PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
IT’S YOUR PAPER www.claytonpioneer.com
August 10, 2007
925.672.0500
Downtown projects near finish line TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
BILL WALCUTT
MAYOR’S CORNER
New interest rate for Oakhurst bond Let me start off with some good news for Oakhurst residents. In May, the City Council approved the refinancing of bonds for the Oakhurst Community Facility District. Here is a little background. In June 1990, the City Council established the Oakhurst Community Facility District with the issuance of $6.5 million in municipal bonds. The initial interest rate was 8.6 percent. In November 1997, as interest rates starting dropping, the council approved the refinancing of these bonds to obtain a lower interest rate of 5.9 percent. The cost savings was passed along to the district’s ratepayers: Oakhurst residents. In May of this year, the council again approved the refinancing of these bonds to obtain an even lower interest rate: 4.1 percent average. The refinancing is now complete, and the cost savings will be passed along to the district’s ratepayers beginning with 2007-’08 property tax bill. The duration of the bond did not change and it is projected to be repaid by 2022-’23. The saving will vary by the size of the parcel. Ratepayers will save $331 to $576 over the next 15 years, which is the remaining life of the bond. This is about $22 to $39 a year per parcel. It’s not huge, but it all adds up. Now, on to my favorite subject: garbage. Politicians in Sacramento are busy trying to figure out how to reduce waste. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with cutting waste in Sacramento to help balance the state’s budget. They are trying to figure out how to get us to reduce waste – our household waste/garbage. In other words,
See Mayor, page A12
What’s Inside
Downtown Clayton is a noisy, dusty place these days as construction proceeds on three major downtown projects, all of which are nearing completion. The Village Market on Main Street is set to re-open in late September, says Project Consultant Gary Hood. The market has been closed since a fire caused extensive damage to the building in January, 2004. Rebuilding stalled while owner Sam Sandhu settled a lawsuit against the Farmers Insurance Company which held the fire policy on the building. The suit was finally settled in Sandhu’s favor in August of 2005. Construction began in December 2005. “It’s been a slow project,” Hood says. “Sam’s made some adjustments along the way and that takes time. But it will definitely be a first class project when it’s finished.” Plans call for a retail store fronting Main Street, retail or food service space facing Center Street and two executive offices upstairs—one 450 square feet and one 650 square feet. Both offices will have a full bathroom, including showers. “We already have ten people on our list who are interested in the space,” reports Hood. Use of the 2,000 square foot retail/food service space is still up in the air. If it’s food service, it will be contracted out. The electrical and HVAC work should be complete and the siding should be going up by the time the Pioneer is in the
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
Clockwise from top: Crews prepare to pour the hardscape in the park; the new Longs is on schedule for an early fall opening; after many delays, the Villiage Market should be open in September.
mailboxes, Hood says. By early fall, the new Longs Drugs at the corner of Center Street and Clayton Road should be finished. The store will be about 10,000 square feet and will include a drive-thru pharmacy, said Longs spokesperson Farra Levin. Longs plans a festive community grand opening. “We are really excited about this location,” said Levin. “It’s a fantastic area and the community has
been very supportive.” Longs will hire locally for store personnel. “Construction on the downtown park is progressing right on schedule without any blips,” reports City Manager Gary Napper. The one acre, $1.5 million park will have a grandstand gazebo with a sound system and speakers throughout the
See Downtown, page A7
Fast moving brush fire threatens homes in Russelman, Pine Lane, Oakwood Circle area TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
A brush fire last Friday charred 10 acres and threatened several homes in the Russelman Road and Pine Lane area. The fire burned right up to the Waldamar Court homes owned by Bob and Sherry Mazza, Joan and Stan Bergum and Tom Legault. Waldamar Court is about
a half mile up Russelman Road and runs between Russelman and Pine Lane., where the fire was stopped at the back fences of homes on Oakwood Circle. According to Contra Costa Fire Batallion Chief Kevin Nieland, the fire started next to a small abandoned house on Pine Lane. The house, which is on property owned by Leonora and
Neil Holmes, who were away, had been vacant for years and was used primarily for storage. The building and a small shed next to it were a total loss, said Nieland. The Holmes’ residence, an 80 year-old historic landmark, was not harmed. The fire started around 3:20 p.m. on Friday, August 3, when temperatures were well over 100
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Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
Neighbor Sherif Sandelin came to the aid of a horse and a mountain sheep owned by the Holmes when it looked like the fire was getting too close to them.
degrees. Joan Bergum, whose home on Waldamar Ct. is directly above the Holmes property, was the first to spot the fire, “I saw the smoke, came inside to get the phone and by the time I got back out on the deck, the flames were racing up the hill. We grabbed the dogs and the Mazza’s kids who were home alone, and got out of here. There’s only one way out of here and we didn’t want to get trapped.” First on the scene was an East Bay Regional Parks helicopter which dropped water on the flames, preventing them from racing up the side of Mt. Diablo. Units responded from Central and East Contra Costa Fire Protection, Cal Fire (formerly called CDF) and East Bay Regional Parks. The fire was contained within 45 minutes. “This just brings home the need for creating 100 feet of defensible space around your house,” said Nieland, “especially if you live on a knoll. The view is beautiful up there, but it’s dangerous.” The cause of the fire was still under investigation at press time. For more information on creating defensible space go to www.cccfpd.org.
New officer likes small town values
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
Marilyn Blanchard pins the Clayton PD badge on son, Matt Blanchard, at his July 23 swearing in ceremony at City Hall.
JUSTIN BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
At age 24, Matt Blanchard is the newest member of the Clayton Police Department. Clayton’s family atmosphere and small department attracted Blanchard to the force. Blanchard was born in Walnut Creek and grew up in the East Bay, namely Antioch. He graduated from De La Salle High School, went to Chico State as an undergraduate and subsequently went to Butte
See Officer, page A6