IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
June 25, 2010
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City budget balances with no cuts to services TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Public can comment at June 29 meeting While the state grapples with a projected $19 billion deficit and other cities and agencies slash away at budgets already bloody with red ink, Clayton will plod into the next fiscal year flat-
lined – and with no cut to services. In his budget report to the City Council on June 15, City Manager Gary Napper likened Clayton to the turtle in the race against the hare. The city has always been lean, Napper said, displaying fiscal restraint even in the mid-decade heyday of big tax revenues and unbridled consumer spending. “While the finish line is never
reached for municipalities,” he said, “this turtle is not out of breath or relatively out of money.” RESERVE MAINTAINED At $3.66 million, the general fund accounts for 25 percent of the city’s total proposed budget of $14.6 million. The general fund budget, which covers city operations including law enforcement, is essentially the
same as last year’s $3.64 million. A property tax base less volatile than other Bay Area cities, a 2 percent increase in sales tax revenues and $239,306 in cuts in personnel costs helped keep the gap between revenues and expenses to a mere $18,410. Interest earnings from a trust account will cover the shortfall. According to Napper, the
See Budget, page 20
General Fund Operating Budget 2010-11 Engineering $96,261 Library $131,051
Community Park $159,122 Legislative $62,885
Admin/Finance $817,793 Public Works $127,595
Comm. Dev. $257,565 Gen. Services $177,105
Police $1,827,232
Dog park celebrates 10 year anniversary TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
HANK STRATFORD
MAYOR’S CORNER You’ve got questions? Mayor has answers. There are a few common questions that I am frequently asked, and today I will attempt to answer some of them. How is the city doing, financially? The 2010-’11 budget was recently developed and presented to the City Council. As part of the budget preparations, finance manager Merry Pelletier estimated that we will end the fiscal year on June 30 with an annual shortfall of about $2,000. Considering the annual
See Mayor, page 7
Shutterbugs Enter the Clayton Pioneer’s
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
THE OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS OF THE K-9 COALITION, most of whom have been supporters of the park since the inception, were honored at the 10-year anniversary of the Clayton Dog Park. From left: Linda Pinder, Mary Buscaglia, Troy Lee, Peggy Eyres, Micki McCabe Walls. The park is city owned but maintained by volunteers and has become a popular canine play-date destination, especially since the addition of a small dog area last fall.
See Dog Park, page 2
Clayton woman rows toward Belarus JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
July 4 Photo Contest Cash Prizes Turn to Page 4 for contest details
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
It was definitely the dog day of summer on June 5 when the Clayton Dog Park celebrated its 10th anniversary. Treats, Frisbees, tennis balls and swimming provided the fun for Clayton’s canines as city officials and volunteers gathered to recognize many of the park’s organizing volunteers. The day also marked the grand opening of the small dog area of the park, designed and constructed by Eagle Scouts Jason Baldree and Brett Nebeker. In 2005, Eagle Scout Trenton Wright built the shade structure over the picnic tables. Baldree and Nebeker used a similar design for the shade arbor over the small dog park. “We really liked seeing the
UC ROWING TEAM MEMBER, KARA KOHLER was named Pacific 10 Newcomer of the Year at UC last month and could be the next Clayton athlete to represent America in international competition.
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Brest, Belarus, is probably not on the wish list of many American teenagers as their summer vacation destination. However, Clayton’s 19-year-old Kara Kohler is working day and night to earn a July trip 5,888 miles away to the Belarus city on the Poland border. Kohler recently completed her freshman year at UC Berkeley, where she was a member of the women’s crew team and was named Pacific 10 Newcomer of the Year last month. Once school was over, she headed to San Diego and the U.S. Olympic Training Center with Cal teammates Elise Etem and Mary Jeghers.
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They are trying out among of group of 16 top rowers under 23 years old from throughout the country for spots on the USA National under 23 team for the World U23 Rowing Championships July 22-25 in Brest. Kohler can become the latest Clayton athlete to represent America on the international stage. Diver Kristian Ipsen has won medals for the USA in China and Rome during the past year while bobsledder Chuck Berkeley and skier Daron Rahlves were both on the US Olympic team this winter in Vancouver. Winning the Pac 10 Newcomer of the Year award is certainly fitting for Kohler, since she never participated in
Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Photo Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Police Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Real Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Safety Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Senior Moments . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
the sport of rowing before visiting Cal during her senior year at Clayton Valley High School on the advice of a family friend. “I was looking for a college where I could swim when a friend suggested I check out Cal rowing. I eventually had an official visit there and met the coaches, team and observed a practice,” she recalls. Kohler was told that swimmers often made a successful transition to rowing, a sport that values tall athletes – Kohler is an athletic 6-2. “I wanted to go to a good school and play Division 1 sports. It was really daunting going to such a big school as
See Kohler page 12
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