Download What to do about El Camino?...
City of Menlo Park loses fourth top manager | Page 7
T H E H O M E TO W N N E W S PA P E R F O R M E N LO PA R K , AT H E RTO N , P O RTO L A VA L L E Y A N D W O O D S I D E
S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 5 | VO L . 5 0 N O. 5 2
What to do about El Camino? Menlo Park ponders options for bikes, cars and parking Page 5
W W W. T H E A L M A N AC O N L I N E . C O M
Throughout my career in residential Real Estate, I’ve been associated with Coldwell Banker. Here’s why.
Ed Kahl Real Estate experience you can trust.
• CB has helped me succeed in selling hundreds of homes in Woodside, Portola Valley and Atherton. • CB has 85,000 agents in 49 countries and sells $100 million of luxury homes per day. • CB has the largest local, national and international buyer networks and the largest Internet presence.
Why list with anyone else? Come to the source for buyers. List with CB and Ed Kahl. www.edkahl.com (650) 400-2796
Since 1992, Ed Kahl has listed and/or sold hundreds of homes and estates in Woodside, Portola Valley and Atherton. His local focus has given him in-depth knowlege of this Real Estate market. Among his sales have been multiple landmark estates on Mountain Home Road, King’s Mountain Road, and Whiskey Hill Road. He’s sold other estate homes on Albion Avenue, Josselyn Lane, Laning Drive, Montelena, Olive Hill Lane, Bolivar Lane, Why Worry Lane, Woodside Road, Stadler Drive, Ranch Road, Eleanor Drive, Cañada Road, Bridle Lane, Jane Drive, Oak Hill Drive, Skyline Drive, Montecito, Farm Road, Valley Road, Encino, Preston Road, Summerhill Lane, Winding Way, Quail Meadows, Maple Way, Vintage Court, Skywood, Hillside Drive, Fox Hollow Road, Golden Oak, Bear Gulch Road, Carrera, Cinnabar Road, Elk Tree Lane, Hardwick Road, Alpine Road, Kenmore, Iroquoi Trail, Valparaiso Avenue • Over $1 Billion Sold in residential Somerset Place, Churchill Avenue, Greer Road, Blue Jay Way, Arbour Court, Summit Springs Road, Westridge Drive, Piñon Drive, and commercial properties Woodside Drive, Romero Road, Ash Lane, Tripp Road, Doris, Los • MA in Economics from UC Davis Trancos Road, Tripp Court, Elena, Minoca Road, Ridgeway Road, • Woodside resident over 35 years Raymundo Drive, Mapache Drive, Todo El Mundo Road, Adair Lane, • Top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents Noel, Moore Road, Newman Lane, Patrol Road, Lawler Ranch Road, • DRE#00511740 Oakford Road, Bardet Road, Portola Road, Barrett Drive, Serrano, La Questa Way, Fletcher, Montelena, Manzanita Way and others. 2QThe AlmanacQTheAlmanacOnline.comQSeptember 2, 2015
U PFRONT
TRUNK SHOW
Photo courtesy Atherton Police Department
A pickup truck crashed through the fence on Marsh Road in Atherton shortly before midnight Aug. 24, taking out several hundred feet of fence and ending up upside down in the Atherton drainage channel. The accident caused a lane of Marsh Road to be closed for six hours later in the week to repair the fence.
S E P T E M B E R 1 6 TH - 1 7 TH WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY | 11AM - 4PM 883 Santa Cruz Ave. Suite #4 | Menlo Park Draeger’s Shopping Center | 650.391.9458 | thepicketfence.com
Atherton: Another vehicle takes out Marsh Road fence By Barbara Wood Almanac Staff Writer
A
driver lost control of his pickup truck and crashed through the fence on Marsh Road shortly before midnight on Monday, Aug. 25, taking out about 200 feet of fence and ending upside down in the Atherton drainage channel. A passenger in the truck was not injured. The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle by Menlo Park Fire Protection District responders, and the road was closed for six hours on Wednes-
day, Aug. 27, so the town could repair the damage. In March and April, similar accidents took out the Marsh Road fence. Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said he is concerned that such incidents are “becoming a much more frequent occurrence and it’s going to end badly at some point.” He said he is “not sure if this is related to more traffic, or distracted or impaired drivers, but the impact to the community is significant during the closures for the actual emergency and repair.”
“The Fire District would like to see the road opened up, the channel enclosed, and the route be more conducive to accommodating emergency vehicles and traffic in general,” he said, admitting, “that’s easier said than done.” Atherton Public Works Superintendent Steven Tyler said the town plans to put reflectors and reflective paint along the edge of the road to try to improve safety there. The town is currently seeking a permit to redo the drainage channel, and once those changes are made the area should be safer, he said. A
Outdoor movies in downtown Menlo Park By Kate Bradshaw Special to the Almanac
V
isitors to downtown Menlo Park have likely noticed the colorful array of astroturf, colorful chairs, and young families at play in the new “Pop-Up Paseo” on Chestnut Street between Santa Cruz and Menlo avenues. A pilot initiative of Menlo Park’s specific plan to improve
public spaces in the city, the paseo will be home to the Menlo Movie Series, which offers free screenings of familyfriendly films each Friday during September. This is the lineup (each screening starts at 7:30 p.m.): Sept. 4, “Guardians of the Galaxy”; Sept. 11, “Planes Fire and Rescue”; Sept. 18, “Big Hero 6”; and Sept. 25, “Cinderella.” The paseo will also be the
location for other events in September. On Friday, Sept. 4, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Menlo Park patrol officers will host a Friday Night Lights tailgate party, which will offer pizza, popcorn, soft drinks, and memorabilia giveaways. The event will directly precede the free screening of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Jim Cogan, the city’s economic See OUTDOOR MOVIES, page 8
CALLING ON THE ALMANAC Newsroom: Newsroom fax: Advertising: Advertising fax: Classified ads:
223-6525 223-7525 854-2626 223-7570 854-0858
Q E-mail news, information, obituaries and photos (with captions) to: [emailprotected] Q E-mail letters to the editor to: [emailprotected]
To request free delivery, or stop delivery, of The Almanac in zip code 94025, 94027, 94028 and the Woodside portion of 94062, call 854-2626.
THE ALMANAC (ISSN 1097-3095 and USPS 459370) is published every Wednesday by Embarcadero Media, 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 940256558. Periodicals Postage Paid at Menlo Park, CA and at additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation for San Mateo County, The Almanac is delivered free to homes in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside. Subscriptions for $60 per year or $100 per 2 years are welcome. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Almanac, 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025-6558. Copyright ©2014 by Embarcadero Media, All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.
