Taxpayer Group Threatens to Sue Water District
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You are what you eat The roots of picky eating WEEKEND | 17 AUGUST 31, 2012 VOLUME 20, NO. 33 www.MountainViewOnline.com 650.964.6300 MOVIES | 20 Taxpayer group threatens to sue water district By Nick Veronin the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters’ restriction of 75 words he Silicon Valley Taxpayers for ballot descriptions by two Association is threatening words. Tto sue the Santa Clara Val- The board found out about the ley Water District for violating problem on Aug. 7, three days the Brown Act — a charge that before the Aug. 10 filing dead- a representative from the public line for the Nov. 6 election, and utility said was politically moti- was acting as quickly as possible vated and twists the facts. to address it, Grimes said. The In a letter to the public utility, district missed notifying the the taxpayers association told Mercury News by 59 minutes the water district that it would and posted the notification of the consider litigation if the “Safe, meeting on its website 45 min- Clean Water and utes late, Grimes Natural Flood Pro- said. tection” measure “Our read of it — an extension ‘I can’t imagine is, we made good MICHELLE LE and increase of the faith efforts to EASING THE TRANSITION Measure B parcel why they would meet the Brown Transitional kindergarten students learn to color within the lines during Ann Hanneman’s class at tax from 2000 — make this mistake Act,” he said. Theuerkauf Elementary School. See story and additional photos on Page 7. is not withdrawn “There wasn’t from the Novem- on purpose.’ really a substan- ber ballot. JOHN ROEDER, tive breach of The SVTA claims PRESIDENT OF THE SVTA the Brown Act that the water dis- in any way.” More residents say trict violated the “I agree that it Brown Act when was an honest officials there failed to notify the mistake. I can’t imagine why PG&E will strip their yards public and local press, as they are they would make this mistake required by law to do, a full 24 on purpose,” said John Roeder, ONE GAS LINE WILL BE MOVED NEXT YEAR, hours before convening a meet- president of the SVTA. But, he BUT TREES STILL HAVE TO COME OUT, PG&E SAYS ing pertaining to a parcel tax continued, “the law says that extension proposal. these are the notification periods. By Daniel DeBolt the trees that shade his yard and What bothers Hauck even A representative from the dis- There was a violation of that.” seven other households because more is that PG&E insists on trict said that “good faith” efforts Grimes maintained that the group of residents who they are over major gas lines 132 removing the trees even though were made, and claimed his only reason Roeder and the asso- live in a Rock Street con- and 109, and could damage the next year it may relocate the organization missed the deadline ciation care about the violation Ado complex are joining line and cause an explosion. section of gas line 109 that runs by only about an hour, at most. is that they are opposed to the a chorus of complaints from The trees include two large pines under the them. Marty Grimes, spokesman for measure and always have been. Mountain View residents about and a redwood with a 3-foot- “I want them to move the the SCVWD, admits that district “They are going to do anything PG&E’s plans to strip backyards diameter trunk, all apparently whole thing out to Middlefield officials were late in notifying the they can to try to kill it any way where major gas lines exist. ignored by PG&E since the 1970s. and not destroy my backyard,” Mercury News and in posting a they can,” he said. “It’s never going to be as nice,” “That one they are very anx- Hauck said. “The trees are just notice on the SCVWD website Roeder does not entirely dis- said Kenneth Hauck, a resident ious to get rid of,” Hauck said gorgeous right now. They pro- that a special meeting was to be pute this statement. of the condos at 1963 Rock St., of the 80-foot-tall redwood in vide a sense of privacy, a sense of held Aug. 8. However, Grimes “I would like to see Measure as he looked at the view of eight the parking lot next to his unit. beauty.” said, the meeting was held for B simply taken off the ballot, trees that shade his second-story “It’s right on the pipeline. PG&E Residents of 15 other house- one reason only: to remove two and I would like to see them put balcony, a hummingbird hover- clearly didn’t pay any attention to holds on San Lucas Avenue find words from the parcel tax ballot together a better, well thought- ing nearby. this the whole time” the tree has description because officials at PG&E wants to remove all been there. See PG&E, page 6 the water district had exceeded See TAXPAYER GROUP, page 9 INSIDE VIEWPOINT 15 | GOINGS ON 22 | MARKETPLACE 23 | REAL ESTATE 25 Financing up to 100% of purchase price, plus tax, license and service contracts Terms up to 7 years Convenient online application *YOUR ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE (APR) MAY BE HIGHER BASED ON CREDIT QUALIFICATION. 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School District were sched- Take a photo with the Mountain View Voice on your next trip FOOD TRUCKS FOCUS OF SURVEY uled to continue arguing their and email to [email protected] respective views Aug. 30 in the How much food truck regu- long and protracted legal battle lation is necessary? over disagreements between A new survey is being circu- the two educational organi- lated by city officials to gauge zations, an official with the the community’s interest in charter school said.