4 T H Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 7 PROTECT YOUR HOME AGAINST FIRE T This fall temperatures soared beyond existing records and wildfires raged in California. Hillsborough, with its dense tree coverage, canyons, is susceptible to fire, as determined by our Town Council and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) with consultation from the Central County Fire Department (CCFD). The CCFD cannot stress enough the importance of defensible space in Hillsborough. It is essential both to protect your home from rapidly spreading flames and to help firefighters safely defend your home. W it h i n t he defensible space is a 100-foot perimeter surrounding your home. Residents should: C u t d e a d we e d s a nd grasses down to no higher than three inches above the ground. Remove tree branches to create a minimum of six feet clearance between the ground and the lowest branch. Remove fallen pine needles and tree leaves that are lying under the trees. Keep the roof and gutters clear of debris. Properly dispose of landscape trimmings and dead vegetation. Integrate some fire-resistive plants into your landscape. Pay particular attention to clearing the weeds if you live on a large parcel with a hillside you may have neighbors directly above or below you whose homes would suffer if a fire were to occur on your hillside. If your neighbor s branches/vegetation have overgrown on to your property, you may cut or prune what is on your property. The Town maintains its portion of 100- foot defensible space where private property and structures are adjacent to Town-owned open spaces. As a part of this annual effort, the Town and CCFD notify properties within 500 feet of these open spaces to strongly encourage them to establish and maintain defensible space on their property. Each year, beginning in August, the Town reduces fuel loads and fire ladders on its 259 acres of Town-owned open space lands by mowing grassland, thinning shrubs, limbing-up trees a n d t r e a t i n g flammable invasive species (e.g., scotch broom). A d d i t i o n - ally, the Town mows, treats and removes vegetation along various Town roadway easements twice a year in order to reduce the possibility of accidental ignition and spread of fire by discarded cigarettes or other sources. Information about vegetation management in Town-owned open spaces can be found on the Town s public works webpage http://www.hillsborough.net/175/ Open-Space-Management, or please contact the Public Works Department at 650-375- 7444 with questions. CCFD provides annual public education events and sends out informational letters to many residents in Hillsborough. For more information on defensible space and to learn lessons from other wildland fires that CCFD has responded to throughout California, please visit its website at www.ccfdonline. org or call (650) 558-7600. Help CCFD and our community and be sure your home has a proper defensible space. HPD, CCFD JOIN FORCES FIGHTING NORTH BAY FIRES Both the Hillsborough Police Department (HPD) and the Central County Fire Department (CCFD) responded to calls for mutual aid assistance when the fires broke out in Napa and Sonoma counties last month. CCFD deployed several personnel and multiple fire apparatus to support both direct fire suppression and relief efforts. HPD officers joined a unit of 50 from San Mateo County police agencies who went to the fire area and were planning to stay for a week, and longer if need be. The local officers were assigned to help with searching for victims, controlling traffic and guarding against looting. Some of the officers commuted to the scene but others were required to stay overnight due to fatigue. Both Police Chief Mark O Connor and Fire Chief John Kammeyer said they were doing all they could to help provide safety and security in the unprecedented disaster. LIGHT UP THE TOWN Join friends and neighbors at Hillsborough Beautification Foundation s annual Light Up The Town celebration: Town Hall Thursday, November 30 5 p.m. 6:16 p.m.
HONOR VETERANS ON NOVEMBER 10 Join fellow Hillsborough residents to honor the Town s United States veterans on Friday, November 10, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Town Hall. The program, hosted by the Hillsborough Beautification Foundation (HBF), will welcome special guest The Honorable Jackie Speier. Also, a special bench will be dedicated to Hillsborough fallen veteran United States Marine Corps Major Taj Sareen, who joined the Marines in 2005. The fighter pilot was killed in 2015 on his way home from his The story of retiring City Attorney Norm Book hinges around several life changing decisions. Following his valedictorian address at Claremont High School in Southern California, he decided to attend Haverford College, located in a suburb of Philadelphia. Although he greatly enjoyed the small classes at Haverford, as a tennis enthusiast he missed the weather in Southern California and transferred to Pomona College in Claremont. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, he attended Stanford Law School where he was elected to the Moot Court Board. During this third year he met Judy, a pretty, bright physical education instructor at Stanford who stole his heart and persuaded him to stay in the Bay Area instead of returning to his family in Seattle. They have been married 52 years and have two sons and three grandchildren. Book joined the Carr McClellan law firm in 1969 and became a partner in 1972. For a number of years his practice involved tax, real estate and corporate matters. While he was handling the firm s income tax matters, he won a case of first impression in the United States Tax Court resulting in an amendment to the Internal Revenue Code. In 1996 Book decided to reduce his work load to enable him to take on the position of city attorney for the Town of Hillsborough. According to Book, these were all very good decisions. According to officials at Hillsborough, the last choice was particularly good. At a special retirement party this past summer, the City Council bestowed upon Norm Book the Town s highest commendation for his 21 years of extraordinary service. I m retiring because I m not getting any younger, and the Town needs young blood, Book laughed, adding that he learned a lot during the two-plus decades. He immensely enjoyed working with the talented and capable Town staff and intelligent and conscientious city council members. It was so gratifying to see the respect the council members had for each other s points of view, he said. You knew that when they came to a decision, every issue had been thoroughly explored. Municipal finance was probably the most interesting and intellectually challenging part of the job, Book said. It s all become so very sophisticated, with revenue bonds, third deployment in the Persian Gulf area. The bench will be placed in the Centennial Garden near the Veterans Memorial. The event will also include scout troops, local talent, a moment of silence, light refreshments and an opportunity to donate to the Town s Adopt-a-Troop program. As a reminder, a display case has been installed at Town Hall to honor the resident veterans who served in World War II. HBF is planning to expand the case to include all local veterans who have served or are serving their country. 2 Any residents who would like their names, or those of their resident loved ones, included, should: Email HBF at hillsboroughbeautification@yahoo.com. Call (650) 829-5159 and leave a message. Or drop a note to HBF, c/o Hillsborough Town Hall, 1600 Floribunda Avenue, Hillsborough, CA 94010. When responding, please list the full name, branch of military, and if known, their dates of service along with your name, telephone number, and email address. 4TH QUARTER 2017 BOOK ENDS CHAPTER OF CAREER interest rate swaps, and special taxes, all heavily regulated by the state constitution. Book, together with the Town s bond counsel, oversaw in excess of $40 million in various forms of debt issue. A number of Norm Book issues presented interesting legal challenges, Book continued. There were issues surrounding the drought, particularly drafting an ordinance to meet the state s draconian water reduction regulations, he said. There were wireless communication facility issues concerning evolving legislation aimed at limiting the Town s flexibility to regulate the facilities. He also cited issues with development of the private school campuses in Town and the challenge of balancing the needs of the schools to evolve and grow against the concerns of the neighborhoods. BE SMART REGISTER WITH WATERSMART Having received an instruction letter last May, you may have already registered with WaterSmart to learn about your new advanced water meter. However, if you have not registered, don t miss out on the opportunity to unlock vital information on your water use. Plus, you can also receive warnings about possible water leaks which, when caught early, can save a lot of money. Go to Hillsborough s WaterSmart customer service portal websitehttps:// hillsborough.watersmart.com/index,php/ welcome). Once registered, you can see up to three years of your own historical water use, track your water use in real time (hourly) and set alerts for leaks, choosing email or text. There is no longer any need to go outside, find your water meter, try to figure out what it says and then what that means, not to mention trying to easily compare it to past use. Meaningful information is now quick and at your fingertips. When you see information referring to a cubic foot of water, remember that one cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons. One hundred cubic feet equals 748 gallons, which equals one unit. Billing is by the unit. If you have questions, you can email pw@hillsborough.net or call 650-375-7444. NEW CITY ATTORNEY HAS PASSION FOR HONEST GOVERNMENT Ever since he was a student senator at the University of California, San Diego, Christopher Diaz knew he wanted to go into law. It just took him a little while to figure out what kind of law. After a three-year break following college, the born-and-raised southern Californian came north and spent two years as a paralegal at Morrison & Foerster law firm in San