SAIL AWAY 2015 September 12 11:00am-2:00pm Sofitel, Redwood City
The Bay Area’s Premier
TRAVEL SHOWCASE Returns September 12
Join us for this exclusive opportunity to meet with guest representatives from the world’s favorite cruise lines and vacation destinations. Gain expert insights from informative travel seminars and get insider access to special offers and event-only exclusive deals. Special Deals on
Ocean Cruises Guided Vacations Honeymoons Adventure River Cruises Family Getaways Beach Resorts All-inclusives
September 12, 2015 11:00am - 2:00pm Sofitel San Francisco Bay 223 Twin Dolphin Dr. Redwood City, CA 94065 A limited number of FREE guest passes available at www.froschvacations.com/sail Admission is $12.00 at the door.
Can’t be there in person? You can still take advantage of exclusive deals by calling:
cst#2079194-10
MENLO PARK 825 Santa Cruz Ave. (650) 328-2030
September 2, 2015QTheAlmanacOnline.comQThe AlmanacQ3
Coming Soon…
Your weekly email with tips and insights about hot events and cool activities
7KH¿UVWVWHSLQSODQQLQJ\RXU ZHHNHQGVWDUWVKHUH
EAT
5HVWDXUDQWUHYLHZVDQGVSHFLDOGHDOV
SEE
$UWH[KLELWVPXVLFPRYLHVOHFWXUHV
PLAY
/RFDOHYHQWVRXWGRRUVMXVWIRUIXQ
• Music • Eating out • Movies • Fun and free • Art exhibits • Theater • Lectures and learning Presented by
4QThe AlmanacQTheAlmanacOnline.comQSeptember 2, 2015
Local News M
E N L O
P
A R K
|
A
T H E R T O N
|
W
O O D S I D E
|
P
O R T O L A
V
A L L E Y
What to do about El Camino Real? Menlo Park ponders options for bikes, cars and parking By Barbara Wood Almanac Staff Writer
O
ne thing is inevitable in an area filled with welleducated, bright and articulate people — they will have opinions. And when it comes to a topic that touches the lives of nearly everyone in the community, the future of El Camino Real, another inevitability is that there will be lots of those opinions. The city recently released a lengthy report on a study of the 1.3 miles of El Camino Real that runs through Menlo Park and carries as many as 45,000 vehicles a day. The report looks at the current conditions of the state highway, the city’s main north/south corridor, and examines what might happen if certain changes were made to the road. Since the 62-page report, with an accompanying 567 pages of appendices and a 15-page tree report, was released on Aug. 3, the City Council has received at least 80 emails on the topic at their official town email addresses. Not quite that many people spoke at an Aug. 25 study session for the council to discuss the report, but at least 26 of them did present the council members with a wide range of opinions, many of them heartfelt and sometimes in complete opposition to those of other speakers. In the end, however, the opinions of the five elected City Council members will decide what to do about El Camino. What the council members seemed to agree on was that rather than making any permanent changes to El Camino, the city should conduct a trial of some kind of bike lanes to see how they work. Next steps
Nicole Nagaya, the city’s transportation manager, said the meeting gave her and W-Trans, the consultants working on the $459,713 study, a long list of tasks, including: Q Discussions with the Menlo
The council leans toward a trial run of bike lanes on El Camino. Park Fire Protection District about the effect of bike lanes on emergency vehicle response. Q Discussions with Palo Alto, Atherton and Redwood City to gauge interest in a multi-city bike-lane trial. Q Discussions with the California Department of Transportation (which has jurisdiction over El Camino) about a trial bike lane, including timelines for designs, permits and construction. Q Discussions with local businesses on El Camino between Live Oak and Ravenswood avenues about alternatives for parking if on-street parking is removed. Q A closer look at the trees on El Camino near Ravenswood Avenue and how to protect them. Ms. Nagaya said the council will get a progress report in October before deciding what it wants to do. The options
The study lists a number of changes that could make El Camino Real safer, and considers four alternatives: doing nothing; six continuous vehicle lanes; the current number of lanes (4-6 vehicle lanes depending on location) with bike lanes buffered by painted lines; and the current number of lanes with bike lanes protected by 3-foot-wide curbs or planters. How the alternatives would affect traffic and the time it takes to get through Menlo Park, as well as the length of vehicle backups at nine intersections, are all part of the study. How each alternative would affect bicyclists, pedestrians, aesthetics, parking and trees is also considered. Visit tinyurl.com/ECR-DOCS to see the project page on the city’s website.
Photo by Michelle Le/The Almanac
A bicyclist and a pedestrian (at left) cross Ravenswood Avenue, heading north on El Camino Real.
W-Trans was told not to alter sidewalks, center medians or newly planted trees, and not to use grade separations or tunnels in its design. None of the options reduce the current number of through vehicle lanes; but some rightturn lanes are eliminated. Two of the options, the one with six through lanes and one with paint-buffered bicycle lanes, add an additional through lane at Ravenswood Avenue. All of the options would affect some trees on the corner of El Camino and Ravenswood Avenue, although one of the consultants has suggested more trees might be saved by shifting the sidewalk that now runs in front of the trees to run behind them. Adding a third vehicle lane in each direction between Live Oak and Valparaiso avenues would be accomplished by removing on-street parking. Both the bicycle lane configurations would remove all onstreet parking on El Camino, while bike lanes with a physical separation would remove most right-turn lanes.
The views
Among those the council heard from on Aug. 25 was Sharon Delly, a Menlo Park resident whose family owns Menlo Clockworks on El Camino. Ms. Delly said that removing the parking, and its use as a loading zone, on El Camino could be a real hardship for businesses and elderly customers. “Many merchants on El Camino depend on that parking for their livelihood,” she said. “By taking away the parking, the city will lose revenue from these businesses because they may have to close.” Ms. Delly said a petition signed by 240 people opposes parking removal. Sean Mulcahy, who owns the Leather Leather Furniture Gallery on El Camino, said parking is crucial. His customers “can’t walk for blocks” to get to the store, he said. Others argued that, rather than a hardship, replacing parking with bike lanes could draw more customers. Dale Hall, who works in Menlo Park and is part of the new environmental organization Menlo Spark, said
Q ON TH E COV E R
This rendering shows a view looking south on El Camino Real toward the intersection with Santa Cruz Avenue, with bike lanes buffered by painted lines. (Graphic courtesy of city of Menlo Park.)
other communities, including San Francisco and Oakland, have seen more business for nearby retailers after improving bike lanes. “If you’re in a car on El Camino, you’re either flying by or you’re at a stoplight,” he said. “This just isn’t a proposal to help out a small group of diehard bicyclists,” he added, but something that “will benefit the entire Menlo Park community.” Adding bike lanes and other safety improvements suggested in the report will also make El Camino safer for pedestrians, he said. Ellen Barton, the active transportation coordinator for See EL CAMINO, page 8
September 2, 2015QTheAlmanacOnline.comQThe AlmanacQ5
NEWS
Community Health Education Programs
Questions raised about silencing staff on reasons for town manager’s exit For a complete list of classes, lectures and support groups, or to register, visit pamf.org/healtheducation.
All our lectures and events are free and open to the public.
