Local Issues
by John M. Zukoski on August 26, 2010 | 
11 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Issues
The City of Pleasanton recently approved plans to extend Stoneridge Drive out to El Charro Road at the future site of Staples Ranch. Once completed, Staples Ranch is expected to showcase an 11-acre retail plaza, 17-acres of parkland (including an ice skating complex), the 45-acre Stoneridge Creek Pleasanton senior continuing care community, and Hendrick Automotive Group’s 37-acre luxury auto mall.
While the City of Pleasanton may have approved the extension, it gave itself a contingency clause. Pleasanton will extend Stoneridge Drive to El Charro Road only if Livermore connects Jack London Boulevard to El Charro Road. The Jack London Boulevard extension has been put on hold until development begins at the Prime Outlet Mall on El Charro Road. This conditional approval is not the first time Pleasanton has used an “out” clause to delay the extension of Stoneridge Drive. For years the City of Pleasanton has blocked this critical road extension, in spite of Supervisor Scott Haggerty’s promise to have Alameda County pay for it.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on August 25, 2010 | 19 Comments | Topics: Local Issues · Opinions
A leading factor in Dublin’s City budget woes is that police expenses have continued to skyrocket, while tax revenues have dropped precipitously. In order to balance its budget, the City of Dublin may have to pass a local tax eventually, if it cannot keep the cost of police services down. Dublin currently contracts with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office for police services, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office has continued to pass along exponential cost increases to Dublin, seemingly without providing any additional services. One strategy to keep Alameda County’s pricing competitive is to allow police agencies in neighboring cities like Pleasanton and San Ramon, Sheriff’s Offices in other counties, and private armed security firms to bid on Dublin’s police services contract.
Private police forces have operated throughout the United States for decades. Many cities such as Portland, OR and New Orleans, LA have already augmented their existing police forces with armed private security guards. Former public police officers, military veterans, and other highly-trained individuals typically comprise these private armed forces. As recently as last year, the City of Oakland hired armed private security guards to patrol its most dangerous areas. According to the Wall Street Journal, while Oakland spends about $250K per year on each police officer, it only cost $200K per year for Oakland to hire four armed private guards.
Continue Reading
by Around Dublin Team on August 23, 2010 | 1 Comment | Topics: Local Issues · Schools
Tuesday, August 24th, marks the start of the new school year for Dublin’s public schools. Traffic at and near local school sites can be hectic before the school day starts and when the school day ends. Dublin Police Services would like to remind students, parents, and area residents to allow extra time when traveling during school drop off and pick up times, to drive cautiously, to look both ways when crossing the street, and to show common courtesy toward one another. The speed limit around schools when children are present is 25 miles per hour.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on August 21, 2010 | 8 Comments | Topics: Local Issues
Eleven vehicles were stolen in Dublin during July. Most thefts occurred in higher density areas such as near Elan at Dublin Station, The Shops at Waterford, and the Dublin Ranch Villages. In fact, criminals went on a spree during the 4th of July weekend, stealing four vehicles in the Dublin Ranch Villages. While vehicle thefts were up in July, theft in general remained steady at 42% of all crime, which is close to the average for recent months.
Dublin had two crime reports that involved weapons in July near the Hacienda Crossings Shopping Center. The first incident was at the 5300 Block of Hibernia Drive on July 23rd, and the second incident was at Hacienda Drive and Martinelli Way on July 28th. Dublin Police Services also made arrests in connection with two prostitution busts. The first arrest was at the Holiday Inn on Regional Street in west Dublin, and the second arrest took place at La Quinta Inn next to Dublin’s International House of Pancakes (IHOP).
Continue Reading
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.
Continue Reading
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.
Continue Reading
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.
Continue Reading
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.
Continue Reading
by Around Dublin Team on July 4, 2010 | No Comments | Topics: Local Issues · Opinions
The All-America City Award is given by the National Civic League annually to ten cities in the United States. As the oldest community recognition program in the nation, this award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon results.
Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees President David Haubert sent the following letter to Dublin City Council on June 22, 2010. When asked about his experience with the All American City delegation, Board President David Haubert said, “I am proud to have been asked to serve the City of Dublin as a delegate to the National Civic Council’s All America City Award competition and is grateful for the experience of meeting people from so many other wonderful cities across America and hearing stories of life in their city.”
Mayor Sbranti and Honorable Council Members, as you know last week I and a delegation of residents, city staff, and community projects partners were accompanied by Vice Mayor Hildenbrand to represent the City of Dublin at the National Civic Council’s “All America City Award” competition. I am pleased to report that the City of Dublin was well represented and gained the respect and admiration of all who attended.
Continue Reading
