The following links are just news items and opinions that pass my desk throughout the week. I don’t necessarily support or advocate any of the items, they are just interesting reads.

California to withhold a bigger chunk of paychecks – The amount goes up 10% on Sunday as Sacramento borrows from taxpayers. Technically, it’s not an income tax increase: You’ll get the money back eventually.

Illegal immigrants will be counted in 2010 census - Illegal immigrants will continue to be counted in the U.S. Census as they always have…

California Legislature tries to block steep cut in pay and perks - The attorney general is asked to determine whether an 18% pay reduction and car allowance cuts are illegal. Capitol managers say a citizens panel that decided the reductions exceeded its authority.

The Return of the Inflation Tax – Buried in Nancy Pelosi’s health-care bill is a provision that will partially repeal tax indexing for inflation, meaning that as their earnings rise over a lifetime these youngsters can look forward to paying higher rates even if their income gains aren’t real.

Report: Calif. local governments shell out big bucks on lawsuits – Eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million on lawsuits in 2007 and 2008, a report said Thursday.

After a flurry of stimulus spending, questionable projects pile up – The $787 billion stimulus bill was passed in February and was promised as a job saver and economy booster. Here is where some of the money went:

California Pensions Have Become the State’s Next Fiscal Crisis – At a time when the state government has reduced education spending, cut back services to the poor and implemented workplace furloughs to close a $24.6 billion deficit, California faces additional financial problems from its public pensions.

Dan Walters: Fiscal reform requires the nerve to do it – Pattison ticked off states that had improved their budget processes – and their fiscal stability – with such reforms as multi-year projections of income, weighing long-term impacts of spending proposals…

The Golden State isn’t worth it – Our high-benefit/high-tax model no longer works, especially compared with low-tax states like Texas.

The Dominoes Fall and the Next Governor Is….. – Gavin Newsom pulled out of the governor’s race and set the punditry world abuzz about the possibilities of another Democrat jumping into the June primary.

Boeing Heads South For Better Business Climate: Washington State Politicians Are Surprised? – …Boeing announced it would put a second 787 assembly line in Charleston, S.C., rather than Everett, WA.

Please note that City Hall will be closed in observance Veterans’ Day, Furlough Friday, and Thanksgiving, and the day after Thanksgiving.

• November 11th, Veteran’s Day Holiday, City Hall Closed
• November 20th, Furlough Friday, City Hall Closed, Limited City Services
• November 26th – 27th, Thanksgiving & Day After, City Hall Closed

WASHINGTON – As smoke begins wafting from chimneys in cooler parts of the country, homeowners are starting the first fires of the home-heating season. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants homeowners to learn before they burn this winter. Wood smoke is made up of a mixture of gases and fine particle pollution that isn’t healthy to breathe indoors or out – especially for children, older adults and those with heart disease, asthma or other lung diseases.

EPA has established the Burn Wise campaign to reduce wood smoke
pollution, helping to protect your home, health and the air we breathe,
while keeping those who use wood for heat warm throughout the winter.

If you’re burning wood, you can have a cheaper, safer and healthier fire
by following these tips:

• Burn only dry, seasoned wood. It’s better for the air and
  your wallet. Look for wood that is darker, has cracks in the end
  grain, and sounds hollow when hit against another piece of wood. Dry seasoned wood is more efficient at heating your home and can add up to significant savings over the winter. Never burn painted or treated wood or trash.
• Maintain your wood stove or fireplace and have a certified
  technician inspect it yearly. A certified technician can clean
  dangerous soot from your chimney and keep your wood stove or
  fireplace working properly, which reduces your risk of a home fire.
• Change to an EPA-certified wood stove or fireplace insert.
  These models are more efficient than older models, keeping your air cleaner, your home safer and your fuel bill lower, while keeping you warm in the winter. An estimated 12 million Americans heat their homes with wood stoves each winter, and nearly three-quarters of these stoves are not EPA certified. An EPA-certified wood stove can emit nearly 70 percent less smoke than older uncertified models.