Francisco and a year as a legislative aide to the assembly speaker in Sacramento. When the final decision was made to attend law school, Diaz applied and was accepted to the University of California, Los Angeles. Back on home turf in southern California, he interned at several small law firms, dabbled in government work, graduated, tried litigation and didn t like it, got experience in land use work and liked that and then spent six years as an assistant city attorney. Through all of this, he discovered he preferred government work and developed a strong passion for On Friday, November 10, at 10 a.m., the Hillsborough Beautification Foundation will host a Veterans Day event. The community is invited to gather at Town Hall to honor the Town s United States veterans. There will be an opportunity that day to donate to the city s Adopt-a-Troop program. Through the years, Norm and Judy were active in supporting the Town s school system. In 1984, Book served as president of the Hillsborough Schools Foundation. Hillsborough was one of the first cities in the state to come up with ways to fund our public schools on a tax-deductible basis, he said. Book, a former long-time resident of Hillsborough, was not only involved with the local schools but was very dedicated to a number of local non-profit organizations. He served as president of the San Mateo County Historical Association and chairman of the San Mateo County Economic Development Association. In 1999, Book was the recipient of its David D. Bohannon Memorial Award, the county s top leadership and life achievement honor. Book looks back fondly on his 44 years in Hillsborough, both as the city attorney and as a resident. While the residential character and feel of the Town has not changed, he said he sees a transformation in the population which has become significantly more diverse. He cites as one of Hillsborough s ensuring open and honest government; he believes in the Brown Act, laws of ethics, and land use laws, which led straight to the perfect job city attorney. Diaz learned of an opening in Colma, interviewed and was hired. It was a positive experience. He added a few more cities Milpitas and Los Altos. Diaz was then hired as the new city attorney for Hillsborough in July (following Norm Book upon his retirement)) and says, So far, it has been an amazing experience. Diaz realizes he is in a special place. The size of the Town gives Diaz a chance to work closely with the city and community. I have discovered that the city is run really well, he said. You never know when you step into a new job what you will get, but I have found that the city council and department heads are very competent. It s a good-working group. The council is invested in what they do, and that dedication goes from the top down. So far, it s been a pleasure. It s strengths its high participation level from all residents, with volunteers stepping forward for the Concours d Elegance, the Memorial Day Parade, the schools, and more. He strongly applauds the Town s Architecture Design Review Board, Citizens Communications Advisory Committee and Financial Advisory Committee. Most cities our size don t have such things, he said. While Book has retired from his city attorney position, it is not in his blood to step away from participating. He will continue his practice at a reduced level at Carr Mc- Clellan. He is on the board of directors of United American Bank and recently joined the Hoover Council at Stanford which has led to a new interest in geopolitics. His favorite activity, however, brings out his inner cowboy. He serves on the board of directors and executive committee of the C. M. Russell Museum in Grand Falls, Montana, which is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Charlie Russell and promoting emerging Western artists. Happy Trails, Norm, from the Town! an amazing, intelligent bunch who know what they are doing. Diaz said he finds it rewarding to know and follow government laws, open meeting rules, and provide the legal services the citizens need. I am so grateful that I found Christopher Diaz this work. It is so good to do what you enjoy. I feel that it is good work and that I am helping. Diaz said one of his main priorities is public education so that residents have a full understanding of why we need to do what we need to do. Diaz lives in Oakland with his partner and dog. To relieve stress, get exercise and have fun with his pet, he spends weekends hiking the Oakland hills. Welcome, Christopher!
