Thursday, July 13, 2017 VOLUME LIV, NUMBER 28 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL Repair Work Planned for Storm, Drought Damage to Park and Trail Winter rains damaged the Ar- LARPD, while others are the re- numerous trail segments. The City environmental resource agency royo Mocho Trail; the lengthy sponsibility of the City. Regularly- is seeking funding from federal and clearances must be obtained be- drought conditions particularly af- scheduled quarterly maintenance, state emergency agencies. How- fore construction can begin unless See Inside Section A fected Mocho Park on Holmes Av- such as trimming vegetation, ever, the work must proceed in structures are threatened. The City Section A is filled with enue. Both the City of Livermore removing weeds and cleaning up a certain manner with site visits does have environmental permits information about arts, people, and the Livermore Area Recreation litter, was recently completed on and investigations by the Federal to conduct annual maintenance ac- entertainment and special events. and Park District (LARPD) are the City areas of the trail by the Emergency Management Agency tivities in the creek. Interim repairs There are education stories, a working on repairs. City’s contractor, Terracare. The (FEMA) and California Office of to the trail will be incorporated variety of features, and the arts Several sections of the Arroyo City is also actively working to Emergency Services (OES) before into this summer’s maintenance and entertainment and Mocho Trail washed out due to repair trails damaged by the 2017 repairs can begin. program. City staff anticipate all bulletin board. major storms in February; some flooding. The flood damage totaled The Arroyo Mocho Trail is interim repairs will be completed trail segments are maintained by over $4 million, and has impacted surrounded by natural habitat, so (See REPAIRS, page 8) Healthcare Support For UC Retirees May Decline Retirees who are enrolled in University of California healthcare programs may receive less finan- cial help paying future insurance premiums under a proposal that is expected to be considered at a September meeting of the Board of Regents. The proposal is to eliminate the University’s present policy of paying, on average, not less than 70 percent of the premiums. The change would not affect Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory retirees whose health insurance is offered through the Laboratory’s present manager, Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC. However, it may raise questions about the potential value of a law- suit filed in 2010 to return LLNL retirees to the UC healthcare pro- grams, which they were eligible for a decade ago when the Uni- versity managed the Laboratory. The lawsuit is being heard in Superior Court in Oakland. Its Photo - Doug Jorgensen basic motivation is fear that some Fireworks lit up the sky over downtown Livermore during the annual 4th of July festivities. future, profit-driven Laboratory manager might be so indifferent to retiree welfare as to drop sup- port for health care programs Letter Asks That California's National Monuments Be Protected altogether. By contrast, the University is California lawmakers sent a led by Assemblywoman Catharine ing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke many families, I take our family seen as offering stable, lasting letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Baker (R-San Ramon), that aims to review any national monument to our National Monuments for benefits to hundreds of thousands Interior Ryan Zinke urging him to to ensure California’s National created since Jan. 1, 1996. enrichment and appreciation of of employees and retirees. protect the seven National Monu- Monuments remain open and pre- Baker stated, “Millions of peo- our State’s natural beauty. We need The 70 percent “floor” in aver- ments in California under review served for future generations. ple from around the world enjoy to make sure all generations can age UC healthcare contributions by the U.S. Department of the In April, President Trump the beauty of our state’s National enjoy the same opportunity. We has been policy since 2014. Prior Interior. The bipartisan coalition, signed an executive order instruct- Parks and Monuments. Like so to that, the floor had been 80 per- (See PROTECT, page 4) cent. The reduction to 70 percent grew out of UC’s effort to lower Council to Meet with Downtown Steering Committee the cost of pension and retiree health benefits. Unfunded liabili- developing a public outreach send to the council. Two show a ties for these programs totaled $24 The Livermore City Council insights and allow the council to billion in 2014, according to a program for issues related to hotel on the eastside of Livermore will conduct a workshop in con- ask questions and hear commit- University communication. Avenue, and two locate a hotel on junction with members of the tee members' perspectives on