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Published May 2nd, 2018
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Letters to the Editor
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Lafayette Planning Commission rules
I am responding to your article regarding the Lafayette City Council
serving as the Planning Commission due to the fact that the Planning
Commission no longer has a quorum in response to the new conflict of
interest rules passed by the City Council.
The new rules require that all Planning Commission and Design Review
Board members resign if they have, or any family members or working
colleagues have, business in the city of Lafayette. Previously, and in
accordance with state law, these members were required to recuse
themselves as opposed to resign if they found themselves in this
situation.
The City Council refused to apply the new conflict regulations to
themselves. But now that they are sitting as the Planning Commission
and these new rules apply to the Planning Commission shouldn’t the
rules apply to them as well? I know so and as a result resignations
should be forthcoming.
As the saying goes, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Patricia Curtin
Lafayette
Orinda Library Parcel Tax, Measure J
My family is a family of readers. When my family of five moved to
Orinda eight years ago, one of our favorite family community
activities was visiting the Orinda library. My kids were 1, 3 and 5
when we first moved to Orinda, and back then, we spent many afternoons
sitting in the children’s section of the library, reading books. As my
kids have gotten older, we don’t have quite as much time to sit in the
library reading books, but my kids relish the opportunity to stop by
the library and check out books. When the summer reading program
begins every year, my kids beg to sign up for the reading program and
eagerly complete their summer reading. Personally, I love perusing the
New Releases at the library whenever I can, and loading up on new
books to read. My family of five has been known to stop by the library
on any given weekend and check out a large stack of books for all of
us to enjoy.
Our Orinda library benefits the Orinda community in so many ways. It
provides a safe space for school-aged children and teens to meet after
school to do homework, research class assignments, or just read for
pleasure. It provides meeting spaces for local community volunteers.
It also offers an indoor activity space for families with young
children to encourage book exploration.
I strongly support the proposed Orinda library parcel tax, Measure J.
The tax will only assess residents an additional tax of $30 per year.
In exchange, the library will be able to remain open 7 days a week.
Measure J funds can only be used for the library, extending library
hours from 35 hours per week (which is what the country provides) to
60 hours a week. Please join me in voting Yes on Measure J on the June
ballot.
Hillary Weiner
Orinda
Vice President, Orinda School Board of Trustees
PG&E work on St. Mary’s Road
At the most recent City Council meeting, PG&E discussed this summer’s
large gas pipeline replacement project along St. Mary’s Road. The
project is a Capacity project, according to PG&E, which means the
width of the underground pipeline will be widened from 4 inches to 8
or 12 inches in order to serve more customers. It’s a large and
expensive project that will cause traffic nightmares, so why is this
PG&E’s first priority? There are much more urgent pipeline safety
concerns in our community.
Ten years ago Lafayette residents reported the 4-foot exposed pipeline
near Beechwood Drive to PG&E, yet the pipeline remains exposed to
corrosive elements to this day. By law, PG&E should have all segments
of pipeline under at least 36-inches of soil. Also, Lafayette has no
automated or remote shut-off valves which would lessen fire, property
damage, or injuries in the case of accidents. Pipeline experts tell us
internal “pig” inspections are the best safety practice, however these
have never been conducted in Lafayette, nor are they planned for in
the near future.
So, what’s in the ground behind our yards and in our parks? PG&E
admitted in the City Council meeting that their “critical
infrastructure” of pipeline along St. Marys Rd was installed in 1952
“before modern radiography was used to inspect welds” and that welding
inspection was “only visual.” We know from earlier PG&E reports that
other pipelines are even older, and this is the exact problem that
resulted in the explosion in San Bruno and killed eight people.
Think about that for a moment: PG&E knows the Lafayette pipelines were
installed with outdated materials and techniques, have uninspected
welds, can’t be shut off automatically, wind through busy
neighborhoods, lie exposed above ground, and won’t be internally
inspected. And their top two priorities in our community is to
increase service capacity for Moraga and to cut down 500 trees in
Lafayette and Briones Park?
We asked these questions, and PG&E’s inability to answer the simplest
of questions as to project safety prioritization shines a bright light
on the flawed and reckless safety decisions made by their risk
management group. Every single Lafayette resident is affected by
pipeline safety. It is the responsibility of each resident to hold our
utility and elected officials accountable. A PG&E Open House to
promote the tree removal maintenance program to residents is an
unnecessary distraction from the true safety issues that need to be
revealed and discussed.
