Zone 7 District Looks at Big Changes for Rate Structure
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
VOLUME LII, NUMBER 36 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN • LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 Zone 7 District Looks at Big Changes for Rate Structure By Ron McNicoll water wholesalers to pay consultant's recommen- cially dramatic for July and The directors did not ap- Find Out What's An overhaul of the entire for their infrastructure and dations was a 5 percent August when compared to prove anything at the meet- structure of how Zone 7 water deliveries. increase above the project- the baseline year of 2013, ing. The intent is to discuss Happening Water Agency bills the four Also during the meeting, ed 3 percent cost of living when residents normally do possibilities at their regular Valley water retailers is be- the board voted 5 to 2 to increase annually for the more watering. board meeting Sept. 19. Tra- Check Out Section A ing considered. approve the text of a letter operations and maintenance Even without the drought, ditionally, directors set the Section A is filled with The Zone 7 board met responding to the Alameda budget. state law will require all following year's water rates information about arts, Aug. 26 to hear Sanjay County Grand Jury about With Valley water con- California households to cut at the September meeting people, entertainment and Gaur, a consultant for Rafte- how the agency handled the servation efforts far above water usage by 20 percent by and hold a second reading special events. There are lis Financial Consultants, acquisition of nearly 5000 state-required percentages, 2020. So Zone 7 is consider- in October. The board would education stories, a variety describe the current rate acres of Patterson Ranch Zone 7 is being left high ing a way to pay for all the then meet the required 45- of features, and the arts and structure, and show how land adjacent to Lake Del and dry when it comes to changes coming up, and to day period prior to when the entertainment and bulletin board. it compares to two other Valle. revenue. The conservation stabilize rates as much as new rates would take effect models used by California In his report, among the numbers locally are espe- possible in the long run. Jan. 1. (See ZONE 7, page 4) September 9 Healthy People Talk Set On Improve the Climate History Bottom Line A public talk on the cli- mate history of California For Hospitals and the west will be offered next Wednesday evening at Hospitals are in the midst Castlewood Country Club in of a journey of change lead- Pleasanton. ing to health care that will The talk, by author and reduce costs by keeping earth scientist Lynn Ingram people healthier. of UC-Berkeley, is sched- "It's all about better uled to begin at 7 p.m. Res- health care and outcomes ervations and advance pay- through integrated health ment of $32 are required by care, which involves taking Saturday, September 5, for care of the whole person, dinner and the talk. catching problems earlier." Two years ago, Ingram That was the observation and a Berkeley colleague co- of Rebecca Rozen, regional authored a book describing vice president of the North- how scientists have pains- ern Hospital Council. She takingly unearthed clues spoke at the Livermore Val- to thousands of years of ley Chamber of Commerce western climate history, re- Wine Country Luncheon vealing a past that includes held at Concannon Vineyard prolonged droughts punctu- last Thursday. ated by extreme floods. Rozen noted that hospi- The book received con- tals are part of the quality of siderable attention as a life of a community. The af- warning that “our modern fordable care act, along with civilization may be ill pre- Medicare (Medi-Cal) are pared for the future climate transforming how hospitals changes that are predicted will operate in the future. to beset the region,” in the She said there are four words of the publisher, Uni- Pictured are Michael Rodrigues and Kristin Allen (his partner with whom he was inducted), and Marie Annonson areas where change is tak- versity of California Press. (their coach). For the story, go to page 2. Photo - Sarah Tyler Photography. ing place. The book is titled, The The first relates to con- West Without Water: What solidation and affiliations. Past Droughts, Floods and Rozen stated, that we will Other Climatic Clues Tell continue to see more hospi- Us About Tomorrow. Park District Moves to Purchase tals, physician groups and Ingram herself studies insurers consolidating to climate history as reflected Ridgetop ‘Jewel’ in San Ramon Valley provide economies of scale in rock and soil layers and and better bottom financial in fossils, particularly near The East Bay Regional The pristine parcel will in the popular Calaveras op Ranch, Dublin