associated Press, 3/13/13.  "The tunnels cost $439 million to build and took seven years to complete." NBC Bay Area, 2/25/13, "Cutting-Edge Devil's Slide Tunnels Poised to open." The article includes a brief embedded video, lowe left side photograph from this article. The Daily News, 11/13/12, "Tunnel opening delayed," right side photograph from this article. Half Moon Bay Review, 7/9/08."Tunnels named for angel of Devil's Slide"  "The twin tunnels under construction at Devil's Slide will be named in honor of the congressman who worked for more than 20 years to find a solution to the Coastide's traffic troubles."   And, Fix Pacifica reprint articles.

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Pacifica highway 1 widening, waiting for the final EIR

Without facts, let's not cause further delays. 

Pacifica Tribune, letters to the editor, 3/12/13.  "Letter to Council" by Jim Wagner and Mark Stechbart

"Editor:  Regarding the safety and commute improvements to Rt. 1: City Council represents the best interests of 40,000 town residents, not just the few who signed the other "open" letter. City Council -- stay the course and make the best decision for all of Pacifica.

Here is a prime example from a Tribune letter of 9-21-11 on why we as a community need a Rt. 1 congestion solution now:

Time to deal with the highway 1 commuter hour bottleneck

'We are retired professional firefighters who have served in Pacifica collectively for over 100 years. We support the Highway 1 traffic bottleneck solution being considered.....

....we believe it irresponsible to wait any longer to implement a Rt. 1 widening to solve traffic congestion we have seen increase for over 20 years. Rt. 1 is a regional highway and thousands of Pacificans use it as their only way out of town. For emergency personnel, Rt. 1 is our lifeline to protect Pacifica. We do not want to tell any Pacifica resident we were late to a fire or medical emergency because we were stuck in traffic.'

Jim Bonner, Battalion Chief, Pacifica Fire Dept, retired. 38 years of service
Bob Trapp, Battalion Chief, Pacifica Fire Dept, retired. 33 years of service
Steve Engler, Battalion Chief, Pacifica Fire Dept, retired. 30 years of service

The tunnel will open in several weeks and more traffic will visit us. The County is generating the environmental report, as required by law, by midsummer and then and only then will all the facts be before us. 

So why have yet another meeting to discuss a project without the full facts available? More delay will place Pacifica behind in securing funding we all pay for through a voter approved county transportation tax. Our transportation dollars will be lost to another city. More delay will enable the Gang of No to remake the wheel yet again, and force the project to start all over again. Fifteen years of planning abandoned. 

Delay will kill the project and force us to suffer continued commute and safety delays.

City Council was elected to make the best decisions based on the best facts for the entire community. Thousands of south Pacifica commuters and parents of school age children are counting on a fair and fact based evaluation of this project. So are the emergency personnel we all depend on."

Fix Pacifica reference - "Open Letter to Pacifica City Council, 3/6/13, Tom Edminister and Hal Bohner.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Follow-up report of city budget meeting March 6, 2013

In Pacifica, can you say sales tax?

The continued NIMBY alternative to fixing Pacifica's shabby economy seems always to be cutting more service funding, while increasing fees and offering more taxes.  

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, 3/12/13, "City Council gathers information about financial planning options." 

"City Council gathered information with an eye toward coming up with financial planning options that will help achieve the long-term goal to balance the budget. Last Wednesday (3/6/13), the council members continued the process of reviewing the city's budget and departments to find potential cuts to city services. 

....  The handful of people who spoke at the meeting, which was attended by about 40 members of the public and city staff, urged City Council to approve a half-cent sales tax.  

....  To answer community members' questions about the justification for the city's consultants, Director of Administrative Services Ann Ritzma handed the council members, and made available to the public, a report that detailed the purpose for each consultant."  Read article. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

CBD in the national news, name of the game,"sue and settle"

Protect and save this endangered species !

The Wall Street Journal/ Review and Outlook, 3/10/13. "Fishing and Wildlife Lawsuits."  The Interior Department revives the game of 'sue and settle'.  A version of this article appeared March 11, 2013, on page A16 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Fishing for Wildlife Lawsuits.

.... "The Interior Department's Fish and Wildlife Service has resurrected a Clinton-era tactic known as "sue and settle." With this strategy, outside green groups friendly to the Administration sue the government, demanding a particular regulatory action. The agency happily forswears court and sits down with the plaintiffs to reach a settlement.