September and October 2015 Your Child’s Developing Vision Sept. 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Omondi Nyong’o, M.D., PAMF Pediatric Opthalmology
Much Better Vision: An Overview of Common Eye Conditions and Treatment Sept. 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jason Much, M.D., PAMF Opthalmology
Medicare Update Oct. 20, 6:30 to 8 p.m. This year the Medicare enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7. Learn how you can switch Medicare plans to lower co-pays, save money on prescriptions or simply find a plan that works better for you.
Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder: Unlock Your Child’s Potential Oct. 28, 7 to 8:30 p.m. PAMF neurologist and pediatric neurology specialist Sarah Cheyette, M.D., will talk about what is (and isn’t) ADD/ADHD, as well as medication and non-medication approaches to treatment. San Carlos Center 301 Industrial Road, Conference Room A, San Carlos • 650-853-4873
Genetics & Genomics Affecting Cancer Care Oct. 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Join PAMF Oncology nurse navigator Frank delaRama, MSN, AOCNS, to discuss how the study of our inherited traits impacts the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Palo Alto Center 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto • 650-853-4873
6QThe AlmanacQTheAlmanacOnline.comQSeptember 2, 2015
By Dave Boyce Almanac Staff Writer
W
Q P ORTOLA VA LLE Y
hile a mandatory stand corrected on that naive silence surrounds the thinking, and in a contract with details of the recent a future town manager, I would “involuntary resignation” of not agree to many of the terms former town manager Nick in Mr. Pegueros’ contract. Steep Pegueros from Portola Valley and painful learning curve.” Councilman Craig Hughes Town Hall, some Town Council members have been willing to said he saw only the contract’s talk about one aspect of Mr. final version, after it had been Pegueros’ contract: the clause handled by then-mayor Ann that forbids Town Hall staff from Wengert and then-vice mayor (and now mayor) Jeff Aalfs. Mr. talking about his departure. A clause in the three-year Hughes said he recalled being agreement, signed in December told that Mr. Pegueros had 2014, says that the council, the described the framework of the staff and Mr. Pegueros himself previous contract as outdated. Ms. Wengert did not respond cannot talk to “the public, the press, or any Town employee to repeated requests for an interconcerning the termination of view. “Town contracts must be this Agreement.” This imposition of silence on able to control the actions of staff members raises questions town employees to some degree about whether it abridges their (through their employment), rights to free speech, and wheth- or else they become effectively meaningless,” Mr. er it is enforceable. Hughes said. “I think Lawyers asked Talking about Nikki Moore is right to comment on language meant the termination that the employees could, of course, say to silence the staff could put that whatever they like (if have said that its purpose is prob- staff member’s it’s not slanderous) without legal reperably to direct the job at risk, an cussions, but as town council to direct Town Hall employattorney says. employees, it is part of their job to not ees to be quiet. Nikki Moore, an attorney violate the terms of town conwith the California Newspaper tracts,” he said. Asked about the staff-silence Publishers Association, said the clause is probably unen- clause, Mayor Aalfs said he forceable, meaning that a staff doesn’t remember who proposed member could not be sued it, but described it as “more a for talking. But talking about statement of intention than a the termination could put that binding statement.” Councilman John Richards person’s employment at risk, she said. Portola Valley Town said he could not recall discussing the matter, nor did he recall Attorney Leigh Prince agreed. any controversy about it. “I can tell you that Nick did some very Council comments The Almanac asked the coun- valuable things for the town, and cil members to comment on how that protecting his privacy was that language made its way into and still is a priority,” he said. the contract. Councilwoman Maryann Being nice Moise Derwin said in an email Noting that he could not disshe could not recall who pro- cuss Mr. Pegueros’ departure posed it, but said that the itself, Mr. Hughes did say this: council was trying to give Mr. “We went through an extensive Pegueros “a contract that he process over many weeks to was comfortable with” since the review Nick’s performance before town manager had long been that termination occurred. I can underpaid relative to contempo- also tell you that I would not ever raries in the county. be party to any coverup of illegal “Given our history of friendli- or suspected illegal activity, nor ness and collaboration at Town any activity that went against” the Hall, I couldn’t have imagined equal opportunity employment a scenario in which a man- or misconduct sections of the ager would have parted on such town’s personnel policies manual. terms that it would have actually Mr. Hughes said the council mattered if the staff were chatty or silent,” she said. “I certainly See TOWN MANAGER, page 10
N E W S
City loses fourth top manager By Barbara Wood Almanac Staff Writer
T
he city of Menlo Park has lost its fourth administrator since mid-July, with the departure of Human Resources Director Gina Donnelly, which was announced by City Manager Alex McIntyre on Aug. 27. Mr. McIntyre said Ms. Donnelly, who began working for the city in July 2013, is leaving because her commute from her home in Morgan Hill had become unmanageable. She will become human resources director in Monterey. “Menlo Park is a great community and is a great employer as well,” said Ms. Donnelly. However, she got a great job Photo courtesy city offer from the of Menlo Park city of Mon- Gina Donnelly terey. “I was presented with a wonderful opportunity,” she said. She had been commuting from her home in Morgan Hill as long as two hours each way and could not afford to relocate to Menlo Park. “The commute has gotten exponentially harder since I began three years ago,” she said. Assistant City Manager Starla Jerome-Robinson retired on July 31 and Finance Director
Drew Corbett left Aug. 14 to take the same post with the city of San Mateo. Public Works Director Jesse Quirion left the city Aug. 20 for a job with Google in Tennessee. At the same time Ms. Donnelly’s departure was announced, Mr. McIntyre announced a number of hires or shifting of personnel within the city. He said that police commander Dave Bertini will become the city’s interim human resources director, to “hold down the department until such a time that I can name a new permanent director.” Retired Menlo Park Police Commander Terri Molakides will temporarily fill Commander Bertini’s vacancy, Mr. McIntyre said. Mr. McIntyre has also borrowed Ann Stillman, San Mateo County’s deputy director of public works, to work threequarters time for Menlo Park as interim public works director until a permanent replacement for Mr. Quirion can be found, he said. On Aug. 25, Mr. McIntyre announced he had contracted with Nick Pegueros, whose “involuntary resignation” as the Portola Valley town manager was announced Aug. 12, to be the interim administrative services director. Mr. Pegueros will oversee interim finance director Clay Curtin, interim human resources director (Mr.
Bertini), and information technology manager Gene Garces, Mr. McIntyre said. In an email to city employees sent Aug. 27, Mr. McIntyre noted that a great deal of change has taken place in the city over the summer. “A number of key managers have left the City in pursuit of other work opportunities,” he wrote. “With the strong and talented managers we have, it should not come as a surprise that greater work, quality of life and/ or financial opportunities lure them away. It is to be expected. My preference is that they not all happen at the same time.” Mr. McIntyre said the city has a number of challenges in recruiting and retaining top quality employees. The high cost of living locally, the distances people have to travel to work, and the changes in the city’s retirement system that offer fewer benefits to new employees “all combine to make it difficult to attract a pool of talent,” he said. Because “people can’t afford to move to the area,” recruitment is harder, he said. “The ones who I have to hire are the ones who are here.” “This is partially a function of compensation; this is partially a function of location,” he said, and similar things are affecting many other Silicon Valley businesses. “Menlo Park’s not alone,” Mr. McIntyre said. A
2744 Broadway St. Redwood City, CA 94062 650.248.2969 | unleashedartgallery.com
California Water Service customers met the State’s water-use reduction target in July!
