Wednesday, December 3, 2014 • Vol. 8 Issue 20 26,000 copies delivered bi-weekly to Lamorinda homes & businesses 925.377.0977 www.lamorindaweekly.com FREE N draiser ay Fun s Holid Kiwani Back Row: Associate Planner Michael Cass, Financial Services Manager Jennifer Wakeman, Administrative Assistant Dana Anderson, Administrative Services Director Tracy Robinson, City Manager Steve Falk, Code Enforcement Officer Adam Foster. Front Row: Planning Technician Megan Canales, Accounting Assistant Cindy Lincoln, City Clerk Joanne Robbins, Assistant Planner Sarah Allen, Planning Director Niroop Srivatsa. Photo Ohlen Alexander Local Government Goes Wild with Holiday Sweaters Plenty of opportunities for holiday cheer in Lamorinda - pages A12 and B8 By Cathy Tyson t was definitely not business as usual at the Lafayette city offices when municipal staffers crafted sweater. and management got their holiday fashion groove on. It may have been the day before While it’s clear the dedicated folks who keep Lafayette running love to express themselves, Thanksgiving, but these generous souls embraced the spirit of the season and unleashed their deep down, under the polyester and cotton, everyone is grateful for their co-workers and the sup - Icreative sides by donning festive, ingenious seasonal sweaters – just because we asked. Known p o r t ive environment at the office throughout the year. City Manager Falk summed it up, "Given for going all out on Halloween, planning staffers and administration, even the city manager and the planet's many daunting and intractable problems, it feels like a privilege to work every day code enforcement officer, busted out an array of fantastic sweaters. with dozens of fun, smart, and committed people who are trying to improve at least one little No more business casual for Tracy Robinson, administrative services director, who ordered a corner of the world." very cute cat Santa sweater from Amazon.com because she didn’t have anything at home that fit For offices looking to recreate the magic and mystique, there really is an official National t h e bill. Even the boss, holiday fashionista Steven Falk, was a good sport with his rockin’ hand Ugly Christmas Sweater Day on Dec. 12. ... continued on page A12 Advertising Town News A2 - A12 Fire Districs A9 Life in Lamorinda B1 - B10 Not to be Missed B8-B9 HOW TO CONTACT US B9 Service Directory B10 Food B10 Sports C1 - C3 Classified C2 Shop Moraga C4 Our Homes D1 -D12 This Week Read About: Rent-to-Own Library A2 Safe, Affordable, Accepting – The Definition of ‘Home’ Controversial Approval A4 By Laurie Snyder Crime Cams Tabled A6 he reason I’m here is I’m very passionate a growing need for supportive housing with the esca - The Road to 46 A9 about the problem of housing,” said Orindan lation of autism diagnoses nationwide. “Most of the Teen Designer B1 “GleTn Petersen as he began his allotted public forum severely affected autistics will never be independent.” Wine Expert to Speak B3 minutes at a July Orinda City Council meeting. The The children involved with Sunflower Hill range Magical Thinking B4 council was in the midst of one of many discussions it i n a ge from 14 to 28. And one thing they all have in in THT's 'It's A Wonderful Life' B7 has held regarding updates Orinda is making to the common, said Petersen, “is that they will fit the needs NCS Football C1 Housing Element of its General Plan. Petersen’s pres - of the RHNA [Regional Housing Needs Allocation] entation has so resonated with attendees that Lamor - requirements for individuals needing very low-income inda Weekly is revisiting the reason for his decision to housing.” speak in preparation for the City Council’s Dec. 9 “Our kids grow up, turn 18, and then we find our - meeting when it will again discuss the Housing Ele - s e l v es asking, ‘Is there life after high school? Where ment. will our children go?’” said Susan Houghton, Sun - “There are a lot of parents with disabled kids who flower’s executive director. Her own son receives just "There’s a growing need for more housing because the incidence of autism, for example, k n o w their kids will never be independent. Eighty per - $800 per month in Social Security, which will be cut is escalating. Most of the severely affected cent of those will live at home with their parents until if he earns any income. Young adults like her son “ei - autistics will never be independent," said they pass,” said Petersen, a physician and 24-year ther have to live with their parents or the state pays for Orinda resident Glen Petersen as he spoke Orinda resident with a 26-year-old autistic son. He and them to live in a group home, which can end up cost - before the Orinda City Council in July. His son, his fellow members of Sunflower Hill (www.sunflow - ing the government up to $40,000 for one person to Aaron, was just two