More information on Burn Wise: http://www.epa.gov/burnwise

“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.” The first line from Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall” states what a lot of us feel. We don’t like walls or fences. Another line further along in the poem challenges us to ask, “Before I built a wall I’d ask to know, What I was walling in or walling out”

True! There is something unlikable about walls and fences. They shut out, lock out, or lock in, obscure and cut off. More often than not, though, fences and walls are a must for many reasons including security, safety and privacy, but none the less a distraction on the countryside. That’s why Open Space is a good idea and not all new.

Open space reserves began in Europe, during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance periods, when monarchs allowed royalty to create large hunting preserves. These were called “parcs” in Old French. The term was later applied to common grounds in the center of villages. Centuries later, Yosemite Valley was set aside for recreation to the State of California, thus creating the nation’s first state park in 1864. Control of the park was turned over to the federal government in 1890. Over the years, federal and state lands continued to be set aside for national and state parks, and in 1970, California added the Open Space Element to the list of required elements in the General Plan.

The term can mean many things to many people. It may be public or privately owned land, a golf course, a school, a farm, a park, a cemetery, a trail along side a creek. It can include marshes, wetlands, lakes, rivers and streams. It can even be vacant lots, public plazas and public seating areas.

The end of the 19th century marked the beginning of a conservation movement in America. Naturalists and environmentalists lobbied the United States government to set aside vast areas of wilderness in the American West as national parks. Early advocates included John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt who said, “. . .The conservation of our natural resources and their proper use constitute the fundamental problem which underlies almost every other problem of our national life. ”.

Until recently there seemed no end to the wealth of natural resources available to us all. However, faced with the seemingly endless barrage of reporting on shortages of natural resources since the 1970’s the term “conservation” has become embedded in our culture. The term conservation came into use in the late 19th century and referred to the management, mainly for economic reasons, of such valuable natural resources as timber, fish, game, topsoil, pastureland, minerals, and wildlife

The urbanization of California has increased the pressures on farmland, water resources, wildlife, air quality, open space and many other resources. The U.S. Census Bureau says the state will have nearly 54 million people by 2025. Confronted with the demands of an increasing population, how can we provide the greatest benefit to the present generation while maintaining the potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations? To help answer this question a Conservation Element was added to the General Plan.

The purpose of the Conservation Element is to identify Oakley’s natural resources, particularly those that are finite and nonrenewable, and develop programs for their preservation.

California Government Code, Section 65302(d) requires that a Conservation element provide for the conservation of natural resources including, “…water and its hydraulic force, forests, soils, rivers and other waters, harbors, fisheries, wildlife, minerals, and other natural resources.”. It may also cover reclamation of land and waters, flood control and prevention and control the pollution of streams and air.

There are no towering stands of forests, nor large fishing fleets queued up in nearby harbors. No oil wells pumping “black gold, Texas Tea” day and night. Our shorelines are not cluttered with industries spewing pollutants into the river. Obviously all the resources listed in the state statue do not pertain to Oakley. Many of them will require a regional approach. However, Oakley does have its share of natural resources that can be conserved locally.

In Oakley’s General Plan these two elements have been combined. The Open Space and Conservation Element will primarily serve as an information document. It will consist of maps and tables containing information related to the natural resources and open spaces found in Oakley and policies and programs which will conserve them. The maps may show details of significant ecological areas, important agriculture lands and soil resource areas. They may also include information regarding the known and inferred habitats of some rare, threatened and endangered species. The tables may include lists of protected and uncommon plant and wildlife species in the area. Information detailing the changes in agriculture may also be found. An inventory of air pollutant emissions may also be available.

Open space can help preserve the quality of life and community character, reduce flooding, enhance property values, provide more opportunity for outdoor recreation, provide wildlife corridors and add a sense of community. By and large, open space can benefit cities both environmentally and economically.

At a recent City Council Meeting we had presentation by Aaron Meadows from the Delta Association of REALTORS regarding the local Real Estate Market.

The first chart is enough to make you cry. The last one is current inventory. A normal supply is between 5 and 6 months of inventory.

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill, Leslie Bibb
Thriller
2 hr. 2 min.
Rated: R for strong bloody brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape and pervasive language.