Pegueros named to interim Menlo post By Barbara Wood Almanac Staff Writer
N
ick Pegueros, whose “involuntary resignation” as the Portola Valley town manager was announced Aug. 12, has been named the interim administrative services director in Menlo Park, City Manager Alex McIntyre announced Aug. 25. Mr. Pegueros will partially fill the role left vacant by Starla Jerome-Robinson’s recent retirement. Ms. Jerome-Robinson was assistant city manager as well as administrative services director, but Mr. Pegueros will not take on the assistant city manager role, Mr. McIntyre said. Nick Pegueros He will oversee the interim finance director, the interim human resources director, and information technology manager, Mr. McIntyre said.
Q MEN LO PARK
Mr. Pegueros’ resignation as the Portola Valley town manager was announced by the Portola Valley Town Council in a prepared statement on Aug. 12, which said that “at the request of Nick Pegueros” the council “requested the involuntary resignation of the Town Manager and the Manager resigned, effective immediately.” Mr. McIntyre said he had spoken to Mr. Pegueros about the circ*mstances of his resignation from the Portola Valley position. “I am aware of Nick’s situation in Portola Valley and none of it has to do with his ability to do the job I need to have him do,” Mr. McIntyre said. “He has explained it to me and I have had his explanation affirmed by a separate source,” he said. “I don’t know the details of why the Portola Valley council did what it did and that’s not my business,” Mr. McIntyre
said. Mr. McIntyre was the town administrator for Portola Valley from 1997 to 2000. Mr. McIntyre said that with the recent loss of three highlevel city administrators, including Public Works Director Jesse Quirion, Assistant City Manager Starla Jerome-Robinson and Finance Director Drew Corbett, “I need help.” “I am happy about my appointment of Nick,” he said. “For Nick it’s a trial run, he gets to test us out; we get to test him out.” Mr. Pegueros was hired on a contract that will expire at the end of the calendar year, with an option for renewal if both parties agree, Mr. McIntyre said. Mr. Pegueros’ salary is approximately $170,000 a year. He began working for the city on Aug. 25. The city also announced that Clay Curtin will become the interim finance director. Mr. Curtin has been assistant to the city manager since 2013. He See PEGUEROS page 10
Quality. Service. Value.
dŚĂŶŬLJŽƵ͕ĞĂƌ'ƵůĐŚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͕ĨŽƌŵĞĞƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ^ƚĂƚĞ͛ƐǁĂƚĞƌͲƵƐĞƌĞĚƵĐƟŽŶƌĞƋƵŝƌĞŵĞŶƚŽĨϯϲйĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐƐLJƐƚĞŵŝŶ:ƵůLJ͘/ŶĨĂĐƚ͕LJŽƵǁĞƌĞƐŽĚŝůŝŐĞŶƚŝŶLJŽƵƌ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĞīŽƌƚƐƚŚĂƚ͕ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ͕ǁĞĂĐŚŝĞǀĞĚĂ38.6% ƌĞĚƵĐƟŽŶŽǀĞƌ:ƵůLJϮϬϭϯ͘dŚŝƐďƌŝŶŐƐŽƵƌƚŽƚĂůƌĞĚƵĐƟŽŶƐŝŶĐĞ :ƵŶĞϮϬϭϱƚŽϯϵ͘ϳй͘ WůĞĂƐĞ͕ŬĞĞƉƵƉƚŚĞŐƌĞĂƚǁŽƌŬ͕ĂƐǁĞŵƵƐƚĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƚŽ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞƚŚĞ^ƚĂƚĞ͛ƐƚĂƌŐĞƚƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ&ĞďƌƵĂƌLJϮϬϭϲ͘tĞƚŚĂŶŬ LJŽƵĂŐĂŝŶĨŽƌLJŽƵƌĞīŽƌƚƐĂŶĚŚĞůƉŝŶŐƚŽĞŶƐƵƌĞǁĞŚĂǀĞ ĂƌĞůŝĂďůĞǁĂƚĞƌƐƵƉƉůLJ͕ďŽƚŚĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞĚƌŽƵŐŚƚĂŶĚĨŽƌ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐƚŽĐŽŵĞ͘ ŶĚƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌ͕LJŽƵĐĂŶŐĞƚLJŽƵƌǁĂƚĞƌƵƐĞŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ͕ǁĂƚĞƌ ďƵĚŐĞƚƐ͕ĂŶĚŵŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶĂďŽƵƚƚŚĞĚƌŽƵŐŚƚĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐϮϰͬϳĂƚ͗ www.calwater.com/drought September 2, 2015QTheAlmanacOnline.comQThe AlmanacQ7
N E W S
Pilot program to make city parks herbicide-free approved by City Council By Kate Bradshaw Special to the Almanac
T
he Menlo Park City Council unanimously adopted revisions to the city’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy Aug. 25, including implementing a pilot program at four city parks to eliminate all herbicide use and authorizing the city manager to release a request for proposals to determine the cost viability of making all parks in Menlo Park herbicide-free. The pilot program would be conducted at Bedwell Bayfront, Fremont, Willow Oaks and Stanford Hills parks. Mayor Catherine Carlton proposed two amendments to the proposal that were adopted by the council: eliminating the use of systemic pesticides and discontinuing the use of baited rat traps. Ms. Carlton explained that there have been cases in which poisoned rats have then poisoned other potentially endangered predators.