years old when diagnosed erhill.org) have been working to improve the quality share one bedroom with another resident.” with autism. Photo Ohlen Alexander of life not just for their own kids, but because there is ... continued on page A7 Life in Lamorinda B1-B10 Sports C1-C3 Our H o m e s D1-D12 Caldecott's Gaels Feng shui history start the fixes for the revealed in season living room pictures strong - page D6. - page B2. - page C2. Page: A2 LAMORINDA WEEKLY www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, December 3, 2014 STILL #1 FOR A REASON 2008 THROUGH 2014 Lafayette's Best Realtor ;:QJRV``%C1`V1J:`:7VV:JR we are grateful to be part of it! Civic News Dana Green & Branagh Development are proudly joining the Chamber of Public Meetings QIIV`HV1J .VJR:JJ%:CHQII%J1 7 `VVC1$.J$:JR.QC1R:7HVCVG`:QJ8 Dana Green City Council `1R:75VHVIGV` ``QI Q ]8I81J .V:`:7VV#C:<: 925.339.1918 ^`VVC1$.J$ Q :@V]C:HV: 7]8I8_ License #: 01482454 Monday, Dec. 8 , 7 p.m. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, !J=Q7QCRR`:'.1QJVR`:I1C7`%J5VJ V` :1JIVJ 5H.1CR`VJ';:H01V'5+:J : Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Planning Commission ^:``10V': 7]8I8QJ-CR.V '7_5CQH:C`QQR `%H@'5:JRIQ`V* Monday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m. canceled DanaGreenTeam.com Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Design Review Mon day, Dec. 8 , 7 p.m. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, School District Asks for Rent-to-Own Deal for Old Library Arts & Science Discovery Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. By Cathy Tyson tarting on Jan. 1 the Lafayette the purchase price. – the old library property and the par - move forward. First, review the mod - School Board Meetings School District will rent the old City Manager Steven Falk was cel across the street at 949 Moraga ifications the district needs to make Acalanes Union High School District lSibrary building and adjacent parking d i r e cted by the City Council at its Road. Ultimately the task force rec - and determine whether they are ac - Wednesday, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m. area from the City of Lafayette, at a Nov. 24 meeting to negotiate with the ommended that the old library build - ceptable to the City Council. Next, AUHSD Board Room monthly rate of $8,229, if its request school district superintendent. He ing be used for a public purpose – get approval from the county to sell 1212 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette is approved. The lease will be on a made it clear that, “The district would either as a new location for the city of - the property to the district. Finally, www.acalanes.k12.ca.us month to month basis for a maximum lease/purchase the building as-is, and fices or by the Lafayette School Dis - due to government regulations, offer Lafayette School District of 28 months, expiring on April 1, therefore be responsible for any dem - trict. The property was purchased in the property to other public agencies; 2017. The district will have the op - olition or renovation needed.” 2013 for $1.97 million and is cur - if there’s no interest, draft a Lease- Wednesday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m. tion to purchase the facility at any The Old Library Reuse Task rently uninhabitable. Purchase Agreement for considera - Regular Board Meeting time, for the then-appraised value; ac - F o r ce sought the highest and best use City staff recommends clarifica - tion by the City Council and the Stanley Library crued rent would be deducted from for two properties owned by the city t i o n of a number of steps in order to school district governing board. 3477 School St., Lafayette www.lafsd.k12.ca.us Check online for agendas, meeting Reducing Traffic Congestion Gets High Marks notes and announcements City of Lafayette: By Cathy Tyson www.ci.lafayette.ca.us t a recent meeting of the collab - reminders, but plans in the near elementary schools had a coalition of cludes speed tables, bollards (short Phone: (925) 284-1968 orative Traffic Safety Task future to be issuing citations. interested parties who methodically vertical posts to control traffic), as - Chamber of Commerce: FAorce, the principals of Happy Valley An older gentleman representing looked at constructive ways to solve phalt marking, flashing lights and a www.lafayettechamber.org and Springhill elementary schools re - t h e neighborhood who lives on their schools’ problems, starting with permanent mobile speed sign will be ported major improvements in the Franklin Lane calls the situation “un - goals, forming strategies to meet generated by the school district that twice per day traffic mess associated satisfactory,” stating the school site it - those goals, considering resources, will need to go through the Circula - with student drop off and pick up.