Clyde Shelton is an upstanding family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice, a hotshot young Philadelphia prosecutor, is assigned to the case. Over his objections, Nick is forced by his boss to offer one of the suspects a light sentence in exchange for testifying against his accomplice. Fast forward ten years. The man who got away with murder is found dead and Clyde Shelton coolly admits his guilt. Then he issues a warning to Nick: Either fix the flawed justice system that failed his family, or key players in the trial will die. Soon Shelton follows through on his threats, orchestrating from his jail cell a string of spectacularly diabolical assassinations that can be neither predicted nor prevented. Philadelphia is gripped with fear as Shelton’s high-profile targets are slain one after another and the authorities are powerless to halt his reign of terror. Only Nick can stop the killing, and to do so he must outwit this brilliant sociopath in a harrowing contest of wills in which even the smallest misstep means death. With his own family now in Shelton’s crosshairs, Nick finds himself in a desperate race against time facing a deadly adversary who seems always to be one step ahead. Yahoo Movie Review

Mary’s Review – This movie was quite a surprise for me. I didn’t know anything about it but my daughter mentioned that when I saw the trailer I thought it to be interesting. Well interesting it was. I really liked the premise of the story as well as the actors.I have quickly become a fan of Jamie Foxx and I love the guy from 300 whose name escapes me. That being said the two of them in a movie together, well that is a bonus. Although for the most part they do not share the screen together, you like the play of characters, they seem to connect. I love a good thriller and this dark thriller really delivered for me. I will have to give this movie a thrilling 3 nachos!

Solano County –The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announces intermittent full highway closures on State Route 12 (SR-12) west of Rio Vista from
SR-113 to Drouin Drive. Maintenance crews will perform shoulder repairs and replace damaged or missing channelizers in preparation for winter. The work will be conducted Tuesday, November 3rd through Thursday, November 5th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Motorists will be permitted to travel through the work zone and should anticipate a fifteen minute delay. Drivers should watch for stopped vehicles on the highway during the full highway closures. Please drive with caution and allow extra distance between your car and the car ahead of you. Plan ahead and allow sufficient time for your commute. Caltrans appreciates your patience during these repairs.

The following links are just news items and opinions that pass my desk throughout the week. I don’t necessarily support or advocate any of the items they are just interesting reads.

Check your clocks this morning – Day Light savings time has ended set your clocks back an hour. Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Walking Robot

All Falling Down . . .

House health bill clocks in at 1,990 pages – The House health care bill unveiled Thursday clocks in at 1,990 pages and about 400,000 words. With an estimated 10-year cost of $894 billion, that comes out to about $2.24 million per word.

Auto Insurance Initiative on 2010 Ballot Good for Consumers – Signature gathering begins this week on an initiative scheduled for the 2010 ballot which will fix an inconsistency in the law, expand a discount, and lower auto insurance rates for millions of California consumers who continually maintain auto insurance coverage.

‘Younger wife’ for marital bliss – The secret to a happy marriage for men is choosing a wife who is smarter and at least five years younger than you, say UK experts.

Homebuilding’s crash is worsening – The newest September statistic for California home starts has led the Construction Industry Research Board to again revise its 2009 forecast downward – to 37,700 new homes

Lessons from Bill Lockyer. State Treasurer Bill Lockyer generated a storm last week with his testimony before the Senate and Assembly Select Committees on Improving State Government.

There’s a growing public workforce, retiring early but living longer while drawing benefits. Do the math. This applies to California as well.

Affordable Housing: Navigating Recent Legal Developments

Online spending down as holiday season nears – Recession puts brakes on fast-paced growth of e-commerce

Bridge Toll Hike Proposed for Earthquake Safety – Notice of Upcoming Public Hearings

The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) is considering a toll increase on the seven state-owned Bay Area toll bridges: the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael, San Francisco-Oakland Bay and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. (The toll proposal does not affect the Golden Gate Bridge, which is owned and operated by an independent authority.)

This proposed toll hike comes in response to the need to raise an additional $160 million in annual revenues. The chief reason the additional revenue is needed is to finance the estimated $750 million cost of necessary seismic retrofit projects on the Antioch and Dumbarton bridges. Other factors include a slow but steady decline in toll-paying traffic on the state-owned bridges during each of the past five years, increasing operational expenses and rising debt, due in part to the upheaval in the municipal bond markets over the past two years.

