CEQA Test Case Considered by Dubliners for Change
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Thursday, April 13, 2017 VOLUME LIV, NUMBER 15 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL CEQA Test Case Considered By Dubliners for Change Dubliners for Change (DFC) (CEQA) lawsuit. The CEQA law- lawsuit would ask a judge to weigh the environment, ensure quality See Inside Section A has launched a fundraising effort suit would focus primarily focus on in on the constitutionality of SB50, education free from school over- in order to finance a test case. The EIRs prepared for developments. a state law that limits the amount of crowding, sufficient infrastructure Section A is filled with case would request a judge to re- The suit would ask the judge to school impact fees that can be col- to support the city, and the devel- information about arts, people, quire developers to pay what they look at what DFC believes is the lected (to less than 15% of actual opment of a premier pedestrian entertainment and special events. believe would be a more equitable use of inaccurate information that impact) and prohibits city councils friendly downtown. There are education stories, a share of school impact fees and to fails to correctly identify car trips from denying development based A letter sent out to DFC mem- variety of features, and the arts mitigate traffic impacts appropri- and related traffic; as a result the on overcrowded schools. bers, signed by DFC Chair Dan and entertainment and ately, in their opinion. mitigation measures appear to be DFC represents a diverse group Scannell, explains, "Developers bulletin board. Planned would be a Califor- inadequate. of resident volunteers working to- are only paying about 15% of the nia Environmental Quality Act A secondary component of the gether to preserve open space and (See LAWSUIT, page 5) Strong Funding for NIF Urged Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-15) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) last week led 25 other Members of Congress in urging strong funding for the National Ignition Facility (NIF), which conducts ground- breaking fusion research that could bring about a new energy future while helping America maintain its national security. The request comes on the heels of an announcement by the Law- rence Livermore National Labora- tory of dramatic improvements in the ability to keep ultra-intense laser light from damaging es- sential optical components of the National Ignition Facility. This opens the door to running the gi- Photo - Doug Jorgensen ant laser system at higher energies Goats, natural lawn mowers, were hard at work clearing away weeds growing in a field in Dublin. and with improved economy. It is not possible to predict whether the advances will lead to the laser sys- tem’s long-sought goal of achiev- ing ignition.However, it is clear Continuing To Grow: Autistic Boy Speaks that operating NIF at higher laser energies is one of the options that can now be considered. With 192 To Medical Groups After Publishing Book beam lines, NIF can fire today at an energy level of 1.8 megajoules, By Jeff Garberson months. (The book is available on pus of the University of Wisconsin. with special needs. although individual experiments These have been a remarkable Amazon.) The trip is being paid for by the These are hardly the kinds of often call for lower energies and few days for Matteo Musso, an au- Then on Sunday, Matteo and Mayo Clinic. While he is in that activities expected of autistic chil- fewer beam lines. tistic 14-year-old from Livermore. his mother, Annette, flew to the part of the country, he will also dren, who are commonly thought “The National Ignition Facility Midwest to meet with and speak to speak to hundreds of third, fourth keeps America at the forefront of Late last week, he published of as withdrawn and uncommu- fusion energy research, even as a book called “Handbook of Us” staff at the renowned Mayo Clinic and fifth grade pupils and staff at nicative. Russia, China and France speed about the world of autism that he in Minnesota and to the pediatric Minnesota and Iowa schools as For the past two years, however, up their investments,” Swalwell has inhabited since the age of 17 nurses' staff at the Eau Claire cam- well as to the parents of children (See AUTISM, page 10) said. “The experimental data it provides helps us to maintain our nuclear stockpile while keeping our end of the international bargain Proposed Legislation Would Take Decision on not to conduct nuclear-weapon test explosions.” Lofgren serves on the Energy Livermore Extension Away from BART Board Subcommittee of the House Com- mittee on Science, Space and The Livermore City Council belief that the current BART board Regional Rail Authority. between the Tri-Valley and San Technology, of which Swalwell is agreed that it was time to take has no intention of doing so. The Authority’s purpose would Joaquin County. The legislation the former ranking member. NIF is the world’s largest and control