Q MEN LO PARK
“The poisoned rats are getting into the ecosystem and poisoning birds and bobcats and endangered species,” she said. She suggested using alternative “zap” traps to address rat problems, which contain the deceased rat’s body and prevent its ingestion by other scavengers. Heather Abrams, environmental programs manager for the city, shared a list of systemic pesticides currently in use. These, she had been assured by staff, could be eliminated without issue, including a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids that have been linked to honey bee die-offs. The council also authorized the city manager to seek bids from landscape contractors to maintain all of the city’s parks without herbicide use to see if that option is cost-feasible. With Mayor Carlton’s amendments, the motion passed unanimously. A
Kiwanis Club announces roster of speakers for September Submitted by Judy Horst, of the Kiwanis Club of Menlo Park. The Kiwanis Club of Menlo Park meets each Tuesday, from noon to 1:15 p.m., at Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor Road in Menlo Park. Guests may attend by calling (650) 327-1313. September speakers are: Q Sept. 8: Bayana Chunga, of the African Bible College, will talk about the college he represents and the challenges facing the people of Malawi. He started daily devotional programs on the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, produced a radio documentary that dealt with the AIDS crisis in Malawi, and OUTDOOR MOVIES continued from page 3
development manager, said he is working with downtown furniture stores to gauge interest in using the space to showcase their outdoor furniture collections. Mr. Cogan said that creating open and fun public spaces is an important next step for Menlo Park’s downtown development. For Menlo Park’s downtown area to stay competitive in the age of online shopping, he said,
has written a weekly column in a Malawi newspaper. Q Sept. 15: Sara Jorgensen, one of Harrell Remodeling’s designers, will speak on home remodeling options. Q Sept. 22: Menlo Park Councilwoman Kirsten Keith will talk about challenges facing the city of Menlo Park. Q Sept. 29: Chris Carpenter, general manager of the San Mateo Event Center, will discuss the center, which covers 48 acres and has seven indoor buildings. The center hosts hundreds of events, including trade and consumer shows, product launches, concerts, corporate meetings and the county fair. going downtown needs to feel more like an “experience.” Citing examples like free Wi-Fi in cafes, farmers’ markets and food trucks, and the addition of active spaces such as bocce ball courts in local shopping centers like the Hillsdale Mall, Mr. Cogan said people go to these spaces for the things they can’t get online. “The more we provide an experiential element downtown, the more likely we are to help those businesses,” he said. A
8QThe AlmanacQTheAlmanacOnline.comQSeptember 2, 2015
Photo by Michelle Le/The Almanac
The study looked at reducing the difficulty of crossing El Camino Real, as these autos and a lone bicyclist are doing, heading west on Ravenswood Avenue.
What to do about El Camino? continued from page 5
San Mateo County, said bicycle lanes bring new patrons to businesses. Making El Camino safer could help older people who “eventually do not usually drive in the later years,” she said, and could make room for innovative ideas “such as pedal taxis.” Others, including former Planning Commission member Henry Riggs, advocated for more through traffic lanes, despite the fact that the report showed that would actually slow traffic by drawing in drivers who don’t now use El Camino. “We do need bike routes in Menlo Park. We also need to improve auto circulation for the 30,000 or so of us who have to drive daily on El Camino Real,” Mr. Riggs said. “I am looking forward to an El Camino that handles real-life traffic.” John Duhig, an Allied Arts resident who calls himself “a septuagenarian cyclist,” also liked the additional traffic lanes, because if traffic “isn’t going to come down El Camino, it’s going somewhere else,” he said. “It will all be coming down the road where I live.” As for bike lanes on El Camino, Mr. Duhig said:
“There’s lots of other ways” to get where one wants to go on a bicycle. “I never go on El Camino,” he said. “It’s not necessary.” Others said the bike lanes would help students and families. “I bike to school every day,” said Stella Kaval, who lives on Willow Road. “I go to Hillview School and I’m in 7th grade.” Bike lanes “would make me feel safer about biking and encourage more of my friends to bike.” Lydia Lee, a bike commission member who said she maintains a Facebook page called “Bike Menlo Park,” said she lives on the north end of town off El Camino, about where people start driving faster as it opens up into three lanes in each direction. “My kids bike to school anyway, and we figure it out, we manage,” she said. But adding bike lanes would make biking something to look forward to, she said. Jon Johnston, the fire marshal for the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, said the fire district worries that the plan did not take into consideration what changing El Camino would do to the time it takes for a fire truck or ambulance to respond to an
emergency. “In no aspect (of the report) did they include emergency response,” he said. Steve Weinberger of W-Trans said that option 1, allowing 6 vehicle lanes in each direction by removing parking, “probably has the greatest impact to emergency vehicles and the response time” because it leaves cars no place to pull over. With the bike lane alternatives, cars can pull into the bike lanes, he said. Even with a physically separated bike lane, the separation can be a curb that can be driven over, he said. The idea of a trial was popular with speakers and with the council. A trial of bike lanes could “actually let people see the proof ... so a pilot makes sense to me,” said Councilman Ray Mueller. “I would like a pilot, but I’d like Atherton and either Redwood City or Palo Alto to also take part.” A trial could also help the city see exactly what is needed on El Camino. “It’s hard sometimes when you’re planning for things, to plan for the people who can’t do it yet,” said Councilwoman Kirsten Keith. A
N E W S
TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY 765 Portola Road Portola Valley, CA 94028
NOTICE OF CANCELLED NOVEMBER 3, 2015 ELECTION FOR TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS
Drawing of the proposed additions to Stent Hall on the Menlo School campus.
Menlo School gets go-ahead on campus expansion plans By Barbara Wood Almanac Staff Writer
M
enlo School has apparently calmed the objections of its neighbors over plans to expand several buildings in its central campus. On Aug. 26, the school won unanimous approval from the Atherton Planning Commission to go ahead with the project. The only dissenting vote came from commission member Mary Widmer, who voted against giving the school a variance to exceed the 34-foot height limit in its zoning district by 8 feet. Architect Kevin Hart said representatives of Menlo School, located at 50 Valparaiso Ave., had asked the town a year ago to approve building a twostory building where a onestory building is now proposed. The representatives were asked to work with neighbors and come back with a revised plan. What they came up with, he said, is “a new heart of campus, as far away from any of our neighbors as possible.” Most of the new buildings will not be visible from anywhere but the center of campus, he said. Only one neighbor will be able to see the project and that neighbor “can only see a slight corner as they look through their bushes,” he said. The school was given the variance despite a recommendation from town planners to deny it for fear of setting a negative precedent. Several neighbors spoke in favor of the variance. “I’ve actually come to be positive about this project for the most part,” said immediate neighbor Ed Goodstein. “I think that the school has done
a good job of reaching out and trying to have a meeting of minds about this. Most of our concerns are alleviated.” Granting the variance “would certainly help the neighbors,” he said, because it allows building in the center of campus, rather than the earlier proposed “building outside our back door.” Neighbor Liz King agreed. “I want to endorse all aspects of this plan,” she said. “They’ve
Most of the new buildings will not be visible from anywhere but the center of campus, said architect Kevin Hart. been amenable and thoughtful to the concerns of the neighbors.” Than Healy, the head of school for the private middle and high school, said the construction of the proposed projects will “virtually complete” the school’s plans to update the campus. Mr. Healy said the school will return by early next year with plans for changes in the Cartan Field athletic facilities it shares with Menlo College. He said a meeting with neighbors about the Cartan Field plans is scheduled for October. Menlo School was given a conditional use permit for three additions to two existing buildings. A new dining hall, student center and library addition of 7,600 square feet, would connect to Stent Hall. A 5,400-square-foot, one-story structure with a basem*nt would be added to the Creative Arts & Design Center and used for a technology and business
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that because the number of persons running for Town Council does not exceed the number of offices to be filled at the general election scheduled for November 3, 2015, and there is no other matters on the ballot, the Town Council of the Town of Portola Valley, at its August 26, 2015 meeting, cancelled the November 3, 2015 election. Sharon Hanlon Clerk of the Town of Portola Valley August 27, 2015
office. Business, development and communication offices, totaling 4,500 square feet, would be added to the third floor of the 1998 addition to Stent Hall. The school plans to use 10 portable buildings during construction, putting them on the oval lawn area of the main entry loop, where it put portables during construction in 2004. Among the conditions imposed on the construction by the town are noise controls that would keep the noisiest construction activities between 8 and 10 a.m. or 3 to 5 p.m.; offsite mixing of concrete; and placing wooden barriers around any jackhammers used. Conditions imposed by the neighbors include not allowing noise from mechanical equipment to be heard from neighboring properties; adding landscape screening in front of the creative arts building; and storing food waste on a site away from the neighbors. Conditions to protect the history of Stent Hall (formerly Douglass Hall) include requiring a website with the building’s history and historic photo exhibits inside the building. Civic center
In other business, the Atherton Planning Commission unanimously recommended the City Council approve the final environmental impact report on the town’s Civic Center Master Plan. The town is currently designing a new civic center, and those plans will need further environmental review only on aspects that differ from the master plan. The environmental report will now go to the City Council for final approval. A September 2, 2015QTheAlmanacOnline.comQThe AlmanacQ9
N E W S
Not long ago, people who needed assistance with activities of daily living faced only two options. One was to depend on (or move in with) a family member. The other was to go into a nursing home. Times have changed and now there’s a better way: seniors can live in the comfort of their own homes--with assistance from an hourly or 24-hour professional caregiver who will deliver personalized care that is tailored to their needs. Call us anytime you need an extra hand!