the the development of the city’s The new proposal to allow the Downtown Steering Committee process and outcome. downtown sites, specifically eight the westside of Livermore Avenue. University to reduce contribu- (DSC) on August 7 at 6 p.m. The A public comment period will acres divided by South Livermore The purpose of the alternatives is tions still further was originally workshop format will allow com- be part of the agenda. Avenue. The committee prepared to facilitate public dialogue and scheduled for consideration at mittee members to provide their The DSC was charged with four development alternatives to (See MEETING, page 9) (See HEALTH, page 5) PG&E To Depot Move Planned for Experiment With Wee Hours of the Morning Costs on Peak Livermore's historic train depot transit ticket office in honor of its Demand Power will move from its present location historic function. PG&E will ask the Califor- near L Street to the Transit Center TRANSIT IMPACTS nia Public Utilities Commission at 2500 Railroad Avenue early The construction phase of the (PUC) for approval of a pilot Sunday morning July 16, 2017 Livermore Amador Valley Transit program that would change the from midnight to 4:00 am. Authority’s (LAVTA) historic de- power rate structure for participat- No complete street closures pot relocation project will cause ing customers. will occur, but traffic controls will impacts to passengers and detours The utility is due to make the be in effect during the move along to some routes that serve the down- request in August at a PUC meet- the Railroad Avenue route, at ma- town Livermore Transit Center. ing, said PG&E spokesperson jor intersections and the parking On that same date, LAVTA Ticket Donald Cutler. The new system structure. Office staff will move into tempo- would go to a “time of use” (TOU) The Depot move is part of a rary facilities on site through the billing, in which consumers would project at the existing Livermore duration of the construction. pay more for their power between Amador Valley Transit Author- For more information on route 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. It is the peak ity (LAVTA) Transit Center. The detours and service impacts, follow demand period in summer, when Depot will be restored to historical this link: http://www.wheelsbus. customers in hot areas run their standards with a $2.5 million feder- com/routealert/71017-transit-cen- Photo - Doug Jorgensen air conditioners. al grant. Additional improvements ter-construction-service-impacts/ Residents got into the spirit of the day, joining in the singing of TOU would not turn off any include brick walkways, historic For complete route and sched- electricity supply, but if rates lighting fixtures and bicycle racks. ule information go to www.wheels- patriotic songs during Pleasanton's 4th of July celebration. The go up, it could discourage some LAVTA will use the Depot as a bus.com or call 925.455.7500. event was held at Lions Wayside Park. (See PG&E, page 5) PET OF THE WEEK The force is strong with this one! Nine-month-old Ewok INSIDE knows what love is, and she has plenty to share. Just entering her young adulthood, Ewok is playful but not wild. MAIN SECTION Sports .................................... 6 Stop by and hear her chirpy one-of-a-kind purr. Adopt Ewok Classifieds........................... 10 Obituaries .............................. 9 at Valley Humane Society, 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton, Tuesday through Saturday from 10am – 4pm. For more Editorial ................................. 4 SECTION A information, visit valleyhumane.org or call (925) 426-8656. Mailbox .................................. 4 Art & Entertainment .............. 8 Photo - Valley Humane Society/K. Jacoby Roundup ................................ 3 Bulletin Board ..................... 10 Short Notes ........................... 4 Milestones ........................... 12 2 The Independent • July 13, 2017 Crimes on BART Don't Appear to Be Connected TRAVEL By Ron McNicoll circulated through two cars, hood, such as a party, and BART Director John the off-duty security guard BUG A robbery involving a pummeling passengers, and teens decided to do what McPartland, whose District from the June 30 incident middle-school age youth stealing cell phones, and a they did, he said. 5 includes the Valley, said as a hero in retrieving the who stole a cell phone from duffle bag. BART police are on alert the plan calls for live camera victim’s phone, police say GROUP TRAVEL a passenger on a train at the However, the two inci- on the Warm Springs line feeds by 2019 or 2020, when it’s better not to try hero- Coliseum was the second dents were somewhat dif- south of Lake Merritt. There hundreds of new cars will be ics, because things could (925) 447-4300 robbery at that station in the ferent. The perpetrator in is a robbery suppression de- in use. The cameras will be go wrong for the rescuer. In Downtown Livermore past three months.