over planning the exten- The council on Monday reached be to plan and deliver a regional would remove consideration of any most powerful laser facility. sion of any rail service connecting consensus in support of AB 758, rail connection between BART extension of BART by the BART Livermore to the Bay Area on the and the Altamont Corridor Express This week’s letter to the En- which if approved by the State board, establishing local control ergy and Water Development west, and to San Joaquin County Assembly, would establish a new (ACE) in the Tri-Valley, or a new over the project. on the east.. They expressed the mega-regional rail connection Appropriations Subcommittee Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley (See BART, page 4) supports strong funding for NIF (See NIF, page 12) Dublin Revenue Environmental Outpaces Forecast Protections in By Ron McNicoll of the $4.2 million revenue boost, OHV Measure As Dublin heads toward the comes from an update of the esti- Two bills have been introduced start of the 2017-18 Fiscal Year on mates from the building, planning at the state level that would impact July 1, the city is raising its budget and engineering divisions for fee the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle projections $4.2 million above the revenue to those departments. That Recreation Act. forecast for revenue and $1.8 mil- money was expected to come in at In 2003, the Act, created the lion higher in expenditures for a some time, but is arriving early in Division of Off-Highway Motor net gain of $2.4 million. the development pipeline. The gen- Vehicle Recreation within the However, the city council was eral fund is accumulating a cushion Department of Parks and Recre- aware, and further reminded by from the fee revenue, which may ation. It gives the Division various staff at its April 4 meeting, that help forestall a projected general responsibilities, including the plan- the revenue picture is not quite fund shortfall that has been ex- ning, acquisition, development, as shiny as the numbers indicate. pected in FY 2020-21. Getting the conservation, and restoration of The solid elements of the revenue money earlier may postpone the Photo - Doug Jorgensen lands in state vehicular recreation increase are coming from $1 mil- shortfall for another year or two, Hands-on activities involving art and science were all part of the first areas. Existing law requires the Division to develop and implement lion of higher assessed valuation but it will occur, unless steps are Innovation Fair in Livermore. The April 8 event was a joint project of the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, Livermore Valley a grant and cooperative agree- of property than was projected, taken to head it off. ment program with other agencies another $400,000 from a rise in The shortfall is expected to be Education Foundation, and local tech-focused non-profit iGate and Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District. Titled “By Earth, By funded from no more than half of hotel tax revenues, and $486,000 about $900,000 in the first year of the revenues in the Off-Highway from fees, primarily from The deficit, and climb to $7.4 million Water, By Air,” the free event was designed to energize students’ Vehicle Trust Fund. The Act sun- Wave, the city’s new water park. approximately four years later. connection with the science, technology, engineering, arts and math sets on January 1, 2018. However, $2.1 million, or 50% Stable, ongoing revenue sources (STEAM) disciplines. It was held at the Bankhead Theater Plaza. The new measures would play (See REVENUE, page 2) (See OHV, page 4) PET OF THE WEEK In a field full of colored eggs, one-year-old Ruby stands out. The white and brown tabby loves games that involve chasing INSIDE anything: shoe laces, wand toys…she could probably even catch Sports .................................... 6 the Easter Bunny! Beyond her everlasting playfulness, Ruby MAIN SECTION enjoys being near people and gently petted. Fill your Easter Classifieds........................... 10 Obituaries .............................. 9 basket with cat grass and adopt Ruby at Valley Humane Society Editorial ................................. 4 SECTION A at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton, Tuesday through Saturday Mailbox .................................. 4 Art & Entertainment .............. 8 from 10 am – 4 pm. For more info visit valleyhumane.org or call Roundup ................................ 3 Bulletin Board ..................... 10 (925) 426-8656. Photo - Valley Humane Society Short Notes ........................... 9 Milestones ........................... 12 2 The Independent • April 13, 2017 REVENUE (continued from page one) State Quake Insurance Is Now must be found to pay for The Chevron lease cost the continuing maintenance $6.7 million initially. A debt More Consumer Friendly of $4 million remains. The of such things as parks and By Ron McNicoll earthquake-insurance-premium-calculator other city amenities.