Thursday, December 29, 2016 VOLUME LIII, NUMBER 52 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL Prominent Local Climate Scientist Writes to Trump By Jeff Garderson “There is no sanctuary from its day on the CNBC website, restated note of the overwhelming scientific See Inside Section A Ben Santer, the well known cli- effects,” Santer wrote. Climate some of the scientific points that consensus that, “beyond a reason- mate scientist at Lawrence Liver- change “will be there on every day able doubt,” burning fossil fuels Section A is filled with Santer has made in the past, such more National Laboratory, has of your Presidency. It…will have produces greenhouse gases that information about arts, people, as those highlighted in the letter written an open letter to Donald greater impact each year….(and) warm the atmosphere. It called entertainment and special events. that he drafted and signed along Trump, urging the President-elect will be the backdrop against which “human-caused planetary warm- There are education stories, a with 375 other members of the to recognize climate change as a all key events of the 21st century ing” a “hard scientific reality.” variety of features, and the arts National Academy of Sciences in physical reality from which the play out.” Those who deny that people are and entertainment and September. U.S. cannot isolate itself. The letter, published last Thurs- bulletin board. Last week’s CNBC letter took (See CLIMATE CHANGE, page 9) Pleasanton Final EIR on Superintendent Delta Fix Put On Leave Pleasanton Unified School Dis- Released trict Superintendent Rick Rubino has been placed on administrative By Ron McNicoll leave by consensus of the school The California Department board in a closed session held of Water Resources (DWR) has Dec. 19. released the final version of the The board met again in closed EIR for the California Water Fix session on Dec. 27 for a noticed (CFW). The department says that discussion of “public employee moving forward on the plan could discipline/dismissal/release.” begin as early as 2018. No reportable action was taken at the Dec. 27 meeting. The documents total 80,000 In addition to the discipline/ pages. They are available at www. dismissal discussion there were BayDeltaConservationPlan.com. two potential cases of anticipated Gov. Jerry Brown, whose ad- litigation to be discussed. The two ministration proposed the Water are not necessarily related to the Fix, said, “This project has been discipline item. Boards in closed subjected to 10 years of detailed sessions have their attorney pres- analysis and more environmental ent, and may look at other subjects, review than any other project in too, as long as they are on the the history of the world. It is ab- agenda. The board met Dec. 19 in a ses- solutely essential if California is to sion not attended by anyone from maintain a reliable water supply.” Photo - Doug Jorgensen the public. Discussion of one em- The Water Fix as proposed by A community menorah lighting was held on December 24 in Livermore to celebrate Chanukah, the ployee was on the agenda, without Brown still includes the Twin Tun- eight-day festival of lights. The 9-foot menorah was located in front of the Bankhead Theater. In addition further identification. nels. Two 40-foot diameter pipes to the ceremony, there was live music, entertainment, donuts and latkes. It was hosted by Chabad of After the Dec. 19 meeting, the would run for 30 miles under the the Tri-Valley. Abram Weberman, 92-year old survivor of the Lodz Ghetto in Poland, lit the first candle. district issued a news release that Delta to bypass the habitat that (See PLEASANTON, page 7) supports endangered animal and plant species. That would help prevent further water loss due to pumping restrictions at certain Pleasanton Residents Tell Zone 7 Its Rates Are Too High sensitive times for the fish, say significantly bigger boosts as the Water Fix proponents. By Ron McNicoll council chamber heard the coun- practice, it imposed a big boost, agency’s expenses kept climbing, However, opponents say that A group of Pleasanton residents cil decide to forego a portion of bringing out protesters. drawing protests. holding back more fresh water made their feelings clear about the its own rate hike by eliminating a Zone 7 went through its own The board could not legally from Delta tributary rivers will Zone 7 Water Agency rate hikes scheduled Consumer Price Index sticker shock phase several years respond to Pleasantonians’ pleas harm the species’ prospects. Pro- taking effect Jan. 1, 2017 - they automatic annual increase for next ago. Some directors later regret- for lower rates, because of Brown ponents counter that a separate don’t want them. year on the city’s