Guest opinion: Facts and fears on Town Center project Guest opinion: Facts and fears on Town Center project (November 10, 2004)

By Greg Semans

My wife and I share deep reservations and concerns about the "Town Center project."

The idea of "issue sharing" and "participating" in the planning and usage phase by all town residents is a productive and positive position assumed by town officials and employees and is a concept of considerable merit. But we feel a sense of alarm about future financial surprises to our town residents.

To date, Portola Valley residents have enjoyed fiscal solvency and a confidence that our government would always implement sound judgment and reasoning regarding investments and expenditures.

We are not privy to every single fact, meeting and conversation concerning the seismic survey project and therefore, this is not an attempt to be overly critical on any phase of the project. It is our hope to initiate an "open letter" to discuss sound fiscal policy and to develop a common sense approach to this project.

The evaluation of the seismic potential put forth by the company performing the study should be copied to all interested residents showing all pros and cons of the various meetings. The geological study was quite an expense to the town and we should be assured that it is viable, giving us a foundation to move forward in sound fashion.

Here are my views on the following issues and questions:

* A project such as a new town center most probably would take Portola Valley to uncharted financial waters and we're reasonably sure people would be interested in a projected financial plan that covers all the variables.

* Was the seismic study thorough enough to hypothesize that town structures were seriously a threat to all residents and visitors.

* Was the "fear" word overused, relative to realities of nature, liabilities and insurance matters of the town. Fear is a powerful word, as we all know since 9/11.

* Is the temporary office now housing town staff really necessary at all or are we again rubbing the tummy of "fear" or maybe justifying the exorbitant cost of a superficial geological study. Why wasn't a sign posted on the newly installed office similar to signs that are posted on all the other buildings expressing grave potential danger?

* Was a study done to evaluate how the existing Town Center structures were built and why they might fail today when they knew back then that the faults existed? And would appropriate safety measures have been taken during construction?

* Was there an exhaustive study to realize any feasibility in saving and updating existing structures or rather a rush to spend the town's money on a new town center?

* Should every resident of Portola Valley live in fear of being swallowed by the earth predicated on this geological survey?

Finally, I would like to suggest that any cost estimate submitted to council for approval most assuredly will not be the figure this town ends up paying for this project. If you believe initial contract amounts I have a bridge I'll let you retrofit.

Greg Semans lives on Stonegate Road in Portola Valley.

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