Issue1208.Pdf

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 • Vol. 12 Issue 8 Independent, locally 26,000 copies owned and operated! IS THERE SOMETHING delivered biweekly to WE CAN TAKE OFF Lamorinda homes & YOUR TO DO LIST? businesses 925-377-0977 www.lamorindaweekly.comom FREE 925-247-0092 .COM PAINTING MARKBELLINGHAM Local Business Owner Contractor License 456414 Bottom, from left: Bob Moore, Tom Schnurr, Eric Dausman, Edy Schwartz, Andy Scheck, Cathy Dausman; on ladder: Wendy Scheck and Sue Olsen. Photo Heidi Schoenberger Community converges for Rheem Theatre reopening By Sophie Braccini he Rheem Theatre is once again rising from the 2,” will introduce the fi lm. Tom Schnurr who is very excited to come to the June 14 ashes and will reopen on June 14. Pixar has done This time around the Rheem is on its way to becoming premiere. He noted that about 50 people came to the the- Tthe local historical venue a favor by releasing the a town-owned asset, which could fi nally be the winning ater on June 2 to clean up the venue and that he was en- movie “Incredibles 2” in Moraga one day ahead of the of- formula to secure its future. thused by the positive energy that fi lled the place; it was fi cial June 15 opening date – and Paul Mendoza, Orinda The much-anticipated movie is a great opening idea, truly a community affair. resident, and Pixar supervising animator on “Incredibles according to Moraga Community Foundation president ... continued on page A14 Advertising ##( ("(&& Letters to the Editor A11 *("*"%$#*-#"(+#((", Community Service B4 $!$*"$ (",*(%+$) Not to be Missed B8-B9 '*+*"+##-&&%"$* HOW TO CONTACT US B9 Classifi ed C2 &$% ( &&$%( Shop Orinda B10 '''% (&&$%("! Lafayette residents question city’s relationship with PG&E By Nick Marnell s Lafayette Vice Mayor Cameron Burks spearheads a of $531,000 to remove 272 trees on private and public Lafay- According to information supplied by the city, the company Aproposed public meeting for the Pacifi c Gas and Electric ette property. The company deemed that the trees have to go has reimbursed Lafayette more than $84,000 in legal fees Company to polish its image in front of its Lafayette custom- as they prevent fi rst responder access and safety inspections, through April. ers, some city residents say that Lafayette needs to repair its and that the tree roots could damage underground pipes. The city also fi led for reimbursement of charges for prep- own image as well, claiming that recent actions between the A local citizens group, Save Lafayette Trees, sued the city aration of case documents, and the court ordered Save Lafay- utility and the city have been compromised by confl icts of and the utility. “The city failed to conduct any environmental ette Trees to pay $11,553. The plaintiff contested the charges interest. review before entering into the contract with PG&E,” said and a hearing is scheduled for June 14. “It’s a sham. The city Burks called out PG&E for its “uneven level of corre- Stephan Volker, Save Lafayette Trees attorney. The court dis- is billing us for costs they never paid,” Volker said. Jennifer spondence and communication with city residents” at two missed the case in December, and the community group has Wakeman, city fi nancial services manager, confi rmed that the May city council meetings, and he requested a public meet- appealed. money, if collected, would go to PG&E. ing for the utility to appear before residents and city offi cials “PG&E is saving costs by cutting trees, which help them Reported confl icts of interest involving PG&E and Lafay- to “build public trust in the area of safety.” Among the list survey the line cheaply by airplane, and the city is working on ette offi cials include those of Mayor Don Tatzin and Council of topics for which Burks seeks clarity from PG&E include PG&E’s behalf to promote this program instead of ensuring Member Ivor Samson, who recuse themselves from PG&E its Community Pipeline Safety Initiative, in which the utility public safety. It’s a confl ict of interest in the highest order,” public discussions. Samson collects a pension from PG&E, proposes to remove a number of trees that it says pose public said Save Lafayette Trees representative Michael Dawson. having worked there as an attorney for 12 years, and Tatzin safety concerns, and the pipeline construction occurring this Burks declined to comment on pending legal action. said that a high pressure gas pipeline runs under the street in summer along St. Mary’s Road. Burks requested that repre- Not only are the city and PG&E joined as codefendants in front of his home, and some of the trees that are in the pub- sentatives from the utility’s regulator, the California Public the Save Lafayette Trees lawsuit, but PG&E has agreed to re- lic right of way and on his lot were marked for removal by Utilities Commission, attend the meeting, tentatively planned imburse the city for its legal costs. City Manager Steve Falk PG&E. for September. – who once interned with PG&E – explained the rationale for “The issue here is not only safety, but the issue of trust,” The city and the utility are fi nancially linked in the tree- the reimbursement in an April letter to a city resident, who ac- said a Lafayette resident at the May 29 council meeting. “Not removal program that Burks referred to. According to a March cused the city of not representing its constituents. “It is their only for PG&E, but for the city council.” 