Positive Forecast for Business Environment Long-Range Planning Efforts They Spoke at a Pleasanton the Audience Totaled Some 80 Common Between the Cities
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VOLUME XLVII, NUMBER 13 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010 Positive Forecast for Business Environment Long-range planning efforts They spoke at a Pleasanton The audience totaled some 80 common between the cities. in prospective employees and by Tri-Valley cities to establish meeting of the Urban Land In- business representatives, more Today, the “whole region pulls take them downtown and these business-friendly communities stitute (ULI), an international than half of them developers and together” when it is necessary to people say, ‘Oh my God, I want should begin to pay off once organization whose charter is to architects, according to meeting visit Washington or Sacramento to live here!’” the economy starts to recover, anticipate and develop solutions organizers. The session was set on regional business. The Firehouse Arts Center, developers and business leaders to emerging land use issues. ULI up to showcase the advantages of Pleasanton Mayor Hosterman projected to open in September, were told last week. members range from architects to conducting business in the Tri- echoed his words. “We speak will only make the community Development money is real estate developers, city plan- Valley. Each city representative with one voice representing more attractive, she said. scarce now. However, Liver- ners and regulators. spoke optimistically about local 260,000 people” who live in the Dublin Mayor Sbranti painted more, Pleasanton and Dublin Speaking at the meeting were developments as well as efforts region, she told the group. a picture of a community that Find Out What's all represented themselves as Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hos- to speak in a coordinated man- Hosterman also expressed in is organizing its plans around having taken steps to deal with terman, Dublin Mayor Rick ner when Tri-Valley leaders visit glowing terms the image pre- transportation hubs – particularly Happening such issues as business needs, Sbranti, Livermore Commu- Sacramento. sented by the Tri-Valley to out- the existing and future BART housing, transportation and nity Development Director Marc Session moderator Guy Hous- siders who visit Pleasanton for stations – as well as taking advan- Check out the cultural activities in a way that Roberts and Director of the Al- ton, formerly mayor of Dublin the first time to consider coming tage of the intersection of Inter- should “prime the pump” for ameda County Surplus Authority and state assemblyman, noted to work here: “I hear from CEOs (See BUSINESS, page 4) second section future economic health. Pat Cashman. that a decade ago, disputes were all the time,” she said. “They fly Section II is filled with infor- mation about arts, entertainment and special events. There are Oak Grove education stories, a variety of features, and the arts and en- tertainment and bulletin board listings. No Change In Ballot Commission to Hold Hearing on Arguments BART Stations Several individuals sent re- quests to the Pleasanton city clerk The Livermore Planning Com- asking that she, in her capacity mission will take input on BART as elections officer for the city, plans to come to Livermore at its seek a writ eliminating portions April 6 meeting. of ballot arguments submitted re- The session will include a garding the support for Measure discussion of proposed BART D (Oak Grove). alignments, station sites, and The referendum of the Oak yard locations. Results from the Grove development is on the community workshops on station June 8 ballot. The development area planning and key environ- includes 51 custom home lots mental impacts and benefits will and 498 acres of permanent open be presented. space. It is located in the south- The Planning Commission east hills of Pleasanton. Since it will provide a recommendation was approved, there have been to the City Council regarding a series of legal battles over the a preferred alignment, station validity of the referendum, with site(s), and yard location. The the Court of Appeal siding with City Council will make an ad- the referendum supporters. visory recommendation to the The most recent controversy BART Board of Directors. The regarding the development plan council will hold its discussion have to do with statements in the on April 26. BART will select the Photo - Doug Jorgensen “yes” ballot arguments. preferred alignment and station A cattle drive held in Livermore last Sunday offered a glimpse of the old west. Councilmember Cindy Mc- site(s) this summer. Govern was concerned about The meeting begins at 7:30 assertions that housing would p.m. It will be held at the Robert not be visible on ridgelines and Livermore Community Center, would not be built on ridges. 