We request the City Council to discuss this issue as an official
agenda item during the next City Council Meeting, consider recalling
this unnecessary and destructive Tree Cutting Agreement which was made
under the false pretense of urgent safety, and force PG&E to address
the true safety risks that lie beneath our feet. We ask City Council
to stop defending PG&E now and get on the residents’ side of this
matter of community safety.
Michael and Gina Dawson
Lafayette
No on Storm Drain Fee
Have you ever played Jenga? You know, the game where you pull blocks
out from the bottom of a stack of other blocks, and hope like heck
that it doesn’t fall down. If it does … you lose … and you might have
to take a shot or something.
This is exactly how our state and local tax increases work (but
without the shots). Since we voters need to approve them, politicians
must sell us on the need and assure us that the money won’t be spent
elsewhere. As so they tell us, “This money can only be spent for
Purpose X.” Why? Because it’s what we want to hear. It’s a sales
tactic … and it works!
But is it the truth? Technically, yes - but’s it’s like Jenga. The
blocks at the top of the stack are the “new guaranteed Purpose X tax
money” we just voted for. But the blocks at the bottom are the
existing budget for Purpose X with no such guarantee. What happens to
these blocks? Well ... they get pulled out, of course, because that’s
how the game is played. But instead of putting them back on top of the
stack, they get used elsewhere. So what taxpayers get left with is
Purpose X sitting on top of a wobbly stack of underfunding – which is
exactly where we started.
And do we really want our taxes to be guaranteed for any specific
purpose? In a perfect world - probably not. Our politicians would then
be able to use our money for it’s highest value use and not get locked
into “emergency funding problems” that seem to be arising every week.
This, however, would require a considerable amount of trust in those
who spend our tax money … and I most certainly am not going to sell
you that bridge.
Some of you probably remember when the California Lottery came along,
which is a sugar coated tax on the poor. They promised us that those
proceeds could not be used for anything other than funding our
schools. Technically, they told us the truth, but then pilfered all of
the “unguaranteed money” from our schools instead. Now we have this
Storm Drain Fee in Moraga with the same “guarantee.”
I just love games … don’t you?
Doug Home
Moraga
Yes on Storm Drain Fee
Moraga property owners – I urge you to vote YES on the storm water
fee.
Our problem is clear – Moraga’s storm water system is old and parts of
it are failing.
There is a plan to make things better. Doing nothing will only make
things worse.
Now, our choice is simple:
• Vote YES – Provide funds now to repair our deteriorating storm water
system.
• Vote NO – Wait for the next sinkhole and pay the excessive cost for
an emergency fix.
If you have not voted, find your ballot, mark it YES, sign it and send
it in. You don’t even need a stamp.
If you can’t find your ballot, contact the Moraga Town Clerk
(925-888-7022) for a replacement – then vote YES.
If you have already voted, thank you.
Moraga needs to solve its storm water problem. Moraga needs to adopt
and execute its Storm Drain Master Plan. Vote YES to make it happen.
Bob Reynolds
Moraga
More on storm drains
Our family moved to Moraga 46 years ago. Since then, I have been
continuously and extensively involved in our Town’s governance. Based
upon that experience, I’d like to share some insights I believe are
relevant to our storm drains problem.
First – no Question – we have an extremely serious problem.
• Our storm drains were built to County standards in the 1960s and
early 1970s. They are reaching the ends of their useful lives;
• Unless we act now, major sinkhole failures are likely to occur
throughout Moraga in the near future;
• Addressing the need now is far cheaper and much less disruptive than
waiting to incur the extreme costs of fixing sinkholes after they
develop;
• The magnitude of the total need means it will be extremely expensive
to fix;
• Our Town’s financial reserves are minimal. Any new, major storm
drain problem could well exceed the Town’s resources;
• New financing must be found to repair the existing system, and for
continuous maintenance and long-term replacement of the system’s
elements.
Second, there is no “hidden pot of gold” nor feasible major changes in
the cost of the Town’s current operations that could conceivably solve
the problem.
• As a leader in our Town’s 1974 Incorporation drive I can attest to
the fact that our Town was designed to run on the cheap with minimal
staff. That’s how our Town was initially run. It’s exactly how it
continues to be run today;
• A 12-person, blue ribbon Committee I chaired found the Town is run
with fewer staff and a significantly smaller per-capita cost than any
city in our county or any comparable city in our region. A recent
update of our committee’s data confirmed that continues to be the
case;
• The amount and timing of hoped-for future disaster fund
reimbursements is unknown. The timing of any future developer fees is
also uncertain. Neither potential fund source would be nearly enough
to solve our storm drains problem.
