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National Effort Looks at Turbine Bird Deaths by Ron Mcnicoll Currently Under Study

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National Effort Looks at Turbine Bird Deaths by Ron Mcnicoll Currently Under Study VOLUME XLVI, NUMBER 31 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009 National Effort Looks at Turbine Bird Deaths By Ron McNicoll currently under study. Permits for that met in Wisconsin will be Cornell, mentioned the Altamont and operation impact birds and Bird and bat deaths caused by old technology turbines, installed establishing scientific methods study's data in his speech to the bats, as well as how habitat and wind turbines will be the subject in the 1980s, have expired. to look at bird and bat kill data. conference. weather conditions affect poten- of a national study involving A move by industry and Al- Their aim is to help any future “We know that in some loca- tial hazards,” said Farnsworth. 30 scientists from universities, tamont landowners to renew the wind-power investors to design tions, a small percentage of wind Reached by phone in Europe on industry, government and non- permits was met by Alameda their plans so that they have the turbines may cause the major- Tuesday, Farnsworth expanded his governmental organizations. County's concern to reduce the least impact on avian life. ity of bird and bat deaths," said remarks for The Independent. The scientists gathered at a number of turbines, see new The new group hopes to use Farnsworth, in a news release A couple of California scien- conference in Racine, Wisc., technology installed, and map out cutting edge technology to con- from the conference. Calling the tists were at the conference, and recently. Cornell University better locations for the towers. A duct their studies. That will Altamont situation "an extreme were familiar with work done on Laboratory of Ornithology, the committee of five scientists was include weather surveillance ra- case," Farnsworth said, "only a the Altamont studies, said Farn- Don't Miss American Bird Conservancy, and appointed. For four years, they dar, thermal imaging, and sound fraction of the 5000 turbines are sworth. He said he has read work the Johnson Foundation played have been reviewing the data tracking of migration patterns. responsible for most of the raptor by Shawn Smallwood, a member The Independent's host to the conference. brought forward by the monitor- The national group is aware deaths annually." of the county's Scientific Review The Valley has an interest in ing team that surveys bird deaths of the work at the Altamont. "As wind power develops Committee (SRC), which is second section. the national effort. Bird deaths in at Altamont turbines. Andrew Farnsworth, who is further, we need to know more studying Altamont bird deaths. Section II is filled with infor- the Altamont have been an ongo- conducting postdoctoral work mation about arts, entertainment The national scientific group about how placement, design, Farnsworth called(See STUDY, Smallwood's page 4) ing subject for years. They are in the ornithology department at and special events. There are education stories, a variety of features, and the arts and en- tertainment and bulletin board listings. Pleasanton OKs New General Plan EBRPD to Stoneridge Drive Issue Approved with Separate Vote Purchase Land After almost seven years, with a supplemental study of the Near Vasco Pleasanton has a new general impacts of the extension of the plan. road. Sullivan and McGovern At their July 21 meeting, the The city council unanimously both mentioned that the litiga- East Bay Regional Park District approved the new plan at last tion had not been resolved. That Board of Directors agreed to week's meeting, with one excep- could impact the plan to extend purchase 190 acres adjacent to tion. The issue of the Stoneridge the road. Vasco Caves Regional Preserve Drive extension was voted on Sullivan objected to removal known as the Souza II property. separately, with Matt Sullivan of language that would have The property is being acquired and Cindy McGovern opposed allowed residents up to a year through a partnership with the to changing the wording in the to referend the extension. He East Contra Costa County Habi- general plan regarding the road. pointed out that the only reason tat Conservancy. This acquisition In particular, Sullivan wanted to he agreed to keep the Stoneridge is the Park District’s second joint put back in wording that would Drive extension in the general allow a year for residents to ref- plan was a compromise worked project with the Conservancy, erend the decision on extending which was created to identify, out between the city and those Stoneridge Drive. who oppose the road. The agree- preserve and restore high priority The extension of Stoneridge ment included provisions that land areas with significant habitat Drive had been approved as the extension would take place for protected species. part of