4444 East Ave., Livermore. For Cattle Drive Evokes Old West Nostalgia McGovern asserted that the more information, call the city at By Ron McNicoll herded cattle for six miles along house, at about 1800 feet eleva- may not seem like much. How- argument deceives the public 960-4500. when it says the lots will all be The cattle drive, one of the Patterson Pass Road. tion in the Altamont. It was time ever, the local climate conditions Six miles is miniscule com- of the cattle’s new pasture varies placed below 790-foot elevation, staples of the Old West and the to move the cattle to a spring pas- more than 200 feet below the Western movies that depicted pared to driving cattle from ture, just east of the Alameda-San greatly from the foggier, cooler ridgeline. Pleasanton that historical period, is rarely Texas to Nebraska in the 1870s Joaquin County line. The pasture main pasture, said Vieira. Kay Ayala objected to the ar- seen anymore in the Valley. and ’80s. However, it does fit the is at about 300 feet elevation. It is Normally Vieira would trans- gument that states the developer To Consider Those scenes came alive again scale of urban-edge agriculture owned by Vieira’s father. port cattle in a truck, as do virtu- will pay $2 million to the school Proposition 15 on Sunday when Robert Vieira in 2010. The elevation drop of 1500 ally all ranchers. Because of the district. and a dozen of his neighbors Vieira’s main pasture is at his feet and the distance of six miles (See OLD WEST, page 2) City Attorney Jonathan Low- The Pleasanton City Council ell notes that the election code will decide next week whether or requires that prior to a writ being not to endorse Proposition 15 on issued, the request must provide the June 8 ballot. Parents’ First Funding Week Hits $42,000 “clear and convincing proof that The measure would create a the material in question is false, The opening drive to raise response has been good from The second phase will involve life of the tax. The tax could be misleading, or inconsistent with pilot project to make voluntary money for the coming school parents. A suggested donation seeking funds from the entire renewed after that. public financing available to the requirements of election year in Pleasanton has produced of $150 has been provided as a community. However, there is no time left code.” candidates running for Secretary approximately $42,000 in one guideline. Eventually, the district will to put a parcel tax on the ballot of State in 2014 and 2018. “It is not inherently evident week. The school families’ dona- likely go for a parcel tax for its this year, because a community that the statements complained It would establish a pilot Dave Halperan, treasurer for tions are the first piece in a grass- third stream of revenue. That has discussion is still needed. The program for the Secretary of of in this case are deceptive or Pleasanton Partners in Education roots campaign to raise money to the potential to provide a renew- discussion might involve the false,” added Lowell. State election campaigns. It is (PPIE), told the school board supplement the district’s budget able annual revenue stream for district polling residents about Lowell explained, that the funded primarily by registration at its meeting March 23 that for the coming school year. four years, which would be the (See FUNDS, page 4) (See OAK GROVE, page 4) fees on lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers, with no taxpayer dollars going to candi- (See PROPOSITION, page 10) Pleasanton Considers Appeal Of Housing Cap Decision The Pleasanton City Council League of California Cities. His held its third closed session analysis was published prior to to discuss whether to appeal a the court’s decision. recent court decisions that over- He concluded that the is- turns the housing cap. sues confronted by the City of No action was reported. City Pleasanton in the Urban Habitat Attorney Jonathan Lowell said litigation have the potential to af- that the council will discuss the fect cities statewide. “While few issue in open session at the next if any other cities impose abso- council meeting, April 6. lute numeric caps on residential Lowell declined to comment development, the challenges on what direction the sessions asserted by the Urban Habitat are taking. petitioners and the Attorney Gen- RABBIT ADOPTION EVENT Prior to the closed sessions, eral are broadly applicable to, and Would you like a bunny this speakers have urged the council place at risk, the most common- Easter? Come meet Joey from to move forward with an ap- place land use regulations.” Contra Costa Animal Services peal. The 29,000 unit housing cap and dozens of other rescued Last September, Thomas B. was approved by Pleasanton vot- bunnies and rabbits at the Brown of Hanson Bridgett LLP ers. There is room to build around Photo - Doug Jorgensen East Bay SPCA, located at wrote an analysis of legal chal- 2,951 under the cap.