water and sewer ted publicly that they did not take Act rules. The matter was not plan, which was split away from During the public forum, they bill. It will cost the city $600,000. staff’s recommendations for sev- noticed on the agenda. The Zone the original Bay Delta Conserva- told the board at its Dec. 21 meet- About one-half of a Pleasanton eral years to raise the rates. Instead, 7 board approved the 19 percent tion Plan, will work to help the ing that a 19 percent rate increase resident’s bill goes to support the they froze rates in 2009, and even rate increases, with a first reading Delta environment. However, is too steep. With all of the water city’s water enterprise; the other when they consented to raise them in October, and a second reading Twin Tunnels opponents say that conservation efforts they have half goes to Zone 7. in subsequent years, the rates were of the resolution at the regular won’t make up for the water di- made, they said they don’t want Pleasanton several years ago below staff’s recommendation. November meeting, the customary version. the “reward” of higher rates. ended a 10-year period during The board's motivation then was times at Zone 7 for a decision on The Water Fix is intended to The residents had already had which it absorbed the the cost of to help residents who felt economi- deliver as much water as pos- success at the Pleasanton City escalating Zone 7 rates. When cally pinched by the recession. Council on Dec. 6, when a full Pleasanton decided to end that Later, directors had to implement (See ZONE 7, page 4) (See DELTA, page 5) Work to Begin on Bernal Bridge Dublin Council Detours on The Pleasanton City Council last through August next year. The tend the lifespan of our bridges,” Commission Appointments approved moving ahead with bulk of the work will occur during said Steve Kirkpatrick, director of be legally done to establish a new upgrades and maintenance for the the summer months when peak engineering for the city of Pleasan- By Ron McNicoll process. Bernal Bridge, which crosses over hour traffic is at its lowest because ton. "Most of the funding for this Dublin Vice Mayor Abe Gupta Gupta was joined by Coun- the Arroyo de la Laguna, between Foothill High will be in recess. program comes from federal grant challenged the way the city ap- cilmember Don Biddle and new Foothill Blvd. and I-680. “This program is a great ben- money, which is an added bonus.” points planning commissioners. Councilmember Melissa Her- The vote was unanimous. The efit to our community because it In 2011, the council authorized The result will be a report back to council Jan. 10 to see what could initial phase of work will begin enables us to partner with Caltrans funding to create the Bridge Main- (See DUBLIN, page 9) sometime in February and likely to identify needed repairs that ex- (See BERNAL, page 12) Year End Review Downtown Livermore Development Plan Draws Criticism; Pleasanton Voters Support Lund Ranch From May to the end of August, over 1 million square feet in the being short-changed. Highest pri- a proposed plan for development Oaks Business Park located near ority in establishing the new routes on 8.2 acres owned by the City the Livermore Municipal Airport focused on improved access to the of Livermore continued to draw about 20 miles from Tesla's Fre- East and West Dublin/Pleasanton criticism. In the June primary, three mont factory. The deal highlighted BART stations. Zone 7 directors were returned to Tesla's ramp-up as it prepared Three more athletes were in- office. Pleasanton voters narrowly to fulfill pre-orders for its less- ducted into the Livermore Sports approved Measure K, which would expensive Model 3 sedan starting Hall of Fame. The Livermore- allow the 43-unit development in at the end of 2017. Granada Boosters, as part of its the southeast hills of Pleasanton to Changes in Wheels bus routes annual Olympian Banquet, estab- move forward. Candidates filed for were approved by the Livermore lished the Hall of Fame in 2009. the November 2016 ballot. Amador Valley Transit Authority. This year’s inductees included The vote was 6 to 1 with Supervi- Matt Laye, a cross country and MAY 2016 sor Scott Haggerty opposed. He track runner; Leah Avilla, a swim- Tesla Motors Inc. leased ware- said that with the elimination of mer, whose major events included house space in Livermore totaling some routes, Dublin residents were Photo - Doug Jorgensen (continued on page 2) Pictured is an egret searching for food in North Livermore. PET OF THE WEEK What’s your New Year’s resolution? Exercise? Get more sleep? Live life to the fullest? How about meeting someone INSIDE new? Five-month-old Crochet can help you with those goals! Sports ...................................