YOUR 24/7 HOME CARE SPECIALIST
(650) 328-1001 www.careindeed.com 890 Santa Cruz Avenue Menlo Park, CA 94025
Autumn in Woodside Sunday Sept. 13 • Taste of Woodside Sponsored by Woodside/Portola Valley Rotary Club
8SVEMWIJYRHWJSVGSQQYRMX]ERHMRXIVREXMSREPFIRI½XTVSKVEQW)RNS]XEWXMRKXLIFIWXSJ;SSHWMHIEVIE[MRIW 7MPIRXERH0MZI%YGXMSRWERHEJEFYPSYWQYPXMGSYVWIHMRRIV,IPHEXXLI;SSHWMHI:MPPEKI'LYVGL+VEGI'SYVX]EVH TQXSTQwww.TasteOfWoodside.com
MP resident Cardinal Levada charged with DUI in Hawaii By Dave Boyce Almanac Staff Writer
A
resident of St. Patrick’s Seminary & University in Menlo Park, Cardinal William Joseph Levada, has been charged with drunken driving after being stopped on Aug. 20 by a police officer on a street in Kailua-Kona in Hawaii. Cardinal Levada, 79, is out of custody after posting $500 bail and is expected in court on Sept. 24, according to the Hawaii Cardinal William Joseph Levada Tribune- Herald. He was on vacation with friends, according to a church spokesman. At the time he was pulled over by police, Cardinal Levada was alone and driving a 2015 Nissan Altima, the story said. The seminary has not yet responded to a request for comment. Cardinal Levada’s long career with the Roman Catholic Church
includes terms as archbishop of San Francisco and archbishop of Portland, Oregon. He is currently the Prefect Emeritus of the Conclave of the Faith. He has held a position of great power within the church, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) in May 2005 as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This office within the curia — the Pope’s cabinet — has a mission to “promote and safeguard the doctrine on faith and morals in the whole Catholic world,” according to Catholichierarchy.org. The church changed the office’s original name — the Congregation for Universal Inquisition — in 1908, and again in 1965 to its present name, according to a historical summary at the website. Cardinal Levada, who retired in July 2012, was the first U.S. prelate to hold the Prefect position, the Tribune-Herald story said. He was also a voting member of the College of Cardinals when that body elected Pope Francis in March 2013. A
Saturday Sept. 26 • NCEFT Heroes and Horses • A Jewels & Jeans Gala ,SWXIH&EV(MRRIV*YRH%2IIH%YGXMSRERHIRXIVXEMRQIRX%PPTVSGIIHWKSXSWYTTSVX2')*88LIVET]TVSKVEQW JSVGLMPHVIREHYPXWERHSYVQMPMXEV]ZIXIVERW,IPHEX2')*8°6YRR]QIHI6SEH More information and tickets www.NCEFT.org/2015Gala
TOWN MANAGER
Sunday Sept. 27 • Chili Cook-off
will likely tweak “some sections” of the contract with the new town manager. But, he added, “mutual-non-disparagement clauses are familiar to me from the private sector for senior managers, so I didn’t find it unusual that there should be one in our contract with Nick.” Asked whether private sector practices were appropriate in the public sector, Mr. Hughes said that nondisparagement clauses were not universal in the private sector, and ack nowledged the validity of the question for a public employee with a $200,000 salary. But senior-level jobs are
8SVEMWIJYRHWJSVXLI;SSHWMHI4SVXSPE:EPPI]*MVI4VSXIGXMSR*SYRHEXMSR
8EWXIWSQISJXLIFIWXGLMPMEVSYRH)RNS]EPMZIFERHWMPIRXERHPMZIEYGXMSRERHSPHJEWLMSRIH*MVI½KLXIV&&5 ERHOMHWKEQIWEPPXSWYTTSVX]SYVPSGEP½VIHITEVXQIRX,IPHEX6YRR]QIHI*EVQTQXSTQ [[[ßVIHMWXVMGXJSYRHEXMSRSVK
Saturday Oct. 3 • Woodside Barn Dance 7TSRWSVIHF]XLI;SSHWMHI6IGVIEXMSR'SQQMXXII
&VMRKXLI[LSPIJEQMP]ERH]SYVJVMIRHWERHIRNS]TSR]VMHIWETIXXMRK^SSJEGITEMRXMRKXLIQIGLERMGEPFYPP*MVIXVYGO VMHIWTYTTIXWLS[WGPS[RWQEKMGMERWIUYIWXVMERHIQSRWXVEXMSRWERHQSVIMREHS[RLSQIGSYRXV]TEVX] 3YVJEQSYW&&5WXEVXWEXTQJSVXLI]SYRKERHSPH7XE]EVSYRHJSVERIZIRMRKSJVSGOERHVSPPHERGMRKEXXLI 1SYRXIH4EXVSP+VSYRHWTQ&Y]XMGOIXWMREHZERGISRPMRIEXwww.woodsiderec.net.
