VOLUME XLIV, NUMBER 25 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2007 Task Force to Look at Arts Funding An arts master plan was with the financing plan write grants. A work place He suggested establishing the and then quietly go away.” approved Monday by the proposed in the master plan. contribution program is in the task force that would include The task force, comprised of Livermore City Council. At the The vote was unanimous. works. There will be an representation from industrial, representatives from the same time, the council held off on Councilmember John opportunity for everyone to commercial and residential Chamber, development moving forward with a fee on Marchand, an original member contribute. We need to start developers. community, downtown development to help pay for of the Commission for the Arts, somewhere. The fee is a good “Timing is very important,” Livermore, arts commissioners, implementation of the plan. had wanted to move forward place. It’s time to get going.” said Councilmember Marj and others, will have until Sept. Instead the council voted to with the fee at Monday’s Mayor Marshall Kamena said Leider. “We can’t delay 24 to prepare a recommendation. Sommerfest establish a task force to meeting. However, he agreed to he had envisioned seed money supporting the arts commission.” The council considered three recommend a financing plan that the task force when it was made coming from grants, not Councilmember Tom Reitter issues at the meeting. The first Set For This would include a variety of clear that the task force would necessarily a fee. said what’s important is to have was the master plan. Second was sources. The task force is charged not be allowed to study the issue “Philosophically, I support the the task force and residents the introduction of an ordinance Saturday with coming back with a beyond Sept. 24. arts master plan and art in public understand that the council is establishing a fee on private financing plan by the Sept. 24 Marchand said that the places ordinance. I would like to expecting the development fee development of 1/2 of 1%. The The annual German council meeting. If at that time the commission had wanted to do see grants as the first source of to be part of the funding. The fee would have been increased Sommerfest will be held June 16 recommendation were not many things, but was hobbled money. I would like to approve a amount and phasing has yet to to 1% by 2010. Developers at The Barn in Livermore. acceptable, the council made it by the lack of money. “We need plan and hold back the fee to be worked out. “I don’t want this would have the option of Livermore Cultural Arts clear that it would move forward seed money. We need people to develop a more defined process.” studied for months and months (See FUNDING, page 4) Council sponsors the evening of family entertainment tha tincludes dancing, dance exhi- bition, and dinner. 5 to 10:30 p.m. Testing Underway for There will be an activities cor- ner for children. Performing will be the Karl Lebherz Band (pic- Pleasanton Wi-Fi Project tured above). All proceeds will go to Liv- By Libby Kolar its potential impact on the qual- ermore School Arts programs. The City of Pleasanton is join- ity of life for merchants, residents Admission ticket are $10 for ing an international movement and visitors. adults, $5 for children and $25 by establishing a Wi-Fi network The council approved a for a family of two or more chil- in its downtown. downtown pilot project and put dren. Municipal Wi-Fi networks it out to bid on July 25, 2006. For information, call Dick have been widely used interna- The contract was awarded to Net- and Doris Ryon, co-Festmeisters tionally for at least the past five work Anatomy, a mobile wireless 447-8907. years. Korea, Australia, New and satellite integrated commu- Zealand, Singapore, Japan, nications firm located in down- France and parts of Germany and town Pleasanton. The company Scandanavia are some of the was founded by Doug Linman in countries that have well-devel- 2001. oped and widely used municipal The pilot project was kicked Wi-Fi networks. off in the area bounded by the However, in the United States, Rose Hotel, First Street, the Se- the idea of municipal Wi-Fi net- nior Center and Peters Avenue on works gained national attention January 17, 2007. All access only two and ½ years ago (at the points were installed by April 29. end of 2004) when Philadelphia’s Internal testing began on May Wi-Fi implementation was fought 21. Network Anatomy’s internal The Principled Academy by Verizon, the incumbent broad- testing has just been completed. Ballet Folklorico was an band Internet service provider in Now the project is being beta