Wednesday, April 9, 2014 • Vol. 8 Issue 3 Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church Presents Easter Worship Services Sunday, April 20 9am & 10:30am th, 2014 also join us for 26,000 copies Independent, locally owned and operated! Palm Sunday: delivered bi-weekly to Lamorinda homes Maundy ThursdayApril 13 & businesses th, 9 & 10:30am : April 17th www.lamorindaweekly.com • 925.377.0977 FREE , 7pm 10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga, CA 925-376-4800 | www.mvpctoday.org Volunteers helped customers pick out the perfect plants for their gardens April 5 at the Moraga Gardens Farm. Photo Andy Scheck Time for Planting lant sales like this one at the Moraga Gardens Farm grow in different light and various temperatures is one of between lush and lackluster. To learn more about our com- last weekend have been popping up throughout the keys to a successful garden, understanding microcli- munities’ microclimates and to get other planting tips, read PLamorinda as residents prep gardens and yards for mates within the three Lamorinda communities – and even “How to Plant in Lamorinda’s Microclimates” in the Our spring planting. While understanding how plants and trees within each individual plot of land – can be the difference Homes section on page C1. Advertising Quote of the Week: "These opponents Selling Lamorinda! would be right; it does seem overwhelming. But I see it a little Christine Curran differently." Read Lauren Woolsey Letters to the Editor - 925.285.5336 223 Corliss Drive, Moraga 73 Sullivan Drive, Moraga page A10. Lic# 01896147/01940797 www.atHomeinLamorinda.com Represented Buyers Represented Buyers Local Governments Stop PG&E Tree Town News A2 - A14 Business A10 Life in Lamorinda B1 - B14 Cutting Project – For Now Classified B8 Food B9 By Sophie Braccini Service Directory B9 acific Gas and Electric Company officials an- In his address to the City Council on March 24, gested it “might be easier to move the pipelines Not to be Missed B12-B13 nounced March 27 that they are putting a hold Lafayette’s city manager, Steven Falk, explained than move the trees.” Lafayette was one of eight HOW TO CONTACT US B13 P on tree removal related to the utility’s Pipeline Path- that the purpose of PG&E’s project was to create a cities to sign a letter to PG&E requesting a dia- Love Lafayette B14 ways safety program in East Bay communities, ex- clear pathway above all of its gas transmission logue, and the City Council voted to enter into a Sports E1 - E4 cept on private properties by agreement with pipelines, allowing PG&E to better maintain, in- fee-sharing agreement with other municipalities to Our Homes C1 -C16 property owners. The statement was made in the spect, and safely operate the system. All trees hire a law firm to challenge PG&E. This Week Read About: aftermath of an organized revolt by affected cities within 10 feet on either side of the center line of a “Tree and vegetation roots can damage an un- Dog Park Potential A2 against the agency’s campaign to clear a pathway gas transmission pipe would be cut down, and all derground pipeline by impacting the pipeline's pro- Council Members Appeal Plan A4 above its gas lines that would include the cutting trees with canopies that extend into the 20-foot tective coating system, exposing it to corrosion,” Service Above Self A6 down of thousands of trees. pathway margin would either be removed or stated Jesus Soto, senior vice president of PG&E's Station 46 Revisited A9 The quick reaction of the jurisdictions that trimmed. PG&E claimed the right to remove trees gas operations. The Pipeline Pathways project Doctor for a Cause B2 formed a coalition to stop the tree removal was very in the public right of way without the need for local would remove thousands of trees on private and SMC's WWI Exhibit B5 effective in changing the agency’s attitude from one permits and authorization. public properties, including some very well estab- Dogtown Downtown B6 of “we can do what we want” to “let’s partner and Lafayette City Council members reacted lished ones in downtown areas and scenic corridors. Egg Hunts and More B10 find a solution together.” Lamorinda cities partici- strongly to the tree removal plan. Mayor Mike An- “In Moraga the gas transmission line PG&E Specialties of the House B11 pated in a general meeting March 21 to share in- derson noted that some of the trees are well over has identified runs down St. Mary’s Road from the Softball, LAX Update E2 formation; Lafayette and Moraga didn’t hesitate to 200 years old, predating the pipelines, and ex- Lafayette border for 1.32 miles, approximately to DFAL Honors E4 make forceful statements opposing tree removal claimed, “This is the most ham-fisted effort