Hills and lines. lake and ocean shores where Park District Board of Di- connect Bishop Ranch Open Ridge Trail. now this. This is the missing The second involves pay- water levels rise and fall rectors voted unanimously Space Preserve and Dublin “When you look west jewel in the necklace,” said ment for goods and services. with the seasons and with Tuesday to enter into an Hills Regional Park. The from the Valley, you’ll see Park District Board Member How and what payment is changing climate. In her option to acquire 362 acres purchase will preserve one the Park District has been Beverly Lane, whose district made and who is paying of the former Wiedemann of the most visible hilltops stitching together parks includes the Wiedemann book, she also describes the have been transformed with Ranch on the western edge in the San Ramon Valley that preserve the ridgelines. property. the affordable care act. In efforts of many other scien- of San Ramon. and provide a critical link There’s Las Trampas, Bish- tists to understand western (See PURCHASE, page 5) the past, hospitals were paid climate history. for each medical procedure. The Valley Study Group Rozen said that this provided is hosting the talk. To make an incentive to do more pro- arrangements to attend the Batchelor Leaves TVLC for Private Academy cedures. Now, hospitals are paid for results - providing event, phone 447-8876 or By Ron McNicoll since its opening eight years ton, and the addition of Old academy eventually will send an email to VSGPresi- the right care at the right Tri-Valley Learning Cor- ago of its first school, Liver- Town Academy, a San Diego provide its classrooms in a place and at the right time. [email protected]. poration (TVLC) has ap- more Valley Charter School elementary charter school. converted office building at Outpatient services are pointed an interim CEO (LVCS). He saw the organi- Batchelor is joining the 3090 Independence Drive, becoming more the norm Dublin School to replace Bill Batchelor, zation through the creation leadership team of a pri- and will share the building with hospitals reserved for who has resigned from the of Livermore Valley Charter vate prep academy that is with LVCP. patients with complex medi- Board Vacancy corporation. Preparatory (LVCP) school, attracting students from TVLC board president cal procedures and complex Batchelor had led TVLC two charter schools in Stock- around the world. The small to Be Filled (See TVLC, page 5) (See HEALTH CARE, page 4) On August 25, 2015 the Dublin Unified School LVPAC Lobster Clambake to District Board of Trustees Spotlight 'Arts Champion of the adopted procedures and timelines for a provisional Year' Award Winner, Scott Haggerty appointment to fill a board vacancy following Sean Half Moon Bay’s seafood Vineyards, the event will Kenney’s resignation, ef- meets Livermore’s finest benefit both the Bankhead fective July 31, 2015. The wines at the Third Annual Theater and the Bothwell appointee would remain Lobster Clambake, slated Arts Center, which provide until the regularly scheduled for Saturday evening, Sep- opportunities to experience election in November 2016. tember 12, 2015. and explore the visual and The seat would be up for Presented by the Liver- performing arts in the Tri- election at that time to fill more Valley Performing Valley. out the remaining two years Arts Center (LVPAC), this LVPAC’s largest fun- of the term. New England-style lobster draising event of the year The process for the pro- clambake will feature sea- will now also feature the visional appointment in- food by Sam’s Chowder “Arts Champion of the Year” cludes the completion of House, the award-winning Award. The newly created an application and a formal wines of Wente Vineyards, award will be presented an- Photo - Doug Jorgensen interview by a Board panel live music, dancing, as well nually by LVPAC to honor Grapes are ripening in the vineyards of the Livermore Valley. The annual harvest wine of two Trustees. The Board as silent and live auctions. individuals who have made celebration on September 6 offers an opportunity to sample the fruits of the vines. panel will nominate can- Set on the lawn of Wente For the story, see page 8. didates. The Board will (See CLAMBAKE, page 8) conduct interviews at the September 22, 2015 meet- ing of the Board of Trustees. Inside PET OF THE WEEK The board will make the You’ll want to look over this 3-legged Rover before provisional appointment. he’s picked by someone else! The 6-month-old Lab SECTION A Editorial..............................4 The successful candidate mix is adorably floppy. He’s a tad green, but with love will take the oath of office Art & Entertainment........... 8 Mailbox...............................4 and training he’ll be a magically delicious family pet. and be seated that evening.