....  This tactic reached a zenith in Fish and Wildlife's 2011 mega-settlement with the Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians, and other green groups over the species act. That agreement allowed Fish and Wildlife to claim it must take action on some 750 species covered by 85 legal actions. The deal's immediate effect was to tee up 250 species for full protection, including sweeping "critical habitat" designations that will restrict commercial or other use of millions of acres of private property. Among the 750 species is the lesser prairie chicken, a bird whose listing could devastate farmers and ranchers across five states. Oh, and the greater sage grouse, which could shut down oil and gas development and cattle grazing, for starters.

What the heck, either way its billable hours, or let's settle.

...  Louisiana Senator David Vitter, ranking member on the Environment and Public Works Committee, has demanded that Fish and Wildlife provide details of its interactions with the suing green groups. The agency refused. Mr. Vitter is calling on Congress to cut off money for the enforcement of these settlements. That's a start. 

The 40-year-old law has an undistinguished record of restoring species. Its main effect now is simply to terminate economic activity. Mrs. Jewell could make a mark at Interior by initiating a modernization of the species act, and it's a shame no one in the Senate thought the issue mattered enough to inquire about."   Read article.

References from the article -  US Department of the Interior,  Center for Biological Diversity,  WildEarth Guardians.

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Posted by Kathy Meeh

City Council study session CANCELLED, Wednesday, March 13, 2013

The following meeting has been CANCELLED, city memo 3/12/13 (civic email broadcast received at 4:32 PM).

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local channel 26, also live internet feed, pct26.com.  The meeting begins at 6 p.m., or shortly there following.  City Council updates and archives are available on the City website.    

"Presentation of possible options for development of five year financial plan." Revised 3/6/13 City Council Agenda.

Notice from Kathy O'Connell, City Clerk. "Notice is hereby given that a special meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 13, at  6 p.m.

1.  Call to order 
2.  Presentation of possible options for development of five year financial plan.

3.  Response to questions on financial information.

4.  Process of final plan development

5.  Oral communications/public comment." 

The PCT 26 Calendar indicates they are televising this City Council study session.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival, 2013

SavvyCities.com,  "San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival."  "San Francisco’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival (March 16, 2013) Features all things Irish, including traditional music and dance, floats flouting the green, marching bands, festival food and drinks and more. Expect to enjoy plenty of Irish history, cultural clichés, and a full day of fun and festivities, including live performances and children’s activities." 

 

WHAT: The San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade — free admission.  

WHEN: St. Patrick’s Day Festival Saturday March 16, 2013 from 11am to 5pm. St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 11:30am.  WHERE: St. Patrick’s Day Festival at Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco. Parade begins at the corner of Second & Market St, and continues on to the Civic Center.

 San Francisco Cheap Fun."The St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebrates and showcases our Irish community, Irish culture and character in all its forms. Featured groups from throughout the Bay Area’s Irish community including schools, youth organizations, labor unions, cultural groups, as well as the San Francisco Police and Fire Departments in addition to many of our political leaders will proudly march up Market Street.
Again for 2013 the popular Irish Festival will be held at Civic Center Plaza, in front of City Hall before, during and after the Parade. The Festival gives you an opportunity to learn more about Irish history and culture."  This year the parade and festival will honor the Celtic woman. Event details.  

Note:  Photograph by David Yu,  David Yu Photography

Posted by Kathy Meeh   

City Council meeting, Monday, March 11, 2013

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local channel 26, also live internet feed, pct26.com.  The meeting begins at 7pm, or shortly there following.  City council updates and archives are available on the City website.    

City Council Agenda, 3/11/13.  Items listed may include embedded pdf documents, illustration and photographs of interest.
 
 Fix Pacifica City Council Agenda 3/11/13 article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Government in the San Mateo County peninsula, week of 3/11/2013

Highlights of government meetings in San Mateo County peninsula, viewed daily. 

Palo Alto Daily News/Peninsula/Staff, 3/9/13, "On the Docket."  Text is from Palo Alto Daily news.

Monday
Redwood City - City Council is scheduled to consider approving a plastic-bag ban and to review Costco's plan to add four gas pumps to the dozen already at its 2300 Middlefield Road location.

Lost in too much San Mateo County open space

San Carlos -  City Council.  Vice Mayor Bob Grassilli is expected to succeed Matt Grocott as mayor.

Tuesday
Menlo Park - City Council is scheduled to indicate which areas in the city might be suitable for rezoning to allow higher density housing.
San Mateo County -  Board of Supervisors is scheduled to review the county manager's report on possible changes to compensation for future employees. 
Woodside - Town Council is to get an update on a proposal for a Saturday farmers market at Woodside Town Hall.

