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JIM DIAz
March 10, 2017
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Major landslide closes Morgan Territory Road, cuts off access TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
MAYOR’S CORNER
City budget right on track at mid year
As we headed into March, finance manager Kevin Mizuno gave the City Council the mid-year city budget results. Once again, the city’s financial health is stable. Mid-year General Fund revenue was ahead of budget by 56.38 percent. Expenditures were at 50.29 percent, because many annual city expenses are incurred in the first months. Because of the long history of balanced city budgets, the residents are not subjected to the various ballot measures other cities propose to pay for general government operations. Fiscal year 2017-’18 appears to promise similar positive outcomes. This is exemplified through the leadership of city manager Gary Napper and the finance manager and staff, with critical oversight by the council’s Budget Committee of Vice-Mayor Keith Haydon and Councilwoman Tuija Catalano. On the maintenance side, the Maintenance Department, through its role in public landscape care, has weathered this rainy season with little need for repairs due to proactive clearance of stormwater drains and V-ditches prior to the downpours. The recent storm drain renovations around the hillside of Mt. Diablo Elementary School, in partnership with the Mt. Diablo School District, have resulted in no further mudslides onto Clayton Road from this sloped common area. That’s a welcome relief to motorists and maintenance crews alike. However, our friends and neighbors out on Morgan Territory Road were not as fortunate as the city of Clayton proper. A huge hill slide has rendered Morgan Territory Road impassable. Further, they have experienced loss of water and power. We need to keep them in thoughts and prayers, and, where possible, provide assistance. On the legislative side, the City Council approved a temporary moratorium on the state-led effort to require the placement of “parolee” housing in Clayton. Our local moratorium lasts until September. Before then, city staff must thoroughly examine the issue and outline options for compliance with the new state law. The City Council previously prohibited medical marijuana dispensaries or testing laboratories within city limits. However, the council has allowed the limited growing of the plant for personal use within the interior of individual residences. No outdoor cultivation of marijuana is allowed in Clayton, whether for
See Mayor, page 7
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
MORE THAN 256 HOMES WERE WITHOUT WATER FOR A WEEK AFTER A MAJOR LANDSLIDE SNAPPED A WATER MAIN and collapsed a section of Morgan Territory Rd. on Feb. 24, closing the main access to the area indefinitely. With the road closed, the only vehicle access is a 15-mile, detour over a one-lane mountain road, also severely storm damaged, to Livermore.
For five years, California has been wishing for rain. Be careful what you wish for. You may get it. And we got it. And then we got more. And more. So much rain that flooding and mudslides have dominated the Bay Area headlines for weeks. San Jose, Big Sur, Sonoma. And now, Morgan Territory. With each big storm, mud and rockslides created an obstacle course on Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory Roads, often closing the road to through traffic. Locals maneuvered the mudcaked pavements and silently prayed for the rain to stop. Then things got really serious. On Tuesday, Feb. 22, county workers noticed that an entire hill on Morgan Territory Road, about a mile in from Marsh
See Slide, page 16
Event pays homage to Main Street ARLENE KIKKAWA-NIELSEN Special to the Pioneer
This year’s Creekside Arts event at the Clayton Library will present varying interpretations on the theme “Life on Main Street.” From the historic view of old Main Street presented by the Clayton Historical Museum to the “Life on Main Stream” ecological presentation, the events will reflect the commonalities of every community – whether human or animal in nature. Artwork and photos submitted for judging will offer international views along “Main Street” in different countries. The 14th annual event runs Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26, at the Clayton Community Library. Admission is free, with proceeds from art and craft sales supporting library materials for the creekside wildlife habitat.
Clayton artist Tammy Slezak is among this year’s participants. “I use vintage sewing thread, quilting thread and really fine fibers to make small sculptures, dollhouses, textiles and tiny, tiny teddy bears – some of the world’s smallest teddy bears at about 3 millimeters,” she says. Thirty years ago, Slezak started doing standard-sized crocheting, such as scarves, bedspreads and tablecloths. “I have an aunt who collected dollhouses and she asked if I could crotchet smaller things,” she recalls. “And I gradually got smaller and smaller.” In keeping with traditional Main Street events, the opening night will include a dog and pony show at 6:30 p.m. To add to the festivities, local artists will paint the show in progress. “I have Jack Russell terriers, LOCAL ARTISTS DISPLAY SOME OF THEIR WORKS, from left, Julie Van Wyk, Barbara Paul, Donna one in particular named Annie Locher, Sharon Petersen and Renaye Johnson, seated. “Creekside Arts has been a wonder-
See Creekside, page 7 event to share with my friends.”
ful way to show my artwork for the past three years,” Johnson says. “It has also been a fun
Cameras coming to city limit entrances TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Police Chief Chris Wenzel outlined plans to install cameras at the four major entrances to town at the Feb. 7 city council meeting. An automated license plate reader (ALPR) and a situational awareness camera
What’s Inside
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Community Calendar . . . . .11 Directory of Advertisers . . . .7 Letter to the Editor . . . . . . . .5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .8
(SAC) are proposed for the light poles at Tara Dr. at Clayton Rd., Yolanda Circle at Oakhurst Dr., Marsh Creek Rd. at Diablo Parkway and Pine Hollow Rd. at Pine Shadow. The ALPR captures an image of the rear license plate of vehicles entering the city limits, compares it to a database and alerts the police if the vehicle is stolen, has a warrant or involved in criminal activity. The ALPR identifies only the vehicle; it does not photograph the occupants. A second camera, the situational awareness camera, records the activity at the city
entrance. The SAC camera captures the vehicle and occupants and records all the activity at that location. The two cameras give law enforcement an edge in preventing and solving crimes. “These are not monitored surveillance cameras,” Wenzel assured the Council.” Nor will they be used to issue citations.” Nearby cities including Pittsburg, Lafayette and Orinda are using the cameras and have seen a noticeable drop in criminal activity. “The criminal element and their bad intentions naturally migrate to communities without them,” said Wenzel.
A few issues still need to be ironed out, said the chief. The city is working with PG&E for approval to use the power from adjacent street lights. Additionally, since the Pine Hollow location is in the city of Concord, Wenzel is hoping Concord will participate in the cost of that installation in exchange for access to the information. Estimated cost for installation of the four cameras is $118K with recurring annual cost of about $12,800 for the software, licensing and maintenance. “I’m excited,” said Council member Julie Pierce. “Technology can solve a lot
of issues all the way around. I think it’s fabulous.” The council was expected to approve the project at the March 7 meeting.
Save the Date
Clayton Cleans Up 2017
April 22 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
City Hall Courtyard
Postal Customer ECRWSS
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA 94517 PERMIT 190