Saturday Oct. 10 • Woodside Day of the Horse 7TSRWSVIHF];,3%¯;SSHWMHIEVIE,SVWI3[RIVW%WWSGMEXMSR
.SMRYWEXXLI,SVWI*EMVJSVJVII ;SSHWMHI8S[R,EPP 6MHIXLI;IPPW*EVKS7XEKIGSEGLPMWXIRXSELSVWI´WLIEVX FIEXPIEVREPPXLILSVWIEGXMZMXMIWMRXLMWEVIE QSVI3VTVIVIKMWXIVJSVXLI4VSKVIWWMZI6MHIERHVMHIXLVSYKL ;SSHWMHI´WFIEYXMJYP8S[RXVEMPW 4VSGIIHWKSXS[EVHWXLITVIWIVZEXMSRSJXLIVYVEPLIVMXEKI[LMGLLSVWIWWYTTSVX www.whoa94062.org
Sunday Oct. 11 • Woodside Pumpkin Festival 7TSRWSVIHF]XLI1SYRXIH4EXVSPSJ7ER1EXIS'SYRX]
&VMRKXLIOMHWERHIRNS]TSR]VMHIWFSYRG]LSYWIELEYRXIHLSYWIERHTIXXMRK^SS[LMPI]SY½RHXLIKVIEXTYQTOMR JSV]SYVPMXXPISRIEXXLI1SYRXIH4EXVSP+VSYRHW,EQFYVKIVWLSXHSKWFIIV[MRIWSJXHVMROWEVIEZEMPEFPI%TSVXMSR SJXLITVSGIIHWFIRI½XWGLSSPWERHIUYIWXVMERGEYWIWMRXLIEVIE(EMP]LSVWIIZIRXWMRXLIEVIREEQXSTQ *VIIEHQMWWMSRwww.Woodsidepumpkinfestival.com0SSOMXYTSR*EGIFSSO
Saturday|Sunday • Oct. 17 & 18 • Woodside Pumpkin Festival 'SRXMRYIW 3RP]QMRYXIWJVSQHS[RXS[R;SSHWMHI;L]HVMZIJSVLSYVWXS,EPJ1SSR&E]#%TSVXMSRSJXLITVSGIIHW FIRI½XWWGLSSPWERHIUYIWXVMERGEYWIWMRXLIEVIE1SYRXIH4EXVSP+VSYRHWEQXSTQ*VIIEHQMWWMSR [[[;SSHWMHITYQTOMRJIWXMZEPGSQ
Saturday|Sunday • Oct. 24 & 25 • Woodside Pumpkin Festival *MREP[IIOIRH *MREPHE]WSJXLIJIWXMZEP)RNS]UYEPMX]JEQMP]XMQI[LMPIWIEVGLMRKJSVXLITYQTOMRXLEXMWTIVJIGXJSV]SY,IPTWYTTSVX PSGEPWGLSSPWERHIUYIWXVMEREGXMZMXMIWMRXLIEVIE1SYRXIH4EXVSP+VSYRHWEQXSTQ*VIIEHQMWWMSR www.Woodsidepumpkinfestival.com 3GXSFIVIZIRXWEVILIPHEXXLI1SYRXIH4EXVSP+VSYRHW/MRKW1SYRXEMR6SEH;SSHWMHI See map at http://www.mpsmc.org 8LI1SYRXIH4EXVSP*SYRHEXMSREGWYTTSVXWEPPSJXLIIZIRXWEFSZIERHMWEWWMWXMRKMRXLIEHZIVXMWMRKSji*zIRXW
10QThe AlmanacQTheAlmanacOnline.comQSeptember 2, 2015
continued from page 6
PEGUEROS continued from page 7
had also worked in Southern California for the cities of West Covina and Manhattan Beach and has a bachelor’s degree from Washburn University and a master’s degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Mr. McIntyre said that while Mr. Curtin has a “limited background” in finance, he is “a good
few, he noted. If the separation is for reasons that do not involve illegal behavior or other “nefarious things,” Mr. Hughes said, it is “somewhat more reasonable” for senior employees to have some control over what is said about them. The employer is more likely to agree to such clauses if the management is enthusiastic about retaining the employee, as this council was in December, he said. “He was a town manager whom everyone felt was doing a great job,” he said. The council will be evaluating its contracts with a colder eye in the future, he said. If a candidate requests a mutualnon-disparagement clause, it would be appropriate to consider it, Mr. Hughes said. A
manager.” He will be reporting to Mr. Pegueros, who has extensive finance experience, Mr. McIntyre said. In addition to serving as town manager in Portola Valley, Mr. Pegueros was finance and administrative services director in Los Altos Hills and assistant finance director for the city of San Bruno. He has a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a master’s degree from the University of Washington. A
OPEN SUNDAY PRIME CENTRAL WOODSIDE
3 Vineyard Hill Road Offered at $7,995,000
Woodside, home to many Silicon Valley executives and minutes to Sand Hill Road venture capital centers and Stanford University 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths | Masterfully renovated Exceptional craftsmanship walls of glass, dramatic ceilings, white oak floors Media room and lower level fitness center 3+ acres with swimming pool and spa Tennis Court | Portola Valley schools
www.3VineyardHillRoad.com RANKED #4 NATIONALLY IN AVERAGE SALES PRICE RANKED #12 TEAM NATIONALLY, PER THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2015
MARY GULLIXSON 650.888.0860 [emailprotected] License# 00373961
BRENT GULLIXSON 650.888.4898 [emailprotected] License# 01329216
gullixson.com
Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Square footage and/or acreage information contained herein has been received from seller, existing reports, appraisals, public records and/or other sources deemed reliable. However, neither seller nor listing agent has verified this information. If this information isimportant to buyer in determining whether to buy or to purchase price, buyer should conduct buyer’s own investigation.
September 2, 2015QTheAlmanacOnline.comQThe AlmanacQ11
N E W S
Fire board approves four-year contract with firefighters By Dave Boyce Almanac Staff Writer
W
ith his letter to the public, Chuck Bernstein was on the record as opposing his colleagues on the governing board of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District on a new four-year contract with firefighters, and he was alone in not voting to approve it on a 4-1 vote Aug. 25. But his letter did provoke a question or two for the district, and a call for his censure. Mr. Bernstein claims that the contract (formally termed a memorandum of understanding) does not inform constituents of the true costs, that it institutionalizes overtime as regular pay, that it’s misleading about the pension plan, and that it will ripple to the battalion and division chiefs and raise their pay as well. He says the district was misleading in saying that firefighters’ base compensation would rise by 18 percent over four years. The total increase was
Board member Chuck Bernstein says contract doesn’t inform constituents of the true costs. 41 percent, compensation that would beat by 60 percent the consumer price index over the same period. Board member Peter Carpenter did not deny that assertion, but said it represented a worstcase scenario, and that while the matter had not been addressed in the contract itself, it had been in a subsequent question-andanswer format on the district’s website. “The staff worked very hard on that issue because you did, in fact, raise it and the staff went
and looked at it,” Mr. Carpenter said. “The text (in the Q and A) is very clear. It says this is a worst-case assumption and we think this actually is going to be less expensive than that.” A worst-case scenario of the contract’s costs to the district, according to Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman and board member Rex Ianson, would include no firefighters retiring over the contract’s term, all employees opting into the district’s medical plan, all employees being reimbursed for their educational expenses, all receiving $150 a month for being bilingual, and all earning a 3 percent bonus for having bachelor’s degrees. None of that is going to happen, they said. In dissent
Amid praise by board members to the contract’s negotiators, Mr. Bernstein was alone in his criticism. “I wish I could join the love fest,” he said. “I think we’re going to spend the decade regretting (approving) it.” Payroll could rise to 70 percent
of the budget, he said. “It risks not being sustainable anymore,” he said. “I’m sorry I haven’t been more persuasive and more effective. ... I think this is not the right answer. I think it is a mistake.” The raises amount to 2 percent a year when dated from 2007, Mr. Ianson said. Firefighters continued working at a high performance level despite not having a contract, he added. “I think that what’s in the contract is reasonable,” he said. The firefighters of Local 2400 of the San Mateo County Firefighters have been working without a contract since 2007. “Were trying to recognize the professionals we have for the skills they have” so as to keep them employed in the Menlo Park district, Mr. Carpenter said. In negotiating, the district had to comply with the law and convince the union to accept it, he said, adding, “We met someplace in the middle.” “This was not a rushed process. Everyone has a piece of this contract,” said board President Virginia Chang Kiraly. “This is not a love fest.” Censure ahead?
