Thursday, JUNE 13, 2019 VOLUME LVI, NUMBER 24 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL County Supervisor Haggerty Will Not Seek Another Term By Janet Armantrout Alameda County Supervisor Haggerty has a long list of still have reserves." completed. Scott Haggerty has announced accomplishments, with financial During the recent recession, Other accomplishments in- that he will not seek re-election stability a particular source of no county employee lost his or clude instituting a fracking ban See Inside Section A in 2020. pride. Alameda County has earned her job. for the county, expanding Bed & Section A is filled with After 23 years in office, he the county triple A ratings from all He points to the Bankhead Breakfast opportunities in South information about arts, declared, "I'm tired. The job has of the rating agencies. The reserve Theater as another project he is Livermore, and establishing a people, entertainment and really taken a toll. I need to get policy that he helped to put in proud of. Haggerty obtained $23 microbrewery ordinance. special events. There are healthy." place contains over $100 million. million from the Altamont and The ag barn at the fairgrounds, education stories, a variety He added that for the past year, He noted, "We paid $200 million Vasco landfills to make it a reality. Stanley Blvd. improvements, HOT of features, and the arts he had been thinking about not drawing down our Other Post- He made sure that the BART lanes on 580 and 680, and a ballot and entertainment and running. Employment Benefits (OPEB) and to Warm Springs extension was measure that raised over $8 billion bulletin board. (See HAGGERTY, page 2) KTVU Airs Kumagai Zip Trip to New District Livermore Rep for By Bruce Gach KTVU Channel 2 debuted Zip Bauer-Kahan Trip with a live broadcast from By Ron McNicoll Livermore on June 7. The show called the city one of the hottest Dublin Councilmember Shawn spots to bring a family to live. Kumagai has accepted a new job They referred to Livermore as the as District Director for Assembly- “Gateway to the Central Valley.” member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. Gasia Mikaelian, who was born, Kumagai will continue his raised and schooled in Livermore, role on the council, and has also and Mike Mibach spoke for the announced the start of his 2022 station. They pitched their chairs campaign for re-election to the in the center of town near Lizzie City Council. Fountain. Background music was Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, who plans to retire in 2021, has achieved several Kumagai joined Bauer-Ka- supplied by Crawdad Republic. meaningful accomplishments over the course of his 23 years in office, such as ensuring the County’s han’s staff a little more than a Both described the founding long-term financial stability. Though he is not running for another term, he is far from finished with month ago. He sees it as a good fit of Livermore in 1869 by William his to-do list. Finishing Valley Link planning, building an East County Fire Station on Greenville Road, for him. “It’s rewarding. I interact Mendenhall, and the naming of the and completing the Dublin BART parking structure are just some of the projects he intends to pursue. with district stakeholders. I’m city for his friend Robert Liver- Haggerty is pictured in front of the Carnegie Building in Livermore, where he was photographed when familiar with that as a council- member.” more, who had settled in the area in he first entered office. (Photo – Doug Jorgensen) (See KUMAGAI, page 3) (See ZIP TRIP, page 12) The Independent and Its Publisher Named Citizen of the Year By Carol Graham he added, “Joan’s distinguishing get something done, join up with dutifully upheld the principles expecting to find work as a jour- characteristics are her unwaver- Joan Seppala, and I mean that needed to convey the honor to out- nalist. She visited ten newspapers, On June 2, the Livermore Lions ing energy, her positive outlook, sincerely.” standing citizens ever since,” said and was offered jobs as a reporter, Club presented its Citizen of the her ability to work collaboratively The Citizen of the Year award Livermore Mayor Emeritus Dr. but only on the society page. She Year in Alameda County award with others to accomplish goals, dinner and ceremony, held at The Marshall Kamena. “Who is Joan was told that they only hired men to The Independent, and to Joan and her tenacity to stick with a Grill at Poppy Ridge Golf Course, Kinney Seppala? She is publisher to cover hard news. Seppala, its founder and publisher. vision when others have lost faith. was attended by 185 Lions, digni- of The Independent and president So Seppala set out to find inves- “Every community needs a She has improved the quality taries, colleagues, family members of the Livermore Valley Perform- tors, and