Three options were presented at the October BATA Oversight Committee meeting (http://www.mtc.ca.gov/news/info/toll_increase.htm). BATA will hold three public hearings to take public comment on these options:

Wednesday, November 4, 2009, at 1:30 p.m.
Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter – Lawrence D. Dahms Auditorium
(across from the Lake Merritt BART Station)
101 Eighth Street, Oakland, California

Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at 6:30 p.m.*
San Mateo City Hall – City Council Chambers
330 West 20th Avenue, San Mateo, California

Thursday, December 3, 2009, at 6:30 p.m.*
Concord Senior Center – Wisteria Room
(located in John F. Baldwin Park)
2727 Parkside Circle, Concord, California

*Note: This hearing will feature a short open house (from 6:30 to 7 p.m.) and a staff presentation (beginning at 7 p.m.) prior to taking public testimony.

Written comments will be accepted until 4 p.m., December 21, 2009. Written comments should be submitted to the BATA Public Information Office at 101 Eighth Street, Oakland, California, 94607-4700; faxed to BATA at 510.817.5848; or sent via e-mail to tolls@mtc.ca.gov.

BATA Commissioners will weigh all public comment in their decision on the toll increase, scheduled for January 2010. For more information on the hearings or the proposal, visit the MTC Web site at www.mtc.ca.gov or phone the BATA Public Information Office at 510.817.5757.

HOUSTON, Oct 27 (Reuters) – General Electric Co’s (GE.N) Energy unit on Tuesday said its latest turbine design for natural gas-fired power plants will consume less fuel and emit less carbon dioxide than existing GE turbines.

GE Energy is introducing an upgraded Frame 7FA gas turbine to help power plant operators reduce costs and emissions, the company said in a release.

U.S. utilities are expected to build more gas-fired plants in the next decade due to increasing gas supply and the uncertainty of costs tied to proposed carbon legislation.

A typical combined-cycle plant using two new 7FA gas turbines with a single steam turbine would save $2.1 million per year at a gas price of $6 per million British thermal units, the company said, compared to a plant with GE’s existing 7FA turbine.

The more efficient plant would also avoid emissions of 19,000 metric tons of CO2 annually compared to the earlier version, GE said, the equivalent of the heat-trapping emissions of nearly 3,800 cars.

“We have amassed technological advances from across our expansive portfolio of power generating and aviation turbines and delivered them in this upgraded 7FA turbine,” said John Reinker, general manager of gas turbine products for GE Energy.

Natural gas power plants emit only about half the CO2 of traditional coal-fired plants. CO2 is the primary gas blamed for global warming.

GE said it will manufacture the upgraded 7FA turbine in Greenville, South Carolina, and begin shipments in early 2012.

Some of the first new 7FA turbines will be used at the proposed 586-megawatt Oakley Generating Station in Oakley, California. The plant is being developed by Radback Energy and is expected to be transferred to Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PCG.N) after reaching commercial operation, GE said. (Reporting by Eileen O’Grady; Editing by Christian Wiessner)

Oakley’s General Plan is not happenstance. Nor is it something that takes place overnight. Projected to the year 2020 the Plan has many requirements, one of which is the Land Use Element covering many issues. This element’s basic function is to lay out the general pattern of development within the City. It is the foundation for the remaining elements. It details a vision for all buildings (residential, commercial and industrial), roads and public facilities that are currently in place and those to be built in the future. Although all general plan elements are considered equal the land use element is the most visible and most often used. The Circulation and Housing Elements are especially dependent on the Land Use Element.

The Land Use Element is required by California state law, citing California Government Code Section 65302(a): “… a land use element which designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land for housing, business, industry, open space, including agriculture, natural resources, recreation, and enjoyment of scenic beauty, education, public buildings and grounds, solid and liquid waste disposal facilities, and other categories of public and private uses of land”.

Further, the State Code stipulates that Land Use Element shall include: “A statement of the standards of population density and building intensity recommended for the various districts and other territory covered by the Plan. The Land Use Element shall also identify areas covered by the Plan, which are subject to flooding and shall be reviewed annually with respect to such areas.

