C O M M U N I T Y
USGS opens volcano observatory Most people think “earthquakes” when they hear “California.” The U.S. Geological Survey, however, also thinks “volcanoes.” CalVO, their new volcano observatory, opened Feb. 9 at the Menlo Park branch of the USGS. The list of volcanoes currently on CalVO’s watch list includes Mount Shasta, Medicine Lake Volcano, Clear Lake Volcanic Field, and Lassen Volcanic Center in Northern California; Long Valley Caldera and Mono-Inyo Craters in eastcentral California; Salton Buttes, Coso Volcanic Field, and Ubehebe
Craters in Southern California; and Soda Lakes in central Nevada, according to the USGS. CalVO replaces the former Long Valley Observatory, established in 1982 to monitor the Long Valley Caldera and Mono-Inyo Craters region of California, the agency said in a press release.
Mapping flood before it happens How to predict when the floodwaters will rise is the topic of a public lecture at the U.S. Geological
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Survey in Menlo Park on Thursday, Feb. 23. Hydrologist Marijke van Heeswijk will talk about the agency’s new FloodPath mapping system, designed to forecast floods three days in advance. The lecture starts at 7 p.m. in the Building 3 conference room at 345 Middlefield Road in Menlo Park. Go to tinyurl.com/6nb2yvz to watch the live lecture online.
Achievement gap a focus at board meeting The achievement gap — the difference in academic performance between students with socio-economic advantages and students without them — comes up for an extended discussion by the board of the Sequoia Union High School District on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The board meets at 5:30 p.m. in the district office at 480 James Ave. in Redwood City. A Sequoia board retreat in January produced four priorities: address the achievement gap, enhance teacher effectiveness, systematically examine career technical education (CTE) courses, and
re-examine the district’s resources as they relate to these priorities. A staff report notes board member Chris Thomsen proposing seven “essential questions” to be considered in Wednesday’s achievement-gap discussion and for the board going forward. Among them: ■ What activities are specifically meant to address the gap? Which have met with the most success? ■ What are the best achievementgap-reducing practices out there? What does the research show? ■ What are the goals for the board as apart from teachers
and staff? Another question on the agenda: Does the board feel a need to have such sets of essential questions for the district’s other three priorities?
N PO LI C E C A L L S This information is from the Atherton and Menlo Park police departments and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. Under the law, people charged with offenses are considered innocent until convicted. MENLO PARK Commercial burglary report: Loss estimated at $1,500 in break-in and theft of computer, Blackberry Partners Fund at 3000 Sand Hill Road, Feb. 8. Residential burglary report: Fernando Calvazuniga, 36, of East Palo Alto arrested on suspicion of burglary in connection with theft of bicycle from open garage, followed by chase by bike’s owner and arrest after victim flagged down passing police officer, Laurel Ave., Feb. 8. Theft reports: ■ Loss estimated at $5,000 in theft of cash from victim’s purse, Constitution Drive, Feb. 6. ■ Loss estimated at $700 in theft of locked bicycle, San Antonio St., Feb. 4. ■ Loss estimated at $400 in theft of locked bicycle, University Drive, Feb. 4. ■ Loss estimated at $350 in theft of purse from unlocked vehicle, Sharon Road, Feb. 5. ■ Loss estimated at $125 in theft of vehicle cover from open carport, Oakdell Drive,
Feb. 8. Fraud reports: ■ Loss of $1,998 in funds wired to Belgium bank after unauthorized access to victim’s bank account, Sharon Road, Feb. 6. ■ Loss estimated at $350 in unauthorized use of credit card, Laurel Ave., Feb. 3. ■ Loss of $248 in unauthorized use of credit card, Laurel St., Feb. 8. PORTOLA VALLEY Assault report: Bullet hole found in wall about 14 feet beyond shattered glass door in house unoccupied at time of incident, Golden Oak Drive, Feb. 9. WEST MENLO PARK Residential burglary report: Unknown losses in side-window entry and front-door exit with theft of TVs, jewelry and computers, Barney Ave., Feb. 8. ATHERTON Theft reports: ■ Bike stolen, Menlo-Atherton High School at 555 Middlefield Road, Feb. 3. ■ Purse stolen, Menlo Circus Club at 190 Park Lane, Feb. 6.
Atherton city attorney wants raise By Renee Batti Almanac News Editor
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therton’s legal costs have greatly decreased since the April hiring of Bill Conners as city attorney, and if the trend continues, the town should still come out ahead if the City Council approves a proposal to pay him an additional $36,000 annually. Mr. Conners stated his own case for a raise — from $9,800 to $12,800 per month — in a staff report. The council will vote on the proposed increase and an extension of his contract when it meets on Wednesday, Feb. 15. In his report, Mr. Conners said that, based on budgets of the four years before his appointment, legal costs averaged about $440,000 per year. “The projected annual cost for (legal) services this year will result in a saving of over $300,000 over the average and almost $200,000 over the best year during that span,” he said. Also on the agenda is a recommendation by Interim Police Chief Ed Flint to reorganize the police department’s dispatch center, which would lead to a small cost savings to the town. The move would mean the demotion of communications supervisor John Mattes, whose annual compensation with benefits is now $144,406. With coun-
cil approval, Mr. Mattes’ position would be scaled back to that of dispatcher, with an annual compensation package of $114,673. In a staff report, Chief Flint said his recommendation is based on a recently completed job classification study by consultants and a staff review of the communication center’s organizational structure. The reviews found that not only was a communications supervisor not needed for dispatching services, but that having one created functional difficulties. Among them: “It is a source of unintended employee conflicts, frustration, and mixed messages from supervisors,” the report said. The chief is recommending that the on-duty patrol supervisor provide supervision of dispatch services once the position now held by Mr. Mattes is eliminated. In addition to the savings of close to $30,000 in compensation, there would be a potential savings from eliminating the communication supervisor’s overtime and the expense of “dispatcher backfill” resulting from the supervisor completing routine tasks, the report said. The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 94 Ashfield Road, in the Town Center.
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February 15, 2012 N The Almanac N 17