Water Agencies Create JPA on Delta Tunnels Construction
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Thursday, MAY 24, 2018 VOLUME LV, NUMBER 21 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL Water Agencies Create JPA on Delta Tunnels Construction By Ron McNicoll positions in the new JPA. Jill Duerig, who retired in March as General Water districts that have voted to commit their funds to the Califor- Manager of Zone 7 Water Agency, has the role of interim director for See Inside Section A nia WaterFix have formed a Joint Powers Agreement to help the state the JPA. Duerig lives in Sunol. Section A is filled with Department of Water Resources accomplish construction of the Delta Livermore resident Sarah Palmer, a Zone 7 board member who information about arts, people, Twin Tunnels. has served two terms and is seeking a third in the June 5 election, is a entertainment and special events. The new JPA, the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Author- member of the JPA board. She was elected to the position of secretary. There are education stories, a ity (DCDCA), held its first meeting May 17 in Sacramento. After Metropolitan Water District (MWD), an amalgam of water variety of features, and the arts Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta, agencies in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, committed $11 bil- and entertainment and opposes the creation of the JPA at this time. lion to the project, the agencies that have signed on so far were able to bulletin board. Two Valley residents with experience in the water world have key (See JPA, page 8) Dublin Eases Way Vineyard 2.0 Project For County to “No-one Goes Build BART Hungry in Parking Structure By Ron McNicoll Livermore” A new parking structure at the A meeting to discuss the Vine- East Dublin/Pleasanton BART yard 2.0 project planned for North station is predicted for an October Livermore Avenue was held May 8 groundbreaking, after the Dublin in Livermore. City Council waived a couple of The Vineyard 2.0 plan would procedures that it felt were un- include 24 homes for the homeless, necessary for the development. consisting of 18 studios, 5 one bed- The council voted unanimously room units, and 1 two bedroom unit at its May 15 meeting to waive site for the residence manager. development review and to exempt The meeting, hosted by Asbury the project from development Methodist Church and the Unitar- impact fees. ian Universalist Church, was used Alameda County will develop to disseminate information about and operate the structure on sur- the project. Ways of working to- plus land that it owns close to the BART station. A Dublin policy gether and receiving feedback from allows the city to grant exemptions the Housing Consortium of the East to public agencies. Bay (HCEB) and the communi- Depending on whether the ties of Livermore, Pleasanton and structure is four stories or five Dublin on developing housing for stories tall, it should be able to park the homeless were also discussed. 500 to 650 cars, reported Assistant Among those presenting was City Manager Linda Smith. Darin Lounds, Executive Director The county’s commitment to of HCEB, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit undertake the project bypasses organization founded in 1996 to BART’s offer to the city, which find ways of addressing the short- Mayor David Haubert said he age of affordable housing options found unacceptable. for people with developmental The BART board in a 5-4 vote Photo - Doug Jorgensen disabilities and mental illness. in July 2017 asked its staff to look The annual Wine Country Fest in downtown Livermore offered a variety of activities for visitors over HCEB now owns and manages 38 into building a structure at the sta- the weekend. Arts and crafts, wine and beer tasting, and fun for the whole family were all part of the properties in 15 cities in the East (See PARKING, page2) festivities. Bay with over 170 households and over 300 tenants. The cities include Livermore, Fremont, Alameda, and Bennie’s Role as Interim President Extended to June 2019 Emeryville. Collaborations have been established with Bay Area The contract of Roanna Ben- Nunez, Public Relations Director begin this coming fall with the goal Bennie was selected in the Community Services, Alameda nie, Interim President of Las for the Chabot-Las Positas Com- of having a permanent President spring of 2015 to the position of County Behavioral Health Care Positas College, has been extended munity College District, explains mid-year or end of the academic Vice President, Academic Ser- Services, Oakland Project Connect through June of 2019. Guisselle that the executive search “will year.” (See PRESIDENT, page3) (see VINEYARD, page 3) Regional Rail Community College Authority Receives Grant Board Chancellor’s Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty and Tracy Mayor Pro Tem Veronica Vargas an- Contract Not Renewed nounced the State’s approval of a grant for planning efforts to status after June, the board also By Richard Yates connect ACE and BART rail