Using text and maps the City is divided into many areas. Each area is assigned a land use designation which includes a use such as:

• SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOW (SL) – This designation allows for a minimum of 0.8 dwelling units and a maximum of 2.3 dwelling units per gross acre (a net acre includes all land area used exclusively for residential purposes, and excludes streets, highways and all public right-of-way). Sites generally range from approximately 14,000 square feet to 1 acre in size. Population density in this land use designation generally ranges from 3 to 8 persons per acre.
• COMMERCIAL (CO) and a building intensity range. For example: .1.0 floor area ratio (floor area ratio is calculated by dividing building square footage by the lot size. If you have a 500 square foot building on a 1000 square foot lot you have a floor area ratio of .5. If you add a second story the building square footage is increased to a 1000 and the floor area ration is now 1.) .
• SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HIGH (SH) – This designation allows a minimum of 3.8 and a maximum of 5.5 units per gross acre. Parcel sizes range from approximately 6,000 to 8,600 square feet. Population density would normally range between 12 to 18 persons per acre.
• MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HIGH (MH) – This designation allows a minimum of 9.6 dwelling units and a maximum of 16.7 dwelling units per gross acre. Expected population density would normally range between 20 to 36 persons per acre.
• BUSINESS PARK (BP) – Maximum Site Coverage: 50 percent , Maximum Building Height: 50 feet , Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR): 2.0, Average Employees per Gross Acre: 87

The major intent of the Land Use Element is to take these disparate designations and create an appropriate mix of uses. Local commercial or shopping centers may be compatible with residential uses. Light industrial areas may act as a buffer to heavy industrial areas. Transitioning from one land use to another, i.e. Single Family High to Single Family Low, is a critical function of the element.

Perhaps the most used part of the Land Use Element is the map. The map is a pictorial representation of the land use designations described in the Land Use Element. It provides a general view of the types of development that will be permitted or encouraged in a particular area. City residents can easily identify places of interest on the map and can determine which types of land uses apply to surrounding areas. It will not show what will be built on a specific parcel.

The land use map will identify general areas where future development may occur and should not be confused with a zoning map. Zoning maps apply precise boundaries, detailed regulations, legal effects and must comply with the land use designation.

Oakley’s original General Plan was adopted by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors in 1973. Land use designations were determined by the existing property owners and the county at this time. Although the General Plan can be amended, changing the land use designation against the will of the property owner will generally initiate litigation.

Any changes to the General Plan must be carefully considered. If the City were to initiate a change that would affect the value of the property, such as “down zoning” a piece of property by amending the General Plan designation to provide a lower density of development or reverting to lower-intensity uses, it would more than likely result in a “taking”.

A “taking” can occur as a physical taking, such as the use of eminent domain to build roads, or as a “regulatory taking” which is considered to be an uncompensated taking of private property occurring through government regulation.

Everyone who buys property, whether it’s our primary home or for future development, has an expectation of a return on our investment. If we, as a City, were to pass a regulation or ordinance that would substantially reduce the value of that investment the City could be required to pay damages, which could include the value of the property and the lost profit when the developer did not meet his investment expectations.

I picked this up last Saturday at the Harvest Festival from Radback Energy

Who is Radback Energy?

The founders and management of Radback are energy professionals with over a 25 year track record of successful project development, including a number of similar projects in East Contra Costa and the region.

Radback believes in building lasting partnerships with communities and electric utilities. The ultimate result is an environmentally responsible, cost effective and reliable energy future for California.

What is the Oakley Generating Station (OGS)?

The proposed project will be a 600 megawatt state-of-the-art natural gas-fired, combined-cycle electrical generating facility. The project will serve the equivalent of approximately 600,000 households meeting our growing region’s need for clean technology power generation. OGS proposes to utilize environmentally superior dry cooling technology and state-of-the-art General Electric technology. The project will be 40% more fuel efficient than comparable older power plants operating today.

How was this Location Selected?

The site in Oakley was selected after careful environmental and energy analysis. The project will be located in an industrial are formerly used by DuPont and away from homes and schools. Because it is an industrial site, the location is very close to existing natural gas and transmission lines. The Bay area continues to have a growing demand for energy and locating in East County helps prevent the need to build expensive and unsightly transmission lines.