4TH QUARTER 2017 POLICE BLOTTER For the third quarter of 2017, the Hillsborough Police Department (HPD) responded to 6,951 calls for service. In those three months, HPD had 18 misdemeanor and five felony arrests, responded to and investigated 12 non-injury and one injury vehicle collision, and completed 140 police reports. They also conducted 363 traffic stops, issued 254 citations (moving and parking violations), checked on 1,400 watch list homes, and performed 1,405 security checks at the schools and other facilities. HPD investigated 207 suspicious persons and vehicles and responded to 590 residential burglary alarms. A sample of some of the notable calls for service that occurred during this period is listed below: At 2:52 a.m., officers located a vehicle stopped on the side of the roadway that was running with its headlights on. The driver was slumped over the steering wheel. Officers contacted the driver who displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. Field sobriety tests were conducted and the driver was determined to be operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of.08 percent or greater. The driver was arrested and released on a citation to the custody of First Chance. At 9:44 a.m. while on patrol, an officer received a stolen vehicle alert from the license plate reader (LPR) installed on his patrol vehicle. While completing a U-turn the officer lost sight of the wanted vehicle, although broadcasted a Be on the Lookout with the license plate and description of the vehicle. At approximately 9:49, an officer located the stolen vehicle driving northbound on Black Mountain Road. The vehicle proceeded through the intersection at Hayne Road without stopping. The officer attempted to make a traffic enforcement stop. The vehicle continued northbound on Skyline Boulevard at speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour. While at this speed, the driver crossed over into the southbound lane towards oncoming traffic in order to pass a vehicle traveling northbound. Due to the wanton and willful disregard for public safety, the pursuit was terminated by the officer. When the driver of the vehicle is identified, he will be charged with evading police officers, reckless driving, unsafe speed, driving on the wrong side of the roadway and failure to stop on or before a stop sign limit line. At 9:03 p.m., HPD received a call from an alert citizen who reported that a gray Ford F250 was abandoned and appeared to have been involved in a collision in the area of Crystal Springs Road and Woodridge Road. Responding officers arrived on scene and determined that the vehicle was reported stolen from Hayward. An area search was immediately conducted and officers located Michael Martinez, a 36-year-old male from South San Francisco, on Ridgeway Road. Additionally, officers located Andres Theus Harris, a 27-year-old male from Oakland hiding in nearby shrubbery. After further investigation, both adults were arrested and transported to the San Mateo County Jail for vehicle theft, possession of burglary tools, and criminal conspiracy. Harris faces an additional charge of possession of methamphetamine. At 6:15 a.m., officers responded to a residence on the report of a female who was possibly a danger to herself and/or others. Officers arrived on scene and attempted to contact the subject. When the female subject saw officers in her home, she locked herself in her bedroom. Based on the nature of the call and the fear the subject may harm herself, an officer used a multi-tool to unlock the bedroom door. The female was contacted in her bedroom and detained. Officers observed suspected methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia scattered throughout her bedroom. The female subject was evaluated and determined to be a danger to herself and others. She was detained pursuant to 5150 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and transported to Peninsula Hospital for treatment. The case was submitted to the district attorney s office for prosecution on the charges of possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. At 10:14 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for failure to stop on or before a stop sign limit line on West Santa Inez. The driver was contacted and a records check returned that he had an outstanding warrant for petty theft out of the jurisdiction of the San Mateo County Sheriff s Office. The driver was arrested and booked into the San Mateo County Jail on the warrant. On August 21, the HPD received a report of a mail theft from two addresses on Downey Way. One alert resident witnessed the mail theft and was able to provide officers the partial license plate numbers of the suspect vehicle. One residential security camera facing the street captured the suspect and vehicle and shared the footage with investigators. The suspect vehicle was a four-door blue sedan and the suspect appeared to be a white or Hispanic female with blond hair. After an extensive investigation, on September 28, Hillsborough inspectors responded to a residence in Castro Valley. At the residence, 33-year-old Chanel Padilla was contacted and during a probation search of her vehicle and room, stolen mail from Hillsborough and throughout the Bay Area was recovered. In addition, personal information including financial documents, government identification, and social security numbers belonging to other people were seized. Padilla was arrested and transported and booked at the San Mateo County Jail. Safety Tip: On-line purchasing If you buy, sell or exchange items online, it is a good idea to meet the unknown buyer/seller in a safe place. During regular business hours, the Town Hall parking lot can be considered a safe