News notes: Atherton weighs new taxes News notes: Atherton weighs new taxes (August 25, 2004)

The Atherton City Council is holding a special meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 24, to consider revenue-raising alternatives to the town's special parcel tax. A four-year renewal of the parcel tax, that will cost the average Atherton homeowner $750 a year, is on the November ballot.

Some of the alternatives the council has discussed include a tax on real estate agent commissions on properties sold in Atherton, creating an assessment district for public safety or public works funding, and instituting a utility-users tax.

The meeting is to be held in the City Council Chambers, 94 Ashfield Road. For information call 752-0529.

Portola Valley may change roofing law

At its meeting on Wednesday, August 25, the Portola Valley Town Council plan to amend the town's ordinance on fire resistance of new roofs. Substantially rebuilt roofs may also be affected.

Also scheduled for discussion are traffic volume at the intersection of Cervantes Road and Shawnee Pass, strategies for fundraising for the new complex of buildings at Town Center, and revisions to an affordable housing questionnaire under consideration.

The meeting will begin at 8 p.m. in the Historic Schoolhouse at 765 Portola Road.

Coast decision delayed again

The thrice-delayed decision on annexation of the San Mateo County coast to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District with or without a vote has been delayed once again.

Maybe this week Judge Carl Holm will rule whether opponents have presented enough signatures protesting the annexation to trigger a vote throughout 220 square miles of the Coastside.

On August 20, Judge Holm accepted three boxes containing more than 1,700 protest petitions that had been ruled invalid by the county election department. At his order the department had carefully reorganized them into categories so that he could review them personally before issuing his ruling this week or next.

Under the laws governing the annexation, it would take 4,071 petitions -- 25 percent of the registered voters -- to force an election. After the petitions were re-checked by the elections department, opponents had 3,443 valid petitions -- still more than 600 shy of the threshold for an election.

Academy gives glimpse into county government

For many residents, the question "What does the county government do?" can be tricky to answer. A 12-week San Mateo County citizens' academy aims to clear up the issue.

Intended to educate the public about county government and encourage residents to volunteer, the fall academy will cover the span of county services, from health and environmental safety to transportation. It will include a tour of the county jail, a demonstration of the K9 police dog unit, and a mock budget hearing.

The fall program begins August 31. For more information, call 363-4123 or go to www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/citizensacademy.

Sea otters star at USGS lecture

Cavorting sea otters entrance and instruct scientists around Monterey Bay in a 48-minute high-definition video to be shown at the August public lecture at the U.S. Geological Survey at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 26, in Building 3 at the campus at 345 Middlefied Road in Menlo Park.

"Precipice of Survival: The Southern Sea Otter" traces the history of sea otters since they became targets of the fur trade in the 1700s, and focuses on a major study by scientists from the USGS and elsewhere to understand and help preserve the appealing animals from further decline.

For information call 329-5000.

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