What is the Economic Benefit to the City of Oakley?

OGS will provide a much needed and significant economic boost for the City of Oakley and the region, creating 700 union construction jobs, a $120 million payroll and investing millions into the local economy. OGS will also generate $6 million in one-time sales tax revenue. It is estimated that the project will provide $10 million annually in property tax revenue to fund programs in Contra Costa County and Oakley including education, schools, police and fire and paramedic services and street improvements. In addition to creating jobs and generating new revenue for Oakley, local business and suppliers will benefit from the purchase of $4 million in construction materials, supplies and services bring substantial needed economic growth to the region.

Where are you in the Process?

The Project is very early in the process. The Application for Certification (AFC) was filed with the California Energy Commission (CEC) on June 30, 2009. The CEC deemed the application “date adequate” on September 23, 2009. The filing begins an extensive public review process with the CEC. The CEC staff, as an independent party to the proceeding, will review the information we have submitted, seek additional information or clarification and make their own independent analysis. In addition to the CEC, the project will be reviewed by the following agencies to make sure that impacts are mitigated and that the project will comply with all laws:

• Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)
• California Department of Fish and Game
• US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA)
• Regional Water Quality Control Board

If and when the permits are issued, it will take over two years to complete construction.

Will There be a Commitment to Hire Local and Employ Local Union Contractors?

Yes, the project is committed to using union contractors and, to the extent practical, maximizing participation of local labor. The CEC typically include a Condition of Certification in the final permit requiring a prioritization for the use of locally procured materials and labor resources.

How will the Project Address Air Emissions?

The BAAQMD, CEC and US-EPA will conduct extensive environmental review to ensure the project meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements. In addition, using clean burning natural gas, the project will use state-of-the-art technology to assure that the project meets strict California and Federal air quality standards. The project will also offset all emissions as required by the reviewing agencies.

How will the Facility Address Global Warming?

The facility will comply with California’s Green House Gas (GHG) limitations specified in under AB32 (California’s Climate Change Law). Natural gas power facilities are among the cleanest and most environmentally responsible generation options available in California. New clean efficient plants like the OGS, once built and operating will help displace older plants which are not as clean and/or efficient, thereby providing a net reduction to GHG emissions and a net GHG benefit.

Will Greenhouse Gas Emissions by the Power Facility result in restrictions that will be imposed on Future Businesses that may want to locate in the area?

No. Under the proposed regulations, greenhouse gas (or CO2) emission from the facility will not result in restrictions that will be imposed on future businesses that may want to locate to the area.

The Clean Air Trust states that the average production of CO2 by a household of fore is 110 tons/year. The maximum emissions of CO2 from the OGS is equivalent to approximately 11,000 homes while providing energy to over 600,000 homes.

With the State mandating renewable energy resources, like wind and solar projects, to address Global Warming; why do we need ne Natural Gas power facilities?

As California progresses towards the attainment of its renewable energy goals to address global warming, energy industry regulators and experts agree that clean, efficient and readily available natural gas powered energy generation will have to be added to the power grid to ensure reliability. The lion’s share of renewable resources being developed and added to the energy grid, like wind and solar, are intermittent in nature and it is critical to be able to cost effectively “backstop” these intermittent resources. Natural gas power facilities built just 5 years ago were often designed to run all day, every day and were not designed to ramp up or down quickly. The next generation of facilities, like OGS, is specifically being designed to address California’s needs on addressing a clean and sustainable energy future.

How will the visual impacts of the facility be addressed?

OGS will work with the CEC, the City of Oakley and the community to assure that the visual impacts of the facility are minimized and mitigated below significant levels. Extensive visual impact studies will be conducted by the CEC’s technical consultants to assure adequate mitigations are provided including extensive landscaping at the site and possibly along major roadways adjacent to the site.

How much noise will come from the power facility?

Extensive studies will be conducted to analyze potential noise coming from the facility. The facility must, by law, conform to all local noise ordinances.

How much water will the facility use?

OGS will be using a process called “dry cooling”, which practically eliminated the need to use valuable and limited water supplies to cool the facility. The dry cooling will reduce water consumption by over 93% compared to other similar water cooled plants.