We need to act now. I’ve voted for the Storm Drains Fee. You should
also!
Dick Olsen
Moraga
Request for transparency
For all that is structurally wrong with Moraga’s proposed storm drain
tax – including taxing schools, churches and the fire department, and
no articulated financing plan attached to it – one item often lost in
the discussion is the opacity with which the Town has handled the
entire process. This includes councilmembers forming an “independent”
advocacy group before even voting on moving forward with the ballot
initiative. Most recently, it includes double-dipping and taxing
residents for money it already has.
Specifically, a $1.1 million creek daylighting project at the Hacienda
is part of the proposed storm drain tax. However, the Town has secured
$1million in grants to fund that project, yet still intends to tax
residents the full amount.
Residents deserve more transparency, and should only be asked for what
is actually needed.
Therese Meuel
Moraga
“YES” on storm drain ordinance makes the most sense
Those opposed suggest there has been fiscal mismanagement by Town
government and/or Town Council/Mayor, claiming funds should have been
budgeted for years to ensure properly maintained storm drains. Moraga
receives much less back from the county from our property taxes than
Orinda or Lafayette and our town’s budget has always had more
services/projects to support than funds available. What happens? The
most important, pressing needs are funded and those deferrable without
immediate serious effect are deferred. That’s often not a problem for
a while, but long deferred maintenance suddenly results in a major
sinkhole which has to wait until funds can be scraped out of other
budget categories to address the now very costly repairs. Budgeting
with insufficient funds by crisis management puts us where we are
today. That’s not fiscal mismanagement; that is struggling to do the
best job possible with inadequate funds to accomplish everything
important. I grant very little, if any, credence to the “no” camp’s
slogan “fiscal responsibility first.” The facts don’t support the
claim.
For the average homeowner, the fee is $120 annually. Long ago, $120
was a significant amount of money. Today it is not. $120 annually is
33 cents a day.
Fellow Moragans, 33 cents isn’t even postage stamp money, it’s parking
meter change (except in San Francisco.) Less than a postage stamp per
day will fund long deferred maintenance/repairs to our aged and
collapsing storm drain infrastructure, hopefully preventing another
sinkhole requiring major repair expenses. The need is great, urgent
and the cost is minor and manageable by virtually all homeowners,
schools and churches. (Rainwater runoff is directly proportionate to
structure roof area and (land) property size.
It is entirely appropriate that all property, including schools and
churches pay the fee.
Ballots must be received at the town offices by May 15 and can be
delivered there or mailed as soon as possible. If you haven’t yet
voted on this very important measure, please vote now and please vote
YES! It is the right and wise action to take.
Fred Marschner
Moraga
Vote Yes on Measure J
It’s easy to take for granted that our library will be open whenever
we want to borrow a book, read and study quietly in a comfy armchair,
or attend an educational program. After all, nearly 200,000 items were
checked out – 11 per Orinda resident – and almost 8000 adults and
children participated in library activities. However, our library’s
accessibility and high level of service are in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, the county provides only enough funding to keep the
library open 35 hours a week. The current parcel tax passed a decade
ago increased service to 60 hours and seven days a week, but its
purchasing power has eroded over the years. That’s why it is important
to pass Measure J which adds $30 to the existing tax or about 8 cents
per day – a small price to pay for such a valuable community resource.
Please vote Yes on Measure J either absentee or in person on June 5th.
Susie Epstein
Orinda
Measure J
To the editor:
I can’t remember the last time I checked a book out of the library,
but I’m pretty sure I can count the years since in double digits.
Still, I’m supporting Measure J for what the Orinda Library brings to
this community I call home.
I choose to live in a community where everyone has equal access to
information and entertainment, where my retired friends can read
professional journals, my book club friends can borrow the latest
bestseller, and my friends learning a foreign language can reserve a
room for their study groups to meet.
I value a community that values children and education. I’m always
delighted to see students get off the bus after school and head to the
library, or to watch a toddler proudly carry her latest selection of
books to the car.
Even though I may not check out a book anytime soon, I want to know
that my library is ready and open seven days a week, not just for me,
but for my community.
Sincerely,
Pat Rudebusch
Orinda
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA