Wednesday, January 29, 2014 • Vol. 7 Issue 24 26,000 copies Independent, locally owned and operated! delivered bi-weekly to Lamorinda homes & businesses www.lamorindaweekly.com • 925.377.0977 FREE Jon Wake, 11, waits ‘not so patiently’ for his grandmother in Lafayette while brother, Jeff, and father, Dan, check their iPhones. Photo Jennifer Wake By Amanda Kuehn he first iPhone made its debut Jan. 9, 2007. We use them in our cars and at restaurants, for work and at Saint Mary’s College, shared some interesting insights Seven years later, over nine million iPhones on vacation. With the ability to find friends online and on the issue. When asked how she saw recent technology Twere sold in the first weekend alone after the re- take the Internet just about anywhere, is it possible that effecting today’s culture, Rigsby commented that “social lease of the iPhone 5S, according to businessweek.com. we are missing out on real connection with each other? relationships develop around technology.” Change hap- Smartphones and their apps follow us everywhere – to Maybe even with ourselves? pens fast because technology itself advances so quickly. grocery stores, soccer games, school, the movie theater. Ellen Rigsby, associate professor of communications ... continued on page A12 Quote of the Week: Advertising “I heard someone once say www.66crestavenue.comEarly Spring Market www.29lavuelta.com that in your first 30 years, you learn what you need to know; Brings no rain but during the next 30 years you lots of buyers. do what you’re good at and the rest of your life you do Please call for a what you love. I'm still loving listing update. it all." Read Moraga's Own 66 Crest Avenue, Alamo 29 La Vuelta, Orinda Hot Dog King - page B2 CalBRE#01272382 Laura Abrams (925) 253-4611 www.lauraabrams.com Two Parcel Taxes Likely on May Ballot Local schools looking for an extension of existing measures Town News A2 - A12 By Cathy Tyson Business A10 he Acalanes Union High School District and The initial results are in from a feasibility study form one measure. Life in Lamorinda B1 - B10 the Lafayette School District are making completed by True North Research on behalf of the Voters approved the Measure J parcel tax in Classified B6 T plans to put measures on the May, 2014 ballot to high school district; officials say the results look 2007 for $313 per parcel that includes a 3 percent Food B7 extend exiting parcel taxes that will sunset next promising. More complete results are expected in annual adjustment for inflation – this measure sun- Service Directory B7 year. Voters in Moraga, Orinda, Lafayette and parts the near future. sets in 2015. In addition, voters approved Measure Not to be Missed B8-B9 of Walnut Creek will vote on the high school dis- If the measure isn’t approved, the district will B in 2011 for $176 per parcel that also expires in Sports C1 - C3 trict measure, while only Lafayette voters will have to lay off teachers and classified staff accord- 2015. Currently these two taxes contribute roughly HOW TO CONTACT US C2 make a decision for the Lafayette School District. ing to Tom Mulvaney, AUHSD board member. 15 percent of the annual budget, almost $5 million Shop Orinda C4 Back in 2010 voters in the AUHSD, which in- “It’s key that we keep our teachers,” he explained, dollars. Our Homes D1 -D16 cludes Campolindo, Miramonte, Acalanes, Las adding, “We have a very serious responsibility; Decisions about whether to place a measure on This Week Read About: Lomas and the Acalanes Center for Independent we’re going to have to do something.” the ballot, along with the timing and structure, will Terraces Moving Forward A2 Study, approved Measure A for $112 per parcel to Board members called for an additional special be finalized at a special meeting of the Lafayette Tribute to Fishers A4 raise money to avoid the loss of science, foreign meeting to review the measure and finalize ballot School District on Jan. 30, according to Teresa Ger- Mayor at School A6 language, English, social studies, arts, and mathe- language before the Feb. 5 deadline. ringer, president of the school board. ConFire Report A9 matics classes due to cuts in the state budget. Only Lafayette voters will likely have a second Rachel Zinn, superintendent of the Lafayette Urgent Care Opens A10 Measure A, also known as the “Emergency Educa- parcel tax measure, if approved, on the May ballot School District, called passage of the parcel tax Sound of Writing B1 tion Act” collected this fee per parcel for five years – this one for the Lafayette School District com- “critical.” Local Author at Orinda Books B5 starting in 2010, resulting in approximately $3.9 prised of four elementary schools and Stanley Mid- Both the Acalanes Union High School District Player-Turned-Coach C2 million in annual funding since the 2010-2011 dle School. Not one, but two existing parcel taxes and Lafayette School District measures would need school year, according to the district. are expiring; the district would combine both to to garner at