sys- At its May 15 board meeting, authorized asking Dr. Susan Cota, tems to alleviate congestion on after a two-hour closed session, the Chancellor Emeritus, to serve as the I-580 corridor. They have Chabot-Las Positas Community Interim Chancellor for July and secured $750,000 in funding for College Board of Trustees read a August. the recently established Tri-Valley public statement stating that they The Chancellor was the sub- – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail had voted not to renew the current ject of two no confidence votes Authority. Chancellor’s contract beyond its last fall. At that time, the Chabot “The I-580 freeway serves the June 30, 2019 expiration. The vote Academic and Faculty Senate and Altamont Corridor and ranks as one was 5-2, with Isobel Dvorsky and the Chabot Student Senate both of the most congested freeways in Dr. Hal Gin voting in the minority. recorded votes of no confidence in the Northern California Megare- The next day, the Chancellor, Chancellor Jackson. The Academic gion due to high volume commuter, Dr. Jannett Jackson, wrote an email Senate approved a five-page writ- freight and other traffic,” said to district staff in response to the ten resolution which it delivered to Haggerty, who also serves as the vote: “At last night’s Board of the Board of Trustees on Novem- Regional Rail Authority’s Chair. Trustees’ meeting, a majority (5-2) ber 14, 2017. The document lists “With traffic on the I-580 expected of the board chose not to renew my instances where the senate found to increase 60 percent in the near contract. I respect their right to do that the Chancellor and her senior future, this is a very important rail connection that will not only im- that. I look forward to another year leadership withheld funding to the prove our quality of life, but will of working with you and serving colleges, micromanaged college affairs to the extent that it limited also have a positive impact on our the students of CLPCCD.” After economy and the environment.” the autonomy of the individual her contract expires on June 30, Tracy Mayor Pro Tem Veronica 2019, the Chancellor will have colleges, circumvented normal Vargas, who serves as the Regional served six years. budgetary procedures to make Rail Authority’s Vice Chair, said Additionally, the board voted unilateral decisions without the “The affordability of housing in unanimously during the open ses- required consultation of college Tracy and other Northern San sion to approve Lorenzo Legaspi, stakeholders, limited class offer- Joaquin Valley communities is Vice Chancellor of Business Ser- ings which disadvantaged students attractive to many residents who vices, to act as Interim Chancellor though classes could have been work in the Bay Area. However, for the month of June. Legaspi filled based on enrollments, and Photo - Doug Jorgensen the commute over the Altamont is will take the place of Jackson refused to correct an underlying Official groundbreaking ceremonies were held Saturday for intolerable. This is the right time during her recovery from surgery. imbalance in the funding allocation Stockmen's Park in downtown Livermore. A fence post marks the for policy makers on both sides of the Altamont to work together Depending on Jackson’s health (See CONTRACT, page 4) spot. The event also signaled the start of celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Livermore Rodeo. (See GRANT, page 4) PET OF THE WEEK Could you be the yin to this Yang? With her easy going INSIDE personality, Yang is complementary to all. This female MAIN SECTION Sports .................................... 7 domestic longhair cat is ready to bring harmony and balance to a new home. Adopt Yang at Valley Humane Classifieds........................... 10 Obituaries .............................. 9 Society, 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton. Open Tuesday Editorial ................................. 4 SECTION A through Saturday from 10am – 4pm. Visit valleyhumane. Mailbox .................................. 4 Art & Entertainment .............. 8 org or call (925) 426-8656 for more information. Photo - Valley Roundup ................................ 3 Bulletin Board ..................... 10 Humane Society/E. Scholz Short Notes ........................... 9 Milestones ........................... 12 2 The Independent • MAY 24, 2018 Memorial Observances Pleasanton City Council Votes to Scheduled in Valley Continue Potable Water Reuse Study Livermore The Pleasanton City Council voted unanimously at its fully by other California agencies for the past 30 years to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7265 will take part in May 15th meeting to continue to explore potable water reuse augment water supply, but the 2014 drought jump-started Memorial Day events in Livermore. technologies and receive periodic updates. the conversation in the Tri-Valley area. From 10 to 10:30 p.m., the program will take place at Both Mayor Jerry Thorne and Councilmember Karla The Tri-Valley Agencies Potable Reuse Feasibility Study, Roselawn Cemetery; 11 a.m.