From Arnold to parcel tax -- it was all covered at Atherton town meeting From Arnold to parcel tax -- it was all covered at Atherton town meeting (June 01, 2005)

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

In two hours, most of the hot topics in Atherton were touched upon at the annual town meeting hosted by the Atherton Civic Interest League on May 26 at Holbrook-Palmer Park.

About 60 people gathered to hear an analysis of California politics by Bill Whelan of the Hoover Institution, applaud Good Neighbor award-winner Bob Franceschini, get an update on the state of the town from Vice Mayor Charles Marsala and hear city manager Jim Robinson explain why the town needs a parcel tax.

Duf Sundheim, chair of the California Republican Party, was scheduled to speak about California ballot initiatives, but was unable to attend.

After some annual ACIL housekeeping business was taken care of, Mr. Whalen launched into an anecdote-laden and largely favorable analysis of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's performance. The governor, Mr. Whalen declared, is on the right track with his ballot initiatives and shouldn't show weakness by backing down on any of them. As for Gov. Schwarzenegger's occasional gaffes, such as his suggestion to close down the California border, Mr. Whalen explained, "Politically, he's like an infant."

"Arnold is sort of like Columbus in the New World -- everything he does is breaking new ground," he said.

Mr. Whalen said he had no insights as to whether Gov. Schwarzenegger would run for re-election.

As for the next gubernatorial race, he said that state Treasurer and Democrat Phil Angelides was preparing to run by "sucking up to unions as best he can" and said he didn't think Atherton resident and state Controller Steve Westly, a moderate Democrat, would run unless Gov. Schwarzenegger didn't.

Mr. Whalen predicted actor Warren Beatty might make a serious run for the Democratic nomination, and suggested that Democrats would be better served by Tom Hanks as a candidate, since Mr. Hanks, unlike Mr. Beatty, has made movies that people actually paid to see in the past 20 years.

Bob Franceschini graciously accepted the Gen Merrill Good Neighbor award, thanking his wife and three children for the love and support that allowed him to dedicate so much time to community service.

"You can't go to meetings without the support of your family. I've been very fortunate. As I was traveling (to meetings), my wife was home with our three youngsters," Mr. Franceschini said.

Mr. Franceschini, a retired Coors West beer distributor and longtime Atherton resident, was chosen for his many years of civic involvement, both in Atherton and in the larger, surrounding community, ACIL President Jerry Carlson said.

Mr. Franceschini said he was especially touched by the award because he knew Gen Merrill.

"She was loved because she stood for things. She was always fighting for this or that. She taught me a lot," he said. "When I see this award, I'll think of her."

Mr. Marsala's discussion, accompanied by a rapid-fire Power Point presentation, touched on everything from the role of various town committees to crime statistics, from Selby Lane School's performance to public works projects.

Atherton police answer about 5,000 calls from residents annually, which averages two calls per household, Mr. Marsala said. While most crimes were down in 2004 over the past four years, identity theft crimes are on the rise and the department nearly doubled the number of drunken-driving arrests it made in 2000, from 72 to 138 in 2004, he said.

Part of the reason such a small town has such a busy police department is the 15,000 students a day who attend schools in Atherton, Mr. Marsala said.

He mentioned the new master plan for Holbrook-Palmer Park, quipped about the need to resurface the park's tennis courts by showing a picture of the new "grass" court with verdant weeds poking through cracks in the paving.

Councilman Jim Janz gave an update on Caltrain service and other train-related issues, saying that by teaming up with the city of Burlingame, Atherton was able to get more leverage in its lobbying to preserve its train service. The town recently won back weekend train service and is trying to get some service to Giants baseball games. Caltrain had planned to suspend all train service to the town beginning August 1.

City Manager Jim Robinson, rather than giving a formal speech, responded to a question from Mr. Carlson about why Atherton needs a parcel tax.

"The parcel tax pays for about 10 percent of our operating expenses, but it's 40 percent (of) our capital improvement program," Mr. Robinson explained. Many people benefit from the tax, particularly from street and storm-water projects, he added.

As an example, he called the recently completed box culvert replacements on Barry Lane and Elaine Avenue important capital projects that will prevent flooding and potential property damage to nearby residents.

Mr. Robinson said that anyone interested in seeing capital improvement projects completed in the next five years should support the parcel tax on the special June 7 ballot.

At the meeting, Mr. Carlson also presented a $1,000 check to Atherton Dames president Betty Ogawa toward a $3,000 project to complete the walking path around Holbrook-Palmer Park.

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