After the board members approved the contract, they voted again, this time unanimously,
to discuss in September the idea of censuring Mr. Bernstein. Mr. Carpenter requested the discussion, alleging that Mr. Bernstein violated the board’s policies and procedures governing decorum and a member’s conduct and responsibilities. Mr. Bernstein’s letter included this sentence: “Notwithstanding my pride in the quality of service we offer, I will vote against the proposed contract. I believe it represents a terrible deal for residents and taxpayers.” Section 5.8 of the board’s policies and procedures says that members “shall observe” a code of conduct, which includes this directive: “A Fire District Board Member should strive to: ... 1) Refuse to make commitments on any matter which should come before the Board as a whole.” Mr. Bernstein said he would welcome “a discussion of what’s permitted and what’s not permitted.” Contract provisions
Under the contract’s terms, firefighters’ pay will rise by 9 percent the first year and 3 percent annually for three years which, with the annual increases, works out to 19 percent, with See FIRE BOARD page 16
%,%,*$(,(+,+'(,&$,%+, *)+, %),%), * ,!*##,%+,!*)+,''&'(*$ +"
.$ /)"+/'.(,)+/$).#/)(./$,./'-.$/-(#/,(#. .(#.(*$/ -*/%)!./,*%/*) ()*&%/&-+./+)!/)!./-+./'','*-(&.
+),#,(/*%./.'*/,(/'.(,)+/&-+.%.*%.+/,*/,'/)(/-(/%)"+$/-',' )+/-/$,.,(/-','
,&+$,!*)+,+ &*#&'('",./).+/*%./%,%.'*/"-$,* )*&$,+*#(,+)('" ./-+./*%./)($/%)!./&-+./-.(&/*%-* -+)"(#*%.&$)&/&-+./)+/*%./!)'*/&)! .*,*,./ +,&.//"-+-(*..# ).+'/*%./)(,*,./%.+- ."*,&'/ .*%)#/-/+.'.-+&%-&.# -&*,,*,.'/ +)+-!/*%-*/ +)!)*.'/+-,(/%.-$*%/-(#/,*-$,*/,(/ +,+'(,%)#,!*)+" -(/-!,$,.'/&%))'./*)/%,+./)"+/ )"+/&$,.(*' . .+,.(&.#/-(#/*+-,(.#/&-+.,.+'/)(/-(/%)"+$/-','/ )"+$/'&%.#"$.'/-+./$.,$.//()/&)(*+-&*'/+.",+.#/
+)&+$ +,&(,*$ +,!*)+,++'" "+/&-+.,.+'/ -+./. .+,.(&.#/,*%/&-+,(/)+/&$,.(*'/,*%/' .&,-$/&)(#,*,)(' '"&%/-'/$ %.,!.+'/'*+)./-(#/ -+,(')('/./-$')/#..$) !)+./&"'*)!, .#/&-+./ $-('/-(#/*+-,(,(/)+/*%.'./&$,.(*' */)!./-+./'','*-(&././!.-(/,*/%.(/./*-$/-)"*/ 12QThe AlmanacQTheAlmanacOnline.comQSeptember 2, 2015
)!.-+.'','*-(&.&)!
/-*%)+(./.("./ -$)/$*)//
®
e v a h u o y g n i p ho a great
La b o r Day!
- D e Le on Re alty
6 5 0 . 4 8 8 . 7 3 2 5 | w w w. d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | D e L e o n R e a l t y C a l B R E # 0 1 9 0 3 2 2 4
September 2, 2015QTheAlmanacOnline.comQThe AlmanacQ13
20 Lane Place, Atherton Offered at $4,288,000 Gated Property with Dramatic Remodel Fully remodeled in 2010, this impressive 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home of 3,930 sq. ft. (per plans) accompanies a detached garage with an additional half bath on a sprawling lot of 1.2 acres (per county). Automatic gates access the circular driveway, while the sensational interior provides a host of custom touches and a free-flowing floorplan with a living/dining ensemble, a dreamy chef ’s kitchen, a large breakfast area, and a family room with a fireplace. Two bedrooms, including the relaxing master suite, are downstairs, and a gracious staircase leads up to a spacious loft, a home office, and three more bedrooms. Outdoors, the converted garage enjoys a studio, and the fine grounds also include a paver terrace, a custom shed, and an immense backyard. A short stroll from Holbrook-Palmer Park, this home also features easy access to Caltrain and prestigious schools like Sacred Heart and Menlo School, plus other excellent schools like Encinal Elementary (API 930), Hillview Middle (API 950), and Menlo-Atherton High (buyer to verify eligibility). For video tour & more photos, please visit:
w w w . 2 0 Lan e P lac e .c o m
OPEN HOUSE
®
Ken DeLeon CalBRE #01342140
Michael Repka CalBRE #01854880
Saturday & Sunday, 1-5 pm Complimentary Lunch & Lattes
6 5 0 . 4 8 8 . 7 3 2 5 | i n f o @ d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | w w w. d e l e o n r e a l t y. c o m | C a l B R E # 0 1 9 0 3 2 2 4
14QThe AlmanacQTheAlmanacOnline.comQSeptember 2, 2015
185 Fair Oaks Lane, Atherton Romantic French Estate with Every Modern Amenity This stunning home of approximately 5,854 square feet (per plans) sits on a manicured 1-acre+ lot (per county) and represents the best of both worlds - striking newer construction with incredible old-world charm. The owner, a well-respected local designer, personally sourced many of the property’s details from Europe, creating an environment that is remarkably elegant, while still remaining warm and inviting. 5/7;>EŌ;;>? 2>51F19;805:3 -:05:@>5/-@1C-88-:0/1585:3@>1-@91:@?95:381C5@4/4-:01851>? -:@5=A10;;>? -:09->.81 mantelpieces imported from France, to create a wonderfully sophisticated environment. The interior includes formal living and 05:5:3>;;9? 2;A>ŋ>1 -:0-?A9;;9;31;A? 9-?@1>?A5@1-C-5@?A
![[PDF] What to do about El Camino? - Free Download PDF (2024)](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/h8AAvMB+NzmkbcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)