place due to the proximity of the Police Department and amount of traffic. Another option is the recentlyunveiled San Mateo County Safe Exchange Zone at the Maple Street Correction Facility in Redwood City. The location consists of two parking spots within view of high definition security cameras monitored 24/7 by the county s Sheriff s Office personnel. MAYOR FOR A DAY The public is well aware of the vast maze of water and sewer pipes that run under the Town. But there is a lesser known matrix of pipes that form an equally large network of essential service, of work for maintenance crews and of financing challenges for the city: the storm drain system. About three years ago, the Town adopted a master plan to tackle 30-plus miles of deteriorating storm drains. It is a long-range project that over many years is projected to cost about $55 million. Storm drains pose both infrastructure and environmental problems. The pipes that drain water from the storm drains directly into the creeks and Bay were installed 60 to 70 years ago and have had minimal repairs made to them since then. Some pipes are falling apart, crumbling and turning to dust, says Public Works Director/City Engineer Paul Willis. The consultants hired to analyze the pipes have found, via camera inspection, pipes with missing bottoms and extensive rusting and soil erosion under the pipes. When a water or sewer pipe fails, everyone knows about it immediately because you can see it, but when a storm drain pipe fails, it is usually sight unseen until there is a catastrophic failure with a sinkhole or slide. The storm drains on the Peninsula differ from those in San Francisco and Daly City where storm water flows into the sewer lines and runs through treatment plants before entering the Bay. On the Peninsula, sewer and storm drain pipes are separate from each other. Storm drain pipes flow into creeks and directly to the Bay, making it imperative to keep them clean for fish and water quality and free-flowing to prevent neighborhood flooding. The Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) has set standards for water quality from the pipes and will fine a municipality if it violates the standards. Every year, the Public Works Department is charged with developing an exhaustive 10-plus-page report for the RWQCB that details how much trash enters the drains, how much the city has pulled out, how road work debris is collected and disposed of, and how Town equipment is cleaned. The report also includes every grading and building project that disturbs soil during the winter. Public Works crews have always maintained the hundreds of catch basins at street level that connect to the storm drains by using a variety of equipment to clean debris and trash that enters the drains. Willis points out that the lack of industry in Hillsborough lessens the amount of trash and toxics that enter the drains but still advises residents, gardeners and construction workers to be As Hillsborough s mayor stepped aside, North School second-grader Penny Diehl took over the City Council meeting on a Monday evening last summer. Penny, eight years old, was Mayor for a Day. She said the best thing about her experience was riding in a fire truck. Asked what she liked least, she proclaimed, Nothing! And, would she like to be mayor some day? Maybe, she replied. STORM DRAINS NEED CARE AND CASH vigilant. Gardeners should not blow leaves down the drains with leaf blowers, for instance a problem that plagues Hillsborough every year after the first autumn cold snap when all the leaves fall at once from the trees. In the past, residents were charged about $7.34 per parcel to cover the cost of cleaning catch basins and maintaining the miles of underground pipes and culverts. Residents are still being charged this small amount, initiated more than 30 years ago without increase, which no longer covers the costs of the work needed. With the increased RWQCB regulations and the necessity to fix failing pipes, the cost of repairing, replacing and maintaining the storm drains has escalated. Funding for the work, to date, has been temporarily budgeted into the general fund but City Council will need to explore a source for long-term funding and conduct a public-approval process. In the meantime, remain vigilant. Do not dispose of any trash, chemicals, yard scraps, chlorinated pool water, paint, oil, etc., into the storm drains. This will help to prevent back-ups and keep our Bay healthy. TIPS FOR LIVING WITH WILDLIFE A couple of reminders for getting along with your wildlife neighbors: Bring in pet food and even pets, at night. Don t feed or attract deer. Mountain lions prey on deer. Put a bungee cord on your trash can it can frustrate critters. Remove wood piles and low debris that are close to your house. This deters mice, plus snakes that like mice. Seal the foundation of your house. FIRE BLOTTER During the second quarter of 2017, Central County Fire Department (which includes Hillsborough, Burlingame and Millbrae) responded to 1,619 calls, as follows: Fire calls: 37 Explosions/ruptures: 0 EMS/rescue: 947 Hazardous conditions: 31 Public assist: 246 Alarm activations: 171 Other: 187 (These are primarily calls canceled en route or once at the scene where no incident is found, or weather-related calls.) 3