What assurance do we have that the project’s commitments during the CEC approval process will be honored in the future?

The project will be permitted under the CEC’s power facility sitting process. This is an extensive public process with ample opportunities for public review, participation and comments. Any agreement Radback makes with the CEC and the City of Oakley will be incorporated into the actual permit. The CEC will monitor and ensure compliance with all permit conditions for the life of the project. In addition, integrity is everything in our business. Radback Energy’s principals have excellent reputations throughout California as a result of keeping our promises and not setting unrealistic expectations with the public. Lastly, the facility must comply with all local, state and federal laws, ordinances, regulations and standards.

When will the project come on line?

The project is targeted to start up by the summer of 2014.

How long will the facility be in operation?

The facility will have a design life of 30 to 40 years and if, economically viable, could operate for an even longer period. The CEC will have jurisdiction over the facility for the entire life, including decommissioning and closure. Prior to permanent closure of the facility, the project owner will be required to submit a closure plan to the CEC and County.

I understand that OGS has recently entered into a contract with PG&E. Can you tell us a little about that?

That is true, we are happy to announce that as a result of PG&E’s Long Term Request for Offers, where a significant number of projects were evaluated to determine which portfolio of projects best addressed the future needs of PG&E’s customers as approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), that PG&E has elected our Project. The Project has entered into a Purchase and Sale agreement with PG&E. The contract has been submitted to the CPUC, along with the other projects selected in the LTRFO for the CPUC’s approval. The approval process is expected to take up to 8 months.

Why is your project needed? Isn’t there a project proposed less than one mile away from here in Antioch?

There is a peaking power plant proposed in Contra Costa County near Antioch called Marsh Landing Generating Station. That project, while also helping to meet the growing demand for power in the area, will serve a different purpose. The electricity grid needs several types of power plants in order to operate efficiently. Base load plants such as ours are incredibly efficient and intended to operate everyday to generate the common everyday needs of residents and business. Peaking units, such as Marsh Landing Generating Station, are needed to operate during times of peak demand (hot summer days) and are less efficient than the technology being employed by OGS.

For more information, contact Radback Energy at (925)820-5222.

Project Website:
http://www.radback.com/CCGSLLC.html

CEC Website:
http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/contracosta/index.html

The Friends of Oakley will be conducting the Oakley Christmas Basket program for needy families in Oakley again this year. Last year the Brentwood Regional Community Chest worked with our organization as Oakley families who had been traditionally supported by Brentwood came under our caring embrace. We received financial and organizational support from Brentwood Regional Community Chest as we delivered holiday meal fixings, canned foods, and wrapped gifts to 125 families at our inaugural event. This year our goal is to provide for 250 families. We have doubled the families we will serve as the need for food on the table is ever greater within our community not only from the displacement of families but from families whose ability to provide is greatly constricted in this challenging economy. If donations allow, we plan to reach out further into the senior community and provide holiday meals.

Funding for the Oakley Christmas Basket program will come from proceeds from our fundraising efforts at our Wine, Cheese, and Children’s Art event on October 10th and from local business and service provider contributions. Our budget is $10,000 and we are half-way there! Local schools and businesses will host our donation barrels – Friends of Oakley – Toys for Oakley Families and Friends of Oakley – Food for Oakley Families – which will solicit donations of non-perishable boxed or canned foods and toys. Friends of Oakley – A Community Foundation commits to returning 100% of the toys and food goods donated in Oakley to our registered families in need in Oakley. The Oakley Union Elementary School District has chosen our organization as the beneficiary of their Holiday Canned Food Drive. We are so pleased.

We will be registering needy families on Monday, November 9 from 6 pm – 8:30 pm; Thursday, November 12 from 2 pm to 4 pm; and Saturday, November 14 from 10 am to 1 pm at the City of Oakley White House Community Annex , 204 Second Street . Families must bring either a water or power bill with the family name as proof of residence to register as well as a matching State of California identification (driver’s license or ID card). Only one family meal will be provided per residence. At least one toy will be wrapped and given for each child in the family up to age 18. The Oakley Christmas Basket program will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, December 20th at O’Hara Park’s gym and registered families will receive a pick-up time at the November registration.