Wednesday
Portola Valley -  Town Council is to receive an update on the town's green building ordinance and consider approving a call for bids for the Ford Field renovation project.
San Mateo County - Planning Commission Board is scheduled to hold a public hearing to discuss permanent zoning regulations for 3821 Fair Oaks Ave., where Bay Area Catering & Events operates.

Thursday
Atherton - City council is scheduled to get a mid-year budget report and discuss Marsh Road channel repairs.

Related article- The Daily Journal (San Mateo), Government Watch, 3/9/13. Note:  Photograph by Tom Stienstra, Francisco Chronicle 9/10/08, San Francisco Chronicle 9/10/08, "Spectacular getaways in San Mateo County."   

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Half Moon Bay to pay down debt on lawsuit bonds

This is the Beachwood property lawsuit.  See the related article, the photograph was taken on the property.  

Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Noak, "Half Moon Bay wins $3.15 million more from insurer."

"Half Moon Bay will receive an additional $3.15 million as part of a final settlement with the city's former liability insurer. City officials announced they had approved the settlement deal with the Insurance Company of the West in a press release sent out Friday evening. 

"Gee, in Pacifica a path might be an official trail." *

The new money comes as the elected leaders prepare to hear recommendation from consultants on how they should pay down the city's long-term bond debt. The city initially intended that meeting to discuss plans for a $10 million award from the same insurance firm as part of legal arbitration.

The two awards come as a result of the city’s losses resulting from the Beachwood lawsuit. Five years ago in that case, a federal judge ordered Half Moon Bay to pay a developer $41 million as part of a longstanding land-use battle. The city ultimately agreed to pay $18 million through a settlement, and officials raised most of that money by issuing bonds.

.... City officials announced Friday they would use the lump sum as part of a “comprehensive debt reduction analysis”."   Read article.

Related - Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Noack,10/14/09. "Beachwood still a money magnet."  "Half Moon Bay has paid the bill and taken possession of the Beachwood property, but determining what to do with the embattled property continues to be costly. Last week, the City Council amended its annual budget to include $3.7 million for bonding and ownership expenses associated with a new stewardship plan to prepare the 24-acre property for future sale. That is primarily due to a $3 million payment the city made from its own general fund to pay the settlement obligation. Recouping as much as possible of the city’s expenses from that $18 million payment has become the top priority for the council as it decides how to manage the new property.   Trivia note: *The photograph caption refers to citizen comments at the last Pacifica Planning Commission meeting, (3/4/13). Pedro Point neighbors said they hope the city will make a possible private property path an official trail. After all,"everyone uses the path".

Posted by Kathy Meeh 

Fossil fuel warming of the earth, another study

San Francisco Chronicle/Associated Press, 3/7/13. "Global warming spike called unprecedented."

A new study looking at 11,000 years of climate readings shows the world in the middle of a dramatic U-turn, lurching from near-record cooling to a heat spike.

We are not listening, but we will find solutions

No earth warming here today

Research released Thursday in the journal Science uses fossils of tiny marine organisms to reconstruct global temperatures back to the end of the last ice age. It shows how the globe for several thousands of years was cooling until an unprecedented reversal in the 20th century.   

Scientists say it is further evidence that modern-day global warming isn't natural, but the result of rising carbon dioxide emissions that have rapidly grown since the Industrial Revolution began roughly 250 years ago.

....   "In 100 years, we've gone from the cold end of the spectrum to the warm end of the spectrum," Marcott said. "We've never seen something this rapid. Even in the ice age, the global temperature never changed this quickly."  Read article.

Related - Scientific American, 3/11/09, John Rennie, "Cleaning up the dirtiest fossil fuel: One company's coal fix."  "In most discussions of energy and climate, coal figures prominently as one of the villains. Burning coal is responsible for more than a third of all energy-related U.S. carbon dioxide emissions and 80 percent of those from electricity production. It is also one of the largest contributors of air pollution, acid rain and even toxic environmental mercury. But because coal is so inexpensive and plentiful—at the current rate of domestic demand, the U.S. has enough coal to last for 250 years—nations find it hard to abandon the fuel without risking economic ruin."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Go to the beach and watch a comet

http://news.discovery.com/space/asteroids-meteors-meteorites/surprising-facts-comet-pan-starrs-130309.htm

Bring binoculars.

Posted by Steve Sinai