Archive for July, 2010
by John M. Zukoski on July 30, 2010 | 
9 Comments | Topics: Opinions · Schools
With the recent departure of Principal Rick Boster, many parents are wondering what is in store for Murray Elementary School. In an effort to cut expenses and potentially boost reserves, the Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) may be considering the closure of Murray Elementary School. By shutting down Murray Elementary School, DUSD could save at least $250K of operating expenses each year. Additionally, the sale of the Murray Elementary campus to the City or a developer would likely yield a significant one-time boost to the District’s currently non-existent operating reserves.
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by John M. Zukoski on July 29, 2010 | 7 Comments | Topics: Opinions · Public Works
The 14-mile southbound I-680 Express Lane is set to open on September 20th at 5AM between Pleasanton and Milpitas. It is currently free to carpoolers, motorcycles, and hybrid vehicles. Alameda County will be using the FasTrak system to collect Express Lane tolls from drivers Monday through Friday during the hours of 5AM-8PM. The California Highway Patrol will enforce the FasTrak requirements at the various entry and exit points. Alameda County will be using a “dynamic pricing” model to increase or decrease tolls depending on the amount of traffic in the Express Lane. Motorists pay $5-$7 to travel in the Express Lane during peak hours. In 2011, a second Express Lane is set to be unveiled on eastbound I-580 along the 11-mile stretch between Hacienda Drive and Greenville Road.
Tolls collected from the Express Lane motorists will primarily be used for providing transit services and adding more Express Lanes along I-680/I-580; however, what portion of the driving tax proceeds will be used for other purposes such as bridging State funding gaps for various County and local agencies remains unclear. The freeways are no longer free.
What Do the New Express Lanes Mean For Your Wallet?
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by Around Dublin Team on July 28, 2010 | 23 Comments | Topics: Local Issues
[Picture removed at the request of Dublin Police Services]
Teams of thieves have targeted several Dublin businesses over the past couple of months. Someone on the team would typically distract employees, while another accomplice would enter the backroom, staff lounge, or other employee-only areas in search of valuables and personal belongings such as purses and wallets. Victims often become aware of these crimes on the same day or after being notified of unauthorized transactions by their credit card companies. The suspects have been described as black female adults, heavy build, in their 20s and 30s.
All Dublin businesses should remind their staff to conceal personal belongings in secured areas. Businesses can deter non-employees from entering employee-only areas by installing mirrors, cameras, chimes, or territorial markers such as short gates linked to audible devices.
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by Around Dublin Team on July 27, 2010 | 2 Comments | Topics: Local Issues
In recent weeks, the City of Dublin has seen a jump in the number of reported mail thefts from residents on East Cog Hill Terrace, Saddlecreek Terrace, and Lochgreen Way in Dublin Ranch and West Vomac Road, Bloomington Way, Colebrook Drive, and Ridgefield Drive in West Dublin Hills. Suspects have been opening series of mailboxes along certain streets in an effort to steal delivered mail, as well as targeting outgoing mail in boxes with activated flags. One resident on Colebrook Drive saw the suspect remove mail from a neighbor’s mailbox at approximately 10AM. The suspect was a Hispanic adult male wearing a red hat, red shirt, and red shorts. He was driving a newer white vehicle, possibly a Chrysler 300c.
Dublin Police Services believes that the recent increase in reported check and credit card forgeries is related to this latest wave of mail thefts. On July 15th, two arrests associated with the thefts were made on Signal Hill Drive, but other suspects remain at large.
According to Dublin Police Services, no Neighborhood Watch group currently exists in East Cog Hill Terrace, Saddlecreek Terrace, or Lochgreen Way. Residents who are interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch group in one of these areas should contact Community Safety Assistants Val Ridad at (925)833-6677 and Laura Correa-Hernandez at (925)833-6686 for more details.