Please consider being a part of this event and helping us give back to those seeking assistance in our Oakley community during this very special time of the year. Any funding you can provide to help us make this event successful and bring the happiness of the holiday season to our 250 families will be much appreciated.

Thank you for your consideration,

Pat Anderson

Friends of Oakley, Board of Directors, Secretary

Starring: John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Massoglia, Ray Stevenson
Action/Adventure, Kids/Family, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Suspense/Horror, Adaptation and Teen
1 hr. 51 min.
Rated: PG-13 for sequences of intense supernatural violence and action, disturbing images, thematic elements and some language.

A boy unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares. 14-year-old Darren was like most kids in his suburban neighborhood. He hung out with his best friend, got decent grades and usually stayed out of trouble. But when he and his buddy stumble upon a traveling freak show, things begin to change inside Darren. That’s the exact moment when a vampire named Larten Crepsley turns him into something, well, bloodthirsty. Yahoo Movie Review

Mary’s Review – Well thank goodness we saw this movie after the Stepfather. We really enjoyed this one so; the evening was not a complete loss. This movie was clever and funny. The special effects and the characters were original. We especially loved the main vampire played by John C. Riley he was great! My youngest daughter read a few of these books when she was younger and thinks they would make great movies too. We hope this film will do well enough that they will consider making some of the other books in the series into movies as well. I will give this movie 2 nachos and a jalapeno.

Starring: Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Penn Badgley, Amber Heard, Sherry Stringfield
Suspense/Horror, Thriller and Remake
1 hr. 41 min.
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, mature thematic material and brief sensuality.

When troubled teen Michael returns home after a year at military school, he finds his mother, Susan, in love and his soon-to-be stepfather, David, has moved into their home. David says he wants them to become the perfect family. But as they get to know each other, Michael quickly becomes convinced that David himself is far from perfect. Trying to verify what he knows of David⿿s past, Michael finds things that don⿿t add up. As strange events and David⿿s bursts of malevolence become more frequent, Michael tells his mother and girlfriend of his suspicions, but they just think he⿿s being paranoid. Eventually, as Michael searches for proof that his suspicions are well-founded, cracks begin to show in David⿿s perfect façade and it becomes apparent he will stop at nothing to keep his secrets. For David has a history of trying to create the perfect family. And each time, when it becomes apparent that perfection is impossible, David has a terrifying way of clearing the slate and starting over. Yahoo Movie Review

Mary’s Review – This movie was bad. It was like a really bad lifetime movie.Alright ladies you know what I am talking about. One of my own guilty pleasures is watching Lifetime movies that are so bad they are good. My favorite has to be Mother May I Sleep with Danger. It is the worst best Lifetime movie. My daughters watch that one too every time it comes on! This movie however was just bad….I will have to give it only a fizzled out jalapeno.

Starring: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini
Comedy, Kids/Family, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Animation and Adaptation
1 hr. 34 min.
Rated: PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language.

Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things are. He lands on an island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their actions. The Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them, just as Max longs for a kingdom to rule. When Max is crowned king, he promises to create a place where everyone will be happy. Max soon finds, though, that ruling his kingdom is not so easy and his relationships there prove to be more complicated than he originally thought. Yahoo Movie Review

Mary’s Review – Although this movie was just okay I found it was genius to have James Gandolfini play one of the monsters. He has a great character voice and a wonderful presence. I thought it was him from the beginning, but my daughter said” No you are crazy!!”

Well at the end of the movie as we watched the credits, low and behold there was his name! I love it when we as parents can tell our kids, see I was right! Well as the movie only faired 2 nachos, however, telling my kids I am right feels more like 3 nachos!!!

The following links are just news items and opinions that pass my desk throughout the week. I don’t necessarily support or advocate any of the items they are just interesting reads.

Windows 7, as seen through the eyes of Windows gurus

Following Senate Finance Committee Passage, 42% Support Health Care Reform

Census data show big differences within state

Oil soars despite fundamentals; gasoline prices might follow

Perfection may be President Obama’s biggest flaw

California sued over $2B redevelopment ‘raid’

Centrists vs. Pelosi: Blue Dog Democrats beginning to show spending fatigue

Natural Gas Changes the Energy Map

Save the planet: eat a dog?