STRONG OUTLOOK FOR 2017-18 BUDGET Thanks to the region s strong economy and increasing property values, Hillsborough s 2017-18 budget is healthy. General fund revenues are expected to grow three percent, and Hillsborough s reserve is also in a strong position. Projected revenue for the upcoming year of $25.6 million is funded primarily by property taxes (61 percent), followed by the special public safety tax (nine percent) and business licensing and permitting fees (seven percent). Expected expenditures of $25.3 million are primarily for public safety (67 percent), street repair (10 percent), building and planning (eight percent), storm drains (six percent), general government (five percent) and library and community services (four percent). The Town s reserve budget is designated for unanticipated events such as natural disasters, as well as storm drain improvements and other future needs, impacts or one-time projects. While the annual budget is sound and reserves are good, the Town also has long-term liabilities for pension, postemployment benefits, and long term capital needs that will continue to need funding. Specific goals for the 2017-18 general fund budget are: A communication plan that will focus on customer service by making the Town s website more user-friendly and creating a cohesive message across all communication platforms. A streamlined plan check process through education, enhanced coordination and development of a hybrid approval process. A continued partnership with the Hillsborough Beautification Foundation to beautify Town property and public rights-of-way. Continued participation in the Peninsula Clean Energy joint powers authority, a public, locally-controlled electricity provider that gives all PG&E electric customers in San Mateo County a choice in having 50 percent to 100 percent of their electricity supplied from clean renewable sources at competitive rates. A study of long-term funding options to complete a more than $55 million storm drain master plan. Information technology upgrades to improve stability and customer experience when working with the Town, which this year will bring a new audio-visual system to council chambers. In addition to the general fund, Hillsborough has a $29 million budget for streets, water, sewer and storm drains, enterprise operations and capital improvements. The $2.8 million street repaving program will improve more than 30 miles of streets this coming fiscal year. The budget contains $3.2 million for continued sewer improvements and $1.9 million for water main improvements and replacement, and $2.2 million for storm drain improvements. The fiscal year 2017-18 budget provides the resources to continue a high level of service to the Town s residents and funds a number of key initiatives and projects to maintain and improve the critical systems of the Town, said Finance Director Jan Cooke. Once again, for the past fiscal year, Hillsborough has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report by the Government Finance Officers Association. During the past quarter, the City Council: Approved no rate change for solid waste/recycling collection for 2018. Based on reserve levels and the minimal deficit net revenue ($3 million in revenue required vs. $3 million projected revenue) for 2018, the recommendation is to keep rates the same as in 2017. In 2015, rates were reduced four percent; in 2017 rates were reduced 10 percent. Discussed potential options between the Town and the Burlingame Country Club for the creation of a pedestrian path along the 500 block of Eucalyptus Avenue. The Hillsborough Beautification Foundation and residents have expressed interest in partnering with the Town to fund a pathway. However, during a land survey, it was discovered that there is a discrepancy over the right-of-way of the property. Council members, in favor of a path, requested staff to further explore the real estate issues, liabilities, costs, etc. Authorized an extension for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Meadowood Estates subdivision. Council reviewed a conceptual plan in 2014 for an eight-lot subdivision for the future construction of individual homes on a 20-acre property at the northeast corner of Crystal Springs Road and Tartan Trail Road owned by the Callan Family Trust and authorized preparation of an EIR in an amount not to exceed $190,000. Since then, additional amounts have been requested for a new total of $281,000, which would be funded by the applicant. Authorized the submittal of a street resurfacing project list to the California Transportation Commission to receive funds that would supplement the Town s current roadway funding sources and allow the Town to rehabilitate local streets and roadways. In April, Governor Brown signed a bill that establishes the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program which addresses deferred maintenance on state highways and local streets. Approved