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by Tyler Moxley on July 27, 2010 | 1 Comment | Topics: Opinions
Dublin Detached Homes
The number of detached homes sold in Dublin, CA, dropped by 1 in June 2010. A total of 32 homes sold in June compared to 33 in May. The number of detached homes up for sale in Dublin at the end of June was 66. The highest sale price for homes in Dublin was $1,120,000 on Turnberry Drive. That home sold at $202 a square foot. The lowest sale price for Dublin homes was $380,000 on Alsea Street. That home sold at $340 a square foot. Average days on market for Dublin homes was 22 with an average list price of $700,980 at $271 a square foot. The average sale price was $691,181 at $270 a square foot.
Here is a Summary of Data for all Dublin Detached Homes sold in June 2010.
Here is Detached Home Sales in Dublin for June 2010.
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by John M. Zukoski on July 26, 2010 | 1 Comment | Topics: Local Issues
The City of Dublin saw its first case of arson for the year in June. The alleged crime took place at the 3000 Block of Gleason Drive next to the Carl Zeiss Meditec building on June 11, 2010. The building at the 3000 Block of Gleason Drive appears to be vacant. Whether the alleged arson was motivated by potential insurance policy proceeds or some other nefarious purpose remains to be seen. Dublin also had another arrest for prostitution on the corner of Dougherty Road and Sierra Lane next to the Tralee community’s sales office. The arrest, made on June 18, 2010, was probably the most excitement the Tralee sales office has seen over the past two years.
Based on the preliminary data for the month of June as of July 11, 2010, the number of reported crimes decreased to 149 from 193 in May. The drop in vehicular burglaries alone was 67%. While the reduction in reported incidents is promising, Dublin Police Services does not file reports for all incidents. In addition, the time required to process and upload the data means that there will always be a slight delay between when the crime was reported and when it shows up on CrimeReports.com.
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by Eric Haggin on July 24, 2010 | 1 Comment | Topics: Opinions
I own some investment properties that have done very well. In January one property had a pipe break in and sustained significant water damage; in March another part of that same property was completely destroyed by arson. Fortunately no one was hurt. Had I not been properly insured, I would have been financially devastated.
From these two incidents, I have learned a great deal about filing insurance claims and seeing the recovery process through to completion. The first, and probably the most important, thing you need to do right away is making sure your home and investment properties are properly insured. You must have the “endorsements” or “riders” appropriate for your needs. A generic policy may be an acceptable start, but pay special attention to what makes your circumstances and properties different:
- Do you use your home for a home-based business?
- Do you operate daycare from your home?
- Do you have unusually valuable items stored on the property?
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by John M. Zukoski on July 23, 2010 | No Comments | Topics: Announcements · Things To Do
Pet Food Express is leading the effort to support Bay Area police dogs with the Pet Wash K-9 Fundraiser. Please bring the whole family to the Pet Food Express store at Waterford in Dublin or any other Pet Food Express stores in the Bay Area on July 31st and August 1st and meet a real K-9 team. All proceeds from pet wash tokens purchased during the fundraising weekend will go to the “Cover Your K-9” Fund.
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by Around Dublin Team on July 22, 2010 | 6 Comments | Topics: Announcements · Local Issues
At a public meeting Tuesday, Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) Board of Directors voted unanimously to close a shortfall in its wastewater operations budget with a rate increase of $39.78 per year for residential wastewater customers in Dublin and south San Ramon.
In a separate action, the DSRSD Board voted unanimously to authorize a potential increase in the Temporary Infrastructure Charge paid by water customers in Dublin and Dougherty Valley. Later this year or in early 2011, the Board will determine if the charge needs to change after restructuring two variable rate loans into a fixed rate bond. Board members cited the need to demonstrate that DSRSD has the ability to pay its debt in order to receive favorable financing terms and thus lower long term debt service costs. The increase in the Temporary Infrastructure Charge is a direct result of the City of Dublin’s and the City of San Ramon’s overestimating the demand for services in Dublin and in the Windemere/Gale Ranch area. Without the expected waste and sewer hookup fee payment from developers, DSRSD has no other choice but to raise rates for water customers. Director Georgean Vonheeder-Leopold was a member of Dublin City Council from 1984 to 1990, after serving two years on Dublin’s first Planning Commission.
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