a year later founded The champion, and that champion of life for all citizens and future and friends. ing Arts Center.” Independent. is Joan Seppala,” said Alameda generations of Livermore and the “In 1925, the Lions Clubs of Al- She earned her master’s degree “The first issue was printed in County Supervisor Scott Haggerty. Tri-Valley.” ameda County gave a challenge to in English literature from the Uni- September 1963,” Kamena said. Reading a commendation He added, “If you want to be- the Livermore chapter to designate versity of Chicago in 1962. At 24, “It was, and has been, dedicated signed by all five supervisors, come a winner, and you want to a Citizen of the Year, and they have Seppala moved to the Bay Area (See LIONS CLUB, page 10) Blackman Wants Better Schools; Planning for Growth Council Asks For Information Although the results are not that point, Blackman received have the appointment vacated and Blackman told a reporter that official yet, because the Alameda 587 votes and Niranjana “Nini” an election called. although many people endorsed On Initiative County Registrar of Voters has not Natarajan 251. Blackman was endorsed by her, she did not rely on endorse- By Bruce Gach certified them, Gabrielle Blackman As of Tuesday, 843 ballots were Councilmember Arun Goel, and ments, but on her community is clearly the winner in the two- counted. 2018 council candidate Bobby involvement and speaking out At the June 10 Livermore City person run for the vacancy in Area Natarajan had been appointed Khullar, both of whom have called about fast growth and its impact Council meeting, the pending 4 of the Dublin Unified School on a 3-1 vote in December to re- on the council to tighten up the on school construction. She does downtown initiative was dis- District (DUSD). place Joe Giannini, who resigned rapid growth rate. Dublin Between not want the physical impact of cussed. The main concerns ex- Blackman received 70% of in October, owing to a time con- 2017 and 2018, Dublin grew at growth to impede Dublin’s student pressed by council members were the vote in the second update of flict. 4.5%, the fastest city growth rate performance in the classroom. the direct and indirect costs of the the counting late last week. At Voters in Area 4 petitioned to in the state. (See BLACKMAN, page 3) (See INITIATIVE, page 8) Pediatric Clinic 1st Year Was More Eventful Than Expected The pediatricians at Palo Alto time and two part-time board- Medical Foundation (PAMF) certified pediatricians work at took part in an on-site reception to the facility. celebrate their first year of treating Their year had three major sur- patients at the foundation’s offices prises, with higher case numbers in Dublin recently. than they could have imagined The doctors’ offices are located at the start of their first year of at 4050 Dublin Blvd. Three full- (See CLINIC, page 2) Pleasanton City Council Reviews Two Budgets The Pleasanton City Council 2020/21 total $189.7 million and reviewed the proposed 2-year op- $194.3 million respectively for the erating budget and 4-year Capital operating budget and $28.6 million Improvement Program (CIP) bud- and $25.2 million for the CIP. get at its June 4 meeting. Tina Olson, finance director, The final vote will take place presented the operating budget. This weekend marked the 101st Livermore Rodeo. Xtreme Bulls demonstrated professional bull riding on June 18. Among the highlights, she told Total city budget expenditures the council that the largest revenue on Friday. A parade was held Saturday in downtown Livermore (pictured above). The action moved to Robertson Stadium for a full weekend of events. For more rodeo photos, see page 8. (Photo – Doug Jorgensen) for fiscal years 2019/20 and (See BUDGETS, page 3) PET OF THE WEEK CHILIS Chilis arrived at Valley Humane with three kittens in tow. Only a kitten INSIDE herself, the young mama took good care of her litter but is now ready to be the star of the show! Chilis is personable, inquisitive and chatty. While little in stature, her big personality will fill your home with joy and MAIN SECTION Sports .................................... 6 laughter. She’s playful and will happily entertain herself for hours with Classifieds........................... 10 Obituaries .............................. 9 her toys. Chilis is approximately 1 year old and has been spayed and Editorial ................................. 4 SECTION A microchipped. Meet Chilis at Valley Humane Society, 3670 Nevada Street Mailbox .................................. 4 in Pleasanton. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am – 4pm. Art & Entertainment .............. 8 Visit valleyhumane.org or call (925) 426-8656 for more information. Real Estate .......................... 10 Bulletin Board ..................... 10 Photo Credit: Valley Humane Society/B.