two-year agreements with five consulting firms for as-needed capital improvement program design and construction management services for a not-to-exceed total annual cost of $806,000. Council also authorized two-year agreements with three consulting companies for, when needed, plan check and building inspection services for a not-to-exceed amount of $150,000 for each, or a total of $450,000 for each fiscal year. Most of the plan check and inspection costs are funded through development fees. Rejected all bids for the first phase of the sewer pump station improvements, as all bids greatly exceeded the engineer s estimates. It was concluded that the relatively small size of the project was a factor in limiting the number of bidders during the current bidding climate, and that it might be advantageous to delay the project and combine it with another upcoming project, such as the larger sewer lift station project on Hayne Road. Awarded a contract for $81,000 for the 2017-18 sanitary sewer mains chemical TOWN BRIEFS 4TH QUARTER 2017 STOP AND THINK DON T FALL VICTIM TO A PHONE SCAM The aftermath of this fall s fires and hurricanes was an ideal time for charities to solicit funds. The holidays are a good time, too. Unfortunately, these times are also ripe for thieves to get in on the act. Beware of phone calls asking for money. While some calls may be valid solicitations, many can be fraudulent. Hillsborough Police Captain Doug Davis warns to look for red flags. Most charities ask for donations via a mailing or newspaper ad. An individual solicitation call alone is a red flag, especially one asking for personal information such as credit card numbers. If the caller applies pressure, that is another red flag. Wait before you contribute, Davis says. Make an extra effort to establish validity. Ask questions and get a phone number to call back or ask to have information mailed to you. Say you are busy and need more time. When off the phone, look up the organization on-line. Make sure the charity is a bona fide charity. Checking on-line is also a good way to determine how much money a charity donates to the actual cause rather than to administration or other costs. Each charity is required to fill out Form 990 for the IRS that specifies where their funds go. Many of those forms can be found on-line. Soliciting donations for a fraudulent charity is only one of several types of today s telephone scams, Davis reports. The Grandparent Scam preys on older individuals who are probably retired and at home and naturally feel protective of their grandchildren. A caller, who no doubt is slightly familiar with some of a particular grandparent s personal information, will phone the grandparent and impersonate the grandchild, say that he or she is in a bit of trouble and needs money for an attorney or something similar, then adds, Oh, and please don t tell anyone. These calls always have a sense of urgency and a request for secrecy. There is a ready excuse should the grandparent not fully recognize the grandchild s voice, such as, I was involved in a DUI and I broke my nose. As the recipient of the call, Davis advises replying, I will call you back, and then calling the grandchild or the parent of the grandchild to check on the child s whereabouts, which usually uncovers the fraud. These people make maybe 500 calls like this per day and if they are successful in getting money three times, that s good enough for them, Davis says. It is important to report the incident to the Hillsborough Police Department, even though finding the miscreant is difficult. If there is a caller ID, police can try to follow up. If the Department receives three or four reports of this type of fraudulent call, it will post an alert on local media warning residents that calls are being made in the area and to be careful. The IRS Scam also has been reported several times in Town. A caller will tell a resident that he or she has a tax bill that is due and that it is a good idea to pay it before a penalty is levied. The caller may request that the person go to the drugstore and purchase a cash card as a method of payment. The IRS will never call and solicit cash and would not ask for payment via a cash card, Davis says. He added that no law enforcement person would call and ask for money for something like a ticket that has not been paid, which is another scam. root control treatment project. The project consists of treating 53,948 linear feet of four-inch to 18-inch sewer pipes with a process that fills the pipes with a thick herbicide coating that expands as it is dispensed, retards tree roots on contact and causes the roots to decay and slough off. Tree roots are the primary cause of sanitary sewer overflows. Trees and other ground vegetation are not harmed during the process. Allocated $191,000 in additional funds for the Tournament Tanks retrofit project because it was discovered after sandblasting and removing rust that most of the tank rafters need to be replaced. Rejected two claims, one from the Burlingame School District/Hoover School for alleged damage to the property from two separate mud