VOLUME LII, NUMBER 40 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN • LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2015 Plans to Change Livermore Arts Commission Needs More Input Plans to change the role mission currently takes on art Gary said the issue is the number of members on staff, refining the Commis- of Livermore's Commission two roles. One to generate important to resolve. He the Commission from nine sion's mission would allow Find Out What's for the Arts were sent back to and create applications, the suggested staff meet with to seven; adjusting the num- it to focus on the review and staff for more work. other to review rank and the Livermore Cultural Arts ber of meetings from one a funding process of applica- Happening After reviewing the fund the applications. That Council (LCAC) to revisit month to four a year; allow- tions, setting art priorities for Check Out Section A changes and listening to places fund control in the the depth and scope of what ing mini grant applications the city, and reviewing and Section A is filled with public testimony, the city hands of those who generate LCAC and the Commis- of $1000 or less to be ap- making recommendations information about arts, council tabled the proposal the proposals. One of the sion accomplish. He said plied for and approved four regarding public art. people, entertainment and and directed staff to take a objectives of the changes he was open to providing a times a year; allowing grant According to Eric Ura- special events. There are more collaborative approach, is to separate the two func- stipend to LCAC to conduct applications up to $5000 to nga, Assistant Communi- education stories, a variety engaging commissioners, the tions and determine whether outreach and generate grant be reviewed and granted on a ty Development Director of features, and the arts and public and art community in both remain city functions to proposals. biannual basis; and prohibit- Housing & Human Services entertainment and bulletin the process. accomplish the mission of Among the proposed ing board members of art Manager, the current ordi- board. City Manager Marc Rob- public art. changes for the Commission groups from serving on the nance gives the Commission erts explained that the Com- Councilmember Stew- are the following: reducing commission. According to (See COMMISSION, page 10) DSRSD Plan for ACE-BART Diversification Connection Could Have Could Attract Impact on Zone 7 Federal Funds By Ron McNicoll Dublin San Ramon Ser- Connecting BART to vices District (DSRSD) is ACE Train in Livermore looking at diversifying water ranks as a factor that could sources based on a draft open up new funding sourc- plan that mixes traditional es, according to Congress- sources with new ones for man Eric Swalwell. an expansion of its portfolio. The connection would The plan, if adopted help to alleviate congestion by the DSRSD board Oct. along the I-580 corridor by 20, also could have rami- taking more cars off the fications for Zone 7 Water road. Agency, the Valley's water There are hurdles to wholesaler. (DSRSD is tak- overcome, such as the view ing public comment on its that people do not commute plan until Oct. 20. A report into the Bay Area from the is available on the DSRSD Central Valley. It is a view website from its Sept. 1 that determines much of the meeting archives.) funding decisions. The DSRSD goal is to The estimated cost to Isa- get away from relying on bel is $1.2 billion; the cost only one or two sources, to Greenville $3.2 billion. as is the case now. As part The federal government is of the plan's design, no one potential source of needed source would provide more funds. than 40 percent of the water Swalwell noted, "We to DSRSD. will find every dollar that The proposals would not is available. The current only be drought years, but House of Representatives also for all years. It would ban on earmarks and the in- become the New Normal. ability of Congress to pass Old elements that would a long-term transportation be retained include the use Photo - Doug Jorgensen Dogs and their human friends got together last Sunday to benefit the Valley Humane Society. Paws in the Park, bill can make getting fed- of recycled waste water eral funding a challenge. from the DSRSD wastewa- held at Amador Valley Community Park in Pleasanton, included live music, a free animal festival, and food, as well With that said, funding for ter treatment plant, and the as a stroll around the park. Dogs demonstrated their skills in a variety of activities. All of the proceeds benefit the BART to Isabel should be purchase of potable water rescued dogs and cats at Valley Humane Society. aided by the fact that there from the State Water Project are already so many local (SWP) via Zone 7 Water dollars committed to the Agency. However, the pro- project. That well over half portions would change, with Pleasanton Council to Consider Zoning Change of funds have been gener- more use of recycled water, ated locally will make it and less of the SWP. The Pleasanton City owned by Centerpointe The council will hear the zoning change at its easier to get the balance of Conservation would be- funding at the federal level come a permanent fixture, Council will take up a Church. the matter at its October August 12 meeting on a controversial develop- The council is being 6 meeting, which begins 3 to 2 vote. to complete the Phase 1 something already required extension to Livermore. The before the drought at a 20 ment that would rezone asked to rezone 4.23 acres at 7 p.m. In the report prepared land to allow construction of 6.22 acres at the corner The Planning Com- for the commission, it fact that there is an incred- percent by 2020 level, ac- ible opportunity to connect cording to a state law. Dur- of 27 new homes on land of Valley and Busch. mission recommended (See ZONING, page 3) ing the drought, conserva- (See BART-ACE, page 5) tion was achieved far be- yond 20 percent -- nearly 40 percent on an annual basis. Pleasanton Raises School Fees, It translates to a reduction to 70 gallons per person per day in the DSRSD service Starts Superintendent Search area. That would become The Pleasanton Unified fees. However, Pleasanton rollment for 2014/15 in the new ceiling for water School District board voted secures higher fees through K-5 schools reached 6271 conservation. to raise developer fees and developer agreements. For students in facilities with Prudent use of water to ask for proposals from single family development, a capacity of 4615. The combined with the diversi- consultants who would con- the district was charging overcrowding amounts to fied portfolio would also be duct the search for a new $6.74 per square foot. That 35 percent in those grades. the key to achieving reli- superintendent. has risen to $7.50. It will go Overcrowding in the ability with more predictable The board acted unani- up further on Oct. 1, 2016, to middle schools stands at water resources, DSRSD mously at the Sept. 22 meet- $8.25 per square foot. 24 percent. High schools could reduce its need for ing on both items. The board approved the are only 2 percent above conservation. The state imposes a cap fee justification study that capacity. New sources to be con- on developer fees of $3.36 supports the fee increase. The projection for sidered for the portfolio per square foot for Level 1 The study shows that en- are desalination, Indirect (See PLEASANTON, page 4) Potable Reuse (IPR), which would inject treated waste- ANDY WEIR water into the groundwater Dublin Trustees to Urge Council to basin and reservoirs. Even- tually, using treated waste- water for direct potable use OK Jordan Ranch Plan Change 'The Martian' Has could be an option. Turf replacement pro- By Ron McNicoll authorize the MOU at their reserved for an elementary Roots in Livermore grams and rainwater capture The Dublin Unified meeting Sept. 22. Their next school. The school district adaptations at homes and School District board unani- action will be to attend the does not have the estimated When the science-fiction survival film “The Martian” hits businesses, would be a con- mously approved the memo- Oct. 6 City Council meeting $30 million to buy the land. theaters nationwide on Friday, local viewers won’t have to sideration to make water go randum of understanding as individuals to advocate The city worked out a search the cosmos to find a connection. further. Government could (MOU) that would enable for the council to grant de- deal where the developer Andy Weir, author of the New York Times’ bestselling possibly encourage subsi- the school district to obtain a veloper Jordan Ranch LLC builds homes on the origi- novel on which the film is based, has his roots in Liver- dies for acquisition, as has low-cost ground lease in Jor- a general plan amendment nal school site. The city more, where he immersed himself in classic sci-fi novels occurred with rooftop solar dan Ranch in East Dublin, change. would give up 10 acres of that would influence him later in life. While still a student energy panels. Developers courtesy of city government The developer wants to parkland nearby in a shared at Livermore High, Sandia California hired the 15-year-old might even include such on which to build a school. build 150 homes on the park/school use.