least two-thirds of the vote to pass. Life in Lamorinda B1-B10 Sports C1-C4 Our Homes D1-D16 Jan Term Gaels Art in the Garden Speakers Ride Hot- Sculptures CNN's Geraldine Moriba Streak grow like on metamorphosis; SMC men play a flowers in coming up, former U.S. great game this Orinda poet laureate Robert against LMU - garden - page Haas - page B4. page C1. D1. Page: A2 LAMORINDA WEEKLY www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, January 29, 2014 STILL #1 FOR A REASON 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Updated Burton Valley Lafayette’s Best Traditional 3389 Sweet Drive5:`:7VV 3BR/2BA, 1800± sq. ft. on .37± acre Civic News view parcel with level front & rear yards. Public Meetings cV`VR: $5 5 3389SweetDrive.com ]VJ: R%JR* City Council License #: 01482454 Monday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, DanaGreenTeam.com | 925.339.1918 Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Planning Commission Monday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, City Council Approves Terraces Process Agreement Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Design Review By Cathy Tyson Monday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m. t the second of two meetings dations from all of those admin- The Housing Accountability cludes sinking funds for long Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Aheld to make a decision on istrative bodies. The City Coun- Act, also known as the anti- term capital investments such as Arts & Science Discovery Center, the Process Agreement of the cil can then vote to approve, deny NIMBY statute, limits the ability replacing the soccer field at the 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. “Alternative Plan” proposed by or approve the project with cer- of cities to reject proposed hous- end of its lifespan. He said a copy Check online for agendas, meeting developer O’Brien Land Com- tain conditions. A “no” vote on ing development projects that are of the revenue sources and ex- notes and announcements pany for the Terraces of Lafayette the process agreement would consistent with local plans and pected costs will be posted on the City of Lafayette: project, opponents came out in have meant the original, very zoning regulations. city’s website, www.love- www.ci.lafayette.ca.us force to express their displeasure controversial 315-unit apartment After the first public hearing lafayette.org. Phone: (925) 284-1968 with the new smaller project. concept would be re-started along on Jan. 13, the City Council asked Many public comments fo- Chamber of Commerce: This plan features 45 single-fam- with the probability of an expen- for more information to be pre- cused on how the city dropped the www.lafayettechamber.org ily homes and a unique public sive lawsuit, which the developer sented at the Jan. 22 meeting ball with the initial re-zoning ef- amenity component that includes has made clear. about maintenance costs and vis- fort years ago that was not com- a soccer field, dog park, tot lot Some residents saw this diffi- ibility of the homes on the parcel pleted prior to receiving the School Board Meetings and parking area; it’s a fraction of cult choice as “bullying,” given near Acalanes High School and development application for the Acalanes Union High School District the originally proposed 315-unit the potential for litigation if the how well they would be screened. original 315-unit Terraces project. Wednesday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m. design that was almost univer- process agreement for the alterna- David Gates of Gates and Associ- City attorney Mala Subramanian AUHSD Board Room at 1212 sally disliked. Ultimately, despite tive plan was not approved. ates gave a Powerpoint presenta- was asked to comment on this. Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette the intense anger and frustration Councilmember Brandt Anders- tion highlighting their multi-zone She confirmed that staff was www.acalanes.k12.ca.us in the room, city council mem- son agreed that the city shouldn’t landscaping plan that included a asked to re-zone the parcel, but Lafayette School District bers calmly explained their rea- bow to the threat of a lawsuit, but substantial number of 20-25 foot clarified that “even if you wanted Thursday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m. soning to approve the agreement. explained that the Housing Ac- high trees and large native shrubs. to change the zoning it would not Regular Board Meeting This authorization gets the countability Act, “really changes “The goal is instant screening,” apply to this project. It’s not an Stanley Library ball rolling on an expedited re- the playing field dramatically.” said Gates, describing mature option.” 3477 School St., Lafayette view process for the new smaller Anderson, who is an attorney in willows and oaks that would On a unanimous vote the City www.lafsd.k12.ca.us proposal; it still requires the proj- his day job, added, “I’m not say- dominate the hillside.