YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 9, No. 35
Including Surrounding Communities
www.thepress.net
Boaters: 2-Gate is too much by Dave Roberts Staff Writer
In three months, two gates may be constructed in the Delta in a five-year experiment to determine whether they will help save the endangered Delta smelt while continuing to allow the pumping of water south to Central Valley farms and southern California residents. But some local boaters are concerned that the gates will restrict their access to the Delta, and believe the 2-Gate Fish Protection Demonstration Project is part of an ongoing water grab that is harming the Delta. One of those boaters is Jan McCleery, who has been boating on the Delta for 40 years and moved with her husband to Discovery Bay three years ago from Sunnyvale to be closer to the water. On most weekends they hop onto their 43foot Bayliner yacht and sail off to idyllic Mildred Island, where they anchor and hang out. Normally they get there by going under the Bacon Island Bridge,
Photo courtesy of Jan McCleery
Jan McCleery’s family and friends enjoy anchoring out at Mildred Island and are concerned that a plan to put gates in the Delta could block their access. which has a lift mechanism allowing them to pass under it on Middle River. When that bridge lift is not in operation they must travel a route that is planned to be blocked part of the year by a gate at Connection
New recreation guide for Oakley Do you have a Guitar Hero in your house? A Karate Kid or a promising Picasso? Then you’ll want to grab the latest copy of the City of Oakley Recreation Guide for Fall/Winter 2009. This year’s guide is a comprehensive one-stop peek at an array of new classes and local events for children, adults and seniors. Copies are available inside your copy of this week’s Press and at the Oakley city offices, 3231 Main St. For more information, call 925-6257000.
Slough on the north side of Bacon Island. McCleery is concerned that the gated channel won’t be deep enough to accommodate her boat even when the gate is open. And it’s
unclear the exact hours when the gate will be closed. “It will make it very difficult to tell if we can get back or when and how,” she said. “My other concern is I don’t think environmentally they are protecting the smelt. It’s to allow them to pump more water – it’s the first step toward the peripheral canal.” The gates project is a collaboration of the California Department of Water Resources, the federal Bureau of Reclamation and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. It has not yet been approved, however – the environmental studies are due to be released soon, which will allow opportunities for public comment before a final decision is made. But the current schedule is for construction to begin in September and for the gates to begin operation on Dec. 15. One gate would be on Connection Slough and the other on Old River north of Rock Slough between Bacon Island and Holland see Gates page 18A
Citizens to challenge council’s responsiveness by Samie Hartley Staff Writer In a city of 32,000, a group of 11 citizens seems small, but that isn’t stopping a grassroots movement of concerned citizens from joining together to stand up to the Oakley City Council to make their voices heard. The group, which calls itself Oakley Citizens for Responsive Government (OCRG), met for the first time this week to rally its resources and brainstorm ways to get the attention of the council, which they believe has been ignoring public input at recent meetings. Led by Oakley resident Paul Seger, the unofficial videographer of Oakley council meetings, OCRG hopes to find strength in numbers to help draw attention to the causes that affect the city and its people. “We need to get people with like interests together who want what’s best for the city,” Seger said. “We are not being heard at the council meetings. You get your three minutes, and all they (the council) say is ‘so long – thanks for coming.’ We need a strategy to get their attention. We’ve got to shake ’em up so they’ll listen.” Eve Diamond, who spoke at the last council meeting, said addressing the council is like talking to a brick wall, which is why many citizens don’t
go to council meetings. “I’ve talked to so many people, and they all seem defeated and don’t believe there is anything they can do to be heard,” Diamond said. “I’ve knocked on doors and sent out e-mails, but it’s difficult to get people to show up. It’s like they’ve already given up.” Oakley City Manager Bryan Montgomery said he has run into this situation at all the cities he has worked for in the past. He said it’s not uncommon for some people to feel like they aren’t being heard, but the fact is that the council does listen to all speakers. They just choose not to agree with some opinions presented to them, and cast their vote for what they decide is best for the city. “I have never worked with a more polite and professional city council than the one here in Oakley,” Montgomery said in an e-mail. “They do listen intently and deliberate conscientiously.” OCRG member Nancy D’Cruz said since the council is elected by the people to represent the people, it should consider the opinions of the public and vote for what the people want, and while the council might be listening to public comments, the messages behind the comments see Citizens page 18A
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August 28, 2009
THIS WEEK
Dishing up a green dream
An Oakley couple’s bright idea puts an efficient and eco-friendly spin on outdoor partying.
Page 4A
Better bypass the Bypass Save time and aggravation by checking out the details of the Highway 4 Bypass’ impending closure.
Page 18A
Delta Patriots pack a punch
A local league football squad is giving opponents a taste of its own brand of “Patriotism.”
Page 4B
INSIDE Arts.....................................6A Business ...........................15A Calendar ..........................23B Classifieds ........................16B Cop Logs ..........................14A Entertainment ................11B Food .................................12B Health & Beauty ............... 8B Milestones ......................... 7B Opinion ...........................13A Recreation .........................8A Sports ................................. 1B Talk About Town ..............5A WebExtras! ....................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A