27, 2017 staff report, PG&E will pay the city a mitigation fee pipeline safety program that is being challenged,” Falk wrote. Civic News A1-A14 Life in Lamorinda B1-B10 Sports C1-C4 Our Homes D1-D16 Measure L voter counts Hurricane Local high Sprucing fi nalized – page A2. Maria school Track up the front survivor and Field entry for Fire Districts A8 spends championships summer senior year – page C3. entertaining Weed abatement deadline at Campo – page D1. looms – page A8. – page B1. Page: A2 LAMORINDA WEEKLY 925-377-0977 www.lamorindaweekly.com Wednesday, June 13, 2018 RELIEZ VALLEY COMING SOON... The One You’ve Been Waiting For! RARE NEW CONSTRUCTION | MODERN FARMHOUSE 1517 EL SOMBRO, LAFYETTE 4 Bedrooms + Office + Bonus | 3.5 Bathrooms 3875± Sq. Ft. Main House on .54± Acre Level Landscaped Parcel Public Meetings 350± Sq. Ft. Guest Cottage with Full Bathroom City Council Monday, June 25, 7 p.m. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, OFFERED AT $3,575,000 Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. 1517ElSombro.com Planning Commission Monday, June 18, 7 p.m. LAFAYETTE’S #1 REALTOR FOR 10 STRAIGHT YEARS! Lafayette Library & Learning Center, 925.339.1918 Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. |LICENSE #: 01482454 DANAGREENTEAM.COM Design Review Monday, June 25, 7 p.m. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Back to the drawing board on Deer Hill Road, as voters Arts & Science Discovery Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. reject Measure L School Board Meetings By Pippa Fisher Acalanes Union High School District Wednesday, June 27, 7 p.m. tizes,” said Sommer. “The Yes AUHSD Board Room campaign was organized by slick 1212 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette professionals who disregarded www.acalanes.k12.ca.us traffi c and air quality issues.” Lafayette School District No supporter, Lafayette resi- Wednesday, June 20, 7 p.m. dent Susan Candell, explained Regular Board Meeting that the No campaign spent all District Offi ce Board Room its time reacting to comments 3477 School St., Lafayette from the Yes supporters, saying www.lafsd.k12.ca.us that they had to get people over Check online for agendas, meeting the “fear factor” of the 315 apart- notes and announcements ments that had been proposed un- City of Lafayette: der the APO zoning. www.ci.lafayette.ca.us However, Dave Baker, con- Phone: (925) 284-1968 tractor and spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce: Those opposing Measure L made their point about traffi c and air pollution outside Acalanes High School prior to the vote. Photo provided developer O’Brien Homes said www.lafayettechamber.org lthough uncertainty due to park, a sports fi eld and parking, the topic was added to the June 11 in an email after the vote, that Auncounted last-minute ab- along with walkways – had re- council meeting (after this edition the Yes on L campaign was clear sentee ballots swirled in the air in ceived 45.5 percent of the vote of the Lamorinda Weekly went to with the voters. “The results are the day or two following the June compared to those opposing the not yet fi nal, but if Measure L Share your thoughts, print) for discussion and public 5 vote on measure L to determine rezoning and the proposed devel- input. fails, we will resume the afford- insights and opinions the fate of the development of opment, who had 54.4 percent of Lafayette resident and No able apartments project immedi- with your community. Deer Hill Road, by the following the vote. The result of this vote supporter Scott Sommer likened ately.” Friday evening it seemed certain keeps the zoning to APO (admin- the campaign to a David and Go- Save Lafayette President Mi- Send a letter to the editor: that the “No’s” had won. istrative and professional offi ces). liath situation, noting that the Yes chael Griffi th would not discuss further steps at this point until the letters@lamorinda As of June 8 those in favor The county has 30 days to cer- campaign received ten times the of Measure L – the proposition tify the results, and the city coun- monetary and nonmonetary con- results were certifi ed although he weekly.com which would rezone the area on cil will not adopt a new zoning tributions as the No campaign.

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