flows in January and February, and from residents on Carlton Road for alleged damage to their property from storm water flowing onto their property and into their home in January. Approved the grading permit for a water tank replacement project located on Crystal Springs Road at Alameda de las Pulgas. Hauling will take two to three weeks and an estimated 517 trucks of dirt. The haul route will be from Crystal Springs to El Camino Real to Highway 92 or 101 and work will take place Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entire project will take one to one and a half years to complete. The project will also include the removal of 33 of 300-plus existing trees and some replacement with new trees. The new tanks, owned by Cal Water, will hold three million gallons and are needed for fire suppression, back-up supply, and meeting different demand levels. Authorized placement of the annual sewer service ($2,814), the storm drain charges ($7.34), the special tax for police and fire protection ($570) and the flat charge component of the garbage collection fee ($300) on the 2017-18 county tax roll and authorized the county tax collector to collect such charges. Accepted as complete the $2.5 million contract for the water meter replacement and automated metering infrastructure installation project. The project included the installation of three communication base stations at the Town water tank facilities, the replacement of 4,290 meters and installation of 4.290 radio endpoint units (which communicate with the base stations), in addition to meter management software, network and data hosting services, project management services and hourly read data to the Town s water customer service portals. Accepted as complete a contract to replace and upsize approximately 3,400 linear feet of a deficient and undersized water main at Hillsborough Boulevard, Hayne Road and Black Mountain Road. The project was budgeted at $1.5 million but went over a bit because the city engineer determined it made good fiscal sense to add the repair of a problem storm drain while machinery and manpower were in place. 4
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Hillsborough, CA 94010 Permit No. 34 1600 Floribunda Avenue Hillsborough, CA 94010 VETERANS DAY EVENT November 10 Details on page 2. HILLSBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL (650) 375-7400 council@hillsborough.net Mayor Marie Chuang Vice Mayor Shawn Christianson Jess Jay Benton Laurence M. May Alvin Royse CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 2nd Mondays 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 1600 Floribunda Avenue TOWN HALL Kathy Leroux, City Manager kleroux@hillsborough.net Administration: (650) 375-7400 Town Hall & Water Department Hours: Monday Thursday: 7:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Building and Planning: (650) 375-7411 Finance Department: (650) 375-7400 Public Works and City Engineer: (650) 375-7444 Water (service and billing): (650) 375-7402 After-hours, Urgent Service (650) 375-7470 POLICE DEPARTMENT Mark O Connor, Chief Non-emergency/24 hours (650) 375-7470 Code Enforcement Hotline: (650) 375-7572 TOWN INFORMATION CENTRAL COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT John Kammeyer, Fire Chief (650) 558-7600 CENTRAL COUNTY FIRE BOARD Marie Chuang, Director Jess Jay Benton, Vice-chair ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN REVIEW BOARD (ADRB) Board Meeting 1st and/or 3rd Mondays 4 p.m. Town Hall Laurence M. May, Commissioner Lionel Foster, Chair, Leonard Mezhvinsky, Nan Ryan, Jerry Winges, Kathleen Egan CODE ENFORCEMENT HEARING PANEL Laurence M. May, City Council liaison Police Chief Mark O Conner, Catherine Lee, Chair Robert Berger, Kitty Mullooly, Dennis Tom, David Weinberger FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Alvin Royse, Commissioner David Brooks, Chair Jeffrey Baxter, Josh Cooperman, Rod Ferguson, Maryellie Johnson, Richard Kuersteiner Paul Regan, Emeritus Advisor CITIZENS COMMUNICATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Shawn Christianson, Commissioner Julie Borden, Chair Anne Baxter, Mary Ellen Benninger, Ann Malouf Diana Witzel, Advisor HILLSBOROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK (HNN) EMERGENCY PREP hnn@hillsborough.net HILLSBOROUGH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT (650) 342-5193 Louann Carlomagno, Interim Superintendent Gilbert Wai, School Board President HILLSBOROUGH RECREATION (650) 342-5439 Tony Giacomazzi, Director tgiacomazzi@hcsd.k12.ca.us Jess Jay Benton, Town Commissioner Laurence M. May, Town Commissioner Lynne Esselstein, HCSD Commissioner Don Geddis, Commissioner Michele Bosschart, Member at Large UTILITIES COMCAST (800) 945-2288 PG&E (24 hours) (800) 743-5000 PG&E Outage Info: (800) 743-5002 RECOLOGY (650) 595-3900 Hazardous Material: (650) 372-6200 The Hillsborough Newsletter is published on a regular basis by the Town of Hillsborough to keep residents informed of local and Town news. Editor: Barbara Backer Design: Larry Zientarski Photography: LeAnn Thornton Printed on recycled paper www.hillsborough.net