IT’S YOUR PAPER
www.claytonpioneer.com
March 9, 2018
925.672.0500
Family ties part of special Clayton Valley Charter basketball season
JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
KEITH HAYDON
MAYOR’S CORNER
New chief brings county experience to Clayton job
The most exciting news that occurred in Clayton since my last column is the swearing in of Elise Warren as the new chief of police at the Feb. 20 City Council meeting. After Warren was sworn in, her daughter performed the ceremonial pinning of the police chief ’s badge on her uniform to seal the appointment. The council also recognized interim chief Joseph Kreins for his service and leadership. Many members of the Clayton Police Department and the Contra Costa County Sheriff ’s Department attended Warren’s swearing-in ceremony, and the council took a “Cake Break” to celebrate the occasion. After serving in the Sheriff ’s Department for more than 28 years, Warren has extensive public safety experience and contacts in the county that we expect will be valuable assets in her new role leading our Police Department. MORE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION To continue the description that I started last month on how our city operates, I want to finish the details of the Planning Commission’s role in local government. In addition to the statutory responsibilities explained last month, the commission is also an advisory body to the City Council. The board reviews and approves proposed construction projects, and recommends revisions to town ordinances and plans to the City Council. The City Council appoints the five members to overlapping two-year terms, with a limit of serving no more than four consecutive terms. Several terms of office typically end each June 30.
See Mayor, page 7
Save the Date
Clayton Cleans Up 2018
April 21
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
City Hall Courtyard What’s Inside
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Community Calendar . . . . .13 Directory of Advertisers . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 School News . . . . . . . . . . .14
Jay Bedecarré
It’s been quite a season for Clayton Valley Charter High School boys basketball and there’s been a distinct family feel to it. Kris Pascoe (left) and her son Garrett Pascoe (second from left) joined John Mahloch (right) and his son Clayton at Ed’s Mudville Grill on the day the Eagles were announced as No. 1 seeds at North Coast Section. John Mahloch has called Mudville his work home for over two decades. Garrett Pascoe eclipsed some of John Mahloch’s school records this season that date back to 1986 when both Mahloch and Kris Bell Pascoe graduated from the school.
Last month during a season to remember, Clayton Valley Charter High School basketball player Garrett Pascoe made a pass to a seldomused freshman guard who sank a three-point shot. The assist on that basket was the 173rd of this season for Pascoe and broke a 32-year-old school record. Sitting in the stands that evening in Dan Della Gym was the previous record holder, John Mahloch, who happens to be the father of the young player who scored the basket, Clayton Mahloch. That the son should help break his dad’s school record is just one of several family and other ties that bind together this record-setting season for CVCHS boys basketball. Pascoe will approach another school record Wednesday evening when his team takes the same court to face Menlo School of Ather-
See Family Ties, page 3
City proposes tighter smoking rules TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
A Grade of D from the American Lung Association for Clayton’s tobacco control efforts and an outdated smoking ordinance from 1993 have prompted the city to update its smoking regulations. In 1993, electronic cigarettes did not exist and pot was illegal everywhere. New ways to smoke and new research on the effects of second hand smoke have left the city seeking clarity on use and enforcement guidelines.
The California Health and Safety Code prohibits smoking or ingesting cannabis in public or in any area where smoking is prohibited by local law, and within 1,000 feet of schools or other places where children are present. City staff, however, is recommending the city go further and prohibit smoking and cannabis use in all indoor workplaces, public places and in apartments and condos where the units share a wall. While the California Labor Code prohibits smoking in
most indoor workplaces, it does list seven exemptions. City staff is recommending Clayton eliminate all exemptions from the new ordinance except for a retail or wholesale tobacco store that has a private smoker’s lounge. The proposed tighter regulations will prohibit smoking inside all multi-family residences that share a common wall including cottages, condos and apartments regardless of whether the unit is rented or owner-occupied. However, landlords or HOAs can desig-
nate a smoking area on the grounds as long as it is away from any doorway or window. The new ordinance will establish a 25 ft. smoke-free buffer zone around The Grove. During concerts, smokers will have to move across Marsh Creek to the Corral or further down Main St. or Center away from the playground to smoke. Council considered applying the 25 ft. buffer zone to all of downtown, but backed off on this idea. “It’s too restrictive,” said
Councilmember Julie Pierce. “Everyone is too close to each other. You can’t get 25 feet away from one doorway without being right up against another business. I’m concerned about the economic impact this would have on our downtown businesses.” Council directed staff to prepare a draft of the new regulations. The proposed ordinance will be mailed to residents, homeowners associations and local businesses for input before going to the City Council for final adoption.
Daffodil Hill a blooming sign of spring NICOLE HACKETT Pioneer Garden Girl
Every March, the gateway to Clayton fills with pops of yellow from the clumps of daffodils emerging to signal the onset of spring. Back in 2000, members of the Clayton Valley Garden Club broke into the cement-like soil to install 500 daffodil bulbs. This was one of the club’s first civic beautification projects. Since those first flowers bloomed, the gateway to Clayton has lovingly been called Daffodil Hill. Throughout the next 12 years, the garden club was responsible for much of the upkeep of Daffodil Hill. Members watered the hill by hand, tended to the expiring daffodil foliage and removed weeds. In 2013, Daffodil Hill got a makeover. The face of the hill
was changed, including droughtThe club meets at 7 p.m. the resistant landscaping, updated second Wednesday of the signage and the addition of large month in the dining room at boulders. Members of the gar- Diamond Terrace, 6401 Center den club returned to Daffodil Hill to install another 500 daffodil bulbs. The Clayton Valley Garden Club was formed in 1997 to bring together folks who share an interest in gardening. Members enjoy monthly meetings with informative guest speakers, take fieldtrips to famous gardens and tour nurseries. They also contribute to the community by volunteering at the Clayton Art and Wine Festival and Oktoberfest. The group holds the popular CVGC Plant Sale the Saturday before Mother’s Day, participates in the July 4th Parade, and helps maintain the Clayton Library beds and the Clayton Museum garden.
St., Clayton. The Clayton Pio- gardening, come join the fun. neer’s Garden Girl (that’s me) will speak at the April 11 meet- Visit ClaytonValleyGardenClub.org ing. If you have an interest in for more information.
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
The Clayton Valley Garden Club maintains the hillside by the Clayton sign.
Postal Customer ECRWSS
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA 94517 PERMIT 190