the Staples Ranch plan. in conjunction with regional im- The Park District is acquir- That decision is reflected in the provements and citizens would ing the property from owners new general plan. In response to have a year to referend a council Anthony and Gloria Souza for a a lawsuit filed challenging the approval. "I need to have the ref- total of $1.692 million, the ap- adequacy of the Staples Ranch praised fair market value, plus EIR, the city moved forward (See PLEASANTON, page 4) acquisition costs. According to the Park District’s Assistant General Manager Bob Doyle, this Thinner Budget for acquisition is particularly impor- tant as it is the first acquisition LARPD; Pleasanton for a future new parkland facil- ity, Byron Vernal Pools Regional (See PURCHASE, page 8) Weathers ERAF Storm By Ron McNicoll to keep on taking from the reces- Pleasanton will give up $3.5 sion fund, because it dries up the million to the state for the manda- funding for which it normally Pleasanton tory ERAF loan. must put aside money. Payments Decides Not to Despite the hit, Pleasanton is need to be made regularly to in good fiscal shape because it support workers' compensation, Pass Resolution has ample reserves from which retirement costs, and capital to draw, said city finance director improvement projects. Pleasanton residents, who The city reduced its operating have ties with Iran, asked the Dave Culver. Anticipating the ERAF take budget by 5 percent, and reduced city council last week to adopt a contributions to reserves. There resolution "expressing solidarity Photo - Doug Jorgensen last December, the city increased with the people of Iran." its temporary recession fund for won't be any layoffs. Ten staff Summertime is the time for fun in the water. The zero-depth pool at the Robert Livermore positions will be eliminated, sav- Under matters initiated by Community Center offers an interactive play structure and a water slide. Kids enjoyed splashing operating expenses from $7.9 million to $10.9 million. ing $1.4 million. council, Mayor Jennifer Hoster- around the play structure during one of the recent hot days. man asked if there were council However, the city doesn't want (See BUDGET, page 2) support to take the action. Matt Sullivan supported the idea. However, the other three did not want to single out one group for Agreement Reached on a council resolution. Cindy McGovern asked, "How Land Acquisition Funding many other resolutions would we be asked to approve?" The potential of litigation be provided from the settlement Hosterman stated that she over a land purchase by Liver- fund. However, the city will have felt it was an important action more is gone. to pay back half of the money to take. On Monday, the city coun- within the next five years. Jerry Thorne stated, "I per- cil approved a new financing The expenditure of landfill sonally intend to support the method to purchase the 107 acres funds has to be approved by the Iranian people. However, I have in Doolan Canyon. Landfill Open Space Committee. concerns about what we do as Funds from the Altamont Voting representatives are from a council." He didn't think it Landfill Settlement will be used Livermore, Alameda County and was appropriate to use staff and to buy the parcel. The price is the Sierra Club. Livermore voted council time, "to take up issues $1,040,465. The full amount will (See FUNDING, page 4) not on our plate." Sullivan offered a different view. "I support the idea. Part of our job is to support our resi- Livermore Adopts Strict Regulations dents. I wouldn't mind taking up the issue of Iraq again." For Adult Entertainment Businesses Previously, residents had The Livermore City Council As a result, councilmembers asked the council to oppose the approved an ordinance that will had received numerous e-mails war in Iraq. There was not a ma- regulate where, when and how demanding a "no" vote. jority to do so. live adult entertainment can be Mayor Marshall Kamena Cheryl Cook-Kallio said her offered in the city. pointed out that legally cities issue was in institutionalizing Without the new regulations, cannot deny adult entertain- a resolution. "I will personally adult entertainment could have ment businesses. However, they Photo - Doug Jorgensen support the people of Iran. I don't located anywhere within the can regulate time, place and The 4th annual Relay For Life of Pleasanton was held over the weekend at Pleasanton Middle know where you draw the line city. Many in the audience had hours of operation. "The right to School. At last count, the walk had raised just over $70,000 towards the fight against cancer. The 24 in what the council supports. I thought that the city was ap- conduct the adult live entertain- hour event is designed to celebrate cancer survivors and to raise money for the American Cancer would also like to see the end of proving an application for a live ment business is protected by adult entertainment business, Society.
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