I’ve the Mulberry Tree Preschool parking lot,” said Jill without a permit. ever heard!” Councilmember Mark Mitchell sug- Keimach, town manager. ... continued on page A14 Life in Lamorinda B1-B14 Our Homes C1-C16 Camps D1-D6 Sports E1-E4 Grace and Passion Dealing with Summer New Coach at Camp Local Drought SMC marathoners Part two of Cynthia Guide Valenzuela return to Brian's series on So much to do, so sets a new Boston - gardening during a little time! Half-day course for page B1. drought - page camps let your kids Gaels' baseball try something new - C13. page D1. - page E1. Page: A2 LAMORINDA WEEKLY www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 STILL #1 FOR A REASON 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Lafayette’s Best Setting the Stage for Success! Proud to offer complimentary Civic News professional staging on every listing… Let our 2 full-time stagers and Public Meetings 2 warehouses chalked full of inventory increase your sales price!!! City Council Dana Green License #: 01482454 Monday, April 14, 7 p.m. Monday, April 28, 7 p.m. DanaGreenTeam.com | 925.339.1918 Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Planning Commission Spacious Dog Park Proposed on Deer Hill Monday, April 21, 7 p.m. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, By Cathy Tyson Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. prised the PTR Commission and staff Design Review were when the ‘Deerhill Park Devel- Monday, April 14, 7 p.m. opment’ (also known as the Terraces) included a dog park as one of the pro- Monday, April 28, 7 p.m. posed park amenities,” said Jennifer Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Russell, parks, trails and recreation di- Arts & Science Discovery Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. rector. “Unfortunately, the overall park space wasn’t large enough to ac- Check online for agendas, meeting commodate all of the new features notes and announcements which led to the developer proposing City of Lafayette: an area north of the proposed home www.ci.lafayette.ca.us sites. This area would include a ded- Phone: (925) 284-1968 icated parking lot for dog owners and Chamber of Commerce: a 1.5 acre area for the dogs to romp www.lafayettechamber.org and play. The site also has stupendous views of Mount Diablo and the sur- School Board Meetings rounding hills as well as a potential Acalanes Union High School District picnic site under a huge bay tree.” Wednesday, April 16, 7:30 p.m. View of the abandoned red house on Deer Hill Road where the Alternative Plan dog park could be located – if the “The problem is that the new lo- AUHSD Board Room at 1212 revised Terraces project is approved. Photo Cathy Tyson cation, much larger size as well as Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette lthough “Alternative Plan” doc- said project manager Dave Baker. that year that spelled out the parame- having its own parking lot, made the www.acalanes.k12.ca.us uments of the redesigned Ter- The developer of the proposed ters of an appropriate dog park. For- park much more expensive than the A original $100,000 allowance for the Lafayette School District races of Lafayette housing project are project, O’Brien Land Company, has mer Mayor Ivor Samson and his wife still being reviewed by the city, there negotiated with the owner of the po- Sharon formed the Lafayette Dog dog park. Consequently, we are offer- Wednesday, April 9, 7 p.m. has been some discussion about the tential dog park parcel, the Anna Owners Group, or LDOG, during this ing just the bare bones,” said Baker. “I Regular Board Meeting size and location of the proposed dog Maria Dettmer Trust, which is also process, officially organizing as a believe we are very fortunate that Stanley Library park that was part of the amenity the owner of the Terraces parcel; for non-profit in 2007, and started an there were so many parties willing to 3477 School St., Lafayette package for this new plan. Back in an option on the 4-acre property. email list of dog park supporters. “At work toward a solution. Especially www.lafsd.k12.ca.us January, the City Council approved a Drivers on Deer Hill Road can easily that time there were over 3,000 dogs when you consider that various groups have been trying for over 10 years to Share your thoughts, insights Process Agreement that provides for spot the alternate location of the pro- licensed in Lafayette,” said Sharon get a dog park in Lafayette.” and opinions with your an expedited review process of the posed dog park by the abandoned red Samson. She explained that because smaller version of the “Terraces” house on the site, just below the crest the Terraces development is still in the If the alternate dog park is ap- ommunity.