award winner. that area. Verizon last the battle. tested by 200 potential users According to Jennifer LeClaire June 12-14. Linman and his team in her 11/15/06 article appear- will compile and analyze the re- Rodeo Parade ing in TechNewsWorld, spend- sulting data and then present the ing on municipal networks in- results to the City on either June Winners Listed creased from less than $50 mil- 15 or 18. At that point the City lion in 2005 to more than $150 will set an official live date- most Award winners in the annual million in 2006. As these projects likely towards the end of June, Livermore Rotary Rodeo Parade prove their worth, more and more according to Ott. were handed out following the Photo - Doug Jorgensen The action was fast and furious at the annual Livermore Rodeo held over the weekend. In the US municipalities have or are The potential user test is be- parade last Saturday. planning and implementing their ing coordinated by the Pleasan- The general sweepstakes tro- photo, a saddle bronc rider heads for the ground. own Wi-Fi networks, including ton Chamber of Commerce and phy went to the Livermore Ro- Pleasanton, San Ramon, Walnut the Pleasanton Downtown Asso- deo Rockettes, while the eques- Creek, Danville and Concord. ciation. The 200 official “beta trian sweepstakes trophy was According to Pamela Ott, testers” were selected from the awarded to the Alameda County Residents Asked to Conserve Water Pleasanton’s Economic Develop- memberships of the Pleasanton Sheriff’s Posse. The Livermore-Amador “Without the minimal pump- ing the summer months.” ment Manager, in the spring of Chamber and the Pleasanton Other winners in the general Valley’s Zone 7 Water Agency ing from the Delta announced In addition to municipal sup- 2006 Pleasanton submitted a staff Downtown Association. entry, judged by the Pacific said Friday that the California today, we were looking at the plies, Delta water is the sole wa- report recommending to the city According to Dave Bouchard, Coast Judges Association are: Department of Water Resources’ possibility of a 40-55% manda- ter source for at least two thirds council the development and President and CEO of The Pleas- Commercial entry: 1st G&M decision to resume minimal State tory water-use restriction in a of the Valley’s viticultural opera- implementation of a Wi-Fi net- anton Chamber of Commerce, Farms, 2nd Cooleykatz Toys, 3rd Water Project pumping from the portion of our service area, and tions that support a $200-mil- work for use by the City, particu- registered official beta testers will receive 10% discount coupons Woopsie-Daisy Toy Shop; Ma- Delta is critical to meeting local the possibility of compromised lion-a-year wine industry. With- larly for emergency police and fire services. As the Council dis- from participating restaurants, jorette corp. (senior and junior) water supply needs. However, fire suppression in eastern Liv- out the additional pumping an- Zone 7 stressed that the agency ermore,” said Jill Duerig, gen- nounced today, water supply to cussed the project, it was recog- free coffee coupons and other in- 1st Napa Pepperettes; amateur nized as providing a benefit not centives upon completion of the float: 1st Cactus Corners Youth still isn’t out of the woods and eral manager of Zone 7. “Im- the majority of these operations called on the public to voluntar- ported supplies from the Delta would have been entirely cut off only for the City, but also for the various testing and reporting re- Square Dancers, 2nd Zone 7 entire downtown as well given Water Agency; Novelty Unit (se- ily conserve water. are critical to our operations dur- (See WATER, page 3) (See WI-FI, page 5) nior: 1st Livermore Rodeo Rockettes, 2nd Tri-Valley CAREs; Dedication Novelty unit (junior): 1st Applications Due June Currin Lee Dancers of Livermore, Program Set 2nd The Principled Academy For New Plaza Ballet Folklorico, 3rd Girl Scout 18th for Council Seat Troop 2949; Color guard (se- The City of Livermore cel- (See PARADE, page 9) The Livermore City Council have Tom involved in the inter- ebrates another link in the suc- will appoint a replacement for Tom view process. “The council went cessful revitalization of Historic Reitter following an application to the trouble of adding to the Downtown Livermore with the Pleasanton Votes and interview process. rules of procedure that once a completion of the Livermore To Ban Marijuana The new councilmember is ex- council member participates in Valley Center Park Plaza & Am- pected to be chosen at a special a discussion that person would phitheater. Dispensaries July 2 meeting. The person se- have to vote. It seems he can’t The Park Plaza & Amphithe- lected will serve until November vote.